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Exhibit 10.41
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RECEIVABLES LOAN AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF MAY 18, 1999
AMONG
EAGLE-PICHER ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION,
AS THE BORROWER,
EAGLE-PICHER INDUSTRIES, INC.,
AS THE INITIAL COLLECTION AGENT,
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,
AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND
AS THE AMSTERDAM LENDER AGENT,
THE LENDER AGENTS FROM TIME TO TIME
PARTY HERETO,
THE RELATED BANK
LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,
AMSTERDAM FUNDING CORPORATION,
AS A CONDUIT LENDER
AND
THE OTHER CONDUIT LENDERS FROM TIME
TO TIME PARTY HERETO
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I LOANS TO BORROWER AND SETTLEMENTS......................................................1
Section 1.1. Loans..................................................................................1
Section 1.2. Interim Liquidations...................................................................3
Section 1.3. Selection of Interest Rates and Periods................................................3
Section 1.4. Interest, Fees and Other Costs and Expenses............................................3
Section 1.5. Maintenance of Secured Interest; Deemed Collection.....................................4
Section 1.6. Reduction in Loan Commitments..........................................................5
Section 1.7. Optional Prepayments...................................................................5
Section 1.8. Assignment of each Purchase Agreement..................................................5
Section 1.9. Extension of Termination Date..........................................................5
ARTICLE II SALES TO AND FROM LENDERS; ALLOCATIONS.................................................6
Section 2.1. Transfer of Conduit Lender Loans.......................................................6
Section 2.2. Lender Reporting.......................................................................6
Section 2.3. Allocations and Distributions..........................................................6
ARTICLE III ADMINISTRATION AND COLLECTIONS.........................................................7
Section 3.1. Appointment of Collection Agent........................................................7
Section 3.2. Duties of Collection Agent.............................................................8
Section 3.3. Reports................................................................................9
Section 3.4. Lock-Box Arrangements..................................................................9
Section 3.5. Enforcement Rights....................................................................10
Section 3.6. Collection Agent Fee..................................................................10
Section 3.7. Responsibilities of the Borrower......................................................11
Section 3.8. Actions by Borrower...................................................................11
Section 3.9. Indemnities by the Collection Agent...................................................11
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........................................................12
Section 4.1. Representations and Warranties........................................................12
ARTICLE V COVENANTS.............................................................................14
Section 5.1. Covenants of the Borrower.............................................................14
ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION.......................................................................18
Section 6.1. Indemnities by the Borrower...........................................................18
Section 6.2. Increased Cost and Reduced Return.....................................................20
Section 6.3. Other Costs and Expenses..............................................................21
Section 6.4. Withholding Taxes.....................................................................21
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Section 6.5. Payments and Allocations..............................................................22
ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT..................................................................22
Section 7.1. Conditions to Closing.................................................................22
Section 7.2. Conditions to Each Loan...............................................................23
ARTICLE IX THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT..............................................................24
Section 8.1. Appointment and Authorization.........................................................24
Section 8.2. Delegation of Duties..................................................................25
Section 8.3. Exculpatory Provisions................................................................25
Section 8.4. Reliance by Agents....................................................................25
Section 8.5. Assumed Payments......................................................................26
Section 8.6. Notice of Termination Events..........................................................26
Section 8.7. Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders................................27
Section 8.8. Agents and Affiliates.................................................................27
Section 8.9. Indemnification.......................................................................27
Section 8.10. Successor Administrative Agent........................................................28
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS.........................................................................28
Section 9.1. Termination...........................................................................28
Section 9.2. Notices...............................................................................28
Section 9.3. Payments and Computations.............................................................29
Section 9.4. Sharing of Recoveries.................................................................29
Section 9.5. Right of Setoff.......................................................................29
Section 9.6. Amendments............................................................................29
Section 9.7. Waivers...............................................................................30
Section 9.8. Successors and Assigns; Participations; Assignments...................................30
Section 9.9. Intended Tax Characterization.........................................................31
Section 9.10. Confidentiality.......................................................................31
Section 9.11. Reserved..............................................................................31
Section 9.11. Confidentiality of Agreement..........................................................31
Section 9.12. Agreement Not to Petition.............................................................32
Section 9.13. Excess Funds..........................................................................32
Section 9.14. No Recourse...........................................................................32
Section 9.15. Headings; Counterparts................................................................32
Section 9.16. Cumulative Rights and Severability....................................................33
Section 9.17. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.............................................33
SECTION 9.18. WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY...............................................................33
Section 9.19. Entire Agreement......................................................................33
signature........................................................................................................34
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SCHEDULES DESCRIPTION
Schedule I Definitions
Schedule II Related Bank Lenders and Loan Commitments
of Related Bank Lenders
EXHIBITS DESCRIPTION
Exhibit A Form of Incremental Loan Request
Exhibit B-1 Form of Periodic Report
Exhibit B-2 Form of Daily Report
Exhibit C Addresses and Names of Borrower and each Originator
Exhibit D Subsidiaries
Exhibit E Lock-Boxes and Lock-Box Banks
Exhibit F Form of Lock-Box Letter
Exhibit G Compliance Certificate
Exhibit H Credit and Collection Policies
Exhibit I Litigation
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RECEIVABLES LOAN AGREEMENT
RECEIVABLES LOAN AGREEMENT, dated as of May 18, 1999, among
Eagle-Picher Acceptance Corporation, an Ohio corporation, as Borrower (the
"Borrower"), Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as Initial
Collection Agent (the "Initial Collection Agent"), ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as the
Amsterdam Lender Agent and as administrative agent for the Lenders (the
"Administrative Agent"), the Lender Agents from time to time party hereto
(collectively with the Amsterdam Lender Agent, the "Lender Agents") the Related
Bank Lenders from time to time party hereto (the "Related Bank Lenders")
Amsterdam Funding Corporation, as a Conduit Lender ("Amsterdam") and the other
Conduit Lenders from time to time party hereto. Certain capitalized terms used
herein, and certain rules of construction, are defined in Schedule I. The
Related Bank Lenders and the Loan Commitments of all Related Bank Lenders are
listed on Schedule II.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
LOANS TO BORROWER AND SETTLEMENTS
Section 1.1. Loans.
(a) The Secured Interest. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
the Borrower may, from time to time before the Termination Date, request the
Conduit Lenders or, only if an Uncommitted Conduit Lender denies such request or
is unable to fund, ratably request that the Related Bank Lenders make loans
secured by an undivided percentage security interest in the Receivables and all
related Collections. Any such loan made by a Conduit Lender or a Related Bank
Lender (a "Loan") shall be made by each relevant Lender remitting funds to the
Borrower, through each respective Lender Agent, pursuant to Section 1.1(c) or by
the Collection Agent remitting Collections to the Borrower pursuant to Section
1.1(d). The aggregate percentage security interest so acquired by a Lender in
the Receivables and related Collections (its "Loan Interest") shall equal at any
time the following quotient:
LA
--- + LRP
ERB
where:
LA = the outstanding Loan Amount of such Lender at such time;
LRP = the Lender Reserve Percentage at such time; and
ERB = the Eligible Receivables Balance at such time.
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Except during a Liquidation Period for a Lender, such Lender's Loan Interest
will change whenever its Loan Amount, its Lender Reserve Percentage or the
Eligible Receivables Balance changes. During a Liquidation Period for a Lender
its Loan Interest shall remain constant, except for redeterminations of the Loan
Interests of Lenders to reflect Loan Amounts acquired from or transferred to a
Liquidity Bank or an Enhancement Bank under Article II. The sum of all Loan
Interests of the Lenders at any time is referred to herein as the "Secured
Interest", which at any time is the aggregate percentage security interest then
held by such Lenders in the Receivables and Collections.
(b) Uncommitted Conduit Lender Loan Option and Committed Conduit
Related Bank Lenders' Loan Commitments. Subject to Section 1.1(d) concerning
Reinvestment Loans, at no time will an Uncommitted Conduit Lender have any
obligation to make a Loan. Each Committed Conduit Lender and each Related Bank
Lender severally hereby agrees, subject to Section 7.2 and the other terms and
conditions hereof, to make Loans before the Termination Date, based on the
applicable Lender Group's Ratable Share of each Loan (and, in the case of each
Related Bank Lender, its Commitment Percentage of its Lender Group's Ratable
Share of such Loan) to the extent its Loan Amount would not thereby exceed its
Loan Commitment and the Aggregate Loan Amount would not thereby exceed the Loan
Limit. Each Lender's first Loan and each additional Loan by such Lender not made
from Collections pursuant to Section 1.1(d) is referred to herein as an
"Incremental Loan." Each Loan made by a Lender with the proceeds of Collections
in which it has a Loan Interest, which does not increase the outstanding Loan
Amount of such Lender, is referred to herein as a "Reinvestment Loan."
(c) Incremental Loans. In order to request an Incremental Loan from a
Lender, the Borrower must provide to each Lender Agent an irrevocable written
request (including by telecopier or other facsimile communication) substantially
in the form of Exhibit A, by 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) three Business Days
before the requested date (the "Loan Date") of such Incremental Loan, the
requested Loan Date (which must be a Business Day) and the requested amount of
such Incremental Loan, which must be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and
multiples thereof (or, if less, an amount equal to the Maximum Incremental Loan
Amount). An Incremental Loan may only be requested from a Conduit Lender unless,
in the case of an Uncommitted Conduit Lender, such Uncommitted Conduit Lender,
in its sole discretion, determines not to make such Incremental Loan, in which
case the Borrower may request such Incremental Loan from the Related Bank
Lenders. If the Loan is requested from an Uncommitted Conduit Lender and such
Uncommitted Conduit Lender determines, in its sole discretion, to make the
requested Loan, such Uncommitted Conduit Lender shall transfer to the Borrower's
Account the amount of such Incremental Loan by no later than 1:00 p.m. (Chicago
time) on the Loan Date. If the Incremental Loan is requested from a Committed
Conduit Lender or the Related Bank Lenders for a Lender Group, subject to
Section 7.2 and the other terms and conditions hereof, such Committed Conduit
Lender or the Related Bank Lenders for a Lender Group shall transfer the
applicable Lender Group's Ratable Share of each Loan (and, in the case of each
Related Bank Lender, its Commitment Percentage of its Lender Group's Ratable
Share of such Loan) into the Borrower's Account by no later than 1:00 p.m.
(Chicago time) on the Loan Date.
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(d) Reinvestment Loans. Unless an Uncommitted Conduit Lender has
provided to the Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent, the Borrower, and the
Collection Agent a notice still in effect that it no longer wishes to make
Reinvestment Loans (in which case such Uncommitted Conduit Lender's Reinvestment
Loans, but not those of its Related Bank Lenders or any Committed Conduit
Lender, shall cease), at any time before the Termination Date when no Interim
Liquidation is in effect, on each day that any Collections are received by the
Collection Agent a Lender's Loan Interest in such Collections shall
automatically be used to make a Reinvestment Loan by such Lender, but only to
the extent such Reinvestment Loan would not cause the Lender's Loan Amount to
increase above the amount of such Loan Amount at the start of the day plus any
Incremental Loans made by the Lender on that day. An Uncommitted Conduit Lender
may revoke any notice provided under the first sentence of this Section 1.1(d)
by notifying the Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent, the Borrower, and the
Collection Agent that it will make Reinvestment Loans.
(e) Security Interest. To secure all of the Borrower's obligations
under the Transaction Documents, the Borrower hereby grants to the
Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lenders) a security interest in all
of the Borrower's rights in the Receivables, the Collections, and the Lock-Box
Accounts.
Section 1.2. Interim Liquidations. (a) Optional. The Borrower may at
any time direct that Reinvestment Loans cease and that an Interim Liquidation
commence for all Lenders by giving the Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent
and the Collection Agent at least three Business Days' written (including
telecopy or other facsimile communication) notice specifying the date on which
the Interim Liquidation shall commence and, if desired, when such Interim
Liquidation shall cease before the Termination Date (identified as a specific
date or as when the Aggregate Loan Amount is reduced to a specified amount). If
the Borrower does not so specify the date on which an Interim Liquidation shall
cease, it may cause such Interim Liquidation to cease at any time before the
Termination Date, subject to Section 1.2(b) below, by notifying the
Administrative Agent and the Collection Agent in writing (including by telecopy
or other facsimile communication) at least three Business Days before the date
on which it desires such Interim Liquidation to cease.
(b) Mandatory. If at any time before the Termination Date any condition
in Section 7.2 is not fulfilled, the Borrower shall immediately notify the
Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent and the Collection Agent, whereupon
Reinvestment Loans shall cease and an Interim Liquidation shall commence, which
shall only cease upon the Borrower confirming to the Administrative Agent that
the conditions in Section 7.2 are fulfilled.
Section 1.3. Selection of Interest Rates and Periods. Selection of
interest rates and related matters for each Lender Group shall be as provided in
the Rate Supplement for each Lender Group (each a "Rate Supplement").
Section 1.4. Interest, Fees and Other Costs and Expenses. (a) Each
Lender Agent shall receive for the ratable benefit of its Lender Group, such
amounts as agreed to with the Lenders in the Fee Letter for such Lender Group.
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(b) Each Loan Amount shall be payable solely from Collections and from
amounts payable under Sections 1.5, 1.7 and 6.1 (to the extent amounts paid
under Section 6.1 indemnify against reductions in or non-payment of
Receivables). The Borrower shall pay, as a full recourse obligation, all other
amounts payable hereunder and under the Rate Supplements and Fee Letters,
including, without limitation, all interest, fees described in clauses (a) and
(b) above and amounts payable under Article VI.
(c) On each Settlement Date, the Borrower shall pay to each Lender
Agent for the account of the Lenders in the applicable Lender Group, accrued
interest on the Loan Amounts of such Lenders as specified in the Rate Supplement
for the applicable Lender Group for the Settlement Period relating to such
Settlement Date.
Section 1.5. Maintenance of Secured Interest; Deemed Collection. (a)
General. If on any day before the Termination Date the Daily Maximum Advance
shown on the Daily Report submitted on such date is less than the Aggregate Loan
Amount (or if a Termination Event exists, the Matured Aggregate Loan Amount),
the Borrower shall (i) notify each Lender Agent of such event by not later than
1:00 p.m. (Chicago time) on such date and (ii) not later than 1:00 p.m. (Chicago
time) on the next Business Day, pay to each Lender Agent each respective Lender
Group's pro rata portion of the amount equal to the nearest multiple of $250,000
that is greater than such deficiency for application to reduce the Loan Amounts
of the Lender Groups ratably in accordance with the principal amount of their
respective Loan Amounts.
(b) Deemed Collections. If on any day the outstanding balance of a
Receivable is reduced or cancelled as a result of any defective or rejected
goods or services, any cash discount or adjustment (including any adjustment
resulting from the application of any special refund or other discounts or any
reconciliation), any setoff or credit (whether such claim or credit arises out
of the same, a related, or an unrelated transaction) or other similar reason not
arising from the financial inability of the Obligor to pay undisputed
indebtedness, the Borrower shall be deemed to have received two Business Days
after such day a Collection on such Receivable in the amount of such reduction
or cancellation. If on any day any representation, warranty, covenant or other
agreement of the Borrower related to a Receivable is not true or is not
satisfied, the Borrower shall be deemed to have received two Business Days after
such day a Collection in the amount of the outstanding balance of such
Receivable. All such Collections deemed received by the Borrower under this
Section 1.5(b) shall be remitted by the Borrower to the Collection Agent in
accordance with Section 5.1(i).
(c) Adjustment to Secured Interest. At any time before the Termination
Date that the Borrower is deemed to have received any Collection under Section
1.5(b) ("Deemed Collections") that derive from a Receivable that is otherwise
reported as an Eligible Receivable, so long as no Liquidation Period then
exists, the Borrower may satisfy its obligation to deliver such amount to the
Collection Agent by instead notifying each Lender Agent that the Secured
Interest should be recalculated by decreasing the Eligible Receivables Balance
by the amount of such Deemed Collections, so long as such adjustment does not
cause the Secured Interest to exceed 100%.
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(d) Payment Assumption. Unless an Obligor otherwise specifies or
another application is required by contract or law, any payment received by the
Borrower from any Obligor shall be applied as a Collection of Receivables of
such Obligor (starting with the oldest such Receivable) and remitted to the
Collection Agent as such.
Section 1.6. Reduction in Loan Commitments. The Borrower may, provided
that the Aggregate Loan Commitment is not reduced below the outstanding Loan
Amount, upon 30 days' notice to the Administrative Agent and each Lender Agent,
reduce the unfunded portion of aggregate Loan Commitments of all Lenders in
increments of $1,000,000. Such reduction shall be applied ratably to the
aggregate Commitments of each Lender Group.
Section 1.7. Optional Prepayments. At any time that the Aggregate Loan
Amount is less than 10% of the Aggregate Loan Commitment in effect on the date
hereof, the Borrower may, upon thirty days' notice to the Administrative Agent
and each Lender Agent, prepay the entire Loan Amount at a price equal to the
outstanding Matured Aggregate Loan Amount and all other amounts then owed to the
Lenders hereunder.
Section 1.8. Assignment of each Purchase Agreement. The Borrower hereby
assigns and otherwise transfers to the Administrative Agent as collateral
security for the obligations of the Borrower under the Transaction Documents
(for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent, each Lender and
any other Person to whom any amount is owed hereunder), all of the Borrower's
right, title and interest in, to and under each Purchase Agreement. The Borrower
shall execute, file and record all financing statements, continuation statements
and other documents required to perfect or protect such collateral assignment.
This collateral assignment includes (a) all monies due and to become due to the
Borrower from each Originator under or in connection with each Purchase
Agreement (including fees, expenses, costs, indemnities and damages for the
breach of any obligation or representation related to such agreement) and (b)
all rights, remedies, powers, privileges and claims of the Borrower against each
Originator under or in connection with each Purchase Agreement. All provisions
of each Purchase Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and may be relied upon
by, the Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent, each Lender and each such other
Person. At any time that a Termination Event has occurred and is continuing, the
Administrative Agent shall have the sole right to enforce the Borrower's rights
and remedies under each Purchase Agreement to the same extent as the Borrower
could absent this assignment, but without any obligation on the part of the
Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent, any Lender or any other such Person to
perform any of the obligations of the Borrower under each Purchase Agreement (or
any of the promissory notes executed thereunder). All amounts distributed to the
Borrower under each Purchase Agreement from Receivables sold to the Borrower
thereunder shall constitute Collections hereunder and shall be applied in
accordance herewith.
