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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
---------------
FORM 8-K
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
April 30, 1998
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-12107 31-1469076
(State of other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File no.) Identification No.)
Four Limited Parkway East
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
(614) 577-6500
(Address of principal executive offices)
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Item 5. Other Events
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (the "Company") and a subsidiary entered into
the Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1998 among Abercrombie & Fitch
Stores, Inc., as Borrower, the Company, as Guarantor, the Lenders party thereto
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, and Chase Securities
Inc., as Arranger (the "Credit Agreement"). The Credit Agreement relates to
up to $150 million of revolving credit of which no amounts are currently
outstanding. The funds available under the Credit Agreement will be used for
general corporate purposes. The Credit Agreement is attached as Exhibit 4.1
hereto.
On May 7, 1998, the Company issued the press release attached as Exhibit
99.1 hereto.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
4.1 Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1998 among Abercrombie &
Fitch Stores, Inc., as Borrower, the Company, as Guarantor, the
Lenders party thereto and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Administrative Agent, and Chase Securities Inc., as Arranger
99.1 Press release dated May 7, 1998.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
By: /s/ Seth R. Johnson
-----------------------------------
Name: Seth R. Johnson
Title: Vice-President and Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
May 7, 1998
EXHIBIT INDEX
4.1 Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1998 among Abercrombie & Fitch
Stores, Inc., as Borrower, the Company, as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, and Chase
Securities Inc., as Arranger
99.1 Press release dated May 7, 1998.
EXHIBIT 4.1
CONFORMED COPY
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CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
April 30, 1998
among
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH STORES, INC.
as Borrower
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO.
as Guarantor
The Lenders Party Hereto
and
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
as Administrative Agent
--------------------------
CHASE SECURITIES INC.,
as Arranger
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I ----
Definitions
-----------
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms................................ 1
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings....... 15
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally ............................. 16
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP....................... 16
ARTICLE II
The Credits
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SECTION 2.01. Commitments.................................. 16
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings......................... 17
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings............ 17
SECTION 2.04. Competitive Bid Procedure.................... 18
SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit............................ 20
SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings........................ 25
SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections........................... 25
SECTION 2.08. Termination and Reduction of
Commitments.................................. 27
SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt......... 27
SECTION 2.10. Prepayment of Loans.......................... 28
SECTION 2.11. Fees......................................... 29
SECTION 2.12. Interest..................................... 30
SECTION 2.13. Alternate Rate of Interest................... 31
SECTION 2.14. Increased Costs.............................. 31
SECTION 2.15. Break Funding Payments....................... 33
SECTION 2.16. Taxes........................................ 33
SECTION 2.17. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment;
Sharing of Set-offs.......................... 34
SECTION 2.18. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of
Lenders...................................... 36
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
------------------------------
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers......................... 37
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability................ 37
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts......... 37
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse
Change....................................... 37
SECTION 3.05. Properties................................... 38
SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters......... 38
SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements.......... 39
SECTION 3.08. Investment and Holding Company Status........ 39
SECTION 3.09. Taxes........................................ 39
SECTION 3.10. ERISA........................................ 39
SECTION 3.11. Disclosure................................... 39
SECTION 3.12. Subsidiaries................................. 39
SECTION 3.13. Millennium Compliance........................ 39
ARTICLE IV
Conditions
----------
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date............................... 40
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event............................ 41
ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
---------------------
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other
Information................................ 42
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events................... 43
SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business............... 43
SECTION 5.04 Payment of Obligations....................... 43
SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance......... 44
SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights......... 44
SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws......................... 44
SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit........ 44
SECTION 5.09. Additional Subsidiaries; Guarantee
Requirement................................ 44
ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
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SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness................................. 45
SECTION 6.02. Liens........................................ 46
SECTION 6.03. Sale-Leaseback Transactions.................. 47
SECTION 6.04. Fundamental Changes.......................... 47
SECTION 6.05. Investments, Loans, Advances,
Guarantees and Acquisitions................ 48
SECTION 6.06. Hedging Agreements........................... 48
SECTION 6.07. Restricted Payments.......................... 48
SECTION 6.08. Transactions with Affiliates................. 49
SECTION 6.09. Restrictive Agreements....................... 49
SECTION 6.10. Leverage Ratio............................... 49
SECTION 6.11. Coverage Ratio............................... 49
SECTION 6.12. Accounting Changes........................... 49
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default...................... 50
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ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent................... 52
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ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
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SECTION 9.01. Notices...................................... 54
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments.......................... 55
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver........... 56
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns....................... 57
SECTION 9.05. Survival..................................... 59
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration;
Effectiveness.............................. 60
SECTION 9.07. Severability................................. 60
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff.............................. 60
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent
to Service of Process................... 61
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL......................... 61
SECTION 9.11. Headings..................................... 62
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality.............................. 62
SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation..................... 63
SCHEDULES:
Schedule 2.01 -- Commitments
Schedule 3.06 -- Disclosed Matters
Schedule 3.12 -- Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.01 -- Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02 -- Existing Liens
Schedule 6.09 -- Existing Restrictions
EXHIBITS:
Exhibit A -- Administrative Questionnaire
Exhibit B -- Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit C -- Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit D -- Form of Interest Election Request
Exhibit E-1 -- Form of Competitive Bid Request
Exhibit E-2 -- Form of Notice of Competitive Bid
Exhibit E-3 -- Form of Competitive Bid
Exhibit E-4 -- Form of Competitive Bid Accept/Reject Letter
Exhibit F-1 -- Form of Opinion of The Limited's General Counsel
Exhibit F-2 -- Form of Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel
to the Borrower
Exhibit G -- Guarantee Agreement
CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of April 30, 1998,
among ABERCROMBIE & FITCH STORES, INC., a Delaware
corporation, ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO., a Delaware
corporation, the LENDERS party hereto, and THE CHASE
MANHATTAN BANK, as Administrative Agent.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
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SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings specified below:
"A&F Service" means Abercrombie & Fitch Service Corporation, a Delaware
corporation.
"A&F Trademark" means A&F Trademark, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
"ABR", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, indicates
that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing or are
to bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base
Rate.
"Adjusted Total Debt" means, at any time, the sum of (a) Total Debt
plus (b) 800% of Forward Minimum Rent Commitments.
"Administrative Agent" means The Chase Manhattan Bank, in its capacity
as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
"Administrative Questionnaire" means an Administrative Questionnaire in
the form of Exhibit A.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person
that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or
is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
"Alternate Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the
higher of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day or (b) the Federal Funds
Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the
Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds
Effective Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such
change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.
"Applicable Margin" means, for any day, with respect to any Eurodollar
Revolving Loan, or with respect to the facility fees payable hereunder, as the
case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption
"LIBOR Margin" or "Facility Fee Rate", as the case may be, based upon the
Leverage Ratio for the most recent determination date; provided that the
"Applicable Margin" shall be the applicable rate per annum set forth below in
Level III until the earlier of the date on which (x) the earnings release with
respect to the Parent's fiscal year ended on or about January 31, 1999, has
been furnished to the Administrative Agent or (y) the consolidated financial
statements with respect to the Parent's fiscal year ended on or about January
31, 1999, have been furnished to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section
5.01; provided further that if the applicable information in such earnings
release and such consolidated financial statements shall differ, then the
information provided by such consolidated financial statements shall prevail
on a retroactive basis, as of the date on which such earnings release was
furnished to the Administrative Agent, for purposes of determining the
"Applicable Margin":
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Leverage Ratio LIBOR Margin Facility Fee Rate
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Level I
------- .400% .225%
<2.00
-
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Level II
-------- .500% .250%
>2.00 and <2.50
-
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Level III
--------- .600% .275%
>2.50 and <3.00
-
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Level IV
-------- .700% .300%
>3.00
-
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For purposes of the foregoing, (i) the Leverage Ratio shall be
determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Parent's fiscal year
based upon the Parent's consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant
to Section 5.01(a) or (b) and (ii) each change in the Applicable Margin
resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the
period commencing on and including the date of delivery to the Administrative
Agent of such consolidated financial statements indicating such change and
ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such
change; provided that the Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be in Level IV (A)
at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and has been continuing for
15 days and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders,
so notifies the Borrower or (B) subject to the Administrative Agent's
discretion, if the Parent fails to deliver the consolidated financial
statements required to be delivered by it pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b),
during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until
such consolidated financial statements are delivered.
"Applicable Percentage" means, with respect to any Lender, the
percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender's Commitment.
If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages
shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving
effect to any assignments.
"Assessment Rate" means, for any day, the annual assessment rate in
effect on such day that is payable by a member of the Bank Insurance Fund
classified as "well-capitalized" and within supervisory subgroup "B" (or a
comparable successor risk classification) within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. Part
327 (or any successor provision) to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
for insurance by such Corporation of time deposits made in dollars at the
offices of such member in the United States; provided that if, as a result of
any change in any law, rule or regulation, it is no longer possible to
determine the Assessment Rate as aforesaid, then the Assessment Rate shall be
such annual rate as shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be
representative of the cost of such insurance to the Lenders.
"Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance
entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party
whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the
Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit B or any other form approved
by the Administrative Agent.
"Availability Period" means the period from and including the Effective
Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of
termination of the Commitments.
"Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
of the United States of America.
"Borrower" means Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
"Borrowing" means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made,
converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar
Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (b) a
Competitive Loan or group of Competitive Loans of the same Type made on the
same date and as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.
"Borrowing Request" means a request by the Borrower for a Revolving
Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 and in the form of Exhibit C.
"Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other
day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required
by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a
Eurodollar Loan, the term "Business Day" shall also exclude any day on
which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London
interbank market.
