Exhibit 10.1
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CREDIT AGREEMENT
AMONG
DAIRY MART CONVENIENCE STORES, INC.,
THE BANKS
FROM TIME TO TIME PARTIES HERETO
AND
BANK OF BOSTON CONNECTICUT
AS AGENT
$30,000,000 REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
DATED AS OF APRIL 24, 1996
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.............................................................. 1
1.1 Defined Terms........................................................... 1
1.2 Other Definitional Provisions.......................................... 16
1.3 Change in Accounting Principles........................................ 16
SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS......................................... 17
2.1 Revolving Credit Commitments........................................... 17
2.2 Designation of Interest Rates; LIBOR Interest Periods.................. 17
2.3 Interest Rates and Payment Dates....................................... 17
2.4 Procedure for Borrowing................................................ 19
2.5 Conversion and Continuation Options.................................... 19
2.6 Minimum Amounts and Maximum Number of Tranches......................... 20
2.7 Revolving Credit Notes................................................. 20
2.8 Fees................................................................... 20
2.9 Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments............... 20
2.10 Optional Prepayments................................................... 20
2.11 Mandatory Prepayments; Cash Collateralizations......................... 21
2.12 Computation of Interest and Fees....................................... 21
2.13 Inability to Determine Interest Rate................................... 22
2.14 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments........................................ 22
2.15 Extension of Termination Date.......................................... 23
2.16 Annual CleanDown of Revolving Credit Loans............................. 23
2.17 Illegality............................................................. 24
2.18 Requirements of Law.................................................... 24
2.19 Taxes.................................................................. 25
2.20 Indemnity.............................................................. 27
SECTION 3. LETTERS OF CREDIT....................................................... 27
3.1 L/C Commitment......................................................... 27
3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit............................ 28
3.3 Fees, Commissions and Other Charges.................................... 28
3.4 Reimbursement Obligation of the Company................................ 29
3.5 L/C Draws and Reimbursements........................................... 29
3.6 Obligations Absolute................................................... 30
3.7 Letter of Credit Payments.............................................. 31
3.8 Application............................................................ 31
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SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......................................... 31
4.1 Financial Condition.................................................... 31
4.2 No Change.............................................................. 32
4.3 Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law............................... 32
4.4 Corporate Power, Authorization; Enforceable Obligations................ 32
4.5 No Legal Bar........................................................... 33
4.6 No Material Litigation................................................. 33
4.7 No Default............................................................. 33
4.9 Intellectual Property.................................................. 34
4.10 No Burdensome Restrictions............................................. 34
4.11 Taxes.................................................................. 34
4.12 Federal Regulations.................................................... 34
4.13 ERISA.................................................................. 35
4.14 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations.............................. 35
4.15 Subsidiaries........................................................... 35
4.16 Purpose of Loans....................................................... 35
4.17 Environmental Matters.................................................. 36
4.18 Security Documents..................................................... 36
4.19 Company Senior Indebtedness............................................ 37
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.................................................... 37
5.1 Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit.............................. 37
5.2 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit................................. 40
SECTION 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS................................................... 41
6.1 Financial Statements................................................... 41
6.2 Certificates; Other Information........................................ 42
6.3 Payment of Obligations................................................. 43
6.4 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence....................... 43
6.5 Maintenance of Property; Insurance..................................... 43
6.6 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions................. 43
6.7 Notices................................................................ 44
6.8 Environmental Laws..................................................... 45
6.9 Additional Designated Subsidiaries..................................... 45
6.10 Further Assurances..................................................... 46
SECTION 7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS...................................................... 46
7.1 Financial Condition Covenants.......................................... 46
7.2 Limitation on Indebtedness............................................. 48
7.3 Limitation on Liens.................................................... 49
7.4 Limitation on Guarantee Obligations.................................... 50
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7.5 Limitations on Fundamental Changes..................................... 50
7.6 Limitation on Sale of Assets........................................... 51
7.7 Limitation on Restricted Payments...................................... 51
7.8 Limitation on Capital Expenditures..................................... 51
7.9 Limitation on Investments, Loans and Advances.......................... 52
7.10 Limitation on Optional Payments and Modifications of Debt Instruments.. 54
7.11 Transactions with Affiliates........................................... 54
7.12 Sale and Leaseback..................................................... 54
7.13 Corporate Documents; Name/Location of Assets........................... 54
7.14 Fiscal Year............................................................ 55
7.15 Limitation on Negative Pledge Clauses.................................. 55
SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT....................................................... 55
SECTION 9. THE AGENT............................................................... 59
9.1 Appointment............................................................ 59
9.2 Delegation of Duties................................................... 59
9.3 Exculpatory Provisions................................................. 59
9.4 Reliance by Agent...................................................... 59
9.5 Notice of Default...................................................... 60
9.6 NonReliance on Agent and Other Banks................................... 60
9.7 Indemnification........................................................ 60
9.8 Agent in Its Individual Capacity....................................... 61
9.9 Successor Agent........................................................ 61
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................... 61
10.1 Amendments and Waivers................................................. 61
10.2 Notices................................................................ 62
10.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies......................................... 63
10.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties............................. 63
10.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes.......................................... 63
10.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations; Purchasing Banks............... 64
10.7 Adjustments; Setoff.................................................... 67
10.8 Counterparts........................................................... 67
10.9 Severability........................................................... 67
10.10 Integration............................................................ 68
10.11 Governing Law.......................................................... 68
10.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers.................................... 68
10.13 Acknowledgments........................................................ 68
10.14 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL; COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS......................... 69
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SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE I - Commitments; Addresses
SCHEDULE II - Long-Term Commitments
SCHEDULE III - Recent Acquisitions
SCHEDULE IV - Recent Changes and Distributions
SCHEDULE V - ERISA Matters
SCHEDULE VI - Subsidiaries
SCHEDULE VIIA - Environmental Matters
SCHEDULE VIIB - Litigation
SCHEDULE VIII - Indebtedness
SCHEDULE IX - Liens
SCHEDULE X - Management Loans and Advances
SCHEDULE XI - Tax Audits
SCHEDULE XII - UCC Filing Locations
EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT A - Form of Revolving Credit Note
EXHIBIT B - Form of Subsidiary Guarantee
EXHIBIT C - Form of Company Pledge Agreement
EXHIBIT D - Form of Subsidiary Pledge Agreement
EXHIBIT E - Intentionally Deleted
EXHIBIT F - Form of Assignment and Acceptance
EXHIBIT G - Form of Opinions of Counsel to the Company and its Subsidiaries
EXHIBIT H - Form of Company Security Agreement
EXHIBIT I- Form of Subsidiary Security Agreement
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CREDIT AGREEMENT
CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of April 24, 1996 by and among DAIRY MART
CONVENIENCE STORES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), the banks and
other financial institutions listed on Schedule I to this Agreement
(collectively, together with any banks or financial institutions from time to
time parties to this Agreement, the "Banks") and BANK OF BOSTON CONNECTICUT, a
bank organized under the laws of the State of Connecticut , as agent for the
Banks hereunder (in such capacity, the "Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
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WHEREAS, the Company has requested the Banks severally to extent credit to
the Company in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30,000,000 at any
time outstanding, the proceeds of which will be used for the purposes
hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS, of the $30,000,000 of aggregate extensions of credit to be made
available to the Company hereunder, up to $15,000,000 of such extensions of
credit shall be available under the L/C Commitments (as hereinafter defined);
and
WHEREAS, the Banks are willing to extend such credit upon the terms and
subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
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have the following meanings:
"Affiliate": of a Person (the "Primary Person"), (a) any other Person
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(other than a Subsidiary) which, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is
controlled by, or is under common control with, the Primary Person or (b) any
Person who is a director or officer (i) of the Primary Person, (ii) of any
Subsidiary of the Primary Person or (iii) of any Person described in clause (a)
above. For purposes of this definition, control of a Person shall mean the
power, directly or indirectly, (i) to vote 10% or more of the securities having
ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or (ii) to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person
whether by contract or otherwise.
"Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit": as to any Bank at any time,
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an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all
Revolving Credit Loans made by such Bank then outstanding, and (b) the product
of such Bank's Commitment Percentage times the L/C Obligations then outstanding.
"Agreement" this Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented or otherwise
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modified from time to time.
"Alternate Base Rate" the higher of (i) the rate of interest per annum
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publicly announced from time to time by the Agent as its "base rate" in effect
at its principal office (the Alternate Base Rate not being intended to be the
best or lowest rate of interest charged by the Agent in connection with
extensions of credit to debtors) or (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus
1/2 of 1% per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%).
Any change in the Alternate Base Rate shall be effective as of the opening of
business on the effective day of such change in the Alternate Base Rate.
"Alternate Base Rate Loans" loans the rate of interest applicable to which
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is based upon the Alternate Base Rate.
"Applicable Margin" at any time, for Alternate Base Rate Loans or LIBOR
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Loans, as the case may be, a rate per annum equal to the rate set forth below
opposite the applicable ratio of Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated
EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on FQED
immediately preceding such time:
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Ratio of
Consolidated
Indebtedness Applicable Margin
to Consolidated for Alternative Applicable Margin
Level EBITDA Base Rate Loans for LIBOR Loans
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I Less than 3.00 to 1.00
0.00% 2.00%
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II Less than 3.50 to 1.00,
but greater than or equal to
3.00 to 1.00 0.00% 2.25%
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III Less than 4.00 to 1.00,
but greater than or equal to
3.50 to 1.00 0.00% 2.50%
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IV Greater than or equal to
4.00 to 1.00 0.25% 2.75%
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provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, until the Company
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delivers to the Agent the certificates required by section 6.2(b) hereof
following the completion of the Company's fiscal year ending approximately
January 31, 1997, the Applicable Margin for Alternate Base Rate Loans and the
Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans shall be not less than that set forth in Level
III above.
"Application" an application in such form as the Issuing Bank may specify
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from time to time, requesting the Issuing Bank to issue a Letter of Credit.
"Assignment and Acceptance" an Assignment and Acceptance, substantially in
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the form of Exhibit F.
"Available Revolving Credit Commitment" as to any Bank at any time, an
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amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the amount of such Bank's Revolving
Credit Commitment over (b) such Bank's Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of
Credit.
"Borrowing Date" any Business Day specified in a notice pursuant to
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subsection 2.4 as a date on which the Company requests the Banks to make Loans
hereunder.
"Business Day" a day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
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commercial banks in Hartford, Connecticut are authorized or required by law to
close.
"Capital Expenditures" any payment made directly or indirectly for the
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purpose of acquiring, constructing or improving fixed assets, real property or
equipment which in accordance with GAAP would be added as a net debit (after
giving effect to any credits) to the fixed asset account of the Person making
such expenditure, including, without limitation, amounts paid or payable under
any conditional sale or other title retention agreement.
"Capital Stock" any and all shares, interests, participations or other
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equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all
equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any
and all warrants or options to purchase any of the foregoing.
"Cash Equivalents" (a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed
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or insured by the United States Government or any agency or instrumentality
thereof, (b) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with
maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers'
acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank
deposits, in each case, with any Bank or with any domestic commercial bank
having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000, (c) repurchase obligations
with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types
described in clauses (a) and (b) entered into with any financial institution
meeting the qualifications specified in clause (b) above, and (d) commercial
paper issued by any Bank or the parent corporation of any Bank and commercial
paper of any other issuer rated at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof by
Standard & Poor's Corporation or at least P-1 or the equivalent
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thereof by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and in each case maturing within six
months after the date of acquisition.
"Cash Collateral Account" as defined in Section 8.
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"Change of Control" the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) any
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"person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than one or more Permitted
Holders or any Person or Persons controlled by one or more Permitted Holders, is
or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the
total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company; (ii) during any period of
two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any new
directors whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for
election by the shareholders of the Company was approved by the directors then
still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or
whose election or nomination for director was previously so approved) cease for
any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company
then in office; (iii) the direct or indirect, sale, lease, exchange or other
transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any
"person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended); provided that the foregoing shall
not include the granting of Liens permitted by this Agreement; (iv) the
Permitted Holders cease to control at least 10% of the total voting power of the
Company; (v) the Company consolidates with or merges into another corporation or
any Person consolidates with or merges into the Company, in either event
pursuant to a transaction in which either (A) the outstanding Voting Stock of
the Company is changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property
(other than any such transaction where the outstanding Voting Stock of the
Company is changed into or exchanged for Voting Stock of the surviving
corporation) or (B) the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Voting
Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or
indirectly, less than a majority of voting power of the Voting Stock of the
surviving corporation immediately after such transaction; or (vi) neither Robert
B. Stein nor Gregory G. Landry shall any longer be a member of the Company's
senior management; provided that, in respect of clause (i) of this definition,
prior to September 13, 1997, none of DM Associates, any of its general partners
or any of the general partners of such general partners shall be deemed to be a
"group" or "person" owning more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting
Stock of the Company solely due to such entity's beneficial ownership of shares
of the Company held by DM Associates.
"Clean-Down Period" the period commencing on May 15 and ending on September
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15 of each year during the Commitment Period.
"Closing Date" April 24, 1996.
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"Code" the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
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"Collateral" the collective reference to the Collateral, as such term is
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defined in each of the Company Security Agreement, the Company Pledge Agreement,
the Subsidiary Security Agreements and the Subsidiary Pledge Agreement.
"Commitment Percentage" as to any Bank at any time, the percentage set
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forth opposite such Bank's name on Schedule I of this Agreement with respect to
such Bank.
"Commitment Period" the period from and including the date hereof to but
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not including the Termination Date or such earlier date on which the Commitments
shall terminate as provided herein.
"Commitments" the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Commitments
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and the L/C Commitments.
"Commonly Controlled Entity" an entity, whether incorporated or not, which
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is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 4001 of
ERISA or is part of a group which includes the Company and which is treated as a
single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
"Company Pledge Agreement" the Pledge Agreement, substantially in the form
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of Exhibit C, made by the Company in favor of the Agent for the ratable benefit
of the Banks, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time.
"Company Security Agreement" the Company Security Agreement, substantially
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in the form of Exhibit H, to be executed and delivered by the Company, as the
same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Consolidated EBITDAR" for any period, Consolidated EBITDA for such period
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plus Consolidated Rent Expense for such period.
"Consolidated EBITDA" for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such
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period plus the aggregate amounts deducted in determining such Consolidated Net
Income in respect of (a) income taxes (b) Consolidated Interest Expense, (c)
depreciation expense and (d) the expense associated with amortization of
intangible and other assets.
"Consolidated Indebtedness" at a particular date, all Indebtedness of the
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Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries which by its terms matures more than
one year after the date of calculation, and any other Indebtedness of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries maturing within one year from such
date which is renewable or extendable at the option of the obligor to a date
more than one year from such date, including, in any event, the Revolving Credit
Loans.
"Consolidated Interest Expense" for any period, interest expense of the
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Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis
in accordance with GAAP.
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"Consolidated Net Income" for any period, the consolidated net income (or
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loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period determined in
accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from the calculation
thereof any non-operating gains or losses (e.g., extraordinary or unusual gains
or losses, gains or losses from discontinuance of operations, gains or losses
arising from the sale or disposition by the Company or any Subsidiary of any
asset, the issuance of any debt or equity securities, and other non-recurring
gains or losses). There shall be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated
Net Income any net income or loss arising with respect to (i) any permitted
Joint Venture Investment, except that the aggregate amount of cash actually
distributed to the Company in respect of such Permitted Joint Venture Investment
during such period as a dividend or other distribution shall be included in the
calculation thereof, or (ii) the sale or disposition of any Franchise Asset or
any inventory of the Company or any Subsidiary.
"Consolidated Net Worth" at a particular date, all amounts which would be
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included under shareholders' equity on a consolidated balance sheet of the
Company and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance
with GAAP as at such date.
"Consolidated Rent Expense" for any period, the aggregate rental
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obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated
basis payable in respect of such period under leases of real and/or personal
property (net of principal receipts from sub-leases thereof, and excluding
taxes, insurance, maintenance and similar expenses which the lessee is obligated
to pay under the terms of said leases), regardless of whether such obligations
are reflected as liabilities or commitments on a consolidated balance sheet of
the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries or in the notes thereto; provided,
that with respect to Financing Leases, the rental obligations referred to herein
shall not include any portion thereof included in the interest expense of the
Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis
in accordance with GAAP.
"Contractual Obligation" as to any person, any provision of any security
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issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to
which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
"Default" any of the events specified in Section 8, regardless of whether
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any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any
other conditions, has been satisfied.
"Designated Subsidiary" a Subsidiary listed on Part A of Schedule VI.
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"DM Associates" DM Associates Limited Partnership, a Connecticut limited
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partnership.
"Dollars" and "$" dollars in lawful currency of the United States of
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America.
"Environmental Laws" any and all Federal, state, local or municipal laws,
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rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes, decrees or requirements
of any Governmental Authority regulating, relating to or imposing liability or
standards of conduct concerning environmental
-6-
protection matters, including without limitation, Hazardous Materials, as now or
may at any time hereafter be in effect.
"ERISA" the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
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from time to time.
"Event of Default" any of the events specified in Section 8, provided that
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any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any
other condition, has been satisfied.
"Extension" as defined in subsection 2.15.
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"Federal Funds Effective Rate" at any time shall mean a fluctuating
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interest rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight
Federal Funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged
by Federal Funds Brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a
Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a
Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions
received by the Agent from three Federal Funds brokers of recognized standing
selected by the Agent.
"Financing Lease" any lease of property, real or personal, the obligations
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of the lessee in respect of which are required in accordance with GAAP to be
capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee.
"FinOp" Financial Opportunities, Inc., a Kentucky corporation that is a
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Subsidiary and a small business investment company licensed by the SBA.
"FQED" the end date of any fiscal quarter in any fiscal year of the
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Company.