Section 1.9. Extension of Termination Date. The Borrower may advise the
Administrative Agent and each Lender Agent in writing of its desire to extend
the Termination Date for an additional 364 days, provided (i) such request is
made not more than 90 days prior to, and not less than 60 days prior to, the
Termination Date and (ii) not more than one such request for the extension of
the Termination Date may be made in any one calendar year. In the event that the
Lender Agents are all agreeable to such extension, the Administrative Agent
shall so
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notify the Borrower in writing (it being understood that the Lender Agents may
accept or decline such a request in their sole discretion and on such terms as
they may elect) not less than 45 days prior to the Termination Date and the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lender Agents and the Lenders shall
enter into such documents as the Lenders may deem necessary or appropriate to
reflect such extension, and all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the
Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Lender Agents in connection therewith
(including reasonable attorneys' fees) shall be paid by the Borrower. In the
event the Lender Agents decline the request for such extension, the
Administrative Agent shall so notify the Borrower of such determination;
provided, however, that the failure of the Administrative Agent to notify the
Borrower of the determination to decline such extension shall not affect the
understanding and agreement that the Lender Agents shall be deemed to have
refused to grant the requested extension in the event the Administrative Agent
fails to affirmatively notify the Borrower, in writing, of their agreement to
accept the requested extension.
ARTICLE II
SALES TO AND FROM LENDERS; ALLOCATIONS
Section 2.1. Transfer of Conduit Lender Loans. The parties hereto
hereby acknowledge that each Conduit Lender may transfer all or any portion of
its respective Loans to their related Enhancement Bank and Liquidity Bank(s).
Upon any such transfer any such Enhancement Bank or any such Liquidity Bank
shall be deemed to be the "Lender" of such transferred Loan for all purposes
hereof.
Section 2.2. Lender Reporting. On the Business Day preceding each
Settlement Date, each Lender Agent shall provide the Collection Agent a written
statement specifying the amount payable to such Lender Agent on such Settlement
Date pursuant to Section 3.2.
Section 2.3. Allocations and Distributions.
(a) Non-Reinvestment Periods. Before the Termination Date unless an
Interim Liquidation is in effect, on each day during a period that an
Uncommitted Conduit Lender is not making Reinvestment Loans (as established
under Section 1.1(d)), the Collection Agent (i) shall set aside and hold solely
for the benefit of the applicable Uncommitted Conduit Lender (or deliver to the
applicable Lender Agent, if so instructed pursuant to Section 3.2(a)) such
Uncommitted Conduit Lender's Loan Interest in all Collections received on such
day and (ii) shall distribute each Settlement Date to the applicable Lender
Agent (for the benefit of such Uncommitted Conduit Lender) the amounts so set
aside up to the amount of such Uncommitted Conduit Lender's Loan Amount and, to
the extent not already paid in full, all interest thereon and all other amounts
then due from the Borrower in connection with such Loan Amount and the
applicable Settlement Period. As provided in Section 1.4(c) all interest and
other amounts payable hereunder other than the Loan Amount are payable by the
Borrower. If any part of the Secured Interest in any Collections is applied to
pay any such amounts pursuant to this Section 2.3(a), the Borrower shall pay to
the Collection Agent the amount so applied for distribution as part of the Loan
Interest in Collections.
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(b) Termination Date and Interim Liquidations. On each day on and after
the Termination Date, and during any Interim Liquidation, the Collection Agent
shall set aside and hold solely for the account of each Lender Agent, for the
benefit of each Lender Group, to the extent provided below (or deliver to each
Lender Agent, if so instructed pursuant to Section 3.2(a)) and for the account
of the Administrative Agent, the appropriate portion of the aggregate Loan
Interest of all Lenders in such Lender Group in all Collections received on such
day and such Collections shall be allocated as follows:
(i) first, to such Lender Group until all Loan Amounts of,
and interest due but not already paid to, such Lender Group has been
paid in full; and
(ii) second, ratably to such Lender Group until all other
amounts owed to such Lender Group have been paid in full.
All Collections remaining after the allocation described above shall be
allocated as follows:
(x) first, ratably to the Administrative Agent and each Lender
Agent until all amounts owed to such Persons have been paid in full.
(y) second, to any other Person to whom any amounts are owed
under the Transaction Documents until all such amounts have been paid
in full; and
(z) third, to the Borrower (or as otherwise required by
applicable law).
Unless an Interim Liquidation has ended by such date (in which case Reinvestment
Loans shall resume to the extent provided in Section 1.1(d)), on each Settlement
Date (unless otherwise instructed by a Lender Agent pursuant to Section 3.2(a)),
the Collection Agent shall pay to the appropriate parties, from such set aside
Collections, all amounts allocated to the related Settlement Period and all
Settlement Periods that ended before such date, due in accordance with the
priorities in clause (i) above. Except during an Interim Liquidation, no
distributions shall be made to pay amounts under clauses (ii) and (x), (y) and
(z) above until sufficient Collections have been set aside to pay all amounts
described in clause (i) that may become payable for all outstanding Settlement
Periods. All distributions shall be made ratably within each priority level in
accordance with the respective amounts then due each Person (or group of
Persons) included in such level unless otherwise agreed by all Lenders Agents.
As provided in Section 1.4(c) all interest and other amounts payable hereunder
other than Loan Amounts are payable by the Borrower. If any part of the Loan
Interest in any Collections is applied to pay any such amounts pursuant to this
Section 2.3(b), the Borrower shall pay to the Collection Agent the amount so
applied for distribution as part of the Secured Interest in Collections.
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION AND COLLECTIONS
Section 3.1. Appointment of Collection Agent. (a) The servicing,
administering and collecting of the Receivables shall be conducted by a Person
(the "Collection Agent") designated
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to so act on behalf of the Lenders under this Article III. The Parent is hereby
designated as, and agrees to perform the duties and obligations of, the
Collection Agent. The Initial Collection Agent acknowledges that the
Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent and each Lender have relied on the
Initial Collection Agent's agreement to act as Collection Agent (and the
agreement of any of the sub-collection agents to so act) in making the decision
to execute and deliver this Agreement and agrees that it will not voluntarily
resign as Collection Agent nor permit any sub-collection agent to voluntarily
resign as a sub-collection agent. At any time after the occurrence of a
Collection Agent Replacement Event, the Administrative Agent (with the consent
of the Instructing Group or in the case where there are only two Lender Groups
and neither Lender Group has a majority of the Commitments, either Lender Agent)
may designate a new Collection Agent to succeed the Originator (or any successor
Collection Agent).
(b) The Initial Collection Agent may, and if requested by the
Administrative Agent shall, delegate its duties and obligations as Collection
Agent to an Affiliate (acting as a sub-collection agent). Notwithstanding such
delegation, the Initial Collection Agent shall remain primarily liable for the
performance of the duties and obligations so delegated, and the Administrative
Agent, each Lender Agent and each Lender shall have the right to look solely to
the Initial Collection Agent for such performance. The Administrative Agent
(with the consent of the Instructing Group) may at any time after the occurrence
of a Collection Agent Replacement Event remove or replace any sub-collection
agent.
(c) If replaced, the Initial Collection Agent agrees it will terminate,
and will cause each existing sub-collection agent to terminate, its collection
activities in a manner requested by the Administrative Agent to facilitate the
transition to a new Collection Agent. The Initial Collection Agent shall
cooperate with and assist any new Collection Agent (including providing access
to, and transferring, all Records and allowing the new Collection Agent to use
all licenses, hardware or software necessary or desirable to collect the
Receivables). The Initial Collection Agent irrevocably agrees to act (if
requested to do so) as the data-processing agent for any new Collection Agent in
substantially the same manner as the Initial Collection Agent conducted such
data-processing functions while it acted as the Collection Agent.
Section 3.2. Duties of Collection Agent. (a) The Collection Agent shall
take, or cause to be taken, all action necessary or advisable to collect each
Receivable in accordance with this Agreement, the Credit and Collection Policies
and all applicable laws, rules and regulations using the skill and attention the
Collection Agent exercises in collecting other receivables or obligations owed
solely to it; provided, however, that the Collection Agent shall not make any
changes in its payment instructions to any Obligor without prior notification to
the Administrative Agent. The Collection Agent shall, in accordance herewith,
set aside all Collections to which a Lender is entitled. If so instructed by the
appropriate Lender Agent, the Collection Agent shall transfer to the appropriate
Lender Agent the amount of Collections to which appropriate Lender entitled by
the Business Day following receipt. Each party hereto hereby appoints the
Collection Agent to enforce such Person's rights and interests in the
Receivables, but (notwithstanding any other provision in any Transaction
Document) the Administrative Agent (with the consent of the Instructing Group or
in the case where there are only two Lender Groups and neither Lender Group has
a majority of the Commitments, either Lender Agent) shall at all times after the
occurrence of a Collection Agent Replacement Event
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have the sole right to direct the Collection Agent to commence or settle any
legal action to enforce collection of any Receivable.
(b) If no Termination Event exists and the Collection Agent determines
that such action is appropriate in order to maximize the Collections, the
Collection Agent may, in accordance with the Credit and Collection Policies,
extend the maturity of any Receivable (but no such extension shall be for a
period more than thirty (30) days) or adjust the outstanding balance of any
Receivable. Any such extension or adjustment shall not alter the status of a
Receivable as a Defaulted Receivable or Delinquent Receivable or limit any
rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent or the Lenders hereunder.
If a Termination Event exists, the Collection Agent may make such extensions or
adjustments only with the prior consent of the Instructing Group.
(c) The Collection Agent shall turn over to the Borrower (i) all
Collections that are not required to be remitted to the Agent (for the benefit
of the Lenders) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, less all reasonable
costs and expenses of the Collection Agent for servicing, collecting and
administering the Receivables and (ii) subject to Section 1.5(d), the
collections and records for any indebtedness owed to the Borrower that is not a
Receivable. The Collection Agent shall have no obligation to remit any such
funds or records to the Borrower until the Collection Agent receives evidence
(satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) that the Borrower is entitled to such
items. The Collection Agent has no obligations concerning indebtedness that is
not a Receivable other than to deliver the collections and records for such
indebtedness to the Borrower when required by this Section 3.2(c).
Section 3.3. Reports. (a) Not later than two Business Days prior to
each Settlement Date, the Collection Agent shall deliver to each Lender Agent a
report reflecting information as of the close of business of the Collection
Agent for the immediately preceding calendar month (each a "Periodic Report"),
containing the information described on Exhibit B-1.
(b) By 1:00 p.m. (Chicago time) on each Business Day, the Collection
Agent shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a report reflecting information
as of the close of business of the Collection Agent two Business Days prior to
such day (each a "Daily Report"), containing the information described on
Exhibit B-2.
Section 3.4. Lock-Box Arrangements. The Administrative Agent is hereby
authorized to give notice at any time after the occurrence of a Collection Agent
Replacement Event to any or all Lock-Box Banks that the Administrative Agent is
exercising its rights under the Lock-Box Letters and to take all actions
permitted under the Lock-Box Letters. The Borrower agrees to take any action
requested by the Administrative Agent to facilitate the foregoing. After the
Administrative Agent takes any such action under the Lock-Box Letters, the
Borrower shall immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent any Collections
received by the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent takes control of any
Lock-Box Account, the Administrative Agent shall distribute Collections it
receives in accordance herewith and shall deliver to the Collection Agent, for
distribution under Section 3.2, all other amounts it receives from such Lock-Box
Account.
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Section 3.5. Enforcement Rights. (a) The Administrative Agent may, at
any time, direct the Obligors and the Lock-Box Banks to make all payments on the
Receivables directly to the Administrative Agent or its designee. The
Administrative Agent may after the occurrence of a Collection Agent Replacement
Event, and the Borrower shall at the Administrative Agent's request, withhold
the identity of the Lenders from the Obligors and Lock-Box Banks. Upon the
Administrative Agent's request after the occurrence of a Collection Agent
Replacement Event, the Borrower (at the Borrower's expense) shall (i) give
notice to each Obligor of the Administrative Agent's ownership of the Secured
Interest and direct that payments on Receivables be made directly to the
Administrative Agent or its designee, (ii) assemble for the Administrative Agent
all Records and collateral security for the Receivables and transfer to the
Administrative Agent (or its designee), or license to the Administrative Agent
(or its designee) the use of, all software useful to collect the Receivables and
(iii) segregate in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent all
Collections the Borrower receives and, promptly upon receipt, remit such
Collections in the form received, duly endorsed or with duly executed
instruments of transfer, to the Administrative Agent or its designee.
(b) After the occurrence of a Collection Agent Replacement Event, the
Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its
attorney-in-fact coupled with an interest, with full power of substitution and
with full authority in the place of the Borrower, to take any and all steps
deemed desirable by the Administrative Agent, in the name and on behalf of the
Borrower to (i) collect any amounts due under any Receivable, including
endorsing the name of the Borrower on checks and other instruments representing
Collections and enforcing such Receivables, and (ii) exercise any and all of the
Borrower's rights and remedies under each Purchase Agreement and the Limited
Guaranty. The Administrative Agent's powers under this Section 3.5(b) shall not
subject the Administrative Agent to any liability if any action taken by it
proves to be inadequate or invalid, nor shall such powers confer any obligation
whatsoever upon the Administrative Agent.
(c) Neither the Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent nor any Lender
shall have any obligation to take or consent to any action to realize upon any
Receivable or to enforce any rights or remedies related thereto.
Section 3.6. Collection Agent Fee. On or before each Settlement Date,
the Borrower shall pay to the Collection Agent a fee for the immediately
preceding calendar month as compensation for its services (the "Collection Agent
Fee") equal to (a) at all times the Initial Collection Agent or an Affiliate of
the Initial Collection Agent is the Collection Agent, such consideration as is
acceptable to it, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
and (b) at all times any other Person is the Collection Agent, a reasonable
amount agreed upon by the Administrative Agent (with the consent of the
Instructing Group) and the new Collection Agent on an arm's-length basis
reflecting rates and terms prevailing in the market at such time. The Collection
Agent may only apply to payment of the Collection Agent Fee the portion of the
Collections in excess of the Secured Interest or Collections that fund
Reinvestment Loans. The Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the
Instructing Group, pay the Collection Agent Fee to the Collection Agent from the
Secured Interest in Collections. The Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse
any such payment to the extent required by Section 1.5.
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Section 3.7. Responsibilities of the Borrower. The Borrower shall, or
shall cause the Parent to, pay when due all Taxes payable in connection with the
Receivables or their creation or satisfaction. The Borrower shall, and shall
cause the Parent to, perform all of its obligations under agreements related to
the Receivables to the same extent as if interests in the Receivables had not
been transferred hereunder or, in the case of each Originator, under each
Purchase Agreement. The Administrative Agent's, any Lender Agent's or any
Lender's exercise of any rights hereunder shall not relieve the Borrower or any
Originator from such obligations. Neither the Administrative Agent, any Lender
Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to perform any obligation of the
Borrower or of any Originator or any other obligation or liability in connection
with the Receivables.
Section 3.8. Actions by Borrower. The Borrower shall defend and
indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent and each Lender against
all costs, expenses, claims and liabilities for any action taken by the
Borrower, any Originator or any other Affiliate of the Borrower or of any
Originator (whether acting as Collection Agent or otherwise) related to any
Receivable, or arising out of any alleged failure of compliance of any
Receivable with the provisions of any law or regulation. If any goods related to
a Receivable are repossessed, the Borrower agrees to resell, or to have the
applicable Originator or another Affiliate resell, such goods in a commercially
reasonable manner for the account of the Administrative Agent and remit, or have
remitted, to the Administrative Agent the Lenders' share in the gross sale
proceeds thereof net of any out-of-pocket expenses and any equity of redemption
of the Obligor thereon. Any such moneys collected by the Borrower or any
Originator or other Affiliate of the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.8 shall
be segregated and held in trust for the Administrative Agent and remitted to the
Administrative Agent's Account within one Business Day of receipt as part of the
Secured Interest in Collections for application as provided herein.
Section 3.9. Indemnities by the Collection Agent. Without limiting any
other rights any Person may have hereunder or under applicable law, the
Collection Agent hereby indemnifies and holds harmless the Administrative Agent,
each Lender Agent and each Lender and their respective officers, directors,
agents and employees (each an "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all
damages, losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, Taxes, costs and expenses
(including attorneys' fees and court costs) (all of the foregoing collectively,
the "Indemnified Losses") at any time imposed on or incurred by any Indemnified
Party arising out of or otherwise relating to:
(i) any written representation or warranty made by the
Collection Agent (or any employee or agent of the Collection Agent) in
this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, any Periodic Report,
any Daily Report or any other information or report delivered by the
Collection Agent pursuant hereto, which shall have been false or
incorrect in any material respect when made;
(ii) the failure by the Collection Agent to comply with any
applicable law, rule or regulation related to any Receivable, or the
nonconformity of any Receivable with any such applicable law, rule or
regulation;
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(iii) any loss of a perfected security interest (or in the
priority of such security interest) as a result of any commingling by
the Collection Agent of funds to which the Administrative Agent, any
Lender Agent or any Lender is entitled hereunder with any other funds;
or
(iv) any failure of the Collection Agent, to perform its
duties or obligations in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement or any other Transaction Document to which the Collection
Agent is a party;
whether arising by reason of the acts to be performed by the Collection Agent
hereunder or otherwise, excluding only Indemnified Losses to the extent (a) such
Indemnified Losses resulted solely from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Indemnified Party seeking indemnification, (b) solely due to
the credit risk of the Obligor and for which reimbursement would constitute
recourse to the Collection Agent for uncollectible Receivables, (c) such
Indemnified Losses include Taxes on, or measured by, the overall net income of
the Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent or any Lender computed in accordance
with the Intended Tax Characterization, or (d) any Originator is the plaintiff
and the Indemnified Party is the defendant unless such Indemnified Party
prevails in such legal action; provided, however, that nothing contained in this
sentence shall limit the liability of the Collection Agent or limit the recourse
of the Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent and each Lender to the Collection
Agent for any amounts otherwise specifically provided to be paid by the
Collection Agent hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 4.1. Representations and Warranties. The Borrower represents
and warrants to the Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent and each Lender
that:
(a) Corporate Existence and Power. Each of the Borrower and
each Originator is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation and has
all corporate power and authority and all governmental licenses,
authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its
business in each jurisdiction in which its business is now conducted,
except where failure to obtain such license, authorization, consent or
approval would not have a material adverse effect on (i) its ability to
perform its obligations under, or the enforceability of, any
Transaction Document, (ii) its business or financial condition, (iii)
the interests of the Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent or any
Lender under any Transaction Document or (iv) the enforceability or
collectibility of any Receivable.
