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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10K
|X| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999
OR
|_| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 0-22418
ITRON, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Washington 91-1011792
(State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
2818 North Sullivan Road
Spokane, Washington 99216-1897
(509) 924-9900
(Address and telephone number of registrant's principal executive offices)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:
Title of each class
Common stock, no par value
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes__X___ No_____
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. ____
As of February 29, 2000, there were outstanding 15,037,724 shares of the
registrant's common stock, no par value, which is the only class of common or
voting stock of the registrant. As of that date, the aggregate market value of
the shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (based on
the closing price for the common stock on the Nasdaq National Market on February
29, 2000) was approximately $112,797,930.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The information called for by Part III is incorporated by reference to the
definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company
to be held June 28, 2000.
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<PAGE>
PART I
Item 1: BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
General
Itron, Inc. was incorporated in Washington in 1977 and is a leading global
provider of integrated system solutions for collecting, communicating, analyzing
and managing information about energy and water usage. We design, develop,
manufacture, market, install and service hardware, software and integrated
systems primarily for use by the utility industry. Our expertise is in providing
communications technologies and data management products for automatic meter
reading and advanced data collection systems ("AMR"), which systems also include
commercial and industrial ("C&I") meter data collection systems, and complex
billing and settlement systems for the wholesale energy markets.
Our first systems, shipped in the early 1980s, consisted of handheld
computers and software, which replaced the manual, paper-intensive systems used
by most utilities at that time to read meters. Handheld systems allow a utility
to capture visually obtained meter data in a handheld computer for billing
purposes. Many of these systems are still in wide use today. Over 1,500
utilities around the world in more than 45 counties use our handheld systems to
read approximately 275 million meters. Our systems are installed at
approximately 75% of the largest utilities (those with 50,000 or more meters) in
the United States and Canada including 22 of the largest 25 utilities. Handheld
products and services represented 36% of our total revenues in 1999.
In the early 1990s, we took meter reading one step further with the
introduction of highly automated and integrated AMR technologies, primarily
focused on residential customers. In 1996, we expanded further into advanced
energy usage data collection and analysis with the acquisition of technologies
for C&I customers. In the late 1990s we also began working on systems for
managing transactions related to wholesale energy distribution. Our AMR
technologies today provide utilities and their customers with information that
goes far beyond meter reading. Using an assortment of communications
technologies, our AMR systems collect data from a variety of residential,
commercial and industrial meters and deliver it to our customers as value-added
information. We are the largest supplier of systems for the AMR market having
shipped over 15.4 million AMR meter modules to 550 utilities as of December 31,
1999. In addition, our C&I data collection systems are now used by more than 500
utilities throughout the world. AMR systems sales, services, and outsourcing,
were 64% of our total revenues in 1999.
Industry Overview and Current Market for AMR
The electric utility industry is undergoing a structural sea change as
electric power generation is opened up to full competition with retail customers
ultimately having access to multiple suppliers. We believe there are additional
changes in the industry that will have an impact on how energy and water
providers run their businesses and serve their customers. These include:
|X| The growth and development of new energy generation and delivery
technologies, which incorporate fuel cells, micro turbines and other
innovations will create an entirely new type of energy delivery
infrastructure characterized by distributed generation and microgrids. Our
competencies in communications technologies and advanced energy information
management position us well to provide solutions that will help manage this
new industry dynamic.
<PAGE>
|X| Energy and water suppliers must find new ways to interact with their
customers or they will risk losing them. The data and information we
collect is a part of the vital new link to their customers. With the rapid
deployments of advanced broadband technologies we have an even greater
opportunity to assist our customers' abilities to repackage the information
we collect and deliver it in new and exciting ways. Our goal is to become
an integral part of changing the way energy and water suppliers communicate
with their customers.
While utility companies may retain many of their traditional functions, we
expect it is likely that our future customer base will consist of traditional
utility companies as well as new market entrants. Some functions will be
provided by new entities such as Independent System Operators ("ISOs") and
Energy Service Providers ("ESPs"). Utilities may turn the operational control of
certain of their transmission facilities over to ISOs. Our Energy Information
Systems ("EIS") strategic business unit has developed some new products and is
already working with a number of new entities in the wholesale energy markets.
ESPs and aggregators are expected to provide both electricity and natural gas to
commercial, industrial and residential customers and may, in some places,
perform meter reading and customer billing. In addition to ESPs, a number of new
entities will likely emerge to provide metering and data services. Such
companies also may buy and sell electricity and may have to deal with the
frequent changes in prices and costs for the transfer of power.
In the gas industry, we believe deregulation will create many of the same
needs as deregulation of the electric industry, such as an increased focus on
customer retention and the ability to forecast usage requirements more
accurately.
In addition to changes in the electric and gas industries, there are a
number of changes and important factors to consider in the water industry as
well. Only 60% of the households in North America are being metered for water
usage today. There are approximately 60 million water meters in North America
with new construction adding approximately 4.5 million new meters every year.
With utility rate increases for water averaging twice that of the annual
consumer price index in the last four years, there is tremendous pressure on
water utilities to reduce operating costs through metering and technology
solutions.
We believe that the major changes taking place in the energy and water
industries will create opportunities which we are well positioned to take
advantage of. Our advanced energy data management and communications product
offerings are more extensive than those of any other AMR supplier. Our solutions
support electric, gas, and water service and include all customer types -
residential, commercial and industrial. We utilize radio, telephone and cellular
technologies as well as private and public communications networks. We have
significant experience in high-volume AMR meter module production. We have
established relationships with over 1,500 utilities worldwide and proven
interfaces with numerous utility host-billing systems. We have communications
capabilities and advanced software for large commercial and industrial customers
and systems that provide critical billing and settlement transactions for open
supply markets. We have and are increasingly moving into the new and rapidly
growing market for water submetering.
1999 Highlights
We hired a new CEO, Mike Chesser, in June 1999 and made a number of key
changes to the executive management team. In the last half of 1999, under the
direction of the executive team, we took a very hard look at our business with a
focus on improving our profitability and prospects for growth. Our efforts were
largely directed at creating a more efficient, effective and focused
organization. We refined our vision and strategies and made a number of sweeping
and fundamental changes in our organization, people, business processes, and
culture.
Effective January 1, 2000, we replaced our product-driven organizational
structure with strategic business units ("SBUs") focused on specific customer
segments that we serve. These new business units include Electric Systems,
Natural Gas Systems, Water and Public Power Systems, and International Systems.
In addition, an Energy Information Systems SBU was created to capitalize on our
rapidly growing business of developing customized wholesale energy information
systems. These business units now have strategic, financial, and resource
development targets to drive performance and accountability. In conjunction with
this reorganization we streamlined processes, functions and headcount throughout
the company.
In addition to the organizational structure changes, we took action in the
last half of 1999 in a number of other key areas:
|X| We consolidated our high-volume manufacturing operations from three
locations to one. We expect this to result in a significant reduction in
our manufacturing costs by reducing overhead and increasing factory
efficiency.
|X| We consolidated handheld, mobile, network and AMR telephone development and
support into one group. We continued the reduction in the number of meter
reading hardware and software platforms we are offering.
|X| We substantially repositioned our European operations with a sharp
reduction in the scope and spending level of product development not
related to our core business. We are also moving from a direct sales
approach to one that is more distributor-based.
Overall, the organizational restructuring and other actions above resulted
in a total company-wide headcount reduction of approximately 15%, with a
reduction in management levels of close to 25%. Charges during 1999 for all
restructuring actions totaled $16.7 million. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
In February 2000, we signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with
DQE, the parent company of Duquesne Light Company ("Duquesne"), for their
purchase (by Duquesne or an affiliate) of our network-based system, which
provides AMR services to Duquesne. We expect to incur a loss of approximately
$50 million in connection with this sale, which is reflected in our 1999
financial results. The sale will free up a large amount of cash which will give
us additional financial resources to pursue other investment opportunities,
which we believe will result in greater financial returns. The sale does not
indicate any change in our plans to sell and install new network-based systems
or to develop new applications for our network products. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
In March 2000, we announced that LeRoy D. Nosbaum, our chief operating
officer, had been named president and CEO, replacing Mike Chesser, chairman,
president and CEO, who was leaving the Company to become president and CEO of a
large east coast utility in April 2000. In addition, Rob Neilson, vice-president
strategy and business development was named chief operating officer, and S.
Edward White, a director and a former executive officer of ours, was named
chairman of the board.
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Itron Solutions and Benefits
Solutions
We have an extensive and cost-effective portfolio of energy and water data
management and communication solutions that provide utilities and other industry
participants with numerous options for responding to evolving operational needs,
marketing opportunities and regulatory reform requirements.
Our solutions integrate a broad array of meter modules, radio and telephone
based communications systems, and data management, delivery and storage
applications. This integrated approach provides our customers with the
flexibility needed to apply the most cost-effective solution to each of their
situations - rural, suburban, urban; residential, commercial, industrial;
electricity, natural gas, and water.
Our technologies are designed to accommodate the inevitability of change so
that our customers can select solutions that meet their needs today while also
laying the foundation for more advanced solutions to meet their future corporate
goals and objectives. Our radio-based solutions encompass handheld ("off-site"),
mobile and network reading technology options. Because the same radio-based
meter modules can be used with any of these alternatives, our products
facilitate the migration from one level of systems automation to another. Our
telephone-based solutions offer an economically attractive alternative for low
density or selective deployment situations.
We have developed software solutions with applications that integrate,
manage and store data from various data collection systems. These applications
enable our customers to integrate data from different technologies into a common
format. This allows the deployment of various collection technologies within a
service territory, tailored to the economic and functional considerations of
different portions of the territory.
We work with our customers to facilitate alternative ways in which to
finance our technologies. We sell products, outsource entire systems, provide
installation, operations, and maintenance services, and arrange customized
financial solutions for our customers. These customized financial solutions vary
from simple third party leases to complex project financing structures depending
on the financial and operational goals of our customers.
Benefits
AMR market penetration is still at an early stage. Traditionally, our
customers that have deployed AMR technology territory-wide have done so
primarily on the basis of reducing costs and improving the efficiency of meter
reading applications. While this remains a critical piece of the AMR value
proposition, our products, systems and solutions provide a wide range of
benefits to our customers that go far beyond meter reading and billing. Our
customers are finding that AMR technology can be an integral component of their
operational and strategic objectives of reducing costs, improving customer
service, delivering real process improvement, and successfully evolving their
businesses to manage the threats and seize the opportunities presented by an
increasingly competitive marketplace. Our AMR technologies provide our customers
with operational improvements and returns on investment in the areas of:
|X| Revenue Cycle Services
|X| Management of Distribution Assets
|X| Management of Market Change and Customer Choice
|X| Delivery of New Value-Added Services
Revenue Cycle Services: Automation of the meter reading function results in
a number of obvious benefits in the area of revenue cycle services including
reductions in meter reading staff and the operational support costs, increased
accuracy, improved safety, elimination of estimated reads, elimination of or
large reductions in special reads, reductions in customer complaints and call
center traffic, and reductions in billing adjustments. One of our customers, a
large water utility, reduced their percentage of estimated (rather than actual)
reads from 70% to less than 1% with the installation of our AMR technology. That
improvement resulted in significant reductions in costs associated with customer
complaints, billing adjustments and back-office administrative functions.
Another customer, a large electric utility, reduced their read to bill period
for special reads from nine days to one day resulting in significant
improvements in cash flow. Our technology also provides benefits to improve
revenue assurance through tamper and energy theft detection, which is an ongoing
benefit, as well as a one time benefit from improved meter accuracy as meters
are inspected during the installation process. One of our large electric and gas
customers experienced a year-to-year revenue increase of $2 million for 200,000
accounts by removing older, slow-running meters from service during the AMR
installation process.
Management of Distribution Assets: The use of metering information to
manage local distribution systems more efficiently applies to electric, gas and
water utilities. Our technologies, installed in a saturated or a selective
deployment basis, increase the number of outage detection points throughout our
customers' distribution systems. This increased ability to pinpoint where
electric system outages have occurred can dramatically improve service, and
ultimately, improve distribution system reliability. By delivering accurate load
(electric and gas) and volume (water) information, our technologies provide
utilities with the information they need to identify, locate and replace
improperly sized equipment, and to identify potential equipment failures and
leaks. This information helps our customers fine tune the deployment of their
distribution assets and take corrective action before improperly sized or under
rated equipment results in service disruptions, expensive maintenance, property
damage and customer complaints. Optimizing the use of current distribution
assets helps our customers avoid, minimize or defer expensive investments in
additional infrastructure. For example, a mid-sized water utility customer is
using our technology to understand residential water usage patterns in order to
create conservation programs and incentives they hope will aid their effort to
minimize or defer expensive investments in water purification and treatment
facilities as the area's population grows.
Management of Market Change and Customer Choice: With deregulation plans
underway in at least half the states, customer choice is moving from the
exception to the norm. Our communications and energy data management technology
and systems provide critical information to our customers and others to
effectively manage how much energy is put into distribution systems and by whom,
and how much is taken out and by whom. Our technology enables access to critical
information necessary for reconciliation and settlements in a timely manner for
a number of market participants. In several deregulated states, utilities face a
variety of financial or pricing penalties associated with deviations from
scheduled usage. Load information provided by our technology enables utilities
to increase their forecasting accuracy. Our technology has enabled one of our
large electric customers to improve their forecasted use to within one percent
of actual usage in a state that has mandated a 1 1/2% deviation rule. In many
deregulated states, load profiling is becoming increasingly necessary and a
common requirement for sample customers or for different customer classes. Our
communications and energy data management technology enables our customers to
cost-effectively perform load-profiling functions without the burdensome task of
moving expensive load profile meters from place to place. Our technology helps
utilities receive incentives rather than incur penalties in deregulating states
where performance-based rate making is resulting in new requirements such as
reductions in estimated reads and reductions in the number and duration of
outages.
Delivery of New Value-Added Services: To ensure growth and success in a
competitive marketplace, utilities must develop, market and deliver new products
and services that offer real value to their customers. We believe a key to
successfully developing and marketing new products and services is getting to
know the customer better - who they are, how and when they use energy and water,
and what services deliver value to them. A few of the value-added new product
and service offerings that advanced AMR technology creates include aggregated or
disaggregated billing options for customers with multiple meters at multiple
sites, selectable billing dates or frequency, customized billing and invoicing,
outage monitoring and notification services, Internet access to data, usage
management and consulting, and forecasting services.
Itron's Vision and Strategies
Our current products and systems touch some portion of nearly 70% of the
energy transactions representing $200 billion of energy related business in
North America alone. We will continue to aggressively pursue the numerous
opportunities available for advanced metering and billing systems. From the
strong standing we have in the AMR market, we believe we are well positioned to
move in two directions, energy delivery optimization and connecting energy
customers and suppliers. We will be pursuing opportunities for electric, gas and
water utilities to optimize their assets and increase their gross margins by
applying our current and future technologies, advanced energy information
management systems and industry knowledge. Our goal will be to provide solutions
that enhance our customers' abilities to delivery energy and water more reliably
and cost effectively. In addition, energy and water suppliers are looking for
ways to serve and communicate with their customers. We will help them by
providing new ways to interact with their customers, such as delivering and
receiving the valuable information we collect over the Internet.
Core Business Strategies
In our core business we will continue to build upon our extensive customer
base and industry experience. We have established ourselves as the world's
leading supplier of AMR systems having shipped more than 15.4 million AMR meter
modules to approximately 550 utilities as of December 31, 1999. Our C&I data
collection systems are used by more than 500 utilities throughout the world
including more than 70% of the major electric utilities in North America. Our
handheld systems have been installed at over 1,500 utilities in more than 45
countries and are being used to read approximately 275 million meters worldwide.
