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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
--------------------
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report: April 14, 1998
NEENAH FOUNDRY COMPANY
NEENAH TRANSPORT, INC.
HARTLEY CONTROLS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as it appears in its charter)
Wisconsin 39-1580331
Wisconsin 39-1378433
Wisconsin 39-0842568
(State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer ID Number)
Incorporation or organization)
333-28751
(Commission File Number)
2121 Brooks Avenue, P.O. Box 729, Neenah, Wisconsin 54957
2121 Brooks Avenue, P.O. Box 729, Neenah, Wisconsin 54957
2400 Holly Road, Neenah, Wisconsin 54956
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(920) 725-7000
(920) 725-7000
(920) 734-2689
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS
On April 3, 1998, Neenah Foundry Company (the "Company")
completed its acquisition of Mercer Forge Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
and its subsidiary A&M Specialties, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation
(collectively referred to herein as "Mercer"). Pursuant to the transaction, the
Company purchased 100% of the capital stock of Mercer from Mercer management,
then current and former directors and officers of Mercer and Rotterdam Ventures,
Inc. for aggregate consideration of $46.9 million in cash. The acquisition of
Mercer was financed through drawings under the Tranche B term loan facility of
the Company's Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 30, 1997,
as amended as of September 12, 1997 and as of April 3, 1998, by and among the
Company, the Chase Manhattan Bank and other Lenders party thereto (the "Credit
Agreement"). The Credit Agreement was amended in connection with the
acquisition of Mercer to create a $75.0 million term loan facility in addition
to the Company's existing $50.0 million revolving loan facility.
Mercer is a closed die forging company, specializing in press
forgings, and also has a machining operation. Mercer serves truck, railroad,
construction and other industrial customers. Mercer will operate as a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company out of its facilities in Mercer, Pennsylvania
and will continue to operate under its current management team.
As a consequence of this acquisition, the Company acquired
certain real property and leasehold interests described below as well as the
related plant and equipment assets of Mercer. In addition to the properties
listed below, Mercer leases small storage spaces in various locations for books
and records and some inventory. The Company currently has no plans to alter the
existing usage of these properties.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LOCATION USE OWNED OR LEASED APPROXIMATE AREA
- ---------------- -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
200 Brown Street Manufacturing Owned 14.97 acres improved
Mercer, PA 16137 facilities, by various buildings
warehousing and of approximately
office space 120-130,000 sq. ft.
100 First Street Manufacturing, Leased pursuant to 18,000 sq. feet on
Borough of machining and office lease expiring 2.49 acres of land
Wheatland space October 1999.
Mercer, PA 16161
</TABLE>
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On March 30, 1998, the Company completed its acquisition of
Deeter Foundry, Inc., a Nebraska corporation ("Deeter"). Pursuant to the
transaction, the Company purchased 100% of the capital stock of Deeter from
Deeter management, and then current and former directors and officers of Deeter,
for aggregate consideration of $24.3 million in cash and notes. The cash portion
of the transaction was financed out of cash on hand of the Company. Deeter is a
gray iron foundry, specializing in iron castings for the municipal market.
Deeter is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and will be operated as a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company under the direction of the Company's management.
Based on the provisions of Regulation S-X Rule 3-05(b)(2) and the definition of
"significant subsidiary" contained in Rule 1-02(w), Deeter is not deemed to
be a significant subsidiary.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
AND EXHIBITS
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired.
Audited financial statements for Mercer are not
available at this time, and will be filed in an
amendment to this 8-K within 60 days of the date
hereof.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information
The pro forma financial information for the Company
and Mercer is not available at this time, and will
be filed in an amendment to this 8-K within 60 days
of the date hereof.
(c) Exhibits
2.1 Stock Purchase Agreement for the acquisition
of Mercer dated as of April 3, 1998 by and
among Neenah Foundry Company, Mercer Forge
Corporation and the Selling Shareholders of
Mercer.
10.1 Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997
as Amended and Restated as of September 12,
1997 and as of April 3, 1998 by and among
Neenah Foundry Company, NFC Castings, Inc.,
the Chase Manhattan Bank as Administrative
Agent, Chase Securities Inc. as Arranger and
the other Lenders from time to time party
thereto.
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SIGNATURES
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 hereunto duly authorized.
NEENAH FOUNDRY COMPANY
NEENAH TRANSPORT, INC.
HARTLEY CONTROLS CORPORATION
April 14, 1998 By: /s/ Gary W. LaChey
-----------------------------
Name: Gary W. LaChey
Title: Vice President-
Finance, Secretary
and Treasurer
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EXHIBIT 2.1
CONFORMED COPY
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STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
By and Among
MERCER FORGE CORPORATION
and
THE STOCKHOLDERS OF MERCER FORGE CORPORATION
LISTED ON ANNEX I HERETO,
as Sellers
and
NEENAH FOUNDRY COMPANY,
as Buyer
April 3, 1998
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CONFORMED COPY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION.........................................1
Section 1.1 Certain Defined Terms.............................1
Section 1.2 Interpretation....................................7
Section 1.3 Accounting Conventions............................7
Section 1.4 Business Days.....................................8
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF STOCK: CLOSING.................................8
Section 2.1 Transfer of Stock.................................8
Section 2.2 Closing...........................................8
Section 2.3 Consideration for Stock...........................8
Section 2.4 Closing Deliveries by Sellers.....................8
Section 2.5 Closing Deliveries by Buyer.......................9
Section 2.6 Real Estate Matters to be Addressed at Closing....9
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDERS...................................10
Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties of the
Sellers Concerning the Transaction...............10
Section 3.2 Representations and Warranties Concerning
the Company and Its Subsidiaries.................11
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER............................30
Section 4.1 Organization of Buyer............................30
Section 4.2 Authorization; Validity..........................30
Section 4.3 No Conflict or Violation.........................30
Section 4.4 Consents and Approvals...........................31
Section 4.5 No Brokers.......................................31
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE SELLERS AND COMPANY...............................31
Section 5.1 Access to Information and Records................31
Section 5.2 Conduct of Business..............................32
Section 5.3 Preservation of Business.........................32
Section 5.4 Notice of Events.................................33
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Section 5.5 Exclusivity......................................33
Section 5.6 Non-Competition; Non-Interference;
Non-Solicitation.................................33
Section 5.7 Consents and Best Efforts........................37
Section 5.8 Public Announcements.............................37
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION........................................................38
Section 6.1 Termination......................................38
Section 6.2 Effect of Termination............................38
Section 6.3 Amendments.......................................39
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO SELLER'S OBLIGATIONS.................................39
Section 7.1 Representations, Warranties and Covenants........39
Section 7.2 No Injunction....................................39
Section 7.3 Opinion of Counsel...............................39
Section 7.4 Payments.........................................39
Section 7.5 Certificates.....................................39
Section 7.6 HSR Act Waiting Period...........................39
Section 7.7 Documents to be Delivered by Buyer...............39
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO BUYER'S OBLIGATIONS..................................40
Section 8.1 Representations, Warranties and Covenants........40
Section 8.2 Consents; Releases...............................40
Section 8.3 No Injunction....................................41
Section 8.4 HSR Act Waiting Period...........................41
Section 8.5 No Material Adverse Effect.......................41
Section 8.6 Funded Debt......................................41
Section 8.7 Stockholders Approval............................41
Section 8.8 Documents to be Delivered by Company.............41
Section 8.9 Absence of Litigation............................43
Section 8.10 Management Arrangements..........................43
Section 8.11 Real Property....................................43
Section 8.12 Financing........................................43
Section 8.13 All Proceedings To be Satisfactory...............43
Section 8.14 Tax Sharing Agreements...........................43
ARTICLE IX
POST-CLOSING COVENANTS.............................................43
Section 9.1 Further Assurances...............................43
Section 9.2 Tax Matters......................................43
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Section 9.3 Non-Solicitation; Non-Compete....................45
Section 9.4 Employees; Employee Benefit Plans................45
Section 9.5 Transition.......................................48
Section 9.6 Confidentiality..................................48
Section 9.7 Retroactive Insurance Premium Decreases..........48
Section 9.8 Kchikian Lease Agreements; Kchikian Employment
Agreement........................................48
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION....................................................49
Section 10.1 Survival, Representations and Warranties.........49
Section 10.2 Indemnification Obligation of Sellers............50
Section 10.3 Indemnification Obligation of Buyer..............52
Section 10.4 Indemnification Procedures.......................52
Section 10.5 Payment..........................................54
Section 10.6 Adjustment to Indemnities........................55
Section 10.7 No Contribution..................................56
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS......................................................56
Section 11.1 Assignment.......................................56
Section 11.2 Notices..........................................56
Section 11.3 Choice of Law....................................58
Section 11.4 Entire Agreement; Amendments and Waivers.........58
Section 11.5 Counterparts.....................................58
Section 11.6 Invalidity.......................................58
Section 11.7 Headings.........................................58
Section 11.8 Expenses.........................................59
Section 11.9 Specific Performance.............................59
Section 11.10 Waiver of Jury Trial.............................59
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Annexes and Exhibits
Annex I - Stockholders
Exhibit A - Financial Statements
Exhibit B - Consent of Board of Directors
Exhibit C - Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis
Exhibit D - Opinion of Seller's Counsel
Exhibit E - Transition Services
Exhibit F - Assignment Agreement
Disclosure Schedule
Section 3.1(c) - Share Ownership
Section 3.2(a) - Directors and Officers
Section 3.2(b) - Capitalization
Section 3.2(c) - Filings and Approvals
Section 3.2(e) - Title to Assets
Section 3.2(f) - Subsidiaries
Section 3.2(h) - Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End
Section 3.2(k) - Tax Matters
Section 3.2(l)(i) - Owned Property
Section 3.2(l)(ii)(a) - Leases
Section 3.2(l)(ii)(b) - Lease Consents
Section 3.2(m) - Proprietary Rights
Section 3.2(o) - Inventory
Section 3.2(p) - Contracts
Section 3.2(r) - Insurance
Section 3.2(s) - Litigation
Section 3.2(t) - Product Warranty Provisions
Section 3.2(w) - Employee Benefit Plans
Section 3.2(x) - Environmental Matters
Section 3.2(y) - Transactions with Affiliates
Section 3.2(z) - Funded Debt
Section 4.4 - Buyer's Consents and Approvals
Section 5.7 - Sellers' Consents and Approvals
Section 8.2 - Consents and Releases
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STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), dated as of April 3,
1998, by and among MERCER FORGE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), the stockholders of the Company listed on Annex I hereto (the
"Stockholders" or "Sellers"), and NEENAH FOUNDRY COMPANY, a Wisconsin
corporation (the "Buyer"). The Sellers, the Company and the Buyers are referred
to collectively herein as the "Parties".
WHEREAS, Sellers own 625 shares of common stock of the
Company, par value $1.00 per share (the "Stock"), constituting all of the issued
and outstanding capital stock of the Company; and
WHEREAS, Buyer desires to purchase from Sellers, and Sellers
desire to sell, transfer and convey to Buyer, the Stock, all subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1 Certain Defined Terms. As used herein, the terms
below shall have the following meanings:
"Adjustment Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section
10.4(e).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person who directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls,
is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term
"control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the
terms "controlled" and "controlling" have meanings correlative thereto.
"Affiliated Group" means any affiliated group within the
meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code or any similar group defined under a
similar provision of state, local or foreign law.
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"Balance Sheet" means the consolidated balance sheet of the
Company as at November 30, 1996, together with the notes thereon reviewed by
KPMG Peat Marwick, previously delivered to Buyer and attached hereto as part of
Exhibit A.
"Balance Sheet Date" shall mean November 30, 1996.
"Base Rate" means the prime lending rate announced from time
to time by the Chase Manhattan Bank.
"Benefit Arrangement" means any employment, consulting,
severance or other similar contract, arrangement or policy and each plan,
arrangement, program, agreement or commitment providing for insurance coverage
(including any self-insured arrangements), workers' compensation, disability
benefits, retirement benefits, life, health, disability or accident benefits
(including, without limitation, any "voluntary employees' beneficiary
association" as defined in Section 501(c)(9) of the Code providing for the same
or other benefits) or for deferred compensation, profit-sharing, bonuses, stock
options, stock appreciation rights, stock purchases or other forms of incentive
compensation or post-retirement insurance, compensation or benefits which (A) is
not an Employee Welfare Benefit Plan, an Employee Pension Benefit Plan or
Multiemployer Plan, (B) is maintained or contributed to by or required to be
maintained or contributed to by the Company or any Subsidiary, or (C) covers any
current or former employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.
"Cash Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.3.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.
"Company Proprietary Rights" shall mean all Proprietary Rights
owned or used by the Company, along with all income, royalties, damages and
payments due or payable at the Closing or thereafter (including, without
limitation, damages and payments for past and future infringements or
misappropriation thereof), the right to sue and recover for past infringement or
misappropriation thereof, and all corresponding rights that, now or hereafter,
may be secured throughout the world and all copies and tangible embodiments of
any such Proprietary Rights.
"Confidential Information" means any information concerning
the businesses and affairs of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries that is
not already generally available to the public (including, technology, methods of
doing business, supplier and customer information, and financial information).
"Consolidated EBITDA" means the aggregate EBITDA of the
Company and its Subsidiaries during the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998.
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"Controlled Group" has the meaning set forth in Section 1563
of the Code.
"Covered Activities" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6.
"Covered Person" means each of Francesco Galesi and David
Buicko.
"Disclosure Schedule" means the disclosure schedule delivered
by the Company and the Sellers to the Buyer on the date hereof and initialed by
the Parties. The Disclosure Schedule will be arranged in paragraphs
corresponding to the lettered and numbered paragraphs contained in this
Agreement.
"EBITDA" means for any fiscal period the consolidated net
income (or loss) of any Person (after eliminating all extraordinary or
non-recurring items of income or loss), as reflected in such Person's financial
statements for such period, plus to the extent deducted in computing such
consolidated net income (or loss) (i) interest and other expense in respect of
indebtedness for borrowed money and similar expense in respect of capitalized
leases, charged, accrued or otherwise allocated against such net income (or
loss), plus (ii) expenses for income taxes (whether paid, accrued or deferred)
charged or otherwise allocated against such net income, plus (iii) depreciation
and amortization of any assets or other non-cash charges (including, without
limitation, any depreciation, amortization or writeoff of intangible assets,
transaction costs or goodwill) charged, allocated or otherwise accrued against
such net income (or loss), plus, (iv) without duplication, expenses attributable
to investment banking or consulting fees or intercompany lease fees paid or
payable and charged, accrued or otherwise allocated against such net income, in
each case, excluding any such interest, depreciation, amortization costs and
expenses previously taken into account in determining EBITDA during any period
preceding such period, all as determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, consistently applied.
"Employee Benefit Plans" shall mean all Benefit Arrangements
(other than Multiemployer Plans), Employee Pension Benefit Plans and Employee
Welfare Benefit Plans.
"Employee Pension Benefit Plan" shall mean any "employee
pension benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) (A) which the Company maintains or contributes to, or (B)
which covers any current or former employee of the Company.
"Employee Welfare Benefit Plan" shall mean any "employee
welfare benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA (other than a
Multiemployer Plan), (A) which any Seller or the Company maintains or
contributes to, or (B) which covers any current or former employee of the
Company.
"Encumbrances" has the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).
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"Environmental, Health, and Safety Laws" shall mean all
federal, state, local and foreign statutes, regulations, ordinances and other
provisions having the force or effect of law, all judicial and administrative
orders and determinations, all contractual obligations and all common law
concerning public health and safety, worker health and safety, and pollution or
protection of the environment, including without limitation all those relating
to the presence, use, production, generation, handling, transportation,
treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, labeling, testing, processing,
discharge, release, threatened release, control, or cleanup of any hazardous
materials, substances or wastes, chemical substances or mixtures, pesticides,
pollutants, contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum products or byproducts,
asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, noise or radiation, each as amended.
"ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended.
"Escrow Agent" means The Chase Manhattan Bank.
"Escrow Agreement" means the Escrow Agreement dated as of the
Closing Date by and among the Buyer, the Sellers and the Escrow Agent.
"Fiduciary" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(21) of
ERISA.
"Financeable Leasehold" has the meaning specified in Section
2.6(a).
"Financial Statements" has the meaning specified in Section
3.2(g).
"Funded Debt" of the Company or any Subsidiary, shall mean,
without duplication, all obligations under indebtedness for borrowed money
(including, without limitation, principal, interest, overdrafts, penalties,
premiums, fees, expenses, indemnities and breakage costs), all obligations under
capital leases, notes payable, guaranties and drafts accepted representing
extensions of credit.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles as in
effect in the United States on the date of this Agreement, as applied by the
Company on a consistent basis.
"HSR Act" shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
"Income Taxes" shall mean taxes measured by or with reference
to net income imposed by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental
taxing authority, including additions to tax and penalties related to such
taxes, and interest on such taxes and on such additions to tax and penalties.
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"Knowledge" means any fact or information which is actually
known or reasonably should be known by Mark Clark, James Ackerman, or David
Buicko, after due investigation.
"Lender" means the Buyer's senior lender (determined as of the
close of business on the Closing Date).
"Lease Property" has the meaning specified in Section
3.2(l)(ii).
"Leases" has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(l)(ii).
"Lien" shall mean any claim, lien, pledge, option, charge,
security interest, mortgage, right-of-way, encumbrance or other right of any
third party.
"Losses" means any claims, liabilities, losses, damages
(including consequential damages and damages for lost profits; provided,
however, that any and all claims against any or all of the Sellers for
consequential damages or damages for lost profits shall be restricted to, and
only to, claims for the breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement for which Buyer Indemnitees have a right to indemnification under
Article X that have the effect of causing a shortfall (a "Consolidated EBITDA
Shortfall") of the Consolidated EBITDA below $7,500,000 and, provided, further,
that the amount of any award of consequential damages or damages for lost
profits in respect of any such claim shall equal the product of (x) the amount
of the Consolidated EBITDA Shortfall in respect of such claim and (y) six (6)),
deficiencies, assessments, judgments, remediations and costs or expenses
(including reasonable attorney's, consultants', and experts' fees and expenses).
"Material Adverse Effect" has the meaning specified in Section
3.2(c).
"Measurement Date" has the meaning specified in Section
10.4(e).
"Minimum Working Capital" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.2(b)(ii).
"Most Recent Balance Sheet" has the meaning specified in
Section 3.2(g).
"Most Recent Financial Statements" has the meaning specified
in Section 3.2(g).
"Multiemployer Plan" shall mean any "multiemployer plan," as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, (A) which any Seller or the Company
maintains or contributes to, or (B) which covers any current or former employee
of the Company.
"Ordinary Course of Business" means the ordinary course of
business consistent with past custom and practice (including with respect to
quantity and frequency).
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"PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation,
limited liability company, joint stock company, unincorporated organization or
association, trust, joint venture, association or other organization, whether or
not a legal entity, or a governmental authority.
"Pre-Closing Period" shall mean any taxable period ending on
or before the Closing Date.
"Prohibited Transaction" has the meaning set forth in Section
406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code.
"Proprietary Rights" shall mean all (i) patents, patent
applications, patent disclosure and inventions (whether patentable or
unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), (ii) trademarks, service
marks, trade dress, trade names, logos, slogans, corporate names and Internet
domain names, and registrations and applications for registration thereof,
together with all of the goodwill associated therewith, (iii) copyrights and
copyrightable works, and registrations and applications for registration
thereof, (iv) computer software, data bases and documentation, and (v) trade
secrets and other confidential information (including ideas, formulae and
compositions), know-how, processes, techniques, research and development
information, drawings, specifications, designs, plans, proposals, data,
financial, business and marketing plans and customer and supplier lists and
information.
"Real Property" has the meaning specified in Section
3.2(l)(ii).
"Restricted Period" has the meaning specified in Section
5.6(a)(i).
"Restrictive Covenants" has the meaning specified in Section
5.6(b).
"Rotterdam" means Rotterdam Ventures, Inc., a New York
corporation, and one of the Sellers.
"Security Interest" shall mean any mortgage, pledge, lien,
encumbrance, charge, or other security interest, other than (a) mechanic's,
materialmen's, and similar liens, (b) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or
for Taxes that the taxpayer is contesting in good faith through appropriate
proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established on the Most
Recent Financial Statements, (c) purchase money liens and liens securing rental
payments under capital lease arrangements, and (d) other liens arising in the
ordinary course of business and not incurred in connection with the borrowing of
money.
"Stockholder Representative" has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.9.
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"Subsidiary" means any Person with respect to which the
Company or another specified Person (or a Subsidiary thereof) owns a majority of
the common stock of such Person or has the power to vote or direct the voting of
sufficient securities to elect a majority of the directors or similar governing
body of such Person.
"Tax" shall mean any federal, state, local, or foreign income,
gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp,
occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental (including taxes under
Section 59A of the Code), customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits,
withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real
property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added,
alternative or add-on minimum, estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever,
including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not,
and any amounts payable pursuant to the determination or settlement of an audit.
"Tax Return" shall mean any return, declaration, report, claim
for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any
schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
"Title Company" has the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).
"Working Capital" means, as of the date of determination, an
amount equal to the consolidated current assets of the Company , less the
consolidated current liabilities of the Company, in each case determined in
accordance with GAAP, applied in a manner consistent with the preparation of the
Financial Statements, except that amounts in respect of (i) Taxes and (ii)
intercompany receivables and payables shall not be included in the determination
of current assets or current liabilities.
Section 1.2 Interpretation. Unless otherwise indicated to the
contrary herein by the context or use thereof: (i) the words, "herein,"
"hereto," "hereof" and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular Section or paragraph hereof; (ii) the word
"including" means "including, but not limited to"; (iii) masculine gender shall
also include the feminine and neutral genders, and vice versa; and (iv) words
importing the singular shall also include the plural, and vice versa.
Section 1.3 Accounting Conventions. Each accounting term used
herein shall have the meaning that is applied thereto in accordance with GAAP
and each account included in the Closing Date Balance Sheet shall be calculated
in accordance with GAAP and shall be consistent with the books and records of
the Company; provided, that all known arithmetic errors shall be taken into
account in the calculation of each account set forth above, regardless of their
materiality. With respect to the calculation of the levels of the accounts set
forth above, no change in accounting principles shall be made from those
utilized in preparing the Financial Statements, including, with respect to the
nature or classification of accounts, closing proceedings,
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levels of reserves or levels of accruals other than as a result of objective
changes in the underlying business. For purposes of the preceding sentence,
"changes in accounting principles" includes all changes in accounting
principles, policies, practices, procedures or methodologies with respect to
financial statements, their classification or their display, as well as all
changes in practices, methods, conventions or assumptions utilized in making
accounting estimates.
Section 1.4 Business Days. Whenever the last day for the
exercise of any privilege or the discharge of any duty hereunder shall fall upon
any day which is not a business day, the party having such privilege or duty may
exercise such privilege or discharge such duty on the next succeeding business
day.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF STOCK: CLOSING
Section 2.1 Transfer of Stock. Upon the terms and subject to
the conditions contained herein, Sellers shall sell, convey, transfer, assign
and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer shall acquire and in reliance upon the
representations, warranties and covenants contained herein, at the Closing, the
Stock.
Section 2.2 Closing. The closing of the transactions
contemplated herein shall be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on the later of (i)
March 31, 1998, and (ii) three (3) business days after the satisfaction or
waiver of all conditions to closing contained in Articles VII and VIII, (the
"Closing" or the "Closing Date"), at the offices of Kirkland & Ellis, 153 East
53rd Street, New York, NY, or such other time and/or place as the parties hereto
otherwise agree.
Section 2.3 Consideration for Stock. Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions contained herein, as consideration for the purchase of
the Stock, Buyer shall pay to Sellers, in the aggregate, the amount of forty-six
million eight hundred ninety-nine thousand seven hundred nineteen and 42/100
dollars ($46,899,719.42) (the "Purchase Price") as the same may be reduced as
described below, (a) by depositing or causing to be deposited with the Escrow
Agent by wire transfer of immediately available funds, $3,000,000 of the
Purchase Price (the "Escrow Deposit") to be held by the Escrow Agent in
accordance with Section 10.2 of this Agreement and in accordance with the Escrow
Agreement and (b) by tendering to Sellers, by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the accounts and in the amounts designated by Sellers not
less than five (5) business days prior to Closing, an aggregate amount equal to
$43,899,719.42, less the amount of any Funded Debt outstanding as of the close
of business on March 31, 1998, or in the event the Closing shall not have
occurred on or prior to April 3, 1998, as of the close of business on the
Closing Date (the "Cash Purchase Price").
Section 2.4 Closing Deliveries by Sellers. To effect the
transfer referred to in Section 2.1 hereof and the delivery of the consideration
described in Section 2.3 hereof, Sellers shall, on the Closing Date, deliver the
following:
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(a) Sellers shall cause to be delivered to Buyer
certificates evidencing the Stock, free and clear of any and all Liens
duly endorsed in blank for transfer or accompanied by stock powers duly
executed in blank;
(b) Sellers shall have delivered to Buyer all
consents, approvals, releases, and waivers from governmental
authorities and other third parties required or necessary as a result
of the transactions contemplated hereby all of which are set forth in
Section 3.2(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, reasonably satisfactory in
form and substance to Buyer and its counsel;
(c) Sellers shall have delivered all other documents
required to be delivered pursuant to Article VIII hereof not
specifically mentioned above in this Section; and
(d) All instruments and documents executed and
delivered to Buyer pursuant hereto shall be in form and substance, and
shall be executed in a manner, reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and its
counsel.
Section 2.5 Closing Deliveries by Buyer. To effect the
transfer referred to in Section 2.1 hereof and the delivery of the consideration
described in Section 2.3 hereof, Buyer shall, on the Closing Date, deliver the
following:
(a) Buyer shall have tendered to Sellers the Cash
Purchase Price, as the same may be adjusted pursuant to Section 2.3, by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account of which
Sellers shall have given notice to Buyer hereunder not later than five
(5) business days prior to the Closing Date;
(b) Buyer shall have tendered to the Escrow Agent the
Escrow Deposit;
(c) Buyer shall have tendered all other documents
required to be delivered pursuant to Article VII hereof and not
specifically mentioned above in this Section; and
(d) All instruments and documents executed and
delivered to Sellers pursuant hereto shall be in form and substance,
and shall be executed in a manner, reasonably satisfactory to Sellers
and their counsel.
Section 2.6 Real Estate Matters to be Addressed at Closing.
(a) At the Closing, a title insurance company
selected by Buyer (the "Title Company") shall have delivered policies
of title insurance, issued at standard rates, insuring the Company's or
the applicable Subsidiary's marketable title in and to the
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Owned Property in fee simple, the Company's or the applicable
Subsidiary's leasehold estate in any financeable Leased Property (a
"Financeable Leasehold") and Lender's mortgage lien on the Owned
Property free and clear of all Liens, encroachments, encumbrances or
other defects in title (collectively, "Encumbrances") other than the
matters disclosed in Section 3.2(l)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule,
including such endorsements and affirmative coverages as Buyer and the
Lender shall reasonably require (including without limitation
non-imputation endorsements). Sellers shall provide all such
affidavits, indemnities and other such information as the title company
reasonably shall require in order to afford such coverage. Buyer shall
bear the cost of obtaining such title insurance.
(b) Buyer shall have obtained a survey of each Owned
Property and each Leased Property to which the Company or any
Subsidiary holds a Financeable Leasehold conforming to the Minimum
Standard Detail Requirements jointly established and approved in 1992
by ALTA and ACSM, certified to the Buyer, Lender, Title Company and the
Company or the applicable Subsidiary, showing Encumbrances other than
the matters disclosed in Section 3.2(l)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule.
Buyer shall bear the cost of obtaining such surveys.
(c) Buyer shall have received, or with respect to
clause (i) of this paragraph, Sellers shall use commercially reasonably
efforts to deliver to Buyer (i) from each landlord under a Lease an
estoppel, (ii) from each landlord under a Lease described in Section
3.2(l)(ii)(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, a consent to the transactions
contemplated by this agreement and (iii) from each mortgagee and ground
lessor of any Leased Property a nondisturbance agreement, in each case
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and Lender.
Lender shall receive from each landlord under a Lease designated by
Lender an agreement regarding the subordination to Lender of such
landlord's lien against personal property on the applicable Leased
Property and such other matters as Lender shall have reasonably
required.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDERS
Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Sellers
Concerning the Transaction. Each of the Sellers represents and warrants to the
Buyer that the statements contained in this Section 3.1 are correct and complete
as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and complete as of the
Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing Date were
substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this Section 3.1) with
respect to himself, herself or itself, except as set forth in Annex I attached
hereto.
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(a) Authorization of Transaction. The Seller has full
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
perform his, her or its obligations hereunder. This Agreement
constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Seller,
enforceable in accordance with its terms and conditions. The Seller
need not give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any
authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental
agency in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(b) Brokers' Fees. Neither the Company nor the Buyer
has or will have any liability or otherwise suffer or incur any loss as
a result of or in connection with any brokerage or finder's fee or
other commission of any person retained by or on behalf of the Company
or any Seller in connection with any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
(c) Company Shares. All of the shares of capital
stock of the Company are held of record and owned beneficially as set
forth in Section 3.1(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, free and clear of
any restrictions on transfer (other than any restrictions under the
Securities Act and state securities laws), Taxes, options, warrants,
purchase rights, contracts, commitments, equities, claims, and demands.
Section 3.2 Representations and Warranties Concerning the
Company and Its Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and the Sellers represents and
warrants to the Buyer that the statements contained in this Section 3.2 are
correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and
complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing
Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this Section
3.2).
(a) Organization, Qualification, and Corporate Power.
Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries is duly authorized to conduct business and is in good
standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where such qualification
is required, except where the lack of such qualification would not have
a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or
otherwise), operations, results of operations, or future prospects of
the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has full corporate power and authority to carry on the
businesses in which it is engaged and to own and use the properties
owned and used by it. Section 3.2(a) of the Disclosure Schedule lists
the directors and officers of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(b) Capitalization.
(i) The entire authorized capital stock of
the Company consists of 1,000 shares of common stock, of which
625 shares of common stock are
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issued and outstanding and all of which together represent the
Stock. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Stock have
been duly authorized, are validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable, and are held of record free and clear of all
Liens, claims, encumbrances and restrictions whatsoever (other
than any restrictions under the Securities Act and state
securities laws) by the respective Sellers in the amounts set
forth opposite their names in Section 3.2(b) of the Disclosure
Schedule. No shares of the Company's capital stock are
reserved for issuance or are held as treasury shares. Except
as set forth in Section 3.2(b) of the Disclosure Schedule,
there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants,
purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights,
exchange rights, or other commitments that could require the
Company to issue, sell, or otherwise cause to become
outstanding any of its capital stock, nor are there
outstanding or authorized any stock appreciation rights,
phantom stock, or similar rights or instruments. There is no
action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge,
complaint, demand or notice pending, or to the Knowledge of
the Company or any Seller, threatened by any present or former
shareholder of the Company with respect to the Company's
capital stock, nor do any facts exist which could form the
basis for any such claim.
(ii) As of the close of business on March
31, 1998, or in the event the Closing shall not have occurred
on or prior to April 3, 1998, as of the close of business on
the Closing Date, the Working Capital of the Company shall be
at least $5,400,000 ("Minimum Working Capital").
(c) Noncontravention. Neither the execution and the
delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, will (i) violate any constitution, statute,
regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, or other restriction of any
government, governmental agency, or court to which any of the Company
and its Subsidiaries is subject or any provision of the charter or
bylaws of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (ii) conflict
with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the
acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate,
terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any notice under any
agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other arrangement
to which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a party or by which
it is bound or to which any of its assets is subject (or result in the
imposition of any Lien upon any of its assets), except where the
violation, conflict, breach, default, acceleration, termination,
modification, cancellation, failure to give notice, or Security
Interest would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
condition (financial or otherwise), operations, results of operations,
or future prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or on the ability of the Parties to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (a "Material Adverse Effect"). Except as
set forth in Section 3.2(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries needs to obtain any authorization,
consent, or approval of, or make any
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declaration, filing or registration with, any government or
governmental agency or regulatory authority in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except where the
failure to obtain such authorizations, consents, approvals,
declarations, filings or registrations would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(d) Brokers' Fees. The Company and any of its
Subsidiaries do not have and will not have any liability or otherwise
suffer or incur any loss as a result of or in connection with any
brokerage or finder's fee or other commission of any person retained by
or on behalf of the Company or any Seller in connection with any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) Title to Assets; Sufficiency. Except as set forth
on Section 3.2(e)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company and its
Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold
interest in, the properties and assets used by them or otherwise
necessary to conduct their business, located on their premises, or
shown on the Most Recent Balance Sheet or acquired after the date
thereof, free and clear of all Security Interests, except for
properties and assets disposed of in the Ordinary Course of Business
since the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet. Except as set forth in
Section 3.2(e)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule, the assets currently
owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries, or leased or licensed by the
Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to a valid and enforceable license
or lease agreement, entered into in the ordinary course of business or
otherwise disclosed to Buyer constitute all of the assets necessary to
conduct the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance
with past practices as of the Most Recent Fiscal Month End and as of
the date hereof.
(f) Subsidiaries. Section 3.2(f) of the Disclosure
Schedule sets forth for each Subsidiary of the Company (i) its name and
jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii) the number of shares of authorized
capital stock of each class of its capital stock, (iii) the number of
issued and outstanding shares of each class of its capital stock, the
names of the holders thereof, and the number of shares held by each
such holder, and (iv) the number of shares of its capital stock held in
treasury. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of
each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully
paid, and nonassessable. The Company owns all of the issued and
outstanding shares of Capital Stock in each of its Subsidiaries owned
free and clear of any restrictions on transfer (other than restrictions
under the Securities Act and state securities laws), Taxes, Security
Interests, options, warrants, purchase rights, contracts, commitments,
equities, claims, and demands. There are no outstanding or authorized
options, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion
rights, exchange rights, or other contracts or commitments that could
require any of the Company or its Subsidiaries to sell, transfer, or
otherwise dispose of any capital stock of any of its Subsidiaries or
that could require any Subsidiary of the Company to issue, sell, or
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otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its own capital stock, nor
any stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, or similar rights or
instruments. There are no voting trusts, proxies, or other agreements
or understandings with respect to the voting of any capital stock of
any Subsidiary of the Company.
(g) Financial Statements. Attached hereto as Exhibit
A are the following financial statements (collectively the "Financial
Statements"): (i) reviewed consolidated balance sheets and statements
of income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flow as of and for
the fiscal years ended November 30, 1994, 1995, and 1996 (the "Most
Recent Fiscal Year End") for the Company and its Subsidiaries; and (ii)
unaudited internal consolidated balance sheet (the "Most Recent Balance
Sheet") and statement of income, changes in stockholders' equity, and
cash flow (the "Most Recent Financial Statements") as of and for the
period ended November 30, 1997 (the "Most Recent Fiscal Month End") for
the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Financial Statements (including
the notes thereto) have been prepared from the books and records of the
Company, are correct and complete, have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered
thereby and present fairly the financial condition of the Company and
its Subsidiaries as of such dates and the results of operations of the
Company and its Subsidiary for such periods; provided, however, that
the Most Recent Financial Statements are subject to normal year-end
adjustments (which will not be material individually or in the
aggregate) and lack footnotes and other presentation items.
(h) Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End.