(b) Corporate Authorization and No Contravention. The
execution, delivery and performance by each of the Borrower and each
Originator of each Transaction Document to which it is a party (i) are
within its corporate powers, (ii) have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action, (iii) do not contravene or constitute a
default under (A) any applicable law, rule or regulation, (B) its or
any Subsidiary's charter or by-laws or (C) any material agreement,
order or other instrument to which it or any
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Subsidiary is a party or its property is subject and (iv) will not
result in any Adverse Claim on any Receivable or Collection or give
cause for the acceleration of any indebtedness of the Borrower, any
Originator or any Subsidiary.
(c) No Consent Required. No approval, authorization or other
action by, or filings with, any Governmental Authority or other Person
is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance
by the Borrower or any Originator of any Transaction Document or any
transaction contemplated thereby.
(d) Binding Effect. Each Transaction Document to which the
Borrower or any Originator is a party constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of such Person enforceable against that Person in
accordance with its terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
or other similar laws of general application relating to or affecting
the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and subject to general
principles of equity.
(e) Perfection of Ownership Interest. Immediately preceding
its sale of Receivables to the Borrower, each Originator was the owner
of, and effectively sold, such Receivables to the Borrower, free and
clear of any Adverse Claim. The Borrower owns the Receivables free of
any Adverse Claim other than the interests of the Lenders (through the
Administrative Agent) therein that are created hereby, and each Lender
shall at all times have a valid undivided percentage ownership
interest, which shall be a first priority perfected security interest
for purposes of Article 9 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code, in
the Receivables and Collections.
(f) Accuracy of Information. All information furnished by the
Borrower, each Originator or any Affiliate of any such Person to the
Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent or any Lender in connection with
any Transaction Document, or any transaction contemplated thereby, is
true and accurate in all material respects (and is not incomplete by
omitting any information necessary to prevent such information from
being materially misleading).
(g) No Actions, Suits. Except as set forth in Exhibit I,
there are no actions, suits or other proceedings (including matters
relating to environmental liability) pending or threatened against or
affecting the Borrower, any Originator or any Subsidiary, or any of
their respective properties, that (i) could reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the
Borrower, the Originators and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or on
the collectibility of the Receivables or (ii) involve any Transaction
Document or any transaction contemplated thereby. None of the Borrower,
any Originator or any Subsidiary is in default of any contractual
obligation or in violation of any order, rule or regulation of any
Governmental Authority, which default or violation may have a material
adverse effect upon (i) the financial condition of the Borrower, any
Originator and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) the
collectibility of the Receivables.
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(h) No Material Adverse Change. Since November 30, 1998 there
has been no material adverse change in the collectibility of the
Receivables or the Borrower's, any Originator's or any Subsidiary's (i)
financial condition, business, operations or prospects or (ii) ability
to perform its obligations under any Transaction Document.
(i) Accuracy of Exhibits; Lock-Box Arrangements. All
information on Exhibits C-E (listing offices and names of the Borrower
and each Originator and where they maintain Records; the Subsidiaries;
and Lock Boxes) is true and complete, subject to any changes permitted
by, and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with,
Article V. The Borrower has delivered a copy of all Lock-Box Agreements
to the Administrative Agent. The Borrower has not granted any interest
in any Lock-Box or Lock-Box Account to any Person other than the
Administrative Agent and, upon delivery to a Lock-Box Bank of the
related Lock-Box Letter, the Administrative Agent will have exclusive
ownership and control of the Lock-Box Account at such Lock-Box Bank.
(j) Sales by the Originator. Each sale by each Originator to
the Borrower of an interest in Receivables and their Collections has
been made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Purchase
Agreement, including the payment by the Borrower to the applicable
Originator of the purchase price described in the applicable Purchase
Agreement. Each such sale has been made for "reasonably equivalent
value" (as such term is used in Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code) and
not for or on account of "antecedent debt" (as such term is used in
Section 547 of the Bankruptcy Code) owed by any Originator to the
Borrower.
(k) Year 2000 Problem. Each of the Borrower and each
Subsidiary has reviewed the areas within its business and operations
which could be adversely affected by, and have developed or are
developing a program to address on a timely basis, the "Year 2000
Problem" (that is, the risk that computer applications used by such
Person and its Subsidiaries may be unable to recognize and perform
properly date-sensitive functions involving certain dates prior to and
any date on or after December 31, 1999), and have made related
appropriate inquiry of material suppliers and vendors. Based on such
review and program, such Person believes that the "Year 2000 Problem"
will not have a material adverse effect on the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
Section 5.1. Covenants of the Borrower. The Borrower hereby covenants
and agrees to comply with the following covenants and agreements, unless the
Administrative Agent (with the consent of the Instructing Group) shall otherwise
consent:
(a) Financial Reporting. The Borrower will, and will cause each
Originator and each Subsidiary to, maintain a system of accounting established
and administered in accordance with GAAP and will furnish to the Administrative
Agent and each Lender Agent:
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(i) Annual Financial Statements. Within 90 days after each
fiscal year of (A) the Parent, copies of its annual audited financial
statements (including a consolidated balance sheet, consolidated
statement of income and retained earnings and statement of cash flows,
with related footnotes) certified by independent certified public
accountants satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and prepared on a
consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP, and (B) each of the
Borrower and each Originator the annual balance sheet for such Person
(and, additionally for the Borrower, an annual profit and loss
statement) certified by a Designated Financial Officer thereof, in each
case prepared on a consolidated basis in conformity with GAAP as of the
close of such fiscal year for the year then ended;
(ii) Quarterly Financial Statements. Within 45 days after each
(except the last) fiscal quarter of each fiscal year of (A) the Parent,
copies of its unaudited financial statements (including at least a
consolidated balance sheet as of the close of such quarter and
statements of earnings and sources and applications of funds for the
period from the beginning of the fiscal year to the close of such
quarter) certified by a Designated Financial Officer and prepared in a
manner consistent with the financial statements described in part (A)
of clause (i) of this Section 5.l(a) and (B) each of the Borrower and
each Originator, the quarterly balance sheet for such Person (and,
additionally for the Borrower, a profit and loss statement) for the
period from the beginning of such fiscal year to the close of such
quarter, in each case certified by a Designated Financial Officer
thereof and prepared in a manner consistent with part (B) of clause (i)
of Section 5.1(a);
(iii) Officer's Certificate. Each time financial statements are
furnished pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of Section 5.1(a), a
compliance certificate (in substantially the form of Exhibit G signed
by a Designated Financial Officer, dated the date of such financial
statements, and containing a computation of each of the financial
ratios and restrictions contained herein;
(iv) Public Reports. Promptly upon becoming available, a copy
of each report or proxy statement filed by the Parent with the
Securities Exchange Commission or any securities exchange; and
(v) Other Information. With reasonable promptness, such other
information (including non-financial information) as may be reasonably
requested by the Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent or any Lender
(with a copy of such request to the Administrative Agent).
(b) Notices. Immediately upon becoming aware of any of the following
the Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent and such Lender Agent and
provide a description of:
(i) Potential Termination Events. The occurrence of any
Potential Termination Event;
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(ii) Representations and Warranties. The failure of any
representation or warranty herein to be true (when made or at any time
thereafter) in any materially adverse respect;
(iii) Downgrading. The downgrading, withdrawal or suspension of
any rating by any rating agency of any indebtedness of any Obligor with
a Special Limit or Concentration Limit or of the Borrower;
(iv) Litigation. The institution of any litigation,
arbitration proceeding or governmental proceeding reasonably likely to
be materially adverse to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or the
collectibility or quality of the Receivables;
(v) Judgments. The entry of any final, non-appealable
judgment or decree against the Borrower, any Originator or any
Subsidiary if the aggregate amount of all judgments then outstanding
against the Borrower, any Originator and the Subsidiaries exceeds
$5,000,000, and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been
satisfied, stayed, annulled or rescinded within 60 days from the entry
thereof; or
(vi) Changes in Business. Any change in, or proposed change
in, the character of the Borrower's or any Originator's business that
could impair the collectibility or quality of any Receivable.
(c) Conduct of Business. The Borrower will perform, and will cause each
Originator and Subsidiary to perform, all actions necessary to remain duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of
incorporation and to maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in
each jurisdiction in which it conducts business.
(d) Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will comply, and will cause each
Originator and Subsidiary to comply, with all material laws, regulations,
judgments and other directions or orders imposed by any Governmental Authority
to which such Person or any Receivable or Collection may be subject.
(e) Furnishing Information and Inspection of Records. The Borrower will
furnish to the Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent and the Lenders such
information concerning the Receivables as the Administrative Agent, each Lender
Agent or a Lender may request. The Borrower will, and will cause each Originator
to, permit, at any time during regular business hours, the Administrative Agent,
any Lender Agent or any Lender (or any representatives thereof) (i) to examine
and make copies of all Records, (ii) to visit the offices and properties of the
Borrower for the purpose of examining the Records and (iii) to discuss matters
relating hereto with any of the Borrower's or any Originator's officers,
directors, employees or independent public accountants having knowledge of such
matters. Once a year, the Administrative Agent or any Lender Agent may (at the
expense of the Borrower) have an independent public accounting firm conduct an
audit of the Records or make test verifications of the Receivables and
Collections.
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(f) Keeping Records. (i) The Borrower will, and will cause each
Originator to, have and maintain (A) administrative and operating procedures
(including an ability to recreate Records if originals are destroyed), (B)
adequate facilities, personnel and equipment and (C) all Records and other
information necessary or advisable for collecting the Receivables (including
Records adequate to permit the immediate identification of each Obligor, each
new Receivable and all Collections of, and adjustments to, each existing
Receivable). The Borrower will give the Administrative Agent prior notice of any
material change in such administrative and operating procedures.
(ii) The Borrower will, (A) at all times from and after the
date hereof, clearly and conspicuously mark its computer and master
data processing books and records with a legend describing the
Administrative Agent's and the Lenders' interest therein and (B) upon
the request of the Administrative Agent, so mark each contract relating
to a Receivable and deliver to the Administrative Agent all such
contracts (including all multiple originals of such contracts), with
any appropriate endorsement or assignment, or segregate (from all other
receivables then owned or being serviced by the Borrower) the
Receivables and all contracts relating to each Receivable and hold in
trust and safely keep such contracts so legended in separate filing
cabinets or other suitable containers at such locations as the
Administrative Agent may specify.
(g) Perfection. (i) The Borrower will, and will cause each Originator
to, at its expense, promptly execute and deliver all instruments and documents
and take all action necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative
Agent (including the execution and filing of financing or continuation
statements, amendments thereto or assignments thereof) to enable the
Administrative Agent to exercise and enforce all its rights hereunder and to
vest and maintain vested in the Administrative Agent a valid, first priority
perfected security interest in the Receivables, the Collections, each Purchase
Agreement, and proceeds thereof free and clear of any Adverse Claim. The
Administrative Agent will be permitted to sign and file any continuation
statements, amendments thereto and assignments thereof without the Borrower's
signature.
(ii) The Borrower will, and will cause each Originator to,
only change its name, identity or corporate structure or relocate its
chief executive office or the Records following thirty (30) days
advance notice to the Administrative Agent and the delivery to the
Administrative Agent of all financing statements, instruments and other
documents (including direction letters) requested by the Administrative
Agent.
(iii) The Borrower and each Originator will at all times
maintain its chief executive offices within a jurisdiction in the U.S.
(other than in the states of Florida, Maryland and Tennessee) in which
Article 9 of the UCC is in effect. If the Borrower or any Originator
moves its chief executive office to a location that imposes Taxes, fees
or other charges to perfect the Administrative Agent's and the Lenders'
interests hereunder or the Borrower's interests under each Purchase
Agreement, the Borrower will pay all such amounts and any other costs
and expenses incurred in order to maintain the enforceability of the
Transaction Documents, and the interests of the Administrative Agent,
the Lender Agents and the Lenders in the Receivables and Collections.
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(h) Performance of Duties. The Borrower will perform, and will cause
each Originator and Subsidiary and the Collection Agent (if an Affiliate) to
perform, its respective duties or obligations in accordance with the provisions
of each of the Transaction Documents. The Borrower (at its expense) will, and
will cause each Originator to, (i) fully and timely perform in all material
respects all agreements required to be observed by it in connection with each
Receivable, (ii) comply in all material respects with the Credit and Collection
Policies, and (iii) refrain from any action that may impair the rights of the
Administrative Agent, the Lender Agents or the Lenders in the Receivables or
Collections.
(i) Payments on Receivables, Accounts. The Borrower will, and will
cause each Originator to, at all times instruct all Obligors to deliver payments
on the Receivables to a Lock-Box Account. If any such payments or other
Collections are received by the Borrower or any Originator, it shall hold such
payments in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lender Agents
and the Lenders and promptly (but in any event within two Business Days after
receipt) remit such funds into a Lock-Box Account. The Borrower will cause each
Lock-Box Bank to comply with the terms of each applicable Lock-Box Letter. The
Borrower will not permit the funds of any Affiliate to be deposited into any
Lock-Box Account. If such funds are nevertheless deposited into any Lock-Box
Account, the Borrower will promptly identify such funds for segregation. The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Collection Agent or other Person to,
commingle Collections or other funds to which the Administrative Agent, any
Lender Agent or any Lender is entitled with any other funds. The Borrower shall
only add, and shall only permit each Originator to add, a Lock-Box Bank,
Lock-Box, or Lock-Box Account to those listed on Exhibit E if the Administrative
Agent has received notice of such addition, a copy of any new Lock-Box Agreement
and an executed and acknowledged copy of a Lock-Box Letter substantially in the
form of Exhibit F (with such changes as are acceptable to the Administrative
Agent) from any new Lock-Box Bank. The Borrower shall only terminate a Lock-Box
Bank or Lock-Box, or close a Lock-Box Account, upon 30 days advance notice to
the Administrative Agent.
(j) Sales and Adverse Claims Relating to Receivables. Except with
respect to Permitted Liens, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any
Originator to, (by operation of law or otherwise) dispose of or otherwise
transfer, or create or suffer to exist any Adverse Claim upon, any inventory or
goods (other than in the ordinary course of business) the sale of which may give
rise to a Receivable or any proceeds thereof.
(k) Change in Business or Credit and Collection Policies. The Borrower
will not, and will not permit any Originator to, make any material change in the
character of its business or in its Credit and Collection Policies.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.1. Indemnities by the Borrower. Without limiting any other
rights any such Person may have hereunder or under applicable law, the Borrower
hereby indemnifies and holds harmless, the Administrative Agent, each Lender
Agent and each Lender and their respective officers, directors, agents and
employees (each an "Indemnified Party") from and against any
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and all damages, losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, Taxes, costs and
expenses (including attorneys' fees and court costs) (all of the foregoing
collectively, the "Indemnified Losses") at any time imposed on or incurred by
any Indemnified Party arising out of or otherwise relating to any Transaction
Document, the transactions contemplated thereby or the acquisition of any
portion of the Secured Interest, or any action taken or omitted by any of the
Indemnified Parties (including any action taken by the Administrative Agent as
attorney-in-fact for the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.5(b)), whether arising
by reason of the acts to be performed by the Borrower hereunder or otherwise,
excluding only Indemnified Losses to the extent (a) a final judgment of a court
of competent jurisdiction holds such Indemnified Losses resulted solely from
gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Indemnified Party seeking
indemnification, (b) solely due to the credit risk of the Obligor and for which
reimbursement would constitute recourse to the Borrower or the Collection Agent
for uncollectible Receivables or (c) such Indemnified Losses include Taxes on,
or measured by, the overall net income of the Administrative Agent, any Lender
Agent or any Lender computed in accordance with the Intended Tax
Characterization; provided, however, that nothing contained in this sentence
shall limit the liability of the Borrower or the Collection Agent or limit the
recourse of the Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent and each Lender to the
Borrower or the Collection Agent for any amounts otherwise specifically provided
to be paid by the Borrower or the Collection Agent hereunder. Without limiting
the foregoing indemnification, but subject to the limitations set forth in
clauses (a), (b) and (c) of the previous sentence, the Borrower shall indemnify
each Indemnified Party for Indemnified Losses (including losses in respect of
uncollectible Receivables, regardless for these specific matters whether
reimbursement therefor would constitute recourse to the Borrower or the
Collection Agent) relating to or resulting from:
(i) any representation or warranty made by the Borrower, each
Originator or the Collection Agent (or any employee or agent of the
Borrower, each Originator or the Collection Agent) under or in
connection with this Agreement, any Periodic Report, any Daily Report
or any other information or report delivered by the Borrower, each
Originator or the Collection Agent pursuant hereto, which shall have
been false or incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed
made;
(ii) the failure by the Borrower, any Originator, or the
Collection Agent to comply with any applicable law, rule or regulation
related to any Receivable, or the nonconformity of any Receivable with
any such applicable law, rule or regulation;
(iii) the failure of the Borrower to vest and maintain vested
in the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lender Agents and
the Lenders, a perfected ownership or security interest in the Secured
Interest and the property conveyed pursuant to Section 1.1(e) and
Section 1.8, free and clear of any Adverse Claim;
(iv) any commingling of funds to which the Administrative
Agent, any Lender Agent or any Lender is entitled hereunder with any
other funds;
(v) any failure of a Lock-Box Bank to comply with the terms
of the applicable Lock-Box Letter;
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(vi) any dispute, claim, offset or defense (other than
discharge in bankruptcy of the Obligor) of the Obligor to the payment
of any Receivable, or any other claim resulting from the sale or lease
of goods or the rendering of services related to such Receivable or the
furnishing or failure to furnish any such goods or services or other
similar claim or defense not arising from the financial inability of
any Obligor to pay undisputed indebtedness;
(vii) any failure of the Borrower or each Originator, or any
Affiliate of any thereof, to perform its duties or obligations in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or any other
Transaction Document to which such Person is a party (as a Collection
Agent or otherwise);
(viii) any action taken by the Administrative Agent as
attorney-in-fact for the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.5(b); or
(ix) any environmental liability claim, products liability
claim or personal injury or property damage suit or other similar or
related claim or action of whatever sort, arising out of or in
connection with any Receivable or any other suit, claim or action of
whatever sort relating to any of the Transaction Documents.