These installations include approximately 75% of the utilities in North America
that have meter populations greater than 50,000. We believe our extensive
customer base, long-term customer relationships, upgrade and migration
capabilities of our current products, multiple systems integration capabilities,
and proven interfaces with numerous utility host billing systems, provide us
with a solid foundation upon which we can expand our product offerings and
services to existing utility customers, as well as new utility customers and
other industry participants.
Following are key elements of our strategies for our core business SBUs:
Natural Gas Systems: There are approximately 66 million total gas meters in
North America, of which 9 million have AMR technology installed. Of those, 93%
are using Itron's AMR technology. Our AMR technology is compatible with more gas
meter types than that of any other vendor. Our battery life for our AMR meter
modules is unmatched in the industry. We have a number of new, lower-cost AMR
reading technologies that make the value proposition even more economically
attractive for gas utilities. The Natural Gas Systems SBU is focused on
approximately 60 primarily natural gas only utilities, which represent about 36
million gas meters. The vast majority of these meters, roughly 27 million, do
not have AMR technology and are being read today using our handheld systems.
This large base of current customers represents a strong upgrade opportunity for
us in this market segment.
Water and Public Power Systems: There are approximately 60,000 water
utilities and 3,000 municipal electric and gas and rural electric cooperative
utilities in North America that are the focus of this market segment. These
water utilities represent approximately 60 million water meters. With only 60%
of customers/households being metered for water, new construction is resulting
in an addition of roughly 4.5 million meters annually. Only about 2% of water
meters are currently automated. With utility rate increases for water averaging
two times that of the annual consumer price index in the last four years, there
is tremendous pressure on water utilities to reduce operating costs through
metering and technology solutions. The public power utilities in this segment
represent approximately 30 million electric and gas meters. Public power
utilities are increasingly feeling the effects of deregulation and the pressure
to operate more efficiently and improve customer service. As in Natural Gas
Systems, we have a number of new, lower-cost AMR reading technologies that make
the value proposition economically attractive for these utilities. We will
continue to expand our product offerings for this market. Sales in this SBU are
primarily through a distributor-based model, of which we have approximately 30.
We are well positioned with a number of the key water meter manufacturers,
including ABB, Badger, and Hersey. We will continue to seek new relationships
for delivery of our products and services in this SBU.
Electric Systems: There are approximately 170 operating utilities in this
market segment, primarily large, investor-owned electric only and electric and
gas combination utilities. In total, these customers represent 102 million
electric meters and 11 million gas meters. Roughly 10% of those meters have or
are scheduled to have AMR technology installed in them today, half of which is
our technology. Close to 90% of these customers are currently using our handheld
meter reading systems and almost all of them use our MV-90 software systems to
read their large commercial and industrial meters. C&I customers are the ones
most currently impacted by the industry transformation to a competitive
marketplace. Because of the service territories and the mix of customers the
utilities in this segment serve - electric and gas; residential, commercial and
industrial; rural, suburban and urban populations - they have diverse needs when
it comes to advanced metering. We believe we have a more extensive AMR product
offering than any other supplier to provide these utilities with multiple
cost-effective solutions to meet their diverse needs. Electric utility
executives are beginning to understand that AMR goes beyond just meter reading
cost reductions and operating efficiencies. We intend to expand our strategic
relationships and product offerings in order to deliver more value for
optimizing distribution system benefits and to enhance their connections with
their customers.
International Systems: This SBU is focused on sales of products, systems
and services outside of North America. We estimate that outside of North
America, there are two to three times the number of meters as there are inside
North America.. The majority of revenues for this SBU consist of sales and
servicing of our handheld meter reading systems. Interest in AMR systems and
technology varies widely from country to country and overall is at a very early
penetration level. In late 1999, we began transitioning this SBU to a
"distributor model" as our primary sales channel. In that, we are focused on
establishing new relationships and enhancing existing relationships with a
number of strategic partners. In addition, we are eliminating non-core business
development projects and are consolidating development activities with those of
our North American operations. Near term, we are focused on improving the
profitability of our international operations while laying a strong foundation
for growth as interest in AMR develops internationally.
New Business Strategies
We intend to leverage our expertise, market position and radio
communications competencies in order to deliver new products and services
outside of our core business. We believe that as the industry transformation
continues, there will be a heightened focus by utilities, ESPs and others on
serving the advanced metering needs of the largest users of electricity. There
will also be opportunities for the sale of systems directly to end-user
customers. Regulatory reform is also creating new opportunities on the
"wholesale" side of the business such as systems for reconciling the supply of
power to and purchases of power from electric power transmission grids. We
believe there are numerous possibilities for growth.
Energy Information Systems: The EIS market encompasses a broad range of
customer segments including distribution utilities, power generators, and large
regional and state independent system operators (ISO). This SBU is currently
taking the greatest advantage of the deregulating energy market. EIS products
and systems are currently being used to manage critical market settlement
transactions for the electric transmission grids in the UK, California, Arizona,
and Ontario, Canada. In addition to supplying timely and accurate information
for managing the wholesale energy market, EIS products and systems provide
value-added services for data retrieval, analysis and billing from large
commercial and industrial meters, outage and alarm monitoring, data delivery via
the Internet, data warehousing, load profiling and forecasting, and information
on customer switching. Over 70% of the commercial and industrial meters in the
U.S. and Canada are read using our MV-90 software systems. We will focus on
selling additional products and services to our current installed base. We will
also leverage our experience and relationships on the wholesale side to pursue
additional opportunities to participate in state and regional ISO and power grid
market settlement systems.
Submetering: An exciting new business opportunity we are pursuing is water
submetering. Submetering is the automated process of collecting consumption data
and generating invoices to bill tenants directly for their actual water usage,
thereby eliminating water utility costs from a property owner's monthly
operating expenses. A submetering system integrates AMR technology with radio,
telephone, and/or cellular communications to collect and transmit usage data
from tenant meters to a standard computer for processing. There are
approximately 10 million apartments in the U.S. alone that contain 50 or more
apartments. Submetering includes both the sale of equipment as well as monthly
transaction reading services. We will pursue opportunities in this market
through indirect sales and our strategy is to develop several strong business
reseller relationships for equipment sales. We also intend to expand our
services offering by providing services for billing and collection.
Automatic Meter Reading Systems and Products
Our AMR product line primarily involves the use of radio and telephone
communications technology to collect and transmit meter data. The Company's
radio-based AMR solutions encompass Off-Site AMR, Mobile AMR and Network AMR.
Due to the geographic features and varying population density of a utility's
service territory, generally no single meter reading solution is technologically
or economically suited to all parts of the utility's service territory. Our AMR
applications are intended to provide flexibility ranging from selective
installation for high cost-to-read meters or geographically dispersed meters
requiring advanced metering functionality, to full implementation of an AMR
system covering a large portion of a utility's service area. In a deregulated
marketplace, target marketing of specific features will be desirable. We provide
technology that can be selectively deployed to targeted end-use customers. This
flexibility enables our customers to achieve economic and operational benefits
from their initial investments in our AMR systems, while enabling migration to
more comprehensive AMR solutions in the future as the marketplace requires.
Meter Modules: Our core business AMR product offerings are based on a
family of meter modules. These meter modules, which can be easily attached to
utility meters, encode consumption and tamper information and transmit this
data, including meter module identification, to a remote receiver. We began
shipping our radio meter modules to customers in late 1986 and have adapted the
radio meter module core technology to read numerous types of electric, gas and
water meters, including the most common meter types made by major meter
manufacturers. Our compact radio meter modules for gas and water meters are
self-contained low-power units, powered by long-life batteries with an expected
minimum life in excess of ten years. Radio meter modules for electric meters,
which are normally integrated under the glass of standard residential meters,
are powered by the electrical current in the meter and do not require batteries.
Radio meter modules can be installed by the meter manufacturer during the
manufacturing process or can easily be retrofitted in existing meters.
We also offer a separate line of meter modules for use outside of North
America. The primary differences between the meter modules used by the Company
in North America and those used in international markets are the radio frequency
band in which they operate and the physical configuration of the module.
Off-Site Meter Reading: Our Off-Site AMR solution enables radio-equipped
meters to be read remotely, by a person with a handheld computer equipped with a
radio unit. Off-Site AMR offers a practical and cost-effective way for utilities
to read high cost-to-read meters by eliminating the need for meter readers to
gain visual access to those meters. Once a customer has upgraded our handheld
computers with radio technology, they can selectively install meter modules on
high cost-to-read meters. System software automatically identifies
radio-equipped meters within a route. When remote reads are needed, the handheld
prompts the meter reader to initiate a radio read. Meter information is shown on
the handheld display and is automatically recorded in the handheld database,
allowing the meter reader to move on to the next meter on a route. When a route
is completed, data from both visual and radio reads are uploaded from the
handheld computer to the utility host system for customer billing.
Mobile AMR: Our Mobile AMR solution uses a Data Collection Unit ("DCU"),
which is mounted in a vehicle, or a Datapac which is transportable between
vehicles, to collect and store data transmitted by meter modules as the vehicle
passes module-equipped meters. The DCU or Datapac receives information
transmitted by multiple meter modules simultaneously. A touch-screen display
enables the operator to observe and operate the equipment. The Mobile AMR
application includes software that manages and moves information to and from a
utility's billing system. Once installed, the software transfers information
from the host system to create route files for the DCU and Datapac for each
route, manages the storage of the meter data as it is collected and, at the end
of the day, uploads the information to the utility's billing system. A Mobile
AMR system enables an operator to read in an eight-hour day an average of 10,000
to 12,000 meters with a DCU or roughly half that number of meters with a
Datapac. This compares to an average walking route of 300 to 500 meters per day.
Factors affecting the actual number of reads per day include, among others,
route density and design, speed limits, weather and environment, and other
factors.
Network AMR: We offer a number of Network AMR products. Our Network
solutions provide utilities with the capability of automating meter reading in
segments of a utility's service area, thereby eliminating the need to send meter
readers to or near customer premises. We have large scale Network AMR
deployments with two utilities and smaller scale installations at ten utilities
covering approximately one million meters. Our Network AMR technology provides
utilities with a number of utility-related applications, including daily or more
frequent meter reads, time-of-use pricing, on-request meter reads for final
reads or customer inquiries, tamper monitoring and reporting, high-level outage
detection and power restoration reporting, load profiling and virtual
connect/disconnect capabilities.
Meter data collected by our radio meter modules is transmitted to a Cell
Control Unit ("CCU"). The CCU is a neighborhood concentrator that reads meter
modules, processes data into a variety of applications, stores data temporarily,
and transports data to the host processor when required. Weighing approximately
15 pounds, our CCU can be easily installed on utility poles, streetlights, or
other locations. While the geographic area covered by each CCU varies depending
on local topography, physical structures, terrain and other factors, in general
each CCU serves an average of 50 homes. Information collected by CCUs is then
transmitted to a Network Control Node ("NCN"), which is a regional concentrator
and routing device that is installed in radio communications facilities such as
leased towers, substations or other communication facilities. Each NCN typically
supports between 250 to 400 CCUs. NCNs manage information routing in the network
between CCUs and the system host processor and can serve as a gateway to other
communication networks. Communications between the CCUs and NCNs utilize the
Company's nationwide licensed frequencies in the 1427-1432 MHz band.
The final link in our Network AMR solution is from the NCNs to one or more
head-end host processors, known as the Genesis Itron Host Processors ("GIHP").
The GIHP manages the collection of data from network devices and facilitates the
download of schedules and other application information to appropriate network
devices. The GIHP also transfers the data to a database for storage and
retrieval. Communications between NCNs and the utility's GIHP typically utilize
radio, telephone, frame relay or other wired communication media.
In late 1998, we introduced a new Network AMR product known as the
MicroNetwork. The MicroNetwork is a low-cost, drop-in network meter reading
solution that can be selectively deployed to deliver monthly, weekly, or daily
and unscheduled reads from groups of meters in a wide variety of service
environments. It is suited for smaller clusters of meters that require more
frequent reads, but where there are not enough meter points to justify the cost
of saturated network infrastructure. This makes it an ideal data collection
solution for apartment complexes, campuses, small residential communities, high
rise buildings, strip malls, suburban neighborhoods and rural communities.
Our MicroNetwork infrastructure consists of a series of Concentrator Units
deployed over radio-based meter modules installed on electric, gas and / or
water meters that communicate using 900 MHz channels. The locally installed
Concentrator Units collect data from meter modules, temporarily store it, and
then forward the data to the host processor via public network communications
such as telephone and cellular systems.
Telephone-Based Technology. We also offer products that allow electric and
gas utilities to implement telephone-based AMR solutions. These systems use
inbound communications in which the meter modules call in to the utility's
central processing computer at pre-scheduled times to report meter reading
information. The devices are connected to and share existing customer telephone
lines. Telephone-based AMR functionality is primarily designed for selective
deployments of direct access customers or for geographically dispersed customers
requiring advanced metering functionality such as regional or national accounts.
Additionally, telephone-based devices that report power outages and power
quality events (over and under voltages) can be selectively deployed to
strategic points in the utility distribution system. This provides a target
solution to achieve operational and system reliability improvements where a full
saturation network is difficult to cost justify. This technology may also be
used to automate areas not suited for cost-effective implementation of radio
technologies such as remote or rural areas.
For residential and commercial applications, our telephone based modules
for electric meters attach under the glass of those meters and collect and
report consumption, demand, time-of-use and load profile data. In addition,
certain telephone-based modules for electric use report power outages,
restoration of power and power quality information. For the electric market, in
addition to meter reading devices, we also offer other telephone-based devices
that monitor and report power outage, restoration and power quality (over/under
voltage) information. These devices are easily installed by the end-use
customer. The devices may be deployed at key locations throughout a utility's
distribution system to improve operations, enhance power quality and improve
overall system reliability and service by allowing utilities to isolate outages
and determine when power has been restored more quickly. For large volume gas
meters, our telephone-based modules collect information that is used to bill
transport gas and interruptible gas customers, as well as critical load survey
data for applications such as peak day forecasting, supply forecasting and
assessments, rate design and marketing. For residential gas applications,
including hard-to-read meters, modules are attached to existing or new
residential gas meters to provide consumption and load survey data.
Commercial and Industrial Data Collection and Management Solutions
Commercial and industrial ("C&I") meters have much more sophisticated
measurement capabilities than do meters for residential customers. Therefore,
they have much more data that must be conveyed back to energy providers from the
meter. There are a wide variety of these meters with no standards for
communications agreed upon by the multiple meter vendors. We are the leading
worldwide provider of software systems for metering data acquisition and
analysis for the large C&I customers of electric and gas utilities. We believe
that competition in the utility industry will drive metering technology and
systems toward enhancing and facilitating communications between large C&I
customers and their power suppliers and we have released a number of new
products in the last few years aimed at this critical customer group.
Our proprietary MV-90 product gathers, processes and analyzes large
quantities of complex data for revenue billing, load research and demand-side
management and is used by approximately 70% of the major utilities in the United
States and most of the electric and gas utilities in Canada, Europe, the Middle
East, Australia, Central America and South America. MV-90 supports all methods
of data retrieval from large C&I meters (handheld readers, radio, telephone and
other communication technologies) and was designed with a full range of
applications software to support data collection from meters, data validation
and editing, and analysis of energy usage data. MV-90 software can be licensed
for use on single computers or local/wide area networks. In addition to the base
system, there are layered application packages that support applications such as
load research, real time pricing (hourly price transmission to C&I customers),
gas transportation, outage and alarm monitoring, and data aggregation. MV-90
software allows C&I customers to read the energy provider's delivery point
meters (both electric and gas) on a frequent basis to analyze their own energy
consumption and can provide hourly pricing data from energy suppliers for
customers who purchase power on a real-time pricing basis (price varies by the
hour).