"Capital Lease Obligations" of any Person means the obligations of
such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other
arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a
combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and
accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under
GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount
thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
A "Change in Control" shall occur if (a) any Person or group (within
the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof)
acquires ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record of shares
representing more than 33% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented
by the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Parent other than (x) prior
to the Split-Off, The Limited or (y) during the 120 day period immediately
subsequent to the Split-Off, any Person or group that, upon consummation of
the Split-Off, owns shares representing more than 25% of the aggregate
ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding capital stock
of the Parent, (b) Persons who were neither (x) nominated by the board of
directors of the Parent nor (y) appointed by directors so nominated occupy a
majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of
the Parent, (c) Holdings ceases to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Parent,
or (d) the Borrower ceases to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings and the
Parent, taken together as a whole.
"Change in Law" means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation
after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or
regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental
Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender or
the Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.14(b), by any lending office
of such Lender or by such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's holding company, if
any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force
of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this
Agreement.
"Class", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to
whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans
or Competitive Loans.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.
"Commitment" means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such
Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of
Credit hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate
amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such
commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and
(b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to
such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender's
Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Acceptance
pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as
applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders' Commitments is
$150,000,000.
"Competitive Bid" means an offer by a Lender to make a Competitive Loan
in accordance with Section 2.04.
"Competitive Bid Rate" means, with respect to any Competitive Bid, the
Margin or the Fixed Rate, as applicable, offered by the Lender making such
Competitive Bid.
"Competitive Bid Request" means a request by the Borrower for
Competitive Bids in accordance with Section 2.04.
"Competitive Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04.
"Consolidated EBITDAR" means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income
for such period plus, without duplication and to the extent deducted in
determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of Interest Expense, income
tax expense, depreciation expense, amortization expense and Minimum Rent and
minus Interest Income, all as determined in accordance with GAAP on a
consolidated basis for the Parent and the Subsidiaries.
"Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the consolidated
net income (or loss) of the Parent and the Subsidiaries for such period
(excluding extraordinary gains and losses), as determined in accordance
with GAAP on a consolidated basis.
"Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person,
whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or
otherwise. "Controlling" and "Controlled" have meanings correlative
thereto.
"Coverage Ratio" means, for the Parent and the Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, the
ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDAR for such period to (b) the sum of (x) Net
Interest Expense for such period and (y) Minimum Rent for such period.
"Default" means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of
Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or
waived, become an Event of Default.
"Disclosed Matters" means the actions, suits and proceedings and the
environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06.
"dollars" or "$" refers to lawful money of the United States of
America.
"Effective Date" means the date on which the conditions specified in
Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).
"Environmental Laws" means all laws, rules, regulations, codes,
ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding
agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority,
relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural
resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous
Material or the effect of the environment on health or safety.
"Environmental Liability" means any liability, contingent or otherwise
(including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation,
fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or
indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental
Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or
disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials,
(d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the
environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement
pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the
foregoing.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single
employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of
Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single
employer under Section 414 of the Code.
"ERISA Event" means (a) any "reportable event", as defined in Section
4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan
(other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the
existence with respect to any Plan of an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as
defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not
waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section
303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard
with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its
ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the
termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an
intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer
any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of
any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any
Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of
Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is
expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV
of ERISA.
"Eurodollar", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,
indicates that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing
or are to bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBO Rate.
"Event of Default" has the meaning assigned to such term in Article
VII.
"Excluded Taxes" means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any
Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by
or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income,
franchise or similar taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the
United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such
recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the
case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any
branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax
imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in
the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by
the Borrower under Section 2.18(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed on
amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes
a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is
attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure to comply with Section 2.16(e),
except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was
entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment),
to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such
withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.16(a).
"Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, the weighted average
(rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on
overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve
System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding
Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not
so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards,
if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such
transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds
brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
"Financial Officer" means the chief financial officer, principal
accounting officer, vice president-finance, treasurer or controller of the
Borrower.
"Fixed Rate" means, with respect to any Competitive Loan (other than a
Eurodollar Competitive Loan), the fixed rate of interest per annum specified
by the Lender making such Competitive Loan in its related Competitive Bid.
"Fixed Rate Loan" means a Competitive Loan bearing interest at a Fixed
Rate.
"Foreign Lender" means any Lender or successor Issuing Bank that is
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the
Borrower is located. For purposes of this definition, the United States of
America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to
constitute a single jurisdiction.
"Forward Minimum Rent Commitments" means minimum rent commitments (less
related sublease income) under noncancelable leases, including under any such
leases of any Person other than the Parent, the Borrower or a Subsidiary to
the extent, directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed or assumed by the
Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or in respect of which the Parent, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary is contingently or otherwise liable, for the fiscal
year following the Parent's most recently ended fiscal year, as reported or to
be reported in the Parent's annual report filed on Form 10-K with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for the Parent's most recently ended fiscal
year.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America.
"Governmental Authority" means the government of the United States
of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether
state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory
body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or
functions of or pertaining to government.
"Guarantee" of or by any Person (the "guarantor") means any
obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or
having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other
obligation of any other Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner,
whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the
guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply
funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation
or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any
security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property,
securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such
Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain
working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition
or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to
pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in
respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support
such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall
not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course
of business.
"Guarantee Agreement" means a Guarantee Agreement in substantially the
form of Exhibit G hereto among the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent
acting on behalf of the Lenders, as the same may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.
"Guarantors" means the Parent and the US Subsidiaries that become party
to the Guarantee Agreement pursuant to Sections 4.01(f) and 5.09 or otherwise.
"Hazardous Materials" means all explosive or radioactive substances or
wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants,
including petroleum or petroleum distillates, friable asbestos or materials
containing friable asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious
or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated
pursuant to any Environmental Law.
"Hedging Agreement" means any interest rate protection agreement,
foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or
other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging
arrangement.
"High Desert" means High Desert Factoring, Inc., a Nevada corporation.
"Holdings" means Abercrombie & Fitch Holding Corporation, a Delaware
corporation.
"Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c)
all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title
retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (d) all
obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of
property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the
ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or
for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent
or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by
such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been
assumed, (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g)
all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of
letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (i) all obligations,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers' acceptances.
The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other
entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general
partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such
Person's ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity,
except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such
Person is not liable therefor.
"Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
"Interest Expense" means, for any period, the gross interest expense of
the Parent and the Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP.
"Interest Election Request" means a request by the Borrower to convert
or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07 and in the
form of Exhibit D.
"Interest Income" means, for any period, interest income of the Parent
and the Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.
"Interest Payment Date" means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the
last day of each January, April, July and October, (b) with respect to any
Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the
Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar
Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months' duration, each
day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals
of three months' duration after the first day of such Interest Period and
(c) with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan, the last day of the Interest
Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the
case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than 90
days' duration (unless otherwise specified in the applicable Competitive
Bid Request), each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that
occurs at intervals of 90 days' duration after the first day of such
Interest Period, and any other dates that are specified in the applicable
Competitive Bid Request as Interest Payment Dates with respect to such
Borrowing.
"Interest Period" means (a) with respect to any Eurodollar
Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending
on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is 1, 2, 3,
6 or, to the extent available from each Lender, 9 or 12 months thereafter
as the Borrower may elect and (b) with respect to any Fixed Rate Borrowing,
the period (which shall not be less than 7 days or more than 360 days)
commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the date specified
in the applicable Competitive Bid Request; provided, that (i) if any
Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest
Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the
case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day
would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period
shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period
pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business
Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall
end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest
Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be
the date on which such Borrowing is made and, in the case of a Revolving
Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent
conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
"Issuing Bank" means The Chase Manhattan Bank, in its capacity as the
issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and any other Lender selected by the
Borrower to issue Letters of Credit hereunder as provided in Section 2.05(i),
in such capacity. The Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or
more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Issuing Bank, in
which case the term "Issuing Bank" shall include any such Affiliate with
respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.
"LC Disbursement" means a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to
a Letter of Credit.
"LC Exposure" means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn
amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the
aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by
or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at
any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such
time.
"Lenders" means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other
Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and
Acceptance, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto
pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.
"Letter of Credit" means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this
Agreement.
"Leverage Ratio" means, for the Parent and the Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis at any date, the ratio of (a) Adjusted Total Debt at the
end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter to (b) Consolidated EBITDAR for
the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended.
"LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any
Interest Period, the rate appearing on Page 3750 of Dow Jones Markets (or on
any successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor to or
substitute for such service, providing rate quotations comparable to those
currently provided on such page of such service, as determined by the
Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of
interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market)
at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a
maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is
not available at such time for any reason, then the "LIBO Rate" with respect
to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the average
(rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum) rate at
which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such
Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Reference
Banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time,
two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of
trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security
interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor
under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention
agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic
effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case
of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party
with respect to such securities.
"Loan Documents" means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued
pursuant to Section 2.09(e) hereunder and the Guarantee Agreement.
"Loan Parties" means the Borrower and the Guarantors.
"Loans" means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to
this Agreement.
"Margin" means, with respect to any Competitive Loan bearing interest
at a rate based on the LIBO Rate, the marginal rate of interest, if any, to be
added to or subtracted from the LIBO Rate to determine the rate of interest
applicable to such Loan, as specified by the Lender making such Loan in its
related Competitive Bid.
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (a) the
business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of the
Parent and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Parent
or the Borrower to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or
(c) the rights of or benefits available to the Lenders under this Agreement
or the Guarantee Agreement.
"Material Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and
Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging
Agreements, of any one or more of the Parent, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10,000,000. For
purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the "principal amount" of the
obligations of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any
Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving
effect to any netting agreements) that the Parent, the Borrower or such
Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated
at such time.