Section 6.2. Increased Cost and Reduced Return. By way of
clarification, and not of limitation, of Section 6.1, if the adoption of any
applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change therein, or any change in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged
with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Funding
Source, the Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent or any Lender (collectively,
the "Funding Parties") with any request or directive (whether or not having the
force of law) of any such Governmental Authority (a "Regulatory Change") (a)
subjects any Funding Party to any charge or withholding on or in connection with
a Funding Agreement or this Agreement (collectively, the "Funding Documents") or
any Receivable, (b) changes the basis of taxation of payments to any of the
Funding Parties of any amounts payable under any of the Funding Documents
(except for changes in the rate of Tax on the overall net income of such Funding
Party), (c) imposes, modifies or deems applicable any reserve, assessment,
insurance charge, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of,
deposits with or for the account of, or any credit extended by, any of the
Funding Parties, (d) has the effect of reducing the rate of return on such
Funding Party's capital to a level below that which such Funding Party could
have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into
consideration such Funding Party's policies concerning capital adequacy) or (e)
imposes any other condition, and the result of any of the foregoing is (x) to
impose a cost on, or increase the cost to, any Funding Party of its commitment
under any Funding Document or of purchasing, maintaining or funding any interest
acquired under any Funding Document, (y) to reduce the amount of any sum
received or receivable by, or to reduce the rate of return of, any Funding Party
under any Funding Document or (z) to require any payment calculated by reference
to the amount of interests held or amounts received by it hereunder, then, upon
demand by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the Person such additional amounts as will compensate
such Person for such increased cost or reduction.
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Section 6.3. Other Costs and Expenses. Also by way of clarification,
and not of limitation, of Section 6.1, the Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent on demand all costs and expenses in connection with (a) the
preparation, execution, delivery and administration (including amendments of any
provision) of the Transaction Documents, (b) the sale of the Secured Interest,
(c) the perfection of the Administrative Agent's rights in the Receivables and
Collections, (d) the enforcement by the Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent
or the Lenders of the obligations of the Borrower under the Transaction
Documents or of any Obligor under a Receivable and (e) the maintenance by the
Administrative Agent of the Lock-Boxes and Lock-Box Accounts, including fees,
costs and expenses of legal counsel for the Administrative Agent and each Lender
Agent relating to any of the foregoing or to advising the Administrative Agent,
any Lender Agent, any Lender and any Funding Source about its rights and
remedies under any Transaction Document or any related Funding Agreement and all
costs and expenses (including counsel fees and expenses) of the Administrative
Agent, each Lender Agent, each Lender and each Funding Source in connection with
the enforcement of the Transaction Documents or any Funding Agreement and in
connection with the administration of the Transaction Documents following a
Termination Event. The Borrower shall reimburse the Administrative Agent and
each Lender Agent for the cost of the Administrative Agent's or each Lender
Agent's auditors (which may be employees of such Person) auditing the books,
records and procedures of the Borrower. The Borrower shall reimburse each Lender
Agent and each Lender for any amounts such Lender Agent or Lender must pay to
any Funding Source pursuant to any Funding Agreement on account of any Tax. The
Borrower shall reimburse each Lender Agent on demand for all other costs and
expenses incurred by such Lender Agent or any shareholder of such Lender Agent
in connection with the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated
thereby, including the cost of auditing such Lender Agent's books by certified
public accountants, the cost of the Ratings and the fees and out-of-pocket
expenses of counsel of the Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent or any
shareholder, or administrator, of each Lender Agent for advice relating to such
Lender Agent's operation.
Section 6.4. Withholding Taxes. (a) All payments made by the Borrower
hereunder shall be made without withholding for or on account of any present or
future taxes (other than overall net income taxes on the recipient). If any such
withholding is so required, the Borrower shall make the withholding, pay the
amount withheld to the appropriate authority before penalties attach thereto or
interest accrues thereon and pay such additional amount as may be necessary to
ensure that the net amount actually received by each Lender, Lender Agent and
the Administrative Agent free and clear of such taxes (including such taxes on
such additional amount) is equal to the amount that any Lender, any Lender Agent
or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) would have received had such
withholding not been made. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent or any
Lender pays any such taxes, penalties or interest the Borrower shall reimburse
the Administrative Agent, such Lender Agent or such Lender for that payment on
demand. If the Borrower pays any such taxes, penalties or interest, it shall
deliver official tax receipts evidencing that payment or certified copies
thereof to the Lender, Lender Agent or Administrative Agent on whose account
such withholding was made (with a copy to the Administrative Agent if not the
recipient of the original) on or before the thirtieth day after payment.
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(b) Before the first date on which any amount is payable hereunder for
the account of any Lender not incorporated under the laws of the U.S. such
Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent each two (2)
duly completed copies of United States Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or
4224 (or successor applicable form) certifying that such Lender is entitled to
receive payments hereunder without deduction or withholding of any United States
federal income taxes. Each such Lender shall replace or update such forms when
necessary to maintain any applicable exemption and as requested by the
Administrative Agent or the Borrower.
Section 6.5. Payments and Allocations. If any Person seeks compensation
pursuant to this Article VI, such Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent a certificate setting forth the amount due to such Person,
a description of the circumstance giving rise thereto and the basis of the
calculations of such amount, which certificate shall be conclusive absent
manifest error. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent (for the
account of such Person) the amount shown as due on any such certificate within
10 Business Days after receipt of the notice.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Section 7.1. Conditions to Closing. This Agreement shall become
effective on the first date all conditions in this Section 7.1 are satisfied. On
or before such date, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and
each Lender Agent the following documents in form, substance and quantity
acceptable to the Administrative Agent and Lender Agent, as applicable:
(a) A certificate of the Secretary of each of the Borrower,
the Parent and each Originator certifying (i) the resolutions of the
Borrower's, the Parent's and each Originator's board of directors
approving each Transaction Document to which it is a party, (ii) the
name, signature, and authority of each officer who executes on the
Borrower's, the Parent's or each Originator's behalf a Transaction
Document (on which certificate the Administrative Agent, each Lender
Agent and each Lender may conclusively rely until a revised certificate
is received), (iii) the Borrower's, the Parent's and each Originator's
certificate or articles of incorporation certified by the Secretary of
State of its state of incorporation, (iv) a copy of the Borrower's, the
Parent's and each Originator's by-laws and (v) good standing
certificates issued by the Secretaries of State of each jurisdiction
where the Borrower, the Parent and each Originator has material
operations.
(b) All instruments and other documents required, or deemed
reasonably necessary by the Administrative Agent, to perfect the
Administrative Agent's first priority interest in the Receivables and
Collections in all appropriate jurisdictions.
(c) UCC search reports from all jurisdictions the
Administrative Agent or any Lender Agent reasonably requests.
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(d) Executed copies of (i) all consents and authorizations
necessary in connection with the Transaction Documents (ii) direction
letters executed by the Borrower and each Originator authorizing the
Administrative Agent to inspect and make copies from the Borrower's and
each Originator's books and records maintained at any off-site data
processing or storage facilities, (iii) all Lock-Box Letters, (iv) a
compliance certificate in the form of Exhibit G covering the period
ending April 30, 1999, (v) a Periodic Report covering the month ended
April 30, 1999 and (vi) each Transaction Document.
(e) Favorable opinions of counsel to the Borrower, the Parent
and each Originator (and, if requested by any Lender Agent and then at
the expense of the Borrower) covering such matters as any Lender Agent
or the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
Section 7.2. Conditions to Each Loan. The obligation of each Committed
Conduit Lender and each Related Bank Lender to make any Loan and the right of
the Borrower to request or accept any such Loan, are subject to the conditions
(and each such Loan shall evidence the Borrower's representation and warranty
that clauses (a)-(f) of this Section 7.2 have been satisfied) that on the date
of such Loan before and after giving effect to such Loan:
(a) no Potential Termination Event shall then exist or shall
occur as a result of such Loan;
(b) the Termination Date has not occurred;
(c) after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of
such Loan, the outstanding Aggregate Loan Amount would not exceed the
Loan Limit and the Secured Interest will not exceed 100%;
(d) the representations and warranties in Section 4.1 are true
and correct in all material respects on and as of such date (except to
the extent such representations and warranties relate solely to an
earlier date and then as of such earlier date);
(e) each of the Borrower and each Originator is in full
compliance with the Transaction Documents (including all covenants and
agreements in Article V); and
(f) all legal matters related to such Loan are reasonably
satisfactory to the applicable Lenders.
Nothing in this Section 7.2 limits the obligations of each Liquidity Bank and
Enhancement Bank to its related Conduit Lender.
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ARTICLE VIII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Section 8.1. Appointment and Authorization. (a) Each Lender and Lender
Agent hereby irrevocably designates and appoints ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as the
"Administrative Agent" hereunder and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take
such actions and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative
Agent hereby and to exercise such other powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto. The Administrative Agent shall hold, in its name, for the benefit of
each Lender, the Loan Interest of the Lender. The Administrative Agent shall not
have any duties other than those expressly set forth herein or any fiduciary
relationship with any Lender or Lender Agent, and no implied obligations or
liabilities shall be read into this Agreement, or otherwise exist, against the
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent does not assume, nor shall it be
deemed to have assumed, any obligation to, or relationship of trust or agency
with, the Borrower. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or any other
Transaction Document, in no event shall the Administrative Agent ever be
required to take any action which exposes the Administrative Agent to personal
liability or which is contrary to the provision of any Transaction Document or
applicable law.
(b) Each Lender (other than Amsterdam and its Related Bank Lenders)
hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the respective institution identified
in the related Transfer Supplement as its Lender Agent hereunder and Amsterdam
and its Related Bank Lenders designate ABN AMRO as its Lender Agent hereunder,
and each authorizes such Lender Agent to take such action on its behalf under
the provisions of this Agreement and to exercise such powers and perform such
duties as are expressly delegated to such Lender Agent by the terms of this
Agreement, if any, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this
Agreement, no Lender Agent shall have any duties or responsibilities, except
those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender
or other Lender Agent or the Administrative Agent, and no implied covenants,
functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities on the part of
such Lender Agent shall be read into this Agreement or otherwise exist against
such Lender Agent.
(c) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the
provisions of this Article VIII are solely for the benefit of the Lender Agents,
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and none of the Borrower or Servicer
shall have any rights as a third-party beneficiary or otherwise under any of the
provisions of this Article VIII, except that this Article VIII shall not affect
any obligations which any Lender Agent, the Administrative Agent or the Lender
may have to the Borrower or the Servicer under the other provisions of this
Agreement. Furthermore, no Lender shall have any rights as a third-party
beneficiary or otherwise under any of the provisions hereof in respect of a
Lender Agent which is not the Lender Agent for such Lender.
(d) In performing its functions and duties hereunder, the
Administrative Agent shall act solely as the agent of the Lenders and the Lender
Agents and does not assume nor shall be deemed to have assumed any obligation or
relationship of trust or agency with or for the Borrower or Collection Agent or
any of their successors and assigns. In performing its functions and duties
hereunder, each Lender Agent shall act solely as the agent of its respective
Lender and does not assume nor shall be deemed to have assumed any obligation or
relationship of trust or
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agency with or for the Borrower, the Servicer, any other Lender, any other
Lender Agent or the Administrative Agent, or any of their respective successors
and assigns.
Section 8.2. Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute
any of its duties through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to
advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The
Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct
of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.
Section 8.3. Exculpatory Provisions. None of the Lender Agents, the
Administrative Agent or any of their directors, officers, agents or employees
shall be liable for any action taken or omitted (i) with the consent or at the
direction of the Instructing Group or any Lender Agent, as applicable (ii) in
the absence of such Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
Administrative Agent shall not be responsible to any Lender, Lender Agent or
other Person for (i) any recitals, representations, warranties or other
statements made by the Borrower, any Originator or any of their Affiliates, (ii)
the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency
of any Transaction Document, (iii) any failure of the Borrower, any Originator
or any of their Affiliates to perform any obligation or (iv) the satisfaction of
any condition specified in Article VII. The Administrative Agent shall not have
any obligation to any Lender or Lender Agent to ascertain or inquire about the
observance or performance of any agreement contained in any Transaction Document
or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Borrower, any Originator
or any of their Affiliates.
Section 8.4. Reliance by Agents. Each Lender Agent and the
Administrative Agent shall in all cases be entitled to rely, and shall be fully
protected in relying, upon any document, other writing or conversation believed
by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the
proper Person and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel
to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the
Administrative Agent. Each Lender Agent and the Administrative Agent shall in
all cases be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any
Transaction Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of
the Lenders, and assurance of its indemnification, as it deems appropriate.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in
acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement in accordance with a
request of the Lenders or the Lender Agents, and such request and any action
taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all Lenders, the
Administrative Agent and Lender Agents.
(c) Each Lender Agent (with the consent of the Administrative Agent)
shall determine with its Lender Groups the number of such Lenders (each, a
"Voting Block"), which shall be required to request or direct such Lender Agent
to take action, or refrain from taking action, under this Agreement on behalf of
such Lenders. Such Lender Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting,
or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement in accordance with a request
of its appropriate Voting Block, and such request and any action taken or
failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of such Lender Agent's
Lenders.
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(d) Unless otherwise advised in writing by a Lender Agent or by any
Lender on whose behalf such Lender Agent is purportedly acting, each party to
this Agreement may assume that (i) such Lender Agent is acting for the benefit
of each of the Lenders in respect of which such Lender Agent is identified as
being the "Lender Agent" in the definition of "Lender Agent" hereto, as well as
for the benefit of each assignee or other transferee from any such Person, and
(ii) each action taken by such Lender Agent has been duly authorized and
approved by all necessary action on the part of the Lenders on whose behalf it
is purportedly acting. Each initial Lender (or, with the consent of all other
Lenders then existing, any other Lenders) shall have the right to designate a
new Lender Agent (which may be itself) to act on its behalf and on behalf of its
assignees and transferees for purposes of this Agreement by giving to the
Administrative Agent written notice thereof signed by such Lender(s) and the
newly designated Lender Agent. Such notice shall be effective when receipt
thereof is acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, which acknowledgment the
Administrative Agent shall not unreasonably delay giving, and thereafter the
party named as such therein shall be Lender Agent for such Lender under this
Agreement. Each Lender Agent and its Lender(s) shall agree amongst themselves as
to the circumstances and procedures for removal and resignation of such Lender
Agent.
Section 8.5. Assumed Payments. Unless the Administrative Agent shall
have received notice from the applicable Lender Agent before the date of any
Incremental Loan that the applicable Lender Group will not make available to the
Administrative Agent the amount it is scheduled to remit as part of such
Incremental Loan, the Administrative Agent may assume such Lender Group has made
such amount available to the Administrative Agent when due (an "Assumed
Payment") and, in reliance upon such assumption, the Administrative Agent may
(but shall have no obligation to) make available such amount to the appropriate
Person. If and to the extent that any Lender Group shall not have made its
Assumed Payment available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender Group (and
the Borrower in the case of any Incremental Loan) hereby agrees to pay the
Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such unpaid portion of such Assumed
Payment up to the amount of funds actually paid by the Administrative Agent,
together with interest thereon for each day from the date of such payment by the
Administrative Agent until the date the requisite amount is repaid to the
Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate plus
2%.
Section 8.6. Notice of Termination Events. Neither any Lender Agent nor
the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the
occurrence of any Potential Termination Event unless such Agent has received
notice from any Lender, Lender Agent or the Borrower stating that a Potential
Termination Event has occurred hereunder and describing such Potential
Termination Event. In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a
notice, it shall promptly give notice thereof to each Lender Agent whereupon
each Lender Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to its Lenders, Enhancement
Banks and Liquidity Banks. In the event that a Lender Agent receives such a
notice (other than from the Administrative Agent), it shall promptly give notice
thereof to the Administrative Agent and each of its affiliated Enhancement Banks
and Liquidity Banks. The Administrative Agent shall take such action concerning
a Potential Termination Event as may be directed by the Instructing Group (or in
the case where there are only two Lender Groups and neither Lender Group has a
majority of the Commitments, either Lender Agent except if the proposed action
is a waiver of the consequences of the Potential Termination Event, in which
case such waiver shall require the
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consent of the Instructing Group) (or, if otherwise required for such action,
all of the Lenders), but until the Administrative Agent receives such
directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take
such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Administrative Agent
deems advisable and in the best interests of the Lenders and Lender Agents.
Section 8.7. Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, Lender Agents and
Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that none of the
Administrative Agent, Lender Agents 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 Administrative Agent, or Lender Agent
hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Borrower or any
Originator, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the
Administrative Agent or Lender Agent, as applicable. Each Lender represents and
warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lender Agents that, independently
and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, Lender Agents or any other
Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate,
it has made and will continue to make its own appraisal of and investigation
into the business, operations, property, prospects, financial and other
conditions and creditworthiness of the Borrower, any Originator, and the
Receivables and its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to take, or
omit, action under any Transaction Document. The Administrative Agent shall
deliver each month to any Lender Agent that so requests a copy of the Periodic
Report(s) received covering the preceding calendar month. Except for items
specifically required to be delivered hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall
not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender Agent with any
information concerning the Borrower, any Originator or any of their Affiliates
that comes into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its
officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates.
Section 8.8. Agents and Affiliates. Each of the Lenders and the
Administrative Agent and their Affiliates may extend credit to, accept deposits
from and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, debt, entity or other
business with the Borrower, each Originator or any of their Affiliates and ABN
AMRO may exercise or refrain from exercising its rights and powers as if it were
not the Administrative Agent. With respect to the acquisition of the Eligible
Receivables pursuant to this Agreement, each of the Lender Agents and the
Administrative Agents shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement
as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not such an agent, and
the terms "Lender" and "Lenders" shall include each of the Lender Agents and the
Administrative Agent in their individual capacities.
Section 8.9. Indemnification. Each Lender Group shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Administrative Agent and its officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower or any
Originator and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower or any Originator
to do so), ratably in accordance with its Ratable Share from and against any and
all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, judgments,
settlements, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind whatsoever (including
in connection with any investigative or threatened proceeding, whether or not
the Administrative Agent or such Person shall be designated a party thereto)
that may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative Agent or such Person as a result of, or related to, any of the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or the execution,
delivery or
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performance of the Transaction Documents or any other document furnished in
connection therewith (but excluding any such liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, judgments, settlements, costs, expenses or disbursements
resulting solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the
Administrative Agent or such Person as finally determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction).
Section 8.10. Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent
may, upon at least five (5) days notice to the Borrower and each Lender and
Lender Agent, resign as Administrative Agent. Such resignation shall not become
effective until a successor agent is appointed by the Instructing Group and has
accepted such appointment. Upon such acceptance of its appointment as
Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such
successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the
rights and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under
the Transaction Documents. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation
hereunder, the provisions of Article VI and this Article VIII shall inure to its
benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the
Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1. Termination. Each Lender shall cease to be a party hereto
when the Termination Date has occurred, each Lender holds no Loan Amount and all
amounts payable to it hereunder have been paid in full. This Agreement shall
terminate following the Related Bank Lender Termination Date when no Loan Amount
is held by a Lender and all other amounts payable hereunder have been paid in
full, but the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, each Lender Agent
and each Lender concerning any representation, warranty or covenant made, or
deemed to be made, by the Borrower and under Article VI and Section 8.9 shall
survive such termination.