Since the Most Recent Fiscal Year End, there has not been any material
adverse change in the business, condition (financial or otherwise),
operations, results of operations, or future prospects of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, except as set forth on Schedule 3.2(h) since that
date neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has:
(i) sold, leased, transferred, or assigned any
material assets, tangible or intangible, outside the Ordinary
Course of Business;
(ii) entered into any material agreement,
contract, lease, or license (or series of related agreements,
contracts, leases or licenses) involving more than $50,000,
nor modified the terms of any such existing contract or
agreement, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(iii) (nor has any other party thereto)
accelerated, terminated, made material modifications to, or
canceled any material agreement, contract, lease, or license
to which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a party
or by which any of them is bound;
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(iv) other than with respect to the cancellation
of Affiliate receivables and payables at or prior to Closing
in accordance with the proviso in Section 5.2, engaged in any
activity which has resulted in any acceleration or delay of
the collection of its accounts or notes receivable or any
delay in the payment of its accounts payable;
(v) made any capital expenditures in an amount in
excess of $50,000 individually or in the aggregate, other
than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(vi) imposed any Security Interest upon any of
its assets, tangible or intangible;
(vii) made any equity or debt investment in, or
any loan to, any other Person in an amount in excess of
$50,000 individually or in the aggregate;
(viii) created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed
more than $50,000 in aggregate indebtedness for borrowed
money and capitalized lease obligations;
(ix) granted any license or sublicense of any
material rights under allowed to lapse, disposed of or
otherwise experienced any material adverse change with
respect to any Company Proprietary Rights;
(x) made or authorized any change in the charter
or bylaws of any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(xi) issued, sold, or otherwise disposed of any
of its capital stock, or granted any options, warrants, or
other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon
conversion, exchange, or exercise) any of its capital stock;
(xii) declared, set aside, or paid any dividend
or made any distribution with respect to its capital stock
(whether in cash or in kind) or redeemed, purchased, or
otherwise acquired any of its capital stock, other than any
such dividend or distribution by any of its Subsidiaries to
the Company;
(xiii) experienced any material damage,
destruction, or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to
its property;
(xiv) made any loan to, or entered into any other
transaction with, any of its directors, officers, and
employees, other than employment arrangements entered into in
the Ordinary Course of Business;
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(xv) experienced any material changes in the
amount or scope of coverage of insurance now carried by them;
(xvi) made or been subject to any change in its
accounting practices, procedures or methods or in its cash
management practices;
(xvii) entered into any employment contract or
collective bargaining agreement, written or oral, or modified
the terms of any existing such contract or agreement;
(xviii) except as required or contemplated on or
prior to Closing pursuant to Section 9.4 of this Agreement,
adopted, amended, modified, or terminated any bonus,
profit-sharing, incentive, severance, or other plan,
contract, or commitment for the benefit of any of its
directors, officers, and employees (or taken any such action
with respect to any other Employee Benefit Plan) or, other
than in the Ordinary Course of Business, granted any increase
in the base compensation of or made any other change in the
employment terms of any of its directors, officers and
employees; and
(xix) committed to do any of the foregoing.
(i) Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability (whether known or
unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or
contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or
unliquidated, and whether due or to become due, including any liability
for taxes), except for (i) liabilities set forth on the face of the
Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes thereto) and (ii)
liabilities which have arisen after the Most Recent Fiscal Month End in
the Ordinary Course of Business, none of which is a liability resulting
from, arising out of, relating to, in the nature of or caused by any
breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, claim or
lawsuit other than any such liabilities not in excess of $50,000
individually or in the aggregate.
(j) Legal Compliance. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has complied and is in compliance with all applicable laws
(including rules, regulations, codes, plans, injunctions, judgments,
orders, decrees, rulings, and charges thereunder) of federal, state,
local, and foreign governments (and all agencies thereof), and no
action, suit, grievance, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge,
complaint, claim, demand, or notice has been filed, commenced or to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened against any of them alleging any
failure so to comply, except in each case where the failure to so
comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(k) Tax Matters. Except as set forth in the
applicable subsection of Section 3.2(k) of the Disclosure Schedule:
(i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have duly
and timely filed all Tax Returns they were required to file.
All such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all
material respects. All Taxes owed by the Company or its
Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have
been timely paid. Other than as set forth in Section
3.2(k)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor
its Subsidiaries currently is the beneficiary of any
extension of time within which to file any Tax Return. The
Company and its Subsidiaries have maintained adequate
provision for, and adequate funds to pay, Taxes payable by
the Company and its Subsidiaries as of November 30, 1997 not
including deferred taxes as defined for purposes of GAAP that
do not represent a liability for taxes payable as of such
date, and such provision and funds (as adjusted for the
passage of time through the Closing Date in accordance with
the past custom and practices of the Company and its
Subsidiaries in filing their respective Tax Returns) will be
adequate for Taxes payable by the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date, other than Taxes
properly attributable to transactions occurring on the
Closing Date but after the Closing.
(ii) There is no material dispute or claim
concerning any Tax liability of any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries either (A) claimed or raised by any authority in
writing or (B) as to which any of the Sellers has Knowledge
based upon personal contact with any agent of such authority.
(iii) Section 3.2(k)(iii) of the Disclosure
Schedule lists all federal, state, local, and foreign Tax
Returns filed with respect to any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for taxable periods ended on or after November
30, 1992, that have been audited, and indicates those Tax
Returns that currently are the subject of audit. The Sellers
have delivered to the Buyer correct and complete copies of
all federal Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements
of deficiencies assessed against, or agreed to by any of the
Company and its Subsidiaries for all taxable periods for
which the applicable statute of limitations has not yet
expired. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or
agreed to any extension of time with respect to any Tax
assessment or deficiency.
(iv) neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has received, or expects to receive, from any
taxing authority any written notice of proposed adjustment,
deficiency, underpayment of Taxes or any other such notice
which has not been satisfied by payment or been withdrawn,
and no claims have
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been asserted relating to such Taxes against the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries;
(v) the Company and its Subsidiaries have
withheld and paid all required Taxes in connection with
amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent
contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other similar third
party;
(vi) neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has filed a consent to the application of
Section 341(f) of the Code;
(vii) neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries will be required, as a result of (A) a change in
accounting method for a Tax period beginning on or before the
Closing Date, to include any adjustment under Section 481(c)
of the Code (or any corresponding provision of state, local
or foreign Tax law) in taxable income for any Tax period
beginning on or after the Closing Date, or (B) any "closing
agreement," as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any
corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Tax law),
to include any item or income in or exclude any item of
deduction from any Tax period beginning on or after the
Closing Date;
(viii) neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has made any payments, is obligated to make any
payments, or is a party to any agreement that under certain
circumstances could obligate it to make any payments that
will not be deductible under Section 280G or Section 162(m)
of the Code;
(ix) no claim has been made with respect
to any taxable year of the Company or its subsidiaries for
which the applicable statute of limitations has not yet
expired by a taxing authority in a jurisdiction where neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries pays Taxes or files
Tax Returns that any such entity is or may be subject to
Taxes assessed by such jurisdiction;
(x) each of the Sellers is a United States
person as defined in Code Section 7701(a)(30);
(xi) except as set forth in Section
3.2(k)(xi) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Tax allocation
or sharing agreement; and
(xii) except as set forth in Section
3.2(k)(xii) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) has been a member of an
Affiliated Group filing a consolidated federal income Tax
Return or (B) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person
(other than the Company ) under Treas.
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Reg. Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state,
local, or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by
contract, or otherwise.
(l) Real Property.
(i) Section 3.2(l)(i) of the Disclosure
Schedule contains a legal description of each parcel of real
property owned by the Company or any Subsidiary (the "Owned
Property"). The Company or its applicable Subsidiary has good
and marketable title in and to all of the Owned Property
subject to no Encumbrances, except as described on such
section of the Disclosure Schedule.
(ii) Section 3.2(l)(ii)(a) of the
Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all leases, subleases
and other occupancy agreements, including all amendments,
extensions and other modifications (the "Leases") for real
property (the "Leased Property"; the "Owned Property" and the
"Leased Property" collectively the "Real Property") to which
the Company or any Subsidiary is the "tenant", "subtenant" or
other lessee party. The Company or its applicable Subsidiary
has a good and valid leasehold interest in and to all of the
Leased Property, subject to no Encumbrances except as
described in such section of the Disclosure Schedule. Each
Lease is in full force and effect and is enforceable in
accordance with its terms. There exists no default or
condition which, with the giving of notice, the passage of
time or both, could become a default under any Lease. Sellers
have previously delivered to Buyer true and complete copies
of all the Leases. Except as described on Section
3.2(l)(ii)(b) to the Disclosure Schedule, no consent, waiver,
approval or authorization is required from the landlord under
any Lease as a result of the execution of this Agreement or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(iii) The Real Property constitutes all of
the real property owned, leased, occupied or otherwise
utilized in connection with the business of the Company and
its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Section 3.2(l)(iii)
of the Disclosure Schedule, other than the Company and the
Subsidiaries, there are no parties in possession or parties
having any current or future right to occupy any of the Real
Property. The Real Property is sufficient and appropriate for
the conduct of the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. The Real Property and all plants, buildings and
improvements located thereon conform to all applicable
building, zoning and other laws, ordinances, rules and
regulations. All permits, licenses and other approvals
necessary to the current occupancy and use of the Real
Property have been obtained, are in full force and effect and
have not been violated. There exists no violation of any
covenant, condition, restriction, easement, agreement or
order affecting any portion of the Real Property. All
improvements located on the Real Property have direct access
to a public road
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adjoining such Real Property. No such improvements or
accessways encroach on land not included in the Real Property
and no such improvement is dependent for its access,
operation or utility on any land, building or other
improvement not included in the Real Property. There is no
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, any threatened condemnation proceeding
affecting any portion of the Real Property.
(m) Intellectual Property.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has interfered with, infringed upon,
misappropriated, or violated any material Proprietary Rights
of any third party, in any material respect, and none of the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or the Sellers has ever
received any charge, complaint, claim, demand, or notice
alleging any such interference, infringement,
misappropriation, or violation (including any claim that any
of the Company and its Subsidiaries must license or refrain
from using any Proprietary Rights of any third party). To the
Knowledge of the Company or any of the Sellers, no third
party has interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated,
or violated any material Proprietary Rights of any of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any material respect.
(ii) Section 3.2(m)(ii) of the Disclosure
Schedule identifies each patent or registration which has
been issued to any of the Company and its Subsidiaries with
respect to any of the Company Proprietary Rights, identifies
each pending patent application or application for
registration which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries
has made with respect to any of the Company Proprietary
Rights, and identifies each material license, agreement, or
other permission which any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has granted to any third party with respect to
any of the Company Proprietary Rights (together with any
exceptions). The Sellers have delivered to the Buyer correct
and complete copies of all such patents, registrations,
applications, licenses, agreements, and permissions (as
amended to date). Section 3.2(m)(ii) of the Disclosure
Schedule also identifies each material trade name or
unregistered trademark used by any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
(iii) Section 3.2(m)(iii) of the
Disclosure Schedule identifies each material item of the
Company Proprietary Rights that any third party owns and that
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries uses pursuant to
license, sublicense, agreement, or permission. The Sellers
have delivered to the Buyer correct and complete copies of
all such licenses, sublicenses, agreements, and permissions
(as amended to date). With respect to each item of the
Company Proprietary Rights required to be identified in
Section 3.2(m)(iii) of the Disclosure Schedule:
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(A) the license, sublicense,
agreement, or permission covering the item is legal,
valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and
effect in all material respects;
(B) no party to the license,
sublicense, agreement, or permission is in material
breach or default, and no event has occurred which
with notice or lapse of time would constitute a
material breach or default or permit termination,
modification, or acceleration thereunder;
(C) no party to the license,
sublicense, agreement, or permission has repudiated
any material provision thereof; and
(D) none of the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries has granted any sublicense or
similar right with respect to the license,
sublicense, agreement, or permission.
(iv) Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries own or have a license to use all Proprietary
Rights necessary for the operation of their businesses as
conducted as of the Most Recent Fiscal Year End and as
currently conducted.
(v) Except for such failures as would not
have a Material Adverse Effect, all computer systems used in
the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
recognize and shall recognize the advent of the year 2000 and
can correctly recognize and manipulate date information
relating to dates before, on or after January 1, 2000 and the
operation and functionality of such computer systems will not
be adversely affected by the advent of the year 2000 or any
manipulation of data featuring date information relating to
dates on or after January 1, 2000.
(n) Tangible Assets. The buildings, machinery,
equipment, and other tangible assets that the Company and its
Subsidiaries own and lease, have been maintained in the Ordinary Course
of Business and such tangible assets as are necessary for normal
operation of business in the ordinary course are free from material
defects (patent and latent), and are in good operating condition and
repair (subject to normal wear and tear), considering their age and
operational use.
(o) Inventory. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(o)
of the Disclosure Schedule, the inventory of the Company and its
Subsidiaries consists of raw materials, work in process, and finished
goods, all of which is or was, prior to the sale thereof, in good
condition, suitable and usable or salable in the Ordinary Course of
Business, subject only to the reserve for inventory write-down
reflected on the Most Recent Balance Sheet,
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as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in
accordance with past custom and practice.
(p) Contracts. Section 3.2(p) of the Disclosure
Schedule lists the following contracts and other agreements to which
any of the Company or its Subsidiaries is a party:
(i) any agreement (or group of related
agreements) for the consignment or lease of machinery,
equipment or other personal property to or from any Person
providing for lease payments in excess of $50,000 per annum;
(ii) any agreement (or group of related
agreements) for the purchase or sale of raw materials,
products, machinery, equipment or other personal property, or
for the furnishing or receipt of services, the performance of
which will extend over a period of more than one year or,
other than with respect to standard form purchase orders
entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business for the
purchase of raw materials or supplies, involve consideration
in excess of $50,000 per annum;
(iii) any pledge, conditional sale or
title retention agreement involving the payment of more than
$50,000 in the aggregate;
(iv) any agreement concerning a
partnership or joint venture;
(v) any agreement (or group of related
agreements) under which it has created, incurred, assumed, or
guaranteed any indebtedness for borrowed money, any mortgage,
indenture, note, bond or other agreement relating to
indebtedness incurred or provided by the Company or any of
the Subsidiaries, or any capitalized lease obligation, in
each case, in excess of $100,000 or under which it has
imposed a Security Interest on any of its assets, tangible or
intangible;
(vi) any agreement concerning
confidentiality or noncompetition with the effect of
prohibiting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from
freely engaging in any business;
(vii) any material agreement with any of
the Sellers and their Affiliates (other than the Company and
its Subsidiaries);
(viii) any profit sharing, stock option,
stock purchase, stock appreciation, deferred compensation,
severance, or other material plan or
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arrangement for the benefit of its current or former
directors, officers, or employees;
(ix) any material license, royalty or
other agreement relating to the Company Proprietary Rights;
(x) except as provided under subsection
(v) above, any agreement containing commitments of
suretyship, guarantee or indemnification (except for
guarantees, warranties and indemnities provided by the
Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business
and those having a contract value, individually or in the
aggregate of $25,000 or less);
(xi) any agreement involving a
governmental body;
(xii) any collective bargaining agreement;
(xiii) any agreement for the employment of
any individual on a full-time, part-time, consulting, or
other basis providing annual compensation in excess of
$50,000 or providing material severance benefits;
(xiv) any agreement under which the
consequences of a default or termination could have a
Material Adverse Effect;
(xv) any other agreement (or group of
related agreements) the performance of which involves
consideration in excess of $50,000; or
(xvi) any commitment to do any of the
foregoing described in clauses (i) through (xvi).
The Sellers have delivered to the Buyer a correct and complete copy of
each written agreement listed in Section 3.2(p) of the Disclosure
Schedule (as amended to date) and a written summary setting forth the
material terms and conditions of each oral agreement referred to in
Section 3.2(p) of the Disclosure Schedule. With respect to each such
agreement: (A) the agreement is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and
in full force and effect in all material respects and will continue to
be so following the Closing; (B) no party is in material breach or
default, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time
would constitute a material breach or default, or permit termination,
modification, or acceleration, under the agreement; and (C) no party
has repudiated any material provision of the agreement.
(q) Notes and Accounts Receivable. All notes
and accounts receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries are
reflected properly on their books and records, are
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valid receivables subject to no setoffs or counterclaims, are current
and collectible, subject only to the reserve for bad debts set forth on
the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes
thereto) as adjusted for operations and transactions through the
Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of the
Company and its Subsidiaries.
(r) Insurance. Section 3.2(r) of the Disclosure
Schedule sets forth the following information with respect to each
material insurance policy (including policies providing property,
casualty, liability, and workers' compensation coverage and bond and
surety arrangements) with respect to which any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries is a party, a named insured, or otherwise the beneficiary
of coverage:
(i) the name, address, and telephone
number of the agent;
(ii) the name of the insurer, the name of
the policyholder, and the name of each covered insured;
(iii) the policy number and the period of
coverage;
(iv) the scope (including an indication of
whether the coverage is on a claims made, occurrence, or
other basis) and amount (including a description of how
deductibles and ceilings are calculated and operate) of
coverage; and
(v) a description of any retroactive
premium adjustments or other material loss-sharing
arrangements.
With respect to each such insurance policy: (A) the policy is legal,
valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect in all
material respects; (B) neither the Company, its Subsidiaries, nor to
the Knowledge of the Company, any other party to the policy is in
material breach or default (including with respect to the payment of
premiums or the giving of notices), and no event has occurred which,
with notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a material
breach or default, or permit termination, modification, or
acceleration, under the policy; and (C) no party to the policy has
repudiated any material provision thereof. Section 3.2(r) of the
Disclosure Schedule describes any material self-insurance arrangements
affecting any of the Company and its Subsidiaries. All known claims, if
any, made against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries that are
covered by insurance have been disclosed to and accepted by the
appropriate insurance companies and are being defended by such
appropriate insurance companies and are described in Section 3.2(r) of
the Disclosure Schedule and, except as disclosed in Section 3.2(r) of
the Disclosure Schedule, no claims have been denied coverage during the
last three years.
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(s) Litigation. Section 3.2(s) of the Disclosure
Schedule sets forth each instance in which any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (i) is subject to any outstanding injunction, judgment,
order, decree, ruling, settlement, claim or charge or (ii) is a party
or, to the Knowledge of the Company, is threatened to be made a party
to any action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or investigation of, in, or
before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any
federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any
arbitrator, none of which, individually or in the aggregate, will have
or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(t) Product Warranty. Substantially all of the
products manufactured, sold, leased, and delivered by the Company and
its Subsidiaries have conformed in all material respects with all
applicable contractual commitments and all express and implied
warranties, and none of the Company and its Subsidiaries has any
liability (whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted,
whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether
liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become due) for
replacement or repair thereof or other damages in connection therewith,
subject only to the reserve for product warranty claims set forth on
the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes
thereto) as adjusted for operations and transactions through the
Closing Date in accordance with past custom and practice of the Company
and its Subsidiaries. Substantially all of the products manufactured,
sold, leased, and delivered by the Company and its Subsidiaries are
subject to standard terms and conditions of sale or lease. Section
3.2(t) of the Disclosure Schedule includes copies of the standard terms
and conditions of sale or lease for each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (containing applicable guaranty, warranty, and indemnity
provisions).
(u) Product Liability. None of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has any liability (whether known or unknown, whether
asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued
or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to
become due) exceeding $50,000 individually or in the aggregate arising
out of any injury to individuals or property as a result of the
ownership, possession, or use of any product manufactured, sold,
leased, or delivered by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(v) Employees. To the Knowledge of the Company, no
executive, key employee, or significant group of employees presently
plans to terminate employment with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries during the next 12 months. None of the Company and its
Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining
agreement, nor has any of them experienced any strike or claim of
unfair labor practices, material grievance, or other collective
bargaining dispute within the past three years. None of the Company and
its Subsidiaries has committed any unfair labor practice. To the
Knowledge of the Company, no organizational or decertification effort
is presently being made or threatened by, on behalf of or against any
labor union with respect to any
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employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in any plant closing or
employee layoff activities that would violate or require notification
pursuant to, the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act of
1988, as amended, or any similar state or local plant closing or mass
layoff statute, rule or regulation. The Company has satisfied or will,
prior to the Closing, satisfy any notice or bargaining obligation it
may have under any law or collective bargaining agreement to any
employee representative with respect to the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
(w) Employee Benefits.
(i) Section 3.2(w) of the Disclosure
Schedule lists each Employee Benefit Plan.
(A) Each such Employee Benefit Plan
(and each related trust, insurance contract, or fund)
complies in form and in operation in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of ERISA,
the Code, and other applicable laws.
(B) All required reports and
descriptions (including Form 5500 Annual Reports,
summary annual reports, PBGC-l's, and summary plan
descriptions) have been filed or distributed
appropriately with respect to each such Employee
Benefit Plan. The requirements of Part 6 of Subtitle
B of Title I of ERISA have been met in all material
respects with respect to each such Employee Benefit
Plan which is an Employee Welfare Benefit Plan.
(C) All contributions (including all
employer contributions and employee salary reduction
contributions) which are due from the Company or its
Controlled Group have been paid to each such Employee
Benefit Plan which is an Employee Pension Benefit
Plan and to each Multiemployer Plan and all
contributions for any period ending on or before the
Closing Date which are not yet due from the Company
or its Controlled Group have been paid to each such
Employee Pension Benefit Plan and to each
Multiemployer Plan or accrued in accordance with the
past custom and practice of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. All premiums or other payments for all
periods ending on or before the Closing Date have
been paid with respect to each such Employee Benefit
Plan which is an Employee Welfare Benefit Plan and to
each Multiemployer Plan.
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(D) Each such Employee Benefit Plan
which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan that is
intended to comply with Code Section 401(a) has
received a favorable determination letter from the
Internal Revenue Service with respect to the
requirements of the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
(E) The Sellers have delivered to
the Buyer correct and complete copies of the plan
documents and summary plan descriptions, the most
recent determination letter received from the
Internal Revenue Service, the most recent Form 5500
Annual Report, and all related trust agreements,
insurance contracts, and other funding agreements
which implement each such Employee Benefit Plan.
(ii) With respect to each Employee Benefit
Plan and each other employee benefit plan (as such term is
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that any of the Company, its
Subsidiaries, and the Controlled Group which includes the
Company and its Subsidiaries maintains or has maintained
within the last six years or to which any of them contributes,
ever has contributed, or has been required to contribute
within the last six years:
(A) There have been no Prohibited
Transactions. No Fiduciary has any liability for
material breach of fiduciary duty or any other
material failure to act or comply in connection with
administration or investment of assets. No action,
suit, proceeding, hearing, or investigation with
respect to the administration or the investment of
the assets of any employee benefit plan (other than
routine claims for benefits) is pending or, to the
Knowledge of any Seller or any director or officer of
the Company or its Subsidiaries, threatened.
(B) None of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has incurred any material liability
(whether known or unknown, whether asserted or
unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether
accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or
unliquidated, and whether due or to become due) to
the PBGC (other than PBGC premium payments) or
otherwise under Title IV of ERISA (including any
withdrawal liability) or under the Code with respect
to any such Employee Benefit Plan which is an
Employee Pension Benefit Plan.
(iii) Other than as set forth in Section
3.2(w) of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company, its
Subsidiaries, and the other members of the Controlled Group
that includes the Company and its Subsidiaries contributes to,
has contributed to within the last six years, or has been
required to contribute
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within the last six years to any Multiemployer Plan or has any
material liability (whether known or unknown, whether asserted
or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued
or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether
due or to become due), including any withdrawal liability,
under any Multiemployer Plan.
(iv) Neither the Company nor its
Subsidiaries maintains or ever has maintained or contributes,
ever has contributed, or ever has been required to contribute
to any Employee Welfare Benefit Plan providing medical,
health, or life insurance or other welfare-type benefits for
current or future retired or terminated employees, their
spouses, or their dependents (other than in accordance with
Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA).
(x) Environmental, Health, and Safety.
(i) Other than as set forth in Section
3.2(x)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule, each of the Company, its
Subsidiaries, and their respective predecessors (A) has
complied and is in compliance with all applicable
Environmental, Health, and Safety Laws in all material
respects (and no action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim, written demand, or
notice has been filed or commenced against any of them
alleging any failure to comply with or any actual or potential
liability under, Environmental, Health and Safety Laws), and
(B) has obtained and complied with and is in material
compliance with all of the terms and conditions of all
material permits, licenses, and other authorizations which are
required under the Environmental, Health, and Safety Laws.
(ii) Other than as disclosed in Section
3.2(x)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor
its Subsidiaries has liability (whether known or unknown,
whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or
contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated
or unliquidated, and whether due or to become due) under any
Environmental, Health and Safety Laws, and the Company, its
Subsidiaries, and their respective predecessors have not
handled, or disposed of, or released any substance, arranged
for the disposal of any substance, exposed any employee or
other individual to any substance or condition, or owned or
operated any property or facility in any manner that could
give rise to any material liability, for damage to any site,
location, or body of water (surface or subsurface), for any
illness of or personal injury to any employee or other
individual, or for any reason, under any Environmental,
Health, and Safety Law.
(iii) Other than as disclosed in Section
3.2(x)(iii) and except for instances that would not give rise
to a material liability, all properties and
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equipment used in the business of the Company, its
Subsidiaries, and their respective predecessors have been free
of asbestos, PCB's, petroleum, methylene chloride,
trichloroethylene, 1,2-transdichloroethylene, dioxins,
dibenzofurans, and other extremely hazardous substances.
(iv) Other than as disclosed in Section
3.2(x)(iv) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has treated, stored, disposed of,
arranged for or permitted the disposal of, transported,
handled, or released any substance, including without
limitation any hazardous substance, or owned or operated any
property or facility and, no such property or facility is
contaminated by any such substance in a manner that has given
or would give rise to material liabilities, including any
liability for necessary response costs, corrective action
costs, personal injury, property damage, natural resources
damages or attorney fees, or any investigative, corrective or
remedial obligations, pursuant to Environmental, Health and
Safety Laws (including CERCLA and RCRA).
(v) Other than as disclosed in Section
3.2(x)(iv) of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the following
exists at any Owned Property or Leased Property: (1)
underground storage tanks; (2) asbestos-containing material in
any form or condition; (3) materials or equipment containing
polychlorinated biphenyls; or (4) landfills, surface
impoundments or disposal areas, except (x) in the case of
clauses (1), (2) or (3), for such items that are in compliance
in all material respects with all applicable Environmental,
Health and Safety Laws and (y) in the case of clause (2), for
such items for which no remedial actions are necessary as of
the Closing Date to prevent any present or future material
liability.
(vi) Neither this Agreement nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
result in any obligations for site investigation or cleanup,
or notification to or consent of government agencies or third
parties, pursuant to any so-called "transaction-triggered" or
"responsible transfer" Environmental, Health and Safety Laws.
(y) Transaction With Affiliates. Except as set forth
on in Section 3.2 (y) of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company's
nor any of its Subsidiaries' shareholders, directors, officers or
employees nor any of their respective relatives or Affiliates is
involved in any material business arrangement or relationship with the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether written or oral), and none
of the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' shareholders, directors,
officers or employees nor any of their respective relatives or
Affiliates owns any material property or right, tangible or intangible,
which is used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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(z) Funded Debt. Except as set forth in Section
3.2(z) of the Disclosure Schedule neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has outstanding any Funded Debt nor is a guarantor or is
otherwise responsible for any liability or obligation (including
indebtedness) of any other Person.
(aa) Board Recommendation. The board of directors of
the Company, by unanimous written consent dated as of December 18,
1997, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B, has by unanimous
vote of the directors signing such consent (who constituted 100% of the
directors then in office) adopted resolutions to recommend that the
holders of the shares of Stock approve this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated herein.
(bb) Disclosure. The representations and warranties
contained in this Section 3.2 do not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to
make the statements and information contained in this Section 3.2 not
misleading.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer hereby represents and warrants to Company and the
Sellers as follows:
Section 4.1 Organization of Buyer. Buyer is a corporation
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Wisconsin, and has all requisite power and authority to conduct its business as
it is presently being conducted and to own and lease its properties and assets.
Section 4.2 Authorization; Validity. Buyer has all necessary
power and authority to enter into this Agreement and has taken all action
necessary (including, without limitation, authorization from its board of
advisors) to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform its
obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Buyer and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Buyer enforceable against
Buyer in accordance with its terms, except that (i) such enforcement may be
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights, and (ii) the
remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable
relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
Section 4.3 No Conflict or Violation. Neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will result in:
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(a) a violation of or a conflict with any provision
of the constitutive documents of Buyer;
(b) a breach of, or a default under, any term or
provision of any contract, commitment or license to which Buyer is a
party or by which its assets are bound, which breach or default would
have a material adverse affect on Buyer's ability to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby; or
(c) a violation by Buyer of any statute, rule,
regulation, ordinance, code, order, judgment, writ, injunction, decree
or award, which violation would have a material adverse effect on
Buyer's ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.4 Consents and Approvals. Except as set forth in
Section 4.4 of the Disclosure Schedule, no consent, approval or authorization
of, or declaration, filing or registration with, any governmental or regulatory
authority, or any other person or entity, is required to be made or obtained by
Buyer in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except
for consents, approvals or authorizations, declarations, filings or
registrations, the failure of which to obtain would not in the aggregate impair
the ability of Buyer to perform its obligations hereunder.
Section 4.5 No Brokers. Neither Buyer nor any affiliate of
Buyer has entered into or will enter into any agreement, arrangement or
understanding with any person or entity which has resulted or will result in the
obligation of Seller to pay any finder's fee, brokerage commission or similar
payment in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE SELLERS AND COMPANY
The Sellers and the Company hereby severally covenant and
agree with Buyer that from and after the date hereof to and including the
Closing Date, the Sellers and the Company shall, and the Sellers shall cause the
Company to, do or refrain from doing the following:
Section 5.1 Access to Information and Records. At or prior to
the Closing Date, Buyer and its financing sources shall be entitled, through
their respective representatives and agents, to make such investigation of the
assets, properties, business and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries
and such examination of the books, records, Tax Returns, financial condition and
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries as Buyer or its financing sources
may reasonably request. Any such investigation and examination shall be
conducted at reasonable times and under reasonable circumstances and the Company
and Sellers shall cooperate fully therein. All communications by Buyer, its
Affiliates and financing sources with the Company's
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customers, suppliers and lenders shall be subject to the Company's prior written
approval, which approval may be withheld in its sole discretion. In order that
Buyer and its financing sources may have full opportunity to make such a
business, accounting and legal review, examination or investigation as it or
they may wish of the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
the Company shall furnish the representatives of Buyer and its financing sources
during such period with all such information and copies of such documents
concerning the affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries as such
representatives may reasonably request and cause its officers, employees,
consultants, agents, accountants and attorneys to cooperate fully with such
representatives in connection with such review and examination and to make full
disclosure to Buyer and its financing sources of all material facts affecting
the financial condition and business operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Until the Closing and if the Closing shall not occur, thereafter,
Buyer and its Affiliates and financing sources shall keep confidential and shall
not use in any manner inconsistent with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and after termination of this Agreement, Buyer and its Affiliates and
financing sources shall not disclose, nor use for their own benefit, any
information or documents obtained from the Company concerning its assets,
properties, business and operations, unless (a) readily ascertainable from
public or published information, or trade sources, (b) already known or
subsequently developed by Buyer independently of any investigation of the
Sellers or Company, (c) received from a third party not under an obligation to
the Sellers or Company to keep such information confidential or (d) required by
any law or order. In the event this transaction does not close for any reason,
Buyer and its Affiliates and financing sources shall return or destroy all such
confidential information and compilations thereof as is practicable. Buyer shall
cause its officers, directors, agents and advisors to comply with the provisions
of this Section 5.1.
Section 5.2 Conduct of Business. From the date hereof through
the Closing Date, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall (i) conduct its
business in the ordinary course in the same manner as it has been conducted
since the date of the Most Recent Financial Statements and in such a manner so
that the representations and warranties contained in Article III shall continue
to be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date as
if made on and as of the Closing Date (except as otherwise expressly
contemplated herein), and (ii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
not undertake any action, fail to take any action or permit to occur any event,
which such action, failure or occurrence, had it taken place prior to the date
hereof, would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 3.2(h), without
the prior written consent of the Buyer; provided, that prior to Closing, all
intercompany obligations, including accounts payable or receivable, among the
Company and Rotterdam and its Affiliates will either be assigned, satisfied or
canceled and the Company shall have no further liability in respect of any
account or note payable or any other obligation to Rotterdam or any of its
Affiliates.
Section 5.3 Preservation of Business. From the date hereof
through the Closing Date, each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and Sellers
shall use its best efforts to (i) preserve intact its business, assets,
properties and organizations; (ii) keep available the services of their
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present officers, employees, consultants and agents; and (iii) maintain its
present suppliers and customers and to preserve its goodwill.
Section 5.4 Notice of Events. The Company, its Subsidiaries
and each Seller, with knowledge thereof, shall promptly notify Buyer of (a) any
event, condition or circumstance occurring, or failing to occur, from the date
hereof through the Closing Date, which occurrence or failure to occur would
constitute, or would reasonably be expected to result in a violation or breach
of this Agreement, (b) any event, occurrence, transaction or other item which
would have been required to have been disclosed on any Schedule or statement
delivered hereunder had such event, occurrence, transaction or item existed on
the date hereof, other than items arising in the ordinary course of business
which would not render any representation or warranty of the Company or Sellers
materially misleading.
Section 5.5 Exclusivity. Until the earlier occurs of the
Closing or the termination of this Agreement, none of the Sellers, the Company,
nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents,
representatives, shareholders or Affiliates (collectively, the "Company Group")
shall initiate, solicit, entertain, negotiate, accept or discuss, directly or
indirectly, or encourage inquiries or proposals (each, an "Acquisition
Proposal") with respect to, or furnish any information relating to or
participate in any negotiations or discussions concerning, or enter into any
agreement with respect to, any acquisition or purchase of all or a substantial
portion of the business, assets, properties, capital stock or capital stock
equivalents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (a "Potential Sale"),
whether by merger, combination, sale of stock, sale of assets, or otherwise, or
enter into any agreement, arrangement or undertaking requiring it to abandon,
terminate or fail to consummate the transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
The Sellers and the Company shall, and shall cause each other member of the
Company Group to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing
activities, including discussions or negotiations with any parties, other than
Buyer, conducted prior to the date hereof with respect to any Acquisition
Proposal. The Company or the Sellers shall (i) promptly inform Buyer of any
inquiries any member of the Company Group receives after the date hereof
concerning an Acquisition Proposal or Potential Sale and provide Buyer with
copies of all correspondence or other documents received in connection therewith
and (ii) inform the Persons sending such inquiries, requests or proposals that
the Company is bound by an exclusivity arrangement (without any reference to
Buyer, its Affiliates, or its potential financing sources). The Sellers and the
Company represent that each is not a party to or bound by any agreement with
respect to an Acquisition Proposal other than under this Agreement. Each of the
Sellers and the Company shall cause its officers, directors, agents and advisors
to comply with the provisions of this Section 5.5.
Section 5.6 Non-Competition; Non-Interference;
Non-Solicitation. As a significant inducement to Buyer to enter into and perform
its obligations under this Agreement, each Covered Person hereby agrees as
follows:
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(a) Covenant Against Competition. The Covered Person
acknowledges that (a) the principal business of the Company is the
manufacture and sale of forged metal products; (b) the Covered Person
is one of a limited number of Persons who have developed the Company's
business; (c) the Company's business is, in part, national and
international in scope; the Covered Person's work for the Company has
given and will continue to give him access to the confidential affairs
and proprietary information of the Company; the information,
observations and data disclosed to, developed by or obtained by him
while employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively,
the "Company Group") concerning the business or affairs of any member
of the Company Group (including without limitation the Company's
technology, methods of doing business and supplier and customer
information) (collectively, "Confidential Company Information") are the
property of the Company or such other member of the Company Group and
that the continued success of the Company Group depends in large part
on keeping this information from becoming known to its competitors; the
agreements and covenants of the Covered Person contained in this
Section 5.6 are essential to the business and goodwill of Buyer and the
Company; and Buyer would not have entered into this Agreement and
purchased the Stock but for the covenants and agreements set forth in
this Section 5.6. Accordingly, the Covered Person covenants and agrees
that:
(i) During the period commencing on the date
hereof and ending three and one-half (3 1/2) years following
the Closing Date (the "Restricted Period"), the Covered Person
shall not (A) directly or indirectly, own, operate, manage,
control, participate in, consult with, advise, permit his name
to be used by, provide services for, lease, or in any manner
engage in (including by himself, in association with any
Person, or through any Person) any business that manufactures
or sells any products or provides any services which may be
used as substitutes for or are otherwise in competition with
any products or services in the business of Buyer, the Company
or their respective Subsidiaries anywhere in the United
States, as such businesses exist or are proposed as of the
Closing Date or the date of this Agreement, or logical
extensions thereof (collectively, "Covered Activities"); or
(B) become interested in any such Person which engages in any
Covered Activities (other than Buyer) as a partner,
shareholder, principal, agent, consultant or in any other
relationship or capacity; provided, however, that
notwithstanding the above, the Covered Person may own,
directly or indirectly, solely as an investment, securities of
any such Person which are traded on any national securities
exchange or NASDAQ if the Covered Person is not a controlling
person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person,
does not, directly or indirectly, own five percent (5%) or
more of any class of securities of such Person and has no
active participation in the business of such Person; provided,
further, that, the Covered Person may own, directly or
indirectly, solely as an investment, securities of Forge Die &
Tool Corp. ("Forge Die"), if and for so long as Forge Die does
not, directly or indirectly (i) induce or influence any
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customer, supplier, lessor, licensor or any other person that
has or had during the one year period initially preceding the
Closing Date a business relationship with the Company, to
discontinue, reduce or adversely modify such business
relationship with the Company or otherwise engage in any
activity prohibited by Section 5.6(a)(iii), (ii) acquire any
ownership interest in any Person engaging in a Covered
Activity, or (iii) engage in any Covered Activity, except as
such businesses exist or are proposed as of the Closing Date
or logical extensions thereof.