"Maturity Date" means April 30, 2003.
"Minimum Rent" means total rent expense less contingent store rent.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
"Net Interest Expense" means the greater of (a) zero and (b) Interest
Expense less Interest Income.
"Other Taxes" means any and all present or future stamp or documentary
taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising
from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement
of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement.
"Parent" means Abercrombie & Fitch Co., a Delaware corporation.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and
defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
"Permitted Encumbrances" means:
(a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being
contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(b) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's
and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of
business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30
days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in
compliance with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and
other social security laws or regulations;
(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts,
leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance
bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the
ordinary course of business;
(e) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar
encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the
ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary
obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the
affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business
of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and
(f) interests of a lessor or lessee arising under a lease;
provided that the term "Permitted Encumbrances" shall not include any Lien
securing Indebtedness.
"Permitted Investments" means:
(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and
interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States
of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations
are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of
America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition thereof;
(b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the
date of acquisition thereof and rated, at such date of acquisition, at
least A2 by S&P or P2 by Moody's;
(c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker's acceptances and
time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition
thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market
deposit accounts issued or offered by (i) any domestic office of any
commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of
America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus
and undivided profits of not less than $100,000,000, (ii) any Lender
or (iii) any foreign banking institution or foreign branch of a
domestic commercial bank the long-term debt of which (or of its
holding company in the case of a domestic bank) is rated at least A-
by S&P and A3 by Moody's;
(d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not
more than 90 days for securities described in clause (a) above and
entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria
described in clause (c) above;
(e) short-term tax-exempt securities rated not lower than BBB by
either Moody's or S&P with provisions for liquidity or maturity
accommodations of 183 days or less; and
(f) any money market or similar fund not less than 90% of the assets
of which are comprised of any of the items specified in clauses (a)
through (e) above and as to which withdrawals are permitted at least
every 90 days.
"Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited liability
company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership,
Governmental Authority or other entity.
"Plan" means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section
412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower
or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under
Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in Section
3(5) of ERISA.
"Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced
from time to time by The Chase Manhattan Bank as its prime rate in effect at
its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be
effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as
being effective.
"Register" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.
"Related Parties" means, with respect to any specified Person, such
Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents
and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates.
"Reference Banks" means The Chase Manhattan Bank, The Bank of New York
Company, Inc. and The First National Bank of Chicago.
"Required Lenders" means, at any time, Lenders having Revolving
Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the
sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such
time; provided that, for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and
payable pursuant to Article VII, and for all purposes after the Loans
become due and payable pursuant to Article VII or the Commitments expire or
terminate, the outstanding Competitive Loans of the Lenders shall be
included in their respective Revolving Credit Exposures in determining the
Required Lenders.
"Restricted Payment" means any dividend or other distribution (whether
in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any shares of any class
of capital stock of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment
(whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or
similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement,
acquisition, cancelation or termination of any such shares of capital stock of
the Parent or the Borrower or any option, warrant or other right to acquire
any such shares of capital stock of the Parent or the Borrower.
"Revolving Credit Exposure" means, with respect to any Lender at any
time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender's Revolving
Loans and its LC Exposure at such time.
"Revolving Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.03.
"Split-Off" means the exchange by The Limited with its shareholders of
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Parent owned by The Limited for
outstanding shares of common stock of The Limited and, if necessary, the
transfer by The Limited to its shareholders of any outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Parent owned by The Limited that are not so exchanged,
with the result that The Limited shall no longer Control the Parent, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary.
"Statutory Reserve Rate" means a fraction (expressed as a decimal),
the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is
the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages
(including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves)
expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative
Agent is subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
"Eurocurrency Liabilities" in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve
percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D.
Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to
be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for
proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to
any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The
Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the
effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.
"subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person (the "parent") at any
date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association
or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of
the parent in the parent's consolidated financial statements if such
financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date,
as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership,
association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership
interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the
ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of
the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled
or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the
parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one
or more subsidiaries of the parent.
"Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Parent or the Borrower.
"Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,
duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental
Authority.
"The Limited" means The Limited, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
"Total Debt" means, at any date, the consolidated total Indebtedness of
the Parent and the Subsidiaries as of such date, as determined in accordance
with GAAP (excluding from Indebtedness all obligations, contingent or
otherwise, of the Parent and any Subsidiary as an account party in respect of
letters of credit, letters of guaranty and similar instruments).
"Transactions" means the execution, delivery and performance by the
Borrower and the Parent of this Agreement and by the Guarantors of the
Guarantee Agreement, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof
and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.
"Type", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to
whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such
Borrowing, is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate, the Alternate Base
Rate or, in the case of a Competitive Loan or Borrowing, the LIBO Rate or a
Fixed Rate.
"US Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws
of the United States or any state or other political subdivision, territory or
possession thereof.
"Withdrawal Liability" means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a
result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as
such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of
this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a
"Revolving Loan") or by Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Loan") or by Class and Type
(e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving Loan"). Borrowings also may be classified and
referred to by Class (e.g., a "Revolving Borrowing") or by Type (e.g., a
"Eurodollar Borrowing") or by Class and Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving
Borrowing").
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein
shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.
Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the
corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words "include",
"includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase
"without limitation". The word "will" shall be construed to have the same
meaning and effect as the word "shall". Unless the context requires
otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument
or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement,
instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments,
supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to
any Person shall be construed to include such Person's successors and
assigns, (c) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder", and words of
similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its
entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references
herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to
refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this
Agreement and (e) the words "asset" and "property" shall be construed to
have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and
intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and
contract rights.
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be
construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided
that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower
requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any
change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof
on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies
the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision
hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before
or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such
provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied
immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice
shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.
ARTICLE II
The Credits
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SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower
from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal
amount that will not result in (a) such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure
exceeding such Lender's Commitment or (b) the sum of the total Revolving
Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding
Competitive Loans exceeding the total Commitments. Within the foregoing
limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Revolving Loan shall
be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the
Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. Each
Competitive Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth
in Section 2.04. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be
made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder;
provided that the Commitments and Competitive Bids of the Lenders are
several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender's failure
to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject to Section 2.13, (i) each Revolving Borrowing shall be
comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may
request in accordance herewith, and (ii) each Competitive Borrowing shall
be comprised entirely of Eurodollar Loans or Fixed Rate Loans as the
Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may
make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or
Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of
such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such
Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar
Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an
integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $2,500,000. At the time that
each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate
amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000;
provided that (i) a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing in an aggregate amount not
less than $2,500,000 and (ii) any ABR Revolving Borrowing, may be in an
aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total
Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC
Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e). Each Competitive Borrowing
shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and
not less than $5,000,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be
outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be
more than a total of 10 Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings outstanding.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or
continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect
thereto would end after the Maturity Date.
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a
Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of
such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not
later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the
date of the proposed Borrowing, or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not
later than 10:30 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed
Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and
shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the
Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by
the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic
and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in
compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a
Eurodollar Borrowing;
(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest
Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated
by the definition of the term "Interest Period"; and
(v) the location and number of the Borrower's account to which
funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of
Section 2.06.
If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the
requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest
Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Revolving
Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest
Period of one month's duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing
Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise
each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender's Loan to
be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.04. Competitive Bid Procedure. (a) Subject to the terms
and conditions set forth herein, from time to time during the Availability
Period the Borrower may request Competitive Bids and may (but shall not have
any obligation to) accept Competitive Bids and borrow Competitive Loans;
provided that the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures plus the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans at any time shall
not exceed the total Commitments. To request Competitive Bids, the Borrower
shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone, in the
case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time,
four Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing and, in the case
of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, one
Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that the
Borrower may submit one Competitive Bid Request in one day, but a Competitive
Bid Request shall not be made within five Business Days after the date of any
previous Competitive Bid Request, unless any and all such previous Competitive
Bid Requests shall have been withdrawn or all Competitive Bids received in
response thereto rejected. Each such telephonic Competitive Bid Request shall
be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent
of a written Competitive Bid Request in a form approved by the Administrative
Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written
Competitive Bid Request shall specify the following information in compliance
with Section 2.02:
(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or
a Fixed Rate Borrowing;
(iv) the Interest Period to be applicable to such Borrowing, which
shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest
Period"; and
(v) the location and number of the Borrower's account to which
funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of
Section 2.06.
Promptly following receipt of a Competitive Bid Request in accordance with
this Section, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of the details
thereof by telecopy, inviting the Lenders to submit Competitive Bids.
(b) Each Lender may (but shall not have any obligation to) make one or
more Competitive Bids to the Borrower in response to a Competitive Bid
Request. Each Competitive Bid by a Lender must be in a form approved by the
Administrative Agent and must be received by the Administrative Agent by
telecopy, in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Borrowing, not later than
9:30 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the proposed date of
such Competitive Borrowing, and in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not
later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the proposed date of such
Competitive Borrowing. Competitive Bids that do not conform substantially
to the form approved by the Administrative Agent may be rejected by the
Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall notify the
applicable Lender as promptly as practicable. Each Competitive Bid shall
specify (i) the principal amount (which shall be a minimum of $5,000,000
and an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and which may equal the entire
principal amount of the Competitive Borrowing requested by the Borrower) of
the Competitive Loan or Loans that the Lender is willing to make, (ii) the
Competitive Bid Rate or Rates at which the Lender is prepared to make such
Loan or Loans (expressed as a percentage rate per annum in the form of a
decimal to no more than four decimal places) and (iii) the Interest Period
applicable to each such Loan and the last day thereof.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower by
telecopy of the Competitive Bid Rate and the principal amount specified in
each Competitive Bid and the identity of the Lender that shall have made such
Competitive Bid.