Section 9.2. Notices. Unless otherwise specified, all notices and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing (including by telecopier or other
facsimile communication), given to the appropriate Person at its address or
telecopy number set forth on the signature pages hereof, in the Transfer
Supplement or at such other address or telecopy number as such Person may
specify, and effective when received at the address specified by such Person.
Each party hereto, however, authorizes the Administrative Agent to act on
telephone notices of Loans from any person the Administrative Agent in good
faith believes to be acting on behalf of the relevant party and, at the
Administrative Agent's option, to tape record any such telephone conversation.
Each party hereto agrees to deliver promptly to the Administrative Agent a
confirmation of each telephone notice given or received by such party (signed by
an authorized officer of such party), but the absence of such confirmation shall
not affect the validity of the telephone notice. The Administrative Agent's
records of all such conversations shall be deemed correct and, if the
confirmation of a conversation differs in any material respect from the action
taken by the Administrative Agent, the records of the Administrative Agent shall
govern absent manifest error. The number of days for any advance notice required
hereunder may be waived (orally or in writing) by the Person receiving such
notice and, in the case of notices to the Administrative
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Agent, the consent of each Person to which the Administrative Agent is required
to forward such notice.
Section 9.3. Payments and Computations. Notwithstanding anything herein
to the contrary, any amounts to be paid or transferred by the Borrower or the
Collection Agent to, or for the benefit of, any Lender or any other Person shall
be paid or transferred to the appropriate Lender Agent. All amounts to be paid
or deposited hereunder shall be paid or transferred on the day when due in
immediately available Dollars (and, if due from the Borrower or Collection
Agent, by 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time), with amounts received after such time being
deemed paid on the Business Day following such receipt). The Borrower hereby
authorizes the Administrative Agent to debit the Borrower Account for
application to any amounts owed by the Borrower hereunder. The Borrower shall,
to the extent permitted by law, pay to each Lender Agent upon demand, for the
account of the applicable Person, interest on all amounts not paid or
transferred by the Borrower or the Collection Agent when due hereunder at a rate
equal to the Prime Rate plus 2%, calculated from the date any such amount became
due until the date paid in full. Any payment or other transfer of funds
scheduled to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the
next Business Day, and any interest rate accruing on such amount to be paid or
transferred shall continue to accrue to such next Business Day. All computations
of interest and fees shall be calculated for the actual days elapsed based on a
360-day year (or 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, in the case of Prime Rate
Loans).
Section 9.4. Sharing of Recoveries. Each Lender Group agrees that if it
receives any recovery, through set-off, judicial action or otherwise, on any
amount payable or recoverable hereunder in a greater proportion than should have
been received hereunder or otherwise inconsistent with the provisions hereof,
then the recipient of such recovery shall purchase for cash an interest in
amounts owing to the other Lender Groups (as return of Loan Amount or
otherwise), without representation or warranty except for the representation and
warranty that such interest is being sold by each such other Lender Group free
and clear of any Adverse Claim created or granted by such other Lender Group, in
the amount necessary to create proportional participation by the Lender Group in
such recovery. If all or any portion of such amount is thereafter recovered from
the recipient, such purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored
to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.
Section 9.5. Right of Setoff. During a Termination Event, each Lender
Group is hereby authorized (in addition to any other rights it may have) to
setoff, appropriate and apply (without presentment, demand, protest or other
notice which are hereby expressly waived) any deposits and any other
indebtedness held or owing by such Lender Group (including by any branches or
agencies of such Lender Group) to, or for the account of, the Borrower against
amounts owing by the Borrower hereunder (even if contingent or unmatured).
Section 9.6. Amendments. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
no amendment or waiver hereof shall be effective unless signed by the Borrower
and the Instructing Group. The amount of any fee or other payment due and
payable from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent (for its own account), any
Lender Agent or any Lender may be changed or otherwise adjusted solely with the
consent of the Borrower and the party to which such payment is payable. Any
amendment hereof shall apply to each Lender equally and shall be binding upon
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the Borrower, the Lenders, the Lender Agents and the Administrative Agent. If
required by the Rating Agencies for the applicable Conduit Lender, no material
amendment hereof or assignment, termination, resignation or removal hereunder
shall be effective unless a statement is obtained from the applicable Rating
Agencies that its Rating will not be downgraded, withdrawn or suspended as a
result of such amendment, assignment, termination, resignation or removal.
Section 9.7. Waivers. No failure or delay of the Administrative Agent
or any Lender in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy hereunder
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any such power, right, privilege or remedy preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power, right, privilege or remedy.
Any waiver hereof shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the
specific purpose for which such waiver was given. After any waiver, the
Borrower, the Lenders, the Lender Agents and the Administrative Agent shall be
restored to their former position and rights and any Potential Termination Event
waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing, but no such waiver shall
extend to (or impair any right consequent upon) any subsequent or other
Potential Termination Event. Any additional interest that has accrued after a
Termination Event before the execution of a waiver thereof, solely as a result
of the occurrence of such Termination Event, may be waived by the Administrative
Agent at the direction of the Lender Agent entitled thereto.
Section 9.8. Successors and Assigns; Participations; Assignments.
(a) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may not assign or
transfer any of its rights or delegate any of its duties without the prior
consent of the Administrative Agent, the Lender Agents and the Lenders.
(b) Participations. Any Lender may sell to one or more Persons (each a
"Participant") participating interests in the interests of such Lender
hereunder; provided, however, that no Lender shall grant any participation under
which the Participant shall have rights to approve any amendment to or waiver of
this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. Such Lender shall remain
solely responsible for performing its obligations hereunder, and the Borrower,
each Lender Agent and the Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and
directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
obligations hereunder. Each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of
Article VI and shall have the right of setoff through its participation in
amounts owing hereunder to the same extent as if it were a Lender hereunder,
which right of setoff is subject to such Participant's obligation to share with
the Lenders as provided in Section 9.4. A Lender shall not agree with a
Participant to restrict such Lender's right to agree to any amendment hereto,
except amendments described in clause (a) of Section 9.6.
(c) Assignment by Lenders. Upon the consent of the Borrower (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), each party hereto agrees and
consents (i) to any Lender's assignment, participation, grant of security
interests in or other transfers of any portion of, or any of its beneficial
interest in, its Loan Interest and (ii) to the complete assignment by such
Lender of all of its rights and obligations hereunder to any other Person, and
upon such assignment such Lender shall be released from all obligations and
duties hereunder. Each Lender shall promptly
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notify each party hereto of any such assignment. Upon such an assignment of any
portion of any Lender's Loan Interest, the assignee shall have all of the rights
of such Lender hereunder relating to such Loan Interest.
(d) Opinions of Counsel. If required by the Administrative Agent or to
maintain the Ratings, each assignment must be accompanied by an opinion of
counsel of the assignee as to such matters as the Administrative Agent or Lender
Agent may reasonably request.
Section 9.9. Intended Tax Characterization. It is the intention of the
parties hereto that, for the purposes of all Taxes, the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be treated as a loan by the Lenders (through the
Administrative Agent) to the Borrower that is secured by the Receivables (the
"Intended Tax Characterization"). The parties hereto agree to report and
otherwise to act for the purposes of all Taxes in a manner consistent with the
Intended Tax Characterization. As provided in Section 5.1(g), the Borrower
hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the
Lenders, a security interest in all Receivables and Collections to secure the
payment of all amounts other than Loan Amount owing hereunder and (to the extent
of the Secured Interest) to secure the repayment of all Loan Amount.
Section 9.10. Confidentiality. The parties hereto agree to hold the
Transaction Documents or any other confidential or proprietary information
received in connection therewith in confidence and agree not to provide any
Person with copies of any Transaction Document or such other confidential or
proprietary information other than to (i) any officers, directors, members,
managers, employees or outside accountants, auditors or attorneys thereof, (ii)
any prospective or actual assignee or participant which (in each case) has
signed a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the
confidentiality agreement signed by the Agent prior to the date hereof, (iii)
any rating agency, (iv) any surety, guarantor or credit or liquidity enhancer to
the Agent or any Lender which (in each case) has signed a confidentiality
agreement substantially in the form of the confidentiality agreement signed by
the Agent prior to the date hereof, (v) any entity organized to loan, or make
loans secured by, financial assets for which ABN AMRO or PNC Bank, National
Association provides managerial services or acts as an administrative agent
which (in each case) has signed a confidentiality agreement substantially in the
form of the confidentiality agreement signed by the Agent prior to the date
hereof, (vi) any Conduit Lender's administrator, management company, referral
agents, issuing agents or depositaries or commercial paper dealers and (vii)
Governmental Authorities with appropriate jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the
above stated obligations, the parties hereto will not be liable for disclosure
or use of such information which such Person can establish by tangible evidence:
(i) was required by law, including pursuant to a subpoena or other legal
process, (ii) was in such Person's possession or known to such Person prior to
receipt or (iii) is or becomes known to the public through disclosure in a
printed publication (without breach of any obligation hereunder).
Section 9.11. Reserved.
Section 9.11. Confidentiality of Agreement. Unless otherwise consented
to by the Administrative Agent and the Lender Agents the Borrower hereby will
not disclose the contents of any Transaction Document, or any other confidential
or proprietary information furnished by
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the Administrative Agent, any Lender Agent or any Lender, to any Person other
than to its auditors and attorneys or as required by applicable law.
Section 9.12. Agreement Not to Petition. Each party hereto agrees, for
the benefit of the holders of the privately or publicly placed indebtedness for
borrowed money for each Conduit Lender, not, prior to the date which is one (1)
year and one (1) day after the payment in full of all such indebtedness, to
acquiesce, petition or otherwise, directly or indirectly, invoke, or cause any
Conduit Lender to invoke, the process of any Governmental Authority for the
purpose of (a) commencing or sustaining a case against any Conduit Lender under
any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law (including the
Federal Bankruptcy Code), (b) appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official for such Conduit
Lender, or any substantial part of its property, or (c) ordering the winding up
or liquidation of the affairs of such Conduit Lender.
Section 9.13. Excess Funds. Other than amounts payable under Section
9.4, each Conduit Lender shall be required to make payment of the amounts
required to be paid pursuant hereto only if such Conduit Lender has Excess Funds
(as defined below). If any Conduit Lender does not have Excess Funds, the excess
of the amount due hereunder (other than pursuant to Section 9.4) over the amount
paid shall not constitute a "claim" (as defined in Section 101(5) of the Federal
Bankruptcy Code) against such Conduit Lender until such time as such Conduit
Lender has Excess Funds. If any Conduit Lender does not have sufficient Excess
Funds to make any payment due hereunder (other than pursuant to Section 9.4),
then such Conduit Lender may pay a lesser amount and make additional payments
that in the aggregate equal the amount of deficiency as soon as possible
thereafter. The term "Excess Funds" means the excess of (a) the aggregate
projected value of a Conduit Lender's assets and other property (including cash
and cash equivalents), over (b) the sum of (i) the sum of all scheduled payments
of principal, interest and other amounts payable on publicly or privately placed
indebtedness of such Conduit Lender for borrowed money, plus (ii) the sum of all
other liabilities, indebtedness and other obligations of such Conduit Lender for
borrowed money or owed to any credit or liquidity provider, together with all
unpaid interest then accrued thereon, plus (iii) all taxes payable by such
Conduit Lender to the Internal Revenue Service, plus (iv) all other
indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of such Conduit Lender then due and
payable, but the amount of any liability, indebtedness or obligation of any
Conduit Lender shall not exceed the projected value of the assets to which
recourse for such liability, indebtedness or obligation is limited. Excess Funds
shall be calculated once each Business Day.
Section 9.14. No Recourse. The obligations of each Lender, its
management company, its administrator and its referral agents (each a "Program
Administrator") under any Transaction Document or other document (each, a
"Program Document") to which a Program Administrator is a party are solely the
corporate obligations of such Program Administrator and no recourse shall be had
for such obligations against any Affiliate, director, officer, member, manager,
employee, attorney or agent of any Program Administrator.
Section 9.15. Headings; Counterparts. Article and Section Headings in
this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the construction of
this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed by different parties on any
number of counterparts, each of which shall
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constitute an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one
and the same agreement.
Section 9.16. Cumulative Rights and Severability. All rights and
remedies of the Lenders, Lender Agents and Administrative Agent hereunder shall
be cumulative and non-exclusive of any rights or remedies such Persons have
under law or otherwise. Any provision hereof that is prohibited or unenforceable
in any jurisdiction shall, in such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
provisions hereof and without affecting such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
Section 9.17. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws (and
not the law of conflicts) of the State of New York. The Borrower hereby submits
to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York and of any New York state court sitting in New
York, New York for purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of, or relating
to, the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby. The
Borrower hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
objection it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such proceeding and
any claim that any such proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Nothing in this Section 9.17 shall affect the right of the Administrative Agent,
any Lender Agent or any Lender to bring any action or proceeding against the
Borrower or its property in the courts of other jurisdictions.
Section 9.18. Waiver of Trial by Jury. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT OF TRIAL BY JURY
IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH,
ANY TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR ANY MATTER ARISING THEREUNDER.
Section 9.19. Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents constitute the
entire understanding of the parties thereto concerning the subject matter
thereof. Any previous or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral,
concerning such matters are superseded thereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date hereof.
ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as the ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as a Related
Administrative Agent Bank Lender for Amsterdam
By: Thomas J. Illegible By: Thomas J. Illegible
------------------------------- -----------------------------
Title: Illegible Title: Illegible
---------------------------- ---------------------------
By: Illegible By: Illegible
------------------------------- -----------------------------
Title: Illegible Title: Illegible
---------------------------- ---------------------------
Address: Structured Finance, Address: Structured Finance,
Asset Securitization Asset Securitization
135 South LaSalle Street 135 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60674-9135 Chicago, Illinois 60674-9135
Attention: Lender Agent- Attention: Enhancer-Amsterdam
Amsterdam Telephone: (312) 904-6263
Telephone: (312) 904-6263 Telecopy: (312) 904-6376
Telecopy: (312) 904-6376
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PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AMSTERDAM FUNDING CORPORATION,
as a Related Bank Lender for Amsterdam an Uncommitted Conduit Lender
By: Illegible By: /s/ Andrew Stidd
------------------------------- -----------------------------
Title: VICE PRESIDENT Title: PRESIDENT
---------------------------- ---------------------------
Address: 201 East Fifth St. Address: c/o Global Securitization Services, LLC
3rd Fl. 25 West 43rd Street, Suite 704
Cincinnati, OH 45202 New York, New York 10036
Attention: LARGE CORPORATE BANKING Attention: Andrew Stidd
Telephone: (513) 651-8675 Telephone: (212) 302-8330
Telecopy: (513) 651-8951 Telecopy: (212) 302-8767
with a copy to:
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
Address: Structured Finance,
Asset Securitization
135 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60674-9135
Attention: Administrator -
Amsterdam
Telephone: (312) 904-6263
Telecopy: (312) 904-6376
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EAGLE-PICHER ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION, EAGLE-PICHER INDUSTRIES, INC.,
as Borrower as Initial Collection Agent
By: Illegible By: Illegible
------------------------------- -----------------------------
Title: Title:
---------------------------- ---------------------------
Address: 250 East Fifth Street, Fifth Floor Address: 250 East Fifth Street, Fifth Floor
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Attention: General Counsel Attention: General Counsel
Telephone: (513) 721-7010 Telephone: (513) 721-7010
Telecopy: (513) 629-2572 Telecopy: (513) 629-2572
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SCHEDULE I
DEFINITIONS
The following terms have the meanings set forth, or referred to, below:
"ABN AMRO" means ABN AMRO Bank N.V. in its individual capacity and not
in its capacity as the Administrative Agent.
"Administrative Agent" is defined in the first paragraph hereof.
"Administrative Agent's Account" means the account designated to the
Borrower and the Lenders by the Administrative Agent.
"Adverse Claim" means, for any asset or property of a Person, a lien,
security interest, charge, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment or
material encumbrance, or any other material right or claim, in, of or on such
asset or property in favor of any other Person, except those in favor of the
Administrative Agent.
"Affiliate" means, for any Person, any other Person which, directly or
indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with
such Person. For purposes of this definition, "control" means the power,
directly or indirectly, to either (i) vote ten percent (10%) or more of the
securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of a
Person or (ii) cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person.
"Aggregate Loan Amount" means the sum of the Loan Amounts of all
Lenders.
"Aggregate Reserve" means, at any time, the sum of the Reserves of all
Lenders at such time.
"Amsterdam" is defined in the first paragraph hereof.
"Bankruptcy Event" means, for any Person, that (a) such Person makes a
general assignment for the benefit of creditors or any proceeding is instituted
by or against such Person seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent, or
seeking the liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment,
protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the
entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee or other
similar official for it or any substantial part of its property or (b) such
Person takes any corporate action to authorize any such action.
"Borrower" is defined in the first paragraph hereof.
"Borrower Account" means the Borrower's account designated by the
Borrower to the Administrative Agent with at least ten (10) days prior notice.
"Borrowing" shall mean the incurrence by the Borrower of a Loan.
42
"Business Day" means any day other than (a) a Saturday, Sunday or other
day on which banks in New York City, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or Chicago,
Illinois are authorized or required to close and (b) a holiday on the Federal
Reserve calendar.
"Charge-Off" means any Receivable that the Borrower deems uncollectible
in accordance with its ordinary practices and procedures and that has or should
have been charged off or written off by the Borrower in accordance with such
practices and procedures; provided, however, that in no event may such
charge-off or write-off occur with respect to a Receivable within 150 days of
the origination of such Receivable unless the related Obligor (a) has suffered a
Bankruptcy Event or (b) has committed fraud with respect to such Receivable.
"Closing Date" shall mean the day (which shall be a Business Day)
specified by the Borrower on which all of the conditions specified in Section
7.1 as conditions precedent to the Closing Date are fulfilled or waived pursuant
to this Agreement.
"Collection" means any amount paid, or deemed paid, on a Receivable,
including from the proceeds of collateral securing, or any guaranty of, such
Receivable or by the Borrower under Section 1.5(b).
"Collection Agent" is defined in Section 3.1(a).