(ii) At all times after the date hereof, the
Covered Person shall keep secret and retain in strictest
confidence, and shall not use for his benefit or the benefit
of others, except in connection with the business and affairs
of Buyer, the Company and their affiliates, all Confidential
Company Information including, without limitation, information
with respect to (i) prospective facilities, (ii) sales
figures, (iii) profit or loss figures, and (iv) customers,
clients, suppliers, sources of supply and customer lists and
shall not disclose such Confidential Company Information to
anyone outside of Buyer, the Company and their Affiliates
except with the express written consent of the Buyer and
except for Confidential Company Information which is at the
time of receipt or thereafter becomes publicly known through
no wrongful act of the Covered Person. The Covered Person
shall deliver to Buyer on the Closing Date, or at any other
time Buyer may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records,
reports, computer tapes, printouts and software and other
documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the
Confidential Company Information, Work Product (as defined
below) or the business of the Company or any Subsidiary which
he may then possess or have under his control.
(iii) During the Restricted Period, the
Covered Person shall not, without the prior written consent of
the Buyer, directly or indirectly, (i) induce or attempt to
induce any employee of Buyer, the Company or any Subsidiary to
leave the employ of Buyer, the Company or such Subsidiary, or
in any way interfere with the relationship between Buyer, the
Company or any Subsidiary and any employee thereof, (ii) hire
any person within two years of the last day such person was an
employee of Buyer, the Company or any Subsidiary or (iii)
induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee,
licensor, franchisee or other business relation of Buyer, the
Company or any Subsidiary to cease doing business with Buyer,
the Company or such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with
the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee
or business relation and Buyer, the Company or any Subsidiary
(including, without limitation, making any disparaging
statements or communications about Buyer or its Subsidiaries).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section shall
prevent any Seller
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from providing a letter of recommendation to an employee of
the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to a future
employment opportunity.
(iv) All inventions, innovations,
improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses,
drawings, reports, characters, props, molds and all similar or
related information (whether or not patentable) which relate
to the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' actual or
anticipated business, research and development or existing or
future products or services and which are conceived, developed
or made by the Covered Person while an employee of, or a
consultant to, the Company or its Subsidiaries (collectively,
"Work Product") belong to the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Covered Person shall promptly disclose such Work Product to
the Buyer and perform all actions requested by the Buyer
(whether on or after the Closing Date) to establish and
confirm such ownership (including, without limitation,
assignments, consents, powers of attorney and other
instruments).
(v) That (A) the covenants set forth in
Section 5.6(a) are reasonable in geographical and temporal
scope and in all other respects, (B) Buyer would not have
entered into this Agreement but for the covenants of the
Covered Person contained herein, and (C) the covenants
contained herein have been made in order to induce Buyer to
enter into this Agreement and purchase the Stock from which
Covered Person will receive substantial benefit; and
(vi) That if, at the time of enforcement of
the covenants contained in Section 5.6 (a)(i), a court shall
hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated
therein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing,
the parties agree that the maximum duration, scope, or area
reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for
the stated duration, scope or area.
(b) Rights and Remedies upon Breach. If the Covered
Person breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the
provisions of Section 5.6 (a) (the "Restrictive Covenants"), Buyer
shall have the following rights and remedies (upon compliance with any
necessary prerequisites imposed by law upon the availability of such
remedies), each of which rights and remedies shall be independent of
the other and severally enforceable, and all of which rights and
remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights
and remedies available to Buyer under law or in equity:
(i) The right and remedy to have the
Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced (without posting
bond) by any court having equity jurisdiction, including,
without limitation, the right to an entry against the Covered
Person of restraining orders and injunctions (preliminary,
mandatory, temporary and permanent) against violations,
threatened or actual, and whether or not then
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continuing, of such covenants, it being acknowledged and
agreed that Covered Person's services are unique and that the
Covered Person has, and has had, access to confidential
Company Information and Work Product and that any breach or
threatened breach of the Restrictive Covenants will cause
irreparable injury to Buyer and that money damages will not
provide an adequate remedy to Buyer.
(ii) The right and remedy to require the
Covered Person to account for and pay over to Buyer all
compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other
benefits (collectively, "Benefits") derived or received by him
as the result of any transactions constituting a breach of the
Restrictive Covenants, and the Covered Person shall account
for and pay over such Benefits to Buyer.
(iii) In the event of an alleged breach or
violation by the Covered Person of Section 5.6(a), the
Restricted Period shall be tolled during the period of such
breach until such breach or violation has been duly cured.
Section 5.7 Consents and Best Efforts. Buyer, Sellers and the
Company will, as soon as reasonably practicable, commence to take all
commercially reasonable actions required to obtain all consents, approvals,
waivers and agreements of, and to give all notices and make all other
registrations or filings with, any third parties, including governmental
authorities, including any such filing required under the HSR Act, necessary to
authorize, approve or permit the full and complete sale, conveyance, assignment,
transfer and delivery of the Stock and the continuance in full force and effect
of the permits, contracts and other agreements set forth on the Disclosure
Schedules, and shall cooperate with each other with respect thereto; provided,
that it shall be the obligation of the Company and Sellers to procure all
authorizations, consents and approvals set forth in Section 5.7 of the
Disclosure Schedule. In addition, subject to the terms and conditions herein
provided, each of the parties hereto covenants and agrees to use all
commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, or
do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under
applicable laws and regulations, to consummate and make effective as promptly as
practicable the transactions contemplated hereby and to cause the fulfillment of
the Parties' obligations hereunder.
Section 5.8 Public Announcements. The timing and content of
all announcements regarding any aspect of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereto to the financial community, government agencies, employees
or the general public shall be mutually agreed upon in advance by the Parties
hereto; provided, that each party hereto may make any such announcement which it
in good faith believes, based on advice of counsel, is necessary or advisable in
connection with any requirement of law or regulation, it being understood and
agreed that each party shall promptly provide the other parties hereto with
copies of any such announcement; and provided further that Buyer or its
affiliates may make any announcement or disclosure to current or future
financing sources or subsequent purchasers or
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assignees of substantially all of the capital stock or assets of Buyer, or any
Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof without consent of or disclosure to the Company
or the Sellers.
Section 5.9 Appointment of Stockholder Representative. By
execution of a counterpart of this Agreement, the Stockholders hereby appoint
Mr. David Buicko to act as representative of the Stockholders (the "Stockholder
Representative") and take all actions in their name and stead in all matters
provided for herein, including without limitation the resolution or dispute of
any claims matters related to Article X. In the event of the death, incapacity,
removal or resignation of Mr. David Buicko, a successor Stockholder
Representative shall be appointed by vote of a majority of the Stockholders.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION
Section 6.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and
the sale and purchase of the Stock may be abandoned, notwithstanding the
approval thereof by the shareholders of the Company, at any time prior to
Closing:
(a) by mutual consent of the Company and Buyer;
(b) by either the Company or Buyer, if the sale and
purchase of the Stock shall not have been consummated on or before the
date ninety (90) days after the date of this Agreement (the
"Termination Date");
(c) by Buyer, in the event that the conditions to its
obligations set forth in Article VIII hereof have not been satisfied or
waived at or prior to the Termination Date;
(d) by the Company, in the event that the conditions
to its obligations set forth in Article VII hereof have not been
satisfied or waived at or prior to the Termination Date;
(e) by Buyer, if the Stockholders fail to unanimously
adopt and approve this Agreement and the sale and purchase of the Stock
on or before March 25, 1998;
Section 6.2 Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, all rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder shall terminate and no party shall have any liability to the
other party, except for obligations of the parties hereto in Sections 5.8, 9.6
and 11.8, which shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and except that
nothing herein will relieve any party from liability for any breach of any
agreement or covenant contained herein prior to such termination, provided that
no party shall be entitled to seek consequential damages or lost profits with
respect to any such claims.
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Section 6.3 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, at any
time prior to the Closing Date, by action taken by the Board of Directors of the
Company and the Buyer; provided, that after approval of the sale and purchase of
the Stock by the Stockholders, no amendment, which under applicable law may not
be made without the approval of a majority of the Stockholders, may be made
without such approval. This Agreement (including the provisions of this Section
6.3) may not be amended or modified except by an instrument in writing signed on
behalf of all of the parties required pursuant to the preceding sentence.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO SELLER'S OBLIGATIONS
The obligation of Sellers to transfer the Stock to Buyer on
the Closing Date are subject, in the discretion of the Sellers, to the
satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following
conditions:
Section 7.1 Representations, Warranties and Covenants. All
representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement shall be
true and correct at and as of the Closing Date as if such representations and
warranties were made at and as of the Closing Date, and Buyer shall have
performed all agreements and covenants required hereby to be performed by it
prior to or at the Closing Date.
Section 7.2 No Injunction. No injunction, stay or restraining
order shall be in effect prohibiting the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 7.3 Opinion of Counsel. Buyer shall have delivered to
Seller an opinion of Kirkland & Ellis, counsel to Buyer, substantially in the
form of Exhibit C hereto.
Section 7.4 Payments. Buyer shall have tendered the Cash
Purchase Price to Sellers and the Escrow Deposit to the Escrow Agent in
accordance with Section 2.3.
Section 7.5 Certificates. Buyer will furnish Sellers with such
certificates of its officers, directors and others to evidence compliance with
the conditions set forth in this Article VII as may be reasonably requested by
and satisfactory to Sellers and their counsel.
Section 7.6 HSR Act Waiting Period. All applicable waiting
periods related to the HSR Act shall have expired.
Section 7.7 Documents to be Delivered by Buyer. At the
Closing, Buyer shall have delivered to Sellers, by delivery to the Stockholder
Representative, the following documents, in each case duly executed or otherwise
in proper form:
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(a) Compliance Certificate. A certificate signed by
the chief executive officer of the Buyer that each of the
representations and warranties made by the Buyer in this Agreement is
true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date
with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had
been made or given on and as of the Closing Date, and that the Buyer
has performed and complied in all material respects with all of its
obligations under this Agreement which are to be performed or complied
with on or prior to the Closing Date.
(b) Certified Resolutions. Certified copies of the
resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Buyer, authorizing and
approving this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(c) Consents and Approvals. Material consents, if
any, of third parties necessary for the Buyer to execute, deliver and
perform this Agreement.
(d) Incumbency Certificate. Incumbency certificates
relating to each person executing (as corporate officer or otherwise on
behalf of another person) any document executed and delivered to
Sellers pursuant to the terms hereof.
(e) Other Documents. All other documents, instruments
or writings required to be delivered to Seller at or prior to the
Closing pursuant to this Agreement and such other certificates of
authority and documents as Seller may reasonably request.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO BUYER'S OBLIGATIONS
The obligations of Buyer to purchase the Stock as provided
hereby are subject, in the discretion of Buyer, to the satisfaction, on or prior
to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
Section 8.1 Representations, Warranties and Covenants. All
representations and warranties of Sellers and the Company contained in this
Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects, except for any
such representations or warranties which are qualified by materiality or
Material Adverse Effect which shall be true and correct in all respects, when
made and, except as contemplated by this Agreement, at and as of the Closing
Date as if such representations and warranties were made at and as of the
Closing Date, and Sellers and the Company shall have performed all agreements
and covenants required hereby to be performed by any of them prior to or at the
Closing Date.
Section 8.2 Consents; Releases. All consents, approvals and
waivers from governmental authorities and other parties required or necessary as
a result of the transactions
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contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, those set forth in Section
8.2 of the Disclosure Schedule, shall have been obtained, including under the
HSR Act. Releases reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Buyer and its
counsel shall have been obtained from all of the persons and entities set forth
in Section 8.2 of the Disclosure Schedule.
Section 8.3 No Injunction. No injunction, stay or restraining
order shall be in effect prohibiting the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 8.4 HSR Act Waiting Period. All applicable waiting
periods related to the HSR Act shall have expired.
Section 8.5 No Material Adverse Effect. During the period from
the date hereof to the Closing Date, no event shall have occurred or be
continuing (including any litigation) which has had or could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 8.6 Funded Debt. There shall not be outstanding any
Funded Debt.
Section 8.7 Stockholders Approval. This Agreement, and the
transactions contemplated thereby shall have been unanimously approved by all
the votes entitled to be cast with respect thereto by the holders of the
outstanding Stock; and dissenters' rights shall not have been asserted with
respect to any of the issued and outstanding shares of Stock.
Section 8.8 Documents to be Delivered by Company. At the
Closing, Company and Sellers shall have delivered to Buyer the following
documents, in each case duly executed or otherwise in proper form:
(a) Stock Certificate(s). Stock certificates representing all
of the outstanding shares of the Stock, duly endorsed in blank or otherwise
acceptable for transfer, with all restrictive legends (if any) (other than
legends with respect to the Securities Act) either removed or properly canceled.
(b) Stock Option, etc. Evidence of the exercise, conversion or
cancellation of all options, warrants, convertible securities and other rights
or securities disclosed in Section 3.2(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, if any, in
form and substance satisfactory to Buyer.
(c) Compliance Certificate. A certificate signed by the chief
executive officer of the Company that each of the representations and warranties
made by the Company and the Sellers in this Agreement is true and correct in all
material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though
such representations and warranties had been made or given on and as of the
Closing Date, and that the Company and each of the Sellers has performed and
complied in all material respects with all of its obligations under this
Agreement which are to be performed or complied with on or prior to the Closing
Date.
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(d) Opinion of Counsel. A written opinion of Mayer, Brown &
Platt, counsel to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, addressed to Buyer,
substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.
(e) Certified Resolutions. Certified copies of the resolutions
of the Board of Directors and the stockholders of the Company, authorizing and
approving this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
(f) Escrow Agreement. The Escrow Agreement duly executed by
the Company and Sellers.
(g) Articles; Bylaws; Good Standings. (i) A copy of the
articles of incorporation of the Company and each Subsidiary certified as of a
recent date by the Secretary of State of the state of incorporation of each such
company, (ii) a copy of the bylaws of the Company and each Subsidiary certified
by the secretary of the Company and each Subsidiary, respectively and (iii)
certificates of good standing for the Company and its Subsidiary from the
Secretary of State of the state of incorporation of each such company and from
each other jurisdiction in which such company is required to qualify to do
business, in each case dated not more than ten (10) days prior to the Closing
Date.
(h) Consents and Approvals. Material consents, if any, of
third parties necessary for the Company, or the Stockholders to execute, deliver
and perform this Agreement.
(i) Incumbency Certificate. Incumbency certificates relating
to each person executing (as corporate officer or otherwise on behalf of another
person) any document executed and delivered to Buyer pursuant to the terms
hereof.
(j) Releases. Fully executed UCC-3 Termination Statements and
other terminations and/or releases necessary to terminate or release all
Security Interests in, and Liens on, any assets of the Company or the Subsidiary
relating to any Funded Debt.
(k) Resignations. Written resignations and releases of the
directors and officers of the Company and its Subsidiary.
(l) Kchikian Agreements. The Kchikian Amendment, the Kchikian
Employment Assignment and the Kchikian Lease Assignments duly executed by
Kchikian, the Company and Rotterdam, in form and substance satisfactory to
Buyer.
(m) Other Documents. All other documents, instruments or
writings required to be delivered to Buyer at or prior to the Closing pursuant
to this Agreement and such other certificates of authority and documents as
Buyer may reasonably request.
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Section 8.9 Absence of Litigation. No action, suit,
investigation or proceeding shall have been commenced or threatened by a
governmental agency or third party against Buyer, the Company, its Subsidiaries,
or any of the affiliates, officers or directors of any of them, with respect to
the transactions contemplated hereby, challenging the rights of the parties
hereto to consummate such transactions or which reasonably could be expected to
have a material adverse effect.
Section 8.10 Management Arrangements. Buyer shall have entered
into formal arrangements with Mark Clark, on terms and conditions satisfactory
to Buyer in its sole discretion.
Section 8.11 Real Property. Buyer shall have received each of
the deliveries required under Section 2.6.
Section 8.12 Financing. Buyer shall have received cash
proceeds of financing in an amount necessary to consummate the purchase of the
Stock and to pay all fees and expenses in connection therewith and to provide
for ongoing working capital needs of Buyer and the Company, and having such
terms and conditions as are satisfactory to Buyer in its sole discretion.
Section 8.13 All Proceedings To be Satisfactory. All corporate
and other proceedings to be taken by the Sellers in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, and all documents incident thereto shall be
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Buyer and its counsel, and
the Buyer and said counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or
certified or other copies of such documents as it or they may reasonably
request.
Section 8.14 Tax Sharing Agreements. Buyer shall have received
evidence that any Tax allocation or sharing agreement to which the Company or
any Subsidiary is a party has been terminated and no liability in respect of any
such agreement exists.
ARTICLE IX
POST-CLOSING COVENANTS
Section 9.1 Further Assurances. On and after the Closing Date,
Sellers and Buyer will take all appropriate action and execute (or cause to be
executed) all documents, instruments or conveyances of any kind which may be
reasonably necessary or advisable to carry out any of the provisions hereof.
Section 9.2 Tax Matters.
(a) Sellers shall be responsible for the payment of
any Taxes (including Taxes payable as a result of the disallowance of
any deduction) that may be imposed on the Company with respect to any
Pre-Closing Period (except to the extent reserved or
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accrued for on the Most Recent Balance Sheet or to the extent properly
attributable to transactions occurring on the Closing Date but after
the Closing). Buyer and the Company shall be responsible for the
payment of any Taxes that may be imposed on the Company for any taxable
period beginning after the Closing Date.
(b) Buyer shall file or cause to be filed when due
all Tax Returns of the Company for the taxable periods ending after the
Closing Date and shall pay or cause to be paid the Taxes shown to be
due on any such Tax Return. If the Closing does not terminate the
Company's current taxable year with respect to any Taxes, then Buyer
and the Company shall be responsible for the payment of the portion of
the Company's Taxes attributable to the portion of such taxable year
beginning after the Closing Date. For this purpose, Taxes shall be
apportioned between the pre-Closing and post-Closing portions of the
Company's current taxable year according to when the income was
actually earned except that exemptions, allowances or deductions that
are calculated on an annual basis shall be allocated to each such
portion of the taxable period on a daily basis.
(c) Sellers shall be entitled to all refunds of
Income Taxes for which Sellers are responsible under Section 9.2
hereof, and Buyer and the Company agree to remit to the Stockholder
Representative on behalf of Sellers any such refund received by Buyer
or the Company net of any Taxes imposed on the recipient by reason of
the receipt thereof and net of any fees and expenses incurred to
process the claim for refund.
(d) Buyer and the Company shall cooperate fully with
the Stockholder Representative, and among other things shall prepare
and submit to the Stockholder Representative such tax data and other
information as may be required for the preparation by Sellers of any
Tax Return for Sellers' taxable year which includes the Closing Date or
which otherwise relates to the Company's pre-Closing operations. Such
data and other information shall be prepared on a basis consistent with
that prepared for prior Pre- Closing Periods and shall be submitted to
the Stockholder Representative at such time as shall reasonably enable
Sellers to comply with applicable tax return filing requirements on a
timely basis.
(e) Buyer and the Company shall permit the
Stockholder Representative, and the Sellers shall permit Buyer and the
Company to have full access, at any reasonable time and from time to
time after the Closing Date, to all pre-Closing Tax Returns and all
books and records, wherever located, of the Company, or Sellers
relating to the Company, relevant to such Tax Returns. Sellers and
Buyer shall preserve such information until the expiration of all
applicable statutes of limitations (including any waivers or extensions
thereof), and shall make such information available to the other party
as may be reasonably required by the other party in connection with any
tax examination of or preparation of a Tax Return by the other party.
If Buyer or the Company shall receive a notice of a proposed adjustment
to Income Taxes for any Pre-Closing Period, then
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Buyer shall, or shall cause the Company to, promptly furnish to the
Stockholder Representative a copy of such notice.
Section 9.3 Non-Solicitation; Non-Compete. Each Seller that is
a Covered Person undertakes that such Seller shall not take any action in
contravention of the covenants set forth in Section 5.6 hereof.
Section 9.4 Employees; Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Jackson Innova Plan. Sellers shall assume and
retain all liabilities and obligations of the Company arising under or
in connection with the "Jackson Innova Corporation Hourly Employees
Pension Plan" (the "Jackson Plan") including, but not limited to, all
liabilities and obligations arising under or in connection with that
certain settlement agreement by letter dated as of January 15, 1992
pertaining to litigation between the International Union, United
Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America
(UAW) and the Company and Jackson Innova Corporation (the "Settlement
Agreement"); and Sellers shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
Buyer from and against any and all Losses in respect of the Jackson
Plan and the Settlement Agreement.
(b) Salaried Defined Benefit Plan.
(i) Subject to Subparagraph (ii) hereof, Sellers
shall amend the "Galesi Group Salaried Employees Pension Plan" (the
"Salaried Plan") to cause all benefit accruals under the Salaried Plan
to cease as of the Closing Date with respect to all employees of the
Company and Sellers shall retain all liabilities and obligations of the
Company under the Salaried Plan for benefits accrued thereunder as of
the Closing Date by all current employees and former employees of the
Company. Sellers shall also recognize service by employees of the
Company who are participants in the Salaried Plan as of the Closing
Date ("Transferred Participants") with Buyer after the Closing Date for
the purpose of determining eligibility for early retirement benefits
provided that in no event shall any service or earnings subsequent to
the Closing Date be taken into account for benefit accrual purposes.
Each Transferred Participant shall be fully vested in his accrued
benefit under the Salaried Plan as of the Closing Date. The amount of
any pension payable under the Salaried Plan shall be determined for the
Transferred Participants based only on the length of continuous service
and earnings of such Transferred Participants as defined under the
Salaried Plan determined as of the Closing Date. Sellers shall cause
the Salaried Plan to be amended to reflect the provisions of this
Section 9.4(b) and shall within 3 months after the Closing Date provide
Buyer with a copy of such amendment. Nothing herein shall require Buyer
to establish a replacement defined benefit plan with respect to the
Transferred Participants.
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(ii) In consideration for the obligations assumed and
retained by Sellers pursuant to subparagraph (i) above, Buyer shall pay
to Rotterdam the amount of $151,423.00 on the Closing Date.
(iii) On an ongoing basis, Buyer shall provide
Sellers with information regarding the date of termination of
employment with the Company of Transferred Participants and their
subsequent mailing addresses as provided by such Transferred
Participants to the Company.
(c) Defined Contribution Plan.
(i) Effective as of the Closing Date, Buyer
shall cause to be adopted and maintained a defined
contribution plan or plans (the "Buyer's Defined Contribution
Plan") intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Code that has features concerning the timing and method of
distributions such that a direct transfer from the "Galesi
Group Employee Savings Plan" (the "Sellers' Defined
Contribution Plan") to the Buyer's Defined Contribution Plan
of account balances attributable to current employees of the
Company ("Transferred Employees") will not cause a violation
of Section 411(d)(6) of the Code, and that credits the
Transferred Employees with all of their years of service
credited under the Sellers' Defined Contribution Plan as of
the Closing Date for all purposes under the Buyer's Defined
Contribution Plan. As soon as practicable following the
Closing Date, Buyer shall submit the Buyer's Defined
Contribution Plan to the IRS for a favorable determination
that the Buyer's Defined Contribution Plan is qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code.
(ii) In accordance with the applicable
provisions of Section 414(l) of the Code, upon receipt of an
opinion of counsel of Buyer reasonably acceptable to Sellers
regarding the qualified status of the Buyer's Defined
Contribution Plan, Sellers shall cause the assets of the
Sellers' Defined Contribution Plan attributable to the
accounts (whether or not vested) of each Transferred Employee
(or the beneficiaries or alternate payee(s) of each
Transferred Employee) to be transferred by the trustee of the
Sellers' Defined Contribution Plan to the trustee of the
Buyer's Defined Contribution Plan. The transfer of assets from
the Sellers' Defined Contribution Plan to the Buyer's Defined
Contribution Plan made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
shall be in cash or in kind (including any promissory notes or
other evidences of indebtedness with respect to outstanding
loans made to Transferred Employees), as mutually agreed by
Sellers and Buyer, or in cash if no such agreement is made,
and shall be made as of and as soon as practicable after a
valuation date under the Sellers' Defined Contribution Plan
occurring coincident with or immediately following the Closing
Date, or as of such later valuation date as may be mutually
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selected by Sellers and Buyer. Such transfer shall account
appropriately for earnings and losses during the period from
the applicable valuation date to the actual date of transfer
(the "Transfer Date").
(iii) From the Closing Date until the
Transfer Date, Buyer shall make continuous payroll deductions
each pay period from the pay of each Transferred Employee who
has a loan(s) outstanding from the Sellers' Defined
Contribution Plan of amounts sufficient to pay the installment
payments of principal and interest on each such loan as
required by the promissory note or other evidence of
indebtedness relating to such loan. Such deducted amounts
shall be paid by Buyer to the trustee of the Sellers' Defined
Contribution Plan who shall accept such payments for a credit
against such loans.
(iv) On or prior to the Closing Date,
Sellers shall make a contribution to the Sellers' Defined
Contribution Plan of the amounts of any salary reduction,
matching, and profit sharing contributions attributable to or
payable on account of any Transferred Employee for any time
period ending on the Closing Date.
(d) Welfare Benefits. On and after the Closing Date,
Sellers shall retain and have sole responsibility for the payment of
premiums for any and all medical, dental, life, accidental death and
dismemberment, disability and other welfare benefits provided to
employees and former employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries (and
the eligible dependants of such employees and former employees) for
periods on or prior to the Closing Date. Buyer shall have sole
responsibility for the payment of such premiums, if any, as are
incurred for periods starting on and after the Closing Date and for
payment of all contributions due to the UIU Pension Plan and the NWPACC
Labor Management Benefit Trust Fund for periods on and after the
Closing Date.
(e) COBRA. Buyer shall be responsible for satisfying
or causing the Company to satisfy the continuation coverage
requirements for group health plans under Section 4980B of the Code or
Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA for all employees or former
employees of the Company (and any dependents of such employees or
former employees).
(f) Executive and Deferred Compensation Arrangements.
Sellers shall be solely responsible for the payment of any and all
amounts deferred pursuant to any non-qualified deferred compensation
arrangements maintained by Sellers with respect to any employee or
former employee of the Company other than such arrangements as are
listed on Schedule 9.4(f) hereto which are arrangements that will be
assumed by the Company as of the Closing Date.
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Section 9.5 Transition. Neither the Sellers, their respective
Affiliates, nor, prior to Closing, any officer, employee of agent of the
Company, shall take any action that is designed or intended to have the effect
of discouraging any lessor, licensor, customer, supplier, or other business
associate of any of the Company from maintaining the same business relationships
with the Company after the Closing as it maintained with the Company prior to
the Closing. The Sellers and their Affiliates will use commercially reasonable
efforts to refer all customer inquiries relating to the businesses of the
Company to the Company from and after the Closing. From and after the Closing
Date, until the Company shall have given Rotterdam not less than one month's
notice of its desire to terminate one or all of such services but in any event
no later than one year from Closing, Rotterdam shall continue to supply to the
Company the services set forth in Exhibit E, in substantially the same manner as
such services are currently provided at a cost to the Company not to exceed the
cost to Rotterdam to provide such services and in any event not to exceed $6,503
per annum or $542 per month.
Section 9.6 Confidentiality. Sellers will treat and hold as
such all of the Confidential Information, refrain from using any of the
Confidential Information except in connection with this Agreement, and deliver
promptly to the Buyer or destroy, at the request and option of Buyer, all
tangible embodiments (and all copies) of the Confidential Information which are
in its possession; provided, however, that each Seller shall be allowed to keep
one copy of the Confidential Information relating to Taxes for its records. In
the event that Sellers are requested or required (by oral question or request
for information or documents in any legal proceeding, interrogatory, subpoena,
civil investigative demand, or similar process) to disclose any Confidential
Information, Sellers will notify Buyer promptly of the request or requirement so
that Buyer may seek an appropriate protective order or waive compliance with the
provisions of this Section 9.6. If, in the absence of a protective order or the
receipt of a waiver hereunder, Sellers are, on the advice of counsel, compelled
to disclose any Confidential Information to any tribunal or else stand liable
for contempt, Sellers may disclose the Confidential Information to the tribunal;
provided, that Sellers shall use their best efforts to obtain, at the reasonable
request of Buyer, an order or other assurance that confidential treatment will
be accorded to such portion of the Confidential Information required to be
disclosed as Buyer shall designate.
Section 9.7 Retroactive Insurance Premium Decreases. In the
event of any retroactive decrease in insurance premiums that creates a
receivable to the Company in respect of any insurance policy in effect in any
Pre-Closing Period and properly allocable to such Pre- Closing Period, then
Buyer shall promptly pay or cause to be paid to Sellers upon receipt thereof by
the Company, an aggregate amount of funds received by the Company with respect
to such retroactive decrease.
Section 9.8 Kchikian Lease Agreements; Kchikian Employment
Agreement.
(a) Rotterdam and the Company shall enter into an
assignment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto (the
"Kchikian Lease
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Assignment") providing for the assignment to and assumption by
Rotterdam of all of the obligations under those certain Leases (the
"Kchikian Leases") between the Company and John Kchikian ("Kchikian")
set forth in Section 3.2(l)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(b)(i) The Company and Kchikian shall have entered
into an amendment (the "Kchikian Amendment") to that certain Employment
Agreement dated as of October 27, 1989 between the Company and Kchikian
as amended by the Amendment to Employment Agreement (the "Kchikian
First Amendment") made and effective as of the 12th day of February,
1994 (as so amended, the "Kchikian Employment Agreement") to terminate
the provisions of Sections 3(d) and 3(e) of the Kchikian Employment
Agreement and (ii) the Company and Rotterdam shall enter into an
assignment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto (the
"Kchikian Employment Assignment") providing for (x) except as provided
in clause (y) below, the equal allocation of responsibility for all
salary and benefits obligations to Kchikian under the Kchikian
Agreement, (y) the assignment to Rotterdam of all of the obligations to
provide long term health, medical or dental coverage, including
pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Kchikian First Amendment, and (z) the
allocation of responsibility for expense reimbursement under Section 5
of the Kchikian Agreement based upon the company for which the related
services were provided. The Company and Rotterdam shall use
commercially reasonably efforts to cause Kchikian to consent to the
assignment of the foregoing obligations. Rotterdam hereby agrees to
indemnify the Company and the Buyer in respect of any and all Losses
incurred by the Company or Buyer as a result of any obligation under
the Kchikian Leases or the Kchikian Employment Agreement for which
Rotterdam is intended to assume the liability pursuant to the Kchikian
Lease Assignment or the Kchikian Employment Assignment.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 10.1 Survival, Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties provided for in this Agreement shall survive for
18 months beyond the Closing Date, except that the representations and
warranties set forth in Sections 3.1 and 3.2(b),(d), (f) and (y) and 4.2 shall
survive indefinitely, the representations and warranties contained in Section
3.2(k) shall survive until 90 days after the expiration of the applicable
statute of limitations; and the representations and warranties contained in
Section 3.2(x) shall survive for six (6) years beyond the Closing Date. The
provisions of this Section 10.1 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the
parties hereto which, by its terms, contemplates performance after the Closing
Date. The indemnification provisions contained in this Article X are in addition
to, and not in derogation of, any statutory, equitable, or common law remedy any
party hereto may have for any breach of any representation, warranty, or
covenant. The covenants and agreements in this Article X shall survive until
such time as any claim for indemnification is finally settled in accordance with
the terms hereof.
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Section 10.2 Indemnification Obligation of Sellers.
(a) Each of the Sellers (other than Rotterdam)
severally, and Rotterdam, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify
Buyer and its affiliates, stockholders, officers, directors, employees,
agents, representatives and successors and assigns (collectively, the
"Buyer Indemnitees") in respect of, and save and hold each Buyer
Indemnitee harmless against and pay on behalf of or reimburse each
Buyer Indemnitee as and when incurred, any Losses which any Buyer
Indemnitee suffers, sustains or becomes subject to as a result of or by
virtue of, without duplication:
(i) any facts or circumstances which
constitute a misrepresentation or breach by the Company or
any Seller set forth in this Agreement (including any
Schedule), or any certificate delivered by the Company
pursuant to this Agreement (provided that each Seller from
whom indemnification is sought is given written notice of
such Loss during the survival period specified in Section
10.1 above);
(ii) any nonfulfillment or breach of any
covenant of the Company or any Seller set forth in this
Agreement;
(iii) any Funded Debt;
(iv) the shortfall, if any, in Working
Capital as of the Measurement Date below the Minimum Working
Capital;
(v) any matter set forth in Section
3.2(e), Section 3.2(p)(iii), Section 3.2(p)(v), Section
3.2(s) or Section 3.2(x) of the Disclosure Schedule;
(vi) any retroactive increase in insurance
premiums payable by the Company in respect of any insurance
policy in effect in any Pre-Closing Period and properly
allocable to such Pre-Closing Period;
(vii) expenses of the Company and the
Sellers incident to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the fees
and expenses and Taxes described in Section 11.8);
(viii) obligations of the Company incurred
in connection with any severance obligation arising as a
result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
other than with respect to any employee terminated by Buyer
after the Closing;
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(ix) obligations of the Company arising
during the period of Rotterdam's ownership of any shares of
capital stock of the Company to any former shareholder of the
Company or any Affiliate or successor in interest of any such
former shareholder in respect of the shares of stock held
thereby; and
(x) any dividend, distribution,
redemption, purchase or other payment in respect of the
capital stock of the Company to the Sellers or any other
payment or transfer by the Company to Rotterdam from and
after the Measurement Date.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sellers shall
not be required to indemnify the Buyer Indemnitees in respect of any
Losses Buyer suffers, sustains or becomes subject to as a result of or
by virtue of any of the occurrences referred to in Section 10.2(a)(i)
above (other than losses arising out of any misrepresentation or breach
under any of Sections 3.2(b), (d), (f), (k) and (y)) unless the
aggregate of all such Losses exceeds $287,500; provided, that in such
event, Sellers shall be responsible for the amount of all such Losses;
provided further, that only such Losses which individually exceed
$10,000, shall be included in the calculation of the $287,500 threshold
described above. In no event shall the Sellers be obligated to
indemnify the Buyer Indemnities under this Article X in respect of any
Losses any Buyer Indemnitee suffers, sustains, or becomes subject to,
as a result of or by virtue of any of the occurrences referred to in
Section 10.2(a)(i) above in the aggregate in excess of the aggregate
amount of (i) in the case of each Seller (except as provided in clause
(ii) below), its proportionate share of the Escrow Deposit and (ii) in
the case of Rotterdam, $6,000,000 less any amounts recovered by Buyer
Indemnitees from the Escrow Deposit.
(c) To induce Buyer to enter into this Agreement and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company and the
Sellers have agreed that, subject to the provisions of this Section
10.2 and the other Sections of this Article X, the Escrow Deposit shall
be withheld and placed in escrow at Closing for the purpose of securing
the indemnification obligations to the Buyer Indemnitees under this
Article X. The Escrow Deposit shall be withheld and placed at Closing
in an interest bearing escrow account with the Escrow Agent who shall
hold and administer the Escrow Deposit in accordance with the terms of
the Escrow Agreement.
(d) Each of the Sellers acknowledges that the
agreement contained in this Article X is an integral part of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that, without such
agreement, Buyer would not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if
any Seller fails to pay promptly any amounts due from such Seller
pursuant to this Section 10.2 and in order to obtain such amounts,
Buyer commences a suit against such Seller to collect the amounts
provided for herein, if Buyer succeeds in such action or proceeding,
the Sellers, other than Rotterdam, shall be severally liable and
Rotterdam shall
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also be jointly and severally liable, to pay to Buyer its reasonable
costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) in connection
with such suit; provided, however, that should Buyer be the losing
party on the merits in any such action or proceeding, Buyer shall pay
to each Seller party to such action its reasonable costs and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees) in connection with such suit.