(d) Subject only to the provisions of this paragraph, the Borrower may
accept or reject any Competitive Bid. The Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent by telephone, confirmed by telecopy in a form approved by
the Administrative Agent, whether and to what extent it has decided to accept
or reject each Competitive Bid, in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive
Borrowing, not later than 10:30 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days
before the date of the proposed Competitive Borrowing, and in the case of a
Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than 10:30 a.m., New York City time, on the
proposed date of the Competitive Borrowing; provided that (i) the failure of
the Borrower to give such notice shall be deemed to be a rejection of each
Competitive Bid, (ii) the Borrower shall not accept a Competitive Bid made at
a particular Competitive Bid Rate if the Borrower rejects a Competitive Bid
made at a lower Competitive Bid Rate, (iii) the aggregate amount of the
Competitive Bids accepted by the Borrower shall not exceed the aggregate
amount of the requested Competitive Borrowing specified in the related
Competitive Bid Request, (iv) to the extent necessary to comply with clause
(iii) above, the Borrower may accept Competitive Bids at the same Competitive
Bid Rate in part, which acceptance, in the case of multiple Competitive Bids at
such Competitive Bid Rate, shall be made pro rata in accordance with the
amount of each such Competitive Bid, and (v) except pursuant to clause (iv)
above, no Competitive Bid shall be accepted for a Competitive Loan unless such
Competitive Loan is in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 and an
integral multiple of $1,000,000; provided further that if a Competitive Loan
must be in an amount less than $5,000,000 because of the provisions of clause
(iv) above, such Competitive Loan may be for a minimum of $1,000,000 or any
integral multiple thereof, and in calculating the pro rata allocation of
acceptances of portions of multiple Competitive Bids at a particular
Competitive Bid Rate pursuant to clause (iv) the amounts shall be rounded to
integral multiples of $1,000,000 in a manner determined by the Borrower. A
notice given by the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph shall be irrevocable.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each bidding Lender
by telecopy whether or not its Competitive Bid has been accepted (and, if so,
the amount and Competitive Bid Rate so accepted), and each successful bidder
will thereupon become bound, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to
make the Competitive Loan in respect of which its Competitive Bid has been
accepted.
(f) If the Administrative Agent shall elect to submit a Competitive
Bid in its capacity as a Lender, it shall submit such Competitive Bid directly
to the Borrower at least one quarter of an hour earlier than the time by which
the other Lenders are required to submit their Competitive Bids to the
Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.
SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit. (a) General. Subject to the terms
and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of
Letters of Credit for itself, any Subsidiary or any Loan Party, in a form
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any
time and from time to time during the Availability Period. In the event of
any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the
terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other
agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with,
the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of
this Agreement shall control.
(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain
Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment,
renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall
hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if
arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the
Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the
requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice
requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of
Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, the date of issuance, amendment,
renewal or extension, the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire
(which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such
Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such
other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend
such Letter of Credit. If requested by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower also
shall submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank's standard
form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of
Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon
issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the
Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect
to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall
not exceed $75,000,000 and (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit
Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans
shall not exceed the total Commitments.
(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior
to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the
date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal
or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension), provided that
a Letter of Credit may provide that it will be automatically extended unless
the Issuing Bank shall have notified the beneficiary thereof that such Letter
of Credit will not be so extended not less than a specified period prior to
the scheduled expiration date thereof and (ii) the Maturity Date.
(d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an
amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any
further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing
Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from the
Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender's
Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such
Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each
Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender's
Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not
reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of
this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the
Borrower for any reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its
obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of
Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by
any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of
any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or
reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall
be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
(e) Reimbursement. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement
in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC
Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC
Disbursement not later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date that
such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of
such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date,
or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on
such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (i) the
Business Day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is
received prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day of receipt, or
(ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives
such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of
receipt; provided that the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to
borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such
payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing in an equivalent amount
and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower's obligation to make such payment
shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing. If
the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent
shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then
due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender's Applicable
Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender
shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment
then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06
with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply,
mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the
Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so
received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the
Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this
paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the
Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to
this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the
Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender
pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any LC
Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans as contemplated
above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its
obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.
(f) Obligations Absolute. The Borrower's obligation to reimburse LC
Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute,
unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and
irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of
Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or
other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged,
fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or
inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter
of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not
comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or
circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that
might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable
discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower's obligations
hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Issuing
Bank, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or
responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of
any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder
(irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding
sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission
or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to
any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing
thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence
arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the
foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to
the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential
damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the
extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused
by the Issuing Bank's failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts
and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms
thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross
negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be
deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of
the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree
that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in
substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank
may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such
documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any
notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment
upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the
terms of such Letter of Credit.
(g) Disbursement Procedures. The Issuing Bank shall, promptly
following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a
demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall promptly
notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by
telecopy) of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or
will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or
delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation
to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC
Disbursement.
(h) Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC
Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement
in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof
shall bear interest (i) for each day from and including the date such LC
Disbursement is made to but excluding the date notice of such LC Disbursement
is given by the Issuing Bank to the Borrower (or, if such notice is given
after 10:30 a.m., New York City time, the first Business Day after the date
upon which such notice is given), at a rate per annum equal to the Federal
Funds Effective Rate plus the then Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Revolving
Borrowings and (ii) for each day from and including the date notice of such LC
Disbursement is given by the Issuing Bank to the Borrower (or, if such notice
is given after 10:30 a.m., New York City time, the first Business Day after
the date upon which such notice is given) to but excluding the date that the
Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then
applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if the Borrower fails to
reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this
Section, then Section 2.12(e) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this
paragraph shall be for the account of the Issuing Bank, except that interest
accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph
(e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of
such Lender to the extent of such payment.
(i) Replacement of the Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank may be replaced
at any time by written agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent (whose consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and the successor
Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such
replacement of the Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall
become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the
account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.11(b). From and
after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing
Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Bank under this
Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii)
references herein to the term "Issuing Bank" shall be deemed to refer to such
successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all
previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement
of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party
hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing
Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior
to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of
Credit.
(j) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and
be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the
Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans
has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50%
of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to
this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the
Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the
benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to the LC Exposure as of such
date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation
to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such
deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other
notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect
to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. Such deposit
shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and
performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The
Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the
exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest
earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at
the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the
Borrower's risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest
or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account.
Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to
reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been
reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the
satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC
Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated
(but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater
than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other obligations of
the Borrower under this Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an
amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event
of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be
returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of
Default have been cured or waived.
SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each
Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer
of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the
account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such
purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such
Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received,
in like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the
Administrative Agent in New York City and designated by the Borrower in the
applicable Borrowing Request or Competitive Bid Request; provided that ABR
Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as
provided in Section 2.05(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to
the Issuing Bank.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a
Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not
make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's share of such
Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section
and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a
corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its
share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then
the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the
Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with
interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made
available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the
Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the
Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent
in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in
the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such
Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall
constitute such Lender's Loan included in such Borrowing.
SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing
initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request
and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial
Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the
Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to
continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing,
may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The
Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the
affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably
among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans
comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This
Section shall not apply to Competitive Borrowings, which may not be converted
or continued.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall
notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that
a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were
requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to
be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest
Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand
delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest
Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by
the Borrower.
(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall
specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies
and, if different options are being elected with respect to different
portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each
resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified
pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each
resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such
Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing
or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the
Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such
election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of
the term "Interest Period".
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does
not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have
selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of
such Lender's portion of each resulting Borrowing.
(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election
Request with respect to a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of
the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid
as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall
be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision
hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the
Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the
Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no
outstanding Revolving Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a
Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Revolving
Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest
Period applicable thereto.
SECTION 2.08. Termination and Reduction of Commitments. (a)
Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the
Maturity Date.
(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time
reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the
Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of
$1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not
terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any
concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.10, the sum
of the Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Competitive Loans would exceed the total Commitments.
(c) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any
election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this
Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such
termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date
thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative
Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice
delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable;
provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the
Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness
of other credit facilities or the consummation of other specified
transactions, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by
notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective
date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of
the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments
shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective
Commitments.
SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The
Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative
Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of
each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date and (ii) to the Administrative
Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of
each Competitive Loan on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to
such Loan.
(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice
an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such
Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of
principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time
hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall
record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof
and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal
or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to
each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the
Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each
Lender's share thereof.
(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph
(b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and
amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any
Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error
therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay
the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a
promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and
deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender
(or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns)
and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans
evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times
(including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or
more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named
therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and
its registered assigns).
SECTION 2.10. Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower shall have
the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in
whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b)
of this Section; provided that the Borrower shall not have the right to
prepay any Competitive Loan without the prior consent of the Lender
thereof.
(b) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone
(confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of
prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m.,
New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, or
(ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later
than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such
notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the
principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid;
provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a
conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by
Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice
of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.08. Promptly
following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.
Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount
that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing
of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02 in the aggregate principal
amount thereof. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied
ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall
be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12.
SECTION 2.11. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee, which
shall accrue at the Applicable Margin on the daily amount of the Commitment
of such Lender (whether used or unused) during the period from and
including the date hereof to but excluding the date on which such
Commitment terminates; provided that, if such Lender continues to have any
Revolving Credit Exposure after its Commitment terminates, then such
facility fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of such Lender's
Revolving Credit Exposure from and including the date on which its
Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which such Lender ceases
to have any Revolving Credit Exposure. Accrued facility fees shall be
payable in arrears on the last day of January, April, July and October of
each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on
July 31, 1998; provided that any facility fees accruing after the date on
which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. All facility
fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be
payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but
excluding the last day).