"Franchise Assets" all real and personal property of the Company or any
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Subsidiary sold or otherwise transferred to any franchisee of the Company or
such Subsidiary pursuant to the company's on-going franchise program, in the
ordinary course of such program and pursuant to customary documentation of the
Company or such Subsidiary for such purpose.
"Franchisee Guarantees" Guarantee Obligations of the Company or any
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Subsidiary guaranteeing indebtedness of a franchisee of the Company with respect
to the Company's on-going franchise program, which Guarantee Obligations are
reflected on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries or in the notes thereto.
"FYED" the end date of the Company's fiscal year designated with such term,
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being the Saturday closest to January 31 in the calendar year designated with
such term; thus FYED 1996 shall mean the Saturday closest to January 31, 1996,
which shall be the date on which the Company's 1996 fiscal year shall end.
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"GAAP" generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of
----
America in effect from time to time.
"Governmental Authority" any nation or government, any state or other
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political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.
"Guarantee Obligation" as to any Person (the "guaranteeing person"), any
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obligation of (a) the guaranteeing person or (b) another Person (including,
without limitation, any bank under any letter of credit), to induce the creation
of which obligation the guaranteeing person has issued a reimbursement, counter
indemnity or similar obligation, in either case guaranteeing or in effect
guaranteeing any indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (the
"primary obligations") of any other Person (the "primary obligor") in any
manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any
obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether contingent or not, (i) to
purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or
indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (A) for the purchase
or payment of any such primary obligation or (B) to maintain working capital or
equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or
solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or
services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary
obligations of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such
primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any
such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that
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the term "Guarantee Obligation" shall not include endorsements of instruments
for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any
Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the lower
of (x) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary
obligation in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made and (y) the
maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant to the
terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee obligation, unless such primary
obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be
liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such
Guarantee Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person's maximum reasonably
anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Company in good
faith.
"Hazardous Materials" any hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, hazardous
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constituents, hazardous or toxic substances, petroleum products (including crude
oil or any fraction thereof), defined or regulated as such in or under any
Environmental Law.
"Indebtedness" of any Person at any date, (a) all indebtedness of such
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Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or
services (other than current trade liabilities incurred in the ordinary course
of business and payable in accordance with customary practices) or which is
evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or similar instrument, (b) all obligations
of such Person under Financing Leases, (c) all obligations of such person in
respect of acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person, and (d)
all liabilities secured by any Lien on any property
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owned by such Person even though such Person has not assumed or otherwise become
liable for the payment thereof.
"Initial Funding Date" as defined in subsection 2.1.
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"Insolvency" with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that
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such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.
"Insolvent" pertaining to a condition of insolvency.
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"Insurance Subsidiary" D.M. Insurance, Ltd., a Bermuda corporation.
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"Interest Payment Date" (a) as to any Alternate Base Rate Loan, each FQED
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to occur while such Loan is outstanding, (b) as to any LIBOR Loan having a LIBOR
Interest Period of three months or less, the last day of such LIBOR Interest
Period, and (c) as to any LIBOR Loan having a LIBOR Interest Period longer than
three months, each day which is three months or a whole multiple thereof, after
the first day of such LIBOR Interest Period and the last day of such LIBOR
Interest Period.
"Interest Rate Agreement" any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate
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collar agreement, currency exchange agreement, or other similar agreement or
arrangement entered into by the Company, in order to hedge or minimize risk with
respect to the fluctuation of interest rates, with (i) any of the Banks parties
hereto or (ii) a financial institution with a minimum long-term indebtedness
rating of at least A- by Standard & Poor's Corporation and at least A3 by
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
"Issuing Bank" Bank of Boston Connecticut, in its capacity as issuer of any
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Letter of Credit.
"L/C Commitment" $15,000,000.
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"L/C Fee" as defined in subsection 3.3(a).
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"L/C Obligations" at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the
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aggregate then 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 subsection 3.5.
"L/C Participants" the collective reference to all the Banks other than the
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Issuing Bank.
"Letters of Credit" as defined in subsection 3.1(a).
-----------------
"Letter of Credit Rate" for each Letter of Credit, at any time, a rate per
---------------------
annum equal to the rate set forth below opposite the applicable ratio of
Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated
-9-
EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the FQED
immediately preceding such time:
======================================================================
Ratio of
Consolidated
Indebtedness to
Consolidated
Level EBITDA Letter of Credit Rate
======================================================================
Less than 3.00 to
I 1.00 2.00%
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------
II Less than 3.50 to
1.00, but greater than
or equal to 3.00 to
1.00 2.25%
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------
III Less than 4.00 to
1.00, but greater than
or equal to 3.50 to
1.00 2.50%
- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------
IV Greater than or equal
to 4.00 to 1.00 2.75%
======================================================================
provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, until the Company
delivers to the Agent the certificates required by Section 6.2(b) hereof
following the completion of the Company's fiscal year ending approximately
January 31, 1997, the Letter of Credit Rate shall be not less than that set
forth in Level III above.
"LIBOR Base Rate" with respect to each day during each LIBOR Interest
---------------
Period, the rate per annum equal to the rate at which the Agent is offered
Dollar deposits at or about 10:00 A.M., Eastern time, two Business Days prior to
the beginning of such LIBOR Interest Period in the London interbank market where
the eurodollar and foreign currency and exchange operations in respect of its
LIBOR Loans are then being conducted for delivery on the first day of such LIBOR
Interest Period for the number of days comprised therein and in an amount
comparable to the amount of its LIBOR Loan to be outstanding during such LIBOR
Interest Period.
"LIBOR Interest Period" any one (1), two (2), three(3) or six (6) month
---------------------
period selected by the Company in respect to any LIBOR Loan pursuant to
subsections 2.2, 2.4 or 2.5 of this Agreement.
-10-
"LIBOR Reserve Requirements" for any day as applied to a LIBOR Loan, the
--------------------------
aggregate (without duplication) of the rates (expressed as a decimal fraction)
of reserve requirements in effect on such day (including, without limitation,
basic, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves under any regulations of
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or other Governmental
Authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto) dealing with reserve
requirements prescribed for eurocurrency funding maintained by a member bank of
such System.
"LIBOR Loans" Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based upon
-----------
the LIBOR Rate.
"LIBOR Rate" with respect to each day during each LIBOR Interest Period, a
----------
rate per annum determined for such day in accordance with the following formula
(rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th of 1%):
LIBOR Base Rate
-------------------------
1.00 - LIBOR Reserve Requirements
"Lien" any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, security interest,
----
deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), or preference,
priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or
nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement, any Financing Lease having substantially the same
economic effect as any of the foregoing, and the filing of any financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or comparable law of any
jurisdiction in respect of any of the foregoing).
"Loan" any loan made by any Bank pursuant to this Agreement.
----
"Loan Documents" this Agreement, the Notes, the Applications, the
--------------
Subsidiary Guarantee, the Pledge Agreements, the Subsidiary Security Agreements
and the Company Security Agreement, together with any and all other instruments,
documents and agreements executed and delivered by the Company or the Designated
Subsidiaries from time to time in connection with the indebtedness evidenced by
this Agreement and the Notes, as the same may hereafter be amended, restated or
modified, from time to time.
"Material Adverse Effect" a material adverse effect on (a) the business,
-----------------------
operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Company or
any Designated Subsidiary to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to
which it is a party or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the
Notes or any of the other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Agent
or the Banks hereunder or thereunder.
"Minimum Consolidated Net Worth" (i) as at the first FQED to occur in
------------------------------
fiscal year 1997: $8,000,000; (ii) as at the second FQED to occur in fiscal year
1997: $10,000,000; (iii) as at the third
-11-
FQED to occur in fiscal year 1997: $11,000,000; (iv) as at the fourth FQED to
occur in fiscal year 1997: $10,500,000; and (v) as at any FQED to occur after
fiscal year 1997: $10,500,000 plus 50% of cumulative Consolidated Net Income
earned after the end of the Company's fiscal year ending approximately January
31, 1997.
"Multiemployer Plan" a Plan which is a multiemployer plan as defined in
------------------
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
"Net Cash Proceeds" (a) when used in respect of any sale or other
-----------------
disposition of assets that is not an issuance of debt securities of the Company
or any Subsidiary, the gross proceeds received by the Company or such Subsidiary
from such sale or disposition less (i) all reasonable legal, title, recording
and transfer tax expenses, commissions and other customary fees and expenses
incurred, and all other federal, state and local taxes assessed, in connection
therewith, (ii) the principal amount of, premium, if any, and interest on any
indebtedness (other than the Loans and the Reimbursement Obligations) which is
secured by the asset sold or otherwise disposed of and which is required to be
repaid in connection with such sale or other disposition of assets and (iii)
amounts to be provided by the Company or such Subsidiary as a reserve, in
accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with any such sale or
other disposition of assets and retained by such Person after such sale or other
disposition of assets, including, without limitation, pension and other post-
employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters
or against any indemnification obligations associated with such sale or other
disposition of assets and (b) when used in respect of the issuance of any debt
securities of the Company or any Subsidiary, the gross proceeds received by the
Company or such Subsidiary from such issuance less all legal expenses,
commissions and other fees and expenses incurred and all federal, state and
local taxes assessed in connection therewith.
"Notes" the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Notes.
-----
"Participants" as defined in subsection 10.6(b).
------------
"PBGC" the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to
----
Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA.
"Permitted Holders" the collective reference to DM Associates, Robert B.
-----------------
Stein or Gregory G. Landry and their respective Related Parties.
"Permitted Joint Venture Investment" investments in corporations,
----------------------------------
partnerships or joint ventures (other than Subsidiaries) which investments do
not require investment by the Company of cash equity in excess of $50,000 in the
aggregate; provided, that for the purpose of determining the amount of cash
--------
equity invested, investments by the Company of the proceeds of any fees or other
amounts received by the Company in connection with such investment shall not be
deemed to be cash equity.
-12-
"Person" an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust, joint
------
stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental
Authority or other entity of whatever nature.
"Plan" at a particular time, any employee benefit plan which is covered by
----
ERISA and in respect of which the Company or a Commonly Controlled Entity is
(or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of
ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
"Pledge Agreements" the Company Pledge Agreement and the Subsidiary Pledge
-----------------
Agreements.
"POS Program Expenses" those expenses incurred in connection with the
--------------------
acquisition or installation by the Company or any Subsidiary of cash registers,
personal computers and other inventory management equipment, and any licenses of
intellectual property in connection therewith.
"Purchasing Banks" as defined in subsection 10.6(c).
----------------
"Register" as defined in subsection 10.6(d).
--------
"Regulation U" Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal
------------
Reserve System.
"Reimbursement Obligation" the obligation of the Company to reimburse the
------------------------
Issuing Bank pursuant to subsection 3.5 for amounts drawn under Letters of
Credit.
"Reimbursing Bank" as defined in subsection 2.14(a).
----------------
"Related Party" with respect to each Permitted Holder, (a) any spouse or
-------------
immediate family member of such Permitted Holder or (b) any trust, corporation,
partnership or other entity, all of the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners,
owners of Persons beneficially holding an 80% or more controlling interest of
which consist of Permitted Holders and/or such other Persons referred to in the
immediately preceding clause (a).
"Reorganization" with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that
--------------
such plan is in reorganization within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA.
"Reportable Event" any of the events set forth in Section 4043(b) of ERISA,
----------------
other than those events as to which the thirty day notice period is waived in
accordance with subsections .13, .14, .16, .18, .19 or .20 of PBGC Reg. (S)
2615.
"Required Banks" at any time, Banks the Commitment Percentages of which
--------------
aggregate greater than 50%.
-13-
"Requirement of Law" as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and
------------------
By-Laws or other organizations or governing documents of such Person, and any
law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or
other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such
Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is
subject.
"Responsible Officer" the chief executive officer or the president or other
-------------------
executive officer of the Company or, with respect to financing matters, the
chief financial officer or other executive officer of the Company.
"Revolving Credit Commitment" as to any Bank, the obligation of such Bank
---------------------------
to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Company hereunder in an aggregate
principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth
opposite such Bank's name on Schedule I under the caption, "Commitment Amount".
"Revolving Credit Loans" any loans, advances or other disbursements by
----------------------
Agent, or any or all of the Banks to or for the account of the Company under the
Revolving Credit Commitments (including without limitation, amounts paid in
respect of any draft under any Letter of Credit) or in respect of any amounts
due and not paid by the Company in accordance with subsection 10.5.
"Revolving Credit Note" as defined in subsection 2.7.
---------------------
"Sale/Leaseback Transaction" as defined in subsection 7.12.
--------------------------
"SBA" the United States Small Business Administration or any regulatory
---
body succeeding to all or any of the functions thereof.
"Security Documents" the Pledge Agreements, the Subsidiary Security
------------------
Agreements and the Company Security Agreement.
"Senior Subordinated Indenture" the indenture among the Company, certain of
-----------------------------
its Subsidiaries, as guarantors, and First Bank National Association, as
trustee, pursuant to which the Company issued its 10.25% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2004 in the aggregate original principal amount of $75,000,000, and
subsequently issued its 10.25% Senior Subordinated Notes, Series B, due 2004 in
the aggregate original principal amount of $13,500,000 -- as such Senior
Subordinated Indenture may, with the prior written consent of the Banks, be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Senior Subordinated Notes" the 10.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2004
-------------------------
in the original principal amount of $75,000,000 and the Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2004, Series B, in the original principal amount of $13,500,000 issued
pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Indenture --
-14-
as such Notes may, with the prior written consent of the Banks, be amended,
modified, supplemented, renewed or extended from time to time.
"Single Employer Plan" any Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but
--------------------
which is not a Multiemployer Plan.
"Subsequently Acquired Subsidiary" any Subsidiary acquired by the Company
--------------------------------
or any Designated Subsidiary pursuant to subsection 7.9(i) if the assets or
revenues of such Subsequently Acquired Subsidiary are considered, in the
reasonable judgment of the Agent and the Banks, material in relation to the
consolidated assets or consolidated revenues of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries (as shown from the most recent financial statements delivered
pursuant to subsection 6.1).
"Subsidiary" as to any Person, a corporation, partnership or other entity
----------
of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only
by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of
directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are
at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.
Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a "Subsidiary" or to
"Subsidiaries" in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of
the Company.
"Subsidiary Guarantee" the Guarantee, substantially in the form of Exhibit
--------------------
B, made by each Designated Subsidiary in favor of the Agent for the ratable
benefit of the Banks, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
"Subsidiary Pledge Agreement" the Pledge Agreement, substantially in the
---------------------------
form of Exhibit D, made by each Designated Subsidiary in favor of the Agent for
the ratable benefit of the Banks, as the same may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.
"Subsidiary Security Agreement" a Subsidiary Security Agreement,
-----------------------------
substantially in the form of Exhibit I, to be executed and delivered by each
Designated Subsidiary, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
"Successor Agent" any Bank or any bank, depository or financial
---------------
institution, trust company, bank and trust company having capital and surplus in
excess of $100,000,000 and acceptable to the remaining Bank or Banks and to the
Company, the Company's consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
"Termination Date" April 30, 1999, or such later date to which the
----------------
Termination Date may be extended in accordance with subsection 2.15.
-15-
"Tranche" the collective reference to LIBOR Loans having LIBOR Interest
-------
Periods which begin on the same date and end on the same later date (whether
such Loans shall originally have been made on the same day or not).
"Transferee" as defined in subsection 10.6(f).
----------
"Type" as to any Loan, its nature as an Alternate Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR
----
Loan.
"Uniform Customs" the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits
---------------
(1993 Revision), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 500, as the
same may be amended from time to time.
"Voting Stock" with respect to a corporation, all classes of Capital Stock
------------
then outstanding of such corporation normally entitled to vote in elections of
directors.
1.2 Other Definitional Provisions.
-----------------------------
(a) Unless otherwise specified therein, all terms defined in this
Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in the Notes or any
certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto.
(b) As used herein and in the Notes, and any certificate or other
document made or delivered pursuant hereto, accounting terms relating to the
Company and its Subsidiaries not defined in subsection 1.1 and accounting terms
partly defined in subsection 1.1, to the extent not defined, shall have the
respective meanings given to them under GAAP.
(c) The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar
import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and
not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section, subsection,
Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise
specified.
(d) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.
1.3 Change in Accounting Principles. Except as otherwise provided
-------------------------------
herein, any changes in GAAP which are hereafter made and adopted by the Company
with the agreement of its independent certified public accountants shall not
affect the method of calculation of any of the financial covenants, standards or
terms found in subsection 1.1 or Section 7.
-16-
SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS
2.1 Revolving Credit Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions
----------------------------
and hereof, provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, each Bank severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the
Company from time to time on or after the date each of the conditions precedent
set forth in subsection 5.1 has been satisfied or waived by the Required Banks
(the "Initial Funding Date") and continuing throughout the Commitment Period in
an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the
amount of such Bank's Available Revolving Credit Commitment; provided, however,
that the Company's aggregate borrowings hereunder at any one time (giving effect
to all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding at such time and to all Letters of
Credit outstanding at such time) shall not exceed $20,000,000 until such time as
(i) Consolidated Net Income during the immediately preceding period of four
consecutive fiscal quarters ending on any FQED shall have been not less than
$19,500,000 or (ii) the Required Banks shall have waived in writing further
compliance with such requirement. From and after the Initial Funding Date and
continuing throughout the Commitment Period the Company may use the Revolving
Credit Commitments by borrowing, prepaying the Revolving Credit Loans in whole
or in part, and reborrowing in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof.
2.2 Designation of Interest Rates; LIBOR Interest Periods.
-----------------------------------------------------
(a) The Revolving Credit Loans may from time to time be (i) LIBOR Loans,
(ii) Alternate Base Rate Loans or (iii) a combination thereof, as determined by
the Company and notified to the Agent in accordance with subsections 2.4 and
2.5. In the event the Company fails to designate the Type of all or any portion
of a Loan (whether initially or upon expiration of a LIBOR Interest Period), the
per annum rate of interest applicable thereto shall be or become the rate of
interest applicable to Alternate Base Rate Loans.