"Collection Agent Fee" is defined in Section 3.6.
"Collection Agent Replacement Event" means the occurrence of any one or
more of the following:
(a) the Collection Agent (or any sub-collection agent) fails
to observe or perform any material term, covenant or agreement under
any Transaction Document;
(b) any written representation, warranty, certification or
statement made by the Collection Agent in, or pursuant to, any
Transaction Document proves to have been incorrect in any material
adverse respect when made;
(c) the Collection Agent suffers a Bankruptcy Event; or
(d) a Termination Event occurs and any Lender Group declares
such Termination Event to be a Collection Agent Replacement Event.
"Committed Conduit Lender" means each Person who becomes a Committed
Conduit Lender pursuant to a Transfer Supplement.
"Commitment Percentage" means, for each Related Bank Lender in a Lender
Group, such Related Bank Lender's Loan Commitment divided by the total of all
Loan Commitments of all Related Bank Lenders in such Lender Group.
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"Concentration Limit" means (i) for any Obligor with long term
unsecured indebtedness rated BBB or higher by S&P or Baa2 or higher by Moody's,
5% of the outstanding principal balance of all Eligible Receivables, (ii) for
all other Obligors (including those not rated by both S&P and Moody's), 3% of
the outstanding principal balance of all Eligible Receivables and (iii) with
respect to each Obligor therein referenced, such Obligor's Special Limit. If the
Moody's rating and the S&P rating assigned to the long term unsecured
indebtedness of any Obligor differ, then the Concentration Limit for such
Obligor shall be based on the lower of such ratings.
"Conduit Lenders" means the Committed Conduit Lenders and the
Uncommitted Conduit Lenders.
"Consolidated Receivables Balance" means an amount equal to the gross
amount of Receivables on any date less the amount of intracompany Receivables
for such date.
"Credit and Collection Policies" means, collectively, the Borrower's
credit and collection policies and practices relating to Receivables attached
hereto as Exhibit H.
"Daily Estimated Consolidated Receivables Balance" means an amount
equal to the gross amount of Receivables on any date less the Daily Intracompany
Estimate for such date.
"Daily Estimated Eligible Receivables Balance" means an amount equal to
the Daily Estimated Consolidated Receivables Balance less the Daily
Ineligible/Concentration Estimate for such date.
"Daily Ineligible/Concentration Estimate" means an amount equal to the
Daily Estimated Consolidated Receivables Balance multiplied by the Daily
Ineligible/Concentration Percentage for such date.
"Daily Ineligible/Concentration Percentage" means a percentage equal
to one minus a percentage equal to the Eligible Receivables Balance as shown on
the most recent Periodic Report divided by the Consolidated Receivables Balance
as shown on the most recent Periodic Report.
"Daily Intracompany Estimate" means an amount equal to the gross amount
of Receivables on any date multiplied by the Daily Intracompany Percentage for
such date.
"Daily Intracompany Percentage" means a percentage equal to the amount
of intracompany Receivables as shown on the most recent Periodic Report divided
by the gross Receivables as shown on the most recent Periodic Report.
"Daily Maximum Advance" means an amount shown on a Daily Report equal
to the gross amount of Receivables on such date less the Daily Intracompany
Estimate, the Daily Ineligible/Concentration Estimate and the Daily Reserve
Estimate.
"Daily Report" is defined in Section 3.3(b).
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"Daily Reserve Estimate" means an amount equal to the Daily Estimated
Eligible Receivables Balance for such date multiplied by the Reserve Percentage
as shown on the most recent Periodic Report.
"Deemed Collections" is defined in Section 1.5(c).
"Default Ratio" means, for any calendar month, the ratio of (a) the
aggregate outstanding balance of all Defaulted Receivables (minus Charge-Offs)
as of the end of such calendar month to (b) the aggregate outstanding balance of
all Receivables (minus Charge-Offs) as of the end of such calendar month.
"Defaulted Receivable" means (1) any Receivable (other than a
Charge-Off) (a) on which any amount is unpaid more than 90 days past its
original invoice date or (b) the Obligor on which has suffered a Bankruptcy
Event and (2) any Receivable which becomes a Charge-Off within 90 days of its
origination.
"Delinquency Ratio" means, for any calendar month, the ratio of (a) the
then aggregate outstanding balance of all Delinquent Receivables as of the end
of such calendar month to (b) the aggregate outstanding balance of all
Receivables as of the end of such calendar month.
"Delinquent Receivable" means any Receivable (other than a Charge-Off
or Defaulted Receivable) on which any amount is unpaid more than 60 days past
its original invoice date.
"Designated Financial Officer" means the Treasurer or Assistant
Treasurer of the Borrower or each Originator, as applicable.
"Dilution Ratio" means, for any calendar month, the ratio of (a) the
aggregate amount of payments owed by the Borrower pursuant to the first sentence
of Section 1.5(b) for such calendar month to (b) the aggregate amount of
Collections received during such calendar month.
"Dilution Reserve" means the greater of (i) 3% and (ii) 3 times the
highest three month rolling average Dilution Ratio (expressed as a percentage)
as of the last day of each of the last twelve calendar months.
"Dollar" and "$" means lawful currency of the United States of America.
"Eagle-Picher Credit Agreement" means that certain Credit Agreement
dated as of February 19, 1998 among Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., various
Lenders from time to time party thereto, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as Administrative
Agent, PNC Bank, National Association, as Documentation Agent and DLJ Capital
Funding, Inc., as Syndication Agent, as such agreement is amended, modified or
restated from time to time.
"Eligible Receivable" means, at any time, any Receivable:
(i) the Obligor of which (a) is a resident of, or organized
under the laws of, or with its chief executive office in, the U.S.;
provided (1) Eligible Receivables generated
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by Obligors which are residents of, or organized under the laws of, or
with their chief executive office in, Canada may constitute up to 5% of
Eligible Receivables and (2) Eligible Receivables generated by
Affiliates of Ford Motor Company which are not residents of, or
organized under the laws of, or with their chief executive office in,
the U.S. shall, subject to the Concentration Limit applicable to Ford
Motor Company, constitute Eligible Receivables; (b) is not an Affiliate
of any of the parties hereto or any Originator; (c) is not a government
or a governmental subdivision or agency; (d) has not suffered a
Bankruptcy Event; (e) is a customer of each Originator in good
standing; (f) is not the Obligor of Defaulted Receivables representing
more than 25% of the Obligor's aggregate Eligible Receivables; and (g)
with respect to any Receivable of which Carpenter Enterprises Limited
is the Originator, is not Honda Motor Corporation;
(ii) which is stated to be due and payable within 90 days
after the invoice therefor; provided, however, that not more than 5% of
the Eligible Receivables at any time may consist of Receivables which
are stated to be due and payable within 91 to 360 days after invoice
therefore ("Long-Dated Receivables"), and, if the outstanding balance
of all Long-Dated Receivables that would otherwise be Eligible
Receivables exceeds such limit, Eligible Receivables for purposes
hereof shall be the Long-Dated Receivables with the shortest
maturities;
(iii) which is not a Defaulted Receivable, a Charge-Off or a
Receivable which has been extended, amended, rescinded or cancelled
(except as permitted in Section 3.2(b) and then subject to Section
1.5);
(iv) which is an "account" or "chattel paper" within the
meaning of Section 9-105 and Section 9-106, respectively of the UCC of
all applicable jurisdictions;
(v) which is denominated and payable only in Dollars in the
U.S.;
(vi) which arises under a contract that is in full force and
effect and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
related Obligor enforceable against such Obligor in accordance with its
terms subject to no offset, counterclaim, defense or other Adverse
Claim, and is not an executory contract or unexpired lease within the
meaning of Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code, and which directs
payments be made to a permitted Lock-Box;
(vii) which arises under a contract that (a) contains an
obligation to pay a specified sum of money and is subject to no
contingencies, (b) does not require the Obligor under such contract to
consent to the transfer, sale or assignment of the rights and duties of
the applicable Originator under such contract (unless the Agent is
reasonably satisfied that any restriction to the transfer, sale or
assignment of such rights and duties does not limit or prohibit the
Originator's right to assign its right to receive payment under such
contract) and (c) does not contain a confidentiality provision that
purports to restrict any Lender's exercise of rights under this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the right to review such
contract;
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(viii) which does not, in whole or in part, contravene any law,
rule or regulation applicable thereto (including, without limitation,
those relating to usury, truth in lending, fair credit billing, fair
credit reporting, equal credit opportunity, fair debt collection
practices and privacy);
(ix) which satisfies all applicable requirements of the
applicable Credit and Collection Policy and was generated in the
ordinary course of the applicable Originator's business from the sale
of goods or provision of services to a related Obligor solely by such
Originator;
(x) which is an account receivable representing all or part
of the sales price of merchandise, insurance and services within the
meaning of Section 3(c)(5) of the Investment Company Act of 1940;
(xi) the purchase of which with proceeds of notes would
constitute a "current transaction" within the meaning of Section
3(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; and
(xii) which is not part of a price offering reserve, hold back
or exchange rate transaction as reflected on the general ledger of the
applicable Originator.
"Eligible Receivable Balance" means, at any time, the aggregate
outstanding principal balance of all Eligible Receivables less the portion of
the aggregate outstanding principal balance of Eligible Receivables which exceed
the Concentration Limit or the Special Limit.
"Enhancement Agreement" means any agreement between a Lender and any
other Person, entered into to provide credit enhancement to such Lender's
commercial paper facility.
"Enhancement Bank" means any Person providing credit support to a
Lender for such Lender's account under an Enhancement Agreement, including
pursuant to an unfunded commitment.
"Face Amount" means the face amount of any Conduit Lender's commercial
paper issued on a discount basis or, if not issued on a discount basis, the
principal amount of such note and interest scheduled to accrue thereon to its
stated maturity.
"Federal Funds Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate
per annum equal, for each day during such period, 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 immediately 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
transactions received by ABN AMRO as of approximately 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time)
on such day from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by
it.
"Fee Letter" means, for each Lender Group, the letter agreement among
the Borrower and the Lender Agent for the applicable Lender Group.
I-6
47
"Funding Agreement" means any agreement or instrument executed by a
Lender and executed by or in favor of any Funding Source or executed by any
Funding Source at the request of a Lender.
"Funding Source" means any insurance company, bank or other financial
institution providing liquidity, back-up purchase or credit support for any
Lender.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.,
applied on a consistent basis.
"Governmental Authority" means any (a) Federal, state, municipal or
other governmental entity, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, (b)
administrative or regulatory authority (including any central bank or similar
authority) or (c) court, judicial authority or arbitrator, in each case, whether
foreign or domestic.
"Incremental Loan" is defined in Section 1.1(b).
"Ineligible Receivables Balance" means the aggregate principal balance
of all Receivables that are not Eligible Receivables.
"Initial Collection Agent" is defined in the first paragraph hereof.
"Instructing Group" means Lender Agents representing Lender Groups with
a majority of the Loan Commitments; provided, however that if there are only two
Lender Groups and no one Lender Group has a majority of the Loan Commitments,
then the "Instructing Group" means both Lender Agents.
"Intended Tax Characterization" is defined in Section 9.9.
"Interest Reserve" means, at any time, the product of (a) 1.5
multiplied by (b) the rate announced by ABN AMRO as its "Prime Rate" (which may
not be its best or lowest rate) plus 300 basis points (3.00%) per annum
multiplied by (c) Receivables Turnover Days divided by 360 days.
"Interim Liquidation" means any time before the Termination Date during
which no Reinvestment Loans are made by any Lender, as established pursuant to
Section 1.2.
"Lender Agent" means any of the Amsterdam Lender Agent or any other
person who becomes a party to this Agreement as a Lender Agent pursuant to a
Transfer Supplement.
"Lender Group" means, for each Conduit Lender, such Conduit Lender, its
Related Bank Lenders (if any) and its related Liquidity Banks and Enhancement
Banks.
"Lender Reserve Percentage" means, for each Lender, the Reserve
Percentage multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is such Lender's
outstanding Loan Amount and the denominator of which is the aggregate Loan
Amount for all Lenders.
I-7
48
"Lenders" means the Conduit Lenders and the Related Bank Lenders.
"Limited Guaranty" means the Limited Guaranty, dated the date hereof,
by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent.
"Liquidation Period" means, for any Lender only, all times when such
Lender is not making Reinvestment Loans pursuant to Section 1.1(d) and, for all
Lenders, all times (x) during an Interim Liquidation and (y) on and after the
Termination Date.
"Liquidity Agreement" means any agreement entered into in connection
with this Agreement pursuant to which any Person agrees to make loans or
advances to, or purchase assets from, any Lender in order to provide liquidity
for such Lender's Loans.
"Liquidity Bank" means any commercial lending institution that is at
any time a lender or purchaser under any Liquidity Agreement.
"Loan" is defined in Section 1.1(a).
"Loan Amount" means, for each Lender, (a) the sum of (i) all Loans by
such Lender and (ii) the aggregate amount of any payments or exchanges made by,
or on behalf of, such Lender to any other Lender pursuant to the Transfer
Agreements minus (b) all Collections, amounts received from any Lenders, and
other amounts received or exchanged and, in each case, applied by the
Administrative Agent or such Lender to reduce such Lender's Loan Amount. A
Lender's Loan Amount shall be restored to the extent any amounts so received or
exchanged and applied are rescinded or must be returned for any reason.
"Loan Commitment" means, for each Lender Group, the amount set forth on
Schedule II, as adjusted in accordance with Sections 1.6 and 9.8.
"Loan Interest" means, for a Lender, the percentage security interest
in the Receivables and Collections held by such Lender, calculated when and as
described in Section 1.1(a); provided, however, that (except for purposes of
computing a Loan Interest or the Secured Interest in Section 1.5 or 1.7) at any
time the Secured Interest would otherwise exceed 100% each Lender then holding
any Loan Amount shall have its Loan Interest reduced by multiplying such Loan
Interest by a fraction equal to 100% divided by the Secured Interest otherwise
then in effect, so that the Secured Interest is thereby reduced to 100%.
"Loan Limit" means $75,000,000.
"Lock-Box" means each post office box or bank box listed on Exhibit E,
as revised pursuant to Section 5.1(i).
"Lock-Box Account" means each account maintained by the Collection
Agent at a Lock-Box Bank for the purpose of receiving or concentrating
Collections.
I-8
49
"Lock-Box Agreement" means each agreement between the Collection Agent
and a Lock-Box Bank concerning a Lock-Box Account.
"Lock-Box Bank" means each bank listed on Exhibit E, as revised
pursuant to Section 5.1(i).
"Lock-Box Letter" means a letter in substantially the form of Exhibit F
(or otherwise acceptable to the Administrative Agent) from the Borrower and the
Collection Agent to each Lock-Box Bank, acknowledged and accepted by such
Lock-Box Bank and the Administrative Agent.
"Loss Reserve" means, at any time, the greatest of (a) 12%, (b) 2 times
the highest three-month rolling average Delinquency Ratio (expressed as a
percentage) as of the last day of each of the last twelve calendar months and
(c) 3 times the highest three-month rolling average Default Ratio (expressed as
a percentage) as of the last day of each of the last twelve calendar months.
"Loss-to-Liquidation Ratio" means, for any calendar month, the ratio of
the outstanding balance of Charge-Offs during such calendar month to the
aggregate amount of Collections during such calendar month.
"Matured Aggregate Loan Amount" means, at any time, the Matured Value
of each Lender's Loan Amount plus the total Loan Amounts of all other Lenders
then outstanding.
"Matured Value" means, for any Loan Amount, the sum of such Loan Amount
and all unpaid interest, fees and other amounts scheduled to become due (whether
or not then due) on such Loan Amount during all interest periods to which any
portion of such Loan Amount has been allocated.
"Maximum Incremental Loan Amount" means, at any time the difference
between the Loan Limit and the Aggregate Loan Amount then outstanding.
"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
"Obligor" means, for any Receivable, each Person obligated to pay such
Receivable and each guarantor of such obligation.
"Originator" means, collectively, Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.,
Carpenter Enterprises Limited, Daisy Parts, Inc., Eagle-Picher Development
Company, Inc., Eagle-Picher Fluid Systems, Inc., Eagle-Picher Minerals, Inc.,
Eagle-Picher Technologies, LLC, Hillsdale Tool & Manufacturing Co. and Michigan
Automotive Research Corporation.
"Parent" means Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.
"Periodic Report" is defined in Section 3.3(a).
I-9
50
"Permitted Investments" shall mean (a) evidences of indebtedness,
maturing not more than thirty (30) days after the date of purchase thereof,
issued by, or the full and timely payment of which is guaranteed by, the full
faith and credit of, the federal government of the United States of America, (b)
repurchase agreements with banking institutions or broker-dealers registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 fully secured by obligations of the
kind specified in clause (a) above, (c) money market funds denominated in
Dollars rated not lower than A-1 (and without the "r" symbol attached to any
such rating) by S&P and P-1 by Moody's or otherwise acceptable to the Rating
Agencies or (d) commercial paper denominated in Dollars issued by any
corporation incorporated under the laws of the United States or any political
subdivision thereof, provided that such commercial paper is rated at least A-1
(and without any "r" symbol attached to any such rating) thereof by S&P and at
least Prime-1 thereof by Moody's.
"Permitted Liens" means any lien, security interest or encumbrance
granted pursuant to the terms of the Eagle-Picher Credit Agreement or the
Purchase Agreements.
"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, association,
joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of any kind.
"Potential Termination Event" means any Termination Event or any event
or condition that with the lapse of time or giving of notice, or both, would
constitute a Termination Event.
"Prime Rate" means, for any period, the daily average during such
period of (a) the greater of (i) the floating commercial loan rate per annum of
ABN AMRO (which rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the
lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer by ABN AMRO) announced from
time to time as its prime rate or equivalent for Dollar loans in the U.S.,
changing as and when said rate changes and (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus
0.75% plus (b) during the pendency of a Termination Event, 3.00% for the Loan
Amount of a Liquidity Provider and 5.00% for the Loan Amount of the Enhancer.
"Program Amount" means, for each Lender Group, 102% of the Loan
Commitment of such Lender Group.
"Program LOC" means that certain irrevocable transferable letter of
credit no S79017, dated June 11, 1997, issued by the Enhancer at the request of
Amsterdam, and each letter of credit issued in substitution or replacement
therefor.
"Purchase Agreements" means, collectively, each Receivables Purchase
Agreement dated as of the date hereof among the Borrower and each Originator.
"Ratable Share" means, for each Lender Group, such Lender Group's
aggregate Loan Commitments divided by the aggregate Loan Commitments of all
Lender Groups.