(b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the
account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations
in (x) trade Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the Applicable Margin in
effect for Eurodollar Revolving Loans minus one-eighth of 1%, and (y) standby
Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the Applicable Margin in effect for
Eurodollar Revolving Loans, on the average daily amount of such Lender's LC
Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC
Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but
excluding the later of the date on which such Lender's Commitment terminates
and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to
the Issuing Bank a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate or rates per
annum separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Issuing Bank on the
average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof
attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and
including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of
termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC
Exposure, as well as the Issuing Bank's standard fees with respect to the
issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or
processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees
accrued through and including the last day of January, April, July and October
of each year (excluding April 1998) shall be payable on the third Business Day
following such last day, commencing on August 5, 1998; provided that all such
fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any
such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be
payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to
this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All
participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year
of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed
(including the first day but excluding the last day).
(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its
own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed
upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in
immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the Issuing
Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of
facility fees and participation fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be
refundable under any circumstances.
SECTION 2.12. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR
Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate.
(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear
interest (i) in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Loan, at the LIBO Rate
for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable
Margin, or (ii) in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Loan, at the LIBO
Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus (or minus,
as applicable) the Margin applicable to such Loan.
(c) For so long as any Lender maintains reserves against "Eurocurrency
liabilities" (or any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by
reference to which the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans is determined or any
category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by a
non-United States office of any Lender to United States residents), and as a
result the cost to such Lender (or its Eurodollar lending office) of making or
maintaining its Eurodollar Loans is increased, then such Lender may require the
Borrower to pay, contemporaneously with each payment of interest on any
Eurodollar Loan of such Lender, additional interest on such Eurodollar Loan
for the Interest Period of such Eurodollar Loan at a rate per annum up to but
not exceeding the excess of (i)(A) the applicable LIBO Rate, as the case may
be, divided by (B) one minus the Statutory Reserve Rate over (ii) the rate
specified in the preceding clause (i)(A). Any Lender wishing to require
payment of such additional interest pursuant to the preceding sentence (x)
shall so notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, in which case such
additional interest on the Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall be payable to
such Bank at the place indicated in such notice with respect to each Interest
Period commencing at least three Business Days after the giving of such notice
and (y) shall furnish to the applicable Borrower at least five Business Days
prior to each date on which interest is payable on such Eurodollar Loans an
officer's certificate setting forth the amount to which such Lender is then
entitled under this subsection (c) (which shall be consistent with such
Lender's good faith estimate of the level at which the related reserves are
maintained by it). Each such certificate shall be accompanied by such
information as the Borrower may reasonably request as to the computation set
forth therein.
(d) Each Fixed Rate Loan shall bear interest at the Fixed Rate
applicable to such Loan.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on
any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not
paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise,
such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at
a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2%
plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding
paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus
the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.
(f) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each
Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon
termination of the Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to
paragraph (e) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of
any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR
Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest
on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such
repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any
Eurodollar Revolving Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period
therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date
of such conversion.
(g) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of
360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base
Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be
computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and
in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including
the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate
or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such
determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.13. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the
commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:
(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall
be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable
means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBO Rate for such Interest
Period; or
(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders (or,
in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Loan, the Lender that is
required to make such Loan) that the LIBO Rate for such Interest
Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders
(or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan)
included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and
the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter
and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that
the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest
Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to,
or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be
ineffective, (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Revolving
Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing and (iii) any
request by the Borrower for a Eurodollar Competitive Borrowing shall be
ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice do
not affect all the Lenders, then requests by the Borrower for Eurodollar
Competitive Borrowings may be made to Lenders that are not affected thereby.
SECTION 2.14. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit
or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the
account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or the Issuing Bank; or
(ii) impose on any Lender or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank
market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar
Loans or Fixed Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit
or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such
Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan (or of
maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to
such Lender or the Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining
any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable
by such Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest
or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank,
as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such
Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs
incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines that any Change in
Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing
the rate of return on such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's capital or on the
capital of such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's holding company, if any, as
a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in
Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by
the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing
Bank or such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's holding company could have
achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such
Lender's or the Issuing Bank's policies and the policies of such Lender's
or the Issuing Bank's holding company with respect to capital adequacy),
then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing
Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender's or the Issuing
Bank's holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the
amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank
or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a)
or (b) of this Section shall be delivered promptly to the Borrower and
shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such
Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on
any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank
to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a
waiver of such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's right to demand such
compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to
compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any
increased costs or reductions incurred more than 90 days prior to the date
that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the
Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or
reductions and of such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's intention to claim
compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving
rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 90-day
period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of
retroactive effect thereof.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a Lender
shall not be entitled to compensation pursuant to this Section in respect of
any Competitive Loan if the Change in Law that would otherwise entitle it to
such compensation shall have been publicly announced prior to submission of the
Competitive Bid pursuant to which such Loan was made.
SECTION 2.15. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the
payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan other
than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as
a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan
other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c)
the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Revolving
Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto
(regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.10(b) and
is revoked in accordance therewith), (d) the failure to borrow any
Competitive Loan after accepting the Competitive Bid to make such Loan, or
(e) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan other than on
the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a
request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.18, then, in any such event,
the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense
attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss,
cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount
determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of
interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had
such event not occurred, at the LIBO Rate that would have been applicable
to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of
the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to
borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the
Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which
would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate
which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such
period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other
banks in the Eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth
any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to
this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive
absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown
as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.16. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of
any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and
without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if
the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes
from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary
so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable
to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent,
Lender or Issuing Bank (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the
sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower
shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount
deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable
law.
(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the
relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender
and the Issuing Bank, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the
full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative
Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, on or with respect
to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder
(including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or
attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties,
interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto,
whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally
imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority; provided, however,
that if written demand for payment of an Indemnified Tax or Other Tax has not
been made by the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the Issuing Bank within 30
Business Days from the later of (i) the date the Administrative Agent, such
Lender or the Issuing Bank knew of the imposition thereof or (ii) the date
such Indemnified Tax or Other Tax is due, then the Borrower shall not be
obligated to pay or indemnify the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the
Issuing Bank for penalties with respect to such Indemnified Taxes or Other
Taxes that would not have been owed had such demand been made within 30 days
and payment thereof occurred with 40 days from such date. A certificate as to
the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender
or the Issuing Bank, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on
behalf of a Lender or the Issuing Bank, shall be conclusive absent manifest
error.
(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or
Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall
deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a
receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy
of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Each Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or
reduction in withholding tax under the laws of the United States (or such
other jurisdiction in which the Borrower may be located) shall, before the
time prescribed by applicable law, and from time to time thereafter (as
required by applicable law) before the date any such form expires or becomes
obsolete or invalid, provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with
Internal Revenue Service form 1001 or 4224 in duplicate, as appropriate, or
such other form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service that it may legally
provide, certifying that such Foreign Lender is entitled to benefits under an
income tax treaty to which the United States is a party which exempts the
Lender from United States withholding tax or reduces the rate of United States
withholding tax on payments of interest for the account of such Foreign
Lender, or certifying that the income receivable pursuant to this Agreement is
effectively connected with the conduct of such Foreign Lender's trade or
business in the United States and exempt from United States withholding tax.
(f) If an Issuing Bank or Lender shall receive a refund in respect of
any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by
the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.16, or with respect to which the
Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall,
promptly pay over the amount of such refund without interest (other than any
interest paid or credited by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect
to such refund) to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments
made, or additional amount paid, by the Borrower under the Section with
respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund).
SECTION 2.17. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of
Set-offs. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it
hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC
Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16, or
otherwise) not later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due,
in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts
received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the
Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding
Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments
shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 270 Park Avenue,
New York, New York, except payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank as
expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.14,
2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto.
The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for
the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly
following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day
that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next
succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest,
interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All
payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.
(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to
the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed
LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be
applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder,
ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of
interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment
of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably
among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal
and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.
(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or
counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or
interest on any of its Revolving Loans or participations in LC Disbursements
resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the
aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements
and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender,
then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at
face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and participations in LC
Disbursements of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of
all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with
the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective
Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements; provided that (i) if
any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment
giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and
the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest,
and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to
any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the
express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as
consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its
Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant,
other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which
the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the
foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable
law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing
arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and
counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender
were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from
the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank
hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative
Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in
accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to
the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In such
event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the
Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to
the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such
Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including
the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment
to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective
Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with
banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made
by it pursuant to Section 2.05(d) or (e), 2.06(b) or 2.17(d), then the
Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary
provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative
Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender's obligations
under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.
SECTION 2.18. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If
any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if the Borrower is
required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental
Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, then such
Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office
for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and
obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if,
in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would
eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.14 or 2.16, as the
case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any
unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to
such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and
expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or
assignment.
(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if the
Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any
Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16,
or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder, then the
Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and
the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without
recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in
Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement
(other than any outstanding Competitive Loans held by it) to an assignee that
shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a
Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have
received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and, if a
Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Bank), which consent shall not
unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an
amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans (other than Competitive
Loans) and participations in LC Disbursements, accrued interest thereon,
accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee
(to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or
the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any
such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.14 or
payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.16, such assignment will
result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be
required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a
result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling
the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
------------------------------
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of the Parent, the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has
all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted
and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate,
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is
qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction
where such qualification is required.