(b) The Company may not select a LIBOR Interest Period pursuant to
subsections 2.2(a), 2.5 or otherwise, if (i) an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, or (ii) such LIBOR Interest Period would expire on a day
after the Termination Date. If any LIBOR Interest Period would otherwise end on
a day that is not a Business Day, such LIBOR Interest Period shall be extended
to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be
to carry such LIBOR Interest Period into another calendar month in which event
such LIBOR Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day.
If any LIBOR Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar
month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the
calendar month at the end of such LIBOR Interest Period) such LIBOR Interest
Period shall end on the last Business Day of a calendar month.
2.3 Interest Rates and Payment Dates.
--------------------------------
(a) Each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest, during the applicable LIBOR
Interest Period, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable LIBOR Rate plus the
Applicable Margin. The Applicable
-17-
Margin for each LIBOR Loan shall be determined based upon the calculations
submitted to the Banks pursuant to subsection 6.1(b) and shall be effective as
of the first day of the fiscal quarter next following the date such calculations
are submitted to the Banks. Any change in such Applicable Margin as a
consequence of the Bank's review of the aforesaid calculation after the
effective date of such Applicable Margin shall be retroactively applied to the
first day such Applicable Margin became effective. In the event the Applicable
Margin for a LIBOR Loan can not be determined at any time because the Company's
financial statements for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter are not
available at such time, the Applicable Margin for each LIBOR Loan shall be
presumed to be the same as the Applicable Margin for such LIBOR Loans as of the
last FQED for which the Company's financial statements were available.
(b) Each Alternate Base Rate Loan shall bear interest for so long as it
is outstanding and unpaid at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate
plus the Applicable Margin.
(c) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan or any
interest payable thereon shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest
at a rate per annum (the "Default Rate") which is equal to the rate that would
otherwise be applicable thereto pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
subsection plus 3% from the date of such non-payment until such amount is paid
in full (after, as well as before, judgment).
(d) Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date;
provided that interest accruing at the Default Rate pursuant to subsection
- - --------
2.3(c) shall be payable on demand. In the event the rate of interest applicable
to any LIBOR Loan decreases as a consequence of a decrease in the Applicable
Margin with respect thereto, the Company shall be entitled to apply the
difference between the amount of interest paid and the amount of interest due
(after giving effect to such reduction) as a credit against the next installment
of interest due hereunder. In the event the rate of interest applicable to any
LIBOR Loan increases as a consequence of an increase in the Applicable Margin
with respect thereto, the Company shall pay the difference between the amount of
interest paid and the amount of interest due (after giving effect to such
increase) on the next Interest Payment Date.
(e) In the event the total amount of any payment of principal or
interest or amounts due in respect of any Reimbursement Obligation or of any fee
required to be paid under this Agreement is not received by Agent or Issuing
Bank, as the case may be, within ten (10) days following the due date of such
payment, the Company shall, in addition to and together with such payment, pay
to Agent or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, a late charge equal to five
percent (5%) of the total amount of such payment or amount due; provided, such
late charge shall not be payable in respect of any overdue payment in the event
Borrower was entitled to an Advance in the amount of such payment under the
provisions of subsection 2.1 at the time such payment became due, Borrower duly
requested such Advance in compliance with the requirements of the Credit
Agreement, and the Banks failed to provide such Advance without cause
-18-
2.4 Procedure for Borrowing. The Company may borrow under the Revolving
-----------------------
Credit Commitments on or after the Initial Funding Date during the Commitment
Period on any Business Day by giving the Agent irrevocable notice (which notice
must be received by the Agent prior to (x) 12:00 p.m., Eastern time, at least
three Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date, if all or any part of
the requested Revolving Credit Loans are to be initially LIBOR Loans, or (y)
12:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the requested Borrowing Date, otherwise),
specifying (i) the amount to be borrowed, (ii) the requested Borrowing Date,
(iii) the Type of the requested borrowing and (iv) if the borrowing is to be
entirely or partly of LIBOR Loans, the amounts and LIBOR Interest Periods
thereof. Each borrowing under the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be in an
amount equal to (A) in the case of Alternate Base Rate Loans, $100,000 or a
whole multiple thereof (or, if the then Available Revolving Credit Commitments
are less than $100,000, such lesser amount) or (B) in the case of LIBOR Loans,
$100,000 or a whole multiple thereof. Upon receipt of any such notice from the
Company, the Agent shall promptly notify each Bank thereof. Each Bank will make
the amount of its pro rata share (based on its Commitment Percentage) of each
borrowing available to the Agent for the account of the Company at the office of
the Agent specified in subsection 10.2 prior to 2:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the
Borrowing Date requested by the Company in funds immediately available to the
Agent. Such borrowing will then be made available to the Company by the Agent
crediting the account of the Company on the books of such office with the
aggregate of the amounts made available to the Agent by the Banks and in like
funds as received by the Agent.
2.5 Conversion and Continuation Options.
-----------------------------------
(a) The Company may elect from time to time to convert LIBOR Loans to
Alternate Base Rate Loans by giving the Agent at least two Business Days' prior
irrevocable notice of such election, provided that any such conversion of LIBOR
--------
Loans may only be made as of the last day of a LIBOR Interest Period with
respect thereto. The Company may elect from time to time to convert Alternate
Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Loans by giving the Agent at least three Business Days'
prior irrevocable notice of such election, which notice shall specify the length
of the initial LIBOR Interest Period or LIBOR Interest Periods therefor. Upon
receipt of any such notice the Agent shall promptly notify each Bank thereof.
All or any part of outstanding LIBOR Loans and Alternate Base Rate Loans may be
converted as provided herein, provided that no Loan may be converted into a
LIBOR Loan when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or the Agent
has or the Required Banks have determined pursuant to subsection 2.13 that such
a conversion is not appropriate.
(b) The Company may elect to continue all or any portion of any LIBOR
Loan upon the expiration of the designated LIBOR Interest Period in respect of
such LIBOR Loan by giving the Agent at least three Business Days' prior
irrevocable notice of such election; provided that no LIBOR Loan may be
--------
continued as such when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or
the Agent has or the Required Banks have determined pursuant to subsection 2.13
that such a continuation as a LIBOR Loan is not appropriate. The Company shall
specify in the aforesaid notice the amount to be continued as a LIBOR Loan and
the LIBOR Interest Period with respect thereto in accordance with subsection
2.2.
-19-
2.6 Minimum Amounts and Maximum Number of Tranches. All borrowings,
----------------------------------------------
conversions and continuations of Loans hereunder and all selections of LIBOR
Interest Periods hereunder shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant to such
elections so that, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount
of the LIBOR Loans comprising each Tranche shall be equal to $100,000 or a whole
multiple thereof and so that there shall not be more than 5 Tranches at any one
time outstanding.
2.7 Revolving Credit Notes. The Revolving Credit Loans made by each
----------------------
Bank shall be evidenced by a promissory note of the Company, substantially in
the form of Exhibit A with appropriate insertions as to payee, date and
principal amount (a "Revolving Credit Note"), payable to the order of such Bank
and in a principal amount equal to the amount of the initial Revolving Credit
Commitment of such Bank. Each Bank is hereby authorized to record the date, Type
and amount of each Revolving Credit Loan made by such Bank, each continuation
thereof, each conversion of all or a portion thereof to another Type, the date
and amount of each payment or prepayment of principal thereof and, in the case
of LIBOR Loans, the length of each LIBOR Interest Period and LIBOR Rate with
respect thereof, on the schedule annexed to and constituting a part of its
Revolving Credit Note, and any such recordation shall constitute prima facie
----- -----
evidence of the accuracy of the information so recorded. Each Revolving Credit
Note shall (x) be dated the Closing Date, (y) be stated to mature on the
Termination Date and (z) provide for the payment of interest in accordance with
subsection 2.3.
2.8 Fees. The Company agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of
----
each Bank a commitment fee for the period from and including the date hereof to
the Termination Date, computed at the rate of 1/2 of 1% per annum on the average
daily amount of the Available Revolving Credit Commitment of such Bank during
the period for which payment is made, payable quarterly in arrears on the last
day of each March, June, September and December and on the Termination Date or
such earlier date as the Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate as
provided herein, commencing on the first of such dates to occur after the date
hereof.
2.9 Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments. The
--------------------------------------------------------
Company shall have the right, upon not less than three Business Days' notice to
the Agent, to terminate the Commitments or, from time to time, to reduce the
amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that no such termination or
--------
reduction shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto and to any
prepayments of the Revolving Credit Loans made on the effective date thereof,
the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding,
when added to such Bank's Commitment Percentage of the L/C Obligations, would
exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect. Any such reduction shall
be in an amount not less than $1,000,000 or integral multiples of $250,000 in
excess thereof, and shall reduce permanently the Revolving Credit Commitments
then in effect.
2.10 Optional Prepayments. The Company may at any time and from time to
--------------------
time, prepay the Revolving Credit Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or
penalty, upon at least three Business Days' irrevocable notice, in the case of
prepayment of any Revolving Credit Loans which
-20-
are LIBOR Loans, or upon irrevocable notice (which notice must be received by
1:00 P.M., Eastern time, on or before the proposed date of prepayment), in the
case of prepayments of any Revolving Credit Loans which are Alternate Base Rate
Loans, to the Agent, specifying the date and amount of prepayment and whether
the prepayment is of LIBOR Loans, Alternate Base Rate Loans or a combination
thereof, and, in each case if a combination thereof, the amount allocable to
each; provided that, if a LIBOR Loan is prepaid other than at the end of the
--------
LIBOR Interest Period applicable thereto, the Company shall also pay any amounts
required to be paid pursuant to subsection 2.20. Upon receipt of any such
notice the Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to each Bank. If any such
notice is given by the Company, the amount specified in such notice shall be due
and payable on the date specified therein. Partial prepayments of the Revolving
Credit Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $100,000 or a whole
multiple in excess thereof.
2.11 Mandatory Prepayments; Cash Collateralizations.
----------------------------------------------
(a) Immediately upon the occurrence of any public issuance or private
placement of any debt securities of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than
indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2 and other than renewals or
refinancings of the indebtedness evidenced by the Senior Subordinated Notes or
of indebtedness or debt securities issued and outstanding as of the date hereof
so long as the outstanding principal amount of such indebtedness is not
increased by such renewal or refinancing) the Company shall make or cause to be
made a prepayment on the Loans equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received
therefor.
(b) If, at any time or from time to time, the Company makes as "Asset
Disposition" (as defined under the Senior Subordinated Indenture), the Company
shall, within 210 days from the date of such Asset Disposition (or such longer
period permitted under the Senior Subordinated Indenture), apply all of the Net
Cash Proceeds from such Asset Disposition to either or both of (in the sole
discretion of the Company) (i) the prepayment of the Loans, or (ii) an
investment in "fixed assets" (as defined under GAAP) in the same or
substantially similar line of business as defined in the Senior Subordinated
Indenture as the assets that were the subject of such Asset Disposition,
provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) up to $1,000,000 of the Net
Cash Proceeds received in any fiscal year from any such Asset Dispositions shall
not be subject to this subsection 2.11(b) and (B) no application of the Net Cash
Proceeds resulting from any such Asset Dispositions pursuant to this paragraph
shall be necessary until the aggregate amount of such Net Cash Proceeds (above
the aforesaid $1,000,000) equals or exceeds $5,000,000 at any time after the
date hereof.
2.12 Computation of Interest and Fees. Interest on the Alternate Base
--------------------------------
Rate Loans, Letter of Credit commissions and commitment fees shall be calculated
on the basis of a 365-day year for the actual days elapsed. Interest on the
LIBOR Loans shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual
days elapsed. The Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Company and the
Banks of each determination of a LIBOR Rate. Any change in the interest rate on
a Loan resulting from a change in the Alternate Base Rate or the LIBOR Reserve
Requirements shall become effective as of the opening of business on the day on
which such change becomes effective. The
-21-
Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Company and the Banks of the
effective date and the amount of each such change in interest rate. Each
determination of an interest rate by the Agent pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and the Banks in the
absence of manifest error.
2.13 Inability to Determine Interest Rate. If prior to the first day of
------------------------------------
any LIBOR Interest Period:
(a) the Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Company) that, by reason of circumstances
affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
ascertaining the LIBOR Rate for such LIBOR Interest Period, or
(b) the Agent shall have received notice from the Required Banks that
the LIBOR Rate determined or to be determined for such LIBOR Interest Period
will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Banks (as conclusively
certified by such Banks) of making or maintaining their affected Loans during
such LIBOR Interest Period, the Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice
thereof to the Company and the Banks as soon as practicable thereafter. If such
notice is given (x) any LIBOR Loans requested to be made on the first day of
such LIBOR Interest Period shall be made as Alternate Base Rate Loans, (y) any
Loans that were to have been converted on the first day of such LIBOR Interest
Period to LIBOR Loans shall be converted to or continued as Alternate Base Rate
Loans, and (z) any outstanding LIBOR Loans shall be converted, on the first day
of such LIBOR Interest Period, to Alternate Base Rate Loans. Until such notice
has been withdrawn by the Agent, no further LIBOR Loans shall be made or
continued as such, nor shall the Company have the right to convert Loans to
LIBOR Loans.
2.14 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments.
-------------------------------
(a) Unless the Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Bank
prior to a Borrowing Date that such Bank will not make the amount that would
constitute its Commitment Percentage of the borrowing on such date available to
the Agent, the Agent may assume that such Bank (a "Reimbursing Bank") has made
such amount available to the Agent on such Borrowing Date, and the Agent or any
Bank may (but shall not be obligated), in reliance upon such assumption, make
available to the Company a corresponding amount. If such amount is made
available to the Agent on a date after such Borrowing Date, the Reimbursing Bank
shall pay to the Agent on demand an amount equal to the product of (i) the daily
average Federal Funds Effective Rate during such period as quoted by the Agent,
times (ii) the amount of such Reimbursing Bank's Commitment Percentage of such
borrowing, times (iii) 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
Reimbursing Bank's Commitment Percentage of such borrowing shall have become
immediately available to the Agent and the denominator of which is 365. A
certificate of the Agent submitted to any Reimbursing Bank
-22-
with respect to any amounts owing under this subsection shall be conclusive in
the absence of manifest error. If a Reimbursing Bank's Commitment Percentage of
such borrowing is not in fact made available to the Agent by such Reimbursing
Bank within three Business Days of such Borrowing Date, the Agent shall be
entitled to recover such amount, with interest thereon at the rate per annum
applicable to Alternate Base Rate Loans hereunder, on demand, from such
Reimbursing Bank or the Company in such order and manner as Agent may determine
in its discretion.
(b) Each borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans by the Company from the
Banks hereunder shall be made by the Banks pro rata in accordance with the
respective Commitment Percentage of such Banks. Each payment by the Company on
account of the principal of and interest on the Revolving Credit Loans, any
commitment fee hereunder and any reduction of the Commitments of the Banks shall
be payable to the Banks pro rata in accordance with the respective Commitment
Percentages of the Banks; provided that in the event the Agent or any Bank
pursuant to subsection 2.14(a) makes available to the Company a Reimbursing
Bank's Commitment Percentage of a requested borrowing, the Agent or such Bank
providing such funding shall be entitled to receive all payments that would
otherwise be payable to such Reimbursing Bank until such time as the Agent or
such Bank, as the case may be, shall have received an amount equal to the amount
so funded on behalf of such Reimbursing Bank, together with interest thereon as
provided in subsection 2.14(a). All payments (including prepayments) to be made
by the Company hereunder and under the Notes, whether on account of principal,
interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without set off or counterclaim and
shall be made prior to 12:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the due date thereof to the
Agent, for the account of the Banks, at the Agent's office specified in
subsection 10.2, in Dollars and in immediately available funds. The Agent shall
distribute such payments to the Banks promptly upon receipt in like funds as
received. If any payment hereunder becomes due and payable on a day other than a
Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business
Day, and, with respect to payments of principal, interest thereon shall be
payable at the then applicable rate during such extension.
2.15 Extension of Termination Date. By the date which is one year and 90
-----------------------------
days prior to the initial Termination Date (and if the initial Termination Date
has been extended pursuant to this subsection, by the date which is one year and
90 days prior to the Termination Date as so extended by the first Extension),
the Company may notify the Agent of its desire to extend the Termination Date,
each such Extension consisting of one additional year (each, an "Extension"),
and its request that the Banks approve such Extension, whereupon the Agent shall
promptly notify the Banks of such request. The Agent shall notify the Company of
the decision of the Banks (to be made in the Banks' sole discretion) with
respect thereto not later than 60 days after the Agent's receipt of the request
for such Extension. If all of the Banks agree to the requested Extension, the
Termination Date shall be so extended.
2.16 Annual Clean-Down of Revolving Credit Loans. For a period of at
-------------------------------------------
least 30 consecutive days during the Clean-Down Periods occurring during the
fiscal years set forth below,
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the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans outstanding at all
times during such 30-day period shall not exceed the amount set forth opposite
the respective fiscal years:
Maximum Revolving Credit
Fiscal Years Loans Outstanding
------------ ------------------------
1997 $10,000,000
1998 5,000,000
1999 0
2.17 Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if the
----------
adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or
application thereof shall make it unlawful for any Bank to make or maintain
LIBOR Loans as contemplated by this Agreement, (a) the commitment of such Bank
hereunder to make LIBOR Loans, continue LIBOR Loans as such and convert
Alternate Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Loans shall forthwith be canceled and (b)
such Bank's Loans then outstanding as LIBOR Loans, if any, shall be converted
automatically to Alternate Base Rate Loans on the respective last days of the
then current LIBOR Interest Periods with respect to such Loans or within such
earlier period as required by law. If any such conversion of a LIBOR Loan
occurs on a day which is not the last day of the then current LIBOR Interest
Period with respect thereto, the Company shall pay to such Bank such amounts, if
any, as may be required pursuant to subsection 2.20.