Our proprietary MV-PBS billing and settlement solution provides a client
server-based billing application that produces customized bills and invoices for
commercial, industrial and wholesale energy users. The application interfaces to
MV-90 and supports billing on demand, energy rates, real-time pricing
applications, interruptible rates and gas transportation, and settlement
charges. With MV-PBS, a bill can be tailored to meet specific customer
requirements. Prior to MV-PBS, these key customers were often billed manually
due to the expense associated with modifying traditional billing systems for
different customer rates and tariffs. MV-PBS is capable of generating and
sending invoices directly to customers via email or the Internet. The system
also supports financial settlement for the state and regional competitive
markets.
In order to manage high volumes of C&I meters, we developed MV-COMM, a
communications front-end processor for the base MV-90 platform that greatly
enhances speed, performance and communication between meters and the host
processor. MV-COMM supports many different communication formats - TCP/IP, CDPD,
PSTN, ARDIS, RF, etc. Initially developed for the ISO in California, MV-COMM
enabled the Company to meet the ISO's requirement to read a minimum of 3,000
electronic meters with five-minute interval data within two-minute time periods
at the end of each hour. MV-COMM has now been installed at several other
locations, including in the UK, where more than 80,000 electronic meters with
1/2 hourly data are read each night. MV-COMM enables energy providers to
transition from operating systems serving low volumes of C&I customers to
successfully managing large-scale, advanced data collection systems for high
volumes of widely-dispersed C&I customers.
We have exclusive distribution rights in North America for the STAR Data
Management System (MV-STAR). MV-STAR was originally developed by UKDCS, the
operator of the meter data collection system supporting the competitive
electricity supply market in England and Wales and is now being modified by us
for the North America competitive energy markets. When integrated with MV-90,
MV-STAR is a data warehouse solution that manages and stores extremely large
volumes of load profile data gathered from C&I meters, wholesale delivery
points, and major entity grid points. This data is processed in a very short
time period and delivered, via batch or interactive mode to the system users and
data subscribers in industry standard data formats. MV-STAR also provides the
ability to retain data history as it changes over time, preserving all versions
of the data and tagging the data to show how it has been used in the reporting
process. In ISO environments, MV-STAR supports contract management of ISO / ESP
end-customer relationships, including historical storage of contract changes.
The system also supports data aggregation and load profile inputs into the
settlements process.
Large energy users are increasingly looking for easy access to load data.
They need to forecast energy costs, adjust usage, react to rate changes and
manage their energy consumption and bottom-line. By using the Internet to
deliver load data, customers can use proven, cost-effective communications
infrastructure that is already in place to access their detailed interval-load
data. Our MV-WEB product interfaces to the MV-90 base platform and to MV-STAR.
Designed to work with standard web browsers, MV-WEB provides a secure Internet
connection for C&I customers to view and graph recorded quantities of interval
load data, as well as calculated quantities. MV-Web also provides a flexible
method of data delivery to energy market participants.
In 1998, we completed initial testing of our new C&I Network and are
currently beta testing the product at one customer. The C&I Network operates in
much the same manner as the Company's MicroNetwork but is specifically designed
for solid state C&I electric and gas meters. Traditionally, the only way
utilities could deliver advanced metering and data management functionality to
their key C&I customers was to install a dedicated phone line. While utilities
could easily cost justify that ongoing expense for large C&I customers, it often
proved cost-prohibitive for smaller customers. Our C&I Network utilizes our
radio-based communications technology combined with available public
communications technology and systems to provide the benefits of advanced
metering to this critical customer group at a much lower cost by eliminating the
ongoing expense of dedicated phone lines.
The C&I Network accomplishes this by deploying our external meter modems,
or EMM's, to communicate advanced energy usage data from solid-state electric
and gas meters. Using our radio communications technology, the metering data is
transmitted from the meter modems, using peer to peer communications, through a
system of radio relays to a hub which routes data from a designated population
of C&I meters. Using telephone and/or cellular communications, the hub then
routes all the data collected from C&I meters in its area to an MV-90 host
processor, where the data is used for a variety of billing, load research and
system engineering applications.
Handheld Systems and Products
Almost all utilities in the U.S. and Canada, and utilities in numerous
other countries around the world, use handheld meter reading systems to automate
a substantial portion of their meter reading and billing functions.
Approximately 75% of the largest utilities (those with 50,000 or more meters),
in the United States and Canada, including 22 of the largest 25 utilities, use
our handheld systems. We provide several models of handheld computers to meet
the varying requirements of our customers. Each model is designed for use in
harsh environments with standard text and graphics, back-lit displays, several
memory sizes, multiple communications options, interface devices for electronic
meters and easy to use keyboards that can be customized to the needs of the our
customers.
Handheld systems are used as follows: (1) key customer data is downloaded
from the utility's host processor to our handheld computers prior to
commencement of a meter reader's daily route; (2) a meter reader visually reads
meters along a route and enters the readings into a handheld computer; and (3)
after a meter reader's daily route has been completed, collected data is
uploaded directly into the utility's host billing system. Our family of software
systems provides data consolidation and storage, reformatting, linkage to a
utility's host billing system, meter reading route management, route downloading
and time-of-use and interval data recording data management and distribution.
Customers
Our handheld systems are installed at over 1,500 electric, gas, water and
combination utilities in more than 45 countries and are being used to read
approximately 275 million meters worldwide. Approximately 75% of the largest
utilities (those with 50,000 or more meters), in the United States and Canada,
including 22 of the largest 25 utilities, use our handheld systems. As a result
of the high market penetration we have already achieved in the domestic market,
handheld sales are expected to be predominantly system upgrades and
replacements. We estimate that the number of meters outside of the domestic
market is approximately two to three times the number of meters within that
market. Because utilities in many industrialized countries outside of the
domestic market are only now beginning to automate their meter reading function,
we believe that international markets represent a growth opportunity for sales
of our handheld systems.
We have established ourselves as the world's largest supplier of meter
modules for the expanding AMR market as a result of having shipped over 15.4
million meter modules as of December 31, 1999 to approximately 550 customers
around the world. In total our shipments represent approximately 65% of all AMR
meter module shipments.
We have installed the great majority of the world's largest AMR systems for
electric, gas and water utilities. The largest AMR system is at New Century
Energies (formerly Public Service Company of Colorado) and is comprised of over
1.5 million electric and gas meter modules. The largest gas installation is at
Minnegasco, representing just over 900,000 endpoints. Finally, the largest water
AMR system is installed with the City of Philadelphia Water Department covering
approximately 430,000 water meters.
We also have 500 energy providers and wholesalers using our C&I data
collection and management systems. In our EIS customer segment, we have a number
of large systems installed or currently being installed for the competitive
wholesale energy data markets such as systems in the UK, the ISO for the state
of California, Tucson Electric Power and the Independent Market Operator (IMO)
in Ontario, Canada.
Sales and Distribution
In our Electric Systems SBU, Natural Gas Systems SBU, and Energy
Information Systems SBU, we primarily utilize direct sales, and technical and
administrative support teams to serve the needs of the customers that are the
focus of these SBUs. In our Water and Public Power SBU, we primarily conduct
sales and technical support activities through numerous business associates and
manufacturer representatives, including several major meter manufacturers.
To serve International customers, we have subsidiary operations located in
Reading, England; Vienne, France; and Sydney, Australia. While we utilize a
direct sales approach in some areas, we are transitioning to a distributor-based
model in most areas outside of North America.
We also sell electric and water meter modules through original equipment
manufacturer ("OEM") arrangements with several major meter manufacturers, in
which the manufacturers incorporate our meter modules at their own facilities
into new meters and then offer them for sale. In addition to direct sales, we
also offer products and services through long-term outsourcing arrangements,
which may include providing AMR products, system project management and
installation, on going meter reading services, meter shop services and other
services. Outsourcing contracts usually cover long timeframes and typically
involve contracts in which either a customer owns the equipment and we provide
services for a fee, or where we both own and operate the system for a fee.
Marketing
Marketing activities include product marketing, industry marketing, and
marketing communications. Our marketing efforts focus on product and company
awareness principally through trade shows, symposiums, published papers,
advertising and direct mail. These marketing efforts include brochures,
newsletters, exhibits, conferences, an annual user's forum, industry standards
committee representation and regulatory support. Several major industry
conferences are keystones in the Company's marketing program, including the
Distributech Conference held every winter, the Company's Annual Users
Conference, typically held in June in conjunction with the National Meter
Reading Association meetings, and the Automatic Meter Reading Association
conference usually held in September. The Company maintains communications with
its customers through its Users Advisory Board and a program of regular
mailings, newsletters and new customer announcements.
Global Service and Support
We provide our customers with implementation services that include among
other things, system design, installation, training and project management. Each
of these services is tailored to meet a particular customer's needs. In
addition, for Network AMR systems, we offer network design, propagation
analysis, mapping support, centralized operation and system support. We offers
system maintenance and support services to each of our customers. Service
contract prices are based on a number of factors, including system size and
complexity and the expected degree of service support required. Our system
maintenance and support services include 24-hour, toll-free hot line support,
customer service representatives, consulting services, regional training
programs, equipment repair and preventative maintenance, software support and
maintenance, system troubleshooting and network management services.
Product Development
We have maintained our leadership position in part because of our
commitment to developing new products and continued enhancement of existing
products. Our product development efforts have been focused on expanding and
upgrading our communications and energy data collection product offerings,
particularly for C&I customers, and developing new hardware and software
platforms for handheld systems. In 1998 and 1999, we undertook major
restructuring measures which included the consolidation of development
activities both geographically and in terms of product teams. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -
Restructuring."
Our future success will depend in part on our ability to continue to
develop or acquire new competitive products and technology. In particular, our
ability to further enhance our network and other products or to develop or
acquire new products that provide energy suppliers with the ability to optimize
the distribution aspects of their business and to provide Internet connections
to energy consumers. There can be no assurance that we will not experience
unforeseen problems or delays with respect to our product development efforts.
Delays in the availability of new and enhanced products could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
See "Certain Risk Factors--Dependence on New Product Development."
Manufacturing
We manufacture meter modules, network components and other communications
technology products, as well as certain handheld computers and peripheral
equipment. Our primary manufacturing objective is to design and produce
cost-effective, high-quality meter modules and other network components
utilizing high-volume automation equipment.
In 1999, our restructuring measures included the consolidation of our high
volume products into one location. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations Restructuring." Our primary
manufacturing facility is located in Waseca, Minnesota. We currently have the
capacity to produce approximately 3.3 million (combination of electric, gas and
water) meter modules annually on a two-shift basis. With the addition of a third
shift and certain ancillary equipment, we could expand our capacity to
approximately 4.8 million meter modules annually.
We have installed extensive automated testing equipment in our
manufacturing facilities to provide quality control and process repeatability.
Our testing includes both visual inspection and automated testing of technical
parameters established for each of our products. Our quality control equipment
also includes a sophisticated information system that collects data from testing
equipment and provides extensive reports and analyses of such data. This
information system permits us to promptly identify potential problems or
weaknesses in our manufacturing processes. We have been ISO 9000 certified since
1993 and received ISO 9002 certification of our Waseca facility in 1998.
In the near-term, our Spokane manufacturing facility is responsible for
manufacturing certain handheld systems and peripheral equipment, as well as
other lower-volume AMR products, and is the primary repair facility for our
handheld systems products. We have signed a memorandum of understanding ("MOU")
and are in the process of negotiating definitive agreements to outsource these
activities to a contract manufacturer. The MOU provides that the contract
manufacturer will purchase certain of our manufacturing equipment and inventory
from us and lease approximately two thirds of the space in our Spokane
manufacturing facility, approximately 24,000 square feet.
Certain of our handheld systems products, telephone modules and
international meter module products are manufactured for us by third parties.
Employees
As of March 1, 2000, we employed 935 full-time persons: 31% in
manufacturing, 14% in product development, 4% in marketing, 14% in global
service and support, 18% in finance and corporate administration, and 19% in our
SBUs. Of these employees, 92% were located in the U.S. and Canada, and the
remainder in Europe and Australia. We continues to recruit and seek to maintain
highly qualified management, marketing, technical and administrative personnel.
None of our employees is represented by a labor union. We have not experienced
any work stoppages and consider our employee relations to be good.
Competition
Although we are the industry leader in supplying energy and water data
collection products, systems and services to the utility industry, we face
competition from a variety of companies in each of the markets we serve. The
emerging market for network communications systems for the utility industry,
together with the potential market for other two-way communications
applications, have led communications, electronics and utility companies to
begin developing various systems, some of which currently compete, and others of
which may in the future compete, with the our products, systems, and services.
These competitors can be expected to offer a variety of technologies and
communications approaches, as well as meter reading, installation and other
services to utilities and other industry participants.
We believe that we enjoy a number of competitive advantages. We believe the
diversity of our energy and water data collection products is broader than that
of any other provider. This diversity gives us the ability to provide
comprehensive solutions to our customers. Our radio-based communications
solutions utilize the same AMR radio meter modules and facilitate the migration
from one level of systems automation to another. We believe that we are able to
price our AMR meter modules competitively as a result of our highly automated
manufacturing lines as well as high production volumes. We have a substantially
larger installed base of handheld-based EMR systems and AMR meter modules than
any of our competitors which gives us the advantage of a proven record of
providing cost-efficient, quality products and services and the proven ability
to interface meter data with a wide variety of utility host billing systems. In
addition, we benefit from our nationwide license of 5 MHz of spectrum in the
1427-1432MHz band. See "FCC Regulation."
As of December 31, 1999, we had roughly 65% market share in terms of AMR
meter modules shipped. Our largest competitors in the AMR meter module market
include CellNet Data Systems ("CellNet") and Schlumberger, in particular
Schlumberger's Resource Management Services division. These companies currently
offer alternative solutions and compete aggressively with us. In addition to
being a competitor, Schlumberger also acts as a reseller and integrator of our
solutions. In February 2000, it was announced that CellNet would be filing for
bankruptcy and that Schlumberger intended to acquire CellNet's assets. On a
combined basis, they would have roughly 20% of AMR meter module shipments.
<PAGE>
In our EIS market, there are many market participants that may be both
competitors and potential partners. We face competition from a number of
companies such as ABB, Siemens, Lodestar, Ernst & Young, and Anderson
Consulting. In competitive wholesale markets in California and Ontario, Canada,
we have partnered with ABB and Ernst & Young to offer a total integrated system
solution. We will continue to partner with some of these companies to address
future competitive energy markets.
We believe that as we expand our offerings towards optimizing energy
delivery products, systems and solutions, there are several very large suppliers
of equipment, services or technology to the utility industry that have developed
or could develop competitive products for this market, such as ABB, Siemens,
Invensys, and Honeywell. Similarly, we believe that as we move towards offering
systems and solutions for end-user customers, we will face competition from
telecommunications, billing, and controls companies. We expect to develop
cooperative relationships with several of these companies to jointly develop and
offer solutions to the market.
Many of our present and potential competitors have substantially greater
financial, marketing, technical and manufacturing resources, and in some cases,
greater name recognition and experience. Our competitors may be able to respond
more quickly to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer
requirements or to devote greater resources to the development, promotion and
sale of their products and services than we can. In addition, current and
potential competitors may make strategic acquisitions or establish cooperative
relationships among themselves or with third parties that increase their ability
to address the needs of the our prospective customers. Accordingly, it is
possible that new competitors or alliances among current and new competitors may
emerge and rapidly gain significant market share. There can be no assurance that
we will be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors,
and any failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. See "Certain Risk
Factors--Competition."