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions to
be entered into by each Loan Party are within such Loan Party's corporate
powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if
required, stockholder action. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by each of the Parent and the Borrower and constitutes, and each
other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is to be a party, when executed
and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute, a legal, valid and
binding obligation of each of the Parent, the Borrower or such Loan Party
(as the case may be), enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to general principles of
equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law.
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The
Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or
filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except
such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b)
will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws
or other organizational documents of any of the Parent, the Borrower or any
Subsidiary or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate
or result in a default under any indenture or other agreement for borrowed
money or under any other material agreement binding upon any of the Parent,
the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its assets, or give rise to a right
thereunder to require any payment to be made by any of the Parent, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (d) will not result in the creation or
imposition of any Lien on any material asset of any of the Parent, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary.
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.
(a) The Parent has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated
balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows
(i) as of and for the fiscal year ended on February 1, 1997, reported on by
Coopers & Lybrand LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and
for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended on November
1, 1997, certified by its chief financial officer. Such financial
statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position
and results of operations and cash flows of the Parent and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP,
subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the
case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.
(b) Since January 31, 1998, there has been no material adverse change
in the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or
otherwise, of the Parent, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
SECTION 3.05. Properties. (a) Each of the Parent, the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in,
all its real and personal property material to its business, except for
defects in title that, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Each of the Parent, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries owns, or is
licensed to use, all trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents and other
intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the
Parent, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights
of any other Person, except for any such failure to own or be licensed and
infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) There are
no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or
Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the
Borrower, threatened against or affecting any of the Parent, the Borrower
or any of the Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable
possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined,
could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result
in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii)
that expressly contest the validity of this Agreement or the Transactions.
(b) Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any
other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Parent, the
Borrower nor any Subsidiary (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental
Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other
approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any
Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect
to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any
Environmental Liability.
(c) Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the
status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has
resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of the
Parent, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws,
regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its
property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it
or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 3.08. Investment and Holding Company Status. None of the
Parent, the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is (a) an "investment company" as
defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940
or (b) a "holding company" as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.
SECTION 3.09. Taxes. Each of the Parent, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and
reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all
Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the
Parent, the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on
its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.10. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably
expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events
for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.11. Disclosure. The reports, financial statements,
certificates and other information furnished by or on behalf of the Parent or
the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the
negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or
supplemented by other information so furnished), taken as a whole, do not
contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to
projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such
information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be
reasonable at the time.
SECTION 3.12. Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.12 sets forth the name of, and
the ownership interest of the Parent and each of its Subsidiaries in, and of
the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries in, each Subsidiary, in each case as
of the Effective Date. Each Subsidiary is a Loan Party as of the Effective
Date.
SECTION 3.13. Millennium Compliance. The Borrower has conducted a
review of its information systems and has evaluated the costs of updating its
computer systems and applications in preparation for the year 2000, including
costs related to remediation, testing, conversion, replacement and upgrading
system applications, depreciation and amortization of new package systems,
remediation to bring current systems into compliance and writing off legacy
systems. On the basis of this review and evaluation, the Borrower has
reasonably concluded that the incremental cost to the Parent, the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries of such updating is not expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE IV
Conditions
----------
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to
make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder
shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following
conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received
from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement
signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission
of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has
signed a counterpart of this Agreement.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received written opinions
(addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the
Effective Date) of Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Borrower,
and Samuel P. Fried, General Counsel of The Limited, substantially in
the form of Exhibits F-1 and F-2, respectively, and covering such
other matters relating to the Borrower, this Agreement or the
Transactions as the Required Lenders shall reasonably request. The
Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinion.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and
certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably
request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of
each Loan Party, the authorization of the Transactions and any other
legal matters relating to the Loan Parties, this Agreement or the
Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate,
dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President
or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the
conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other
amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including,
to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket
expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.
(f) (i) The Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts
of the Guarantee Agreement signed on behalf of the Parent and each
U.S. Subsidiary.
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the
Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans
and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become
effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived
pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on May
31, 1998 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived,
the Commitments shall terminate at such time).
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to
make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Bank to
issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of each of the Parent and
the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct on
and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance,
amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as
applicable, except to the extent any such representation or warranty
is limited to another particular date, in which instance, such
representation or warranty shall be true and correct on and as of such
other date.
(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such
Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such
Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.
Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter
of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by each
of the Parent and the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified
in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
---------------------
Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the
principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall
have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or
terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each of the
Parent and the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information. The
Parent will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) within 100 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent,
its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of
income, stockholders' equity and cash flows as of the end of and for
such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures
for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by [Coopers & Lybrand
LLP] or other independent public accountants of recognized national
standing (without a "going concern" or like qualification or exception
and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such
audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements
present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and
results of operations of the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries
on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b) within 55 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal
quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent, its consolidated balance
sheet as of the end of such fiscal quarter, the related statements of
income for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the
fiscal year and the related statement of cash flows for the then
elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in
comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods
of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the
previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers
as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition
and results of operations of the Parent and its consolidated
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and
the absence of footnotes;
(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements
under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial
Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has
occurred and is continuing and, if a Default has occurred and is
continuing, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or
proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth
reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with
Sections 6.10 and 6.11 and (iii) stating whether any change in
GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of
the previous delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or
(b) above;
(d) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under
clause (a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported
on such financial statements stating whether they obtained knowledge
during the course of their examination of such financial statements of
any Default (which certificate may be limited to the extent required
by accounting rules or guidelines);
(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all
periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials
publicly filed by the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority
succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with
any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Parent or the
Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and
(f) promptly following any request therefor, such other information
regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of
the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the
terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may
reasonably request.
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower
will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice
of the following:
(a) the occurrence of any Default;
(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by
or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or
affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that could reasonably
be expected to be adversely determined in a manner that would result
in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with
any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
(d) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be
expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement
of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting
forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any
action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. Each of the Parent
and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, do or
cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full
force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits,
privileges and franchises material to the conduct of the business of the
Parent, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that
the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or
dissolution permitted under Section 6.04.
SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations. Each of the Parent and the
Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, pay its
obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in
a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in
default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Parent, the Borrower or
such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect
thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending
such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. Each of the
Parent and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, (a)
keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good
working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain,
with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such
amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies
engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar
locations.
SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights. Each of the
Parent and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to,
keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct
entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its
business and activities. Each of the Parent and the Borrower will, and
will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives
designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior
notice and at such party's expense, to visit and inspect its properties, to
examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its
affairs, finances and condition with its officers and, if an Event of
Default exists, its independent accountants. Such visits and inspections
shall be arranged through the Administrative Agent and shall not occur more
than once in any fiscal quarter unless an Event of Default shall exist.
SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws. Each of the Parent and the
Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, comply with all
laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable
to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in
the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. The proceeds
of the Loans will be used only for working capital and other general
corporate purposes. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used,
whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of
any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations U and X.
Letters of Credit will be issued only to support import or other needs in
the ordinary course of business.
SECTION 5.09. Additional Subsidiaries; Guarantee Requirement. (a) If
any additional US Subsidiary is formed or acquired after the Effective Date,
the Parent or the Borrower (as the case may be) will notify the Administrative
Agent thereof within 30 days.
(b) The Parent or the Borrower (as the case may be) will promptly
cause any US Subsidiary that is not then a Guarantor to become a party to the
Guarantee Agreement within 5 Business Days of the acquisition or creation of
such US Subsidiary.
ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
------------------
Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal
of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid
in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all LC
Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each of the Parent and the
Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness. The Parent and the Borrower will not,
and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to
exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness created hereunder;
(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and (in the case of
any such Indebtedness in a principal amount in excess of $1,000,000)
set forth in Schedule 6.01 and extensions, renewals and replacements
of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding
principal amount thereof;
(c) Indebtedness (i) resulting from any loan or advance by a Loan
Party to another Loan Party, (ii) resulting from any loan or advance
by a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to a Loan Party, (iii)
resulting from any loan or advance by any Subsidiary that is not a
Loan Party to any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (iv)
resulting from any loan or advance by any Loan Party to any Subsidiary
that is not a Loan Party; provided that the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Indebtedness permitted solely by this
subclause (iv) shall not exceed in the aggregate for all Loan Parties
at any time $20,000,000 less the amount by which the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are
not Loan Parties permitted under clause (g) below exceeds $5,000,000;
(d) Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary
incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of
any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and
any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any
such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the
acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any
such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal
amount thereof; provided that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to
or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such
construction or improvement;
(e) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the
date hereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness exists at the time
such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation
of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (ii)
the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this
clause (e) shall not exceed $20,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(f) Indebtedness of any Loan Party as an account party in respect of
trade letters of credit; provided that the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of Indebtedness permitted solely by this clause
(f) shall not exceed $75,000,000 in the aggregate for all Loan
Parties at any time; and
(g) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not exceeding $25,000,000 at any
time outstanding.
SECTION 6.02. Liens. The Parent and the Borrower will not, and
will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist
any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or
assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or
rights in respect of any thereof, except:
(a) Permitted Encumbrances;
(b) any Lien on any property or asset of the Parent, the Borrower or
any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and (in the case of any
Lien securing obligations in an aggregate amount in excess of
$1,000,000) set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien
shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Parent, Borrower
or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those
obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions,
renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding
principal amount thereof;
(c) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the
acquisition thereof by the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or
existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a
Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes
a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in
contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person
becoming a Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other
property or assets of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary and
(iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures
on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a
Subsidiary and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do
not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(d) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or
improved by the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that
(i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause
(d) of Section 6.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness
secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such
acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement,
(iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of
acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and
(iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or
assets of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(e) Liens of sellers of goods to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
arising under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code or similar
provisions of applicable law in the ordinary course of business,
covering only the goods sold and securing only the unpaid purchase
price for such goods and related expenses; and
(f) Liens on raw materials and inventory acquired in the ordinary
course of business securing obligations as account party in respect of
trade letters of credit issued to support the purchase price of such
assets.