2.18 Requirements of Law.
-------------------
(a) If the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the
interpretation or application thereof or compliance by any Bank with any request
or directive (whether having the force of law or not) from any central bank or
other Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof:
(i) shall subject any Bank to any tax of any kind whatsoever with
respect to this Agreement, any Note or any LIBOR Loan made by it, or change
the basis of taxation of payments to such Bank in respect thereof (except
for Non-Excluded Taxes covered by subsection 2.19 and changes in the rate
of tax on the overall net income of such Bank);
(ii) shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special
deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by,
deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans or
other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any
office of such Bank which is not otherwise included in the determination of
the LIBOR Rate hereunder; or
(iii) shall impose on such Bank any other condition;
-24-
and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Bank, by
an amount which such Bank deems to be material, of making, converting into,
continuing or maintaining LIBOR Loans or to reduce any amount receivable
hereunder in respect thereof, then, in any such case, the Company shall promptly
pay such Bank, upon its demand, any additional amounts necessary to compensate
such Bank for such increased cost or reduced amount receivable. If any Bank
becomes entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this subsection, it
shall promptly notify the Company, through the Agent, of the event by reason of
which it has become so entitled. A certificate as to any additional amounts
payable pursuant to this subsection submitted by such Bank, through the Agent,
to the Company shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. This
covenant shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the
Notes and all other amounts payable hereunder.
(b) If any Bank shall have determined that the adoption of or any change
in any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or in the interpretation or
application thereof or compliance by such Bank or any corporation controlling
such Bank with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether
having the force of law or not) from any Governmental Authority made subsequent
to the date hereof does or shall have the effect or reducing the rate of return
on such Bank's or such corporation's capital as a consequence of its obligations
hereunder to a level below that which such Bank or such corporation could have
achieved but for such change or compliance (taking into consideration such
Bank's or such corporation's policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an
amount deemed by such Bank to be material, then from time to time, after
submission by such Bank to the Company (with a copy to the Agent) of a written
request therefore, the Company shall pay to such Bank such additional amount or
amounts as will compensate such Bank for such reduction.
2.19 Taxes.
-----
(a) All payments made by the Company under this Agreement and the Notes
shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on
account of any present or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts,
duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed,
levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, excluding
net income taxes and franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of net income taxes)
imposed on the Agent or any Bank as a result of a present or former connection
between the Agent or such Bank and the jurisdiction of the Governmental
Authority imposing such tax or any political subdivision or taxing authority
thereof or therein (other than any such connection arising solely from the Agent
or such Bank having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received
a payment under, or enforced, this Agreement or the Notes). If any such non-
excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees deductions or
withholdings ("Non-Excluded Taxes") are required to be withheld from any amounts
payable to the Agent or any Bank hereunder or under the Notes, the amounts so
payable to the Agent or such Bank shall be increased to the extent necessary to
yield to the Agent or such Bank (after payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes)
interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the
amounts specified in this Agreement and the
-25-
Notes, provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to increase any
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such amounts payable to any Bank that is not organized under the laws of the
United States of America or a state thereof if such Bank fails to comply with
the requirements of paragraph (b) of this subsection. Whenever any Non-Excluded
Taxes are payable by the Company, as promptly as possible thereafter the Company
shall send to the Agent for its own account or for the account of such Bank, as
the case may be, a certified copy of an original official receipt received by
the Company showing payment thereof. If the Company fails to pay any Non-
Excluded Taxes when due to the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to
the Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the
Company shall indemnify the Agent and the Banks for any incremental taxes,
interest or penalties that may become payable by the Agent or any Bank as a
result of any such failure. The agreements in this subsection shall survive the
termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Notes and all other amounts
payable hereunder.
(b) Each Bank that is not incorporated under the laws of the United
States of America or a state thereof shall:
(i) deliver to the Company and the Agent (A) two duly completed
copies of United States Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or 4224, or
successor applicable form, as the case may be, and (B) an Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8 or W-9, or successor applicable form, as the case may be;
(ii) deliver to the Company and the Agent two further copies of any
such form or certification on or before the date that any such form or
certification expires or becomes obsolete and after the occurrence of any
event requiring a change in the most recent form previously delivered by it
to the Company; and
(iii) obtain such extensions of time for filing and complete such
forms or certifications as may reasonably be requested by the Company or
the Agent.
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 all such forms inapplicable
or which would prevent such Bank from duly completing and delivering any such
form with respect to it and such Bank so advises the Company and the Agent.
Such Bank shall certify (i) in the case of a Form 1001 or 4224, that it is
entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes and (ii) in the case of a
Form W-8 or W-9, that it is entitled to an exemption from United States backup
withholding tax. Each Person that shall become a Bank or a Participant pursuant
to subsection 10.6 shall, upon the effectiveness of the related transfer, be
required to provide all of the forms and statements required pursuant to this
subsection, provided that in the case of a Participant such Participant shall
furnish all such required forms and statements to the Bank from which the
related participation shall have been purchased.
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2.20 Indemnity. The Company agrees to indemnify each Bank and to hold
---------
each Bank harmless from any loss or expense which such Bank may sustain or incur
as a consequence of (a) default by the Company in making a borrowing of,
conversion into or continuation of LIBOR Loans after the Company has given a
notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement,
(b) default by the Company in making any prepayment after the Company has given
a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or (c) the
making of a prepayment of LIBOR Loans on a day which is not the last day of an
LIBOR Interest Period with respect thereto. Such indemnification may include,
without limitation, any loss or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or
reemployment of deposits or other funds obtained to fund or maintain a LIBOR
Loan during any LIBOR Interest Period, which any Bank may incur as a consequence
of such failure to borrow, convert or continue, as the case may be. A
certificate by Agent as to the amount of such loss, expense or increased costs
shall, when submitted to the Company, be conclusive, in the absence of manifest
error, unless the Company shall have provided the Agent with written notice of
the Company's objection to all or any portion of such certificate not later than
ten (10) days after the date on which such certificate is submitted to the
Company. Any such LIBOR Loan shall not be deemed paid or satisfied until all
such additional amounts are paid. Agent agrees to provide the Company with such
information as the Company may reasonably request with respect to the
calculation of any such losses or expenses. The covenant contained in this
subsection 2.20 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment
of the Notes and all other amounts payable hereunder.
SECTION 3. LETTERS OF CREDIT
3.1 L/C Commitment.
--------------
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Issuing Bank, in
reliance on the agreements of the other Banks set forth in subsection 3.5(a),
agrees to issue standby letters of credit for the account of the Company and its
Designated Subsidiaries on any Business Day on or after the Initial Funding Date
until the date which is five Business Days prior to the end of the Commitment
Period in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing Bank
(all such letters of credit outstanding on the date hereof and all letters of
credit to be issued hereunder, together with all extensions, renewals and
replacements thereof, are herein collectively referred to as the "Letters of
Credit"); provided that the Issuing Bank shall have no obligation to issue any
Letter of Credit if at the time of such issuance a Default exists or an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing or if, after giving effect to such
issuance, (i) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Commitment or (ii) the
Available Revolving Credit Commitment would be less than zero. Each Letter of
Credit shall (i) be denominated in Dollars, (ii) expire no later than the
Termination Date and (ii) expire no later than a date one year after its
issuance. Each Letter of Credit shall be issued as credit support for (x)
insurance and vendor financial obligations, (y) performance bonds issued on
behalf of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary in its ordinary course of
business, or (2) other similar financial support for obligations of the Company.
-27-
(b) Each Letter of Credit shall be subject to the Uniform Customs and,
to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of the Issuing
Bank's principal place of business.
(c) The Issuing Bank shall not at any time be obligated to issue any
Letter of Credit hereunder if such issuance would conflict with, or cause the
Issuing Bank or any L/C Participant to exceed any limits imposed by, any
applicable Requirement of Law.
3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Company may from
-------------------------------------------
time to time request that the Issuing Bank issue a Letter of Credit by
delivering to the Issuing Bank at its address for notices specified herein an
Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of the Issuing Bank, and
such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as the
Issuing Bank may request. Upon receipt of any Application, the Issuing Bank will
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 promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested
thereby (but in no event shall the Issuing Bank be required to issue any Letter
of Credit earlier than three Business Days after its receipt of the Application
therefor and all such other certificates, documents and other papers and
information relating thereof) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit
to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed by the Issuing Bank and
the Company. The Issuing Bank shall furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to
the Company and the other Banks promptly following the issuance thereof.
3.3 Fees, Commissions and Other Charges.
-----------------------------------
(a) The Company shall pay to the Agent a letter of credit facility fee
(the "L/C Fee"), upon issuance of a Letter of Credit, in an amount equal to the
product of (i) the face amount of such Letter of Credit, times (ii) the
applicable Letter of Credit Rate, times (iii) the term of such Letter of Credit,
expressed as a fraction equal to the number of days of such term divided by
three hundred sixty-five (365). The applicable Letter of Credit Rate shall be
determined based upon the calculations submitted to the Banks pursuant to
subsection 6.1(b) and shall be effective as of the first day of the fiscal
quarter next following the date such calculations are submitted to the Banks.
Any change in the applicable Letter of Credit Rate as a consequence of the
Banks' review of the aforesaid calculation after the effective date of such
Letter of Credit Rate shall be retroactively applied to the first day such
Letter of Credit Rate became effective. In the event that the Letter of Credit
Rate can not be determined at any time because the Company's financial
statements for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter are not available at
such time, the Letter of Credit Rate shall be presumed to be the same as the
Letter of Credit Rate as of the last FQED for which the Company's financial
statements were available. Any change in the L/C Fee as a consequence of a
change in the Letter of Credit Rate shall be effective as of the date of such
change in the Letter of Credit Rate. Any increase or reduction in the L/C Fee as
a consequence of an increase or reduction in the Letter of Credit Rate, as the
case may be, shall be credited against or deducted from the next L/C Fee, as the
case may be. In the event any Letter of Credit is terminated or the available
credit thereunder is permanently reduced prior to the stated expiry date
thereof, the Company shall be entitled to a rebate
-28-
of that portion of the L/C Fee paid with respect to such Letter of Credit which
is allocable pro rata to the portion of the Letter of Credit that has been
terminated or reduced, as the case may be, as determined by the Issuing Bank.
Each L/C Fee payable under this subsection 3.3 shall be shared ratably among the
Banks in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages.
(b) In addition to the L/C Fees, the Company shall pay or reimburse the
Issuing Bank for such normal and customary costs and expenses as are incurred or
charged by the issuing Bank in issuing, processing, effecting payment under,
amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit.
(c) The Agent shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, distribute
to the Issuing Bank and the L/C Participants all fees and commissions received
by the Agent for their respective accounts pursuant to this subsection.
3.4 Reimbursement Obligation of the Company. The Company agrees to
---------------------------------------
reimburse the Issuing Bank on each date on which the Issuing Bank notifies the
Company of the date and amount of a draft presented under any Letter of Credit
and paid by the Issuing Bank for the amount of (a) such draft so paid and (b)
any taxes (other than income taxes), fees, charges or other costs or expenses
incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with such payment. Each such payment
shall be made to the Issuing Bank at its address for notices specified herein in
Dollars and in immediately available funds. Interest shall be payable on any and
all amounts remaining unpaid by the Company under this subsection from 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 Loans which were then overdue under subsection 2.3. Each drawing
under any Letter of Credit shall constitute a request by the Company to the
Agent for the borrowing pursuant to subsection 2.1 of Revolving Credit Loans in
the amount of such drawing and any reimbursement made by an L/C Participant
pursuant to subsection 3.5 shall constitute a Revolving Credit Loan pursuant to
subsection 2.3.
3.5 L/C Draws and Reimbursements.
----------------------------
(a) Each L/C Participant unconditionally and irrevocably agrees with the
Issuing Bank that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit for which the
Issuing Bank is not reimbursed in full by the Company in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Bank upon
demand at the Issuing Bank's address for notices specified herein an amount
equal to such L/C Participant's Commitment Percentage of the amount of such
draft, or any part thereof, which is not so reimbursed through participation or
otherwise. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Issuing Bank irrevocably agrees
to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce the Issuing
Bank to issue Letter of Credit hereunder, each L/C Participant irrevocably
agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from the Issuing
Bank, 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
Commitment Percentage in the Issuing Bank's obligations
-29-
and rights under each Letter of Credit issued hereunder and the amount of each
draft paid by the Issuing Bank thereunder.
(b) If any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant to the
Issuing Bank pursuant to subsection 3.5(a) in respect of any unreimbursed
portion of any payment made by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit is
paid to the Issuing Bank within three Business Days after the date such payment
is due, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Bank on demand an amount
equal to the product of (1) such amount, times (2) the daily average Federal
-----
Funds Effective Rate, as quoted by the Issuing Bank, during the period from and
including the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is
immediately available to the Issuing Bank, times (3) a fraction the numerator of
-----
which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator
of which is 365. If any such amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant
pursuant to subsection 3.4(a) is not in fact made available to the Issuing Bank
by such L/C Participant within three Business Days after the date such payment
is due, the Issuing Bank shall be entitled to recover from such L/C Participant,
on demand, such amount with interest thereon calculated from such due date at
the rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate. A certificate of the
Issuing Bank submitted to any L/C Participant with respect to any amounts owing
under this subsection shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
(c) Whenever, at any time after the Issuing Bank has made payment under
any Letter of Credit and has received from any L/C Participant its share of such
payment in accordance with subsection 3.5(a), the Issuing Bank receives any
payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Company or
otherwise, including proceeds of collateral applied thereto by the Issuing
Bank), or any payment of interest on account thereof, the Issuing Bank will
distribute to such L/C Participant its share thereof; provided, however, that in
-------- -------
the event that any such payment received by the Issuing Bank shall be required
to be returned by the Issuing Bank, such L/C Participant shall return to the
Issuing Bank the portion thereof previously distributed by the Issuing Bank to
it.
3.6 Obligations Absolute. The Company's obligations under this Section
--------------------
3 shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and
irrespective of any set-off, counterclaim or defense to payment which the
Company may have or have had against the Issuing Bank or any beneficiary of a
Letter of Credit. The Company also agrees with the Issuing Bank that the Issuing
Bank shall not be responsible for, and the Company's Reimbursement Obligations
under Subsection 3.4 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 Company 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 Company against any beneficiary of such Letter of
Credit or any such transferee. The Issuing Bank shall not be liable for any
error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of
any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of
Credit, except for errors or omissions caused by the Issuing Bank's gross
negligence or willful misconduct. The Company agrees that any action taken or
omitted by the Issuing Bank
-30-
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 Commercial
Code of the State of Connecticut, shall be binding on the Company and shall not
result in any liability of the Issuing Bank to the Company.
3.7 Letter of Credit Payments. If any draft shall be presented for
-------------------------
payment under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the
Company and the Banks of the date and amount thereof. The responsibility of the
Issuing Bank to the Company 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.
3.8 Application. To the extent that any provision of any Application
-----------
related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this
Section 3, the provisions of this Section 3 shall apply.
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To induce the Banks to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans and
issue or participate in the Letters of Credit the Company hereby represents and
warrants to the Agent and each Bank that:
4.1 Financial Condition.
-------------------
(a) The consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as at January 28, 1995 and the related consolidated statements of
operations and retained earnings and of cash flows for the fiscal year ended on
such date, reported on by Arthur Andersen LLP, copies of which have heretofore
been furnished to each Bank, are complete and correct and present fairly the
consolidated financial condition of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as at such date, and the consolidated results of their operations
and their consolidated cash flows for the fiscal year then ended. The unaudited
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as
at December 30, 1995 and the related unaudited consolidated statements of
operations and retained earnings for the eleven-month period ended on such date,
certified by a Responsible Officer, copies of which have heretofore been
furnished to each Bank, are complete and correct and present fairly the
consolidated financial condition of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as at such date, and the consolidated results of their operations
for the eleven-month period then ended (subject to normal year-end audit
adjustments). All such financial statements, including the related schedules and
notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently
throughout the periods involved (except as approved by such accountants or
Responsible Officer, as the case may be, and as disclosed therein). The
unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as at approximately January 27,
-31-
1996 and the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations and
earnings for the twelve-month period ended on such date, copies of which have
heretofore been furnished to each Bank are complete and correct in all material
respects and have been prepared in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP
applied consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and with prior
periods.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule II, neither the Company nor any of
its consolidated Subsidiaries had, at the date of the most recent balance sheet
referred to in subsection 4.1(a), any material Guarantee Obligation, contingent
liability or liability for taxes, or any long-term lease or unusual forward or
long-term commitment, including, without limitation, any interest rate or
foreign currency swap or exchange transaction, which is not reflected in the
financial statements referred to in subsection 4.1(a) or in the notes thereto.
(c) Except as set forth on Schedule III, during the period from January
28, 1995 to and including the date hereof there has been no sale, transfer or
other disposition by the Company or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries of any
material part of its business or property and no purchase or other acquisition
of any business or property (including any capital stock of any other Person)
material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of the Company and
its consolidated Subsidiaries at January 28, 1995.