Section 10.3 Indemnification Obligation of Buyer. Buyer will
indemnify Sellers and their respective affiliates, stockholders, officers,
managers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and successors and
assigns (collectively, the "Seller Indemnitees") in respect of, and save and
hold each Seller Indemnitee harmless against any Losses which such Seller
Indemnitee suffers, sustains or becomes subject to as a result of or by virtue
of, without duplication:
(a) any facts or circumstances which constitute a
misrepresentation or breach of by Buyer set forth in this Agreement or
any certificate delivered by Buyer pursuant to this Agreement (provided
that Buyer is given written notice of such Loss during the applicable
survival period specified in Section 10.1 above); or
(b) any nonfulfillment or breach of any covenant or
agreement of the Buyer set forth in this Agreement.
Section 10.4 Indemnification Procedures.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (e) below, any
Person making a claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 10.2 or
10.3 above (each, an "Indemnified Party") must give the party from whom
indemnification is sought (an "Indemnifying Party") written notice of
such claim promptly after the Indemnified Party receives any written
notice of any action, lawsuit, proceeding, investigation or other claim
(a "Proceeding") against or involving the Indemnified Party by any
Person or otherwise discovers the liability, obligation or facts giving
rise to such claim for indemnification; provided, that the failure to
notify or delay in notifying an Indemnifying Party will not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations pursuant to Section 10.2 or 10.3
above, as applicable, except to the extent that such failure actually
harms the Indemnifying Party.
(b) With respect to the defense of any Proceeding
against or involving an Indemnified Party in which any Person in
question seeks only the recovery of a sum of money (and not for
injunctive or equitable relief) for which indemnification is provided
in Section 10.2 or 10.3 above, at its option an Indemnifying Party may
appoint as lead counsel of such defense any legal counsel selected by
the Indemnified Party; provided, that before the Indemnifying Party
assumes control of such defense it must first:
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(i) enter into an agreement with the
Indemnified Party (in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Party) pursuant to which the
Indemnifying Party agrees to be fully responsible (with no
reservation of any rights other than the right to be
subrogated to the rights of the Indemnified Party) for all
Losses relating to such Proceeding and unconditionally
guarantees the payment and performance of any liability or
obligation which may arise with respect to such Proceeding or
the facts giving rise to such claim for indemnification; and
(ii) furnish the Indemnified Party with
evidence that the Indemnifying Party, in the Indemnified
Party's sole judgment, is and will be able to satisfy any such
liability.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 10.4(b) above: (i) the
Indemnified Party will be entitled to participate in the defense of
such claim and to employ counsel of its choice for such purpose at its
own expense (provided that the Indemnifying Party will bear the
reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel incurred prior to
the date upon which the Indemnifying Party effectively assumes control
of such defense), and (ii) the Indemnifying Party will not be entitled
to assume control of the defense of such claim, and will pay the
reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel retained by the
Indemnified Party, if:
(i) the Indemnified Party reasonably
believes that an adverse determination of such Proceeding
could be detrimental to or injure the Indemnified Party's
reputation or future business prospects;
(ii) the Indemnified Party reasonably
believes that there exists or could arise a conflict of
interest which, under applicable principles of legal ethics,
could prohibit a single legal counsel from representing both
the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party in such
Proceeding; or
(iii) a court of competent jurisdiction
rules that the Indemnifying Party has failed or is failing to
prosecute or defend vigorously such claim.
(d) the Indemnifying Party must obtain the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Party (which the Indemnified Party
will not unreasonably withhold) prior to entering into any settlement
of such claim or Proceeding or ceasing to defend such claim or
Proceeding, provided that any such settlement shall provide for the
full release of all claims against each Indemnified Party.
(e) In connection with any claim by Buyer as a result
of a shortfall in Working Capital resulting in a breach of the
representation and warranty contained in
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Section 3.2(b)(ii), Buyer shall give notice to the Stockholder
Representative setting forth Buyer's determination of the Working
Capital as of the close of business on March 31, 1998, or in the event
the Closing shall not have occurred on or prior to April 3, 1998, as of
the close of business on the Closing Date (the date of such
determination, the "Measurement Date") and any proposed adjustment to
the Purchase Price as a result thereof (the "Adjustment Notice"). On or
prior to the 30th day after the Stockholder Representative's receipt of
the Adjustment Statement, the Stockholder Representative may give the
Buyer a written notice stating in reasonable detail the Stockholder
Representative's objections, if any (an "Objection Notice"), to the
Adjustment Statement. If the Stockholder Representative does not tender
to the Buyer an Objection Notice within such 30-day period, or
otherwise agrees in writing with the Adjustment Statement, then the
Adjustment Statement will be conclusive and binding upon the parties
and the Working Capital determined therefrom will likewise be binding
on the parties for purposes of this Section. If the Stockholder
Representative and the Buyer do not resolve all disputes as reflected
in the Objection Notice on or prior to the 15th day after the Objection
Notice is given, then the Stockholder Representative and the Buyer will
retain a firm of certified public accountants that is mutually
acceptable to the Stockholder Representative and the Buyer (if the
Stockholder Representative and the Buyer are unable to agree on a
mutually acceptable accounting firm prior to the 22nd day following
delivery of the Objection Notice, then such firm will be chosen
randomly by lot from among the accounting firms formerly constituting
the "big six", other than the Buyer's accountant and Rotterdam's
accountant) (the "Independent Accounting Firm") to determine the
Working Capital as of the close of business on the Measurement Date, as
soon as practicable, and, in any event, within 30 days after the
submission of any dispute thereto, all in accordance with the standards
and definitions set forth herein and in Section 1.3. The amount of
Working Capital as of the close of business on the Measurement Date,
determined by the Independent Accounting Firm (1) must be within the
range of values established for such amount as determined by reference
to the value assigned to such amount by the Stockholder Representative
and the Buyer in the Objection Notice and the Adjustment Statement,
respectively, and, assuming compliance with the preceding clause, (2)
will be conclusive and binding upon the Parties for purposes of this
Section. The fees and expenses of the Independent Accounting Firm will
be split equally between the Buyer and the Sellers. If any amount is
determined to be owed to Buyer hereunder as a result of a shortfall in
Working Capital, Rotterdam shall pay any amount so owing, plus interest
thereon at the Base Rate from the Closing Date, to Buyer by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account or accounts
designated by Buyer in writing, no later than three (3) business days
after the determination thereof.
Section 10.5 Payment. Upon the determination of the liability
under Article X or otherwise between the parties or by judicial proceeding, the
appropriate party shall pay to the other, as the case may be, within ten (10)
days after such determination, the amount of any claim for indemnification made
hereunder. Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, no Seller
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shall be obligated to make any payment to any Buyer Indemnitee pursuant to
Section 10.2(a)(i), Section 10.2(a)(ii) (other than with respect to any claim
for breach of Section 9.2, Section 9.4 or Section 9.8) or Sections 10.2(a)(vi),
(viii) and (ix) until and unless the Escrow Deposit is exhausted. To the extent
the Escrow Deposit is exhausted, the Buyer Indemnitees shall have recourse
against, and only against, Rotterdam for the amount of any claim for
indemnification under this Article X and Rotterdam hereby acknowledges and
agrees that it shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire amount of
any such claim. To the extent Rotterdam has made payments in respect of any
claim for indemnification hereunder, each other Seller shall, on written notice
thereof, promptly pay Rotterdam an amount equal to such other Seller's pro rata
portion (based on his relative ownership of Stock prior to Closing) of such
Losses.
Section 10.6 Adjustment to Indemnities.
(a) The amount of indemnity payable under Section
10.2 or Section 10.3 shall be treated by Buyer, Sellers and the Company
as an adjustment to the Purchase Price of the Stock, and shall be
calculated after giving effect to (i) any proceeds received from
insurance policies covering the damage, loss, liability or expense that
is the subject of the claim for indemnity, net of any increase in
premium as a result of such claim and (ii) the actual realized Tax
benefit to the Indemnified Party resulting from the damage, loss,
liability or expense that is the subject of the indemnity and of the
indemnity payment itself; provided that, to the extent that any Tax
benefit is realized in a Tax year other than the year in which the
indemnity is paid, the Indemnified Party shall make a payment to the
Indemnifying Party in the amount of such realized Tax benefit in the
year in which it is realized. For purposes of this Section 10.6, an
actual realized Tax benefit is an actual reduction in Taxes payable or
a refund of Taxes previously paid.
(b) If an audit, claim for refund, or amended return
(collectively, an "Adjustment") after the Closing Date shall both (i)
increase a Tax liability for which the Sellers are responsible under
Section 10.2 and (ii) decrease a Tax liability of the Company (except
Tax liabilities of the Company for which the Sellers are so
responsible), and if such Adjustment is not taken into account under
Section 10.6(a) in computing the amount of an indemnification payment
under Section 10.2, then, when and to the extent that the Company
derives a Tax benefit from such decrease (through a reduction of Taxes,
refund of Taxes paid or credit against Taxes due), the Company shall
promptly pay to the Stockholder's Representative an amount equal to the
amount of such reduction, refund or credit, but not before (A) the
benefit of the reduction is received or, if contested, a final
determination is made of any contest in which the reduction is at
issue, (B) the refund is received, or (C) the credit is actually
utilized. Cumulative amounts paid for Adjustments pursuant to this
Section 10.6(b) shall not exceed the cumulative increases in Tax
liability (including interest and penalties) of the Sellers resulting
from Adjustments described in this Section 10.6(b). For purposes of
this Section 10.6(b), (1) a reduction in otherwise available losses or
Tax credits shall be considered an increase in Tax liability at such
time
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as Taxes are actually required to be paid that would not have been
payable had such losses or credits not been so reduced, and (2) an
addition to available losses or Tax credits shall be considered a
decrease in Tax liability at such time as such additional losses or
credits actually are used, treating the additional losses and credits
as being the last losses and credits utilized by the Company.
Section 10.7 No Contribution. Anything to the contrary herein
notwithstanding, no Seller shall have any right to seek any indemnification or
contribution from or remedy against the Company whether arising prior to or
after the Closing Date in respect of any breach of any representation or
warranty by the Company or the failure of the Company to comply with any
covenant or agreement to be performed by the Company on or prior to the Closing
Date and each Seller hereby waives any such claim it may have against the
Company with respect thereto whether at law, in equity or otherwise.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.1 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by the Company or any of the
Sellers without the prior written consent of Buyer, or by Buyer without the
prior written consent of Sellers, except that Buyer may, without such consent,
assign, directly or indirectly, all of its rights and obligations under this
Agreement to any of its Affiliates, any Person which provides financing to the
Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or any subsequent purchaser of the Buyer or its
Affiliates (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of stock, sale of assets or
otherwise). Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal
representatives, successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement shall be for
the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors,
permitted assigns and legal representatives and is not intended, nor shall be
construed, to give any Person, other than the parties hereto and their
respective heirs, successors, assigns and legal representatives, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim hereunder.
Section 11.2 Notices. Any notice, request, demand, waiver,
consent, approval or other communication which is required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing. All such notices shall be delivered personally,
by telecopier, by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by reputable
overnight courier (costs prepaid), and shall be deemed given or made upon
receipt thereof. All such notices are to be given or made to the parties at the
following addresses (or to such other address as any party may designate by a
notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section):
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If to Buyer:
Neenah Foundry Company
2121 Brooks Avenue
Neenah, Wisconsin 54957
Attention: James K. Hildebrand
Telecopy No.: (414) 729-3603
With copies (which shall not constitute notice to Buyer) to:
Citicorp Venture Capital, Ltd.
399 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, Zone 4
New York, NY 10043
Attention: John D. Weber
Telecopy No.: (212) 888-2940
and
Kirkland & Ellis
153 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Kirk A. Radke, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (212) 446-4900
If to the Company or Sellers:
Rotterdam Ventures, Inc.
Rotterdam Industrial Park
Building 6
Rotterdam, NY 12306
Attention: David Buicko
Telecopy No.: (518) 356-5334
With copies (which shall not constitute notice to the Company
or Sellers) to:
Rotterdam Ventures, Inc.
Rotterdam Industrial Park
Building 6
Rotterdam, NY 12306
Attention: Steven Porter
Telecopy No.: (518) 356-5334
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and
Mayer, Brown & Platt
1675 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Thomas M. Vitale
Telecopy No.: (212) 262-1910
SECTION 11.3 CHOICE OF LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES
THEREOF. ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
DOCUMENT RELATED HERETO MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY
EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY ACCEPTS FOR
ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE
JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
WAIVE ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY FORUM NON CONVENIENS,
WHICH ANY OF THEM MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF SUCH ACTION OR
PROCEEDING IN SUCH RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS.
Section 11.4 Entire Agreement; Amendments and Waivers. This
Agreement, together with all Exhibits and Schedules hereto, constitutes the
entire agreement among the Parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions,
whether oral or written, of the Parties. No supplement, modification or waiver
of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the Party to be
bound thereby. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or
not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless
otherwise expressly provided.
Section 11.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 11.6 Invalidity. In the event that any one or more of
the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other instrument referred
to herein, shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability
shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any other such
instrument.
Section 11.7 Headings. The headings of the Articles and
Sections herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not
intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
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Section 11.8 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein,
Sellers and Buyer will each be liable for their respective costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby; provided, that any such costs and expenses incurred by the
Company at or prior to the Closing shall be deemed to have been incurred by
Sellers. Buyer and Seller shall split equally all real property transfer, stamp
and other similar Taxes, if any, assessed in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 11.9 Specific Performance. Each of the Buyer, the
Company and Sellers acknowledges and agrees that the other party would be
damaged irreparably in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement are not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or otherwise are breached.
Accordingly, each party agrees that the other party shall be entitled to an
injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of this
Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and the terms and
provisions hereof in any action instituted in any court of the United States or
any state thereof having jurisdiction over the parties and the matter (subject
to Section 11.3), in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled,
at law or in equity.
Section 11.10 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto
waives to the fullest extent permitted by law any right it may have to trial by
jury in respect of any claim, demand, action or cause of action based on, or
arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement, or any course of
conduct, course of dealing, verbal or written statement or action of any party
hereto, in each case whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in
contract, tort, equity or otherwise. The parties to this Agreement each hereby
agrees that any such claim, demand, action or cause of action shall be decided
by court trial without a jury and that the parties to this Agreement may file an
original counterpart of a copy of this Agreement with any court as evidence of
the consent of the parties hereto to the waiver of their right to trial by jury.
* * * * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
NEENAH FOUNDRY COMPANY
By: /s/ James K. Hildebrand
--------------------------------
Name: James K. Hildebrand
Its: CEO
MERCER FORGE CORPORATION
By: /s/ David M. Buicko
--------------------------------
Name: David M. Buicko
Its: EVP
ROTTERDAM VENTURES, INC.
By: /s/ David M. Buicko
--------------------------------
Name: David M. Buicko
Its: EVP
/s/ Mark Clark
--------------------------------
MARK CLARK
/s/ David M. Buicko
--------------------------------
DAVID BUICKO
/s/ Eugene Ruiz
--------------------------------
EUGENE RUIZ
/s/ John Kchikian
--------------------------------
JOHN KCHIKIAN
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10.1
Execution Copy
NEENAH FOUNDRY COMPANY
NFC CASTINGS, INC.
$125,000,000
Credit Agreement
Dated as of April 30, 1997,
as Amended and Restated as of
September 12, 1997,
and as of
April 3, 1998
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
AS ARRANGER
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
[CHASE LOGO]
<PAGE> 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
ARTICLE I
Definitions
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 1.01. Definitions............................................................... 1
SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally........................................................... 23
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01. Commitments............................................................... 24
SECTION 2.02. Loans..................................................................... 24
SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedure....................................................... 26
SECTION 2.04. Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans...................................... 26
SECTION 2.05. Fees...................................................................... 27
SECTION 2.06. Interest on Loans......................................................... 28
SECTION 2.07. Default Interest.......................................................... 28
SECTION 2.08. Alternate Rate of Interest................................................ 28
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments.................................. 28
SECTION 2.10. Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings................................. 29
SECTION 2.11. Repayment of Term Borrowings.............................................. 30
SECTION 2.12. Optional Prepayment....................................................... 32
SECTION 2.13. Mandatory Prepayments..................................................... 32
SECTION 2.14. Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances............................. 35
SECTION 2.15. Change in Legality........................................................ 36
SECTION 2.16. Indemnity................................................................. 36
SECTION 2.17. Pro Rata Treatment........................................................ 37
SECTION 2.18. Sharing of Setoffs........................................................ 37
SECTION 2.19. Payments.................................................................. 38
SECTION 2.20. Taxes..................................................................... 38
SECTION 2.21. Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances;
Duty to Mitigate........................................................ 40
SECTION 2.22. Letters of Credit......................................................... 40
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers...................................................... 44
SECTION 3.02. Authorization............................................................. 44
SECTION 3.03. Enforceability............................................................ 44
SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals.................................................... 44
SECTION 3.05. Financial Statements...................................................... 45
SECTION 3.06. No Material Adverse Change................................................ 45
SECTION 3.07. Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases.............................. 45
SECTION 3.08. Subsidiaries.............................................................. 46
SECTION 3.09. Litigation; Compliance with Laws.......................................... 46
SECTION 3.10. Agreements................................................................ 46
SECTION 3.11. Federal Reserve Regulations............................................... 46
SECTION 3.12. Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act................ 47
SECTION 3.13. Use of Proceeds........................................................... 47
SECTION 3.14. Tax Returns............................................................... 47
SECTION 3.15. No Material Misstatements................................................. 47
SECTION 3.16. ERISA..................................................................... 47
SECTION 3.17. Environmental Matters..................................................... 47
SECTION 3.18. Insurance................................................................. 48
SECTION 3.19. Security Documents........................................................ 48
SECTION 3.20. Location of Real Property and Leased Premises............................. 49
SECTION 3.21. Labor Matters............................................................. 49
SECTION 3.22. Solvency.................................................................. 50
ARTICLE IV
Conditions of Lending
SECTION 4.01. All Credit Events......................................................... 50
SECTION 4.02. First Credit Event........................................................ 51
SECTION 4.03. ACP Contribution.......................................................... 54
ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
SECTION 5.01. Existence; Business and Properties........................................ 55
SECTION 5.02. Insurance................................................................. 55
SECTION 5.03. Obligations and Taxes..................................................... 56
SECTION 5.04 Financial Statements, Reports, etc........................................ 57
SECTION 5.05. Litigation and Other Notices.............................................. 58
SECTION 5.06. Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections................. 58
SECTION 5.07. Use of Proceeds........................................................... 58
SECTION 5.08. Compliance with Environmental Laws........................................ 58
SECTION 5.09. Preparation of Environmental Reports...................................... 59
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 4
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 5.10. [Intentionally Omitted]................................................... 59
SECTION 5.11. Further Assurances........................................................ 59
ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness.............................................................. 60
SECTION 6.02. Liens..................................................................... 61
SECTION 6.03. Sale and Lease-Back Transactions.......................................... 62
SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans and Advances........................................... 62
SECTION 6.05. Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions................. 63
SECTION 6.06. Dividends and Distributions; Restrictions on Ability of
Subsidiaries to Pay Dividends........................................... 64
SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates.............................................. 65
SECTION 6.08. Business of Borrower and Subsidiaries..................................... 66
SECTION 6.09. Other Indebtedness and Agreements......................................... 66
SECTION 6.10. Capital Expenditures...................................................... 66
SECTION 6.11. Consolidated Leverage Ratio............................................... 67
SECTION 6.12. Consolidated Net Worth.................................................... 67
SECTION 6.13. Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio...................................... 67
SECTION 6.14. Fiscal Year............................................................... 67
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default......................................................... 67
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent......................... 70
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01. Notices................................................................... 72
SECTION 9.02. Survival of Agreement..................................................... 72
SECTION 9.03. Binding Effect............................................................ 73
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns.................................................... 73
SECTION 9.05. Expenses; Indemnity....................................................... 76
SECTION 9.06. Right of Setoff........................................................... 77
SECTION 9.07. Applicable Law............................................................ 77
SECTION 9.08. Waivers; Amendment........................................................ 78
SECTION 9.09. Interest Rate Limitation.................................................. 78
SECTION 9.10. Entire Agreement.......................................................... 78
SECTION 9.11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL...................................................... 79
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 9.12. Severability............................................................... 79
SECTION 9.13. Counterparts............................................................... 79
SECTION 9.14. Headings................................................................... 79
SECTION 9.15. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process................................ 79
SECTION 9.16. Confidentiality............................................................ 80
SECTION 9.17. Termination................................................................ 80
SCHEDULES:
Schedule 1.01(a) -- Subsidiary Guarantors
Schedule 2.01 -- Lenders and Commitments
Schedule 3.07(d) -- Contractual Rights Regarding Mortgaged Property
Schedule 3.08 -- Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.09(a) -- Litigation
Schedule 3.09(c) -- Certificates of Occupancy
Schedule 3.10 -- Agreements and Instruments
Schedule 3.17 -- Environmental Matters
Schedule 3.18 -- Insurance
Schedule 3.19(d) -- Filing Offices-- Mortgages
Schedule 3.20(a) -- Mortgaged Properties
Schedule 3.20(b) -- Leased Properties
Schedule 4.02(a) -- Local Counsel
Schedule 6.01 -- Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02 -- Existing Liens
Schedule 6.07 -- Transactions with Affiliates
EXHIBITS:
Exhibit A -- Form of Administrative Questionnaire
Exhibit B -- Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit C -- Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit D -- Form of Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement
Exhibit E-1 -- Form of Mortgages
Exhibit E-2 -- Form of Amendments to Mortgages
Exhibit F -- Form of Parent Guarantee Agreement
Exhibit G -- Form of Pledge Agreement
Exhibit H -- Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit I -- Form of Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement
Exhibit J-1 -- Form of Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis
Exhibit J-2 -- Form of Opinion of Local Counsel
Exhibit K -- Form of Seller Note
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 6
CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of April 30, 1997, as
amended and restated as of September 12, 1997, and as of
April 3, 1998, among NEENAH FOUNDRY COMPANY (formerly known
as Neenah Corporation), a Wisconsin corporation (the
"Borrower"), NFC CASTINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Holdings"), the Lenders (as defined in Article I), and
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation,
as issuing bank (in such capacity, the "Issuing Bank"), as
administrative agent (in such capacity, the "Administrative
Agent") and as collateral agent (in such capacity, the
"Collateral Agent") for the Lenders.
Holdings and the Borrower have requested the Lenders to extend
credit to the Borrower in the form of (a) Tranche A Term Loans on the
Restatement Closing Date and on the ACP Contribution Date in an aggregate
principal amount not in excess of $20,000,000, (b) Tranche B Term Loans on the
Restatement Closing Date, in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of
$55,000,000, and (c) Revolving Loans at any time and from time to time prior to
the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, in an aggregate principal amount at any time
outstanding not in excess of $50,000,000. Holdings and the Borrower have
requested the Issuing Bank to issue letters of credit, in an aggregate face
amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $15,000,000, to support payment
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries. The proceeds of the Term Loans to be made on the Restatement
Closing Date will be used solely (a) to pay, or, to the extent any portion of
the Purchase Price has been paid prior to the Restatement Closing Date, to
reimburse the Borrower for such portion of, the Purchase Price, (b) to repay
outstanding Revolving Loans and (c) to pay related fees and expenses. The
proceeds of the Tranche A Term Loans to be made on the ACP Contribution Date
will be used solely to consummate the ACP Refinancing and to pay related fees
and expenses. The proceeds of the Revolving Loans are to be used solely for
general corporate purposes in the ordinary course of the Borrower's business,
including Permitted Acquisitions.
The Lenders are willing to extend such credit to the Borrower and the
Issuing Bank is willing to issue letters of credit for the account of the
Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the meanings specified below:
"ABR Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of ABR Loans.
"ABR Loan" shall mean any ABR Term Loan or ABR Revolving Loan.
"ABR Revolving Loan" shall mean any Revolving Loan bearing interest at
a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate in accordance with the
provisions of Article II.
<PAGE> 7
2
"ABR Term Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of ABR Term
Loans.
"ABR Term Loan" shall mean any Term Loan bearing interest at a rate
determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate in accordance with the
provisions of Article II.
"Account" shall mean any right to payment for goods sold or for
services rendered, whether or not it has been earned by performance.
"ACP" shall mean Advanced Cast Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
"ACP Contribution" shall mean the contribution by ACP Holdings within
six months following the Restatement Closing Date of all the issued and
outstanding capital stock of ACP to the Borrower.
"ACP Contribution Date" shall mean the date on which the ACP
Contribution is made.
"ACP Holdings" shall mean ACP Holding Company, a Delaware corporation.
"ACP Merger" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
definition of the term "Change in Control".
"ACP Products" shall mean ACP Products, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company.
"ACP Refinancing" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.03(b).
"Acquisitions" shall mean the acquisition by the Borrower of all the
issued and outstanding capital stock of each of Mercer and Deeter pursuant to
the Stock Purchase Agreements.
"Adjusted LIBO Rate" shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar
Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards,
if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the product of (a) the LIBO Rate
in effect for such Interest Period and (b) Statutory Reserves.
"Administrative Agent Fees" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 2.05(b).
"Administrative Questionnaire" shall mean an Administrative
Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit A.
"Affiliate" shall mean, when used 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.
"Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure" shall mean the aggregate amount
of the Lenders' Revolving Credit Exposures.
"Alternate Base Rate" shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum
(rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greatest of
(a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Base CD Rate in effect on such
day plus 1% and (c) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect
<PAGE> 8
3
on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. If for any reason the Administrative Agent shall
have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error)
that it is unable to ascertain the Base CD Rate or the Federal Funds Effective
Rate or both for any reason, including the inability or failure of the
Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the
terms of the definition thereof, the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined
without regard to clause (b) or (c), or both, of the preceding sentence, as
appropriate, until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer
exist. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate,
the Base CD Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective on the
effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Base CD Rate or the Federal
Funds Effective Rate, respectively. The term "Prime Rate" shall mean the rate of
interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative
Agent as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each
change in the Prime Rate shall be effective on the date such change is publicly
announced as being effective. The term "Base CD Rate" shall mean the sum of (a)
the product of (i) the Three-Month Secondary CD Rate and (ii) Statutory Reserves
and (b) the Assessment Rate.
"Applicable Percentage" shall mean, for any day, with respect to any
Loan, or with respect to the Commitment Fees, as the case may be, the applicable
percentage set forth below under the caption "Eurodollar Spread--Tranche A Term
Loans and Revolving Loans", "Eurodollar Spread--Tranche B Term Loans", "ABR
Spread--Tranche A Term Loans and Revolving Loans", "ABR Spread--Tranche B Term
Loans" or "Fee Percentage", as the case may be, based upon the Consolidated
Leverage Ratio as of the relevant date of determination:
<PAGE> 9
4
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Eurodollar ABR
Spread- Spread-
Tranche A Tranche A
Term Loans Term Loans Eurodollar ABR
Consolidated and and Spread- Spread-
Leverage Revolving Revolving Tranche B Tranche B Fee
Ratio Loans Loans Term Loans Term Loans Percentage
----- ----- ----- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Category 1 2.50% 1.50% 2.75% 1.75% .50%
Equal to or greater
than 4.50 to 1.00
Category 2 2.25% 1.25% 2.50% 1.50% .50%
Equal to or greater
than 4.00 to 1.00, but
less than 4.50 to 1.00
Category 3 2.00% 1.00% 2.25% 1.25% .50%
Equal to or greater
than 3.50 to 1.00, but
less than 4.00 to 1.00
Category 4 1.75% .75% 2.00% 1.00% .375%
Equal to or greater
than 3.00 to 1.00, but
less than 3.50 to 1.00
Category 5 1.50% .50% 2.00% 1.00% .375%
Less than 3.00 to 1.00
</TABLE>
Each change in the Applicable Percentage resulting from a change in the
Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be effective with respect to all Loans,
Commitments and Letters of Credit outstanding on and after the date of delivery
to the Administrative Agent of the financial statements and certificates
required by Section 5.04(a) or (b) indicating such change until the date
immediately preceding the next date of delivery of such financial statements and
certificates indicating another such change. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a)
at any time during which the Borrower has failed to deliver the financial
statements and certificates required by Section 5.04(a) or (b), or (b) at any
time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the
Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be in Category 1 for purposes of
determining the Applicable Percentage.
<PAGE> 10
5
"Approved Fund" shall mean, with respect to any Lender that is a fund
that invests in bank loans, any other fund that invests in bank loans and is
managed by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such
investment advisor.
"Assessment Rate" shall mean for any date the annual rate (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) most recently estimated by the
Administrative Agent as the then current net annual assessment rate that will be
employed in determining amounts payable by the Administrative Agent to the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (or any successor thereto) for insurance
by such Corporation (or such successor) of time deposits made in dollars at the
Administrative Agent's domestic offices.
"Asset Sale" shall mean the sale, transfer or other disposition (by way
of merger or otherwise) by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries to any Person
other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor of (a) any capital stock of
any of the Subsidiaries (other than directors' qualifying shares) or (b) any
other assets of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (other than (i)
inventory, excess, damaged, obsolete or worn out assets, scrap, Permitted
Investments and licenses of patterns developed for customers of the Borrower or
any Subsidiary, in each case disposed of in the ordinary course of business,
(ii) assets transferred for an aggregate purchase price not exceeding $3,000,000
in any fiscal year of the Borrower in connection with the replacement or upgrade
of a tangible asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor within 180 days
of such transfer, (iii) dispositions resulting in Casualty Proceeds or
Condemnation Proceeds or (iv) dispositions resulting in other insurance
settlements or condemnation awards not exceeding $100,000 in any fiscal year of
the business), provided that any asset sale or series of related asset sales
described in clause (b) above having a value not in excess of $100,000 shall be
deemed not to be an "Asset Sale" for purposes of this Agreement.
"Assignment and Acceptance" shall mean an assignment and acceptance
entered into by a Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Administrative
Agent, in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as shall be approved by the
Administrative Agent.
"Board" shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
of the United States of America.
"Borrower Tax Amount" shall mean, with respect to any fiscal quarter,
the amount paid by Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to ACP Holdings
pursuant to the Tax Sharing Agreement, which amount shall not be greater than
the amount of taxes that would be required to be paid in cash by Holdings, the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis if Holdings, the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries were not consolidated with ACP Holdings and its other
subsidiaries for tax purposes.
"Borrowing" shall mean a group of Loans of a single Type made by the
Lenders on a single date and as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.
"Borrowing Request" shall mean a request by the Borrower in accordance
with the terms of Section 2.03 and substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day
on which banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close;
provided, however, that when used in
<PAGE> 11
6
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 shall mean 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.
"Capital Stock" of any Person shall mean any and all shares, interests
(including membership and economic interests in a limited liability company),
rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or
interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred
Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity prior to
such conversion.
"Casualty" shall have the meaning set forth in each of the Mortgages.
"Casualty Proceeds" shall have the meaning set forth in each of the
Mortgages.
A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if (a) prior to
the first fully distributed public offering of Voting Stock of Holdings (or, in
the event (i) Holdings shall merge with and into ACP Holdings or the Borrower in
a transaction permitted by Section 6.05 (a "Holdings Merger"), ACP Holdings, or
(ii) following a Holdings Merger, ACP Holdings shall merge with and into ACP
Products or the Borrower in a transaction permitted by Section 6.05 (an "ACP
Holdings Merger"), ACP Products), the Permitted Holders shall cease to own
directly or indirectly (including by way of direct or indirect ownership of
economic interests in ACP Products), beneficially or of record, shares
representing at least 51% on a fully diluted, as if converted, basis of the
aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Voting
Stock of Holdings (or, in the event of (i) a Holdings Merger, ACP Holdings, or
(ii) an ACP Holdings Merger, ACP Products), (b) after the first fully
distributed public offering of Voting Stock of Holdings (or, in the event of (i)
a Holdings Merger, ACP Holdings, or (ii) an ACP Holdings Merger, ACP Products),
the Permitted Holders shall cease to own directly or indirectly (including by
way of direct or indirect ownership of economic interests in ACP Products),
beneficially or of record, shares representing at least 25% on a fully diluted,
as if converted, basis of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the
issued and outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings (or, in the event of (i) a
Holdings Merger, ACP Holdings, or (ii) an ACP Holdings Merger, ACP Products),
(c) after the first fully distributed public offering of Voting Stock of
Holdings (or, in the event of (i) a Holdings Merger, ACP Holdings, or (ii) an
ACP Holdings Merger, ACP Products), any Person or group (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on the date
hereof) other than the Permitted Holders shall own directly or indirectly,
beneficially or of record, a percentage of the issued and outstanding Voting
Stock of Holdings (or, in the event of (i) a Holdings Merger, ACP Holdings, or
(ii) an ACP Holdings Merger, ACP Products) on a fully diluted, as if converted,
basis having ordinary voting power in excess of the percentage then owned,
directly or indirectly (including by way of direct or indirect ownership of
economic interests in ACP Products), beneficially and of record, on a fully
diluted, as if converted, basis, by the Permitted Holders; (d) a majority of the
seats (except in the case of any vacancy for 30 days or less resulting from the
death or resignation of any director of Holdings (or, in the event of (i) a
Holdings Merger, ACP Holdings, or (ii) an ACP Holdings Merger, ACP Products)) on
the board of directors of Holdings (or, in the
<PAGE> 12
7
event of (i) a Holdings Merger, ACP Holdings, or (ii) an ACP Holdings Merger,
ACP Products) shall at any time be occupied by persons who were neither (i)
nominated by the board of directors of Holdings, ACP Holdings or ACP Products,
as the case may be, nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; (e) any change
in control (or similar event, however denominated) with respect to Holdings (or,
in the event of (i) a Holdings Merger, ACP Holdings, or (ii) an ACP Holdings
Merger, ACP Products) or the Borrower shall occur under and as defined in any
indenture or agreement in respect of Indebtedness to which any such Person or
any Subsidiary is a party; or (f) Holdings (or in the event of (i) a Holdings
Merger, ACP Holdings, or (ii) an ACP Holdings Merger, ACP Products) shall cease
to own, beneficially and of record, 100% of the issued and outstanding Capital
Stock of the Borrower.
"Citicorp" shall mean Citicorp, a Delaware corporation.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time.
"Collateral" shall mean all the "Collateral" as defined in any Security
Document and shall also include the Mortgaged Properties.
"Commitment" shall mean, with respect to any Lender, such Lender's
Revolving Credit Commitment and Term Loan Commitments.
"Commitment Fee" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.05(a).
"Condemnation" shall have the meaning set forth in each of the
Mortgages.
"Condemnation Proceeds" shall have the meaning set forth in each of the
Mortgages.
"Confidential Information Memorandum" shall mean the Confidential
Information Memorandum of the Borrower dated March 1998.
"Consolidated Capital Expenditures" shall mean, for any period, the sum
of (a) the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or other
consideration or accrued as a liability) by the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries during such period that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be
included in "additions to property, plant and equipment" or similar items
reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries for such period (including the amount of assets leased in
connection with any Capital Lease Obligation), and (b) to the extent not
included pursuant to clause (a) above, the aggregate of all expenditures
(whether paid in cash or other consideration or accrued as a liability) by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary to acquire, by purchase or otherwise, the business,
property or fixed assets of, or stock or other evidence of beneficial ownership
of, any Person (other than expenditures for Permitted Acquisitions); provided,
however, that, for purposes of Section 6.10 only, to the extent the Borrower or
a Subsidiary uses, within 180 days of the receipt thereof, (i) the proceeds of
the disposition of assets described in clause (b)(i), (ii) or (iv) of the
definition of the term "Asset Sale" or (ii) Casualty Proceeds or Condemnation
Proceeds to purchase, construct, repair, lease or replace any property, plant or
equipment, the amount of the related Consolidated Capital Expenditure shall be
reduced by the amount of such proceeds.
"Consolidated Current Assets" shall mean, as of any date of
determination, the total assets that would properly be classified as current
assets (other than cash and cash equivalents)
<PAGE> 13
8
of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of such date, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Current Liabilities" shall mean, as of any date of
determination, the total liabilities (other than, without duplication, (a) the
current portion of long-term Indebtedness and (b) outstanding Revolving Loans)
that would properly be classified as current liabilities of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries as of such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance
with GAAP.