Intellectual Property
We own or license numerous United States, Canadian and foreign patents and
have filed various patent applications. These patents cover a range of
technologies for meter reading, portable handheld computer and AMR-related
technologies. We also rely on copyrights to protect our proprietary software and
documentation. We have registered trademarks for most of our major product lines
in the United States and many foreign countries. While we believe that our
patents, trademarks and other intellectual property have significant value,
there can be no assurance that these patents or trademarks, or any patents or
trademarks issued in the future, will provide meaningful competitive advantages.
The Company is currently involved in a number of legal actions related to
infringement of its patents or the Company's alleged infringement of other
patents, see "Legal Proceedings." We believe that our continued success will be
based on continued innovation, market knowledge, technical and marketing
capabilities, existing product relationships with utilities and a fundamental
commitment to customer service excellence. See "Certain Risk
Factors--Intellectual Property."
FCC Regulation Intellectual Property
Certain of our products made for use in the United States use radio
frequencies, the access to and use of which are regulated by the FCC pursuant to
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. In general, a radio station license
issued by the FCC is required to operate a radio transmitter. The FCC issues
these licenses for a fixed term, and the licenses must be periodically renewed.
Because of interference constraints, the FCC can generally issue only a limited
number of radio station licenses for a particular frequency band in any one
area.
Although radio licenses generally are required for radio stations, Part 15
of the FCC's rules permit certain low-power radio devices ("Part 15 devices") to
operate on an unlicensed basis. Part 15 devices are designed to be used on
frequencies used by others. These other users may include licensed users, which
have priority over Part 15 users. Part 15 devices are not permitted to cause
harmful interference to licensed users and must be designed to accept
interference from licensed radio devices. Our radio meter modules are Part 15
devices which transmit information back to either the our handheld, mobile or
network AMR reading devices in the 910-920 MHz band pursuant to these rules.
Our products are designed to eliminate virtually all interference to other
frequency users, while still enabling a complete and accurate read from our
radio meter modules. However, if we were unable to eliminate harmful
interference caused by our Part 15 devices through technical or other means, we
or our customers could be required to cease operations in the band in the
locations affected by the harmful interference. Further, in the event that the
unlicensed frequencies used by our customers and us become unacceptably crowded
or restrictive, and no additional frequencies that are suitable are available or
allocated, our business could be materially and adversely affected.
In late February 1997, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making
("NPRM") seeking comments concerning the rules for multiple address systems
("MAS"). We use licensed MAS frequencies to interrogate or "wake up" our meter
modules. The FCC proposed to change the method for licensing some MAS
frequencies from individual site licenses to wide area licenses and to conduct
auctions for mutually exclusive applications in some MAS frequency bands. In
conjunction with the NPRM, the FCC instituted a freeze on accepting applications
proposing to use our MAS frequency bands for subscriber-based services,
effectively confining the use of these frequency bands to "private" operations,
such as ours.
In July 1999, the FCC issued a further NPRM and extended its freeze, for
applications after July 1, 1999, to applications for private operations in the
MAS bands we use. The FCC issued a Report and Order in January 2000, lifting the
freeze on new license applications but providing that our MAS bands can be used
only for private operations. During the time that our customers were unable to
obtain new MAS licenses, our business was adversely affected.
We also have been issued a non-exclusive nationwide FCC license to operate
in the 1427-1432 MHz band. With the exception of meter modules that operate in
the MAS bands and the 910-920 MHz band described above, our network products
operate within this band. At the time our license was issued, the 1427-1432 MHz
band was allocated primarily for the use of the federal government, which
consented to our use of the band on a secondary, non-interference basis. Current
government use of the band is limited to a discrete number of well-defined
locations, and we do not expect the fact that we are secondary to federal
government operations to have a material impact on our business.
The 1427-1432 MHz band is among 235 MHz of spectrum that has been earmarked
for reallocation from federal government users to private sector users (to be
licensed by the FCC). The band is subject to continuing federal government use
in specified areas through 2004. The FCC initially decided to include the
1427-1432 MHz band in a spectrum reserve that would not be reallocated and
assigned until 2006. In July 1999, however, the FCC proposed to accelerate this
timetable and allocate the upper portion of the band for medical telemetry
operations. Itron has filed a petition for rulemaking proposing instead that the
band be allocated for automatic meter reading and utility telemetry operations.
Itron also has had discussions with the medical telemetry community concerning
the possibility of sharing the band. There can be no assurance that these
discussions will be successful, or that the FCC will adopt an allocation for the
band that is compatible with Itron's business.
The regulatory environment we operate in is subject to change. There can be
no assurance that the FCC or Congress will not take regulatory actions in the
future that would have a material adverse effect on us. See "Certain Risk
Factors--Availability and Regulation of Radio Spectrum." We are also subject to
regulatory requirements in international markets. These regulations, which vary
by country, require modifications to our products, including operating on
different frequencies with different power specifications.
Backlog of Orders
Our twelve-month revenue backlog of unshipped factory orders at the end of
1999 and 1998 was approximately $50 million and $69 million, respectively,
excluding amounts related to our contract with Duquesne. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Duquesne Contract". We expect that substantially all of the orders in
twelve-month backlog at the end of 1999 will be shipped during 2000. In
addition, we have multi-year contracts to supply radio meter modules and
multi-year outsourcing arrangements with several customers. Total backlog,
including revenues beyond the next twelve months, was $164 million and $195
million at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, excluding amounts related
to our contract with Duquesne. While backlog is one indicator of future revenues
for us, our backlog fluctuates from quarter-end to quarter-end primarily as a
result of the timing of large contracts. In recent years we have increased the
amount of revenue derived from distribution channels for smaller utilities and
municipalities. To the extent that future revenues are derived from this segment
of the market, which typically has a smaller order size that may book and ship
within the same quarter, or from service offerings verses product sales, backlog
may not be as reliable an indicator of near-term revenues.
Environmental Regulations
In the ordinary course of our business, we use metals, solvents, and
similar materials which are stored on site. The waste created by use of these
materials is transported off site on a regular basis by a state-registered waste
hauler. Although we are not aware of any material claim or investigation with
respect to these activities, there can be no assurance that such a claim may not
arise in the future or that the cost of complying with governmental regulations
in the future will not have a material adverse effect on us.
Other
We do not have any contracts with the federal government. Our business is
not significantly seasonal.
Certain Risk Factors
Dependence on Utility Industry; Uncertainty Resulting From Mergers and
Acquisitions and Regulatory Reform: We derive substantially all of our revenues
from sales of products and services to the utility industry. We have experienced
variability of operating results, on both an annual and a quarterly basis, due
primarily to utility purchasing patterns and delays of purchasing decisions as a
result of mergers and acquisitions in the utility industry and changes or
potential changes in the state and federal regulatory frameworks within which
the utility industry operates.
The utility industry, both domestic and foreign, is generally characterized
by long budgeting, purchasing and regulatory process cycles that can take up to
several years to complete. Our utility customers typically issue requests for
quotes and proposals, establish evaluation committees, review different
technical options with vendors, analyze performance and cost/benefit
justifications and perform a regulatory review, in addition to applying the
normal budget approval process within a utility. Purchases of our products are,
to a substantial extent, deferrable in the event that utilities reduce capital
expenditures as a result of mergers and acquisitions, pending or unfavorable
regulatory decisions, poor revenues due to weather conditions, rising interest
rates or general economic downturns, among other factors.
The domestic electric utility industry is currently the focus of regulatory
reform initiatives in virtually every state. These initiatives have resulted in
significant uncertainty for industry participants and raised concerns regarding
assets that would not be considered for recovery through ratepayer charges.
Consequently, in recent years, many utilities have delayed purchasing decisions
that involve significant capital commitments. While we expect some states will
act on these regulatory reform initiatives in the near term, and some states
have, there can be no assurance that the current regulatory uncertainty will be
resolved in the near future or that the advent of new regulatory frameworks will
not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations. Moreover, in part as a result of the competitive
pressures in the utility industry arising from the regulatory reform process,
many utility companies are pursuing merger and acquisition strategies. We have
experienced considerable delays in purchase decisions by utilities that have
become parties to merger or acquisition transactions. Typically, such purchase
decisions are put on hold indefinitely when merger negotiations begin. The
pattern of merger and acquisition activity among utilities may continue for the
foreseeable future. If such merger and acquisition activity continues at its
current rate or intensifies, our revenues may continue to be materially
adversely affected.
Certain state regulatory agencies are considering the "unbundling" of
metering and certain other services from the basic transport aspects of
electricity distribution. Unbundling includes the identification of the separate
costs of metering and other services and may extend to subjecting metering and
other services to competition. For example, in California, the CPUC issued a
decision that subjects metering, billing and related services to competitive
supply. Other states, including Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania, have adopted
or are adopting similar measures. The discontinuance of a utility's metering
monopoly could have a significant impact upon the manner in which we market and
sell our products and services. As the customer for our products and services
could change from utilities alone to utilities and their competitive suppliers
of metering services, we could also be required to modify our products and
services (or develop new products and services) to meet the needs of the
participants in a competitive meter services market.
Recent Operating Losses: We have experienced operating losses in certain
quarters of each of the past four years and may experience quarterly losses in
2000. There can be no assurance that we will maintain consistent profitability
on a quarterly or annual basis. We have experienced variability of quarterly
results and believe our quarterly results will continue to fluctuate as a result
of factors such as size and timing of significant customer orders, delays in
customer purchasing decisions, FCC or other governmental actions, timing and
levels of development and other operating expenses, shifts in product or sales
channel mix, and increased competition. Our operating margins have been
adversely affected by excess manufacturing capacity. We expect competition in
the AMR market to increase as current competitors and new market entrants
introduce competitive products. Operating margins also may be affected by other
factors. For example, in the past, we entered into large network AMR contracts
with Duquesne and Virginia Power with margins significantly below our historical
margins due to the early stage of the our network products at the time those
systems were shipped and installed, and due to competitive pressures.
Customer Concentration: In some years, our revenues are concentrated with a
limited number of customers, the identity of which changes over time. From time
to time, we are dependent on large, multiyear contracts that are subject to
cancellation or rescheduling by our customers. Cancellation or postponement of
one or more of these contracts would have a material adverse effect on us.
Dependence on New Product Development: We have made, and expect to continue
to make, substantial investments in technology development. Our future success
will depend, in part, on our ability to continue to design and manufacture new
competitive products and to enhance our existing products. This product
development will require continued investment in order to maintain our market
position. There can be no assurance that unforeseen problems will not occur with
respect to the development, performance or market acceptance of our technologies
or products. Development schedules for technology products are subject to
uncertainty, and there can be no assurance that we will meet our product
development schedules. We have previously experienced significant delays and
cost overruns in the development of new products, and there can be no assurance
that delays or cost overruns will not be experienced in the future. Delays in
new product development, including software, can result from a number of causes,
including changes in product definition during the development stage, changes in
customer requirements, initial failures of products or unexpected behavior of
products under certain conditions, failure of third-party-supplied components to
meet specifications or lack of availability of such components, unplanned
interruptions caused by problems with existing products that can result in
reassignment of product development resources, and other factors. Delays in the
availability of new products, or the inability to successfully develop or
acquire products that meet customer needs, could result in increased
competition, the loss of revenue or increased service and warranty costs, any of
which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition
and results of operations.
Dependence on the Installation, Operations and Maintenance of AMR Systems
Pursuant to Outsourcing Contracts: A portion of the our business consists of
outsourcing, wherein we install, operate and maintain AMR systems that we may
continue to own in order to provide meter reading and other related services to
utilities and their customers. We currently have four outsourcing contracts. The
largest of the contracts, which is with Duquesne Light Company, involves network
AMR. The other three contracts involve mobile AMR solutions and, in one of those
cases, the system has been sold on a turnkey basis. We use the cost-to-cost
percentage of completion method of accounting for our long-term outsourcing
contracts which involves our having to estimate revenues and expenses into the
future. To the extent we need to revise our estimates, our financial results can
be adversely affected. For example, in 1999 we incurred approximately $24.1
million in charges related to revisions of our estimates on the Duquesne
contract. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Result of Operations - Revenues and Gross Margins and Note 3 to our accompanying
financial statements." In addition, these long-term outsourcing contracts are
subject to cancellation or termination in certain circumstances in the event of
a material and continuing failure on our part to meet contractual performance
standards on a consistent basis over agreed time periods.
In February 2000, we signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with
DQE, the parent company of Duquesne, for their purchase (by Duquesne or an
affiliate) of our network-based AMR system in Pittsburgh which we were currently
operating for Duquesne pursuant to our outsourcing contract with them. We expect
to incur a loss of approximately $50 million in connection with this sale, which
is reflected, in our 1999 financial results. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Revenues and Gross
Margins."
Increasing Competition: We face competitive pressures from a variety of
companies in each of the markets we serve. In the radio-based network AMR
market, companies such as CellNet, Whisper and Schlumberger currently offer
alternative solutions to the utility industry and compete aggressively with us.
The emerging market for two-way communications systems for advanced metering and
billing for the utility industry, together with the potential market for the
same kind of systems to provide energy delivery optimization and Internet
connections to customers, have led communications, electronics and utility
companies to begin developing various systems, some of which currently compete,
and others of which may in the future compete, with the our current and future
product and service offerings. These competitors can be expected to offer a
variety of technologies and communications approaches, as well as meter reading,
installation and other services, to utilities and other industry participants.
We believe that several large suppliers of equipment, services or
technology to the utility industry may be developing competitive products for
the AMR market. In addition, large meter manufacturers could expand their
current product and services offerings so as to compete directly with us. To
stimulate demand, and due to increasing competition in the AMR market, we have
from time to time lowered prices on our AMR products and may continue to do so
in the future. We also anticipate increasing competition with respect to the
features and functions of our products. In the handheld systems market, we have
encountered competition from a number of companies, resulting in margin
pressures in the maturing domestic handheld systems business and in some
international markets.
Many of our present and potential future competitors have, or may have,
substantially greater financial, marketing, technical and manufacturing
resources, and in some cases, greater name recognition and experience than we
do. Our competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or emerging
technologies and changes in customer requirements or to devote greater resources
to the development, promotion and sale of their products and services than we
can. In addition, current and potential competitors may make strategic
acquisitions or establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with
third parties that increase their ability to address the needs of our
prospective customers. It is possible that new competitors or alliances among
current and new competitors may emerge and rapidly gain significant market
share. For example, in February 2000, it was announced that CellNet would be
filing for bankruptcy and that Schlumberger intended to acquire CellNet's
assets. On a combined basis, they would account for roughly 20% of the market in
terms of AMR meter module shipments to date. There can be no assurance that we
will be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors, and
any failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Uncertainty of Market Acceptance of New Technology: The AMR market is
evolving, and it is difficult to predict the future growth rate and size of this
market with any assurance. The AMR market has not grown as quickly in recent
years as we expected. Further market acceptance of the our new AMR products and
systems, will depend in part on our ability to demonstrate cost effectiveness,
and strategic and other benefits, of our products and systems, the utilities'
ability to justify such expenditures and the direction and pace of federal and
state regulatory reform actions. In the event that the utility industry does not
adopt our technology or does not adopt it as quickly as we expect, our future
results will be materially and adversely affected. International market demand
for AMR systems varies by country based on such factors as the regulatory and
business environment, labor costs and other economic conditions.