4.2 No Change. Since January 28, 1995, (a) except as set forth on
---------
Schedule IV, there has been no development or event nor any prospective
development or event which has had or could have a Material Adverse Effect and
(b) except as set forth on Schedule IV or as permitted by this Agreement, no
dividends or other distributions have been declared, paid or made upon the
Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor has any of the
Capital Stock of the Company been redeemed, retired, purchased or otherwise
acquired for value by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
4.3 Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law. Each of the Company and
----------------------------------------
each Designated Subsidiary (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has the
corporate power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its
property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the
business in which it is currently engaged in each jurisdiction where the failure
to have such power, authority or right would have a Material Adverse Effect, (c)
is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing under the laws
of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification except where the failure so
to qualify could not have a Material Adverse Effect and (d) is in compliance
with all Requirements of Law except to the extent that the failure to comply
therewith could not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.4 Corporate Power, Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. The
-------------------------------------------------------
Company has the corporate power and authority, and the legal right, to make,
deliver and perform this Agreement, the
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Notes, each Application and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, to
borrow hereunder and to grant the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents to
which it is a party and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize
the borrowings on the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Notes, the
grant of the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents to which it is a party and
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Notes, each
Application and each other Loan Document to which it is a party. No consent or
authorization of, filing with or other action by or in respect of, any
Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the
borrowings hereunder, the grant of the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents
or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this
Agreement, the Notes, each Application or any other Loan Document except that
prior authorization of the SBA is required for any exercise of remedies under
the Subsidiary Pledge Agreement with respect to the FinOp common stock pledged
thereunder and under the Company Pledge Agreement with respect to the common
stock of CONNA Corporation pledged thereunder. This Agreement and each other
Loan Document to which the Company is a party (except the Notes) has been, and
each Note will be, duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company. This
Agreement and each other Loan Document to which the Company is a party (except
the Notes) constitutes, and each Note when executed and delivered will
constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by
general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in
equity or at law).
4.5 No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this
------------
Agreement, the Notes, each Application and each other Loan Document, the grant
of the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents, the borrowings hereunder and
the use of the proceeds thereof will not violate any Requirement of Law or
Contractual Obligation of the Company or of any Designated Subsidiary and will
not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its
or their respective properties or revenues pursuant to any such Requirement of
Law or Contractual Obligation.
4.6 No Material Litigation. No litigation, investigation or proceeding
----------------------
of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened by or against the Company or any Designated
Subsidiary or against any of its or their respective properties or revenues (a)
with respect to this Agreement, the Notes, any Application or any other Loan
Document or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (b) which
could have a Material Adverse Effect, except with respect to matters described
on Schedule VII.
4.7 No Default. Neither the Company nor any Designated Subsidiary is in
----------
default under or with respect to any of its Contractual Obligations or Capital
Stock in any respect which could have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
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4.8 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Company and each
----------------------------
Designated Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or
a valid leasehold interest in, all its real property, and good title to all its
other property except for any defect in title thereto or leasehold interest
therein which could not in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, and
none of the property owned or leased by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary
is subject to any Lien except as permitted by subsection 7.3 or which could not
in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.9 Intellectual Property. The Company and each Designated Subsidiary
---------------------
owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, trade names, copyrights,
technology, know-how and processes necessary for the conduct of its business as
currently conducted except for those the failure to own or license which could
not have a Material Adverse Effect (the "Intellectual Property"). No claim has
been asserted and is pending by any Person challenging or questioning the use of
any such Intellectual Property or the validity or effectiveness of any such
Intellectual Property, nor does the Company know of any valid basis for any such
claim which could or might have a Material Adverse Effect. The use of such
Intellectual Property by the Company and each Designated Subsidiary does not
infringe on the rights of any Person, except for such claims and infringements
that, in the aggregate, could not have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.10 No Burdensome Restrictions. No Requirement of Law or Contractual
--------------------------
Obligation of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary has a Material Adverse
Effect.
4.11 Taxes. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed or caused
-----
to be filed all tax returns which, to the knowledge of the Company, are required
to be filed (the "Tax Returns") and has paid all taxes shown to be due and
payable on said returns or on any assessments made against it or any of its
property and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its
property by any Governmental Authority (other than any the amount or validity of
which are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the
books of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be) where the failure
to so file such Tax Returns or to pay such taxes could or might have a Material
Adverse Effect; no tax Lien has been filed, and, to the knowledge of the
Company, no claim is being asserted, with respect to any such tax, fee or other
charge. Schedule XI sets forth a complete and correct list of all audits
concerning any Tax Return that are being conducted by any Governmental Authority
or are otherwise in progress on the Closing Date.
4.12 Federal Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loans will be
-------------------
used for "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock" within the respective
meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System as now and from time to time hereafter
in effect or for any purpose which violates the provisions of the Regulations of
such Board of Governors. If requested by any bank or the Agent, the Company will
furnish to the Agent and each Bank a statement to the foregoing effect in
conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1 referred to in said Regulation
U.
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4.13 ERISA. No Reportable Event has occurred during the five-year period
-----
prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made with
respect to any Plan, and each Plan has complied in all material respects with
the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code. The present value of all
accrued benefits under each Single Employer Plan maintained by the Company or
any Commonly Controlled Entity (based on those assumptions used to fund the
Plans) did not, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which
this representation is made or deemed made, exceed the value of the assets of
such Plan allocable to such accrued benefits. Neither the Company nor any
Commonly Controlled Entity has had a complete or partial withdrawal from any
Multiemployer Plan except as set forth on Part A of Schedule V, and neither the
Company nor any Commonly Controlled Entity would become subject to any liability
under ERISA if the Company or any such Commonly Controlled Entity were to
withdraw completely from all Multiemployer Plans as of the valuation date most
closely preceding the date on which this representation is made or deemed made,
except as set forth on Part B of Schedule V. No such Multiemployer Plan is in
Reorganization or insolvent. The present value (determined using actuarial and
other assumptions which are reasonable in respect of the benefits provided and
the employees participating) of the liability of the Company and each Commonly
Controlled Entity for post-retirement benefits to be provided to their current
and former employees under Plans which are welfare benefit plans (as defined in
Section 3(1) of ERISA) does not, in the aggregate, exceed the assets under all
such Plans allocable to such benefits.
4.14 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations. Neither the Company nor
-----------------------------------------
any Subsidiary (other than FinOp) is an "investment company", or a company
"controlled" by an "investment company", within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). Neither the Company, FinOp nor
any Designated Subsidiary is subject to regulation under the 1940 Act or any
Federal or State statute or regulation which limits its ability to incur
Indebtedness.
4.15 Subsidiaries. All the Subsidiaries of the Company (other than the
------------
Designated Subsidiaries) are listed on Part B of Schedule VI. The assets owned
by the Designated Subsidiaries on the Closing Date represent in the aggregate at
least 90% of the total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as shown on
the audited consolidated balance sheet as at January 28, 1995 referred to in
subsection 4.1(a). The revenues of the Designated Subsidiaries represent in the
aggregate at least 90% of the revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries as
shown on the audited consolidated statement of operations and retained earnings
for the period ended January 28, 1995 referred to in subsection 4.1(a).
4.16 Purpose of Loans. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used by the
----------------
Company for the working capital needs of the Company, including, without
limitation, financing any Reimbursement Obligations, capital expenditures, and
financing any other general corporate purposes of the Company or any Designated
Subsidiary in the ordinary course of the Company's or such Subsidiary's
business.
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4.17 Environmental Matters. To the best knowledge of the Company,
---------------------
each of the representations and warranties set forth in paragraphs (a) through
(e) of this subsection is true and correct with respect to each parcel of real
property heretofore or now owned or operated by the Company or any Subsidiary
(the "Properties"), except as set forth on Schedule VII and except to the extent
that the facts and circumstances giving rise to any such failure to be so true
and correct could not have a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) The Properties do not contain, and have not previously contained,
in, on, or under, including, without limitation, the soil and groundwater
thereunder, any Hazardous Materials.
(b) The Properties and all operations and facilities at the Properties
are in compliance with all Environmental Laws, and there is no Hazardous
Materials contamination or violation of any Environmental Law which could
interfere with the continued operation of any of the Properties or impair the
fair saleable value of any thereof.
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
complaint, notice of violation, alleged violation, investigation or advisory
action or of potential liability or of potential responsibility regarding
environmental protection matters or permit compliance with regard to the
Properties, nor is the Company aware that any Governmental Authority is
contemplating delivering to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries any such
notice.
(d) Hazardous Materials have not been generated, treated, stored,
disposed of, at, on or under any of the Properties, nor have any Hazardous
Materials been transferred from the Properties to any other location.
(e) There are no governmental, administrative or judicial proceedings
pending or contemplated under any Environmental Laws to which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is or will be named as a party with respect to the
Properties, 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 any of the
Properties.
4.18 Security Documents.
------------------
(a) The provisions of each Pledge Agreement are effective to create in
favor of the Agent for the ratable benefit of the Banks a legal, valid and
enforceable security interest in all right, title and interest of the pledgor in
the Collateral as described therein. Each Pledge Agreement constitutes a fully
perfected first lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest
of the pledgor in the Collateral described therein.
(b) The provisions of the Company Security Agreement are effective to
create in favor of the Agent for the ratable benefit of the Banks a legal, valid
and enforceable security interest in all right, title and interest of the
Company in the Collateral as described therein. Except where failure
-36-
to file would not have a material effect on Agent's ability to effectively
realize on the Collateral, as a whole, the Company Security Agreement
constitutes a fully perfected first lien on, and security interest in, all
right, title and interest of the Company in the Collateral described therein,
and no Uniform Commercial Code financing statements have been filed by any other
Person with respect to such Collateral other than as may be filed in connection
with this Agreement and except as described on Schedule IX hereto.
(c) The provisions of each of the Subsidiary Security Agreements are
effective to create in favor of the Agent for the ratable benefit of the Banks a
legal, valid and enforceable security interest in all right, title and interest
of such Subsidiary in the Collateral as described therein. Except where failure
to file would not have a material effect on Agent's ability to effectively
realize on the Collateral, as a whole, each Subsidiary Security Agreement
constitutes a fully perfected first lien on, and security interest in, all
right, title and interest of such Subsidiary in the Collateral described
therein, and no Uniform Commercial Code financing statements have been filed by
any other Person with respect to such Collateral other than as may be filed in
connection with this Agreement and except as described on Schedule IX hereto.
4.19 Company Senior Indebtedness. The extensions of credit under this
---------------------------
Agreement, the Notes and each Application will be, and are hereby designated as,
Company Senior Indebtedness under and as defined in the Senior Subordinated
Indenture.
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
5.1 Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit. The agreement of each
-----------------------------------------
Bank to make the initial extension of credit requested to be made by it is
subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Agreement, Notes. The Agent shall have received (i) with a
----------------
counterpart for each Bank, this Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly
authorized officer of the Company, and (ii) for the account of each Bank, a
Revolving Credit Note conforming to the requirements hereof and executed by a
duly authorized officer of the Company.
(b) Other Loan Documents. The Agent shall have received, with a
--------------------
counterpart for each Bank, (i) the Subsidiary Guarantee, executed and delivered
by a duly authorized officer of each Designated Subsidiary, (ii) the Company
Pledge Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the
Company, (iii) the Subsidiary Pledge Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly
authorized officer of each Designated Subsidiary, (iv) a Subsidiary Security
Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each
Subsidiary, and (v) the Company Security Agreement, executed and delivered by a
duly authorized officer of the Company.
(c) Satisfaction of Existing Credit Agreement Indebtedness. The Agent
------------------------------------------------------
shall have received, with a copy for each Bank, a certificate, dated on or
before the Closing Date, executed by
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a duly authorized officer of the Company certifying that, on or before the
Closing Date, the Company shall have paid in full all indebtedness of the
Company outstanding under that Credit Agreement originally dated February 25,
1994 (as amended and restated on December 27, 1995) with Society National Bank,
as agent, other than the indebtedness represented by the letters of credit
described on Schedule VIII, each of which has the benefit of the Letter of
Credit issued on the Closing Date by the Agent.
(d) Pledged Stock; Stock Powers. The Agent shall have received (A)
---------------------------
certificates representing the stock pledged pursuant to each Pledge Agreement,
together with an undated stock power executed in blank for each such
certificate, and (B) the Acknowledgments and Consents attached as exhibits to
each Pledge Agreement, in each case executed and delivered by a duly authorized
officer of the relevant issuer.
(e) UCC Filings. All documents (including, without limitation,
-----------
financing statements) required to be filed in respect of the Company Security
Agreement in order to create in favor of the Agent for the ratable benefit of
the Banks a perfected, first priority security interest in the Collateral
described therein with respect to which a security interest may be perfected by
filing under the Uniform Commercial Code shall have been properly filed in each
office listed on Schedule XII. The Agent shall have received acknowledgment
copies of all such filings (or, in lieu thereof, other evidence satisfactory to
it that all such filings have been made); and the Agent shall have received
evidence that all necessary filing fees and all taxes or other expenses related
to such filings have been paid in full.
(f) Corporate Proceedings. The Agent shall have received, with a
---------------------
counterpart for each Bank, a copy of the resolutions, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent, of the Board of Directors of the Company and each
Designated Subsidiary authorizing (i) the execution, delivery and performance of
the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (ii) with respect to the Company, the
grant of the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents to which it is a party,
and (iv) with respect to each Designated Subsidiary, the grant of the Liens
pursuant to the Security Documents to which it is a party, in each case
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or such
Designated Subsidiary at the Closing Date, which certificate shall state that
the resolutions thereby certified have not been amended, modified, revoked or
rescinded and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
(g) Incumbency Certificates. The Agent shall have received a
-----------------------
certificate dated the Closing Date, of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Company and each Designated Subsidiary as to the incumbency and signature
of the officer or officers signing the Loan Documents to which such Person is a
party, together with evidence of the incumbency of such Secretary or Assistant
Secretary.
(h) Corporate Documents. The Agent shall have received, with a
-------------------
counterpart for each Bank, true and complete copies of the certificate of
incorporation and by-laws of the Company and
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each Designated Subsidiary, certified at the Closing Date as complete and
correct copies thereof, by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company or such Designated Subsidiary.
(i) Good Standing Certificates. The Agent shall have received, with a
--------------------------
copy for each Bank, copies of certificates dated as of a recent date from the
Secretary of State or other appropriate authority of such jurisdiction,
evidencing the good standing of the Company and each Designated Subsidiary.
(j) Financial Statements. The Agent shall have received, with copies
--------------------
for each Bank, copies of the financial statements referred to in subsection 4.1
and all other documents requested by the Agent in connection with its completion
of a testing and review of the assets and liabilities of the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
(k) Lien Searches. The Agent shall have received the results of a
-------------
recent search by a Person satisfactory to the Agent, of Uniform Commercial Code
and other filings which may have been filed with respect to the personal
property of the Company or any Designated Subsidiaries in those locations of
which the Agent notifies the Company prior to the Closing Date.
(l) Litigation. No suit, action, investigation, inquiry or other
----------
proceeding (including, without limitation, the enactment or promulgation of a
statute or rule) by or before any arbitrator or any Governmental Authority shall
be formally instituted or threatened and no preliminary or permanent injunction
or restraining order by a state or federal court shall have been entered or
threatened (i) in connection with any Loan Document or any of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby or (ii) which, in the reasonable opinion of the
Banks, could have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) No Violation. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by
------------
this Agreement, the Notes, each Application and the other Loan Documents shall
not contravene, violate or conflict with, nor involve the Agent or any Bank in
any violation of, any Requirement of Law.
(n) Fees. The Agent and each Bank shall have received the fees to be
----
received by it on the Closing Date referred to in subsection 2.8 and the Agent
shall have received a closing fee in the amount of $400,000 and an agency fee in
the amount of $20,000, and the fees and disbursements of Day, Berry & Howard,
special counsel for the Agent, shall have been paid in full on the Closing Date.
Annually on the anniversary of the Closing Date the Company shall pay to the
Agent an annual agency fee of $20,000.
(o) Legal Opinions. The Agent shall have received, with a counterpart
--------------
for each Bank, the executed legal opinions of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris,
Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., counsel to the Company and its Subsidiaries, and
Gregory Wozniak, General Counsel to the Company and its Subsidiaries, each dated
the Closing Date and substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 and G-2.
respectively, with such changes thereto as the Agent shall approve. Such legal
opinions shall cover
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such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
as the Agent may reasonably require.
(p) Consents, Licenses and Approvals. The Agent shall have received,
--------------------------------
with a counterpart for each Bank, a certificate, dated the Closing Date,
executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company stating that all consents,
authorizations, notices and filings necessary or advisable in connection with
the financings contemplated by this Agreement and the continuing operations of
the Company, have been obtained and are in full force and effect, except where
the failure to obtain such consents, authorizations, notices or filings could
not have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.2 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Bank
--------------------------------------
to make any extension of credit requested to be made by it on any date
(including, without limitation, its initial extension of credit) is subject to
the satisfaction on the Initial Funding Date and on such borrowing date of the
following conditions precedent:
(a) Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and
------------------------------
warranties made by the Company and each Subsidiary in or pursuant to the Loan
Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such
date as if made on and as of such date; provided that, with respect to
extensions of credit made after the Initial Funding Date, Guarantee Obligations
incurred after the Initial Funding Date and in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement shall not be deemed a breach of the representation and warranty set
forth in subsection 4.1(b) to the extent that such Guarantee Obligations are not
described in the financial statements described in subsection 4.1(a).
(b) No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
----------
be continuing on such date or after giving effect to the extension of credit
requested to be made on such date.
(c) Additional Documents. The Agent shall have received each additional
--------------------
document, instrument, legal opinion or item of information reasonably requested
by it, including, without limitation, a copy of any debt instrument, security
agreement or other material contract to which the Company or any Subsidiary may
be a party.
(d) Additional Matters. All corporate and other proceedings, and all
------------------
documents, instruments and other legal matters in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall
be satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent, and the Agent shall have
received such other documents and legal opinions in respect of any aspect or
consequence of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby as it shall
reasonably request.
Each borrowing by and Letter of Credit issued on behalf of the Company hereunder
shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company as of the date of
such Loan or Letter of Credit that the conditions contained in this subsection
5.2 have been satisfied.