"Consolidated EBITDA" shall mean, for any period, Consolidated Net
Income for such period, plus, to the extent deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income, (a) the sum of (i) all Federal, state, local and
foreign taxes, (ii) Consolidated Net Interest Expense and (iii) depreciation,
depletion, amortization of intangibles and other non-cash charges or non-cash
losses (including non-cash transaction expenses and the amortization of debt
discounts), minus, to the extent added in computing such Consolidated Net
Income, (b) any non-cash income or non-cash gains, all as determined on a
consolidated basis with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in
accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio" shall mean, for any period, the
ratio for such period of (a) Consolidated EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Net
Interest Expense determined in each case for the period of four consecutive
fiscal quarters ending on the last day of such period.
"Consolidated Leverage Ratio" shall mean, as of any date of
determination, the ratio of (a) Net Debt on such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA
for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such date
(including the Consolidated EBITDA for such four fiscal quarters of any
Subsidiary acquired during such four fiscal quarters constituting a Permitted
Acquisition pursuant to Section 6.04(g)).
"Consolidated Net Income" shall mean, for any period, net income or
loss of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be
excluded (a) the income of any Person in which any other Person (other than the
Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or any director holding qualifying shares in
accordance with applicable law) has a joint interest, except to the extent of
the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to the Borrower or
any wholly owned Subsidiary by such Person during such period, (b) the income
(or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the
Borrower or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries or the date that Person's assets are acquired by the Borrower or
any of the Subsidiaries (except, in the case of any Subsidiary acquired during
such period constituting a Permitted Acquisition pursuant to Section 6.04(g),
which shall not be excluded for purposes of determining Consolidated EBITDA for
purposes of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio only), (c) the income of any
Subsidiary of the Borrower to the extent that the declaration or payment of
dividends or similar distributions by the Subsidiary of that income is not at
the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement,
instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation
applicable to that Subsidiary, (d) any after tax gains or losses attributable to
sales of assets out of the ordinary course of business and (e) (to the extent
not included in clauses (a) through (d) above) any non-cash extraordinary gains
or non-cash extraordinary losses.
"Consolidated Net Interest Expense" shall mean, for any period, the
gross interest expense of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period
determined on a consolidated basis in
<PAGE> 14
9
accordance with GAAP, including the portion of any payments or accruals with
respect to Capital Lease Obligations that are allocable to interest expense in
accordance with GAAP, but excluding (a) the amortization of debt discounts and
(b) the amortization of all fees (including fees with respect to Interest Rate
Protection Agreements) payable in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness
to the extent included in interest expense in accordance with GAAP (including
fees and expenses in connection with the Transactions and the Original Credit
Event) less the total interest income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for
such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. For
purposes of the foregoing, gross interest expense shall be determined after
giving effect to any net payments made or received by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary with respect to Interest Rate Protection Agreements.
"Consolidated Net Worth" shall mean, as of any date of determination,
the consolidated stockholder's equity of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries at
such date, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;
provided, however, that common stock or preferred stock (a) with respect to
which no payments that would violate Section 6.06 are required to be made and
(b) that is redeemable not earlier than April 30, 2009 shall be included
regardless of its classification under GAAP.
"Control" shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a
Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise, and the terms "Controlling" and "Controlled" shall have meanings
correlative thereto.
"Credit Event" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.01.
"CVC" shall mean Citicorp Venture Capital, Ltd., a New York
corporation.
"Deeter" shall mean Deeter Foundry, Inc., a Nebraska corporation.
"Default" shall mean any event or condition which upon notice, lapse of
time or both would constitute an Event of Default.
"dollars" or "$" shall mean lawful money of the United States of
America.
"Domestic Subsidiaries" shall mean all Subsidiaries incorporated or
organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or
the District of Columbia.
"Earn-Out Obligation" shall mean any unsecured contingent liability of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary owed to any seller in connection with any
Permitted Acquisition permitted pursuant to Section 6.04(g) by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary that (a) constitutes a portion of the purchase price for such
Permitted Acquisition but is not an amount certain on the date of incurrence
thereof and is not subject to any right of acceleration by such seller or (b) is
only payable upon the achievement of performance standards by the property
acquired in such Permitted Acquisition and in an amount based upon such
achievement.
"Environment" shall mean ambient air, surface water and groundwater
(including potable water, navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or
subsurface strata, the workplace or as otherwise defined in any Environmental
Law.
<PAGE> 15
10
"Environmental Claim" shall mean any written accusation, allegation,
notice of violation, claim, demand, order, directive, cost recovery action or
other cause of action by, or on behalf of, any Governmental Authority or any
Person for damages, injunctive or equitable relief, personal injury (including
sickness, disease or death), Remedial Action costs, tangible or intangible
property damage, natural resource damages, nuisance, pollution, any adverse
effect on the Environment caused by any Hazardous Material, or for fines,
penalties or restrictions, resulting from or based upon (a) the existence, or
the continuation of the existence, of a Release (including sudden or non-sudden,
accidental or non-accidental Releases), (b) exposure to any Hazardous Material,
(c) the presence, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal
of any Hazardous Material or (d) the violation or alleged violation of any
Environmental Law or Environmental Permit.
"Environmental Law" shall mean any and all applicable present and
future treaties, 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 to health and safety
matters, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 9601 et seq. (collectively
"CERCLA"), the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act of 1976 and Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, 42
U.S.C. ss.ss. 6901 et seq., the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended
by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C. ss.ss. 1251 et seq., the Clean Air Act
of 1970, as amended 42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 7401 et seq., the Toxic Substances Control
Act of 1976, 15 U.S.C. ss.ss. 2601 et seq., the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970, as amended, 29 U.S.C. ss.ss. 651 et seq., the Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 11001 et seq., the
Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 300(f) et seq.,
the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. ss.ss. 5101 et seq., and
any similar or implementing state or local law, and all amendments or
regulations promulgated under any of the foregoing.
"Environmental Permit" shall mean any permit, approval, authorization,
certificate, license, variance, filing or permission required by or from any
Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Law.
"ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as the same may be amended from time to time.
"ERISA Affiliate" shall mean 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" shall mean (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
<PAGE> 16
11
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 Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar
Loans.
"Eurodollar Loan" shall mean any Eurodollar Revolving Loan or
Eurodollar Term Loan.
"Eurodollar Revolving Loan" shall mean any Revolving Loan bearing
interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate in
accordance with the provisions of Article II.
"Eurodollar Term Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of
Eurodollar Term Loans.
"Eurodollar Term Loan" shall mean any Term Loan bearing interest at a
rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate in accordance with the
provisions of Article II.
"Event of Default" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Article VII.
"Excess Cash Flow" shall mean, for any fiscal year of the Borrower, the
excess of (a) the sum, without duplication, of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such
fiscal year, (ii) extraordinary cash income of the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries, if any, during such fiscal year and not included in Consolidated
EBITDA and (iii) reductions to non-cash working capital of the Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year (i.e., the decrease, if any, in
Consolidated Current Assets minus Consolidated Current Liabilities from the
beginning to the end of such fiscal year); provided that such working capital as
of the first day of such fiscal year shall be determined on a pro forma basis
adjusted to give effect (as if such event had occurred on the first day of such
fiscal year) to each Permitted Acquisition made pursuant to Section 6.04(g)
during such fiscal year over (b) the sum, without duplication, of (i) the amount
of any cash income taxes payable by the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries with respect to such fiscal year, (ii) cash interest paid by the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries during such fiscal year, (iii)
Consolidated Capital Expenditures made in cash in accordance with Section 6.10
during such fiscal year, (iv) scheduled principal repayments of Indebtedness
made by the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries during such fiscal year,
(v) optional and mandatory prepayments of the principal of Loans during such
fiscal year, but only to the extent that such prepayments by their terms cannot
be reborrowed or redrawn and do not occur in connection with a refinancing of
all or any portion of the Loans, (vi) extraordinary cash expenses paid by the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, if any, during such fiscal year and
not included in Consolidated EBITDA and (vii) additions to non-cash working
capital for such fiscal year (i.e., the increase, if any, in Consolidated
Current Assets minus Consolidated Current Liabilities from the beginning to the
end of such fiscal year); provided that such working capital as of the first day
of such fiscal year shall be determined on a pro forma basis adjusted to give
effect (as if such event had occurred on the first day of such fiscal year) to
each Permitted Acquisition made pursuant to
<PAGE> 17
12
Section 6.04(g) during such fiscal year provided, further, that, to the extent
otherwise included therein, the Net Cash Proceeds of Asset Sales and
dispositions resulting in Casualty Proceeds or Condemnation Proceeds shall be
excluded from the calculation of Excess Cash Flow.
"Excluded Taxes" shall mean, 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 or
franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States
of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such 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 2.21(a)), 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 2.20(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 2.20(a).
"Federal Funds Effective Rate" shall mean, for any day, the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the
Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published 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 of
the quotations for the day for such transactions received by the Administrative
Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
"Fee Letter" shall mean the Fee Letter dated March 16, 1998, between
the Borrower and The Chase Manhattan Bank.
"Fees" shall mean the Commitment Fees, the Administrative Agent's Fees,
the L/C Participation Fees and the Issuing Bank Fees.
"Financial Officer" of any corporation shall mean the chief financial
officer, principal accounting officer, Treasurer or Controller of such
corporation.
"Foreign Lender" shall mean any Lender that is organized under the laws
of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located. For purposes
of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the
District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
"Foreign Subsidiary" shall mean any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic
Subsidiary.
"GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis.
"Governmental Authority" shall mean any Federal, state, local or
foreign court or governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory
body.
"Guarantee" of or by any Person shall mean any obligation, contingent
or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of
guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other
<PAGE> 18
13
Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly,
and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase
or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Indebtedness or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of)
any security for the payment of such Indebtedness, (b) to purchase or lease
property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such
Indebtedness of the payment of such Indebtedness or (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; provided, however, that the term "Guarantee" shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.
"Guarantee Agreements" shall mean the Parent Guarantee Agreement and
the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement.
"Guarantors" shall mean Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.
"Hazardous Materials" shall mean all explosive or radioactive
substances or wastes, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants,
solid, liquid or gaseous wastes, including petroleum or petroleum distillates,
asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls ("PCBs") or
PCB-containing materials or equipment, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes
and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any
Environmental Law.
"Holdings Merger" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
definition of the term "Change in Control".
"Indebtedness" of any Person shall mean, without duplication, (a) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or
advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person
upon which interest charges are customarily paid (excluding trade accounts
payable and accrued obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business),
(d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title
retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such Person,
(e) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase
price of property or services (excluding trade accounts payable, accrued
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and any unaccrued
Earn-Out Obligation), (f) all Indebtedness of others of the type described in
clauses (a) through (e) and (g) through (j) of this definition 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 obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (g)
all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease
Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations of such Person in respect of
interest rate protection agreements, foreign currency exchange agreements or
other interest or exchange rate hedging arrangements and (j) all obligations of
such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and bankers'
acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of
any partnership in which such Person is a general partner.
"Indemnified Taxes" shall mean Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
"Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement" shall mean the
Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement, substantially in the form of
Exhibit D, among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Collateral
Agent.
<PAGE> 19
14
"Interest Payment Date" shall mean, with respect to any 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 that would have been an Interest Payment
Date had successive Interest Periods of three months' duration been applicable
to such Borrowing, and, in addition, the date of any prepayment of such
Borrowing or conversion of such Borrowing to a Borrowing of a different Type.
"Interest Period" shall mean (a) as to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the
period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically
corresponding day (or, if there is no numerically corresponding day, on the last
day) in the calendar month that is 1, 2, 3 or 6 months thereafter, as the
Borrower may elect and (b) as to any ABR Borrowing, the period commencing on the
date of such Borrowing and ending on the earliest of (i) the next succeeding
March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31, (ii) the Revolving Credit
Maturity Date, the Tranche A Maturity Date or the Tranche B Maturity Date, as
applicable, and (iii) the date such Borrowing is converted to a Borrowing of a
different Type in accordance with Section 2.10 or repaid or prepaid in
accordance with Section 2.11, 2.12 or 2.13; provided, however, that 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. Interest shall accrue from and including the first
day of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day of such Interest Period.
"Interest Rate Protection Agreement" shall mean any interest rate swap
agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement or
similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect the Borrower or any
Subsidiary against fluctuations in interest rates, and not entered into for
speculation.
"Issuing Bank Fees" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.05(c).
"L/C Commitment" shall mean the commitment of the Issuing Bank to issue
Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.22.
"L/C Disbursement" shall mean a payment or disbursement made by the
Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
"L/C Exposure" shall mean at any time the sum of (a) the aggregate
undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the
aggregate principal amount of all L/C Disbursements that have not yet been
reimbursed at such time. The L/C Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender at any
time shall mean its Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate L/C Exposure at such
time.
"L/C Participation Fee" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.05(c).
"Lenders" shall mean (a) the financial institutions listed on Schedule
2.01 (other than any such financial institution that has ceased to be a party
hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance) and (b) any financial
institution that has become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and
Acceptance.
<PAGE> 20
15
"Letter of Credit" shall mean any letter of credit issued pursuant to
Section 2.22.
"LIBO Rate" shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for
any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Dow Jones Service
(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 the Telerate 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
so available at such time for any reason, the "LIBO Rate" with respect to such
Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which dollar
deposits approximately equal in principal amount to the Administrative Agent's
portion of such Eurodollar Borrowing and for a maturity comparable to such
Interest Period are offered to the principal London office of the Administrative
Agent in immediately available funds 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" shall mean, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of
trust, lien, pledge, encumbrance, charge or security interest in or on 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" shall mean this Agreement, the Letters of Credit, the
Guarantee Agreements, the Security Documents and the Indemnity, Subrogation and
Contribution Agreement.
"Loan Parties" shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantors.
"Loans" shall mean the Revolving Loans and the Term Loans.
"Management Investors" shall mean the officers, directors and employees
of ACP Holdings, ACP Products, Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower who own Voting Stock of ACP Holdings, ACP Products, Holdings or the
Borrower on or after the Restatement Closing Date.
"Margin Stock" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Regulation U.
"Material Adverse Effect" shall mean (a) a materially adverse effect on
the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or
otherwise, of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) material
impairment of the ability of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to perform any
of its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is or will be a party or
(c) material impairment of the rights of or benefits available to the Lenders
under any Loan Document.
"Mercer" shall mean Mercer Forge Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
"Merger Agreement" shall mean the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
dated as of November 20, 1996, by and among Holdings, the Borrower and Neenah,
as the same may be amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time
prior to the date hereof or in accordance with Section 6.09(a).
<PAGE> 21
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"Mortgaged Properties" shall mean the owned real properties of the Loan
Parties specified on Schedule 3.20(a).
"Mortgages" shall mean the mortgages, deeds of trust, leasehold
mortgages, assignments of leases and rents, modifications and other security
documents and any amendments thereto delivered pursuant to clause (i) of Section
4.02(j) or pursuant to Section 5.11, each substantially in the form of Exhibit
E-1 and, if applicable, as amended by an amendment substantially in the form of
Exhibit E-2.
"Multiemployer Plan" shall mean a multiemployer plan as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
"Net Cash Proceeds" shall mean (a) with respect to any Asset Sale, the
cash proceeds (including cash proceeds subsequently received (as and when
received) in respect of non-cash consideration initially received and including
all insurance settlements and condemnation awards in any fiscal year of the
Borrower in excess of $100,000), net of (i) selling expenses (including
reasonable broker's fees or commissions, legal fees, transfer and similar taxes
and the Borrower's good faith estimate of income taxes paid or payable in
connection with the receipt of such cash proceeds), (ii) amounts provided as a
reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities under any
indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Sale (provided that, to
the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such
amounts shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds) and (iii) the principal amount,
premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness for
borrowed money which is secured by the asset sold in such Asset Sale and which
is repaid with such proceeds (other than any such Indebtedness assumed by the
purchaser of such asset) and (b) with respect to any issuance or disposition of
Indebtedness, the cash proceeds thereof, net of all taxes and customary fees,
commissions, costs and other expenses incurred in connection therewith.
"Net Debt" shall mean, at any date and without duplication, (a) the
aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis at such date (other than any Indebtedness described in clause
(i) or (j) of the definition of the term "Indebtedness") minus (b) the aggregate
amount of all Permitted Investments as shown on the Borrower's consolidated
balance sheet on such date.
"Obligations" shall mean all obligations defined as "Obligations" in
the Guarantee Agreements and the Security Documents.
"Original Closing Date" shall mean April 30, 1997.
"Original Credit Agreement" shall mean the Credit Agreement dated as of
April 30, 1997, among the Borrower, Holdings, the lenders parties thereto and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York banking corporation.
"Original Credit Event" shall mean the (a) the initial extensions of
credit and the other transactions under the Original Credit Agreement and (b)
the issuance of the Senior Subordinated Notes.
<PAGE> 22
17
"Other Taxes" shall mean 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 Guarantee Agreement" shall mean the Parent Guarantee Agreement,
substantially in the form of Exhibit F, made by Holdings in favor of the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
"PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to
and defined in ERISA.
"Perfection Certificate" shall mean the Perfection Certificate
substantially in the form of Annex 2 to the Security Agreement.
"Permitted Acquisitions" shall mean acquisitions of not less than 100%
of the outstanding capital stock of any corporation, a division of any
corporation or any similar business unit (or of substantially all the assets and
business of any of the foregoing) engaged in a Related Business, so long as in
the case of each such acquisition of capital stock, such acquisition was not
preceded by an unsolicited tender offer for such capital stock by Holdings or
any of its Affiliates.
"Permitted Holders" shall mean (i) CVC and its Affiliates and Permitted
Transferees and (ii) the Management Investors and their Permitted Transferees.
"Permitted Investments" shall mean:
(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 having, at such date of
acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from Standard &
Poor's Ratings Service or from Moody's Investors Service, Inc.;
(c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker's
acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money
market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of
any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of
America or any State thereof that has a combined capital and surplus
and undivided profits of not less than $250,000,000;
(d) other investment instruments approved in writing by the
Required Lenders and offered by financial institutions which have a
combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than
$250,000,000; and
(e) shares of funds registered under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, that have assets of at least $100,000,000 and
invest only in obligations described in clauses (a) through (d) above,
to the extent that such shares are rated by Moody's
<PAGE> 23
18
Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Ratings Service in one of
the two highest rating categories assigned by such agency for shares of
such nature.
"Permitted Transferee" shall mean (a) with respect to CVC (i) Citicorp,
any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Citicorp, and any officer,
director or employee of CVC, Citicorp or any wholly owned subsidiary of
Citicorp, (ii) any spouse or lineal descendant (including by adoption and
stepchildren) of the officers, directors and employees referred to in clause
(a)(i) above or (iii) any trust, corporation or partnership 100% in interest of
the beneficiaries, stockholders or partners of which consists of one or more of
the persons described in clause (a)(i) or (ii) above and (b) with respect to any
officer or employee of ACP Products, ACP Holdings, Holdings, the Borrower or a
Subsidiary, (i) any spouse or lineal descendant (including by adoption and
stepchildren) of such officer or employee and (ii) any trust, corporation or
partnership 100% in interest of the beneficiaries, stockholders or partners of
which consists of such officer or employee, any of the persons described in
clause (b)(i) above or any combination thereof.
"Person" shall mean any natural person, corporation, business trust,
joint venture, association, company, partnership or government, or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.
"Plan" shall mean 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.
"Pledge Agreement" shall mean the Pledge Agreement, substantially in
the form of Exhibit G, among the Borrower, Holdings, the Subsidiaries party
thereto and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
"Preferred Stock" as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, shall
mean Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is
preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets
upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person,
over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.
"Pro Rata Percentage" of any Revolving Credit Lender at any time shall
mean the percentage of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment represented by such
Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment.
"Purchase Price" shall mean the aggregate consideration to be paid by
the Borrower to the shareholders of Mercer and Deeter of approximately
$71,350,000 in connection with the Acquisitions.
"Register" shall have the meaning given such term in Section 9.04(d).
"Regulation U" shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to
time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or
thereof.
"Regulation X" shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to
time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or
thereof.
<PAGE> 24
19
"Related Business" shall mean any business of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as conducted on the Restatement Closing Date and any business
related, ancillary or complementary thereto.
"Release" shall mean any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting,
emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing,
depositing, dispersing, emanating or migrating of any Hazardous Material in,
into, onto or through the Environment.
"Remedial Action" shall mean (a) "remedial action" as such term is
defined in CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601(24), and (b) all other actions
required by any Governmental Authority or voluntarily undertaken to: (i)
cleanup, remove, treat, abate or in any other way address any Hazardous Material
in the Environment; (ii) prevent the Release or threat of Release, or minimize
the further Release of any Hazardous Material so it does not migrate or endanger
or threaten to endanger public health, welfare or the Environment; or (iii)
perform studies and investigations in connection with, or as a precondition to,
(i) or (ii) above.
"Required Lenders" shall mean, at any time, Lenders having Loans, L/C
Exposure and unused Commitments representing at least a majority of the sum of
all Loans outstanding, L/C Exposure and unused Commitments at such time.
"Responsible Officer" of any corporation shall mean any executive
officer or Financial Officer of such corporation and any other officer or
similar official thereof responsible for the administration of the obligations
of such corporation in respect of this Agreement.
"Restatement Closing Date" shall mean April 3, 1998.
"Revolving Credit Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of
Revolving Loans.
"Revolving Credit Commitment" shall mean, with respect to each Lender,
the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans hereunder as set forth on
Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender
assumed its Revolving Credit Commitment, as applicable, as the same may be (a)
reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or increased
from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to
Section 9.04.
"Revolving Credit Exposure" shall mean, with respect to any Lender at
any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of all outstanding
Revolving Loans of such Lender, plus the aggregate amount at such time of such
Lender's L/C Exposure.
"Revolving Credit Lender" shall mean a Lender with a Revolving Credit
Commitment.
"Revolving Credit Maturity Date" shall mean April 30, 2002.
"Revolving Loans" shall mean the revolving loans made by the Lenders to
the Borrower pursuant to clause (c) of Section 2.01. Each Revolving Loan shall
be a Eurodollar Revolving Loan or an ABR Revolving Loan.
"Secured Parties" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
Security Agreement.
<PAGE> 25
20
"Security Agreement" shall mean the Security Agreement, substantially
in the form of Exhibit H, between the Borrower, the Subsidiaries party thereto
and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
"Security Documents" shall mean the Mortgages, the Security Agreement,
the Pledge Agreement and each of the security agreements, mortgages and other
instruments and documents executed and delivered pursuant to any of the
foregoing or pursuant to Section 5.12.
"Seller Note" shall mean the promissory note of ACP Holdings in the
aggregate principal amount of $3,850,000, issued by ACP Holdings in connection
with the acquisition of Deeter by the Borrower and in the form of Exhibit K.
"Senior Subordinated Notes" shall mean (a) the 11.125% Series B Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2007 of the Borrower, issued on April 30, 1997, in an
aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000 and (b) the 11.125% Series D Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2007 of the Borrower, issued on July 1, 1997, in an
aggregate principal amount of $45,000,000.
"Statutory Reserves" shall mean 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 and any other banking authority, domestic or foreign,
to which the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including any branch,
Affiliate, or other fronting office making or holding a Loan) is subject (a)
with respect to the Base CD Rate, for new negotiable nonpersonal time deposits
in dollars of over $100,000 with maturities approximately equal to three months,
and (b) with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for Eurocurrency Liabilities (as
defined 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 Liabilities 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.
Statutory Reserves shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective
date of any change in any reserve percentage.
"Stock Purchase Agreements" shall mean (a) the Stock Purchase Agreement
dated as of April 3, 1998, among the shareholders of Mercer, Mercer and the
Borrower and (b) the Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of March 26, 1998, among
the shareholders of Deeter and the Borrower.
"Subordinated Promissory Notes" shall mean the 12% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2003 in the amount of $4,253,063.17 of ACP payable to Citicorp Venture
Capital Limited dated September 1, 1995.
"subsidiary" shall mean, with respect to any Person (herein referred to
as the "parent"), any corporation, partnership, association or other business
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 more
than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any determination
is being made, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, at the time any
determination is made, 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.
<PAGE> 26
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"Subsidiary" shall mean any subsidiary of the Borrower.
"Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement" shall mean the Subsidiary Guarantee
Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit I, made by the Subsidiary
Guarantors in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured
Parties.
"Subsidiary Guarantor" shall mean each Subsidiary listed on Schedule
1.01(a), and each other Subsidiary that is or becomes a party to a Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement.
"Taxes" shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies,
imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental
Authority.
"Tax Sharing Agreement" shall mean the Tax Sharing Agreement dated as
of April 30, 1997, among ACP Holdings, Holdings and ACP Holdings' other direct
and indirect subsidiaries.
"Term Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Tranche A Term
Loans or Tranche B Term Loans.
"Term Loan Commitments" shall mean the Tranche A Commitments and the
Tranche B Commitments.
"Term Loan Repayment Dates" shall mean the Tranche A Term Loan
Repayment Dates and the Tranche B Term Loan Repayment Dates.
"Term Loans" shall mean the Tranche A Term Loans and the Tranche B Term
Loans.
"Three-Month Secondary CD Rate" shall mean, for any day, the secondary
market rate for three-month certificates of deposit reported as being in effect
on such day (or, if such day shall not be a Business Day, the next preceding
Business Day) by the Board through the public information telephone line of the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York (which rate will, under the current practices
of the Board, be published in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519)
during the week following such day), or, if such rate shall not be so reported
on such day or such next preceding Business Day, the average of the secondary
market quotations for three-month certificates of deposit of major money center
banks in New York City received at approximately 10:00 a.m., New York City time,
on such day (or, if such day shall not be a Business Day, on the next preceding
Business Day) by the Administrative Agent from three New York City negotiable
certificate of deposit dealers of recognized standing selected by it.
"Total Revolving Credit Commitment" shall mean, at any time, the
aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as in effect at such time.
"Tranche A Commitment" shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the
commitment of such Lender to make Tranche A Term Loans hereunder as set forth on
Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender
assumed its Tranche A Commitment, as applicable, as the same may be (a) reduced
from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or increased from
time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section
9.04.
"Tranche A Maturity Date" shall mean September 30, 2003.
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"Tranche A Term Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Tranche
A Term Loans.
"Tranche A Term Loan Repayment Date" shall have the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 2.11(a)(i).
"Tranche A Term Loans" shall mean the term loans made by the Lenders to
the Borrower pursuant to clause (a) of Section 2.01. Each Tranche A Term Loan
shall be either a Eurodollar Term Loan or an ABR Term Loan.
"Tranche B Commitment" shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the
commitment of such Lender to make Tranche B Term Loans hereunder as set forth on
Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender
assumed its Tranche B Commitment, as applicable, as the same may be (a) reduced
from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or increased from
time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section
9.04.
"Tranche B Maturity Date" shall mean September 30, 2005.
"Tranche B Term Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Tranche
B Term Loans.
"Tranche B Term Loan Repayment Date" shall have the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii).
"Tranche B Term Loans" shall mean the term loans made by the Lenders to
the Borrower pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.01. Each Tranche B Term Loan
shall be either a Eurodollar Term Loan or an ABR Term Loan.
"Transactions" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
3.02.
"Type", when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer to
the Rate by reference to which interest on such Loan or on the Loans comprising
such Borrowing is determined. For purposes hereof, the term "Rate" shall include
the Adjusted LIBO Rate and the Alternate Base Rate.
"Voting Stock" of a Person shall mean all classes of Capital Stock of
such Person then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of
directors (or Persons performing similar functions).
"wholly owned Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean a subsidiary of such
Person of which securities (except for directors' qualifying shares) or other
ownership interests representing 100% of the equity or 100% of the ordinary
voting power or 100% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any
determination is being made, owned, controlled or held by such Person or one or
more wholly owned subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more
wholly owned subsidiaries of such Person.
"Withdrawal Liability" shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as
a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as
such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally. The definitions in Section 1.01 shall
apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.
Whenever the context may require, any
<PAGE> 28
23
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". All references herein to Articles,
Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and
Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement unless the context
shall otherwise require. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) any
reference in this Agreement to any Loan Document shall mean such document as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and (b)
all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance
with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that for purposes
of determining compliance with the covenants contained in Article VI, except as
otherwise provided herein, all accounting terms herein shall be interpreted and
all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made in accordance with GAAP as
in effect on the date of this Agreement and applied on a basis consistent with
the application used in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.05(a)
(except to the extent that such financial statements accounted for inventory on
a last-in-first-out basis).
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions and
relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender
agrees, severally and not jointly, (a) to make a Tranche A Term Loan to the
Borrower (i) on the Restatement Closing Date and (ii) on the ACP Contribution
Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed its Tranche A Commitment,
(b) to make a Tranche B Term Loan to the Borrower on the Restatement Closing
Date in a principal amount not to exceed its Tranche B Commitment, and (c) to
make Revolving Loans to the Borrower, at any time and from time to time on or
after the date hereof, and until the earlier of the Revolving Credit Maturity
Date and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender in
accordance with the terms hereof, in an aggregate principal amount at any time
outstanding that will not result in such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure
exceeding such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment. Within the limits set forth
in clause (c) of the preceding sentence and subject to the terms, conditions and
limitations set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, pay or prepay and
reborrow Revolving Loans. Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may
not be reborrowed.
SECTION 2.02. Loans. (a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing
consisting of Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their
applicable Commitments; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender to
make any Loan shall not in itself relieve any other Lender of its obligation to
lend hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall be
responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make any Loan required to be
made by such other Lender). Except for Loans deemed made pursuant to Section
2.02(f), the Loans comprising any Borrowing shall be in an aggregate principal
amount that is (i) an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000
in the case of Eurodollar Loans, (ii) an integral multiple of $100,000 and not
less than $500,000 in the case of ABR Loans or (iii) in the case of ABR Loans,
equal to the remaining available balance of the applicable Commitments.
(b) Subject to Sections 2.08 and 2.15, each Borrowing shall be
comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request
pursuant to Section 2.03. Each Lender may at its option make any Eurodollar Loan
by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of
<PAGE> 29
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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. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding
at the same time; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be entitled to
request any Borrowing that, if made, would result in more than seven Eurodollar
Borrowings outstanding hereunder at any time. For purposes of the foregoing,
Borrowings having different Interest Periods, regardless of whether they
commence on the same date, shall be considered separate Borrowings.
(c) Except with respect to Loans made pursuant to Section 2.02(f), each
Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date
thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account in New
York City as the Administrative Agent may designate not later than 11:00 a.m.,
New York City time, and the Administrative Agent shall by 12:00 (noon), New York
City time, credit the amounts so received to an account in the name of the
Borrower, maintained with the Administrative Agent and designated by the
Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request or, if a Borrowing shall not occur
on such date because any condition precedent herein specified shall not have
been met, return the amounts so received to the respective Lenders.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a
Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make
available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's portion of such Borrowing,
the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion
available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in
accordance with paragraph (c) above and the Administrative Agent may, in
reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a
corresponding amount. If the Administrative Agent shall have so made funds
available then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion
available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally
agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such
corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date
such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is
repaid to the Administrative Agent at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the
interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing (in
lieu of interest which would otherwise become due to such Lender pursuant to
Section 2.06) and (ii) in the case of such Lender, a rate determined by the
Administrative Agent to represent its cost of overnight or short-term funds
(which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error). If such Lender
shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount
shall constitute such Lender's Loan as part of such Borrowing for purposes of
this Agreement.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower
shall not be entitled to request a Borrowing pursuant to which the Interest
Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Revolving Credit
Maturity Date.
(f) If the Issuing Bank shall not have received from the Borrower the
payment required to be made by Section 2.22(e) within the time specified in such
Section, the Issuing Bank will promptly notify the Administrative Agent of the
L/C Disbursement and the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each
Revolving Credit Lender of such L/C Disbursement and its Pro Rata Percentage
thereof. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m., New York
City time, on such date (or, if such Revolving Credit Lender shall have received
such notice later than 12:00 (noon), New York City time, on any day, not later
than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the immediately following Business Day),
an amount equal to such Lender's Pro Rata Percentage of such L/C Disbursement
(it being understood that such amount shall be deemed to constitute an ABR
Revolving Loan of such Lender and such payment shall be deemed to have reduced
the L/C Exposure), and the
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Administrative Agent will promptly pay to the Issuing Bank amounts so received
by it from the Revolving Credit Lenders. The Administrative Agent will promptly
pay to the Issuing Bank any amounts received by it from the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.22(e) prior to the time that any Revolving Credit Lender makes any
payment pursuant to this paragraph (f); any such amounts received by the
Administrative Agent thereafter will be promptly remitted by the Administrative
Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders that shall have made such payments and to
the Issuing Bank, as their interests may appear. If any Revolving Credit Lender
shall not have made its Pro Rata Percentage of such L/C Disbursement available
to the Administrative Agent as provided above, such Lender and the Borrower
severally agree to pay interest on such amount, for each day from and including
the date such amount is required to be paid in accordance with this paragraph to
but excluding the date such amount is paid, to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Issuing Bank at (i) in the case of the Borrower, a rate per annum
equal to the interest rate applicable to Revolving Loans pursuant to Section
2.06(a) (in lieu of interest which would otherwise become due to such Lender
pursuant to Section 2.06), and (ii) in the case of such Lender, for the first
such day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate, and for each day thereafter, the
Alternate Base Rate.
SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedure. In order to request a Borrowing
(other than a deemed Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.02(f), as to which this
Section 2.03 shall not apply), the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy to
the Administrative Agent a duly completed Borrowing Request (a) in the case of a
Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three
Business Days before a proposed Borrowing, and (b) in the case of an ABR
Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Business Day of
a proposed Borrowing. Each Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable, shall be
signed by or on behalf of the Borrower and shall specify the following
information: (i) whether the Borrowing then being requested is to be a Term
Borrowing or a Revolving Credit Borrowing, and whether such Borrowing is to be a
Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing; (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which
shall be a Business Day), (iii) the number and location of the account to which
funds are to be disbursed (which shall be an account that complies with the
requirements of Section 2.02(c)); (iv) the amount of such Borrowing; and (v) if
such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period with respect
thereto; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any contrary specification in
any Borrowing Request, each requested Borrowing shall comply with the
requirements set forth in Section 2.02. If no election as to the Type of
Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the requested Borrowing shall be
an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing
is specified in any such notice, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have
selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. The Administrative Agent
shall promptly advise the applicable Lenders of any notice given pursuant to
this Section 2.03 (and the contents thereof), and of each Lender's portion of
the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.04. Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower
hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the
account of each Lender the principal amount of each Term Loan of such Lender as
provided in Section 2.11 and the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving
Loan on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
(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 from time to time, including the
amounts of principal and interest payable and paid such Lender from time to time
under this Agreement.
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(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it will
record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the 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 from the Borrower or any Guarantor and each Lender's share thereof.
(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs
(b) and (c) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of
the obligations therein recorded; provided, however, 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 obligations of the Borrower to repay
the Loans in accordance with their terms.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event
any Lender shall request and receive a promissory note payable to such Lender
and its registered assigns, the interests represented by such note shall at all
times (including after any assignment of all or part of such interests pursuant
to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes payable to the
payee named therein or its registered assigns.
SECTION 2.05. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to each Lender,
through the Administrative Agent, on the last day of March, June, September and
December in each year and on each date on which any Commitment of such Lender
shall expire or be terminated as provided herein, a commitment fee (a
"Commitment Fee") equal to the Applicable Percentage set forth under the heading
"Fee Percentage" in the definition of the term "Applicable Percentage" per annum
in effect from time to time on the average daily unused amount of the
Commitments of such Lender during the preceding quarter (or other period
commencing with the date of acceptance by the Borrower of the Commitment of such
Lender or ending with the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or the date on which
the Commitments of such Lender shall expire or be terminated). All Commitment
Fees shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a
year of 360 days. The Commitment Fee due to each Lender shall commence to accrue
on the date of acceptance by the Borrower of the Commitment of such Lender and
shall cease to accrue on the date on which the Commitment of such Lender shall
expire or be terminated as provided herein. For purposes of this Section 2.05,
the unused amount of any Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment on any date shall
equal such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment on such date minus such Lender's
outstanding Revolving Loans and L/C Exposure on such date.