Rapid Technological Change: The telecommunications industry, including the
data transmission segment thereof, currently is experiencing rapid and dramatic
technology advances. The advent of computer-linked electronic networks, fiber
optic transmission, advanced data digitization technology, cellular and
satellite communications capabilities, and private communications networks have
greatly expanded communications capabilities and market opportunities. Many
companies from diverse industries are actively seeking solutions for the
transmission of data over traditional communications mediums, including
radio-based and cellular telephone networks. Competitors may be capable of
offering significant cost savings or other benefits to our customers. There can
be no assurance that technological advances will not cause our technology to
become obsolete or uneconomical.
Availability and Regulation of Radio Spectrum: A significant portion of our
products use radio spectrum and in the United States are subject to regulation
by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC"). Licenses for radio
frequencies must be obtained and periodically renewed, and there can be no
assurance that any license granted to us or our customers will be renewed on
acceptable terms, if at all, or that the FCC will keep in place rules for our
frequency bands that are compatible with our business. In the past, the FCC has
adopted changes to the requirements for equipment using radio spectrum, and
there can be no assurance that the FCC or Congress will not adopt additional
changes in the future. For example, in July 1999, the FCC instituted a freeze
precluding new licenses in a band used for certain of our AMR products, and the
freeze remained in effect until January 2000. During the time that our customers
were unable to obtain new licenses and our business was adversely affected.
There can be no assurance that the FCC will not take similar actions in the
future.
We have committed, and will continue to commit, significant resources to
the development of products that use particular radio frequencies. Action by the
FCC could require modifications to our products, and there can be no assurance
that we would be able to modify our products to meet such requirements, that we
would not experience delays in completing such modifications or that the cost of
such modifications would not have a material adverse effect on our future
financial condition and results of operations.
Our radio-based products currently employ both licensed and unlicensed
radio frequencies. There must be sufficient radio spectrum allocated by the FCC
for the use we intend. As to the licensed frequencies, there is some risk that
there may be insufficient available frequencies in some markets to sustain our
planned operations. The unlicensed frequencies are available for a wide variety
of uses and are not entitled to protection from interference by other users. In
the event that the unlicensed frequencies become unacceptably crowded or
restrictive, and no additional frequencies are allocated, tour business will be
materially adversely affected.
We are also subject to regulatory requirements in international markets
that vary by country. To the extent we wish to introduce products designed for
use in the United States or another country into a new market, such products may
require significant modification or redesign in order to meet frequency
requirements and power specifications. Further, in some countries, limitations
on frequency availability or the cost of making necessary modifications may
preclude us from selling our products.
Dependence on Key Personnel: Our success depends in large part upon our
ability to retain highly qualified technical and management personnel, the loss
of one or more of whom could have a material adverse effect on our business. Our
success depends upon our ability to continue to attract and retain highly
qualified personnel in all disciplines. There can be no assurance that we will
be successful in hiring or retaining the requisite personnel.
Intellectual Property: While we believe that our patents, trademarks and
other intellectual property have significant value, there can be no assurance
that these patents and trademarks, or any patents or trademarks issued in the
future, will provide meaningful competitive advantages. There can be no
assurance that our patents or pending applications will not be challenged,
invalidated or circumvented by competitors or that rights granted thereunder
will provide meaningful proprietary protection. Despite our efforts to safeguard
and maintain our proprietary rights, there can also be no assurance that such
rights will remain protected or that our competitors will not independently
develop patentable technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to
our technologies.
Dependence on Key Vendors, Components, and Internal Manufacturing
Capabilities: Certain of our products, subassemblies and components are procured
from a single source, and others are procured only from limited sources. Our
reliance on such components or on these limited or sole source vendors or
subcontractors involves certain risks, including the possibility of shortages
and reduced control over delivery schedules, manufacturing capability, quality
and costs. In particular, we currently obtain the majority of our handheld
devices from one vendor located in the United Kingdom. Also, we may be affected
by worldwide shortages of certain components such as capacitors, inductors and
certain types of memory and discrete semiconductor devices. A significant price
increase in certain components or subassemblies could have a material adverse
effect on our results of operations. Although we believe alternative suppliers
of these products, subassemblies and components are available, in the event of
supply problems from our sole- or limited-source vendors or subcontractors, our
inability to develop alternative sources of supply quickly or cost-effectively
could materially impair our ability to manufacture our products and, therefore,
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations. In the event of a significant interruption in production
at our manufacturing facilities, considerable time and effort could be required
to establish an alternative production line. Depending on which production lines
were affected, such a break in production would have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Dependence on Outsourcing Financing: We intend to utilize limited recourse,
long-term, fixed-rate project financing for our future outsourcing contracts. We
have established Itron Finance, Inc. as a wholly owned Delaware subsidiary and
plan to establish bankruptcy-remote, single and special purpose subsidiaries of
Itron Finance, Inc. for this purpose. Although we completed a project financing
facility for an AMR project in 1997, and we currently have a commitment for a
project financing that we expect to close in 2000, there can be no assurance
that we will be able to close the current commitment or effect other project
financing facilities. If we are unable to utilize limited recourse, long-term,
fixed-rate project financing for our outsourcing contracts, our borrowing
capacity will be reduced, and we may be subject to the negative effects of
floating interest rates if we cannot hedge this exposure.
International Operations: International sales and operations may be subject
to risks such as the imposition of government controls, political instability,
export license requirements, restrictions on the export of critical technology,
currency exchange rate fluctuations, generally longer receivables collection
periods, trade restrictions, changes in tariffs, difficulties in staffing and
managing international operations, potential insolvency of international dealers
and difficulty in collecting accounts receivable. In addition, the laws of
certain countries do not protect our products to the same extent as do the laws
of the United States. There can be no assurance that these factors will not have
a material adverse effect on our future international sales and, consequently,
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Anti-takeover Considerations: We have the authority to issue 10 million
shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the powers,
designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights
thereof without any further vote or action by our shareholders. The issuance of
preferred stock could dilute the voting power of holders of Common Stock and
could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of the
Company. Certain provisions of our Restated Articles of Incorporation, Restated
Bylaws, shareholder rights plan and employee benefit plans, as well as
Washington law, may operate in a manner that could discourage or render more
difficult a takeover of the Company or the removal of management or may limit
the price certain investors may be willing to pay in the future for our shares
of Common Stock.
Regulatory Compliance: We are subject to various federal and state
governmental regulations related to occupational safety and health, labor, and
wage practices as well as federal, state, and local governmental regulations
relating to the storage, discharge, handling, emission, generation, manufacture,
and disposal of toxic or other hazardous substances used to produce our
products. We believe that we are currently in material compliance with such
regulations. Failure to comply with current or future environmental regulations
could result in the imposition of substantial fines on us, suspension of
production, alteration of our production processes, cessation of operations, or
other actions which could materially and adversely affect our business,
financial condition, and results of operations. In the ordinary course of our
business, we use metals, solvents, and similar materials, which are stored on
site. The waste created by use of these materials is transported off site on a
regular basis by a state-registered waste hauler. Although we are not aware of
any material claim or investigation with respect to these activities, there can
be no assurance that such a claim will not arise in the future, or that the cost
of complying with governmental regulations in the future, will not have a
material adverse effect on us.
<PAGE>
Item 1a: EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Set forth below are the names, ages, titles with the Company, and principal
occupations and employment for the last five years of the persons serving as
executive officers of Itron as of March 15, 2000.
Name Age Position
Current Officers:
LeRoy D. Nosbaum 51 President and Chief
Executive Officer
Robert D. Neilson 43 Chief Operating Officer
Andrew H. Alpert 35 Vice President and General
Manager, Water & Public
Power Systems
William L. Brown 51 Vice President, Competitive
Resources
Russel N. Fairbanks, Jr. 56 Vice President and General
Counsel
John W. Hengesh 45 Vice President and General
Manager, Natural Gas Systems
Randi L. Neilson 37 Vice President, Marketing
David G. Remington 58 Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
Jemima G. Scarpelli 41 Vice President, Investor
Relations and Corporate
Communications
Dennis A. Shepherd 51 Vice President and General
Manager, EIS Systems
Past Officers:
Michael J. Chesser 51 Chairman, President, and
Chief Executive Officer
LeRoy Nosbaum was named President and Chief Executive Officer in March
2000. Previously, he had been Chief Operating Officer. LeRoy joined Itron in
March 1996 and had Vice President responsibilities covering manufacturing,
product development, operations and marketing before being promoted to Chief
Operating Officer. Before joining us, LeRoy was Executive Vice President and
General Manager of Metricom, Inc.'s UtiliNet Division, and held a variety of
positions with Metricom from 1989 to 1996. Prior to joining Metricom, he was
employed by Schlumberger, Ltd. and Sangamo Electric for 20 years, most recently
as General Manager of the Integrated Metering Systems Division of Electricity
Management--North America, an operating group of Schlumberger.
Rob Neilson was named Chief Operating Officer in March 2000. Previously, he
had been Vice President, Strategy and Business Development since October 1997
and Vice President, Marketing from 1993 to 1997. He joined Itron in 1983 as
manager of market development and planning, and served as Director of Marketing
from 1987 to 1993. As Director of Marketing, Rob's responsibilities included
marketing for AMRplus Partners.
Andrew Alpert became Vice President and General Manager, Water & Public
Power Systems in January 2000. With Itron since 1996, Andrew was previously Vice
President Customer Solutions and Business Development. Prior to Itron, Andrew
was an Associate Director in the Communications and Electronics practice at A.T.
Kearney/EDS, a Manager in the consulting practice of Deloitte and Touche, and
worked at GTE Telephone Operations in network planning, engineering, and
operations.
Bill Brown was named Vice President, Competitive Resources in January 2000
and has responsibility for human resources, information systems, corporate
training, facilities and security. Bill joined Itron in 1997 as Vice President,
Network Systems Operations responsible for deploying Itron's radio-based network
AMR systems. He later became Vice President, Residential Systems Operations
where he assumed responsibility for customer service as well as project
management for all domestic AMR systems. Prior to joining Itron, Bill served in
numerous operational assignments with the federal government throughout the
world, including serving as the U.S. Defense Representative to the government of
Norway, and as a senior advisor on defense matters to the U.S. Ambassador to
Honduras.
Russ Fairbanks joined Itron in January 2000 as Vice President and General
Counsel. Previously, Russ served as Vice President and General Counsel for ASM
America, Inc., a manufacturer of chemical vapor deposition equipment used to
make integrated circuits. Prior to that, he was Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary for Cyrix Corporation, a manufacturer of high performance X-86
microprocessors from 1993 until 1997 when Cyrix became a subsidiary of National
Semiconductor. Russ was with EDS corporation from 1985 to 1993 and served in a
variety of corporate law and strategic roles.
John Hengesh has been with Itron since 1984 and became Vice President and
General Manager, Natural Gas Systems in January 2000. He has served in a number
of positions with Itron covering sales, marketing, hardware and software
development, manufacturing, quality and customer and field support. He was most
recently Vice President Handheld, Mobile and Telephone Solutions, and previous
to that was General Manager for Itron Telephone Solutions in Boise. Prior to
joining Itron, John was the western regional sales manager for the Computer
Products Division of General Instrument.
Randi Neilson was named Vice President, Marketing in January 2000 and has
responsibility for all marketing communications, market research, product
management, regulatory and marketing support. Randi joined Itron in 1990 and has
served in a number of positions, most recently as Director of Solutions and
Product Marketing where her responsibilities included product marketing, program
management, installation and servicing of Itron's radio-based network AMR
products as well as marketing communications. Prior to joining Itron, Randi was
the Director of Marketing for American Sign and Indicator, a leading supplier of
electronic signage and scoreboard systems.
Dave Remington joined Itron in early 1996 as Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. Before joining Itron, Dave was an investment banker and
Managing Director at Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. or Dean Witter Realty Inc. from
1988 to 1996. Previously, he spent 15 years in the financial services industry
and two years with a high technology firm. During this time, he was Vice
President-Finance, and later President, of Steiner Financial Corporation and the
founding President of one if its subsidiaries.
Mima Scarpelli was promoted from Director to Vice President, Investor
Relations and Corporate Communications in January 2000. She has responsibilities
for all investor relations activities, employee communications, and corporate
communications activities. Mima has been with Itron since 1985 and has held
numerous positions in the finance and accounting area including Treasurer and
Controller before assuming her present responsibilities in 1995. Prior to
joining Itron, Mima was a CPA and audit manager with the Seattle office of
Deloitte & Touche.
Dennis Shepherd was named Vice President and General Manager, Energy
Information Systems in January 2000. Prior to assuming his present position, he
was Vice President, Commercial & Industrial Systems since July 1998. Dennis
joined Itron as Vice President of Marketing and Sales of Utility Translation
Systems, Inc. in March 1996, when Itron acquired UTS. Dennis worked for UTS for
11 years where he led the company's sales and marketing and product planning
activities. Prior to joining UTS, Dennis was an industrial engineer and
marketing representative for Westinghouse Electric Corporation.
Mike Chesser was President and Chief Executive Officer of Itron from June
1999 until March 2000 when he resigned to become Chief Executive officer and
president of GPU Energy. Prior to joining Itron, he was with Atlantic Energy
Inc., the holding company for Atlantic City Electric and other companies, where
he served as President and Chief Operating Officer from 1994 to 1998. Prior to
that, Mike spent 23 years with Baltimore Gas & Electric where he held a number
of executive positions in the areas of marketing and customer service, including
all metering, billing and collection activities.
Item 2: PROPERTIES
Our headquarters are located in approximately 137,000 square feet of owned
space in Spokane, Washington, including 50,000 square feet of manufacturing
space. We are in the process of subleasing the majority of the manufacturing
space in this facility to a subcontract manufacturer who will manufacture most
of our low volume hardware products. We also own a building adjacent to our
Spokane facility with approximately 28,000 square feet of manufacturing and
office space. We intend to sell or sublease this facility. In Raleigh, North
Carolina, we own approximately 24,000 square feet and are leasing an additional
25,000 square feet used for activities related to our EIS Systems business. In
Waseca, Minnesota, we lease 86,000 square feet of manufacturing and engineering
space. In late 1998, we began relocating activities from our facility in
Lakeville, Minnesota to the Waseca facility and have sub-leased approximately
40% of the 32,000 square feet in the Lakeville facility. We have approximately
54,000 square feet of leased space in various cities in North America for sales
and service including 14,000 square feet of leased space in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania which is used for our operations and maintenance of our outsourcing
activities at Duquesne. Additionally, we lease sales offices in the United
Kingdom, France and Australia and in various cities throughout the United
States. Our 1999 aggregate domestic and international base monthly lease
obligation was approximately $135,000. All the above facilities are in good
condition and we believe our current manufacturing and other properties will be
sufficient to support our operations for the foreseeable future.
<PAGE>
Item 3: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On October 3, 1996, the Company filed a patent infringement suit against
CellNet Data Systems ("CellNet") in the United States District Court for the
District of Minnesota, alleging that CellNet is infringing on its United States
Patent No. 5,553,094, entitled "Radio Communication Network for Remote Data
Generating Stations," issued on September 3, 1996. The Company is seeking
injunctive relief as well as monetary damages, costs and attorneys' fees. On
January 28, 1999, the Court issued its decision on motions and cross motions for
summary judgment that had previously been filed by the Company and CellNet. In
its decision, the Court held the Company's patent valid, but not infringed. The
Company believes the non-infringement decision was incorrect and has filed an
appeal. The appeal is currently stayed as a result of CellNet's filing for
bankruptcy protection. The Company is seeking a lift of the stay. There can be
no assurance that the Company will prevail on appeal in this action or, even if
it does prevail, that legal costs incurred in connection therewith will not have
a material adverse effect on its financial condition.