-40-
SECTION 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
The Company hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in
effect, any Note or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding and unpaid or any
other amount is owing to any Bank or the Agent hereunder, the Company shall and
(except in the case of delivery of financial information, reports and notices)
shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:
6.1 Financial Statements. Furnish to each Bank:
--------------------
(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the
end of each fiscal year of the Company, a copy of the consolidated balance sheet
of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and
the related consolidated statements of operations and retained earnings and of
cash flows for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the
figures for the previous year, reported on without a "going concern" or like
qualification or exception, or qualification arising out of the scope of the
audit, by Arthur Andersen LLP or other independent certified public accountants
of nationally recognized standing not unacceptable to the Required Banks; and
(b) as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days
after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of
the Company, the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, (i) the related
unaudited consolidated statement of operations and retained earnings of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, for such quarter and the portion of
the fiscal year through the end of such quarter, and the related unaudited
consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries for the portion of the fiscal year through the end of such quarter,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous
year, certified by a Responsible Officer as being fairly stated in all material
respects when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements of
the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (subject to normal year-end audit
adjustments) and (ii) a statement setting forth the aggregate amount of Capital
Expenditures made by the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries during such
fiscal period (which aggregate amount shall separately specify the total amount
of Capital Expenditures consisting of cash and the total amount of Capital
Expenditures consisting of Financing Leases and other non-cash financings), in
each case, certified by a Responsible Officer as being fairly stated in all
material respects when, in the case of the financial statements delivered
pursuant to clause (i) above, considered in relation to the consolidated
financial statements of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (subject
to normal year-end audit adjustments); and
(c) as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days
after the last day of each of the 12 fiscal periods of each fiscal year of the
Company (other than the last such fiscal period in each such fiscal year), the
unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal period and the related unaudited
consolidated statement of operations and retained earnings of the Company and
its consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal
-41-
period and the portion of the fiscal year of the Company through the end of such
fiscal period, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for
the previous year;
all such financial statements to be complete and correct in all material
respects and to be prepared in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP
applied consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and with prior
periods (except as approved by such accountants or officer, as the case may be,
and disclosed therein).
6.2 Certificates; Other Information. Furnish to each Bank:
-------------------------------
(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred
to in subsection 6.1(a), a certificate of the independent certified public
accountants reporting on such financial statements stating that in making the
examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default or Event
of Default, except as specified in such certificate;
(b) (i) concurrently with the delivery of each of the financial
statements referred to in subsections 6.1(a) and 6.1(b), a certificate of a
Responsible Officer (which certificate shall set forth, in detail, all interim
and preparatory figures and calculations used in determining the Company's
satisfaction of its covenants and agreements contained in subsection 7.1)
stating that, to the best of such Officer's knowledge, each of the Company and
its Subsidiaries during such period has observed or performed all of its
covenants and other agreements, and satisfied every condition, contained in this
Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party to be
observed, performed or satisfied by it, and that such Officer has obtained no
knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except as specified in such
certificate and (ii) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements
referred to in subsection 6.1(a), a certificate of a Responsible Officer setting
forth the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company and any of its
Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year, the portion thereof which has
been reinvested by the Company or its Subsidiaries in fixed or capital assets or
POS Program Expenses, the portion thereof which has been applied by or on behalf
of the Company to make any mandatory prepayment in accordance with subsection
2.11 and any remaining balances in respect of such Net Cash Proceeds which have
not been so reinvested or applied;
(c) if delivered, as soon thereafter as practicable but in no event
later than fifteen days after receipt, a copy of the letter, if any, addressed
to the Company, of the certified public accountants who prepared the financial
statements referred to in subsection 6.1(a) for such fiscal year and otherwise
referred to as a "management letter";
(d) as soon as available, but in any event within 30 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Company, a copy of (i) the projections by the Company
of the operating budget and cash flow budget of the Company and its Subsidiaries
for the succeeding three (3) fiscal years and (ii) the projected consolidated
balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the last
day of each of such three (3) succeeding fiscal years. Such projections and
projected balance sheet
-42-
to be accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer to the effect that
such projections and projected balance sheet have been prepared on the basis of
sound financial planning practice and that such Officer has no reason to believe
they are incorrect or misleading in any material respect;
(e) within five days after the same are sent, copies of all financial
statements and reports which the Company sends to its stockholders, and within
five days after the same are filed, copies of all financial statements and
reports which the Company may make to, or file with, the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any successor or analogous Governmental Authority; and
(f) promptly, such additional financial and other information as any
Bank may from time to time reasonably request.
6.3 Payment of Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at or
----------------------
before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all its
obligations of whatever nature, except where the amount or validity thereof is
currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves
in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of
the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be or except where the failure
to pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy could not have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.4 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence. Continue to
------------------------------------------------
engage in business of the same general type as now conducted by it and preserve,
renew and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and take all
reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises necessary or
desirable in the normal conduct of its business except as otherwise permitted
pursuant to subsection 7.5; comply with all Contractual Obligations and
Requirements of Law except to the extent that failure to comply therewith could
not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.5 Maintenance of Property; Insurance. (a) Keep all property useful
----------------------------------
and necessary in its business in good working order and condition except where
the failure to do so could not have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) maintain with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all its
property in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (but including
in any event public liability, product liability and business interruption) as
are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the
same or a similar business; and furnish to each Bank, upon written request, full
information as to the insurance carried; provided that a program of self-
insurance maintained by the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to certain
product liability, workers' compensation, environmental liability, public
liability, accident and health and property insurance risks shall comply with
the requirements of subsection 6.5(b) so long as adequate reserves in connection
with such self-insurance program are taken and maintained in accordance with
GAAP and such program is otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
6.6 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions. Keep proper
------------------------------------------------------
books of records and account in which full, true and correct entries in
conformity with GAAP and all Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings
and transactions in relation to its business and
-43-
activities; and permit representatives of any Bank, upon reasonable notice to
the Company, to visit and inspect any of its properties and examine and make
abstracts from any of its books and records at any reasonable time and as often
as may reasonably be desired and to discuss the business, operations, properties
and financial and other condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries with
officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries and with its
independent certified public accountants.
6.7 Notices. Promptly give notice to the Agent and each Bank of:
-------
(a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;
(b) any (i) default or event of default under any Contractual Obligation
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) litigation, investigation or
proceeding which may exist at any time between the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and any Governmental Authority, which in either case, if not cured
or if adversely determined, as the case may be, would have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(c) any litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in which the amount involved is $1,000,000 or more and not covered
by insurance or in which injunctive or similar relief is sought which
individually or in the aggregate could or might have a Material Adverse Effect;
provided that the Company shall not be required to give notice of any such
litigation or proceeding if the Company has reasonably determined, after
consultation with counsel, that the possibility is remote that such litigation
or proceeding will result in a judgment of $1,000,000 or more or in injunctive
or similar relief against the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(d) the following events, as soon as possible and in any event within 30
days after the Company knows or has reason to know thereof: (i) the occurrence
or expected occurrence of any Reportable Event with respect to any Plan, or any
withdrawal from, or the termination, Reorganization or Insolvency of any
Multiemployer Plan or (ii) the institution of proceedings or the taking of any
other action by the PBGC or the Company or any Commonly Controlled Entity or any
Multiemployer Plan with respect to the withdrawal from, or the terminating,
Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Plan;
(e) as soon as the Company knows or has reason to know that it or any
Subsidiary has become liable for remediation and/or environmental compliance
expenses and/or fines, penalties or other charges which, in the aggregate, are
in excess of $2,500,000 at any one time outstanding (net of all reimbursements
in respect of such amounts from any state trust funds which have been or are
reasonably expected to be made to the Company or its Subsidiaries and have been
recognized as a receivable or may properly be set off as a credit against such
liabilities in accordance with GAAP); and
-44-
(f) a material adverse change in the business, operations, property,
condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Each notice pursuant to this subsection shall be accompanied by a statement of a
Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein
and stating what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.
6.8 Environmental Laws.
------------------
(a) Comply with, and insure compliance by all tenants and subtenants, if
any, with, all Environmental Laws and obtain and comply with and maintain, and
ensure that all tenants and subtenants obtain and comply with and maintain, any
and all licenses, approvals, registrations or permits required by Environmental
Laws, except to the extent that failure to do so could not 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
all Governmental Authorities respecting Environmental Laws, except to the extent
that the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
the pendency of such proceedings could not have a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) Defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and the Banks, and
their respective 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 or noncompliance with
any Environmental Laws by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any orders,
requirements or demands of Governmental Authorities related thereto, including,
without limitation, attorney's and consultant's fees, investigation and
laboratory fees, court costs and litigation expenses, except to the extent that
any of the foregoing arise out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
the party seeking indemnification therefor.
(d) Prepare and deliver, at least as frequently as once each fiscal
quarter, to the Agent and to each other Bank, a report setting forth a summary,
as of the end of such fiscal quarter, of (i) the gross amount of all sums
accrued in respect of any remediation required by applicable Environmental Laws,
(ii) all reimbursements in respect of such amounts from any state trust funds
which have been or are reasonably expected to be made to the Company or its
Subsidiaries and have been recognized as a receivable or may properly be set off
as a credit against the cost of such remediation under GAAP and (iii) the net
amount of all sums accrued in respect of such remediation costs.
6.9 Additional Designated Subsidiaries. If, at any time following the
----------------------------------
delivery of the financial statements referred to in subsections 6.1(a) and (b),
the Company cannot (x) represent and
-45-
warrant to the Agent and the Banks as to the matters set forth in either the
second or third sentences of subsection 4.15 because a Subsidiary or certain
Subsidiaries not named a Designated Subsidiary on the Closing Date causes the
Designated Subsidiaries to fail to reach the percentage threshold set forth in
either of such sentences or (y) pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.14 of
the Senior Subordinated Indenture, is required to cause one or more of its
Subsidiaries to become an additional "Guarantor" (as defined in the Senior
Subordinated Indenture) (in either case, an "Undesignated Subsidiary"), then as
soon as possible and in any event concurrently with any actions taken in respect
thereof under the Senior Subordinated Indenture or within 15 days after the
delivery of such financial statements, (a) the Company shall deliver to the
Agent, with a counterpart for each Bank, (i) a supplement to the Subsidiary
Guarantee, satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent, whereby such
Undesignated Subsidiary guarantees the Obligations (as defined in the Subsidiary
Guarantee and subject to the Maximum Guaranteed Amount, as defined therein, with
respect to such Undesignated Subsidiary) and agrees to be bound by the terms and
conditions of the Subsidiary Guarantee, (ii) the Capital Stock of any such
Undesignated Subsidiary, pledged and delivered by the holder thereof pursuant to
a supplement to the pledge agreement to which such holder is a party, duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such holder and otherwise in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agent, (iii) a Subsidiary Security Agreement,
satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent, executed by such Undesignated
Subsidiary, and (iv) an opinion of counsel to such Undesignated Subsidiary and
such pledgor addressed to the Agent and the Banks and covering such matters as
the Agent may reasonably request and (b) Schedule VI shall be deemed amended to
include the name of such Undesignated Subsidiary.
6.10 Further Assurances. Execute and deliver such additional financing
------------------
statements, continuations of financing statements and other documents as Agent
shall reasonably request to perfect and maintain perfected Agent's security
interest in the Collateral.
SECTION 7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
The Company hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in
effect, any Note or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding and unpaid or any
other amount is owing to any Bank or the Agent hereunder, the Company shall not,
and (except with respect to subsection 7.1) shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
7.1 Financial Condition Covenants.
-----------------------------
(a) Funded Debt to Consolidated EBITDA. For any period of four
----------------------------------
consecutive fiscal quarters ending on any FQED to occur during any "Test Period"
set forth below, permit the ratio of (i) Consolidated Indebtedness at the end of
such period to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for such period to be more than the
ratio set forth opposite such Test Period:
-46-
Test Period Ratio
----------- -----
Closing Date through 2nd 4.25 to 1.00
FQED of fiscal year 1997
Commencement of 3rd fiscal 4.00 to 1.00
quarter of fiscal year 1997
through FQED of 4th fiscal
quarter of fiscal year 1997
Fiscal year 1998 3.75 to 1.00
Fiscal year 1999 and thereafter 3.25 to 1.00
(b) EBITDA to Interest Expense. For any period of four consecutive
--------------------------
fiscal quarters ending on any FQED to occur during any "Test Period" set forth
below, permit the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for the applicable period to
(ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period to be less than the ratio set
forth opposite such Test Period:
Test Period Ratio
----------- -----
Closing Date through 2nd FQED
of fiscal year 1998 2.00 to 1.00
Commencement of 3rd fiscal
quarter of fiscal year 1998
through 1st FQED of fiscal
year 1999 2.25 to 1.00
Commencement of 2nd fiscal
quarter of fiscal year 1999
and thereafter 2.50 to 1.00
-47-
(c) Fixed Charge Coverage. For any period of four consecutive fiscal
---------------------
quarters ending on any FQED to occur during any "Test Period" set forth below,
permit the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDAR minus the amount of any federal,
state and local income taxes levied by a Governmental Authority on the revenues
of the Company which are actually paid by the Company or its consolidated
Subsidiaries in cash during such period, to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense,
plus all principal payments required to be made during the period on account of
any Consolidated Indebtedness, plus the amount of any Consolidated Rent Expense
during the period, to be less than the ratio set forth opposite such Test
Period:
Test Period Ratio
----------- -----
Fiscal year 1997 1.20 to 1.00
Fiscal year 1998 1.30 to 1.00
Fiscal year 1999 1.40 to 1.00
and thereafter
(d) Maintenance of Net Worth. Permit Consolidated Net Worth of the
------------------------
Company to be less than the Minimum Consolidated Net Worth.
7.2 Limitation on Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to
--------------------------
exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness in respect of the Loans, the Notes and the Letters of
Credit and other obligations of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries
under the Loan Documents;
(b) Indebtedness of the Company to any Designated Subsidiary and of any
Designated Subsidiary to the Company or any other Designated Subsidiary;
(c) Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule
VIII; provided that no letter of credit listed on Schedule VIII shall remain
--------
outstanding beyond its stated date of termination;
(d) any Indebtedness of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary
incurred after the Closing Date to finance the acquisition, improvement or
construction of fixed or capital assets or POS Program Expenses (whether
pursuant to a loan, a Financing Lease or otherwise), including any Indebtedness
incurred in connection with any transaction permitted under subsection 7.3(g);
(e) Indebtedness of FinOp to the SBA incurred in connection with the
Company's on-going franchise program, in an aggregate amount not exceeding
$20,000,000 at any one time outstanding; and
-48-
(f) Indebtedness under any Interest Rate Agreement.
7.3 Limitation on Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any
-------------------
Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, except for:
(a) Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that adequate reserves with respect
thereto are maintained on the books of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the
case may be, in conformity with GAAP;
(b) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's or
other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not
overdue for a period of more than 60 days or which are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings;
(c) pledges or deposits in connection with workers' compensation,
unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and deposits
securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance
arrangements;
(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other
than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal
bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the
ordinary course of business;
(e) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar
encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the
aggregate, are not substantial in amount and which do not in any case materially
detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere
with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or such Subsidiary;
(f) Liens in existence on the Closing Date listed on Schedule IX,
securing Indebtedness permitted by subsection 7.2(c); provided that no such Lien
is expanded to cover any additional property after the Closing Date and that the
amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;
(g) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Company or a Designated
Subsidiary permitted by subsection 7.2(d); provided that (i) such Liens shall be
--------
created promptly upon the acquisition, improvement or completion of the
construction of such fixed or capital asset or the incurrence of such POS
Program Expense, as the case may be (and in any event no later than the earlier
of (A) twelve months from the date on which the construction of such fixed or
capital asset is completed or such POS Program Expense is incurred, and (B) 24
months from the date on which the real estate, on which such fixed or capital
asset is located, was purchased by the Company, (ii) such Liens do not at any
time encumber any property other than the property financed by such
Indebtedness, (iii) the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased,
(iv) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall at no
time exceed 100% of the original purchase price of such property, and (v) there
shall be no Liens on any of the following types of collateral, as those terms
are defined in Title 42a of the Connecticut General Statutes: inventory,
-49-
accounts or general intangibles (except Liens on general intangibles that result
from the granting of a mortgage, equipment lease financing or other equipment
financing arrangement); and
(h) Liens created under the Security Documents.
7.4 Limitation on Guarantee Obligations. Create, incur, assume or
-----------------------------------
suffer to exist any Guarantee Obligation except:
(a) the Subsidiary Guarantee;
(b) Guarantee Obligations arising from the issuance of the Letters of
Credit issued pursuant to this Agreement and any Application issued for the
account of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary in the ordinary course of
its business, not to exceed an aggregate face amount and unreimbursed
obligations of the L/C Commitment at any one time outstanding;
(c) Guarantee Obligations arising with respect to the Franchisee
Guarantees or under the Senior Subordinated Indenture; and
(d) Guarantee Obligations arising as a result of guarantees by the
Company of any Indebtedness of a consolidated Subsidiary that would appear as a
liability on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries.
7.5 Limitations on Fundamental Changes. Enter into any merger,
----------------------------------
consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or
suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer
or otherwise dispose of, all or substantially all of its property, business or
assets, or make any material change in its present method of conducting
business, except:
(a) any Subsidiary of the Company may be merged or consolidated with or
into the Company (provided that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation) or with or into any one or more wholly-owned Designated
Subsidiaries of the Company (provided that the wholly-owned Designated
Subsidiary or Designated Subsidiaries shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation and shall be a member of the Company's consolidated group for
financial reporting and tax purposes);
(b) any wholly-owned Designated Subsidiary may sell, lease, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or
otherwise) to the Company or any other wholly-owned Designated Subsidiary of the
Company; and
(c) any Subsidiary which is not a Designated Subsidiary (i) may be
merged or consolidated with or into any other Subsidiary (provided that if it is
merged or consolidated with a Designated Subsidiary, the continuing or surviving
entity must be the Designated Subsidiary) and
-50-
(ii) may liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (provided, in the case of clause
(ii) only, that the Required Banks consent to such action (which consent will
not be unreasonably withheld)).