"Rate Supplement" is defined in Section 1.3(a).
"Rating Agency" means Moody's, S&P and any other rating agency any
Conduit Lender chooses to rate its commercial paper notes.
I-10
51
"Ratings" means the ratings by the Rating Agencies of the indebtedness
for borrowed money of each Conduit Lender.
"Receivable" means each obligation of an Obligor to pay for merchandise
sold or services rendered by the applicable Originator and includes such
Originator's rights to payment of any interest or finance charges and in the
merchandise (including returned goods) and contracts relating to such
Receivable, all security interests, guaranties and property securing or
supporting payment of such Receivable, all Records and all proceeds of the
foregoing. During any Interim Liquidation and on and after the Termination Date,
the term "Receivable" shall only include receivables existing on the date such
Interim Liquidation commenced or Termination Date occurred, as applicable.
Deemed Collections shall reduce the outstanding balance of Receivables
hereunder, so that any Receivable that has its outstanding balance deemed
collected shall cease to be a Receivable hereunder after (x) the Collection
Agent receives payment of such Deemed Collections under Section 1.5(b) or (y) if
such Deemed Collection is received before the Termination Date, an adjustment to
the Secured Interest permitted by Section 1.5(c) is made.
"Receivables Turnover Days" means an amount, expressed in days,
obtained by multiplying (a) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is equal to
the Eligible Receivables Balance as of the most recent calendar month period and
(ii) the denominator of which is equal to Collections during the same such
calendar month period, times (b) 30.
"Records" means, for any Receivable, all contracts, books, records and
other documents or information (including computer programs, tapes, disks,
software and related property and rights) relating to such Receivable or the
related Obligor.
"Reinvestment Loan" is defined in Section 1.1(b).
"Reinvestment Loans" means the Reinvestment Loans.
"Related Bank Lenders" means the Persons listed as such (and their
respective Loan Commitments) for each Uncommitted Conduit Lender as listed on
Schedule II hereto.
"Reserve" means, for each Lender, an amount equal to the Lender Reserve
Percentage multiplied by the Eligible Receivables Balance.
"Reserve Percentage" means, at any time, the sum of the Loss Reserve,
the Dilution Reserve and the Interest Reserve.
"Secured Interest" is defined in Section 1.1(a).
"Settlement Date" means, prior to the occurrence of a Termination
Event, the twentieth day (or if such twentieth day is not a Business Day, the
next succeeding Business Day) of each calendar month, and on and after the
occurrence of a Termination Event, the second Business Day following the receipt
by the Collection Agent of any Collections.
I-11
52
"Settlement Period" means, for each Settlement Date (the "Applicable
Settlement Date"), the period commencing on and including the preceding
Settlement Date (or if none, the Closing Date) to but not including the
Applicable Settlement Date.
"Special Limit" means, only for so long as the applicable Obligor
described below has its long term unsecured indebtedness rated not less than A-
by S&P and A3 by Moody's, with respect to (a) Ford Motor Company, 20% of the
outstanding principal balance of all Eligible Receivables, (b) Caterpillar
Corporation, 10% of the outstanding principal balance of all Eligible
Receivables and (c) General Motors Corporation, 10% of the outstanding principal
balance of all Eligible Receivables, unless the Administrative Agent, in its
discretion or at the direction of an Instructing Group, notifies the Borrower of
a different limit.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group.
"Subordinated Note" means each revolving promissory note issued by the
Borrower to the applicable Originator under each Purchase Agreement.
"Subordination Agreement" means the Subordination Agreement dated as of
the date hereof between the Originators and the Borrower.
"Subsidiary" means any Person of which at least a majority of the
voting stock (or equivalent equity interests) is owned or controlled by the
Parent or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Parent. The Subsidiaries of
the Parent on the date hereof are listed on Exhibit D.
"Taxes" means all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments
(including income, gross receipts, profits, withholding, excise, property,
sales, use, license, occupation and franchise taxes and including any related
interest, penalties or other additions) imposed by any jurisdiction or taxing
authority (whether foreign or domestic).
"Termination Date" means the earliest of (a) the date of the occurrence
of a Termination Event described in clause (e) of the definition of Termination
Event, (b) the date designated by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower at
any time after the occurrence of any other Termination Event, (c) the Business
Day designated by the Borrower with no less than thirty (30) Business Days prior
notice to the Administrative Agent and (d) May 17, 2000, subject to any
extension pursuant to Section 1.9.
"Termination Event" means the occurrence of any one or more of the
following:
(a) any representation, warranty, certification or statement
made by the Borrower or any Originator in, or pursuant to, any
Transaction Document proves to have been incorrect in any material
respect when made; or
(b) the Collection Agent, any Originator or the Borrower
fails to make any payment or other transfer of funds hereunder when due
(including any payments under Section 1.5(a)), and such failure remains
unremedied for three Business Days; or
I-12
53
(c) the Borrower fails to observe or perform any covenant or
agreement contained in Sections 3.3, 5.1(b), 5.1(e), 5.1(g), 5.1(i) or
5.1(j) of this Agreement or any Originator fails to perform any
covenant or agreement in Section 4.1(a) of each Purchase Agreement; or
(d) the Borrower or the Collection Agent (or any
sub-collection agent) fails to observe or perform any other term,
covenant or agreement under any Transaction Document, and such failure
remains unremedied for two Business Days; or
(e) the Borrower, any Originator or any Subsidiary suffers a
Bankruptcy Event; or
(f) the average of the Delinquency Ratios as of the end of
each of the most recent three calendar months exceeds 10%, the average
of the Default Ratios as of the end of the most recent three calendar
months exceeds 7.5%, the average of the Dilution Ratios as of the end
of the most recent three calendar months exceeds 5.0%, the average of
the Receivables Turnover Days as of the end of each of the most recent
three calendar months exceeds 75 days or the average of the Loss-to
Liquidation Ratios at the end of each calendar month measured for the
three-month period then ending exceeds 1.0%; or
(g) (i) the Borrower, any Originator or any Affiliate,
directly or indirectly, disaffirms or contests the validity or
enforceability of any Transaction Document or (ii) any Transaction
Document fails to be the enforceable obligation of the Borrower or any
Affiliate party thereto; or
(h) any event occurs or condition exists which constitutes a
default or event of default under (i) the Eagle-Picher Credit Agreement
or (ii) any term, provision or condition contained in any agreement
under which any indebtedness is created or governed; or
(i) the Parent shall fail to own and control, directly or
indirectly, 100% of the outstanding voting stock of the Borrower and
each Originator;
(j) a Collection Agent Replacement Event has occurred and is
continuing; or
(k) a breach of the covenant set forth in Section 8.10 of the
Eagle-Picher Credit Agreement, as modified herein. For purposes of this
Agreement, Section 8.10 of the Eagle-Picher Credit Agreement and all
other provisions thereof to which reference is made therein, together
with related definitions and ancillary provisions, are hereby
incorporated by reference, mutatis mutandis and will be deemed to
continue in effect for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the
Lender Agents and the Lenders thereunder whether or not the
Eagle-Picher Credit Agreement remains in effect, or any provision
thereof is waived, modified or amended (unless the Administrative Agent
and the Instructing Group agree that such waiver, modification or
amendment to the Eagle-Picher Credit Agreement shall apply to this
Agreement); provided, however that, for purposes hereof, the Test
Period for such covenant shall be deemed to be each calendar month.
I-13
54
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a failure of a representation or warranty or
breach of any covenant described in clause (a), (c) or (d) above related to a
Receivable shall not constitute a Termination Event if the Borrower has been
deemed to have collected such Receivable pursuant to Section 1.5(b) or, before
the Termination Date, has adjusted the Secured Interest as provided in Section
1.5(c) so that such Receivable is no longer considered to be outstanding.
"Transaction Documents" means this Agreement, the Fee Letters, the
Limited Guaranty, each Purchase Agreement, the Rate Supplements, the
Subordinated Notes, the Subordination Agreement, and all other documents,
instruments and agreements executed or furnished in connection herewith and
therewith.
"Transfer Supplement" means an agreement among the parties hereto and a
new Lender Group pursuant to which such new Lender Group becomes party to this
Agreement.
"UCC" means, for any state, the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in
such state.
"Uncommitted Conduit Lender" means Amsterdam and each other Person who
becomes an Uncommitted Conduit Lender pursuant to a Transfer Supplement.
"United States" and "U.S." shall each mean the United States of
America.
"Unused Aggregate Loan Commitment" means, at any time, the difference
between the Aggregate Loan Commitment then in effect and the outstanding
Aggregate Loan Amount.
"Unused Loan Commitment" means, for any Related Bank Lender at any
time, the difference between its Loan Commitment and its Loan Amount then
outstanding.
"Written" (whether lower or upper case) or "in writing" shall mean any
form of written communication or a communication by means of telex, facsimile
device, telegraph or cable.
The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of the defined terms. Unless otherwise inconsistent
with the terms of this Agreement, all accounting terms used herein shall be
interpreted, and all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, in
accordance with GAAP. Amounts to be calculated hereunder shall be continuously
recalculated at the time any information relevant to such calculation changes.
I-14
55
Schedule II
Related Bank Lenders and Loan Commitments of Related Bank Lenders
UNCOMMITTED CONDUIT LENDER NAMES OF RELATED LOAN COMMITMENT
BANK LENDERS
Amsterdam ABN AMRO Bank N.V. $37,500,000
PNC Bank, National Association $37,500,000
56
EXHIBIT A
TO
RECEIVABLES LOAN AGREEMENT
FORM OF INCREMENTAL LOAN REQUEST
______________, 199_
ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as Administrative Agent
Asset Securitization, Structured Finance
Suite 725
135 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60674-9135
Attn: Lender Agent-Amsterdam
Re: Receivables Loan Agreement dated as of May 18, 1999
(the "Loan Agreement") among Eagle-Picher Acceptance Corporation,
as Borrower, Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., as Initial Collection Agent,
ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as Administrative Agent, the Lender Agents from
time to time party thereto and the Lenders thereunder
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned Borrower under the above-referenced Loan Agreement
hereby confirms its has requested an Incremental Loan of $___________ by [THE
CONDUIT LENDERS] [NAME OF RELATED BANK LENDER] UNDER THE LOAN AGREEMENT. [THE
INTEREST RATES FOR SUCH INCREMENTAL LOAN WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE RATE SUPPLEMENT
FOR EACH LENDER.]
Attached hereto as Schedule I is information relating to the proposed
Incremental Loan required by the Loan Agreement. If on the date of this
Incremental Loan Request ("Notice"), an Interim Liquidation is in effect, this
Notice revokes our request for such Interim Liquidation so that Reinvestment
Loans shall immediately commence in accordance with Section 1.1(d) of the Loan
Agreement.
57
The Borrower hereby certifies that both before and after giving effect
to [each of] the proposed Incremental Loan[s] contemplated hereby and the use of
the proceeds therefrom, all of the requirements of Section 7.2 of the Loan
Agreement have been satisfied.
Very truly yours,
EAGLE-PICHER ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
By
---------------------------------
Title
------------------------------
A-2
58
SCHEDULE I
TO
INCREMENTAL LOAN REQUESTS
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION RELATING TO PROPOSED LOAN(S)
1. Dates, Amounts, Lender(s)
A1 Date of Notice _________
A2 Measurement Date (the date
of the most recent Daily Report) _________
A3 Proposed Loan _________ _________ _________ _________
Dates (each of which is a
Business Day)
A4 Respective Proposed
Incremental Loan on
each such Loan $_________ $_________ $_________ $_________
Date (each Incremental (A4A) (A4B) (A4C) (A4D)
Loan must be in a
minimum amount of
$1,000,000 and multiples
thereof, or, if less, an
amount equal to the
Maximum Incremental
Loan Amount)
A5 Allocation among
Lenders (Pro Rata)
Conduit Lenders $_________ $_________ $_________ $_________
Name of Related
Bank
Lender $_________ $_________ $_________ $_________
A6 Used Aggregate
Commitment Amount
(after such Incremental Purchase): $______________
A-3
59
Each proposed Loan Date must be a Business Day and must occur no later than two
weeks after the Measurement Date set forth above. The choice of Measurement Date
is a risk undertaken by the Borrower. If a selected Measurement Date is not the
applicable Loan Date, the Borrower's choice and disclosure of such date shall
not in any manner diminish or waive the obligation of the Borrower to assure the
Lenders that, after giving effect to the proposed Loan, the actual Secured
Interest as of the date of such proposed Loan does not exceed 100%.
A-4
60
EXHIBIT B-1
FORM OF PERIODIC REPORT
61
Exhibit B-1
EAGLE-PICHER INDUSTRIES
MONTHLY RECEIVABLES SUMMARY
APRIL-99
--------
Consolidated Receivables Activity:
- ----------------------------------
Beginning Receivables Balance Schedule 1 121,791,029
Plus: Gross Sales Billings 80,573,779
Less: Cash Collections (68,885,460)
Less: Non-Dilution Items (12,808,196)
Less: Other Adjustments (573,206)
Less: Charge Offs (6,982)
Ending Receivables Balance 120,090,965
Less: Intracompany (5,571,658) 4.64%
Subtotal (Consolidated Receivables Balance) 114,519,307
Less: Ineligible Receivables Schedule 2 (24,597,795) 21.48%
Less: Excess Concentrations Schedule 3 - 0.00%
----------- ------
Eligible Receivables Balance 89,921,512 78.52%
=========== ======
Consolidated Receivables Aging: Schedule 4
- -------------------------------
Current to 30 Days 78,366,079 68%
31-60 Days 26,792,320 23%
61-90 Days 5,325,778 5%
91+ Days 4,035,129 4%
--------------------------
Total Consolidated Receivables 114,519,307 100%
Ownership Interest:
- -------------------
Loss Reserve Schedule 5 16,207,711 18.0%
Dilution Reserve Schedule 6 2,697,645 3.0%
Discount Reserve Schedule 7 1,697,376 1.9%
--------------------------
Total Reserves 20,602,734 22.9%
Maximum Advance 69,318,778
Aggregate Net Investment 69,000,000
Ownership Interest 99.5%
Covenant Compliance: Covenant Level Ratio Compliance
- -------------------- -------------- ----- ----------
Delinquency Ratio* Schedule 5 10.0% 6.5% YES
Default Ratio* Schedule 5 7.5% 4.2% YES
Dilution Ratio Schedule 6 5.0% 0.8% YES
Loss to Liquidation Ratio* Schedule 6 1.0% -0.1% YES
Turnover Ratio* Schedule 7 75 54.34% YES
Coverage Ratio 100.0% 100.5% YES
*Three month trailing average.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the foregoing is a true and
accurate accounting with respect to outstandings of April 30,1999 in accordance
with the Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of May 1999 and that all
representations and warranties are restated and reaffirmed.
Signed by:
-------------------------
Title: Treasurer
62
EXHIBIT B-2
FORM OF DAILY REPORT
63
Exhibit B-2
EAGLE-PICHER INDUSTRIES
DAILY RECEIVABLES REPORT
Today's Date: May 26, 1999
Reporting Date: May 24, 1999
RECEIVABLES BALANCE
Beginning Balance 130,509,319.48
Billings 2,041,615.86
Cash Collections 3,053,790.49
Adjustments (131,234.08)
Non AR Cash 24,412.06
-------------------------------------------
Ending Balance 129,390,322.83
RESERVES
Gross Receivables 129,390,322.83
Intracompany 6,003,710.98 4.64%
--------------
Consol. Rec. Bal. 123,386,611.85
Ineligible & Concentration 26,503,444.23 21.48%
--------------
El. Rec. Bal. 96,883,167.63
Reserves 22,186,245.39 22.90%
-------------------------------------------
Maximum Advance 74,896,922.24
Current Advance 60,000,000.00
Potential Change 14,000,000.00
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the foregoing is a true and
accurate accounting with respect to outstandings of the above date in accordance
with the Receivables Purchase Agreement dates as of March 1999 and that all
representations and warranties are restated and reaffirmed.
Signed by:
--------------------------------
Title: Treasurer
64
EXHIBIT C
ADDRESSES AND NAMES OF BORROWER AND EACH ORIGINATOR
1. Locations. (a) The chief executive office of the Borrower and each
Originator are located at the following address:
Carpenter Enterprises Limited
1867 Cass-Hartmann Court
Traverse City, Michigan 49684
Daisy Parts, Inc.
135 East South Street
Hillsdale, Michigan 49242
Eagle-Picher Acceptance Corporation
250 East Fifth Street
Suite 500
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Eagle-Picher Development Company, Inc.
250 East Fifth Street
Suite 500
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Eagle-Picher Fluid Systems, Inc.
7854 Lochlin Drive
Brighton, Michigan 48116
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.
250 East Fifth Street
Suite 500
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Eagle-Picher Minerals, Inc.
6110 Plumas Street
Reno, Nevada 89509-6060
Eagle-Picher Technologies, LLC
"C" and Porter Streets
Joplin, Missouri 64801
Hillsdale Tool & Manufacturing Co.
135 East South Street
Hillsdale, Michigan 49242
65
Michigan Automotive Research Corporation
1254 North Main Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
No such address was different at any time since January 1, 1999
(b) The following are all the locations where the Borrower and each
Originator directly or through its agents maintain any Records:
Carpenter Enterprises Limited
1867 Cass-Hartmann Court
Traverse City, Michigan 49684
Daisy Parts, Inc.
135 East South Street
Hillsdale, Michigan 49242
Eagle-Picher Acceptance Corporation
250 East Fifth Street
Suite 500
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Eagle-Picher Development Company, Inc.
250 East Fifth Street
Suite 500
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Eagle-Picher Fluid Systems, Inc.
7854 Lochlin Drive
Brighton, Michigan 48116
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.
250 East Fifth Street
Suite 500
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Cincinnati Industrial Machinery Division
3280 Hageman Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45241
Construction Equipment Division
1802 East 50th Street
Lubbock, Texas 79404
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66
Ross Aluminum Foundries Division
815 North Oak Avenue
Sidney, Ohio 45365
Rubber Molding Division
19 Ohio Avenue
Norwich, Connecticut 06360
Wolverine Gasket Division
2638 Princess Street
Inkster, Michigan 48141
Eagle-Picher Minerals, Inc.