On April 29, 1997, CellNet served the Company with a complaint alleging
patent infringement in the United States District Court for the District of
California. CellNet sought injunctive relief and damages. On November 2, 1998,
the District Court ruled in the Company's favor that none of the Company's
accused products infringed any of the asserted claims in CellNet's patent, and
the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the ruling. The case was
returned to the District Court for disposition of the Company's counterclaim of
invalidity, and motion for attorney's fees, and then stayed as a result of
CellNet's filing for bankruptcy protection.
On May 29, 1997, the Company and its then President and Chief Executive
Officer, Johnny M. Humphreys, were served with a complaint alleging securities
fraud filed by Mark G. Epstein (Epstein v Itron, et al.) on his own behalf and
alleged to be on behalf of a class of all others similarly situated, in the U.S.
District Court for the Eastern District of Washington (Civil Action No.
CS-97-214 RHW). The complaint alleges, among other matters, that the Company and
Mr. Humphreys violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder by making allegedly false statements
regarding the development status, performance and technological capabilities of
its Fixed Network AMR system and regarding the suitability of its encoder
receiver transmitter devices for use with an advanced Fixed Network AMR system.
The complaint sought monetary damages, costs and attorneys' fees and unspecified
equitable or injunctive relief. On March 10, 1999, the Court certified this
action as a class action on behalf of all purchasers of the Company's common
stock between September 11, 1995 and October 22, 1996.
On June 3, 1999 the Company reached an agreement to settle the lawsuit by a
payment to the plaintiff class of $12 million, all of which was funded by
insurance proceeds. The court finally approved the settlement on November 19,
1999. Neither the Company nor Mr. Humphreys have admitted wrongdoing or any
liability and none has been found by the court.
On April 3, 1999, the Company served Ralph Benghiat, an individual, with a
Complaint seeking a declaratory judgment that a patent owned by Benghiat is
invalid and not infringed. Benghiat has filed a counterclaim alleging patent
infringement in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
The patent infringement allegations relate to certain of the Company's handheld
meter reading technology. The matter is currently in the discovery stage with a
ready trial date in October, 2000. While the Company believes the allegations of
infringement are incorrect, there can be no assurance that it will prevail in
this matter, or that if it does prevail, that legal costs incurred in connection
therewith will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition.
The Company is not involved in any other material legal proceedings.
<PAGE>
Item 4: SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of shareholders of Itron during the
fourth quarter of 1999.
PART II
Item 5: MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Market Information for Common Stock
Itron's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market. The following
table reflects the range of high and low closing sales prices for all four
quarters of 1999 and 1998 as reported by the NASDAQ National Market.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998
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HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
First Quarter $9.56 $6.88 $21.69 $15.69
Second Quarter 9.50 6.75 20.63 12.75
Third Quarter 8.88 5.88 13.50 6.38
Fourth Quarter 6.94 4.25 9.50 4.63
</TABLE>
Holders
At March 15, 2000, there were approximately 600 holders of record of our
Common Stock.
Dividends
We have never declared or paid cash dividends. We intend to retain future
earnings, if any, for the development of our business and do not anticipate
paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
<PAGE>
Item 6: SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
Statement of Operations Data 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands, except per share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues
AMR systems $111,449 $164,148 $143,472 $129,576 $ 98,724
Handheld systems 69,557 53,957 49,409 45,084 60,952
Outsourcing 12,406 23,297 23,236 2,924 1,659
------------ ------------- --------------- ------------ -------------
Total revenues 193,412 241,402 216,117 177,584 161,335
Cost of revenues 200,104 164,599 135,359 104,708 89,596
------------ ------------- --------------- ------------ -------------
Gross profit (6,692) 76,803 80,758 72,876 71,739
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing 27,780 26,668 29,613 28,847 20,054
Product development 26,764 33,493 32,220 33,285 27,080
General and administrative 13,497 12,834 12,064 10,970 7,589
Amortization of intangibles 1,986 2,261 2,190 1,542 2,336
Restructuring charges 16,686 3,930 - - -
------------ ------------- --------------- ------------ -------------
Total operating expenses 86,713 79,186 76,087 74,644 57,059
Operating income (loss) (93,405) (2,383) 4,671 (1,768) 14,680
Other income (expense)
Equity in affiliates (600) (1,154) (1,120) (50) -
Gain on sale of business interests - - 2,000 - -
Interest, net (6,261) (6,508) (3,916) (316) 1,721
------------ ------------- --------------- ------------ -------------
Total other income (expense) (6,861) (7,662) (3,036) (366) 1,721
------------ ------------- --------------- ------------ -------------
Income (loss) before taxes and extraordinary (100,266) (10,045) 1,635 (2,134) 16,401
item
Income tax benefit (provision) 28,010 3,820 (625) 670 (5,250)
------------ ------------- --------------- ------------ -------------
Net income (loss) before extraordinary item (72,256) (6,225) 1,010 (1,464) 11,151
Extraordinary gain on early extinguishment of
debt, net of income taxes of $1,970 3,660 - - - -
------------ ------------- --------------- ------------ -------------
------------ ------------- --------------- ------------ -------------
Net income (loss) $(68,596) $ (6,225) $ 1,010 $(1,464) $11,151
------------ ------------- --------------- ------------ -------------
Earnings per Share
Basic
Income (loss) before extraordinary item $ (4.87) $ (.42) $ .07 $ (.11) $ .85
Extraordinary item .25 - - - -
------------- ------------ --------------- ------------ ------------
Basic net income (loss) per share $ (4.62) $ (.42) $ .07 $ (.11) $ .85
------------- ------------ --------------- ------------ ------------
Diluted
Income (loss) before extraordinary item $ (4.87) $ (.42) $ .07 $ (.11) $ .81
Extraordinary item .25 - - - -
------------- ------------ --------------- ------------ ------------
Diluted net income (loss) per share $ (4.62) $ (.42) $ .07 $ (.11) $ .81
------------- ------------ --------------- ------------ ------------
Average number of shares outstanding
Basic 14,851 14,668 14,118 13,297 13,095
Diluted 14,851 14,668 14,562 13,297 13,775
Balance Sheet Data
Working capital $ 44,260 $ 54,230 $ 68,307 $ 26,239 $ 64,536
Total assets 192,079 247,755 240,211 186,671 149,718
Total debt 74,998 92,197 73,814 39,502 5,668
Shareholders' equity 47,525 115,022 120,427 114,222 111,273
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Item 7: MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with
"Selected Consolidated Financial Information" and the Consolidated Financial
Statements and Notes thereto.
Overview
Itron is a leading provider to the energy and water industry of integrated
systems solutions for collecting, communicating, analyzing and managing
information about energy and water usage. We design, develop, manufacture,
market, install and service hardware, software and integrated systems that
enable customers to obtain, analyze and use meter data. Our major product lines
include Automatic Meter Reading ("AMR") systems and electronic meter reading or
Handheld systems. We both sell our products and provide outsourcing services.
Effective January 2000, we reorganized internally around strategic business
units ("SBUs") focused on the customer segments that we serve. These include
Natural Gas Systems, Water and Public Power Systems, Electric Systems,
International Systems and Energy Information Systems. We have also created an
SBU focused on potential new business. Future reporting of financial and
operating results will include information about SBU results.
Our AMR solutions primarily utilize radio and telephone technology to
collect meter data and include Off-Site AMR, Mobile AMR and Network AMR
technology reading options. Off-Site AMR utilizes a radio device attached to an
Itron handheld computer that collects data from meters equipped with our radio
meter modules. Mobile AMR uses a transceiver in a vehicle to collect data from
meters equipped with our radio meter modules as the vehicle passes by. We offer
a number of Network AMR solutions that utilize radio, telephone, cellular, or a
combination of these technologies, to collect and transmit meter information
from a variety of fixed locations. Our handheld systems product line includes
the sale and service of ruggedized handheld computers and supporting products
that record visually obtained meter data. Outsourcing services typically involve
the installation, operation and/or maintenance of systems that provide meter
information for billing and management purposes. Outsourcing contracts usually
cover long timeframes and typically involve contracts in which we own, operate
and maintain the system for a periodic fee.
We currently derive substantially all of our revenue from product sales and
services to utilities. However, we have done business with other utility
industry participants such as energy service providers and end user customers,
and we may see an increasing percentage of sales to these customers. We have
experienced variability of operating results on both an annual and a quarterly
basis due primarily to utility purchasing patterns and delays of purchasing
decisions. In recent years these delays have generally resulted from changes or
potential changes to the federal and state regulatory frameworks in the electric
utility industry, and mergers and acquisitions in the utility industry.
Prior to 1999, our growth was driven primarily by new product introductions
and by acquisitions of businesses or technologies for the AMR market. We
expected the AMR market prior to 1999 to grow much faster than it did and
invested in manufacturing capacity and product development to support that
growth. Partly as a result of slower overall market growth than expected, we
incurred losses for five of the last eight quarters. With minimal overall AMR
market penetration, we believe that there are still tremendous growth
opportunities in that market.
In 1998 we initiated some limited restructuring measures to reduce costs
and improve operating efficiencies. In 1999, we aggressively extended our
restructuring activities to further reduce spending and to provide greater
focus. These restructuring activities are described in more detail below and
have resulted in significant changes, which will enable us to be profitable in
2000.
Results of Operations
Revenues
The following table shows our revenue and percent change from the prior
year by type of system or service.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
====================================================================================================================================
(in millions) 1999 Change 1998 Change 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
AMR systems $111.4 (32)% $164.1 14% $143.5
Handheld systems 69.6 29% 54.0 9% 49.4
Outsourcing 12.4 (47)% 23.3 3% 23.2
------------ ------------ -------------
Total revenues $193.4 (20)% $241.4 12% $216.1
------------ ------------ -------------
</TABLE>
1999 compared to 1998
1999 marked the first year in our history in which AMR systems revenues
declined from the previous year. The largest decrease in AMR revenues was in the
electric segment of the market, which is our market segment most impacted by
deregulation and industry consolidation. Also affecting AMR revenues for 1999
was an order issued by the FCC mid-year, which temporarily restricted our
customers' abilities to get access to radio licenses required to use certain of
our AMR products and therefore resulted in lower AMR revenues in the last half
of 1999. The order was lifted shortly before the end of 1999. We shipped 435,000
electric meter modules in 1999, down 50% from the 870,000 units shipped in 1998.
The largest factor impacting this was that in 1998, we had a very large order
with one electric utility customer for a network AMR system covering over
400,000 meters that we did not replace with a similar sized order in 1999.
Additionally, 1999 revenues from that same customer were reduced by a $4.2
million price concession related to a number of changes in the customer's
requirements for the system, including the elimination of their need for
meter-level outage information.
Both gas and water meter module shipment volume increased in 1999 and was
1.3 million units total on a combined basis, representing an 8% increase over
1998. We believe revenues in our gas business will be somewhat flat or slightly
lower in 2000 compared to 1999 as we complete shipments on a contract to a
single large gas utility in the first half of 2000. We expect to continue to see
good growth in our water market as only 2% of meters in this market are
currently automated.
AMR revenues from the sale of products in our Energy Information Systems
(EIS) market increased 38% to $16 million in 1999. EIS systems include products
for large commercial and industrial (C&I) customers of utilities, such as power
billing systems, as well as products and systems for deregulated environments to
manage wholesale market settlement transactions. We believe that we will
continue to experience good growth in the EIS market as products and systems
aimed at C&I customers (the largest users of energy and water) and wholesale
markets will be of increasing importance as deregulation of the energy
marketplace continues.
Handheld systems revenues increased 29% over 1998 from increased volume to
both North American and International markets. Customer upgrades to handheld
systems that were Y2K compliant and sales of our portable network ("PN") radio
card, a new product introduced in late 1998, drove the increase. We expect to
have future handheld systems revenues from upgrades and replacements of systems
in North America and from further penetration into International markets. We
expect revenues from these systems to be somewhat flat over the long term.
Outsourcing revenues, which are included in our finance segment, declined
47%, or $11 million, in 1999. We use the cost-to-cost percentage-of-completion
method of accounting for outsourcing contracts and about $6.6 million of the
decrease resulted from an adjustment to our estimates of revenues to be received
in providing meter reads under our contract with Duquesne Light Company
("Duquesne"). This contract is a 15-year outsourcing agreement, in which we own
and operate a network AMR system, and provide information from that system to
Duquesne. We update our estimates every quarter for our outsourcing contracts
and as required by the percentage of completion accounting method, record any
material changes in estimates in the quarter they are determined. We recorded
the $6.6 million reduction in outsourcing revenues in the fourth quarter for
changed estimates on the Duquesne contract. Subsequent to December 31, 1999, we
entered into a non-binding MOU with Duquesne to sell the system to them. See
additional comments below under "Gross Margin" and Note 3 to our accompanying
financial statements.
Assuming the sale to Duquesne is completed and no other large outsourcing
agreements are signed, we expect our outsourcing revenues to decrease
significantly in 2000.Additional information about revenues is provided in Note
15 of our accompanying financial statements.
1998 compared to 1997
In 1998, AMR systems revenues increased 14%, or $20.7 million, over 1997.
The increased revenues were primarily the result of shipments to, and
installation of, a large network system for one electric utility. Substantially
all shipments and installations under this contract were completed by the end of
1998. Sales of new AMR hardware, primarily for water meters, and software
products introduced in 1997 also contributed to the increase.
Handheld systems revenues increased $4.5 million, or 9%, in 1998 over 1997.
The increased revenues came from sales of the new PN cards for handheld
computers. PN cards are credit card sized radio devices, that provide remote
reads of meters equipped with Itron radio meter modules. 1998 also had a higher
proportion of software and service revenue than 1997.
Outsourcing revenues in 1998 remained fairly level with 1997. The majority
of outsourcing revenues for 1998 were related to the Company's contract with
Duquesne.
Gross Margin
Our gross margin was (3)% in 1999 compared to 32% in 1998 and 37% in 1997.
The table below reflects gross margin as a percentage of corresponding revenue
and the percentage change from the prior year.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
============================================================================================================================
Increase Increase
1999 (Decrease) 1998 (Decrease) 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
AMR systems 31% 3% 28% (13%) 41%
Handheld systems 43% (6%) 49% 16% 33%
Outsourcing operations cost (172)% (188%) 16% (6%) 22%
Outsourcing - loss on
project sale (402)% - - - -
Total gross margin (3)% (35%) 32% (5%) 37%
</TABLE>
1999 compared to 1998
There were a number of significant charges affecting gross margins in 1999.
These included a $49.8 million charge for the write-down of outsourcing assets
related to the proposed sale of those assets to Duquesne (see additional
discussion under outsourcing gross margins below), a $6.6 million reduction in
revenue and a $17.5 million increase to cost of sales for the impact of changes
in estimates to complete the Duquesne contract (see additional discussion under
the "Revenues" caption above and outsourcing gross margins below), the $4.2
million sales concession mentioned under the "Revenues" caption above, and $2.9
million of forward losses on AMR development contracts in Europe in which we now
expect costs to exceed the committed funding. The international forward losses
were discovered in our analysis of European operations during the fourth quarter
of 1999, at which time it was determined that we had significantly
underestimated the development efforts needed to complete our commitments under
four development contracts. The total of the above items is approximately $81
million, and without them, gross margin for the year would have been closer to
the level reported for 1997.
Overall AMR systems gross margin in 1999 improved as a percentage of
revenue, but declined in total dollars, due to lower sales volumes. AMR margins
would have been even higher as a percentage of revenues without the sales
concession and international forward losses discussed above. Margins on the
large network system in 1998 for the electric utility mentioned in the revenues
discussion above were significantly lower than normal, and the 1999 margin
improvement reflects the absence of that lower margin business.