7.6 Limitation on Sale of Assets. Convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer
----------------------------
or otherwise dispose of any of its property, business or assets (including,
without limitation, receivables and leasehold interests), whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, except:
(a) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(b) as permitted by subsection 7.5(b); and
(c) Asset Dispositions (as defined in the Senior Subordinated
Indenture), such dispositions being subject to the provisions of subsection
2.11(b) hereof, if applicabl e.
7.7 Limitation on Restricted Payments. Except as permitted by Section
---------------------------------
7.9 hereof, (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution in respect
of the Company's or any Subsidiary's Capital Stock (except (A) dividends or
distributions payable solely in the Company's or a Subsidiary's Capital Stock,
(B) options, warrants or other rights to purchase the Capital Stock of the
Company or a Subsidiary, (C) stock dividends or distributions payable from a
Subsidiary to the Company so long as any such stock dividend is pledged by the
Company pursuant to the Pledge Agreement to which the Company is a party, and
(D) non-stock dividends or distributions payable solely to the Company or to a
Subsidiary which has executed and delivered to the Agent a Subsidiary
Guarantee), or (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value,
or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for the benefit of,
any Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, either directly or
indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of the Company or any
Subsidiary (collectively, a "Restricted Payment") unless no Event of Default
will occur as a result of such Restricted Payment and such Restricted Payment,
when aggregated with all other Restricted Payments made since February 3, 1996
and any repurchase by the Company of Senior Subordinated Notes (unless required
by the Senior Subordinated Indenture to be repurchased from the Net Cash
Proceeds of an Asset Disposition), made since February 3, 1996, would not exceed
the sum of (x) 50% of Consolidated Net Income accrued on a cumulative basis from
February 3, 1996 to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to
the date of the proposed Restricted Payment (treating such period as a single
accounting period), (y) the aggregate net proceeds received by the Company from
any Person other than a Subsidiary as a result of the issuance of Capital Stock
of the Company or as a result of a capital contribution from any shareholders of
the Company, and (z) the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company is reduced
on the Company's balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a
Subsidiary) of any Indebtedness of the Company convertible into or exchangeable
for Capital Stock of the Company.
7.8 Limitation on Capital Expenditures. Make or commit to make (by way
----------------------------------
of the acquisition of securities of a Person or otherwise) any Capital
Expenditures (excluding any expenses incurred in connection with normal
replacement and maintenance programs properly charged to
-51-
current operations) in the aggregate for the Company and its Subsidiaries during
any of the fiscal years of the Company set forth below in an amount in excess of
that set forth opposite such fiscal year:
MAXIMUM CAPITAL
---------------
FISCAL YEAR EXPENDITURES
----------- ------------
1997 $28,500,000
Each fiscal year
thereafter $28,000,000
provided, however, that in the event the Company and its Subsidiaries shall make
- - --------
Capital Expenditures in any fiscal year of less than the maximum amount set
forth above, an amount equal to the difference between such maximum amount and
the actual Capital Expenditures made during such fiscal year shall be available
(in addition to the maximum amount stated above) to the Company for Capital
Expenditures during (but only during) the immediately following fiscal year.
7.9 Limitation on Investments, Loans and Advances. Make any advance,
---------------------------------------------
loan, extension of credit or capital contribution to, or purchase any stock,
bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of or any assets constituting a
business unit of, or make any other investment in (each, an "Investment"), any
Person, except:
(a) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;
(b) Investments in Cash Equivalents;
(c) loans and advances to employees of the company or its Subsidiaries
in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount for the Company and
its Subsidiaries not to exceed $1,500,000 in the aggregate or $500,000 for any
one employee, at any one time outstanding (including the principal amount of the
loans listed on Schedule X hereto);
(d) Investments by the Company in its Subsidiaries and investments by a
Designated Subsidiary in the Company and in other Designated Subsidiaries (other
than, in either case, any investments in FinOp); provided that any Designated
Subsidiary making an investment or receiving the proceeds thereof is a member of
the company consolidated group for financial reporting and tax purposes;
(e) Investments after the date hereof by the Company or any Designated
Subsidiary in FinOp in an aggregate amount of up to $2,500,000;
-52-
(f) Investments by the Insurance Subsidiary of its statutory or
regulatory reserves in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation;
(g) Investments of amounts held in depositary accounts in financial
institutions geographically proximate to the location of the Company's or a
Subsidiary's retail operations; provided that such amounts are withdrawn from
such accounts and deposited into the Company's cash concentration account at
least once during each seven-day period;
(h) Investments as a result of stock repurchases permitted by subsection
7.7;
(i) Investments by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary (other than
a Permitted Joint Venture Investment) in any Person not a Subsidiary on the
Closing Date; provided that (i) any such Investment (whether made in one
transaction or a series of transactions) does not exceed $2,000,000
(inclusive of commissions, fees and other transaction costs, but not
including any portion of the Investments with respect to which the
consideration is the capital stock of the Company), (ii) all such
Investments made after the Closing Date do not exceed $5,000,000 in the
aggregate (inclusive of commissions, fees and other transaction costs, but
not including any portion of the Investments with respect to which the
consideration is the capital stock of the Company), (iii) any such acquired
Person that is a Subsequently Acquired Subsidiary executes and delivers to
the Agent, with a counterpart for each Bank, a supplement to the Subsidiary
Guarantee, satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent, whereby such
Subsequently Acquired Subsidiary guarantees the Obligations (as defined in
the Subsidiary Guarantee subject to the Maximum Guaranteed Amount, as
defined therein, with respect to such Subsequently Acquired Subsidiary) and
agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Subsidiary Guarantee,
(iv) the Capital Stock of any such acquired Person is pledged and delivered
by the holder thereof pursuant to a supplement to the Pledge Agreement to
which such holder is a party, duly authorized, executed and delivered by
such holder and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent,
(v) any such acquired Person executes a Subsidiary Security Agreement, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, and (vi) in connection with
the matters contemplated by the foregoing clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) the
Person executing such supplement contemporaneously therewith causes to be
delivered an opinion of counsel to such Person so executing such supplement
and such pledgor, addressed to the Agent and the Banks and covering such
matters as the Agent may request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company or any Subsidiary shall not make any Investment any Person which
exceeds one percent of the voting power represented by the Capital Stock
then outstanding of such Person if the Board of Directors or other
governing body of such Person has disapproved or recommended against any
such Investment or refused to negotiate or terminated negotiations with the
Company or such Subsidiary; and
(i) Permitted Joint Venture Investments.
-53-
7.10 Limitation on Optional Payments and Modifications of Debt
---------------------------------------------------------
Instruments. (a) Make any optional payment or prepayment on or redemption of
- - -----------
any Indebtedness other than Indebtedness under this Agreement and the repayment
of the indebtedness evidenced by the Company's existing Credit Agreement with
Society National Bank n/k/a Key Bank, including, without limitation (except to
the extent permitted by subsection 7.7), the Senior Subordinated Notes; (b)
amend, modify or change, or consent or agree to any amendment, modification or
change to any of the terms of the Senior Subordinated Notes or the Senior
Subordinated Indenture, including, without limitation, any amendment to the
subordination provisions thereof; or (c) amend, modify or change, or consent or
agree to any amendment, modification or change to, any of the terms relating to
the payment or prepayment of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness (other
than Indebtedness pursuant to this Agreement or the Senior Subordinated Notes),
other than, with respect to the Indebtedness described in the foregoing clauses
(b) and (c), any such amendment, modification or change the primary effect of
which would extend the maturity or reduce the amount of any payment of principal
thereof or the primary effect of which would reduce the rate or extend the date
for payment of interest thereon.
7.11 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction,
----------------------------
including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, Lease or exchange of property
or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate unless such transaction is
not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement, is in the ordinary course of the
Company's or such Subsidiary's business (including in connection with the
Company's on-going franchise program) and is upon fair and reasonable terms no
less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary, a the case may be, than it
would obtain in a comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not an
Affiliate.
7.12 Sale and Leaseback. Enter into any arrangement with any Person
------------------
providing for the leasing by the Company or any Subsidiary of real or personal
property which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such
Subsidiary to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been or are
to be advanced by such Person on the security of such property or rental
obligations of the Company or such Subsidiary (a "Sale/Leaseback Transaction")
unless (a) the proceeds received therefrom are not required by subsections 2.11
and 7.6 to be applied to prepay the Loans, or (b) the proceeds received
therefrom are applied, if so required under subsections 2.11 and 7.6, to prepay
the Loans in accordance with such subsections.
7.13 Corporate Documents; Name/Location of Assets. (a) Amend its
--------------------------------------------
Certificate of Incorporation (except to increase the number of authorized shares
of common stock) or (b) do any of the following, unless, in each case, it shall
provide the Agent with at least 30 days prior written notice of such action: (i)
change its corporate name; (ii) change the location of its inventory or
equipment; (iii) change the location of the office where it maintains its
records pertaining to its accounts; (iv) change the location of its existing
places of business or open any new places of business; or (v) change the
location of its chief executive office; provided, however, that anything herein
to the contrary notwithstanding (A) in the alternative, with respect to store
openings and closings, the Company may satisfy the requirements of this
subsection by submitting to the Agent, on a quarterly basis, a list of all
stores opened and closed, and (B) with respect to moving Collateral,
-54-
no notice need be provided pursuant to this subsection so long as either (i) the
Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, executes and delivers to the Agent
a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement appropriate for filing to perfect
the Agent's security interest in the Collateral in its new location, or (ii) the
Agent has previously filed a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement which
perfects the Agent's security interest in the Collateral in its new location.
As used herein, "inventory," "equipment" and accounts have the respective
meanings ascribed to them in Title 42a of the Connecticut General Statutes. In
the event that the Company sells or franchises a store or any Collateral
contained therein to a purchaser or franchisee in the ordinary course of the
Company's business, the Agent shall, provided no Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, promptly execute and deliver to the Company appropriate
Uniform Commercial Code termination statements terminating the Agent's security
interest in such store or Collateral.
7.14 Fiscal Year. Permit the fiscal year of the Company to end on a
-----------
day other than on the Saturday closest to January 31 of each calendar year.
7.15 Limitation on Negative Pledge Clauses. Enter into any agreement,
-------------------------------------
other than (i) as permitted by this Agreement and (ii) any industrial revenue
bonds, purchase money or other mortgages, the Senior Subordinated Indenture or a
lease the obligations of which are required in accordance with GAAP to be
capitalized on a balance sheet of the Company (in which cases, any prohibition
or limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby), with
any Person other than the Banks pursuant hereto which prohibits or limits the
ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired.
SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:
(a) The Company shall fail to pay any principal of any Note or any
Reimbursement Obligation when due in accordance with the terms thereof or
hereof; or the Company shall fail to pay any interest on any Note or any
Reimbursement Obligation, or any other amount payable hereunder, within five
days after any such interest or other amount becomes due in accordance with the
terms thereof or hereof; or
(b) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Company or
any Subsidiary in any Loan Document to which the Company or such Subsidiary is a
party or which is contained in any certificate, document or financial or other
statement furnished at any time under or in connection with this Agreement or
any other Loan Document shall prove to have been incorrect in any material
respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or
(c) The Company shall default in the observance or performance of any
agreement contained in Section 6 (other than subsection 6.7) and Section 7; or
-55-
(d) The Company shall default in the observance or performance of any
other agreement contained in this Agreement (other than as provided in
paragraphs (a) through (c) of this subsection), and such default shall continue
unremedied for a period of 30 days after the earlier of (i) an officer of the
Company becomes aware of such default or (ii) notice of such default to the
Company by Agent or any Bank; or
(e) Any Subsidiary shall default in the observance or performance of any
agreement contained in any Loan Document to which it is a party, and such
default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after the earlier of
(i) an officer of any such Subsidiary becomes aware of such default or (ii)
notice of such default to such Subsidiary by Agent or any Bank; or
(f) The Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) default in any
payment of principal of or interest of any Indebtedness (other than the Notes)
which has an aggregate principal amount in excess of $500,000, individually or
in the aggregate, or in the payment of any Guarantee Obligation under which the
maximum liability of the Company or such Subsidiary exceeds $500,000,
individually or in the aggregate, beyond the period of grace (not to exceed 30
days), if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such
Indebtedness or Guarantee Obligation was created; or (ii) default in the
observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any
such Indebtedness or Guarantee Obligation 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 Indebtedness
or beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee Obligation (or a trustee or
agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to
cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due
prior to its stated maturity or such Guarantee Obligation to become payable; or
(g) (i) The Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall commence any case,
proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any
jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or relief' of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief
entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent,
or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation,
dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B)
seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official
for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors; or (ii) there shall be commenced against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in
clause (i) above which (A) results in the entry of an order for relief or any
such adjudication or appointment or (B) remains undismissed, undischarged or
unbonded for a period of 60 days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries any case, proceeding or other action seeking
issuance of a warrant of attachment, execution, distraint or similar process
against all or any substantial part of its assets which results in the entry of
an order for any such relief which shall not have been vacated, discharged, or
stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or (iv)
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall take any action
-56-
in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence
in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i),(ii), or (iii) above, or (v) the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall generally not, or shall be unable to,
or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or
(h) (i) Any Person shall engage in any "prohibited transaction" (as
defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Plan,
(ii) any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA),
whether waived or not, shall exist with respect to any Plan, (iii) a Reportable
Event shall occur with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a
trustee appointed, or a trustee shall be appointed, to administer or to
terminate, any Single Employer Plan, which Reportable Event or commencement of
proceedings or appointment of a trustee is, in the reasonable opinion of the
Required Banks, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of
Title IV of ERISA, (iv) any Single Employer Plan shall terminate for purposes of
Title IV of ERISA, (v) the Company or any Commonly Controlled Entity shall, or
in the reasonable opinion of the Required Banks is likely to, incur any
liability in connection with a withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or
Reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan or (vi) any other event or condition
shall occur or exist, with respect to a Plan; and in each case in clauses (i)
through (vi) above, such event or condition, together with all other such events
or conditions, if any, could subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
any tax, penalty or other liabilities in the aggregate material in relation to
the business, operations, property or financial or other condition of the
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or
(i) One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries involving in the aggregate a liability (to
the extent not paid or covered by insurance) of $1,000,000 or more and all such
judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded
pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or
(j) If at any time the Company or all or any of its Subsidiaries shall
become liable for remediation and/or environmental compliance expenses and/or
fines, penalties or other charges which, in the aggregate, are in excess of
$3,000,000 at any one time outstanding (net of all reimbursements in respect of
such amounts from any state trust funds which have been or are reasonably
expected to be made to the Company or its Subsidiaries and have been recognized
as a receivable or may properly be set off as a credit against such liabilities
under GAAP); or
(k) A Change of Control shall have occurred; or
(l) The Subsidiary Guarantee or any other Guarantee Obligation in
respect of the Company's Indebtedness hereunder shall be held in any judicial
proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in
full force and effect, or any Person having a Guarantee Obligation in respect of
the Company's Indebtedness hereunder, including without limitation each
Designated Subsidiary (or any Person acting on behalf of any such Person) shall
deny or disaffirm such Guarantee Obligation.
-57-
then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified
in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (g) above with respect to the Company,
automatically the Commitments shall immediately terminate and the Loans
hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this
Agreement (including, without limitation, all amounts of L/C Obligations,
regardless of whether the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of
Credit shall have presented the documents required thereunder) and the Notes
shall immediately become due and payable, and (B) if such event is any other
Event of Default, either or both of the following actions may be taken: (i) with
the consent of the Required Banks, the Agent may, or upon the request of the
Required Banks, the Agent shall, by notice to the Company declare the
Commitments to be terminated forthwith, whereupon the Commitments shall
immediately terminate; and (ii) with the consent of the Required Banks, the
Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Banks, the Agent shall, by notice
of default to the Company, declare the Loans hereunder (with accrued interest
thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement (including, without
limitation, all amounts of L/C Obligations, regardless of whether the
beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented the
documents required thereunder) and the Notes to be due and payable forthwith,
whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable.
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, the Company shall at such time deposit in a cash collateral
account to be opened by the Agent (the "Cash Collateral Account") an amount
equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of
Credit. The Company hereby grants to the Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing
Bank and the L/C Participants, a security interest in the Cash Collateral
Account and all amounts from time to time on deposit therein to secure all
obligations of the Company in respect of such Letters of Credit under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Company shall execute and deliver
to the Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank and the L/C Participants, such
further documents and instruments as the Agent may request to evidence the
creation and perfection of such security interest in the Cash Collateral
Account. Amounts held in the Cash Collateral Account shall be applied by the
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 other obligations of
the Company hereunder and under the Notes. After all such Letters of Credit
shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, all Reimbursement Obligations shall
have been satisfied and all other obligations of the Company hereunder and under
the Notes shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in the Cash
Collateral Account shall be returned to the Company.
Except as expressly provided above in this Section, presentment, demand,
protest and all other notices of any kind are hereby expressly waived.
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SECTION 9. THE AGENT
9.1 Appointment. Each Bank hereby irrevocably designates and appoints
-----------
Bank of Boston Connecticut as the Agent of such Bank under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, 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 Agent by the terms of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto.
9.2 Delegation of Duties. The Agent may execute any of its 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 Agent shall not be responsible for the
negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with
reasonable care.
9.3 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Agent nor any of its officers,
----------------------
directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates shall be (i)
liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person
under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except
for its or such Person's own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii)
responsible in any manner to any of the Banks for any recitals, statements,
representations or warranties made by the Company or any officer thereof
contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any certificate,
report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received
by the Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability
or sufficiency of this Agreement or the Notes or any other Loan Document or for
any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.
The Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Bank to ascertain or to
inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained
in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect
the properties, books or records of the Company.
9.4 Reliance by Agent. The 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
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 Company), independent accountants and other experts
selected by the Agent. The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the
owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment,
negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Agent. The Agent
shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice
or concurrence of the Required Banks as it deems appropriate or it shall first
be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Banks against any and all liability
-59-
and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to
take any such action. The Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting,
or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the Notes and the other
Loan Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Banks, and such
request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding
upon all the Banks and all future holders of the Notes.