SECTION 6.03. Sale-Leaseback Transactions. The Parent and the
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any
arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby they shall sell
or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in their business,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such
property or other property which they intend to use for substantially the same
purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred; provided that
the Borrower, Parent or any Subsidiary may enter into a sale-leaseback
transaction prior to or within 180 days after the acquisition or completion of
construction of the property which is the subject of such sale-
leaseback transaction.
SECTION 6.04. Fundamental Changes. (a) The Parent and the
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or
consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into
or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of
(in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any substantial
part of its assets, or all or substantially all of the stock of any
Subsidiary (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or
liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately
after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing (i) any Person may merge into the Parent or the Borrower in a
transaction in which the Parent or the Borrower, as the case may be, is the
surviving corporation, (ii) any Person may merge into any Subsidiary in a
transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary, (iii) any
Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to
the Parent, the Borrower or another Loan Party, (iv) any disposition of
assets constituting an investment permitted by Section 6.05(c) shall be
permitted and (v) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower
or the Parent (as the case may be) determines in good faith that such
liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower or the
Parent (as the case may be) and is not materially disadvantageous to the
Lenders; provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a
wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be
permitted unless also permitted by Section 6.05.
(b) The Parent and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any
Subsidiary to, engage to any material extent in any business other than
businesses of the type conducted by the Parent, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses
reasonably related or incidental thereto.
SECTION 6.05. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and
Acquisitions. The Parent and the Borrower will not, and will not permit
any Subsidiary to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any
merger with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such
merger) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities
(including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the
foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee
any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other
interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one
transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person
constituting a business unit, except:
(a) Permitted Investments;
(b) investments by the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary that
is a Guarantor in the Parent, the Borrower or any such Subsidiary;
(c) additional purchases of or investments by the Parent, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary in the capital stock of Subsidiaries, joint
ventures or the capital stock, assets, obligations or other securities
of or interest in other Persons in an amount in the aggregate at any
time outstanding which does not exceed the greater of $20,000,000 and
15% of shareholders' equity;
(d) Indebtedness permitted by clause (c) of Section 6.01; and
(e) prior to the Split-off, investments in The Limited not to exceed
$5,000,000 at any time outstanding.
SECTION 6.06. Hedging Agreements. The Parent and the Borrower will
not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Hedging Agreement,
other than Hedging Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business
to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary
is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities.
SECTION 6.07. Restricted Payments. The Parent and the Borrower
will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, declare or make, or agree
to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except (a)
the Parent and the Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to
its capital stock payable solely in additional shares of its common stock,
(b) if no Default has occurred and is continuing, the Parent may declare
and pay and, if declared when no Default exists, the Borrower may pay,
dividends in cash in a cumulative aggregate amount for all such dividends
declared after the date hereof not to exceed 20% of Consolidated Net Income
for the period from February 2, 1998 through the end of the most recently
ended fiscal quarter of the Parent (considered as a single accounting
period), (c) Subsidiaries may (i) declare and pay dividends ratably with
respect to their capital stock and (ii) may make Restricted Payments to the
Parent in amounts necessary to enable the Parent to pay the dividends
described in clause (b) above, along with standard costs associated with
such payment of dividends, and to pay taxes and operating and professional
expenses and (d) the Parent and the Borrower may make Restricted Payments
pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit
plans for management or employees of the Parent, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries.
SECTION 6.08. Transactions with Affiliates. The Parent and the
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease or
otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or
otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any
other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary
course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable
to the Parent and the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on
an arm's-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions
between or among the Parent, the Borrower and their wholly owned
Subsidiaries, not involving any other Affiliate and (c) any Restricted
Payment permitted by Section 6.07.
SECTION 6.09. Restrictive Agreements. The Parent and the Borrower
will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter
into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that
prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the
Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any
Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary
to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any shares of its
capital stock or to make or repay loans or advances to the Parent, the
Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Parent,
the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall
not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement,
(ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on
the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.09 (but shall apply to any amendment
or modification expanding the scope of any such restriction or condition),
(iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions
contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such
sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary
that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of
the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any
agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such
restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such
Indebtedness and (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary
provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.
SECTION 6.10. Leverage Ratio. The Parent and the Borrower will not
permit the Leverage Ratio at the end of any fiscal quarter to be greater than
3.50 to 1.00.
SECTION 6.11. Coverage Ratio. The Parent and the Borrower will not
permit the Coverage Ratio at the end of any fiscal quarter to be less 2.50 to
1.00.
SECTION 6.12. Accounting Changes. The Parent and the Borrower will
not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, change its accounting policies or
practices from those utilized in the preparation of the financial statements
referred to in Section 3.04, except as permitted or required by GAAP
consistently applied.
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
-----------------
If any of the following events ("Events of Default") shall occur:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan
or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement
when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the
due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or
otherwise;
(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any
fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause
(a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the
same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue
unremedied for a period of three Business Days;
(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on
behalf of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in this Agreement
or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, or in any
report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished
pursuant to this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or
waiver hereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material
respect when made or deemed made;
(d) the Parent or the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any
covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02(a), 5.03
(with respect to the Borrower's existence) or 5.08 or in Article VI;
(e) the Parent or the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any
covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other
than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and
such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after
notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which
notice will be given at the request of any Lender);
(f) any Loan Party shall fail to make any payment (whether of
principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any
Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and
payable;
(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material
Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that
enables or permits the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness
or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material
Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase,
redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity;
provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness
that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the
property or assets securing such Indebtedness;
(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary
petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or
other relief in respect of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary
or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any
Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or
similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a
receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar
official for the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a
substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding
or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or
decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i) the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily
commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation,
reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter
in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of any proceeding or
petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or
consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian,
sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Parent, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets,
(iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition
filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment
for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any corporate action for the
purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(j) the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable,
admit in writing or fail generally to pay its debts as they become
due;
(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate
amount in excess of $10,000,000 (net of any insurance coverage
available therefor from a responsible insurance company that is not
denying its liability with respect thereto) shall be rendered against
the Parent, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof
and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive
days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any
action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy
upon any assets of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary to
enforce any such judgment;
(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the
Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that
have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect;
(m) any Guarantee of any Guarantor under the Guarantee Agreement
shall cease to be (other than pursuant to the terms of the Guarantee
Agreement), or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, a legal,
valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor; or
(n) a Change in Control shall occur;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the
Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time
thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may,
and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower,
take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times:
(i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate
immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable
in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and
payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the
principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with
accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower
accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without
presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the
Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall
automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding,
together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of
the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable,
without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby waived by the Borrower.
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent
------------------------
Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints
the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative
Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are
delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with
such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have
the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender
and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent,
and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to
and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any
Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative
Agent hereunder.
The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations
except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any
fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has
occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any
duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers,
except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that
the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required
Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be
necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), and (c)
except as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not
have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to
disclose, any information relating to the Parent, the Borrower or any of
the Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as
Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The
Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken
by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such
other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the
circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own
gross negligence or wilful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be
deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice
thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender,
and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty
to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation
made in or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) the contents of any
certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection
herewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants,
agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the
validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or
any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any
condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to
confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the
Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not
incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate,
consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The
Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by
telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not
incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult
with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent
accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any
action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such
counsel, accountants or experts.
The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and
exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents
appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any
such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its
rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The
exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such
sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any
such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in
connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for
herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor
Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative
Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and
the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have
the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor. If
no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall
have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring
Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring
Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank,
appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an
office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the
acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a
successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the
rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent,
and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties
and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor
Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor
unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the
Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder, the provisions of this
Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such
retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related
Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of
them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.
Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without
reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on
such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender
also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and
information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to
make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon
this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder
or thereunder.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
-------------
SECTION 9.01. Notices. Except in the case of notices and other
communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices
and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall
be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or
registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:
(a) if to the Borrower, to it at Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc.,
Four Limited Parkway East, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068, Attention of Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer (Telecopy No. (614) 577-6950);
(b) if to the Administrative Agent, to The Chase Manhattan Bank,
Loan and Agency Services Group, One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 8th Floor,
New York, New York 10081, Attention of Joseph Brusco (Telecopy No.
(212) 552-7500), with a copy to The Chase Manhattan Bank, 270 Park
Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention of William Rindfuss
(Telecopy No. 270-5646);
(c) if to the Issuing Bank, to it at The Chase Manhattan Bank, Loan
and Agency Services Group, One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 8th Floor, New
York, New York 10081, Attention of Joseph Brusco (Telecopy No. (212)
552-7500); and
(d) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy
number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and
other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All
notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the
date of receipt.
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by
the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any
right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment
or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or
power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing
Bank and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any
rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any
provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower
therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be
permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent
shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for
which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making
of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a
waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any
Lender or the Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default
at the time.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived,
amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in
writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required
Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment
of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the
principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of
interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written
consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date
of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any
interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of,
waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of
expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender
affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.17(b) or (c) in a manner that would
alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the
written consent of each Lender, (v) release Parent from its Guarantee under
the Guarantee Agreement, without the written consent of each Lender or (vi)
change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of "Required
Lenders" or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage
of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make
any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written
consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall
amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the
Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank hereunder without the prior
written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the
case may be.