We shipped approximately 1.9 million meter modules in 1999, down
approximately 20% from 1998. Reduced capacity utilization has burdened overall
gross margins in recent years. Our 1999 restructuring actions included the
consolidation of high volume manufacturing operations from Spokane, Washington
and Boise, Idaho into our Waseca, Minnesota plant (see discussion below under
"Restructuring"). The consolidation was substantially completed in the fourth
quarter of 1999 and we expect to reduce annual manufacturing costs by $4 to $5
million as a result of these actions.
Handheld gross margins decreased to 43% of revenues in 1999 from 49% in
1998. In 1999, handheld systems revenues were mostly from upgrade and
replacement sales, which typically have lower net selling prices. In addition,
each sale of upgrade/replacement systems initiates a new warranty period for the
customer where we do not receive post-sale service revenue for a period of time,
typically one year. The mix of sales between North American and International
customers, and the size of the systems sold, can also significantly affect
handheld systems gross margins.
Outsourcing gross margins were negative (574%) in 1999 because of an
expected loss on the sale of our outsourced network AMR system at Duquesne to an
affiliate of Duquesne, and because of additional accruals in 1999 for estimated
costs to complete our remaining obligations for this customer. These two items
had the impact of reducing outsourcing gross profits by approximately $67.3
million.
On February 8, 2000, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU")
with DQE, the parent of Duquesne Light Company, to sell them (or an affiliate of
theirs) our network AMR system that provides Duquesne with meter information for
billing and other purposes for their customers in the Pittsburgh area. The sale,
which is dependent upon satisfactory completion of due diligence and is
scheduled to close in late March or early April 2000, provides for a cash
payment of $33 million for the purchase of the system. The expected $49.8
million loss resulting from this sale has been recognized in 1999 in outsourcing
cost of sales, consisting primarily of a write-off of all of the Duquesne
contract receivables (current and non-current, net of certain liabilities),
which was approximately $31.2 million, and an $18.6 million impairment charge
for the assets being sold. In connection with the sale, we will enter into a
warranty and maintenance agreement under which Duquesne will pay us for the
period from closing through December 31, 2013, for certain defined services
related to the equipment.
We use the cost-to-cost percentage of completion method of accounting for
our long-term outsourcing contracts which involves our having to estimate
revenues and expenses, typically for periods of ten to fifteen years into the
future. During the fourth quarter of 1999, in connection with our normal
practice of reviewing estimates for the Duquesne contract, and in the first
quarter of 2000, in connection with due diligence on the above sale, we
determined that we needed to increase our estimates for future costs, primarily
for ongoing maintenance and support activities, and to decrease our revenue
estimates for future services related to advanced services reads. We estimate
that we will incur approximately $24 million in expenditures between now and
December 31, 2013 to complete all remaining obligations to Duquesne. Our
remaining expenditures will be partially offset by approximately $10 million
that we will receive from Duquesne over that period for warranty and maintenance
services.
In the fourth quarter of 1999, to reflect the changes in estimates for our
outsourcing contract as well as obligations under the warranty and maintenance
agreement, we recorded a $6.6 million reduction in outsourcing revenues and
accrued an additional $17.5 million forward loss accrual which is reflected in
outsourcing cost of sales. See additional details on this transaction in
"Revenues" above, "Financial Condition" below and in Note 3 to our accompanying
financial statements.
1998 compared to 1997
AMR systems margins were 28% of AMR systems revenues in 1998 compared to
41% in 1997 and 1996. This margin decline is primarily the result of the large
network system for the electric utility customer at substantially lower margins
and a higher level of installation activities, which tend to have lower margins,
in 1998. The large lower margin contract was primarily driven by the early life
cycle status of our network products and related installation activities at that
time.
Handheld systems margins of 49% in 1998 were significantly better than the
33% experienced in 1997. The increased margins in 1998 were due to a higher
component of total revenues derived from software and services, which tend to
have higher margins, and a new higher margin hardware product. Additionally,
handheld systems margins were down in 1997 because of a lower than average
margin sale to a large international customer.
Outsourcing margins dropped to 16% in 1998 from 22% in 1997. The decreased
margins were due to a larger portion of outsourcing revenues from our contract
with Duquesne. Outsourcing revenues in 1997 were also largely derived from
Duquesne revenues; however, overall outsourcing margins in 1997 were better than
in 1998 because one customer converted its outsourcing contract to a purchase
that resulted in a one-time gain.
Operating Expenses
Total 1999 operating expenses increased to $86.7 million from $79.2 million
in the prior year mostly due to increased restructuring charges.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
=============================================================================================================================
Increase Increase
(in millions) 1999 (Decrease) 1998 (Decrease) 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales and marketing $27.8 4% $26.7 (10%) $29.6
Product development 26.8 (20%) 33.5 4% 32.2
General and administrative 13.5 5% 12.8 6% 12.1
Amortization of intangibles 2.0 (12%) 2.3 3% 2.2
Restructuring charges 16.6 325% 3.9 - -
------------ ------------ ------------
Total operating expenses $86.7 10% $79.2 4% $76.1
------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
1999 compared to 1998
Sales and marketing expenses increased 4% in 1999 to represent 14% of
revenues, up from 11% of revenues in 1998. Most of the increased expenses were
caused by staff additions for our EIS systems product marketing, sales and sales
support activities. As noted above, sales for this market increased 38% in 1999.
Total sales and marketing expenses in 2000 are expected to remain relatively
flat.
1999 product development expenses decreased 20% from 1998 as a result of
our restructuring activities. During 1999 we consolidated our handheld, mobile,
network and AMR telephone development operations into one group, resulting in
the closure of development operations in Minnesota and California. We also
announced a plan to consolidate our Boise, Idaho operations, and sharply reduce
our European development activities not related to our core business over the
course of 2000. Product development expenses are expected to decline slightly in
2000.
General and administrative expenses were up 5% in 1999 over 1998, primarily
from recruiting and relocation expenses. Overall general and administrative
expenses are expected to remain relatively level in 2000.
Amortization of intangibles decreased slightly in 1999 and is expected to
remain approximately level in 2000. Additional information about operating
expenses by business segment is provided in Note 15 of our accompanying
financial statements.
Restructuring
Restructuring expenses of $16.7 million in 1999 were incurred for
severance, facility closures, and the disposition of excess manufacturing
equipment (see Note 2 to our accompanying financial statements). Restructuring
actions taken during 1999 included: 1) consolidation of high volume
manufacturing operations from three locations to one; 2) a reduction of meter
reading hardware and software platforms supported, and consolidation of
geographically diverse development operations; 3) substantial repositioning of
operations in Europe to reduce the scope of development activities and change
from a direct sales approach to one that is more distributor based; and 4) key
changes in the executive management team. Approximately 300 people were
terminated as part of the 1999 restructuring activities, half of which were in
manufacturing, 25% in product development, and the rest in sales and marketing,
and general and administrative functions. We expect to replace about 100
manufacturing positions as part of the consolidation of high volume
manufacturing operations in our Waseca, Minnesota plant. Management positions
accounted for about 25% of the total staff reductions.
We expect the restructuring measures to reduce annual manufacturing costs
by $4 to $5 million with much improved capacity utilization. We also expect to
reduce annual operating expenses by a like amount; however these reductions will
be offset by payments of approximately $1 million in project completion bonuses
and relocation payments for key personnel, and may be further partially offset
by investments in new business initiatives and by incentive compensation, to the
extent it is earned based on our financial and operating performance. We believe
our restructuring measures will provide for a return to profitability for the
year 2000.
<PAGE>
1998 compared to 1997
Sales and marketing expenses in 1998 decreased $2.9 million from 1997 and
decreased as a percentage of revenues from 14% to 11%. The lower expenses in
1998 resulted from: 1) a corporate reorganization in 1997 that redefined certain
jobs previously classified as sales and marketing to general and administrative;
and 2) a greater utilization of sales support personnel for revenue-producing
activities, resulting classification of those expenses as cost of sales.
Product development expenses in 1998 increased by $1.3 million, or 4%, over
1997 but decreased as a percentage of revenues from 15% to 14%. The lower
expenses as a percent of revenue were caused by restructuring activities in the
third quarter of 1998 where we eliminated approximately 150 positions, most of
which were in product development.
General and administrative expenses in 1998 increased approximately
$770,000, or 3%, over 1997, but decreased as a percentage of revenues to 5% from
6%. The increased expenses in 1998 were primarily due to the reclassification of
expenses discussed in sales and marketing above.
Restructuring
In the third quarter of 1998 we began to implement restructuring measures
to reduce costs and improve operating efficiencies. These measures resulted in
$3.9 million in restructuring charges (see Note 2 to our accompanying financial
statements.) Restructuring measures involved the elimination or consolidation of
approximately 150 positions, primarily product development, the write-off of
certain intangible assets due to a reduction in the scope of planned technology
development, consolidation of some of our facilities and discontinuation of a
jointly owned entity.
Other Income (Expense)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
==============================================================================================================================
(in millions) 1999 1998 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Equity in affiliates $(0.6) $(1.2) $(1.1)
Gain on sale of business interest - - 2.0
Interest, net (6.3) (6.5) (3.9)
------------ ------------ --------------
Total other income (expense) $(6.9) $(7.7) $(3.0)
------------ ------------ --------------
</TABLE>
Over the three-year period, we have had a shared ownership interest in
three entities, which have been accounted for using the equity method. These
entities provide specialized services, such as installation, load profiling, and
meter reading services, or act as distributors for our products in specific
utility market segments. Equity in affiliates' net operating losses decreased
markedly in 1999 due to improved sales of products through one entity and
curtailed operations of another entity. In 1997 we recorded a $2 million gain on
the sale of our ownership interest in a jointly owned entity. In March 2000, we
sold our interest in another entity to our partner for $400,000, resulting in a
gain of approximately $170,000.
Net interest expense in 1999 decreased slightly from 1998 due to lower
average short-term borrowings. Additionally, in the first quarter of 1999 we
completed an offer to exchange convertible subordinated notes for new notes
carrying a lower conversion price. The offer is described further below under
"Extraordinary Item." The effect of the exchange offer was to reduce the
principal amount of outstanding notes, thereby also reducing annual interest
expense. Interest expense increased in 1998 over 1997 due to the original
issuance of the convertible subordinated notes. See Note 5 to our accompanying
financial statements. We capitalized $260,000 of interest costs in 1998 related
to the construction of outsourcing projects in that year, down from $994,000
capitalized in 1997. No interest was capitalized in 1999.
Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate in 1999 decreased to 28% from the 38% rate
recorded in 1998 and 1997. The lower effective rate in 1999 resulted from
valuation allowances provided for certain domestic tax credits and international
net operating losses, which may be subject to expiration before they can be
utilized. Our effective income tax rate may vary from year to year because of
fluctuations in foreign operating results, changes in valuation allowances on
deferred tax assets, new or revised tax legislation, and changes in the level of
business performed in differing tax jurisdictions.
Extraordinary Item - Gain on Early Extinguishment of Debt
In March 1999 we completed an offer ("exchange offer") to exchange $15.8
million principal amount of 6 3/4% convertible subordinated notes due 2004
("exchange notes") for $22.0 million principal amount of original convertible
subordinated notes ("original notes"). The exchange offer was made on the basis
of $720 principal amount of exchange notes for $1,000 principal amount of
original notes. The exchange notes have substantially the same terms and
conditions as the original notes, except for a reduction in the conversion price
for converting the notes into common stock, an extension of the date before
which we may not call the exchange notes, and the removal of the redemption
premium. The exchange offer reduced our long-term debt and annual interest
expense by taking advantage of market discounts. The gain on early debt
extinguishment, net of issuance expenses and income taxes, was $3.7 million.
Financial Condition
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
==============================================================================================================================
Increase Increase
Cash flow information (in millions) 1999 (Decrease) 1998 (Decrease) 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating activities $ 24.5 1390% $ (1.9) 72% $(3.2)
Investing activities (16.1) (6%) (17.1) (47%) (34.1)
Financing activities (9.6) (151%) 18.7 (51%) 38.1
--------- ------------ ----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash $(1.2) (330%) $ (0.3) (136%) $ .8
--------- ------------ ----------
</TABLE>
Operating activities provided $24.5 million in 1999 compared to consuming
$1.9 million in 1998 and $3.2 million in 1997. Wages and benefits payable
increased $10 million in 1999 from restructuring charges for involuntary
employee termination benefits that will be paid in 2000. Restructuring charges
for facility closures and cost of sales charges for forward losses on contracts
not yet complete will require approximately $8 million in cash in 2000, and $12
million total over subsequent years. Operating cash flow for 1999 was much
improved over 1998 from decreases in unbilled accounts receivable and lower
inventory levels. Unbilled accounts receivable are recorded when revenues are
recognized upon product shipment or service delivery and invoicing occurs at a
later date, and there are no material uncertainties related to system
acceptance. Unbilled receivables decreased $14 million in 1999 due to the
billing and collection of two large, turnkey installations. Further improvements
in inventory management across all product lines and locations reduced
inventories by $5 million in 1999. 1999 operating cash flow was offset by
deferred income tax benefits for net operating loss carryforwards. Operating
activities used less cash in 1998 than 1997 because of improved inventory
management and improved accounts receivables turns.
<PAGE>
Investing activities required $16.1 million in 1999, compared to $17.1
million in 1998 and $34.1 million in 1997. Construction of the Duquesne
outsourcing project required significant cash over the three-year period. The
sale of the Duquesne system in March 2000 is expected to reduce investments in
equipment used for outsourcing in 2000. See additional details on this
transaction in "Revenues" and "Gross Margin" above and in Note 3 to our
accompanying financial statements. We intend to project finance a mobile
outsourcing project currently under construction and due to be completed in 2000
with long-term, fixed-rate debt. The project financing is expected to be
approximately $9 million compared to an installed project cost of $12 million,
of which we spent $3.3 million in cash on this project in 1999. Capital
acquisitions for internal use in 1999 were approximately level with 1998 and are
expected to remain level in 2000.
Financing activities required $9.6 million in 1999 mostly due to repayment
of short-term bank borrowings. Financing cash in 1998 was provided from
short-term bank borrowings and project financing of one outsourcing project. In
1997 we issued $63.4 million of convertible subordinated notes payable, the
proceeds from which were used primarily to repay short-term bank borrowings. The
exercise of employee stock options and employee stock purchases provided cash of
$1.6 million in 1999, $2.4 million in 1998, and $4.6 million in 1997. In January
2000, we signed an agreement with a bank for a new four-year revolving line of
credit up to a maximum amount of $35 million. As with the previous line of
credit, borrowings available under the new facility are based on accounts
receivable and inventory. Availability under the new line of credit has
decreased since the end of the year primarily due to lower levels of accounts
receivable.
We expect to collect approximately $33 million in cash from the sale of the
Duquesne system in March or April of 2000. The cash received will be used to
repay any short term borrowings, cover the cash needs of restructuring measures
discussed above, and for general corporate purposes. Some portion of excess
cash, if any, may be used to retire long-term debt or to repurchase stock.
Management believes that the cash to be received from the Duquesne sale, the new
borrowing facility, project financing proceeds and cash to be generated from
operations are more than adequate to meet our needs for 2000.
Year 2000 Compliance
None of our products, internal business systems, or suppliers incurred any
significant problems related to the "year 2000 rollover". Our total spending to
address year 2000 issues was approximately $2.4 million.