9.5 Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge
-----------------
or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless
the Agent has received notice from a Bank or the Company 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 Agent receives such a
notice, the Agent shall give notice thereof to the Banks. The Agent shall take
such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be
reasonably directed by the Required Banks; provided that unless and until the
Agent shall have received such directions, the 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 Banks.
9.6 Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Banks. Each Bank expressly
-------------------------------------
acknowledges that neither the Agent nor any of its officers, directors,
employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates has made any representations
or warranties to it and that no act by the Agent hereinafter taken, including
any review of the affairs of the Company, shall be deemed to constitute any
representation or warranty by the Agent to any Bank. Each Bank represents to the
Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any
other Bank, 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 credit worthiness of the
Company and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into
this Agreement. Each Bank also represents that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Agent or any other Bank, 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, and keep itself informed,
as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of the Company. Except for notices, reports and other documents
expressly required to be furnished to the Banks by the Agent hereunder, the
Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Bank with any
credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property,
condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of the Company
which may come into the possession of the Agent or any of its officers,
directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates.
9.7 Indemnification. The Banks agree to indemnify the Agent in its
---------------
capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Company and without
limiting the obligation of the Company to do so), ratably according to the
respective amounts of their original Commitments, 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
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limitation, at any time following the payment of the Notes) be imposed on,
incurred by or asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out
of this Agreement, any of 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 Agent under or in connection with
any of the foregoing; provided that no Bank shall be liable for the payment of
any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting solely
from the Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this
subsection shall survive the payment of the Notes and all other amounts payable
hereunder.
9.8 Agent in Its Individual Capacity. The Agent and its Affiliates may
--------------------------------
make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business
with the Company as though the Agent were not the Agent hereunder and under the
other Loan Documents. With respect to its Loans made or renewed by it and any
Note issued to it and with respect to any Letter of Credit issued or
participated in by it, the Agent shall have the same rights and powers under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any Bank and may exercise the
same as though it were not the Agent, and the terms "Bank" and "Banks" shall
include the Agent in its individual capacity.
9.9 Successor Agent. The Agent may resign as Agent upon 10 days' notice
---------------
to the Banks. If the Agent shall resign as Agent under this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents, then the Required Banks shall appoint a Successor Agent,
whereupon such Successor Agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of
the Agent, and the term "Agent" shall mean such Successor Agent effective upon
its appointment, and the former Agent's rights, powers and duties as Agent shall
be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such
former Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement or any holders of the
Notes. After any retiring Agent's resignation as Agent, the provisions of this
subsection shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be
taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Amendments and Waivers. Neither this Agreement, any Note, any
----------------------
other Loan Document nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented
or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. With
the written consent of the Agent and the Required Banks, the Agent and the
Company may, from time to time, enter into written amendments, supplements or
modifications hereto and to the Notes and the other Loan Documents for the
purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan
Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Banks or of the Company
hereunder or thereunder or waiving, on such terms and conditions as the Agent
may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement, the
Notes or the other Loan Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its
consequences; provided, however, that no such waiver and no such amendment,
supplement or modification shall (a) reduce the amount or extend the maturity of
any Note or any installment thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of
payment of interest thereon, or reduce
-61-
any fee payable to any Bank hereunder, or change the amount of any Bank's
Commitment, in each case without the consent of the Bank affected thereby, or
(b) amend, modify or waive any provision of this subsection or reduce the
percentage specified in the definition of Required Banks, or consent to the
assignment or transfer by the Company of any of its rights and obligations under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or release any of the Collateral, in
each case without the written consent of the Agent and all the Banks, or (c)
amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 9 without the written consent of
the then Agent. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or
modification shall apply equally to each of the Banks and shall be binding upon
the Company, the Banks, the Agent and all future holders of the Notes. In the
case of any waiver, the Company, the Banks and the Agent shall be restored to
their former position and rights hereunder and under the outstanding Notes and
any other Loan Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be
deemed to be cured and not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other Default or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent
thereon.
10.2 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the
-------
respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by
telecopy, telegraph or telex), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein,
shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered by hand, or three
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of
telecopy notice, when received, or, in the case of telegraphic notice, when
delivered to the telegraph company, or, in the case of telex notice, when sent,
answer back received, addressed as follows in the case of the Company and the
Agent, and as set forth in Schedule I in the case of the other parties hereto,
or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties
hereto and any future holders of the Notes:
The Company: Dairy Mart Convenience Stores, Inc.
One Vision Drive
Enfield, Connecticut 06082
Attention: Gregory G. Landry
Telephone: (860) 741-4502
Telecopy: (860) 741-4467
The Agent: Bank of Boston Connecticut
100 Pearl Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
Attention: Scott S. Barnett
Telephone: (860) 727-6557
Telecopy: (860) 727-6575
provided that any notice, request or demand to or upon the Agent or the Banks
pursuant to subsections 2.4, 2.5, 2.9, 2.14 or 2.15 shall not be effective until
received.
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10.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no
------------------------------
delay in exercising, on the part of the Agent or any Bank, any right, remedy,
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges
herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers
and privileges provided by law.
10.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations
------------------------------------------
and warranties made hereunder and in any document, certificate or statement
delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes.
10.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes. The Company agrees, within 15 days
-----------------------------
after demand, (a) to pay or reimburse the Agent for all its out-of-pocket costs
and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation and
execution of, and any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement,
the Notes and the other Loan Documents and any other documents prepared in
connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Agent, (b) to pay or reimburse each Bank and the
Agent for all its costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement
or preservation of any rights under this Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan
Documents and any such other documents, including, without limitation, fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Agent and to the several Banks, and (c) to pay,
indemnify, and hold each Bank and the Agent harmless from, any and all recording
and filing fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from
any delay in paying, stamp, excise and other taxes, if any, which may be payable
or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment,
supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of,
this Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan Documents and any such other
documents, and (d) to pay, indemnify and hold each Bank harmless from any and
all fees, costs and expenses incurred by any such Bank after the occurrence and
throughout the continuance of an Event of Default in connection with any
inspection or examination pursuant to subsection 6.6, and (e) to pay, indemnify,
and hold each Bank and the Agent (and their respective directors, officers,
employees and agents) harmless from and against any and all other liabilities,
obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs,
expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the
execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this
Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents (all
the foregoing, collectively, the "indemnified liabilities"); provided, that the
Company shall have no obligation hereunder to the Agent or any Bank with respect
to indemnified liabilities arising from (i) the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Agent or any such Bank (or any of their respective directors,
officers, employees or agents), (ii) legal proceedings commenced against the
Agent or any such Bank by any security holder or creditor thereof arising out of
and based upon rights afforded any such security holder or creditor solely in
its capacity as such, or (iii) legal proceedings commenced, against the Agent or
any
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such Bank by any other Bank or by any Transferee. The agreement in this
subsection shall survive repayment of the Notes and all other amounts payable
hereunder.
10.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations; Purchasing Banks.
--------------------------------------------------------
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Company, the Banks, the Agent, all future holders of the Notes and their
respective successors and assigns, except that the Company may not assign or
transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior
written consent of each Bank.
(b) Without the consent of the Company, any Bank may, in the ordinary
course of its commercial banking business and in accordance with applicable law,
at any time sell to one or more banks or other entities (other than any entity
which, to the knowledge of such Bank, is a competitor of the Company or an
Affiliate of such a competitor ("Participants")) participating interests in any
Loan owing to such Bank, any Note held by such Bank, any Commitment of such Bank
or any other interest of such Bank hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.
In the event of any such sale by a Bank of participating interests to a
Participant, such Bank's obligations under this Agreement to the other parties
to this Agreement shall remain unchanged, such Bank shall remain solely
responsible for the performance thereof, such Bank shall remain the holder of
any such Note for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, and the Company and the Agent shall continue to deal solely and
directly with such Bank in connection with such Bank's rights and obligations
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Company agrees that if
amounts outstanding under this Agreement and the Notes are due or unpaid, or
shall have been declared or shall have become due and payable upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default, each Participant shall be deemed to have the
right of set off in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under
this Agreement and any Note to the same extent as if the amount of its
participating interest were owing directly to it as a Bank under this Agreement
or any Note; provided that such Participant shall only be entitled to such right
of set off if it shall have agreed in the agreement pursuant to which it shall
have acquired its participating interest to share with the Banks the proceeds
thereof as provided in subsection 10.7. The Company also agrees that each
Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of subsections 2.16, 2.17, 2.18,
2.19 and 10.5 with respect to its participation in the Commitments and the Loans
outstanding from time to time; provided, that no Participant shall be entitled
to receive any greater amount pursuant to such subsections than the transferor
Bank would have been entitled to receive in respect of the amount of the
participation transferred by such transferor Bank to such Participant had no
such transfer occurred.
(c) Any Bank may, in the ordinary course of its commercial banking
business and in accordance with applicable law, at any time sell to any Bank or
any affiliate thereof and, with the consent of the Agent and (so long as no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) the Company if a Purchasing
Bank (as hereinafter defined) is not then a Bank party to this Agreement (which
shall not be unreasonably withheld), to one or more additional banks or
financial institutions ("Purchasing Banks") all or any part of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the Notes
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in the minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof, pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance executed
by such Purchasing Bank, such transferor Bank (and, in the case of a Purchasing
Bank that is not then a Bank or an affiliate thereof, by the Company and the
Agent) and delivered to the Agent for its acceptance and recording in the
Register. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and
after the effective date of such Assignment and Acceptance, (x) the Purchasing
Bank thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent provided in such
Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Bank hereunder
with a Commitment as set forth therein, and (y) the transferor Bank thereunder
shall, to the extent provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, be released
from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and
Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of a transferor Bank's rights
and obligations under this Agreement, such transferor Bank shall cease to be a
party hereto). Such Assignment and Acceptance shall be deemed to amend this
Agreement to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to reflect the
addition of such Purchasing Bank and the resulting adjustment of the appropriate
Commitment Percentages arising from the purchase by such Purchasing Bank of all
or a portion of the rights and obligations of such transferor Bank under this
Agreement and the Notes. On or prior to the effective date of such Assignment
and Acceptance, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Agent in exchange
for the Revolving Credit Note a new Revolving Credit Note to the order of such
Purchasing Bank in an amount equal to the Commitment assumed by it pursuant to
such Assignment and Acceptance and, if the transferor Bank has retained a
Commitment hereunder, new Notes to the order of the transferor Bank in an amount
equal to the Commitment retained by it hereunder. Such new Notes shall be dated
the Closing Date, and shall otherwise be in the form of the Notes replaced
thereby. The Notes surrendered by the transferor Bank shall be returned by the
Agent to the Company marked "canceled".
(d) The Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in subsection
10.2 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register
(the "Register") for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Banks and
the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Bank from
time to time. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, in the absence of
manifest error, and the Company, the Agent and the Banks may treat each Person
whose name is recorded in the Register as the owner of the Loan recorded therein
for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for
inspection by the Company or any Bank at any reasonable time and from time to
time upon reasonable prior notice.
(e) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by a
transferor Bank and Purchasing Bank (and, in the case of a Purchasing Bank that
is not then a Bank or an affiliate thereof, by the Company and the Agent)
together with, if such Purchasing Bank is not then a Bank hereunder, payment by
the transferor Bank and/or the Purchasing Bank of a registration and processing
fee of $2,500, the Agent shall (i) promptly accept such Assignment and
Acceptance, and (ii) on the effective date of such Assignment and Acceptance,
record the information contained therein in the Register and give notice of such
acceptance and recordation to the Banks and the Company.
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(f) The Company authorizes each Bank to disclose to any Participant or
Purchasing Bank (each, a "Transferee") and any prospective Transferee any and
all financial information in such Bank's possession concerning the Company and
its affiliates which has been delivered to such Bank by or on behalf of the
Company pursuant to this Agreement or which has been delivered to such Bank by
or on behalf of the Company in connection with such Bank's credit evaluation of
the Company and its affiliates prior to becoming a party to this Agreement;
provided, that, prior to receiving such information, such Transferee shall agree
to hold in confidence all confidential material or proprietary information
obtained by such Transferee with respect to the Company's business operations
that is plainly marked by the provider of such material or information as
confidential or proprietary except (a) to the extent that the production of such
information is required pursuant to any statute, ordinance, regulation, rule or
order or any subpoena or any governmental authority or by reason of any bank
regulation in connection with any bank examination, (b) to the extent already
publicly disclosed and (c) that any Bank shall not be prohibited from disclosing
any such information to any of their agents, attorneys, accountants,
consultants, participants, assignees, or prospective participants, who are aware
of such Bank's covenant in this subsection and who have agreed with such Bank,
for the benefit of the Company, to comply with such covenant. The Company
acknowledges that Bank of Boston Connecticut intends to make assignments of its
interests hereunder, and agrees to cooperate with the reasonable requests of
Bank of Boston Connecticut for the purpose of providing relevant financial
information to prospective Transferees, including making officers and employees
of the Company available to discuss such financial information with prospective
Transferees during normal business hours.
(g) If, pursuant to this subsection, any interest in this Agreement or
any Note is transferred to any Transferee which is organized under the laws of
any jurisdiction other than the United States or any state thereof, the
transferor Bank shall cause such Transferee, concurrently with the effectiveness
of such transfer, (i) to represent to the transferor Bank (for the benefit of
the transferor Bank, the Agent and the Company) that under applicable law and
treaties no taxes will be required to be withheld by the Agent, the Company or
the transferor Bank with respect to any payments to be made to such Transferee
in respect of the Loans, (ii) to furnish to the transferor Bank (and, in the
case of any Purchasing Bank registered in the Register, the Agent and the
Company) either (A) United States Internal Revenue Service Form 4224 or United
States Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or (B) United States Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8 or W-9, as applicable (wherein such Transferee claims
entitlement to complete exemption from United States federal withholding tax on
all interest payments hereunder), and (iii) to agree (for the benefit of the
transferor Bank, the Agent and the Company) to provide the transferor Bank (and,
in the case of any Purchasing Bank registered in the Register, the Agent and the
Company) a new Form 4224 or Form 1001 or Form W-8 or W-9, as applicable, upon
the expiration or obsolescence of any previously delivered form and comparable
statements in accordance with applicable United States laws and regulations and
amendments duly executed and completed by such Transferee, and to comply from
time to time with all applicable United States laws and regulations with regard
to such withholding tax exemption.
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(h) Nothing herein shall prohibit any Bank from pledging or assigning
any Note to any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with applicable law.
10.7 Adjustments; Set-off.
--------------------
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.14(b), if any Bank (a
"benefitted Bank") shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of its
Loans or the Reimbursement Obligations owing to it, or interest thereon, or
receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily,
by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in
subsection 8(g), or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to
or collateral received by any other Bank, if any, in respect of Loans or
Reimbursement Obligations owing to it, or interest thereon, then such benefitted
Bank shall purchase for cash from the other Bank such portion of such other
Bank's Loans or the Reimbursement Obligations owing to it, or shall provide such
other Bank with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as
shall be necessary to cause such benefitted Bank to share the excess payment or
benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the other Banks;
provided however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits
- - -------- -------
is thereafter recovered from such benefitted Bank, such purchase shall be
rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such
recovery, but without interest. The Company agrees that each Bank so purchasing
a portion of another Bank's Loan or the Reimbursement Obligations owing to it
may exercise all rights of payment (including, without limitation, rights of
set-off) with respect to such portion as fully as if such Bank were the direct
holder of such portion.
(b) In addition to any rights and remedies of the Banks provided by law,
each Bank shall have the right, without prior notice to the Company, any such
notice being expressly waived by the Company to the extent permitted by
applicable law, upon any amount becoming due and payable by the Company
hereunder or under the Notes (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) to set-off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all
deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any
currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in
each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or
unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Bank to or for the credit or the
account of the Company. Each Bank agrees promptly to notify the Company and the
Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Bank; provided that
--------
the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off
and application.
10.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of
------------
the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts, and all of
said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties
shall be lodged with the Company and the Agent.
10.9 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited
------------
or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
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unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any
such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
10.10 Integration. This Agreement represents the agreement of the
-----------
Company, the Agent and the Banks with respect to the subject matter hereof, and
there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Agent
or any Bank relative to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or
referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.
10.11 Governing Law. This Agreement and the Notes and the rights and
-------------
obligations of the parties under this Agreement and the Notes shall be governed
by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of
Connecticut.
10.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. The Company hereby
-----------------------------------
irrevocably and unconditionally:
(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or
proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it
is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect
thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of
Connecticut, the courts of the United States of America for the District of
Connecticut, and appellate courts from any thereof;
(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such
courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue
of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or
proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim
the same;
(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may
be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any
substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the Company at its
address set forth in subsection 10.2 or at such other address of which the Agent
shall have been notified pursuant thereto;
(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service
of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue
in any other jurisdiction; and
(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it
may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in
this subsection any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.
10.13 Acknowledgments. The Company hereby acknowledges that:
---------------
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(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents;
(b) neither the Agent nor any Bank has any fiduciary relationship to the
Company, and the relationship between Agent and Banks, on one hand, and Company,
on the other hand, is solely that of debtor and creditor; and
(c) no joint venture exists among the Banks or among the Company and the
Banks.
10.14 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL; COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS. (A) THE COMPANY,
----------------------------------------------
THE AGENT AND THE BANKS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY
JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR
ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
(B) THE COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE LOANS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE
COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE MEANING OF CHAPTER 903A OF THE CONNECTICUT
GENERAL STATUTES.
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DAIRY MART CONVENIENCE STORES, INC.
/s/ Gregory Wozniak
By:-----------------------------------------
Name: Gregory Wozniak
Title: Vice President and Corporate Counsel
BANK OF BOSTON CONNECTICUT,
Individually and as Agent
/s/ Scott S. Barnett
By:------------------------------------------
Name: Scott S. Barnett
Title: Vice President
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