(b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own
account, the administrative fees set forth in the Fee Letter at the times and in
the amounts specified therein (the "Administrative Agent Fees").
(c) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to each Revolving Credit Lender,
through the Administrative Agent, on the last day of March, June, September and
December of each year and on the date on which the Revolving Credit Commitment
of such Lender shall be terminated as provided herein, a fee (an "L/C
Participation Fee") calculated on such Lender's Pro Rata Percentage of the
average daily aggregate L/C Exposure (excluding the portion thereof attributable
to unreimbursed L/C Disbursements) during the preceding quarter (or shorter
period commencing with the date hereof or ending with the Revolving Credit
Maturity Date or the date on which all Letters of Credit have been canceled or
have expired and the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Lenders shall have been
terminated) at a rate equal to the Applicable Percentage from time to time used
to determine the interest rate on Revolving Credit Borrowings comprised of
Eurodollar Loans pursuant to Section
<PAGE> 32
27
2.06, and (ii) to the Issuing Bank with respect to each Letter of Credit the
standard fronting, issuance and drawing fees specified from time to time by the
Issuing Bank (the "Issuing Bank Fees"). All L/C Participation Fees and Issuing
Bank Fees shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in
a year of 360 days.
(d) All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available
funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, if and as appropriate,
among the Lenders, except that the Issuing Bank Fees shall be paid directly to
the Issuing Bank. Once paid, none of the Fees shall be refundable under any
circumstances.
SECTION 2.06. Interest on Loans. (a) Subject to the provisions of
Section 2.07, the Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest
(computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365
or 366 days, as the case may be, when the Alternate Base Rate is determined by
reference to the Prime Rate and over a year of 360 days at all other times) at a
rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage
in effect from time to time.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, the Loans comprising
each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the
actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal
to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing
plus the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be payable on the Interest Payment
Dates applicable to such Loan except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate for each Interest
Period or day within an Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be determined
by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent
manifest error.
SECTION 2.07. Default Interest. If the Borrower shall default in the
payment of the principal of or interest on any Loan or any other amount becoming
due hereunder, by acceleration or otherwise, or under any other Loan Document,
the Borrower shall on demand from time to time pay interest, to the extent
permitted by law, on such defaulted amount to but excluding the date of actual
payment (after as well as before judgment) (a) in the case of overdue principal,
at the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan pursuant to Section 2.06 plus
2.00% per annum and (b) in all other cases, at a rate per annum (computed on the
basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365 or 366 days, as
the case may be, when determined by reference to the Prime Rate and over a year
of 360 days at all other times) equal to the sum of the Alternate Base Rate plus
2.00%.
SECTION 2.08. Alternate Rate of Interest. In the event, and on each
occasion, that on the day two Business Days prior to the commencement of any
Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing the Administrative Agent shall have
determined in good faith that dollar deposits in the principal amounts of the
Loans comprising such Borrowing are not generally available in the London
interbank market, or that the rates at which such dollar deposits are being
offered will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to any Lender of making
or maintaining its Eurodollar Loan during such Interest Period, or that
reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the
Administrative Agent shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, but, in any
event, prior to the commencement of any Interest Period, give written or
telecopy notice of such determination to the Borrower and the Lenders. In the
event of any such determination, until the Administrative Agent shall have
advised the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such
notice no longer exist, any request by the Borrower for a Eurodollar Borrowing
pursuant to Section 2.03 or
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2.10 shall be deemed to be a request for an ABR Borrowing. Each determination by
the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments. (a) The Tranche
B Commitments shall automatically terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
the Restatement Closing Date. The Tranche A Commitments shall automatically
terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the earlier to occur of (a) the
ACP Contribution Date and (b) October 3, 1998. The Revolving Credit Commitments
and the L/C Commitment shall automatically terminate on the Revolving Credit
Maturity Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all the Commitments shall
automatically terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 3, 1998, if
the initial Credit Event shall not have occurred by such time.
(b) Upon at least three Business Days' prior irrevocable written or
telecopy notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may at any time in
whole permanently terminate, or from time to time in part permanently reduce, in
each case, without premium or penalty, either of the Term Loan Commitments or
the Revolving Credit Commitments; provided, however, that (i) each partial
reduction of either of the Term Loan Commitments or the Revolving Credit
Commitments shall be in an integral multiple of $500,000 and in a minimum amount
of $1,000,000 and (ii) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall not be
reduced to an amount that is less than the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure
at the time.
(c) Each reduction in either of the Term Loan Commitments or the
Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder shall be made ratably among the Lenders
in accordance with their respective applicable Commitments. The Borrower shall
pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, on
the date of each termination or reduction, the unpaid Commitment Fees on the
amount of the Commitments so terminated or reduced accrued to but excluding the
date of such termination or reduction.
SECTION 2.10. Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings. The Borrower
shall have the right at any time upon prior irrevocable notice to the
Administrative Agent (a) not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
Business Day of conversion, to convert any Eurodollar Borrowing into an ABR
Borrowing, (b) not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business
Days prior to conversion or continuation, to convert any ABR Borrowing into a
Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue any Eurodollar Borrowing as a Eurodollar
Borrowing for an additional Interest Period, and (c) not later than 10:00 a.m.,
New York City time, three Business Days prior to conversion, to convert the
Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing to another permissible
Interest Period, subject in each case to the following:
(i) each conversion or continuation shall be made pro rata
among the Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts
of the Loans comprising the converted or continued Borrowing;
(ii) if less than all the outstanding principal amount of any
Borrowing shall be converted or continued, then each resulting
Borrowing shall satisfy the limitations specified in Sections 2.02(a)
and 2.02(b) regarding the principal amount and maximum number of
Borrowings of the relevant Type;
(iii) each conversion shall be effected by each Lender and the
Administrative Agent by recording for the account of such Lender the
new Loan of such Lender resulting from
<PAGE> 34
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such conversion and reducing the Loan (or portion thereof) of such
Lender being converted by an equivalent principal amount; accrued and
unpaid interest on any Eurodollar Loan (or portion thereof) being
converted shall be paid by the Borrower at the time of conversion;
(iv) if any Eurodollar Borrowing is converted at a time other
than the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower
shall pay, upon demand, any amounts due to the Lenders pursuant to
Section 2.16;
(v) any portion of a Borrowing maturing or required to be
repaid in less than one month may not be converted into or continued as
a Eurodollar Borrowing;
(vi) any portion of a Eurodollar Borrowing that cannot be
converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing by reason of the
immediately preceding clause shall be automatically converted at the
end of the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing into an ABR
Borrowing;
(vii) no Interest Period may be selected for any Eurodollar Term
Borrowing that would end later than a Term Loan Repayment Date
occurring on or after the first day of such Interest Period if, after
giving effect to such selection, the aggregate outstanding amount of
the sum of (A) the Eurodollar Term Borrowings comprised of Tranche A
Term Loans or Tranche B Term Loans, as applicable, with Interest
Periods ending on or prior to such Term Loan Repayment Date and (B) the
ABR Term Borrowings comprised of Tranche A Term Loans or Tranche B Term
Loans, as applicable, would not be at least equal to the principal
amount of Term Borrowings to be paid on such Term Loan Repayment Date;
and
(viii) upon notice to the Borrower from the Administrative Agent
given at the request of the Required Lenders, after the occurrence and
during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default, no outstanding
Loan may be converted into, or continued as, a Eurodollar Loan.
Each notice pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be irrevocable and
shall refer to this Agreement and specify (i) the identity and amount of the
Borrowing that the Borrower requests be converted or continued, (ii) whether
such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing or
an ABR Borrowing, (iii) if such notice requests a conversion, the date of such
conversion (which shall be a Business Day) and (iv) if such Borrowing is to be
converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period with
respect thereto. If no Interest Period is specified in any such notice with
respect to any conversion to or continuation as a Eurodollar Borrowing, the
Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month's
duration. The Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of any notice given
pursuant to this Section 2.10 and of each Lender's portion of any converted or
continued Borrowing. If the Borrower shall not have given notice in accordance
with this Section 2.10 to continue any Borrowing into a subsequent Interest
Period (and shall not otherwise have given notice in accordance with this
Section 2.10 to convert such Borrowing), such Borrowing shall, at the end of the
Interest Period applicable thereto (unless repaid pursuant to the terms hereof),
automatically be continued into a new Interest Period as an ABR Borrowing.
SECTION 2.11. Repayment of Term Borrowings. (a) (i) The Borrower shall
pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, on the dates
set forth below, or, if any such date is not a Business Day, on the next
succeeding Business Day (each such date being a "Tranche
<PAGE> 35
30
A Term Loan Repayment Date"), a principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans
equal to the amount set forth below for such date (as adjusted from time to time
pursuant to Sections 2.11(b), 2.12 and 2.13), together in each case with accrued
and unpaid interest on the principal amount thereof to be paid to but excluding
the date of such payment:
Date Amount
December 31, 1998 $ 750,000
March 31, 1999 $ 750,000
June 30, 1999 $ 750,000
September 30, 1999 $ 750,000
December 31, 1999 $1,000,000
March 31, 2000 $1,000,000
June 30, 2000 $1,000,000
September 30, 2000 $1,000,000
December 31, 2000 $1,000,000
March 31, 2001 $1,000,000
June 30, 2001 $1,000,000
September 30, 2001 $1,000,000
December 31, 2001 $1,000,000
March 31, 2002 $1,000,000
June 30, 2002 $1,000,000
September 30, 2002 $1,000,000
December 31, 2002 $1,250,000
March 31, 2003 $1,250,000
June 30, 2003 $1,250,000
Tranche A Maturity Date $1,250,000
(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the
account of the Lenders, on the dates set forth below, or, if any such date is
not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each such date being a
"Tranche B Term Loan Repayment Date"), a principal amount of the Tranche B Term
Loans equal to the amount set forth below for such date (as adjusted from time
to time pursuant to Sections 2.11(b), 2.12 and 2.13), together in each case with
accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount thereof to be paid to but
excluding the date of such payment:
Date Amount
December 31, 1998 $ 250,000
March 31, 1999 $ 250,000
June 30, 1999 $ 250,000
September 30, 1999 $ 250,000
December 31, 1999 $ 250,000
March 31, 2000 $ 250,000
June 30, 2000 $ 250,000
September 30, 2000 $ 250,000
December 31, 2000 $ 250,000
March 31, 2001 $ 250,000
June 30, 2001 $ 250,000
September 30, 2001 $ 250,000
<PAGE> 36
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December 31, 2001 $ 250,000
March 31, 2002 $ 250,000
June 30, 2002 $ 250,000
September 30, 2002 $ 250,000
December 31, 2002 $ 250,000
March 31, 2003 $ 250,000
June 30, 2003 $ 250,000
September 30, 2003 $ 250,000
December 31, 2003 $6,250,000
March 31, 2004 $6,250,000
June 30, 2004 $6,250,000
September 30, 2004 $6,250,000
December 31, 2004 $6,250,000
March 31, 2005 $6,250,000
June 30, 2005 $6,250,000
Tranche B Maturity Date $6,250,000
(b) In the event and on each occasion that any Term Loan Commitments
shall be reduced or shall expire or terminate other than as a result of the
making of a Term Loan, the installments payable on each Term Loan Repayment Date
shall be reduced pro rata by an aggregate amount equal to the amount of such
reduction, expiration or termination.
(c) To the extent not previously paid, all Tranche A Term Loans and
Tranche B Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Tranche A Maturity Date and
Tranche B Maturity Date, respectively, together with accrued and unpaid interest
on the principal amount to be paid to but excluding the date of payment.
(d) All repayments pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be subject to
Section 2.16, but shall otherwise be without premium or penalty.
SECTION 2.12. Optional Prepayment. (a) The Borrower shall have the
right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in
part, upon at least three Business Days' prior written or telecopy notice (or
telephone notice promptly confirmed by written or telecopy notice) in the case
of Eurodollar Loans, or prior written or telecopy notice (or telephone notice
promptly confirmed by written or telecopy notice) on or prior to the date of
prepayment in the case of ABR Loans, to the Administrative Agent before 11:00
a.m., New York City time; provided, however, that each partial prepayment shall
be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than
$1,000,000.
(b) Optional prepayments of Term Loans shall be allocated pro rata
between the then-outstanding Tranche A Term Loans and Tranche B Term Loans and
applied pro rata against the remaining scheduled installments of principal due
in respect of the Tranche A Term Loans and Tranche B Term Loans under Sections
2.11(a)(i) and (ii), respectively.
(c) Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date and the
principal amount of each Borrowing (or portion thereof) to be prepaid, shall be
irrevocable and shall commit the Borrower to prepay such Borrowing by the amount
stated therein on the date stated therein. All prepayments under this Section
2.12 shall be subject to Section 2.16 but otherwise without premium
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or penalty. All prepayments under this Section 2.12 shall be accompanied by
accrued but unpaid interest on the principal amount being prepaid to the date of
payment.
SECTION 2.13. Mandatory Prepayments. (a) In the event of any
termination of all the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Borrower shall repay or
prepay all its outstanding Revolving Credit Borrowings on the date of such
termination. In the event of any partial reduction of the Revolving Credit
Commitments, then (i) at or prior to the effective date of such reduction, the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Revolving Credit Lenders
of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure after giving effect thereto and (ii)
if the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure would exceed the Total Revolving
Credit Commitment after giving effect to such reduction or termination, then the
Borrower shall, on the date of such reduction or termination, first repay or
prepay Revolving Credit Borrowings in an amount sufficient to eliminate such
excess and second, to the extent of any remaining excess (after the prepayment
of Revolving Loans), to replace outstanding Letters of Credit and/or deposit an
amount in cash in a cash collateral account established with the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
(b) Not later than the third Business Day following the completion of
any Asset Sale, the Borrower shall apply 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received
with respect thereto to prepay outstanding Term Loans in accordance with Section
2.13(f).
(c) No later than the earlier of (i) 90 days after the end of each
fiscal year of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal year ending on September
30, 1998, and (ii) the date on which the finan cial statements with respect to
such period are delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a), the Borrower shall prepay
outstanding Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.13(f) in an aggregate
principal amount equal to 50% of Excess Cash Flow for the fiscal year then
ended.
(d) In the event that any Loan Party or any subsidiary of a Loan Party
shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance or other disposition of
Indebtedness for money borrowed of any Loan Party or any subsidiary of a Loan
Party (other than Indebtedness for money borrowed permitted by Section 6.01),
the Borrower shall, substantially simultaneously with (and in any event not
later than the third Business Day next following) the receipt of such Net Cash
Proceeds by such Loan Party or such subsidiary, apply an amount equal to 100% of
such Net Cash Proceeds to prepay outstanding Term Loans in accordance with
Section 2.13(f).
(e) In the event that there shall occur any Casualty or Condemnation
and, pursuant to the applicable Mortgage, the Casualty Proceeds or Condemnation
Proceeds, as the case may be, are required to be used to prepay the Term Loans,
then the Borrower shall apply an amount equal to 100% of such Casualty Proceeds
or Condemnation Proceeds, as the case may be, to prepay outstanding Term Loans
in accordance with Section 2.13(f).
(f) Mandatory prepayments of outstanding Term Loans under this
Agreement shall be allocated pro rata between the then-outstanding Tranche A
Term Loans and Tranche B Term Loans, and, subject to paragraph (i) below,
applied pro rata against the remaining scheduled installments of principal due
in respect of Tranche A Term Loans and Tranche B Term Loans under Sections
2.11(a)(i) and (ii), respectively.
(g) The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, at the time
of each prepayment required under this Section 2.13, (i) a certificate signed by
a Financial Officer of the Borrower setting forth in reasonable detail the
calculation of the amount of such prepayment and (ii) to the extent
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practicable, at least three days prior written notice of such prepayment. Each
notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date, the Type of each Loan
being prepaid and the principal amount of each Loan (or portion thereof) to be
prepaid. All prepayments of Borrowings under this Section 2.13 shall be subject
to Section 2.16, but shall otherwise be without premium or penalty.
(h) Amounts to be applied pursuant to this Section 2.13 to the
prepayment of Term Loans and Revolving Loans shall be applied, as applicable,
first to reduce outstanding ABR Term Loans and ABR Revolving Loans. Any amounts
remaining after each such application shall, at the option of the Borrower, be
applied to prepay Eurodollar Term Loans or Eurodollar Revolving Loans, as the
case may be, immediately and/or shall be deposited in the Prepayment Account (as
defined below). The Administrative Agent shall apply any cash deposited in the
Prepayment Account (i) allocable to Term Loans to prepay Eurodollar Term Loans
and (ii) allocable to Revolving Loans to prepay Eurodollar Revolving Loans, in
each case on the last day of their respective Interest Periods (or, at the
direction of the Borrower, on any earlier date) until all outstanding Term Loans
or Revolving Loans, as the case may be, have been prepaid or until all the
allocable cash on deposit with respect to such Loans has been exhausted. For
purposes of this Agreement, the term "Prepayment Account" shall mean an account
established by the Borrower with the Administrative Agent and over which the
Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the
exclusive right of withdrawal for application in accordance with this paragraph
(h). The Administrative Agent will, at the request of the Borrower, invest
amounts on deposit in the Prepayment Account in Permitted Investments that
mature prior to the last day of the applicable Interest Periods of the
Eurodollar Term Borrowings or Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings to be prepaid, as
the case may be; provided, how ever, that (i) the Administrative Agent shall not
be required to make any investment that, in its sole judgment, would require or
cause the Administrative Agent to be in, or would result in any, violation of
any law, statute, rule or regulation and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall
have no obligation to invest amounts on deposit in the Prepayment Account if an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. The Borrower shall
indemnify the Administrative Agent for any losses relating to the investments so
that the amount available to prepay Eurodollar Borrowings on the last day of the
applicable Interest Period is not less than the amount that would have been
available had no invest ments been made pursuant thereto. Other than any
interest earned on such investments, the Prepay ment Account shall not bear
interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall be deposited in
the Prepayment Account and reinvested and disbursed as specified above. If the
maturity of the Loans has been accelerated pursuant to Article VII, the
Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, apply all amounts on deposit
in the Prepayment Account to satisfy any of the Obligations. The Borrower hereby
grants to the Administrative Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of the
Issuing Bank and the Lenders, a security interest in the Prepayment Account to
secure the Obligations.
(i) Any Tranche B Lender may elect, by notice to the Administrative
Agent in writing (or by telephone or telecopy promptly confirmed in writing) at
least one Business Day prior to any prepayment of Tranche B Term Loans required
to be made by the Borrower for the account of such Lender pursuant to Section
2.13(b), (c), (d) or (e), to cause all or a portion of such prepayment to be
applied instead to prepay Tranche A Term Loans in accordance with paragraph (f)
above.
SECTION 2.14. Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances. (a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if after the date of this
Agreement any change in applicable law or regulation or in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof (whether or not having the force of
law) shall change the basis of taxation of payments to any Lender or the Issuing
Bank of the principal of
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or interest on any Eurodollar Loan made by such Lender or any Fees or other
amounts payable hereunder (other than changes in respect of taxes imposed on the
overall net income of such Lender or the Issuing Bank by the jurisdiction in
which such Lender or the Issuing Bank has its principal office or lending office
or by any political subdivision or taxing authority therein), or shall 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 (except any such reserve requirement which is
reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or shall impose on such Lender or the
Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this
Agreement or Eurodollar 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 or the Issuing Bank of making or maintaining
any Eurodollar Loan or increase the cost to any Lender of issuing or maintaining
any Letter of Credit or purchasing or maintaining a participation therein 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) by an
amount reasonably deemed by such Lender or the Issuing Bank to be material, then
the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be,
upon demand 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 shall have determined that the
adoption after the date hereof of any law, rule, regulation, agreement or
guideline regarding capital adequacy, or any change after the date hereof in any
such law, rule, regulation, agreement or guideline (whether such law, rule,
regulation, agreement or guideline has been adopted) or in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or any
lending office of such Lender) or the Issuing Bank or any Lender's or the
Issuing Bank's holding company with any request or directive regarding capital
adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority
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 or participations in Letters of Credit purchased by such Lender pursuant
hereto or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank pursuant hereto 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 applicability,
adoption, change or compliance (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) by an amount reasonably deemed
by such Lender or the Issuing Bank to be material, then from time to time the
Borrower shall 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 reasonably determined by such Lender or Issuing Bank to be
necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding company,
as applicable, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) above shall be delivered to
the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall
pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank the amount shown as due on any such
certificate delivered by it within 10 days after its receipt of the same.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to
demand compensation for any increased costs or reduction in amounts received or
receivable or reduction in return on capital shall not constitute a waiver of
such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's right to demand such
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compensation. The protection of this Section shall be available to each Lender
and the Issuing Bank regardless of any possible contention of the invalidity or
inapplicability of the law, rule, regulation, agreement, guideline or other
change or condition that shall have occurred or been imposed.
SECTION 2.15. Change in Legality. (a) Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, if, after the date hereof, any change in any law or
regulation or in the interpretation thereof by any Governmental Authority
charged with the administration or interpretation thereof shall make it unlawful
for any Lender to make or maintain any Eurodollar Loan or to give effect to its
obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, then, by
written notice to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent:
(i) such Lender may declare that Eurodollar Loans will not
thereafter (for the duration of such unlawfulness) be made by such
Lender hereunder (or be continued for additional Interest Periods and
ABR Loans will not thereafter (for such duration) be converted into
Eurodollar Loans), whereupon any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing (or
to convert an ABR Borrowing to a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue a
Eurodollar Borrowing for an additional Interest Period) shall, as to
such Lender only, be deemed a request for an ABR Loan (or a request to
continue an ABR Loan as such for an additional Interest Period or to
convert a Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan, as the case may be), unless
such declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and
(ii) such Lender may require that all outstanding Eurodollar
Loans made by it be converted to ABR Loans, in which event all such
Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans as of
the effective date of such notice as provided in paragraph (b) below.
In the event any Lender shall exercise its rights under (i) or (ii) above, all
payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise have been applied to
repay the Eurodollar Loans that would have been made by such Lender or the
converted Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied to repay the
ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from the conversion of,
such Eurodollar Loans.
(b) For purposes of this Section 2.15, a notice to the Borrower by any
Lender shall be effective as to each Eurodollar Loan made by such Lender, if
lawful, on the last day of the Interest Period currently applicable to such
Eurodollar Loan; in all other cases such notice shall be effective on the date
of receipt by the Borrower.
SECTION 2.16. Indemnity. The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender
against any loss or expense that such Lender may sustain or incur as a
consequence of (a) any event, other than a default by such Lender in the
performance of its obligations hereunder, which results in (i) such Lender
receiving or being deemed to receive any amount on account of the principal of
any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the Interest Period in effect therefor,
(ii) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan to an ABR Loan, or the conversion of
the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, in each case other than
on the last day of the Interest Period in effect therefor, or (iii) any
Eurodollar Loan to be made by such Lender (including any Eurodollar Loan to be
made pursuant to a conversion or continuation under Section 2.10) not being made
after notice of such Loan shall have been given by the Borrower hereunder (any
of the events referred to in this clause (a) being called a "Breakage Event") or
(b) any default in the making of any payment or prepayment required to be made
hereunder. In the case of any Breakage Event, such loss shall include an amount
equal to the excess,
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as reasonably determined by such Lender, of (i) its cost of obtaining funds for
the Eurodollar Loan that is the subject of such Breakage Event for the period
from the date of such Breakage Event to the last day of the Interest Period in
effect (or that would have been in effect) for such Loan over (ii) the amount of
interest likely to be realized by such Lender in redeploying the funds released
or not utilized by reason of such Breakage Event for such period. A certificate
of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts which such Lender is entitled
to receive pursuant to this Section 2.16 shall be delivered to the Borrower and
shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.17. Pro Rata Treatment. Except as required under Sections
2.13(i), 2.14, 2.15 or 2.20, each Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of
principal of any Borrowing, each payment of interest on the Loans, each payment
of the Commitment Fees, each reduction of the Term Loan Commitments or the
Revolving Credit Commitments and each conversion of any Borrowing to or
continuation of any Borrowing as a Borrowing of any Type shall be allocated pro
rata among the Lenders in accordance with their respective applicable
Commitments (or, if such Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, in
accordance with the respective principal amounts of their outstanding Loans).
Each Lender agrees that in computing such Lender's portion of any Borrowing to
be made hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, round each
Lender's percentage of such Borrowing to the next higher or lower whole dollar
amount.
SECTION 2.18. Sharing of Setoffs. Each Lender agrees that if it shall,
through the exercise of a right of banker's lien, setoff or counterclaim against
the Borrower or any other Loan Party, or pursuant to a secured claim under
Section 506 of Title 11 of the United States Code or other security or interest
arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received by such Lender under
any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, or by
any other means, obtain payment (voluntary or involuntary) in respect of any
Loan or Loans or L/C Disbursement as a result of which the unpaid principal
portion of its Tranche A Term Loans, Tranche B Term Loans, Revolving Loans or
participations in L/C Disbursements shall be proportionately less than the
unpaid principal portion of the Tranche A Term Loans, Tranche B Term Loans,
Revolving Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements of any other Lender, it
shall be deemed simultaneously to have purchased from such other Lender at face
value, and shall promptly pay to such other Lender the purchase price for, a
participation in the Tranche A Term Loans, Tranche B Term Loans, Revolving Loans
or L/C Exposure, as the case may be of such other Lender, so that the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans, Tranche B Term Loans,
Revolving Loans and L/C Exposure and participations in Tranche A Term Loans,
Tranche B Term Loans, Revolving Loans and L/C Exposure held by each Lender shall
be in the same proportion to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all
Tranche A Term Loans, Tranche B Term Loans, Revolving Loans and L/C Exposure
then outstanding as the principal amount of its Tranche A Term Loans, Tranche B
Term Loans, Revolving Loans and L/C Exposure prior to such exercise of banker's
lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event was to the principal amount of all
Tranche A Term Loans, Tranche B Term Loans, Revolving Loans and L/C Exposure
outstanding prior to such exercise of banker's lien, setoff or counterclaim or
other event; provided, however, that if any such purchase or purchases or
adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 2.18 and the payment giving
rise thereto shall thereafter be recovered, such purchase or purchases or
adjustments shall be rescinded to the extent of such recovery and the purchase
price or prices or adjustment restored without interest. The Borrower and
Holdings expressly consent to the foregoing arrangements and agree that any
Lender holding a participation in a Term Loan, Revolving Loan or L/C
Disbursement deemed to have been so purchased may exercise any and all rights of
banker's lien, setoff or counterclaim with respect to any and all moneys owing
by the Borrower and Holdings to such Lender by reason thereof as fully as if
such Lender had made a Loan directly to the Borrower in the amount of such
participation.
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SECTION 2.19. Payments. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment
(including principal of or interest on any Borrowing or any L/C Disbursement or
any Fees or other amounts) hereunder and under any other Loan Document not later
than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due in immediately
available dollars, without setoff, defense or counterclaim. Each such payment
(other than Issuing Bank Fees, which shall be paid directly to the Issuing Bank)
shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 270 Park Avenue, New
York, New York by wire transfer.
(b) Whenever any payment (including principal of or interest on any
Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder or under any other Loan
Document shall become due, or otherwise would occur, on a day that is not a
Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Busi ness Day, and
such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of
interest or Fees, if applicable.
SECTION 2.20. 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. 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) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or
reduction of withholding tax under the Code and the law of the jurisdiction in
which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a
party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the
Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times
prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation
prescribed by applicable law or
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reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made
without withholding or at a reduced rate.
SECTION 2.21. Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances;
Duty to Mitigate. (a) In the event (i) any Lender or the Issuing Bank delivers a
certificate requesting compensation pursuant to Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender or
the Issuing Bank delivers a notice described in Section 2.15 or (iii) the
Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or the Issuing
Bank or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender or the Issuing Bank
pursuant to Section 2.20, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort
(including with respect to the processing and recordation fee referred to in
Section 9.04(b)), upon notice to such Lender or the Issuing Bank and the
Administrative Agent, require such Lender or the Issuing Bank to transfer and
assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions
contained in Section 9.04), all of its interests, rights and obligations under
this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such assigned obligations (which
assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided
that (x) such assignment shall not conflict with any law, rule or regulation or
order of any court or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction, (y) the
Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative
Agent (and, if a Revolving Credit Commitment is being assigned, of the Issuing
Bank), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, and (z) the Borrower or
such assignee shall have paid to the affected Lender or the Issuing Bank in
immediately available funds an amount equal to the sum of the principal of and
interest accrued to the date of such payment on the outstanding Loans or L/C
Disbursements of such Lender or the Issuing Bank, respectively, plus all Fees
and other amounts accrued for the account of such Lender or the Issuing Bank
hereunder (including any amounts under Section 2.14 and Section 2.16); provided
further that, if prior to any such transfer and assignment the circumstances or
event that resulted in such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's claim for
compensation under Section 2.14 or notice under Section 2.15 or the
amounts paid pursuant to Section 2.20, as the case may be, cease to cause such
Lender or the Issuing Bank to suffer increased costs or reductions in amounts
received or receivable or reduction in return on capital, or cease to have the
consequences specified in Section 2.15, or cease to result in amounts being
payable under Section 2.20, as the case may be (including as a result of any
action taken by such Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to paragraph (b)
below), or if such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall waive its right to claim
further compensation under Section 2.14 in respect of such circumstances or
event or shall withdraw its notice under Section 2.15 or shall waive its right
to further payments under Section 2.20 in respect of such circumstances or
event, as the case may be, then such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall not
thereafter be required to make any such transfer and assignment hereunder.
(b) If (i) any Lender or the Issuing Bank shall request compensation
under Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender or the Issuing Bank delivers a notice
described in Section 2.15 or (iii) the Borrower is required to pay any
additional amount to any Lender or the Issuing Bank or any Governmental
Authority on account of any Lender or the Issuing Bank, pursuant to Section
2.20, then such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall use reasonable efforts (which
shall not require such Lender or the Issuing Bank to incur an unreimbursed loss
or unreimbursed cost or expense or otherwise take any action inconsistent with
its internal policies or legal or regulatory restrictions or suffer any
disadvantage or burden deemed by it to be significant) (x) to file any
certificate or document reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower or (y)
to assign its rights and delegate and transfer its obligations hereunder to
another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if such filing or assignment
would reduce its claims for compensation under Section 2.14 or enable it to
withdraw its notice pursuant to Section 2.15 or would reduce amounts payable
pursuant to Section 2.20, as the case may be, in the
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future. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses
incurred by any Lender or the Issuing Bank in connection with any such filing or
assignment, delegation and transfer.
SECTION 2.22. Letters of Credit. (a) General. The Borrower may request
the issuance of a Letter of Credit for its own account or the account of any
Subsidiary Guarantor, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative
Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time while the
Revolving Credit Commitments remain in effect. This Section shall not be
construed to impose an obligation upon the Issuing Bank to issue any Letter of
Credit that is inconsistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain
Conditions. In order to request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or to amend,
renew or extend an existing Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver
or telecopy 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) below), 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 such 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 (A) the L/C Exposure shall not exceed
$15,000,000 and (B) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed the
Total Revolving Credit Commitment.
(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at the close of
business on the earlier of the date one year after the date of the issuance of
such Letter of Credit and the date that is five Business Days prior to the
Revolving Credit Maturity Date, unless such Letter of Credit expires by its
terms on an earlier date.
(d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit and without
any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing
Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Credit Lender, and each such Lender hereby
acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal
to such Lender's Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be
drawn under such Letter of Credit, effective upon the issuance of such Letter of
Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving
Credit Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender's Pro
Rata Percentage of each L/C Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not
reimbursed by the Borrower (or, if applicable, another party pursuant to its
obligations under any other Loan Document) forthwith on the date due as provided
in Section 2.02(f). Each Revolving Credit 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 the occurrence and continuance of a
Default or an Event of Default, 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 L/C Disbursement
in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall pay or cause to be paid to
the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such L/C Disbursement not later than
2:00 p.m. on the Business Day the Borrower shall have received notice from the
Issuing Bank that payment of such draft will be made, or, if the Borrower
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shall have received such notice later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on
any Business Day, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
immediately following Business Day.
(f) Obligations Absolute. The Borrower's obligations to reimburse L/C
Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) above 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 any Loan Document, or any term or provision therein;
(ii) any amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from
all or any of the provisions of any Letter of Credit or any Loan
Document;
(iii) the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right
that the Borrower, any other party guaranteeing, or otherwise obligated
with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof or any
other Person may at any time have against the beneficiary under any
Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent or any
Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement,
any other Loan Document or any other related or unrelated agreement or
transaction;
(iv) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of
Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any
respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any
respect;
(v) 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; and
(vi) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind of
the Issuing Bank, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent or any other
Person or 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 the
Borrower's obligations hereunder.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is expressly
understood and agreed that the absolute and unconditional obligation of the
Borrower hereunder to reimburse L/C Disbursements will not be excused by the
gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the Issuing Bank. However, 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 gross negligence or wilful misconduct in determining whether
drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the
terms thereof; it is understood that the Issuing Bank may accept documents that
appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further
investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary and, in
making any payment under any Letter of Credit (i) the Issuing Bank's exclusive
reliance on the documents presented to it under such Letter of Credit as to any
and all matters set forth therein, including reliance on the amount of any draft
presented under such Letter of Credit, whether or not the amount due to the
beneficiary thereunder equals the amount of such draft and whether or not any
document presented pursuant to such Letter of Credit proves to be insufficient
in any respect, if such
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document on its face appears to be in order, and whether or not any other
statement or any other document presented pursuant to such Letter of Credit
proves to be forged or invalid or any statement therein proves to be inaccurate
or untrue in any respect whatsoever and (ii) any noncompliance in any immaterial
respect of the documents presented under such Letter of Credit with the terms
thereof shall, in each case, be deemed not to constitute wilful misconduct or
gross negligence of the Issuing Bank.
(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 as promptly as possible
give telephonic notification, confirmed by telecopy, to the Administrative Agent
and the Borrower of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has
made or will make an L/C 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 Revolving Credit Lenders with
respect to any such L/C Disbursement. The Administrative Agent shall promptly
give each Revolving Credit Lender notice thereof.
(h) Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank shall make any L/C
Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, then, unless the Borrower shall
reimburse such L/C Disbursement in full on such date, the unpaid amount thereof
shall bear interest for the account of the Issuing Bank, for each day from and
including the date of such L/C Disbursement, to but excluding the earlier of the
date of payment by the Borrower or the date on which interest shall commence to
accrue thereon as provided in Section 2.02(f), at the rate per annum that would
apply to such amount if such amount were an ABR Loan.
(i) Resignation or Removal of the Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank may
resign at any time by giving 180 days' prior written notice to the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower, and may be removed at any
time by the Borrower by notice to the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders. Subject to the next succeeding paragraph, upon the acceptance of
any appointment as the Issuing Bank hereunder by a Lender that shall agree to
serve as successor Issuing Bank, such successor shall succeed to and become
vested with all the interests, rights and obligations of the retiring Issuing
Bank and the retiring Issuing Bank shall be discharged from its obligations to
issue additional Letters of Credit hereunder, without affecting its rights and
obligations with respect to Letters of Credit previously issued by it. At the
time such removal or resignation shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay
all accrued and unpaid fees pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(ii). The acceptance of
any appointment as the Issuing Bank hereunder by a successor Lender shall be
evidenced by an agreement entered into by such successor, in a form satisfactory
to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and, from and after the effective
date of such agreement, (i) such successor Lender shall have all the rights and
obligations of the previous Issuing Bank under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and (ii) references herein and in the other Loan Documents 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 resignation or removal of the Issuing Bank
hereunder, the retiring Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall
continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued
by it prior to such resignation or removal, but shall not be required to issue
additional Letters of Credit.