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The
Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees,
charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in
connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for
herein, the preparation, execution and delivery and administration of this
Agreement or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions
hereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby
shall be consummated) and (ii) reasonable all out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender,
including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with
the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this
Agreement, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with
the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such
out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout or restructuring, or
negotiations in respect thereof, of such Loans or Letters of Credit and
documentary taxes associated with this Agreement.
(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the
Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the
foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an "Indemnitee") against,
and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the reasonable fees,
charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or
asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a
result of any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or
proceedings relating to (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or
any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the
parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the
consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated
hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds
therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Bank to honor a demand for
payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection
with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of
Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous
Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, whether based on contract, tort or
any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party
thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be
available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by
final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence
or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee.
(c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required
to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank under
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to
the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such
Lender's Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable
unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount;
provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage,
liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted
against the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank in its capacity as such.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not
assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of
liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as
opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as
a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated
hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the
proceeds thereof.
(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly
after written demand therefor.
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby
(including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of
Credit), except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any
of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower
without such consent shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement,
expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other
than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted
hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter
of Credit) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related
Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the
Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason
of this Agreement.
(b) Any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion
of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided
that (i) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of
a Lender, each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (and, in the
case of an assignment of all or a portion of a Commitment or any Lender's
obligations in respect of its LC Exposure, the Issuing Bank) must give
their prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), (ii) the amount of the Commitment of the assigning
Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the
Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to
the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $7,500,000 (or the
remaining amount of an assigning Lender's Commitment if such remaining
amount is less than $7,500,000) unless each of the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent otherwise consent, (iii) each partial assignment shall
be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning
Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, except that this
clause (iii) shall not apply to rights in respect of outstanding
Competitive Loans, (iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together
with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and (v) the assignee, if
it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an
Administrative Questionnaire; and provided further that any consent of the
Borrower otherwise required under this paragraph shall not be required if
an Event of Default with respect to the Borrower under clause (h) or (i) of
Article VII has occurred and is continuing. Subject to acceptance and
recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, from and after
the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance the assignee
thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest
assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations
of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder
shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and
Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in
the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning
Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall
cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the
benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03). Any assignment or
transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that
does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this
Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and
obligations in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section.
(c) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent
of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in The City of New
York a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a
register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and
the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans and LC Disbursements
owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the
"Register"). The entries in the Register shall, in the absence of manifest
error, be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the
Issuing Bank and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded
in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all
purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The
Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Issuing
Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
(d) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance
executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee's completed
Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender
hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b)
of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by
paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such
Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in
the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this
Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this
paragraph.
(e) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, sell participations to one or
more banks or other entities (a "Participant") in all or a portion of such
Lender's rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i)
such Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii)
such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for
the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue
to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such
Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or
instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall
provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this
Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may
provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant,
agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in subclauses (ii)
and (iii) of Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to
paragraph (f) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant
shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16 to the
same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by
assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that Section
2.18(b) shall apply to any Participant to such extent. To the extent
permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits
of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant
agrees to be subject to Section 2.17(c) as though it were a Lender.
(f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment
under Section 2.14 or 2.16 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled
to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless
the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower's
prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it
were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.16 unless the
Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such
Participant complies with Section 2.16(e) as though it were a Lender.
(g) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest
in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure
obligations of such Lender to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section
shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest;
provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall
release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any
such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
SECTION 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations
and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other
instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement
shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto
and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of
any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and
notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any
Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect
representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder,
and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or
any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable
under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is
outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated.
The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall
survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the
expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or
the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto
on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but
all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This
Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable
to the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank constitute the entire
contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and
supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or
written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in
Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been
executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent
shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear
the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of
a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to
such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a
particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such
provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If (i) an Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing and (ii) the Required Lenders shall have
requested the Administrative Agent to declare the Loans to be immediately
due and payable pursuant to Article VII, or the Loans have become
immediately due and payable without notice as provided in Article VII, each
Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from
time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply
any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or
final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such
Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower
against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter
existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether
or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and
although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender
under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including
other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of
Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the law of the State of New York.
(b) Each of the Parent and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York
County and of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New
York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or
enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent
permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees
that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that
the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to
bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrower
or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) Each of the Parent and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and
effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in the first sentence
of paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of
an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in
any such court.
(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of
process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in
this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY
HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).
EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY
OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER
PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING
WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN
INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL
WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table
of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part
of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken
into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the
Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the
Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a)
to its and its Affiliates' directors, officers, employees and agents,
including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood
that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the
confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such
Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory
authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by
any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this
Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or
any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement
of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as those of this Section, to any assignee of or
Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its
rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of the
Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available
other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available
to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a
nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes
of this Section, "Information" means all information received from the Borrower
relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that
is available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a
nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower. Any Person
required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this
Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if
such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the
confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own
confidential information.
SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any
Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated
as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the "Charges"),
shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the "Maximum Rate") which may be
contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding
such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable
in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in
respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent
lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of
such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section
shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in
respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the
Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest
thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall
have been received by such Lender.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and
year first above written.
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH STORES, INC.,
by /s/ Seth R. Johnson
---------------------------------
Name: Seth R. Johnson
Title: Vice President/Chief
Financial Officer
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO.,
by /s/ Seth R. Johnson
---------------------------------
Name: Seth R. Johnson
Title: Vice President/Chief
Financial Officer
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, individually
and as Administrative Agent,
by /s/ William P. Rindfuss
---------------------------------
Name: William P. Rindfuss
Title: Vice President
BANKBOSTON, N.A.,
by /s/ Judith C.E. Kelly
---------------------------------
Name: Judith C.E. Kelly
Title: Vice President
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
by /s/ Paula Regan
---------------------------------
Name: Paula Regan
Title: Vice President
BANKONE, N.A.,
by /s/ David A. Hammond
---------------------------------
Name: David A. Hammond
Title: Vice President
CORESTATES BANK, N.A.,
by /s/ Thomas J. McDonnell
---------------------------------
Name: Thomas J. McDonnell
Title: Vice President
THE FIFTH THIRD BANK OF COLUMBUS,
by /s/ Charles D. Hale
---------------------------------
Name: Charles D. Hale
Title: Vice President
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
by /s/ Debora K. Oberling
---------------------------------
Name: Debora K. Oberling
Title: Vice President
FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
by /s/ Richard M. Seufert
---------------------------------
Name: Richard M. Seufert
Title: Vice President
THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK,
by /s/ R. Bradley Smith
---------------------------------
Name: R. Bradley Smith
Title: Vice President
NATIONAL CITY BANK,
by /s/ Ralph A. Kaparos
---------------------------------
Name: Ralph A. Kaparos
Title: Senior Vice President
NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
by /s/ Timothy H. Spanos
---------------------------------
Name: Timothy H. Spanos
Title: Senior Vice President
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK,
by /s/ David D. Cutting
---------------------------------
Name: David D. Cutting
Title: Senior Vice President
by /s/ Kristina McDavid
---------------------------------
Name: Kristina McDavid
Title: Vice President
STAR BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
by /s/ Timothy Kirtley
---------------------------------
Name: Timothy Kirtley
Title: Assistant Vice President
SUNTRUST BANK, CENTRAL FLORIDA, N.A.,
by /s/ Janet P. Sammons
---------------------------------
Name: Janet P. Sommons
Title: Vice President
EXHIBIT 99.1
FINAL
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE 5/7/98
7:00 A.M.
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. REPORTS SALES AND EXPECTED EARNINGS
FOR THE FIRST QUARTER
Columbus, Ohio (May 7, 1998) -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) reported
net sales of $134.2 million for the first quarter ended May 2, 1998, an
increase of 81%, compared to sales of $74.3 million for the comparable period
ended May 3, 1997.
The Company's comparable store sales increased 48% for the first quarter ended
May 2, 1998.
Abercrombie & Fitch expects to report earnings per diluted share of $.12 in
the first quarter. First quarter earnings will be reported on May 18, 1998,
after the market closes.
This information is being released to ensure that shareholders of The Limited,
Inc. (NYSE/LSE: LTD) will have current information concerning Abercrombie &
Fitch in connection with The Limited's pending exchange offer, which is
intended to establish Abercrombie & Fitch as a fully independent public
company. The exchange offer commenced on April 15, 1998, and is scheduled to
expire at midnight, New York City time, on May 13, 1998.
Abercrombie & Fitch is a lifestyle brand which, at the end of April, operated
158 stores and published the A&F Quarterly.
For further information, please contact: Lonnie Fogel
Director of Investor Relations
& Communications
Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
614-577-6493
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF
1995:
The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in
this Release, the Company's Form 10-K or made by management of the Company
involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various
important factors. The following factors, among others, in some cases have
affected and in the future could affect the Company's financial performance
and actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements: changes in
consumer spending patterns, consumer preferences and overall economic
conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, changes in weather
patterns, political stability, currency and exchange risks and changes in
existing or potential duties, tariffs or quotas, postal rate increases and
charges, paper and printing costs, availability of suitable store locations at
appropriate terms, ability to develop new merchandise and ability to hire and
train associates.
The Abercrombie & Fitch Co. common stock to be issued in the pending exchange
offer will be offered or sold solely pursuant to the offering
circular-prospectus. This release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or
the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these
securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of
any such state.
Please contact D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent for the proposed
exchange offer, for copies of the offering circular - prospectus. D.F. King's
address is 77 Water Street, New York, NY 10005 and its phone number is
1-800-549-6864.
###