6110 Plumas Street
Reno, Nevada 89509-6060
Eagle-Picher Technologies, LLC
"C" and Porter Streets
Joplin, Missouri 64801
Boron Department
798 Highway 69A
Quapaw, Oklahoma 74363
Chemicals Department
"C" and Porter Streets
Joplin, Missouri 64801
Chemsyn Science Laboratories
13605 West 96th Terrace
Lenexa, Kansas 66215-1297
Commercial Products Department
North Bethel Road
Seneca, Missouri 64865
Electro-Optic Materials Department
737 Highway 69A
Quapaw, Oklahoma 74363
Environmental Science and Technology Department
200 B.J. Tunnell Boulevard
Miami, Oklahoma 74354
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Federal Systems & Power Subsystems Departments
"C" and Porter Streets
Joplin, Missouri 64801
Power Systems Department
3820 South Hancock Expressway
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80911-1231
Precision Products Department
1927 West 4th Street
Joplin, Missouri 64801
Hillsdale Tool & Manufacturing Co.
135 East South Street
Hillsdale, Michigan 49242
Michigan Automotive Research Corporation
1254 North Main Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
2. Names. The following is a list of all names (including trade names
or similar appellations) used by the Borrower and each Originator or any of its
divisions or other business units that generate Receivables:
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.
Carpenter Enterprises Limited
Cincinnati Industrial Machinery Division
Construction Equipment Division
Daisy Parts, Inc.
Eagle-Picher Development Company, Inc.
Eagle-Picher Fluid Systems, Inc.
Eagle-Picher Minerals, Inc.
Eagle-Picher Technologies, LLC
Hillsdale Tool & Manufacturing Co.
Michigan Automotive Research Corporation
Ross Aluminum Foundries Division
Rubber Molding Division
Wolverine Gasket Division
Boron Department
Chemicals Department
Chemsyn Science Laboratories
Commercial Products Department
Electro-Optic Materials Department
Environmental Science and Technology Department
Federal Systems & Power Subsystems Departments
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Power Systems Department
Precision Products Department
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EXHIBIT D
SUBSIDIARIES
Carpenter Enterprises limited
Daisy Parts, Inc.
Eagle-Picher Acceptance Corporation
Eagle-Picher Development Company, Inc.
Eagle-Picher Far East, Inc.
Eagle-Picher Fluid Systems, Inc.
Eagle-Picher Minerals, Inc.
Hillsdale Tool & Manufacturing Co.
Michigan Automotive Research Corporation
Eagle-Picher Automotive GmbH
Eagle-Picher Rubber Molding, S.A.
Eagle-Picher Fluid Systems Ltd.
Eagle-Picher Hillsdale Limited
Eagle-Picher Industries Europe B.V.
Eagle-Picher Technologies LLC
Eagle-Picher Technologies GmbH
Eagle-Picher Industries of Canada Limited
Eagle-Picher Minerals International S.A.R.L.
Eagle-Picher UK Limited
Eagle-Picher Wolverine GmbH
Eagle-Picher, Inc.
EPTEC, S.A. de C.V.
Equipos de Acuna, S.A. de C.V.
United Minerals GmbH & Co. KG
United Minerals Verwaltungs-und Beteiligungs GmbH
Cincinnati Industrial Machinery Sales Company
70
EXHIBIT E
LOCK BOXES AND LOCK-BOX BANKS
RELEVANT ORIGINATOR COLLECTION
BANK LOCK-BOX NUMBER ACCOUNT
NBD Bank Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. 77456 (Detroit, MI) 723673
Eagle-Picher Fluid Systems, Inc. 77202 (Detroit, MI) 723673
Hillsdale Tool & Manufacturing 77632 (Detroit, MI) 723673
Co.
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. 771073 (Detroit, MI) 723673
Eagle-Picher Minerals, Inc. 771118 (Detroit, MI) 723673
Carpenter Enterprises Limited 78115 (Detroit, MI) 723673
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. 77138 (Detroit, MI) 723673
RELEVANT ORIGINATOR COLLECTION
BANK LOCK-BOX NUMBER ACCOUNT
PNC Bank, Eagle-Picher Technologies, 664 (Pittsburgh, PA) 4000627434
National Association LLC
Eagle-Picher Technologies, 666 (Pittsburgh, PA) 4000627434
LLC
Eagle-Picher Technologies, 890319 (Dallas, TX) 4000627434
LLC
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. 1202 (Cincinnati, OH) 4000627434
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. 960588 (Cincinnati, OH) 4000627434
Michigan Automotive Research [TO BE PROVIDED POST-CLOSING] [TO BE PROVIDED
Corporation POST-CLOSING]
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EXHIBIT F
TO RECEIVABLES LOAN AGREEMENT
FORM OF LOCK BOX LETTER
[Name of Lock Box Bank]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the lock-box numbers _______________ in __________
and the associated lock-box demand deposit account number ____________
maintained with you (such lock-boxes and associated lock-box demand deposit
account, collectively, the "Accounts"), each in the name of Eagle-Picher
Industries, Inc. ("Eagle-Picher"). Eagle-Picher hereby confirms it has sold all
Receivables (as defined below) to Eagle-Picher Acceptance Corporation (the
"Borrower").
In connection with the Receivables Loan Agreement, dated as of May 18,
1999 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Receivables Loan Agreement"), among the Borrower, the Initial Collection Agent,
the Administrative Agent, the Lender Agents from time to time party thereto and
the Lenders thereunder, the Borrower has assigned to the Administrative Agent
for the benefit of the Lenders an undivided percentage interest in the accounts,
chattel paper, instruments or general intangibles (collectively, the
"Receivables") under which payments are or may hereafter be made to the
Accounts, and has granted to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the
Lenders a security interest in its retained interest in such Receivables. As is
the customary practice in this type of transaction, we hereby request that you
execute this letter agreement. All references herein to "we" and "us" refer to
Eagle-Picher and the Borrower, jointly and severally. Your execution hereof is a
condition precedent to our continued maintenance of the Accounts with you.
We hereby transfer exclusive dominion and control of the Accounts to
the Administrative Agent, subject only to the condition subsequent that the
Administrative Agent shall have given you notice that a "Collection Agent
Replacement Event" has occurred and is continuing under the Receivables Loan
Agreement and of its election to assume such dominion and control, which notice
shall be in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex A (the
"Administrative Agent's Notice").
At all times prior to the receipt of the Administrative Agent's Notice
described above, all payments to be made by you out of, or in connection with
the Accounts, are to be made in accordance with the instructions of the Borrower
or its agent.
We hereby irrevocably instruct you, at all times from and after the
date of your receipt of the Administrative Agent's Notice as described above, to
make all payments to be made by you out of, or in connection with, the Accounts
directly to the Administrative Agent, at its address set
72
forth below its signature hereto or as the Administrative Agent otherwise
notifies you, or otherwise in accordance with the instructions of the
Administrative Agent.
We also hereby notify you that, at all times from and after the date of
your receipt of the Administrative Agent's Notice as described above, the
Administrative Agent shall be irrevocably entitled to exercise in our place and
stead any and all rights in connection with the Accounts, including, without
limitation, (a) the right to specify when payments are to be made out of, or in
connection with, the Accounts and (b) the right to require preparation of
duplicate monthly bank statements on the Accounts for the Administrative Agent's
audit purposes and mailing of such statements directly to an address specified
by the Administrative Agent. At all times from and after the date of your
receipt of the Administrative Agent's Notice, neither we nor any of our
affiliates shall be given any access to the Accounts.
The Administrative Agent's Notice may be personally served or sent by
telex, facsimile or U.S. mail, certified return receipt requested, to the
address, telex or facsimile number set forth under your signature to this letter
agreement (or to such other address, telex or facsimile number as to which you
shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing). If the Administrative Agent's
Notice is given by telex or facsimile, it will be deemed to have been received
when the Administrative Agent's Notice is sent and the answerback is received
(in the case of telex) or receipt is confirmed by telephone or other electronic
means (in the case of facsimile). All other notices will be deemed to have been
received when actually received or, in the case of personal delivery, delivered.
By executing this letter agreement, you acknowledge the existence of
the Administrative Agent's right to dominion and control of the Accounts and its
ownership of and security interest in the amounts from time to time on deposit
therein and agree that from the date hereof the Accounts shall be maintained by
you for the benefit of, and amounts from time to time therein held by you as
agent for, the Administrative Agent on the terms provided herein. The Accounts
are to be entitled "Eagle-Picher Acceptance Corporation and ABN AMRO Bank N.V.,
as Administrative Agent for the Lenders" with the subline "Eagle-Picher
Industries, Inc.". Except as otherwise provided in this letter agreement,
payments to the Accounts are to be processed in accordance with the standard
procedures currently in effect. All service charges and fees in connection with
the Accounts shall continue to be payable by us under the arrangements currently
in effect.
By executing this letter agreement, you (a) irrevocably waive and agree
not to assert, claim or endeavor to exercise, (b) irrevocably bar and estop
yourself from asserting, claiming or exercising and (c) acknowledge that you
have not heretofore received a notice, writ, order or other form of legal
process from any other party asserting, claiming or exercising, any right of
set-off, banker's lien or other purported form of claim with respect to the
accounts or any funds from time to time therein. Except for your right to
payment of your service charge and fees and to make deductions for returned
items, you shall have no rights in the Accounts or funds therein, except
deductions for service charges, fees and returned or misplaced items. To the
extent you may ever have any additional rights, you hereby expressly subordinate
all such rights to all rights of the Administrative Agent.
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You may terminate this letter agreement by cancelling the Accounts
maintained with you, which cancellation and termination shall become effective
only upon thirty (30) days prior written notice thereof from you to the
Administrative Agent in the absence of fraud or abuse. Incoming mail addressed
to the Accounts (including, without limitation, any direct funds transfer to the
Accounts) received after such cancellation shall be forwarded in accordance with
the Administrative Agent's instructions. This letter agreement may also be
terminated upon written notice to you by the Administrative Agent stating that
the Receivables Loan Agreement is no longer in effect. Except as otherwise
provided in this paragraph, this letter agreement may not be terminated without
the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.
This letter agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be altered, modified or
amended in any respect, nor may any right, power or privilege of any party
hereunder be waived or released or discharged, except upon execution by you, us
and the Administrative Agent of a written instrument so providing. The terms and
conditions of any agreement between us and you (a "Lock-Box Service Agreement")
(whether now existing or executed hereafter) with respect to the lock-box
arrangements, to the extent not inconsistent with this letter agreement, will
remain in effect between you and us. In the event that any provision in this
letter agreement is in conflict with, or inconsistent with, any provision of any
such Lock-Box Service Agreement, this letter agreement will exclusively govern
and control. Each party agrees to take all actions reasonably requested by any
other party to carry out the purposes of this letter agreement or to preserve
and protect the rights of each party hereunder.
Eagle-Picher agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless you and your
affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, successors and assigns
(each, an "Indemnitee") from and against any and all liabilities, losses,
claims, damages, demands, costs and expenses of every kind (including but not
limited to costs incurred as a result of items being deposited in the Account
and being unpaid for any reason, reasonable attorney's fees and the reasonable
charges of your in-house counsel) incurred or sustained by any Indemnitee
arising out of your performance of the services contemplated by this Lock-Box
Letter, except to the extent such liabilities, losses, claims, damages, demands,
costs and expenses are the direct result of your gross negligence or willful
misconduct. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the termination of
this Lock-Box Letter.
In the event Eagle-Picher becomes subject to a voluntary or involuntary
proceeding under the United States Bankruptcy Code, or if you are otherwise
served with legal process which you in good faith believe affects funds in the
Account you may suspend disbursements from the Account otherwise required by the
terms hereof until such time as you receive an appropriate court order or other
assurances satisfactory to you establishing that the funds may continue to be
disbursed according to the instructions contained in this Lock-Box Letter.
THIS LETTER AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
HEREUNDER WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. This letter agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and all of such counterparts taken together will be
deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
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Please indicate your agreement to the terms of this letter agreement by
signing in the space provided below. This letter agreement will become effective
immediately upon execution of a counterpart of this letter agreement by all
parties hereto.
Very truly yours,
EAGLE-PICHER INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
EAGLE-PICHER ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
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Accepted and confirmed as of
the date first written above:
By: ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as Administrative Agent
By:
------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
By:
------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
Address of notice:
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
Structured Finance, Asset Securitization
135 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60674
Attention: Lender Agent-Amsterdam
Telephone Number: (312) 904-6263
Telecopy Number: (312) 904-6376
Acknowledged and agreed to as of the date first written above:
[NAME OF BANK]
By:
------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
Address for notice:
- ----------------------------------
- ----------------------------------
- ----------------------------------
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ANNEX A TO
LOCK-BOX LETTER
[Name of Bank]
Re: Eagle-Picher Acceptance Corporation
Lock Box Numbers ______________
Lock-Box Account Number ____________
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the letter agreement dated _________________ (the
"Letter Agreement") among Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., Eagle-Picher Acceptance
Corporation, the undersigned, as Administrative Agent, and you concerning the
above-described lock-boxes and lock-box account (collectively, the "Accounts").
We hereby give you notice that a "Collection Agent Replacement Event" has
occurred and is continuing under the Receivables Loan Agreement (as defined in
the Letter Agreement) and of our assumption of dominion and control of the
Accounts as provided in the Letter Agreement.
We hereby instruct you not to permit any other party to have access to
the Accounts and to make all payments to be made by you out of or in connection
with the Accounts directly to the undersigned upon our instructions, at our
address set forth above.
Very truly yours,
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
By:
------------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------------
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
cc: Eagle-Picher Acceptance Corporation
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EXHIBIT G
TO RECEIVABLES LOAN AGREEMENT
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
To: ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as Administrative Agent, and
each Lender
This Compliance Certificate is furnished pursuant to Section
5.1(a)(iii) of the Receivables Loan Agreement, dated as of May 18, 1999 (as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified through the date hereof, the "Loan
Agreement"), among the Borrower, the Initial Collection Agent, the
Administrative Agent, the Lender Agents from time to time party thereto and the
Lenders thereunder. Terms used in this Compliance Certificate and not otherwise
defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Loan
Agreement.
The undersigned hereby represents, warrants, certifies and confirms
that:
1. The undersigned is a duly elected Designated Financial
Officer of the undersigned.
2. Attached hereto is a copy of the financial statements
described in Section 5.1(a)(i) or 5.1(a)(ii) of the Loan Agreement.
3. The undersigned has reviewed the terms of the Transaction
Documents and has made, or caused to be made under his/her supervision,
a detailed review of the transactions and the conditions of the
Borrower and each Originator during and at the end of the accounting
period covered by the attached financial statements.
4. The examinations described in paragraph 3 hereof did not
disclose, and the undersigned has no knowledge of, the existence of any
condition or event which constitutes a Potential Termination Event,
during or at the end of the accounting period covered by the attached
financial statements or as of the date of this Compliance Certificate,
except as set forth below.
5. Based on the examinations described in paragraph 3 hereof,
the undersigned confirms that the representations and warranties
contained in Article IV of the Loan Agreement are true and correct as
though made on the date hereof, except as set forth below.
6. The undersigned confirms that Year 2000 remediation efforts
are proceeding as scheduled.
78
7. [INDICATE WHETHER AN AUDITOR, REGULATOR OR THIRD PARTY
CONSULTANT OF THE UNDERSIGNED HAS ISSUED A MANAGEMENT LETTER OR OTHER
COMMUNICATION REGARDING YEAR 2000 EXPOSURE, PROGRAM OR PROGRESS].
Described below are the exceptions, if any, to paragraphs 4 and 5
listing, in detail, the nature of the condition or event, the period during
which it has existed and the action the undersigned has taken, is taking or
proposes to take with respect to each such condition or event:
The foregoing certifications, together with the computations set forth
in Schedule I hereto and the financial statements delivered with this Compliance
Certificate in support hereof, are made and delivered this ____ day of
___________, 199__.
[NAME OF BORROWER OR PARENT]
By:
-----------------------------
Designated Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT H
CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICIES
[TO BE PROVIDED NOT LATER THAN JUNE 18, 1999]
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EXHIBIT I
LITIGATION, CLAIMS & PROCEEDINGS
PENDING LITIGATION
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
CASE NAME COURT CASE NUMBER
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
McGraw v. Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. Jefferson County Circuit Court (Ala.) CV-95-03557
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
People's Qui Tam Suit U.S. District Court (W.D. Mo.) 96-5009-CV-SW-1
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Parish Chemical Company v.
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. Utah County Dist. Court (4th Dist.) 970400119CV
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Hunter Blanco v. Eagle-Picher
Industries, Inc. Lubbock County, Dist. Court (TX) 97-500-523
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Anstett, et. al. v. Eagle-Picher
Industries, Inc. U.S. District Court (N.D. Indiana) 97-CV-0458
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
State of Michigan, Dept. of the Michigan Court of Appeals (petition for
Treasury v. Michigan Automotive certiorari filed with Supreme Court of
Research Corp. Michigan) 184-497
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Caradon Doors & Window Inc. v.
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. U.S. District Court (N.D. Georgia) 1-97-CV-1331
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Therma-Tru Corporation v. Pease
Industries U.S. District Court (E.D. Michigan) 97-CV-70916 4DT
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Leach, Virgil v. Eagle-Picher U.S. District Court Northern District of
Industries, Inc. et. al. Indiana 98-CV-0038
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Southern
Fibrex Inc. Dist. of Ohio 98-1810-RLB-11
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Lawhorn, Ruby v. U.S. Dist. Court
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. Northern Dist. Indiana 1:99-CV-0075
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Vadus, Cornett v.
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. U.S. Dept. of Labor 95-BLA-1651
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
81
Adams, Otis v.
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. U.S. Dept. of Labor ###-##-####
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Dal-Fab Machine, Inc. v.
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., et.al. Malheur Court
Cir. Court (OR) 99-01-302592
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Llewellyn v.
Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., et. al. U.S. Dist. Court N.D. TX - N/A -
Dallas Div. EPI not yet served
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
THREATENED LITIGATION
1. $40,000 property damage claim by James Amendola and Erie Insurance
Group arising from fire in toy car allegedly caused by Eagle-Pitcher
battery.
2. Claim for possible remediation of property owned by Block 260, Ltd.
that is adjacent to Eagle-Picher's Colorado Springs facility.
3. $20,000 property damage claim by Hazel Ferguson and Doris Johnson
arising from fire in toy car allegedly caused by Eagle-Picher battery.
4. Property damage claim by John Lemay arising from fire in toy car
allegedly caused by Eagle-Picher battery.
5. Personal injury claim by Reuben Olivas for injury while operating
Eagle-Picher forklift.
6. Personal injury claim by Richard Matt, an independent contractor, for
ankle injury while working at the Lovelock NV facility of Eagle-Picher
Minerals, Inc.
7. Potential claim by M&Q Plastics against Eagle-Picher Fluid Systems U.K.
for wrongful termination of manufacturing/supply agreement.
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