(j) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing, the Borrower shall, on the Business Day it receives notice from the
Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans
has been accelerated, Revolving Credit Lenders holding
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participations in outstanding Letters of Credit representing greater than 50% of
the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit) thereof and
of the amount to be deposited, deposit in an account with the Collateral Agent,
for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders, an amount in cash equal to the
L/C Exposure as of such date. Such deposit shall be held by the Collateral Agent
as collateral for the payment and performance of the Obligations. The Collateral
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 in Permitted Investments, which investments shall be
made at the option and sole discretion of the Collateral Agent, such deposits
shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall
accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall (i) automatically be
applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for L/C
Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, (ii) be held for the
satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the L/C
Exposure at such time and (iii) if the maturity of the Loans has been
accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Credit Lenders holding
participations in outstanding Letters of Credit representing greater than 50% of
the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit), be applied
to satisfy the Obligations. 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.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
Each of Holdings and the Borrower represents and warrants to the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and each of the
Lenders that:
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of Holdings, the Borrower and
each of the Subsidiaries (a) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b)
has all requisite power and authority to own its property and assets and to
carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, (c) is
qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction
where such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (d)
has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under each of the Loan Documents and each other agreement or
instrument contemplated hereby to which it is or will be a party and, in the
case of the Borrower, to borrow hereunder.
SECTION 3.02. Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by
each Loan Party of each of the Loan Documents and the borrowings hereunder, the
consummation of the Acquisitions, the ACP Contribution and the other
transactions contemplated hereby and by the Stock Purchase Agreements
(collectively, the "Transactions") (a) have been duly authorized by all
requisite corporate and, if required, stockholder action and (b) will not (i)
violate (A) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation, or of the
certificate or articles of incorporation or other constitutive documents or
by-laws of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (B) any order of any
Governmental Authority or (C) any provision of any material indenture, agreement
or other instrument to which Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party
or by which any of them or any of their property is or may be bound, (ii) be in
conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or
lapse of time or both) a default under, or give rise to any right to accelerate
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43
or to require the prepayment, repurchase or redemption of any obligation under
any such indenture, agreement or other instrument or (iii) result in the
creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or
assets now owned or hereafter acquired by Holdings, the Borrower or any
Subsidiary (other than any Lien created hereunder or under the Security
Documents).
SECTION 3.03. Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Holdings and the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan
Document when executed and delivered by the each Loan party thereto will
constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable
against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and equitable principles of general
applicability (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding at law or in equity).
SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals. No action, consent or approval
of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental
Authority is or will be required in connection with the Transactions, except for
(a) the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and filings with
the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright
Office, (b) recordation of the Mortgages and (c) such as have been made or
obtained and are in full force and effect.
SECTION 3.05. Financial Statements. (a) The Borrower has heretofore
furnished to the Lenders (i) its consolidated balance sheet and related
statements of income and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1997, audited by and accompanied by the opinion of Ernst & Young
LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance
sheets and related statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for
(x) Mercer for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1997, and the one month period
ended December 31, 1997, and (y) Deeter for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997. Such financial statements present fairly the financial condition and
results of operations and cash flows of Neenah, Deeter and Mercer and their
respective consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods. Such
balance sheets and the notes thereto disclose all material liabilities, direct
or contingent, of Neenah, Deeter and Mercer and their respective consolidated
Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof. Such financial statements, other than the
financial statements of Mercer and Deeter, were prepared in accordance with GAAP
applied on a consistent basis.
(b) The Borrower has heretofore delivered to the Lenders its unaudited
pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1997, adjusted to give
effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on such date. Such pro forma
balance sheet has been prepared in good faith by the Borrower, based on the
assumptions used to prepare the pro forma financial information contained in the
Confidential Information Memorandum (which assumptions are believed by the
Borrower on the date hereof and on the Restatement Closing Date to be
reasonable), is based on the best information available to the Borrower as of
the date of delivery thereof, accurately reflects all adjustments required to be
made to give effect to the Transactions and presents fairly on a pro forma basis
the estimated consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date, assuming that the Transactions had
actually occurred at such date.
SECTION 3.06. No Material Adverse Change. There has been no material
adverse change in the business, assets, operations, prospects, condition,
financial or otherwise, or material
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44
agreements of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, since
September 30, 1997, or of Mercer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or
Deeter and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, since the date of each of their
last audited or reviewed financial statements delivered to the Administrative
Agent.
SECTION 3.07. Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases. (a) Each of
Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or
valid leasehold interests in, all its material properties and assets (including
all Mortgaged Property), except for minor defects in title that do not interfere
with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize
such properties and assets for their intended purposes. All such material
properties and assets are free and clear of Liens, other than Liens expressly
permitted by Section 6.02.
(b) Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has complied
with all obligations under all material leases to which it is a party and all
such leases are in full force and effect. Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such material
leases.
(c) Neither Holdings nor the Borrower has received any notice of, nor
has any knowledge of, any pending or contemplated condemnation proceeding
materially and adversely affecting the Mortgaged Properties or any sale or
disposition thereof in lieu of condemnation.
(d) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.07(d), none of Holdings, the
Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is obligated under any right of first
refusal, option or other contractual right to sell, assign or otherwise dispose
of any Mortgaged Property or any interest therein.
SECTION 3.08. Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.08 sets forth as of the
Restatement Closing Date a list of all Subsidiaries and the percentage ownership
interest of the Borrower therein. The shares of capital stock or other ownership
interests so indicated on Schedule 3.08 are fully paid and non-assessable and
are owned by the Borrower, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens
(other than Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent, created under the Security
Documents). Holdings owns 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
the Borrower, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens in favor of the
Collateral Agent, created under the Security Documents).
SECTION 3.09. Litigation; Compliance with Laws. (a) Except as set forth
on Schedule 3.09(a), there are not any actions, suits or proceedings at law or
in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority now pending or, to the
knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, threatened against or affecting Holdings
or the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any business, property or rights of any
such Person (i) that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions or (ii) 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.
(b) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or any of
their respective material properties or assets is in violation of, nor will the
continued operation of their material properties and assets as currently
conducted violate, any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning, building,
Environmental Law, ordinance, code or approval or any building permits) or any
restrictions of record or agreements affecting the Mortgaged Property, or is in
default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction, decree or order of any
Governmental Authority, where such violation or default could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.09(c), certificates of occupancy
and permits to the extent required by law are in effect for each Mortgaged
Property as currently constructed, and true and complete copies of such
certificates of occupancy have been delivered to the Collateral Agent as
mortgagee with respect to each Mortgaged Property.
SECTION 3.10. Agreements. (a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10,
none of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is a party to any
agreement or instrument or subject to any corporate restriction that has
resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is in
default in any manner under any provision of any indenture or other agreement or
instrument evidencing Indebtedness, or any other material agreement or
instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties or
assets are or may be bound, where such default could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.11. Federal Reserve Regulations. (a) None of Holdings, the
Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its
important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of
buying or carrying Margin Stock.
(b) No part of the proceeds of any Loan or any Letter of Credit will be
used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or
ultimately, for any purpose that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent
with, the provisions of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulation U or
X.
SECTION 3.12. Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company
Act. None of Holdings, the Borrower or 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 3.13. Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the proceeds of
the Loans and will request the issuance of Letters of Credit only for the
purposes specified in the preamble to this Agreement.
SECTION 3.14. Tax Returns. Each of the Holdings, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries has filed or caused to be filed all Federal, material state,
material local and material foreign tax returns or materials required to have
been filed by it and has paid or caused to be paid all taxes shown on such
returns to be due and payable by it and all assessments received by it, except
taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for
which Holdings, the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, shall have set
aside on its books adequate reserves.
SECTION 3.15. No Material Misstatements. None of (a) the Confidential
Information Memorandum or (b) any other information, report, financial
statement, exhibit or schedule furnished by or on behalf of Holdings or the
Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the
negotiation of any Loan Document or included therein or delivered pursuant
thereto contained, contains or will contain any material misstatement of fact or
omitted, omits or will omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were, are
or will be made, not misleading; provided that to the extent any such
information, report, financial statement, exhibit or schedule was based upon or
constitutes a forecast
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or projection, each of Holdings and the Borrower represents only that it acted
in good faith and utilized reasonable assumptions and due care in the
preparation of such information, report, financial statement, exhibit or
schedule.
SECTION 3.16. 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. The present value of all accumulated
benefit obligations under all Plans in the aggregate (based on the assumptions
used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did
not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such
amounts, exceed by more than $2,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of
such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all
underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most
recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than
$4,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.
SECTION 3.17. Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.17:
(a) The properties owned or operated by Holdings, the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries (the "Properties") do not contain any Hazardous
Materials in amounts or concentrations which (i) constitute, or
constituted a violation of, (ii) require Remedial Action under, or
(iii) could give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws, which
violations, Remedial Actions and liabilities, in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(b) The Properties and all operations of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries are in compliance, and in the last seven years have been
in compliance, with all Environmental Laws and all necessary
Environmental Permits have been obtained and are in effect, except to
the extent that such non-compliance or failure to obtain any necessary
permits, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) There have been no Releases or threatened Releases at,
from, under or proximate to the Properties or otherwise in connection
with the operations of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries, which Releases
or threatened Releases, in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries
has received any notice of an Environmental Claim in connection with
the Properties or the operations of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries or
with regard to any Person whose liabilities for environmental matters
Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries has retained or assumed, in
whole or in part, contractually, by operation of law or otherwise,
which, in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect, nor do Holdings, the Borrower or the
Subsidiaries have reason to believe that any such notice will be
received or is being threatened; and
(e) Hazardous Materials have not been transported from the
Properties, nor have Hazardous Materials been generated, treated,
stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Properties in a manner
that could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under any
Environmental Law, nor have the Borrower or the Subsidiaries retained
or assumed any
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liability, contractually, by operation of law or otherwise, with
respect to the generation, treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous
Materials, which transportation, generation, treatment, storage or
disposal, or retained or assumed liabilities, in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.18. Insurance. Schedule 3.18 sets forth a true, complete and
correct description of all insurance maintained by the Borrower or by the
Borrower for its Subsidiaries as of the Restatement Closing Date. As of such
date, such insurance is in full force and effect and all premiums have been duly
paid. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have insurance in such amounts and
covering such risks and liabilities as are in accordance with normal industry
practice.
SECTION 3.19. Security Documents. (a) The Pledge Agreement is effective
to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the
Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the
Collateral (as defined in the Pledge Agreement) and, when the Collateral is
delivered to the Collateral Agent and for so long as the Collateral Agent
continues to hold such Collateral, the Pledge Agreement shall constitute a fully
perfected first priority Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and
interest of the pledgors thereunder in such Collateral, in each case prior and
superior in right to any other Person.
(b) The Security Agreement is effective to create in favor of the
Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid
and enforceable security interest in the Collateral (as defined in the Security
Agreement) and, when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the
offices specified on Schedule 6 to the Perfection Certificate, the Security
Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in,
all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in such Collateral
(other than the Intellectual Property, as defined in the Security Agreement), in
each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, other than with
respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02.
(c) Assuming the Security Agreement has been filed in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, the Security
Agreement constitutes a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all
right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in the Intellectual
Property (as defined in the Security Agreement), in each case prior and superior
in right to any other Person (it being understood that subsequent recordings in
the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright
Office may be necessary to perfect a lien on registered trademarks, trademark
applications and copyrights acquired by the grantors after the date hereof).
(d) The Mortgages are effective to create in favor of the Collateral
Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and
enforceable Lien on all of the Loan Parties' right, title and interest in and to
the Mortgaged Property thereunder and the proceeds thereof, and when the
Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 3.19(d), the Mortgages
shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right,
title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Mortgaged Property and the
proceeds thereof, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person,
other than with respect to the rights of Persons pursuant to Liens expressly
permitted by Section 6.02.
SECTION 3.20. Location of Real Property and Leased Premises. (a)
Schedule 3.20(a) lists completely and correctly as of the Restatement Closing
Date all real property owned by the Borrower
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and the Subsidiaries and the addresses thereof. The Borrower and the
Subsidiaries own in fee all the real property set forth on Schedule 3.20(a).
(b) Schedule 3.20(b) lists completely and correctly as of the
Restatement Closing Date all real property leased by the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries and the addresses thereof. The Borrower and such Subsidiaries have
valid leasehold interests in all the real property set forth on Schedule 3.20(b)
SECTION 3.21. Labor Matters. As of the Restatement Closing Date, there
are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against Holdings, the Borrower or any
Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, threatened.
The hours worked by and payments made to employees of Holdings, the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries have not been in material violation of the Fair Labor Standards
Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with
such matters. All payments due from Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or
for which any claim may be made against Holdings, the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and
other benefits, have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of
Holdings, the Borrower or such Subsidiary. The consummation of the Transactions
will not give rise to any right of termination or right of renegotiation on the
part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement to which Holdings,
the Borrower or any Subsidiary is bound.
SECTION 3.22. Solvency. (a) Immediately after the consummation of the
Transactions to occur on the Restatement Closing Date and immediately following
the making of each Loan made on the Restatement Closing Date and after giving
effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loans, (i) the fair value of
the assets of each Loan Party, at a fair valuation, will exceed its debts and
liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (ii) the present fair
saleable value of the property of each Loan Party will be greater than the
amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of its debts and
other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and
other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) each Loan Party will be
able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as
such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) each Loan Party
will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in
which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be
conducted following the Restatement Closing Date.
ARTICLE IV
Conditions of Lending
The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to
issue Letters of Credit hereunder are subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions:
SECTION 4.01. All Credit Events. On the date of each Borrowing,
including on the date of each issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of a
Letter of Credit (each such event being called a "Credit Event"), but excluding
any conversion or continuation of a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.10:
(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received a notice of
such Borrowing as required by Section 2.03 (or such notice shall have
been deemed given in accordance with
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Section 2.03) or, in the case of the issuance, amendment, extension or
renewal of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative
Agent shall have received a notice requesting the issuance, amendment,
extension or renewal of such Letter of Credit as required by Section
2.22(b).
(b) The representations and warranties set forth in Article
III hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as
of the date of such Credit Event with the same effect as though made on
and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and
warranties expressly relate to an earlier date.
(c) No Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.
Each Credit Event shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by
the Borrower and Holdings on the date of such Credit Event as to the matters
specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 4.01.
SECTION 4.02. First Credit Event. On the Restatement Closing Date:
(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received, on behalf of
itself, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, a favorable written opinion
of (i) Kirkland & Ellis, counsel for Holdings and the Borrower,
substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit J-1 and (ii) each
local counsel listed on Schedule 4.02(a) substantially to the effect
set forth in Exhibit J-2, in each case (A) dated the Restatement
Closing Date, (B) addressed to the Issuing Bank, the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders, and (C) covering such other matters relating to
the Loan Documents and the Transactions as the Administrative Agent
shall reasonably request, and Holdings and the Borrower hereby request
such counsel to deliver such opinions.
(b) All legal matters incident to this Agreement, the
Borrowings and extensions of credit hereunder and the other Loan
Documents shall be satisfactory to the Lenders, to the Issuing Bank and
to Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel for the Administrative Agent.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a copy of
the certificate or articles of incorporation, including all amendments
thereto, of each Loan Party, certified as of a recent date by the
Secretary of State of the state of its organization, and a certificate
as to the good standing of each Loan Party as of a recent date, from
such Secretary of State (or, in lieu of such certificate as to good
standing for each Loan Party incorporated in the State of Wisconsin, a
certificate of status from the Wisconsin Department of Financial
Institutions as to such Loan Party's existence); (ii) a certificate of
the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each Loan Party dated the
Restatement Closing Date and certifying (A) that attached thereto is a
true and complete copy of the by-laws of such Loan Party as in effect
on the Restatement Closing Date and at all times since a date prior to
the date of the resolutions described in clause (B) below, (B) that
attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly
adopted by the Board of Directors of such Loan Party authorizing the
execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which such
Person is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, the borrowings
hereunder, and that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded
or amended and are in full force and effect, (C) that the certificate
or articles of incorporation of such Loan Party have not been amended
since the date of the last amendment thereto shown on the certificate
of good standing furnished pursuant to clause (i) above, and (D) as to
the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer executing any
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Loan Document or any other document delivered in connection herewith on
behalf of such Loan Party; (iii) a certificate of another officer as to
the incumbency and specimen signature of the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary executing the certificate pursuant to (ii) above; and (iv)
such other documents as the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or Cravath,
Swaine & Moore, counsel for the Administrative Agent, may reasonably
request.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a
certificate, dated the Restatement Closing Date and signed by a
Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the
conditions precedent set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section
4.01.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received all Fees and
other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Restatement Closing
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 or under any other Loan Document.
(f) The Pledge Agreement shall have been duly executed by the
parties thereto and delivered to the Collateral Agent and shall be in
full force and effect, and all the outstanding Capital Stock of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall have been duly and validly pledged
thereunder to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the
Secured Parties and certificates representing such shares, accompanied
by instruments of transfer and stock powers endorsed in blank, shall be
in the actual possession of the Collateral Agent; provided
that, to the extent to do so would cause adverse tax consequence to the
Borrower, (i) neither the Borrower nor any Domestic Subsidiary shall be
required to pledge more than 65% of the Voting Stock of any Foreign
Subsidiary and (ii) no Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to pledge
the Capital Stock of any of its Foreign Subsidiaries.
(g) The Security Agreement shall have been duly executed by
the Loan Parties party thereto and shall have been delivered to the
Collateral Agent and shall be in full force and effect on such date and
each document (including each Uniform Commercial Code financing
statement) required by law or reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to
create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured
Parties a valid, legal and perfected first-priority security interest
in and lien on the Collateral (subject to any Lien expressly permitted
by Section 6.02) described in such agreement shall have been delivered
to the Collateral Agent.
(h) The Collateral Agent shall have received the results of a
search of the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent filings) filings
made with respect to the Loan Parties in the states (or other
jurisdictions) in which the chief executive office of each such Person
is located, any offices of such Persons in which records have been kept
relating to Accounts and the other jurisdictions in which Uniform
Commercial Code filings (or equivalent filings) are to be made pursuant
to the preceding paragraph, together with copies of the financing
statements (or similar documents) disclosed by such search, and
accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Collateral Agent that the
Liens indicated in any such financing statement (or similar document)
would be permitted under Section 6.02 or have been released.
(i) The Collateral Agent shall have received a Perfection
Certificate with respect to the Loan Parties dated the Restatement
Closing Date and duly executed by a Responsible Officer of the
Borrower.
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(j) (i) Each of the Security Documents, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Lenders, relating to each of the Mortgaged
Properties shall have been duly executed by the parties thereto and
delivered to the Collateral Agent and shall be in full force and
effect, (ii) each of such Mortgaged Properties shall not be subject to
any Lien other than those permitted under Section 6.02, (iii) each of
such Security Documents shall have been filed and recorded in the
recording office as specified on Schedule 3.19(d) (or a lender's marked
and redated title commitment for title insurance, in form and substance
acceptable to the Collateral Agent, insuring such Security Document as
a first lien on such Mortgaged Property (subject to any Lien permitted
by Section 6.02) shall have been received by the Collateral Agent) and,
in connection therewith, the Collateral Agent shall have received
evidence satisfactory to it of the title company's agreement to record
or file such Security Documents, as applicable, and (iv) the Collateral
Agent shall have received such other documents, including a policy or
policies of title insurance issued by a nationally recognized title
insurance company, together with such endorsements, coinsurance and
reinsurance as may be requested by the Collateral Agent and the
Lenders, insuring the Mortgages as valid first liens on the Mortgaged
Properties, free of Liens other than those permitted under Section
6.02, together with such surveys, abstracts, appraisals and legal
opinions required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the
Mortgages or as reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent or the
Lenders.
(k) Each of the Parent Guarantee Agreement, the Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement, the Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution
Agreement and the Tax Sharing Agreement shall have been duly executed
by the parties thereto, shall have been delivered to the Collateral
Agent and shall be in full force and effect.
(l) (i) The Acquisitions shall have been consummated, or shall
be consummated simultaneously with the initial Credit Event, in
accordance with applicable law and the Stock Purchase Agreements and
(ii) the Lenders shall (A) be reasonably satisfied with the
capitalization, structure and equity ownership of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, (B) be reasonably satisfied with the material terms of
the Stock Purchase Agreements and the documentation related thereto,
(C) be reasonably satisfied with all legal, tax and accounting matters
relating to the Transactions, (D) be reasonably satisfied with the
terms and conditions of the Seller Note and (E) be reasonably satisfied
that the aggregate level of fees and expenses to be paid in connection
with the Transactions, the financing therefor and the other
transactions contemplated hereby shall not exceed $4,100,000.
(m) After giving effect to the Acquisitions and the other
transactions contemplated hereby to be consummated on the Restatement
Closing Date, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall have outstanding
no Indebtedness or preferred stock other than (i) the extensions of
credit under this Agreement, (ii) the Senior Subordinated Notes, (iii)
the Seller Note and (iv) the Indebtedness listed on Schedule 6.01.
(n) The Lenders shall have received the financial statements
described in Sections 3.05(a)(ii) and 3.05(b), which shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders and shall not be materially
inconsistent with the forecasts previously provided to the Lenders.
(o) The Lenders shall have received a letter from a Financial
Officer of the Borrower, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Lenders, as to the solvency of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the
<PAGE> 57
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Acquisitions, the initial Credit Event and the consummation of the
other Transactions to be consummated on the Restatement Closing Date.
(p) All requisite material Governmental Authorities and third
parties shall have approved or consented to the Acquisitions and the
other transactions contemplated hereby to be consummated on the
Restatement Closing Date to the extent required, all applicable appeal
periods shall have expired and there shall be no governmental or
judicial action, actual or threatened, that has or could have a
reasonable likelihood of restraining, preventing or imposing burdensome
conditions on the Acquisitions or the other transactions contemplated
hereby to be consummated on the Restatement Closing Date.
(q) The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of, or
a certificate as to coverage under, the insurance policies required by
Section 5.02 and the applicable provisions of the Security Documents,
each of which shall be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a
"standard" or "New York" lender's loss payable endorsement and to name
the Collateral Agent as additional insured, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(r) The Lenders shall be reasonably satisfied as to the amount
and nature of any environmental and employee health and safety
exposures to which the Borrower and the Subsidiaries may be subject and
the plans of the Borrower with respect thereto, after giving effect to
the Transactions and the consummation of the other transactions
contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4.03. ACP Contribution. The obligation of the Lenders
to make Tranche A Term Loans on the ACP Contribution Date is subject to
satisfaction of the further conditions precedent that:
(a) The ACP Contribution shall have been made
contemporaneously therewith.
(b) Simultaneously with the making of such Tranche A Term
Loans, (i) all Indebtedness pursuant to the Credit Agreement dated as
of September 1, 1995, among ACP, Heller Financial, Inc. and the other
financial institutions party thereto shall be repaid in full, the
commitments thereunder shall be terminated and all Liens with respect
thereto shall be released, (ii) all Indebtedness under the Subordinated
Promissory Notes shall be repaid in full, any commitments thereunder
shall be terminated and all Liens with respect thereto shall be
released and (iii) all other Indebtedness of ACP shall be repaid in
full, the commitments thereunder shall be terminated and all Liens with
respect thereto shall be released (collectively, the "ACP
Refinancing").
ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
Each of Holdings and the Borrower covenants and agrees with each Lender
that until the Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and
interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under
any Loan Document (other than wholly contingent indemnification obligations)
shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have been canceled or
have expired and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed in full or
cash collateralized
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to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, unless
the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, each of Holdings and
the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to:
SECTION 5.01. Existence; Businesses and Properties. (a) Do or cause to
be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and
effect its legal existence, except as otherwise expressly permitted under
Section 6.05.
(b) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to obtain, preserve,
renew, extend and keep in full force and effect in all material respects the
rights, licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights,
trademarks and trade names material to the conduct of its business; maintain and
operate such business in substantially the manner in which it is presently
conducted and operated; comply in all material respects with all applicable
laws, rules, regulations (including any zoning, building, Environmental Law,
ordinance, code or approval or any building permits or any restrictions of
record or agreements affecting the Mortgaged Properties) and decrees and orders
of any Governmental Authority, whether now in effect or hereafter enacted,
except where such non-compliance could not reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect; and, except in the case of sales of assets permitted
pursuant to Section 6.05, at all times maintain and preserve all property
material to the conduct of such business and keep, in all material respects,
such property in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear
excepted, and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and
proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and replacements thereto
necessary in order that the business carried on in connection therewith may be
properly conducted at all times.
SECTION 5.02. Insurance. In the case of the Borrower and each
Subsidiary:
(a) Keep its insurable properties adequately insured at all
times by financially sound and reputable insurers; and maintain such
other insurance, to such extent and against such risks, including fire
and other risks insured against by extended coverage, in each case as
is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses operating
in the same or similar locations, including public liability insurance
against claims for personal injury or death or property damage
occurring upon, in, about or in connection with the use of any
properties owned, occupied or controlled by it; and maintain such other
insurance as may be required by law.
(b) Cause all such policies to be endorsed or otherwise
amended to include a "standard" or "New York" lender's loss payable
endorsement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent and the Collateral Agent, which endorsement shall provide that,
from and after the Restatement Closing Date, if the insurance carrier
shall have received written notice from the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent of the occurrence of an Event of Default, the
insurance carrier shall, during the continuance of such Event of
Default, pay all proceeds otherwise payable to the Borrower or the Loan
Parties under such policies directly to the Collateral Agent; cause all
such policies to provide that neither the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent, the Collateral Agent nor any other party shall be a coinsurer
thereunder and to contain a "Replacement Cost Endorsement", without any
deduction for depreciation, and such other provisions as the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably require
from time to time to protect their interests; deliver original or
certified copies of all such policies to the Collateral Agent; cause
each such policy to provide that it shall not be canceled, modified or
not renewed (i) by reason of
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54
nonpayment of premium upon not less than 10 days' prior written notice
thereof by the insurer to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral
Agent (giving the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent the
right to cure defaults in the payment of premiums) or (ii) for any
other reason upon not less than 30 days' prior written notice thereof
by the insurer to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent;
deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, prior to
the cancelation, modification or nonrenewal of any such policy of
insurance, a copy of a renewal or replacement policy (or other evidence
of renewal of a policy previously delivered to the Administrative Agent
and the Collateral Agent) together with evidence satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent of payment of the premium
therefor.
(c) If at any time the area in which the Premises (as defined
in the Mortgages) are located is designated (i) a "flood hazard area"
in any Flood Insurance Rate Map published by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (or any successor agency), obtain flood insurance in
such total amount as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or
the Required Lenders may from time to time require, and otherwise
comply with the National Flood Insurance Program as set forth in the
Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as it may be amended from time
to time, or (ii) a "Zone 1" area, obtain earthquake insurance in such
total amount as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the
Required Lenders may from time to time require.
(d) With respect to any Mortgaged Property, carry and maintain
comprehensive general liability insurance including the "broad form CGL
endorsement" and coverage on an occurrence basis against claims made
for personal injury (including bodily injury, death and property
damage) and umbrella liability insurance against any and all claims, in
no event for a combined single limit of less than $25,000,000, naming
the Collateral Agent as an additional insured, on forms satisfactory to
the Collateral Agent.
(e) Notify the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent
immediately whenever any separate insurance concurrent in form or
contributing in the event of loss with that required to be maintained
under this Section 5.02 is taken out by the Borrower; and promptly
deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent a
duplicate original copy of such policy or policies.
SECTION 5.03. Obligations and Taxes. Pay its Indebtedness and other
obligations promptly and in accordance with their terms and pay and discharge
promptly when due all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies
imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property,
before the same shall become delinquent or in default, as well as all lawful
claims for labor, materials and supplies or otherwise that, if unpaid, might
give rise to a Lien upon such properties or any part thereof; provided, however,
that such payment and discharge shall not be required with respect to any such
tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as the validity or amount thereof
shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the Borrower
shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in
accordance with GAAP and such contest operates to suspend collection of the
contested obligation, tax, assessment or charge and enforcement of a Lien and,
in the case of a Mortgaged Property, there is no risk of forfeiture of such
property.
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SECTION 5.04. Financial Statements, Reports, etc. In the case of the
Borrower, furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, its
consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations,
stockholders' equity and cash flows showing the financial condition of
the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the close of such
fiscal year and the results of its operations and the operations of
such Subsidiaries during such year, all audited by Ernst & Young LLP or
other independent public accountants of recognized national standing
acceptable to the Required Lenders and accompanied by an opinion of
such accountants (which shall not be qualified in any material respect)
to the effect that such consolidated financial statements fairly
present the financial condition and results of operations of the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three
fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, its consolidated balance sheet and
related statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows
showing the financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and the results of
its operations and the operations of such Subsidiaries during such
fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, all
certified by one of its Financial Officers as fairly presenting in all
material respects the financial condition and results of operations of
the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis
in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal
year-end audit adjustments;
(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements
under sub-paragraph (a) or (b) above, a letter of the accounting firm
or certificate of the Financial Officer reporting on or certifying such
statements (which letter, when furnished by an accounting firm, may be
limited to accounting matters and disclaim responsibility for legal
interpretations) reporting that they are unaware that any Event of
Default has occurred, in the case of the accounting firm, or certifying
that no Event of Default or Default has occurred, in the case of the
Financial Officer, or, if such an Event of Default or Default has
occurred, specifying the nature and extent thereof and any corrective
action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;
(d) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies
of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials
filed by 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 to its shareholders, as the case
may be; and
(e) prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, a copy of the
budget for its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of
income and cash flows for each quarter of such fiscal year; and
(f) promptly, from time to time, such other information
regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any
Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably
request.
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SECTION 5.05. Litigation and Other Notices. Furnish to the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender prompt written notice of
the following:
(a) the occurrence of any Event of Default or Default,
specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if
any) taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;
(b) the filing or commencement of, or any threat or notice of
intention of any Person to file or commence, any action, suit or
proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any
Governmental Authority, against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof
that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect; and
(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 liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in
an aggregate amount exceeding $1,000,000; and
(d) any development that has resulted in, or could reasonably
be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.06. Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and
Inspections. Keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and
correct entries in conformity with GAAP and all requirements of law are made of
all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. Each
Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any
representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to visit
and inspect the financial records and the properties of Holdings, the Borrower
or any Subsidiary at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice and as often as
reasonably requested and to make extracts from and copies of such financial
records, and permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent
or any Lender to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of Holdings, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary with the officers thereof and independent accountants
therefor; provided, however, that, unless a Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, in no event shall the Administrative Agent or
any Lender or any of their respective designees contact any customer or supplier
of the Borrower or any Subsidiary regarding this Agreement and the Indebtedness
hereunder without the prior consent of the Borrower.
SECTION 5.07. Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans and
request the issuance of Letters of Credit only for the purposes set forth in the
preamble to this Agreement.
SECTION 5.08. Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except for any
non-compliance that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect, comply, and cause all lessees and other Persons occupying its
Properties to comply, with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits
applicable to its operations and Properties; obtain and renew all Environmental
Permits necessary for its operations and Properties; and conduct any Remedial
Action in accordance with Environmental Laws; provided, however, that none of
Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake
any Remedial Action to the extent that its obligation to do so is being
contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are
being maintained with respect to such circumstances.
SECTION 5.09. Preparation of Environmental Reports. If a Default caused
by reason of a breach of Section 3.17 or 5.08 shall have occurred and be
continuing, at the request of the Required
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57
Lenders through the Administrative Agent, provide to the Lenders within 45 days
after such request, at the expense of the Borrower, an environmental site
assessment report for the Properties which are the subject of such default
prepared by an environmental consulting firm acceptable to the Administrative
Agent and indicating the presence or absence of Hazardous Materials and the
estimated cost of any compliance or Remedial Action in connection with such
Properties.
SECTION 5.10. [Intentionally Omitted.]
SECTION 5.11. Further Assurances. Execute any and all further
documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all
further action (including filing Uniform Commercial Code and other financing
statements, mortgages and deeds of trust) that may be required under applicable
law, or that the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral
Agent may reasonably request, in order to effectuate the transactions
contemplated by the Loan Documents and in order to grant, preserve, protect and
perfect the validity and first priority of the security interests created or
intended to be created by the Security Documents. The Borrower will cause any
subsequently acquired or organized Domestic Subsidiary to execute a Subsidiary
Guarantee Agreement, Indemnity Subrogation and Contribution Agreement and each
applicable Security Document in favor of the Collateral Agent. In addition, from
time to time, the Borrower will, at its cost and expense, promptly secure the
Obligations by pledging or creating, or causing to be pledged or created,
perfected security interests with respect to such of its assets and properties
as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall designate (it being
understood that it is the intent of the parties that the Obligations shall be
secured by, among other things, substantially all the assets of the Borrower
(including real and other properties acquired subsequent to the Restatement
Closing Date)). Such security interests and Liens will be created under the
Security Documents and other security agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust and
other instruments and documents in form and substance satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent, and the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Lenders all such instruments and documents (including legal opinions, title
insurance policies and lien searches) as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably
request to evidence compliance with this Section. The Borrower agrees to provide
such evidence as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request as to the
perfection and priority status of each such security interest and Lien.
ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
Each of Holdings and the Borrower covenants and agrees with each Lender
that, until the Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and
interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under
any Loan Document (other than wholly contingent indemnification obligations)
have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have been canceled or have
expired and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed in full or cash
collateralized to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing
Bank, unless the Required Lenders
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shall otherwise consent in writing, neither Holdings nor the Borrower will, nor
will they cause or permit any of the Subsidiaries to:
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness. Incur, create, assume or permit to exist
any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness for borrowed money existing on the
Restatement Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 6.01;
(b) Indebtedness created hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents;
(c) the Senior Subordinated Notes (or the notes exchanged
therefor pursuant to and in accordance with Section 6.09(c));
(d) Earn-Out Obligations in an aggregate principal amount at
any time outstanding not exceeding $25,000,000;
(e) Indebtedness consisting of purchase money Indebtedness or
Capital Lease Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business
after the Original Closing Date to finance Consolidated Capital
Expenditures; provided that (i) a description of the assets financed
thereby shall have been furnished to the Administrative Agent for any
assets for which the purchase price is greater than $1,000,000 and (ii)
the aggregate principal amount of any Indebtedness or Capital Lease
Obligations incurred pursuant to this paragraph (d) outstanding at any
time shall not exceed $10,000,000;
(f) intercompany loans and advances permitted by
Section 6.04(c);
(g) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to
Holdings; provided that such Indebtedness (i) is subordinated to the
prior payment in full of the Obligations on terms satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and (ii) is evidenced by an intercompany note
pledged by Holdings to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Pledge
Agreement for the benefit of the Secured Parties;
(h) ordinary course Interest Rate Protection Agreements and
ordinary course, non-speculative foreign exchange and commodity
protection agreements;
(i) Indebtedness arising out of judgments or awards (other
than any judgment that is described in clause (i) of Article VII and
constitutes a Default or Event of Default thereunder) in respect of
which the Borrower shall in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or
proceedings for review and in respect of which it shall have secured a
subsisting stay of execution pending such appeal or proceedings for
review, provided the Borrower shall have set aside on its books
adequate reserves, in accordance with GAAP, with respect to such
judgment or award;
(j) Indebtedness under performance bonds in an aggregate
principal amount at any time outstanding not exceeding $2,000,000; and
(k) additional unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate amount
at any time outstanding not exceeding $20,000,000.
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SECTION 6.02. Liens. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien
on any property or assets (including stock or other securities of any Person,
including any Subsidiary) now owned or hereafter acquired by it or on any income
or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof, except:
(a) Liens on property or assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries existing on the Restatement Closing Date and set forth in
Schedule 6.02; provided that such Liens shall secure only those
obligations which they secure on the Restatement Closing Date;
(b) any Lien created under the Loan Documents;
(c) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the
acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that
(i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with
such acquisition (except as permitted pursuant to Section 6.02(i)),
(ii) such Lien does not apply to any other property or assets of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien does not (A) materially
interfere with the use, occupancy and operation of any Mortgaged
Property, (B) materially reduce the fair market value of such Mortgaged
Property but for such Lien or (C) result in any material increase in
the cost of operating, occupying or owning or leasing such Mortgaged
Property;
(d) Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested
in compliance with Section 5.03;
(e) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's,
repairmen's or other like Liens arising, in the case of such other like
Liens, in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that
are not due and payable or which are being contested in compliance with
Section 5.03;
(f) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of
business in compliance with workmen's compensation, unemployment
insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(g) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade
contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capital
Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds,
performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in
the ordinary course of business;
(h) zoning restrictions, easements, rights-of-way,
restrictions on use of real property and other similar encumbrances
incurred, in the case of such other similar encumbrances, in the
ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, are not
substantial in amount and do not materially detract from the value of
the property subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of
the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(i) purchase money security interests in real property,
improvements thereto or equipment hereafter acquired (or, in the case
of improvements, constructed) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted
by Section 6.01(e), (ii) such security interests are incurred, and the
Indebtedness secured thereby is created, within 90 days after such
acquisition (or construction), (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby
does not exceed 85% of the lesser of the cost or the fair market value
of such real property, improvements or equipment at the time of such
acquisition (or
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construction) (or if such Indebtedness exceeds such 85% limit, such
Indebtedness is non-recourse to Holdings, the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries) and (iv) such security interests do not apply to any
other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(j) any Lien disclosed on the marked and redated title
insurance commitments delivered to the Collateral Agent on the Original
Closing Date (or, with respect to the Mortgaged Properties of Deeter
and Mercer, on the Restatement Closing Date, or, with respect to the
Mortgaged Properties of ACP, on the ACP Contribution Date);
(k) Liens arising out of judgments or awards (other than any
judgment that is described in clause (i) of Article VII and constitutes
a Default or Event of Default thereunder) in respect of which the
Borrower shall in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings
for review and in respect of which it shall have secured a subsisting
stay of execution pending such appeal or proceedings for review,
provided the Borrower shall have set aside on its books adequate
reserves, in accordance with GAAP, with respect to such judgment or
award; and
(l) additional Liens on property or assets securing
obligations (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money) not exceeding
$500,000 at any time, provided that, to the extent any such Lien
applies to any Collateral (as defined in any such Security Document),
such Lien does not have priority over the Liens created under the
Security Documents.
SECTION 6.03. Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. Enter into any
arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby it shall sell or
transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or
other property which it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or
purposes as the property being sold or transferred.
SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans and Advances. Purchase, hold or
acquire any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities of,
make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, or make or permit to exist any
investment or any other interest in, any other Person, except:
(a) investments by the Borrower existing on the Restatement
Closing Date in the capital stock of the Subsidiaries (and, from and
after the ACP Contribution Date, in the capital stock of ACP) and
additional investments by Holdings in the Capital Stock of the Borrower
or by the Borrower in the Capital Stock of the Subsidiary Guarantors;
(b) Permitted Investments;
(c) investments, loans or advances made by any Loan Party to
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that any such loans or
advances are evidenced by an intercompany note pledged to the
Collateral Agent pursuant to the Pledge Agreement for the benefit of
the Secured Parties;
(d) investments consisting of non-cash consideration received
in connection with a sale of assets permitted by Section 6.05(b);
(e) loans and advances to employees and officers of the
Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment and
relocation expenses in the ordinary course of
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business in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time
not to exceed $500,000;
(f) loans and advances in an aggregate principal amount
outstanding at any one time not to exceed $500,000 to management and
other employees of the Borrower, the proceeds of which are used in
their entirety to purchase capital stock of Holdings, ACP Holdings or
ACP Products or any successor thereto and other investments pursuant to
retirement savings programs;
(g) the Borrower may make any Permitted Acquisition; provided
that (i) the aggregate purchase price of all such Permitted
Acquisitions consummated after the Restatement Closing Date does not
exceed $65,000,000, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all
Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit at any one time outstanding used
to finance the cash considerations and fees and expenses paid in
connection with all Permitted Acquisitions consummated after the
Restatement Closing Date shall not exceed $40,000,000 and (iii) the
Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate
certifying that at the time of and immediately after giving effect to
such Permitted Acquisition, (A) no Event of Default or Default shall
have occurred and be continuing and (B) the Borrower shall be in
compliance on a pro forma basis (including as adjusted to reduce or
exclude any identified costs that will be reduced or will cease to be
incurred after such Permitted Acquisition) with the covenants set forth
in Sections 6.11, 6.12 and 6.13 in each case as of the last day of the
most recent fiscal quarter adjusted to give effect (as if such event
had occurred on the first day of the four fiscal quarter period ended
on such last day) to such Permitted Acquisition and the financing
therefor, and the adjustments and calculations set forth in such
certificate shall be based on assumptions and otherwise in form and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(h) Consolidated Capital Expenditures permitted pursuant to
Section 6.10;
(i) Accounts; and
(j) ordinary course Interest Rate Protection Agreements and
ordinary course, non-speculative foreign exchange and commodity
protection agreements.
SECTION 6.05. Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and
Acquisitions. (a) 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 (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) or
any capital stock of any Subsidiary, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in
one transaction or a series of transactions) all or any substantial part of the
assets of any other Person, except that (i) the Borrower and any Subsidiary may
purchase and sell inventory and scrap, obsolete, excess and worn out assets in
the ordinary course of business, (ii) if at the time thereof and immediately
after giving effect thereto no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred
and be continuing (v) the ACP Contribution may be made, (w) any wholly owned
Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is
the surviving corporation, (x) any wholly owned Subsidiary may merge into or
consolidate with any other wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary in a transaction in
which the surviving entity is a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary and no Person
other than the Borrower or a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary receives any
consideration, (y) Holdings may merge into ACP Holdings or the Borrower in a
transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving
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corporation (in the case of any such merger of Holdings into the Borrower) so
long as concurrently with any merger of Holdings with and into the Borrower, or
any merger of Holdings with and into ACP Holdings in which Holdings is not the
surviving corporation, ACP Holdings assumes all the obligations of Holdings
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including entering into a
supplement to the Pledge Agreement to pledge 100% of the Capital Stock of the
Borrower to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties) and (z)
following any merger described in clause (y), ACP Holdings may merge into ACP
Products or the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving
corporation (in the case of any such merger of ACP Holdings into the Borrower)
so long as concurrently with any merger of ACP Holdings with and into the
Borrower, or any merger of ACP Holdings with and into ACP Products in which ACP
Holdings is not the surviving corporation, ACP Products assumes all the
obligations of ACP Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
(including entering into a supplement to the Pledge Agreement to pledge 100% of
the Capital Stock of the Borrower to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Secured Parties), (iii) the Borrower and any Subsidiary may make Permitted
Acquisitions permitted by Section 6.04(g), (iv) the Borrower and any Subsidiary
may make Consolidated Capital Expenditures permitted by Section 6.10 and (v) the
Borrower and any Subsidiary may engage in any Asset Sale of Capital Stock or
other assets acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition permitted pursuant to
Section 6.04(g).
(b) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall engage in any Asset
Sale otherwise permitted under paragraph (a) above unless (i) such Asset Sale is
for consideration at least 85% of which is cash, (ii) such consideration is at
least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
Borrower's board of directors) of the assets being sold, transferred, leased or
disposed of and (iii) the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
Borrower's board of directors) of all assets sold, transferred, leased or
disposed of pursuant to this paragraph (b) (except for assets sold, transferred,
leased or disposed of pursuant to Section 6.05(a)(v)) shall not exceed (i)
$2,000,000 in any fiscal year or (ii) $10,000,000 in the aggregate.
SECTION 6.06. Dividends and Distributions; Restrictions on Ability of
Subsidiaries to Pay Dividends. (a) Declare or pay, directly or indirectly, any
dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise),
whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, with respect to
any shares of its Capital Stock or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase,
retire or otherwise acquire for value (or permit any Subsidiary to purchase or
acquire) any shares of any class of its Capital Stock or set aside any amount
for any such purpose; provided, however, that
(i) any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or make other
distributions to the Borrower;
(ii) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends or make other
distributions to Holdings (A) to pay the Borrower Tax Amount required
to be paid by Holdings and (B) to fund payments to be made by Holdings
as permitted by clause (iv) below in an aggregate amount not to exceed
the amounts of such payments;
(iii) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Borrower may declare and pay dividends
or make other distributions to Holdings to pay the actual operating
costs of Holdings and ACP Holdings in an aggregate amount not exceeding
$250,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower;
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(iv) Holdings may, or Holdings may declare and pay dividends
or make other distributions to ACP Holdings to permit ACP Holdings or
ACP Products to, purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire (A)
shares of its Capital Stock, or options or warrants to purchase shares
of its Capital Stock, held by officers, directors or employees of
Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to a compensation
plan or arrangement in connection with the death, disability or
termination of employment of any such officer, director or employee or
(B) shares of its capital stock owned by any officer, director or
employee of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to the
exercise of options or warrants to purchase such Capital Stock by such
officer, director or employee or to pay taxes incurred in connection
with such exercise of options or warrants in an aggregate amount for
all such transactions described in clauses (A) and (B) not exceeding
the sum of (x) $2,000,000 plus (y) the proceeds of any substantially
concurrent issuance of Capital Stock of ACP Products, ACP Holdings or
Holdings to any officer, director or employee of Holdings, the Borrower
or any Subsidiary;
(v) Holdings may declare and pay dividends or make other
distributions to ACP Holdings to pay the Borrower Tax Amount required
to be paid by ACP Holdings; and
(vi) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, Holdings may declare and pay dividends or
make other distributions to ACP Holdings, out of the proceeds of
dividends or distributions received by Holdings pursuant to clause
(iii) above, to pay ACP Holdings' actual operating costs.
(b) Permit its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or
otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or
restriction on the ability of any such subsidiary to (i) pay any dividends or
make any other distributions on its capital stock or any other interest or (ii)
make or repay any loans or advances to the Borrower or the parent of such
subsidiary.
SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth on
Schedule 6.07, sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or
acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other
transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except that the Borrower or any
Subsidiary may engage in (a) any of the foregoing transactions in the ordinary
course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to
the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm's-length basis
from unrelated third parties, (b) the transactions permitted pursuant to
Sections 6.05 and 6.06 and (c) the Transactions.
SECTION 6.08. Business of Borrower and Subsidiaries. Engage at any time
in any business or business activity other than Related Businesses.
SECTION 6.09. Other Indebtedness and Agreements. (a) Permit any waiver,
supplement, modification, amendment, termination or release of (i) the Stock
Purchase Agreements, the Merger Agreement or the Tax Sharing Agreement or (ii)
any indenture, instrument or agreement pursuant to which any Indebtedness or
preferred stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is outstanding in an aggregate
outstanding principal amount in excess of $1,000,000, or modify its charter or
by-laws, in each case to the extent that any such waiver, supplement,
modification, amendment, termination or release would be adverse to the Lenders
in any material respect.
(b) Except for the ACP Refinancing, (i) make any distribution, whether
in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, other than regular
scheduled payments of principal and interest
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as and when due (to the extent not prohibited by applicable subordination
provisions), in respect of, or pay, or offer or commit to pay, or directly or
indirectly redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire for consideration, or
set apart any sum for the aforesaid purposes, any Indebtedness for borrowed
money of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in an outstanding principal amount
exceeding $1,000,000 or (ii) pay in cash any amount in respect of such
Indebtedness that may at the obligor's option be paid in kind or in other
securities.
(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 6.09 to the
contrary, the Borrower shall be permitted to exchange the Senior Subordinated
Notes for substantially identical notes in accordance with the Exchange and
Registration Rights Agreements with respect thereto.
SECTION 6.10. Capital Expenditures. Permit the aggregate amount of
Consolidated Capital Expenditures (other than Consolidated Capital Expenditures
for patterns and Permitted Acquisitions permitted by Section 6.04(g)) made by
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in any fiscal year to
exceed the sum of (a) $25,000,000, (b) the net cash proceeds of any issuance of
equity securities by, without duplication, Holdings, ACP Holdings or ACP
Products made during such fiscal year and substantially concurrently used to
fund Consolidated Capital Expenditures, and (c) 100% of Excess Cash Flow for the
preceding fiscal year that was not required to be used to make prepayments of
the outstanding Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.13; provided, however, that the
amount of Consolidated Capital Expenditures in any fiscal year of the Borrower
permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (a) above shall be increased by an
amount equal to the amount of unused Consolidated Capital Expenditures permitted
to be incurred pursuant to clause (a) above for the immediately preceding fiscal
year of the Borrower (without giving effect to this proviso).
SECTION 6.11. Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated
Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter falling in any period set
forth below to be in excess of the ratio set forth below for such period.
Period Ratio
------ -----
January 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999 6.00 to 1.00
October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2000 5.75 to 1.00
Thereafter 5.50 to 1.00
SECTION 6.12. Consolidated Net Worth. Permit Consolidated Net Worth (a)
on the Original Closing Date, to be less than $35,000,000 or (b) on the last day
of any fiscal quarter thereafter, to be less than the sum of (i) $35,000,000
plus (ii) 50% of the cumulative amount of positive Consolidated Net Income for
each fiscal year ending after the Original Closing Date.
SECTION 6.13. Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be
less than 1.50 to 1.00.
SECTION 6.14. Fiscal Year. Permit the fiscal year of the Borrower to
end on a day other than September 30.
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ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
In case of the happening of any of the following events ("Events of
Default"):
(a) any representation or warranty made or deemed made in or
in connection with any Loan Document or the borrowings or issuances of
Letters of Credit hereunder, or any representation, warranty, statement
or information contained in any report, certificate, financial
statement or other instrument furnished in connection with or pursuant
to any Loan Document, shall prove to have been false or misleading in
any material respect when so made, deemed made or furnished;
(b) default shall be made in the payment of any principal of
any Loan or the reimbursement with respect to any L/C 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 by acceleration
thereof or otherwise;
(c) default shall be made in the payment of any interest on
any Loan or any Fee or L/C Disbursement or any other amount (other than
an amount referred to in (b) above) due under any Loan Document, when
and as the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall
continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days;
(d) default shall be made in the due observance or performance
by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any covenant, condition
or agreement contained in Section 5.01(a), 5.05 or 5.07 or in Article
VI;
(e) default shall be made in the due observance or performance
by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any covenant, condition
or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified
in (b), (c) or (d) above) and such default shall continue unremedied
for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative
Agent or any Lender to the Borrower;
(f) Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) fail to
pay any principal or interest, regardless of amount, due in respect of
any Indebtedness in a principal amount in excess of $1,750,000, when
and as the same shall become due and payable, or (ii) fail to observe
or perform any other term, covenant, condition or agreement contained
in any agreement or instrument evidencing or governing any such
Indebtedness if the effect of any failure referred to in this clause
(ii) is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such
Indebtedness or a trustee on its or their behalf (with or without the
giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) to cause, such
Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity;
(g) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an
involuntary petition shall be filed in a court of competent
jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect of Holdings, the Borrower or
any Subsidiary, or of a substantial part of the property or assets of
Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary, under Title 11 of the United
States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other
Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or
similar law, (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian,
seques-
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trator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, the Borrower or
any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of the property or assets of
Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary or (iii) the winding-up or
liquidation of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and 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;
(h) Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i)
voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief
under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or
hereafter amended, or any other Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership or similar law, (ii) consent to the
institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner,
any proceeding or the filing of any petition described in (g) above,
(iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee,
custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings,
the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of the
property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (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, (vi) become unable, admit in writing its
inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or
(vii) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the
foregoing;
(i) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an
aggregate amount in excess of $1,750,000, which amount is not covered
by insurance (provided that in the event such a judgment is covered by
insurance, the Administrative Agent is provided with satisfactory
evidence that the insurance provider will provide the coverage relating
thereto) shall be rendered against Holdings, 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 levy upon assets or properties of Holdings,
the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;
(j) 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 liability
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding
(i) $1,000,000 in any year or (ii) $5,000,000 for all periods; or
(k) any security interest purported to be created by any
Security Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by the
Borrower or any other Loan Party not to be, a valid, perfected, first
priority (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or
such Security Document) security interest in the securities, assets or
properties covered thereby, except to the extent that any such loss of
perfection or priority results from the failure of the Collateral Agent
to maintain possession of certificates representing securities pledged
under the Pledge Agreement or to continue previously filed financing
statements prior to the expiration thereof and except to the extent
that such loss is covered by a lender's title insurance policy and the
related insurer promptly after such loss shall have acknowledged in
writing that such loss is covered by such title insurance policy; or
(l) there shall have occurred a Change in Control;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower
described in paragraph (g) or (h) above), and at any time thereafter during the
continuance of such event, the
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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 forthwith the Commitments and (ii)
declare the Loans then outstanding, if any, to be forthwith due and payable in
whole or in part, whereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and
payable, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and
all other liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other Loan
Document, shall become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand,
protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by the Borrower, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document
to the contrary notwithstanding; and in any event with respect to the Borrower
described in para graph (g) or (h) above, the Commitments shall automatically
terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued
interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the
Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall
automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or
any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the
Borrower, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the
contrary notwithstanding.
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent
In order to expedite the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
The Chase Manhattan Bank is hereby appointed to act as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank (for purposes of
this Article VIII, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are
referred to collectively as the "Agents"). Each of the Lenders and each assignee
of any such Lender, hereby irrevocably authorizes the Agents to take such
actions on behalf of such Lender or assignee or the Issuing Bank and to exercise
such powers as are specifically delegated to the Agents by the terms and
provisions hereof and of the other Loan Documents, together with such actions
and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent is
hereby expressly authorized by the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, without hereby
limiting any implied authority, (a) to receive on behalf of the Lenders and the
Issuing Bank all payments of principal of and interest on the Loans, all
payments in respect of L/C Disbursements and all other amounts due to the
Lenders hereunder, and promptly to distribute to each Lender or the Issuing Bank
its proper share of each payment so received; (b) to give notice on behalf of
each of the Lenders to the Borrower of any Event of Default specified in this
Agreement of which the Administrative Agent has actual knowledge acquired in
connection with its agency hereunder; and (c) to distribute to each Lender
copies of all notices, financial statements and other materials delivered by the
Borrower or any other Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents as received by the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Agents are hereby expressly authorized to
execute any and all documents (including releases) with respect to the
Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto, as
contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the
Security Documents.
Neither the Agents nor any of their respective directors, officers,
employees or agents shall be liable as such for any action taken or omitted by
any of them except for its or his own gross negligence or wilful misconduct, or
be responsible for any statement, warranty or representation herein or the
contents of any document delivered in connection herewith, or be required to
ascertain or to make any inquiry concerning the performance or observance by the
Borrower or any other Loan Party of any of the terms, conditions, covenants or
agreements contained in any Loan Document.
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The Agents shall not be responsible to the Lenders for the due execution,
genuineness, validity, enforceability or effectiveness of this Agreement or any
other Loan Documents, instruments or agreements. The Agents shall in all cases
be fully protected in acting, or refraining from acting, in accordance with
written instructions signed by the Required Lenders and, except as otherwise
specifically provided herein, such instructions and any action or inaction
pursuant thereto shall be binding on all the Lenders. Each Agent shall, in the
absence of knowledge to the contrary, be entitled to rely on any instrument or
document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been
signed or sent by the proper Person or Persons. Neither the Agents nor any of
their respective directors, officers, employees or agents shall have any
responsibility in their capacity as such to the Borrower or any other Loan Party
on account of the failure of or delay in performance or breach by any Lender or
the Issuing Bank of any of its obligations hereunder or to any Lender or the
Issuing Bank on account of the failure of or delay in performance or breach by
any other Lender or the Issuing Bank or the Borrower or any other Loan Party of
any of their respective obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document
or in connection herewith or therewith. Each of the Agents may execute any and
all duties hereunder by or through agents or employees and shall be enti tled to
rely upon the advice of legal counsel selected by it with respect to all matters
arising hereunder and shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered in
good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel.
The Lenders hereby acknowledge that neither Agent shall be under any
duty to take any discretionary action permitted to be taken by it pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement unless it shall be requested in writing to do
so by the Required Lenders.
Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Agent as
provided below, either Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and
the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the
right to appoint a successor, subject to the Borrower's approval, not to be
unreasonably withheld, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the
Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after
the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may,
on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent which shall be a bank with
an office in New York, New York, having a combined capital and surplus of at
least $500,000,000 or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of any
appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor bank, such successor shall succeed
to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the
retiring Agent and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations hereunder. After the Agent's resignation hereunder, the provisions
of this Article and Section 9.05 shall continue in effect for its benefit in
respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as
Agent.
With respect to the Loans made by it hereunder, each Agent in its
individual capacity and not as Agent shall have the same rights and powers as
any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and
the Agents and their Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and
generally engage in any kind of business with Holdings, the Borrower or any
Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not an Agent.
Each Lender agrees (a) to reimburse the Agents, on demand, in the
amount of its pro rata share (based on its Commitments hereunder) of any
expenses incurred for the benefit of the Lenders by the Agents, including
counsel fees and compensation of agents and employees paid for services rendered
on behalf of the Lenders, that shall not have been reimbursed by the Borrower
and (b) to indemnify and hold harmless each Agent and any of its directors,
officers, employees or agents, on
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demand, in the amount of such pro rata share, from and against any and all
liabilities, taxes, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that
may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against it in its capacity as Agent,
or any of them in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document or any action taken or omitted by it or any of them under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, to the extent the same shall not have
been reimbursed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, provided that no Lender
shall be liable to an Agent or any such other indemnified Person for any portion
of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements 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 Agent or any of its directors,
officers, employees or agents. Each Revolving Credit Lender agrees to reimburse
and indemnify the Issuing Bank to the same extent and subject to the same
limitations as provided for the Agents in the preceding sentence.
Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without
reliance upon the Agents 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 Agents 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 or any other Loan Document, any related
agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01. Notices. Notices and other communications provided for
herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier
service, or sent by telecopy, as follows:
(a) if to the Borrower or Holdings, to it at 2121 Brooks
Avenue, Neenah, WI 54956, Attention of President or Chief Financial
Officer (Telecopy No. (414) 729-3633) with copies to (which shall not
constitute notice to the Borrower) Citicorp Venture Capital, Ltd., 399
Park Avenue, 14th Floor, Zone 4, New York, NY 10043, Attention of Mr.
David F. Thomas and Mr. John D. Weber (Telecopy No. (212) 888-2940) and
Kirkland & Ellis, Citicorp Center, 153 East 53rd Street, New York, NY
10022, Attention of Kirk A. Radke, Esq. (Telecopy No. (212) 446-4900);
(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 Janet Belden (Telecopy
No. (212) 552-5658), with a copy to The Chase Manhattan Bank, 270 Park
Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention of James H. Ramage
(Telecopy No. (212) 270-4724); and
(c) if to a Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number)
set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant
to which such Lender shall have become a party hereto.
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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 if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by
telecopy or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified or
registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly
addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance with
the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this
Section 9.01.
SECTION 9.02. Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements,
representations and warranties made by the Borrower or Holdings herein and in
the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with
or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to
have been relied upon by the Lenders and the Issuing Bank and shall survive the
making by the Lenders of the Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit by the
Issuing Bank, regardless of any investigation made by the Lenders or the Issuing
Bank or on their behalf, 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 then due and payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is
outstanding and unpaid (other than wholly-contingent indemnification
obligations) or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the
Commitments have not been terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.16,
2.20 and 9.05 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of
the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Loans, the
expiration of the Commitments, the expiration of any Letter of Credit, the
invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank.
SECTION 9.03. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective
when it shall have been executed by the Borrower, Holdings and 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 permitted successors and
assigns.
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) Whenever in this Agreement
any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to
include the permitted successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants,
promises and agreements by or on behalf of the Borrower, Holdings, the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Lenders that are contained in this
Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and
assigns.
(b) Each Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of
its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided,
however, that (i) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an
Affiliate of, or an Approved Fund with respect to, such Lender, (x) the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of any assignment of a Revolving
Credit Commitment, the Issuing Bank) must give their prior written consent to
such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) and (y) 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
$5,000,000 (or, if less, the entire remaining amount of such Lender's
Commitment), (ii) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver
to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with a
processing and recordation fee of $3,500 and
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(iii) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire. Upon acceptance and
recording pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 9.04, from and after the
effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, which effective date
shall be at least five Business Days after the execution thereof, (A) 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 (B) 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 or the remaining portion of an 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, 2.16, 2.20 and 9.05, as well as to any Fees accrued for its account and
not yet paid).
(c) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the
assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be deemed to
confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows:
(i) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of
the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that
its Term Loan Commitments and Revolving Credit Commitment, and the outstanding
balances of its Term Loans and Revolving Loans, in each case without giving
effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set forth
in such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) except as set forth in (i) above, such
assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no
responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations
made in or in connection with this Agreement, or the execution, legality,
validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement,
any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant
hereto, or the financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the
performance or observance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any of its
obligations under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee represents
and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and
Acceptance; (iv) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this
Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements referred
to in Section 3.05(a) or delivered pursuant to Section 5.04 and such other
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit
analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (v) such
assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent,
the Collateral Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on
such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time,
continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under
this Agreement; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative
Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to
exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative
Agent and the Collateral Agent, respectively, by the terms hereof, together with
such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee agrees
that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by
the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
(d) 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 owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms
hereof from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be
conclusive and the
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Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Collateral Agent 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, the Collateral Agent
and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable
prior notice.
(e) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance
executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, an Administrative Questionnaire
completed in respect of the assignee (unless the assignee shall already be a
Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph
(b) above and, if required, the written consent of the Borrower, the Issuing
Bank and the Administrative Agent to such assignment, the Administrative Agent
shall (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information
contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the
Lenders and the Issuing Bank. No assignment shall be effective unless it has
been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (e).
(f) Each Lender may without the consent of the Borrower, the Issuing
Bank or the Administrative Agent sell participations to one or more banks or
other entities in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this
Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to
it); provided, however, 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, (iii) the
participating banks or other entities shall be entitled to the benefit of the
cost protection provisions contained in Sections 2.14, 2.16 and 2.20 to the same
extent as if they were Lenders and (iv) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent,
the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with
such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this
Agreement, and such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the
obligations of the Borrower relating to the Loans or L/C Disbursements and to
approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement
(other than amendments, modifications or waivers decreasing any fees payable
hereunder or the amount of principal of or the rate at which interest is payable
on the Loans, extending any scheduled principal payment date or date fixed for
the payment of interest on the Loans or increasing or extending the
Commitments).
(g) Any Lender or participant may, in connection with any assignment or
participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section
9.04, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or
participant any information relating to the Borrower furnished to such Lender by
or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that, prior to any such disclosure of
information designated by the Borrower as confidential, each such assignee or
participant or proposed assignee or participant shall execute an agreement
whereby such assignee or participant shall agree (subject to customary
exceptions) to preserve the confidentiality of such confidential information on
terms no less restrictive than those applicable to the Lenders pursuant to
Section 9.16.
(h) Any Lender may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights
under this Agreement to a Federal Reserve Bank to secure extensions of credit by
such Federal Reserve Bank to such Lender; provided that no such assignment shall
release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such
Bank for such Lender as a party hereto. In order to facilitate such an
assignment to a Federal Reserve Bank, the Borrower shall, at the request of the
assigning Lender, duly execute and deliver to the assigning Lender a promissory
note or notes evidencing the Loans made to the Borrower by the assigning Lender
hereunder.
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(i) Neither Holdings nor the Borrower shall assign or delegate any of
its rights or duties hereunder without the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender, and any attempted
assignment without such consent shall be null and void.
(j) In the event that Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, Moody's
Investors Service, Inc., and Thompson's BankWatch (or InsuranceWatch Ratings
Service, in the case of Lenders that are insurance companies (or Best's
Insurance Reports, if such insurance company is not rated by InsuranceWatch
Ratings Service)) shall, after the date that any Lender becomes a Revolving
Credit Lender, downgrade the long-term certificate deposit ratings of such
Lender, and the resulting ratings shall be below BBB-, Baa3 and C (or BB, in the
case of a Lender that is an insurance company (or B, in the case of an insurance
company not rated by InsuranceWatch Ratings Service)), then the Issuing Bank
shall have the right, but not the obligation, at its own expense, upon notice to
such Lender and the Administrative Agent, to replace (or to request the Borrower
to use its reasonable efforts to replace) such Lender with an assignee (in
accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in paragraph (b)
above), and such Lender hereby agrees to transfer and assign without recourse
(in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in paragraph (b)
above) all its interests, rights and obligations in respect of its Revolving
Credit Commitment to such assignee; provided, however, that (i) no such
assignment shall conflict with any law, rule and regulation or order
of any Governmental Authority and (ii) the Issuing Bank or such assignee, as the
case may be, shall pay to such Lender in immediately available funds on the date
of such assignment the principal of and interest accrued to the date of payment
on the Loans made by such Lender hereunder and all other amounts accrued for
such Lender's account or owed to it hereunder.
SECTION 9.05. Expenses; Indemnity. (a) The Borrower and Holdings agree,
jointly and severally, to pay all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Issuing Bank in connection
with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein and the
preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or
in connection with any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions
hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions hereby or thereby
contemplated shall be consummated) or incurred by the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral Agent or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection
of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or
in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder,
including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Cravath, Swaine &
Moore, counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, and, in
connection with any such enforcement or protection, the reasonable fees, charges
and disbursements of any other counsel for the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral Agent or any Lender.
(b) The Borrower and Holdings agree, jointly and severally, to
indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Lender and the
Issuing Bank, each Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons and each of their
respective directors, officers, employees and agents (each such Person being
called an "Indemnitee") against, and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including
reasonable counsel fees, charges and disbursements, incurred by or asserted
against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result
of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or
any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties
thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the
Transactions and the other transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) the use of
the proceeds of the Loans or issuance of Letters of Credit,
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(iii) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the
foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto, or (iv) any actual
or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on any property owned or
operated by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Claim
related in any way to the Borrower or the Subsidiaries; 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 any Indemnitee.
(c) The provisions of this Section 9.05 shall remain operative and in
full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this
Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the
repayment of any of the Loans, the expiration of the Commitments, the expiration
of any Letter of Credit, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or
provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any
Lender or the Issuing Bank. All amounts due under this Section 9.05 shall be
payable on written demand therefor.
SECTION 9.06. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and
from time to time, except to the extent prohibited 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 indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or
for the credit or the account of the Borrower or Holdings against any of and all
the obligations of the Borrower or Holdings now or hereafter existing under this
Agreement and other Loan Documents held by such Lender, irrespective of whether
or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such other
Loan Document and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each
Lender under this Section 9.06 are in addition to other rights and remedies
(including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
SECTION 9.07. Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN LETTERS OF CREDIT AND AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH LETTER OF CREDIT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OR RULES DESIGNATED IN SUCH LETTER OF
CREDIT, OR IF NO SUCH LAWS OR RULES ARE DESIGNATED, THE UNIFORM CUSTOMS AND
PRACTICE FOR DOCUMENTARY CREDITS (1993 REVISION), INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, PUBLICATION NO. 500 (THE "UNIFORM CUSTOMS") AND, AS TO MATTERS NOT
GOVERNED BY THE UNIFORM CUSTOMS, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 9.08. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank in
exercising any power or right hereunder or under any other Loan Document 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 Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents 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 any other Loan Document or consent to any
departure by the Borrower or any other Loan
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Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be
permitted by paragraph (b) below, and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No
notice or demand on the Borrower or Holdings in any case shall entitle the
Borrower or Holdings to any other or further notice or demand in similar or
other circumstances.
(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, Holdings and the Required Lenders; provided,
however, that no such agreement shall (i) decrease the principal amount of, or
extend the maturity of or any scheduled principal payment date or date for the
payment of any interest on any Loan or any date for reimbursement of an L/C
Disbursement, or waive or excuse any such payment or any part thereof, or
decrease the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Disbursement, without the prior
written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (ii) change or extend the
Commitment or decrease or extend the date for payment of the Commitment Fees of
any Lender without the prior written consent of such Lender, (iii) amend or
modify the provisions of Section 2.17 or 9.04(i), the provisions of this
Section, the definition of the term "Required Lenders" or release any Guarantor
or all or any substantial part of the Collateral, without the prior written
consent of each Lender, (iv) change the allocation between Tranche A Term Loans
and Tranche B Term Loans of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.13
without the prior written consent of (A) Lenders holding Tranche A Term Loans
representing more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Tranche A Term Loans and (B) Lenders holding Tranche B Term Loans representing
more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Tranche B
Term Loans, (v) decrease the principal amount of, or extend the date for payment
of, any prepayment of (A) Tranche A Term Loans or (B) Tranche B Term Loans, in
each case required pursuant to Section 2.13 without the prior written consent of
(x) Lenders holding Tranche A Term Loans representing more than 50% of the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loans or (y)
Lenders holding Tranche B Term Loans representing more than 50% of the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Tranche B Term Loans, respectively, or (vi)
amend Section 2.13(i) without the prior written consent of Lenders holding
Tranche B Term Loans representing more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Tranche B Term Loans; provided further that no such
agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Issuing Bank hereunder or
under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Issuing Bank.
SECTION 9.09. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein
to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan or
participation in any L/C Disbursement, together with all fees, charges and other
amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan or participation in such L/C
Disbursement 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 or participation in
accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such
Loan or participation 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 or
participation but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section
9.09 shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in
respect of other Loans or participations or periods shall be increased (but not
above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with
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interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment,
shall have been received by such Lender.
SECTION 9.10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Fee Letter and the
other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract between the parties relative
to the subject matter hereof. Any other previous agreement among the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof (including, following the Restatement
Closing Date, the Commitment Letter dated March 16, 1998 among the
Administrative Agent, Chase Securities Inc. and the Borrower) is superseded by
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and shall be terminated on the
Restatement Closing Date. Nothing in this Agreement or in the other Loan
Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than
the parties hereto and thereto any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities
under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.
SECTION 9.11. 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 RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF,
UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.
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 AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.11.
SECTION 9.12. Severability. In the event any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein
shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that
the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not
in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other
jurisdiction). The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace
the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the
economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provisions.
SECTION 9.13. Counterparts. 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, and shall become effective as provided in Section
9.03. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile
transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart
of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.14. 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 are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into
consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.15. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) Each of
Holdings and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for
itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State
court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City,
and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or
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proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents, 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 Collateral Agent, the
Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding
relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents against the Borrower,
Holdings or their respective properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(b) Each of Holdings 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 or
the other Loan Documents in any New York State or Federal court. 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.
(c) 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 9.16. Confidentiality. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral
Agent, the Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders agrees to keep confidential (and
to use its best efforts to cause its respective agents and representatives to
keep confidential) the Information (as defined below) and all copies thereof,
extracts therefrom and analyses or other materials based thereon, except that
the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender
shall be permitted to disclose Information (a) to such of its respective
officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates and representatives as need
to know such Information, (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory
authority, (c) to the extent otherwise required by applicable laws and
regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) in connection with
any suit, action or proceeding relating to the enforcement of its rights
hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or (e) to the extent such
Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of
this Section 9.16 or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the
Issuing Bank, any Lender or the Collateral Agent on a nonconfidential basis from
a source other than the Borrower or Holdings. For the purposes of this Section,
"Information" shall mean all financial statements, certificates, reports,
agreements and information (including all analyses, compilations and studies
prepared by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank or
any Lender based on any of the foregoing) heretofore or hereafter received from
the Borrower or Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates and related to
the Borrower or Holdings, any shareholder or Affiliate of the Borrower or
Holdings or any employee, customer or supplier of the Borrower or Holdings,
other than any of the foregoing that were available to the Administrative Agent,
the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis
prior to its disclosure thereto by the Borrower or Holdings, and which are in
the case of Information provided after the date hereof, clearly identified at
the time of delivery as confidential. The provisions of this Section 9.16 shall
remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration and
term of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.17. Termination. Subject to the last sentence of Section
9.02, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall terminate when all the
Obligations have been indefeasibly paid
<PAGE> 83
78
in full, the Lenders have no further commitment to lend, the L/C Exposure has
been reduced to zero and the Issuing Bank has no further commitment to issue
Letters of Credit under this Agreement, at which time the Collateral Agent shall
execute and deliver to the Borrower, Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors all
Uniform Commercial Code termination statements and similar documents which the
Borrower, Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall reasonably request to
evidence such termination.
<PAGE> 84
79
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.
NEENAH FOUNDRY COMPANY,
by
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
NFC CASTINGS, INC.,
by
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, individually
and as Administrative Agent, Collateral
Agent and Issuing Bank,
by
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 85
80
BANK ONE WISCONSIN,
by
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 86
81
BHF-BANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT,
by
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
by
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 87
82
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
by
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 88
83
FIRST SOURCE FINANCIAL LLP,
By First Source Financial Inc., its
Agent/Manager
by:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 89
84
NATIONAL CITY BANK,
by
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 90
85
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
by
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 91
86
BALANCED HIGH-YIELD FUND I LTD.,
by: BHF-BANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
acting through its New York
Branch, as attorney-in-fact
by
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 92
87
KZH HOLDING CORPORATION III,
by
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