Certain Forward-Looking Statements
When included in this discussion, the words "expects," "intends,"
"anticipates," "plans," "projects" and "estimates," and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements, are inherently
subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual
results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking
statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, our ability to
complete negotiations with Duquesne for the systems sale, our ability to
accurately forecast future revenues and costs on long-term contracts, our
estimates of the future impact of restructuring measures, changes in law and
regulation (including FCC licensing actions), changes in the utility regulatory
environment, delays or difficulties in introducing new products and acceptance
of those products, ability to obtain project financing in amounts necessary to
fund future outsourcing agreements, increased competition and various other
matters, many of which are beyond our control. These forward-looking statements
speak only as of the date of this report. The Company expressly disclaims any
obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any
forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change on the
Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions
or circumstances on which any such statement is based. For a more complete
description of these and other risks, see our Annual Report of Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999.
Item 7A: QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We have exposure to interest rate risk from our short-term and long-term
debt. Our long-term debt is fixed rate and the short-term debt is variable rate.
We had $70.7 million and $77.7 million of long-term debt at December 31, 1999
and 1998, respectively. (See Note 5 of our accompanying financial statement for
additional information on its short-term and long-term borrowings). Market risk
for fixed-rate long-term debt is estimated as the potential decrease in fair
value resulting from a hypothetical 100 basis points increase in interest rates
and amounts to $2.9 million as of December 31, 1999. We do not use derivative
financial instruments to manage interest rate risk.
From time to time, we enter into forward contracts on known purchase
commitments in foreign currencies and for inter-company settlements. We do not
enter into derivatives for trading purposes. As of December 31, 1999 we did not
have any outstanding foreign exchange contracts.
Our earnings are affected by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar,
as compared to foreign currencies, as a result of transactions in foreign
markets. We have performed a sensitivity analysis assuming a hypothetical 10%
strengthening in the value of the dollar relative to the currencies in which our
transactions are denominated. As of December 31, 1999, the analysis indicated
that such market movements would not have had a material effect on our
consolidated results of operations or on the fair value of our risk-sensitive
financial instruments. The model assumes a parallel shift in the foreign
currency exchange rates. Exchange rates rarely move in the same direction. The
assumption that exchange rates change in a parallel fashion may overstate the
impact of changing exchange rates on assets and liabilities denominated in a
foreign currency, consequently, actual effects on operations in the future may
differ materially from that analysis.
<PAGE>
Item 8: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF MANAGEMENT
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Itron, Inc.
Management is responsible for the preparation of our consolidated financial
statements and related information appearing in this annual report. Management
believes that the consolidated financial statements fairly reflect the form and
substance of transactions and that the financial statements reasonably present
our financial position and results of operations in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles. Management has included in our financial
statements amounts based on estimates and judgments that it believes are
reasonable under the circumstances.
Management's explanation and interpretation of our overall operating
results and financial position, with the basic financial statements presented,
should be read in conjunction with the entire report. The Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements, an integral part of the basic financial statements,
provide additional detailed financial information. Our Board of Directors has an
Audit Committee composed of non-management Directors. The Committee meets
regularly with financial management and Deloitte & Touche LLP to review
accounting control, auditing and financial reporting matters.
LeRoy D. Nosbaum David G. Remington
President and Chief Vice President and Chief
Executive Officer Financial Officer
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Itron, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Itron, Inc.
and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 and the related consolidated
statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1999. Our audits also included the
financial statement schedule listed in the index at Item 14. These financial
statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Itron, Inc. and subsidiaries at
December 31, 1999 and 1998 and the results of their operations and their cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion,
such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all
material respects the information set forth therein.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Seattle, Washington
March 28, 2000
<PAGE>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share data) 1999 1998 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues
AMR systems $111,449 $164,148 $143,472
Handheld systems 69,557 53,957 49,409
Outsourcing 12,406 23,297 23,236
-------------- ------------ ------------
Total revenues 193,412 241,402 216,117
Cost of revenues
AMR systems 76,826 117,519 84,069
Handheld systems 39,704 27,415 33,108
Outsourcing 83,574 19,665 18,182
--------------
------------ ------------
Total cost of revenues 200,104 164,599 135,359
-------------- ------------ ------------
Gross profit (6,692) 76,803 80,758
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing 27,780 26,668 29,613
Product development 26,764 33,493 32,220
General and administrative 13,497 12,834 12,064
Amortization of intangibles 1,986 2,261 2,190
Restructuring charges 16,686 3,930 -
-------------- ------------ ------------
Total operating expenses 86,713 79,186 76,087
-------------- ------------ ------------
Operating income (loss) (93,405) (2,383) 4,671
Other income (expense)
Equity in affiliates (600) (1,154) (1,120)
Gain on sale of business interest - - 2,000
Interest, net (6,261) (6,508) (3,916)
-------------- ------------ ------------
Total other income (expense) (6,861) (7,662) (3,036)
-------------- ------------ ------------
Income (loss) before income taxes and extraordinary item (100,266) (10,045) 1,635
Income tax benefit (provision) 28,010 3,820 (625)
-------------- ------------ ------------
Income (loss) before extraordinary item (72,256) (6,225) 1,010
Extraordinary gain on early extinguishment of debt,
net of income taxes of $1,970 3,660 - -
-------------- ------------ ------------
Net income (loss) $(68,596) $(6,225) $1,010
--------------- ------------ ------------
Earnings per Share
Basic and diluted
Income (loss) before extraordinary item $(4.87) $(.42) $.07
Extraordinary item .25 - -
-------------- ------------ ------------
Basic net income (loss) per share $(4.62) $(.42) $.07
-------------- ------------ ------------
Average number of shares outstanding
Basic 14,851 14,668 14,118
Diluted 14,851 14,668 14,562
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
<PAGE>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At December 31,
(in thousands, except share data) 1999 1998
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $1,538 $2,743
Accounts receivable, net 46,561 62,253
Current portion of long-term contracts receivable 2,579 13,498
Inventories, net 15,300 20,654
Equipment held for sale, net 32,750 -
Deferred income tax asset 8,016 6,938
Other 1,340 2,306
------------ ------------
Total current assets 108,084 108,392
Property, plant and equipment, net 31,627 42,390
Equipment used in outsourcing, net 5,951 50,746
Intangible assets, net 15,196 18,142
Long-term contracts receivable 1,813 23,712
Deferred income tax asset 26,922 1,906
Other 2,486 2,467
------------ ------------
Total assets $192,079 $247,755
------------ ------------
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings $3,646 $ 14,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 34,747 24,791
Wages and benefits payable 16,396 6,246
Mortgage notes and leases payable 622 472
Deferred revenue 8,413 8,653
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 63,824 54,162
Mortgage notes and leases payable 6,280 6,603
Convertible subordinated debt 57,234 63,400
Project financing 7,216 7,722
Warranty and other obligations 10,000 846
------------ ------------
Total liabilities 144,554 132,733
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8) - -
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, 75 million shares authorized,
14,958,788 and 14,698,121 shares issued and outstanding 107,603 106,039
Accumulated other comprehensive income (1,572) (1,107)
Retained earnings (deficit) (58,506) 10,090
------------ ------------
Total shareholders' equity 47,525 115,022
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $192,079 $247,755
------------ ------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
<PAGE>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Accumulated
Other
Comprehen- Retained
(in thousands) Shares Amount Warrants sive Income Earnings Total
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balances at December 31, 1996 13,387 $98,686 $ 338 $ (107) $ 15,305 $ 114,222
Net income 1,010 1,010
Currency translation adjustment (974) (974)
-------------
Total comprehensive income 36
Stock issues:
Options exercised and
related tax benefits 57 827 827
Employee savings plan 44 935 935
Employee stock purchase plan 43 451 451
Warrants exercised 312 3,915 (281) 3,634
DCI acquisition 759 322 322
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances at December 31, 1997 14,602 105,136 57 (1,081) 16,315 120,427
Net loss (6,225) (6,225)
Currency translation adjustment (26) (26)
-------------
Total comprehensive income (6,251)
Stock issues:
Options exercised and
related tax benefits 37 452 452
Stock repurchased by Company (109) (1,554) (1,554)
Employee savings plan 87 1,161 1,161
Employee stock purchase plan 81 787 787
Warrants expired 57 (57) -
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances at December 31, 1998 14,698 106,039 - (1,107) 10,090 115,022
Net loss (68,596) (68,596)
Currency translation adjustment (465) (465)
-------------
Total comprehensive income (69,061)
Stock issues:
Options exercised and
related tax benefits 38 95 95
Employee savings plan 139 1,045 1,045
Employee stock purchase plan 84 424 424
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances at December 31, 1999 14,959 $107,603 $ - $(1,572) $(58,506) $47,525
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
<PAGE>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating activities
Net income (loss) $(68,596) $ (6,225) $ 1,010
Noncash charges (credits) to income:
Depreciation and amortization 18,474 19,865 16,781
Deferred income tax provision (benefit) (28,064) (4,550) 107
Equity in affiliates, net 600 1,154 (880)
Extraordinary gain on early extinguishment of debt (3,660) - -
Write-off of long-term contracts receivable 34,492 - -
Loss on equipment sale or disposal 23,369 - -
Changes in operating accounts, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable 15,668 (1,811) (19,158)
Inventories 5,354 11,331 3,194
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 18,572 (2,663) 7,107
Wages and benefits payable 10,151 (2,935) 5,177
Deferred revenue (240) 1,894 (8)
Long-term contracts receivable (1,674) (17,646) (18,377)
Other, net 52 (312) 1,829
------------ ------------ ------------
Cash provided (used) by operating activities 24,498 (1,898) (3,218)
Investing activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (7,416) (6,364) (9,329)
Equipment used in outsourcing (9,859) (10,746) (27,478)
Proceeds from sale of equipment used in outsourcing - - 3,035
Proceeds from sale of business interest - 1,000 1,000
Acquisitions of intangibles and patent defense costs (171) (1,002) (1,703)
Other, net 1,362 8 410
------------ ------------ ------------
Cash (used) by investing activities (16,084) (17,104) (34,065)
Financing activities
Change in short-term borrowings, net (10,354) 12,440 (31,502)
Proceeds from (payments on) project financing (506) 5,308 2,414
Issuance of common stock 1,564 2,400 6,169
Purchase and retirement of common stock - (1,554) -
Issuance of convertible subordinated debt - - 63,400
Debt issuance costs - - (2,355)
Other, net (323) 128 (63)
------------ ------------ ------------
Cash provided (used) by financing activities (9,619) 18,722 38,063
------------ ------------ ------------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (1,205) (280) 780
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 2,743 3,023 2,243
------------ ------------ ------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 1,538 $ 2,743 $ 3,023
------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
<PAGE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Business
We are a leading global provider of solutions for utilities and other
customers to collect, communicate, analyze and manage information about energy
and water usage. We design, develop, manufacture, market, sell, install and
service hardware, software and integrated systems for automatic meter reading
("AMR") and electronic meter reading or Handheld systems. We both sell our
products and provide outsourcing services.
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Itron, Inc.
and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and
balances are eliminated. Investments in affiliates, in which we have a
non-controlling interest, are accounted for using the equity method. At December
31, 1999 we had a 50% interest in two joint ventures. In March 2000, we sold our
interest in one of those to our partner. In 1997 and 1998, we had a 50% interest
in another venture, and in 1998, sold that interest to our partner.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider all highly liquid instruments with original maturities of three
months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are recorded at cost,
which approximates fair value.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the first-in,
first-out method. Cost includes raw materials and labor, plus applied direct and
indirect costs. Service inventories consist primarily of sub-assemblies and
components necessary to support post-sale maintenance.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation, which
includes the amortization of assets recorded under capital leases, is computed
using the straight-line method over the assets estimated useful lives of three
to seven years, or over the term of the applicable capital lease, if shorter.
Equipment used in outsourcing contracts is depreciated using the straight-line
method over the shorter of the useful life or the term of the contract. Plant is
depreciated over 30 years using the straight-line method. We review the carrying
value of property, plant and equipment on a regular basis for impairment. In
1999, 1998 and 1997 total interest expense was $6.7 million, $6.6 million and
$5.2 million, respectively. Of these amounts, we capitalized interest as a
component of the cost of property, plant and equipment constructed for our own
use of $260,000 and $994,000 in 1998 and 1997, respectively. No interest was
capitalized in 1999. Equipment held for sale is reported at the selling price,
less estimated selling costs of $250,000.
Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess cost of businesses that we have acquired
over the fair value of their net assets and is amortized using the straight-line
method over periods ranging from three to 20 years. Patents, patent defense
costs, distribution and product rights are amortized using the straight-line
method over their remaining lives of three to 17 years. Capitalized software
includes costs incurred subsequent to the establishment of technological
feasibility of the related product and is amortized using the straight-line
method for a period not to exceed five years. We regularly review the carrying
value of intangible assets for impairment.
Warranty
We offer standard warranty terms on our product sales. Provision for
estimated warranty costs is recorded at the time of sale and periodically
adjusted to reflect actual experience. The long-term warranty reserve covers
future expected costs of testing and replacement of radio meter module
batteries. Warranty expense was $5.7 million in 1999, $4.2 million in 1998 and
$3.8 million in 1997.
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under
this method, deferred income taxes are recorded for the temporary differences
between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of our assets and
liabilities. These deferred taxes are measured using the provisions of currently
enacted tax laws. We believe that it is more likely than not that we will
generate sufficient taxable income to allow the realization of our deferred net
tax asset.
Foreign Exchange
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in United States
dollars. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are denominated in
foreign currencies and are translated to United States dollars at the exchange
rates in effect on the balance sheet date. Revenues, costs of revenues and
expenses for these subsidiaries are translated using an average rate for the
relevant reporting period. Translation adjustments resulting from this process
are a component of comprehensive income in shareholders' equity.
Revenue Recognition
System sales: Revenues from sales of hardware and software licenses are
generally recognized upon shipment. Service revenues are recognized ratably over
the periods covered by the service contracts or as the services are performed.
Revenues for shipments or post-sale maintenance not yet billed are included in
accounts receivable or other long-term assets depending on the expected period
of collection. Deferred revenue is recorded for products or services that have
been paid for by a customer but have not yet been provided. Unbilled receivables
are recorded when revenues are recognized upon product shipment or service
delivery and invoicing occurs at a later date, and there are no material
uncertainties related to system acceptance.
Large custom systems and outsourcing contracts: Large custom systems
include those in which there is a substantial amount of custom software
development. Outsourcing services may encompass the installation, operation
and/or maintenance of meter reading systems to provide meter information to a
customer for billing and management purposes. Revenues for both large custom
systems and outsourcing contracts are recognized using the cost-to-cost,
percentage-of-completion method of long-term contract accounting. Under this
method, revenue reported during a period is based on the percentage of estimated
total revenues to be received under the contract measured by the percentage of
costs incurred to date to total estimated costs for each contract. This method
is used because we believe costs incurred are the best available measure of
progress on these contracts. Contract costs include all direct material and
labor costs and other indirect costs related to contract performance such as
indirect labor, supplies, tools, repairs and depreciation costs. Provisions for
estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are recognized in the period in which
such losses are determined and were $20.4 million in 1999, $750,000 in 1998 and
$0 in 1997. Changes in estimated profitability, including those arising from
contract penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in
revisions to costs and income and are recognized in the period in which the
revisions are determined. Revenues from large custom systems and outsourcing
contracts that are recognized in excess of amounts billed are included in
long-term contracts receivable or the current portion of long-term contracts
receivable depending on the expected period of collection. Amounts billed
related to our outsourcing contracts were $10.7 million, $5.6 million and $2.6
million in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
<PAGE>
Earnings per Share
Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is calculated using net income divided by
the weighted average common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted EPS is
similar to Basic EPS except that the weighted average common shares outstanding
are increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have
been outstanding if the dilutive options had been issued and convertible
subordinated notes had been converted. Diluted EPS assumes that common shares
were issued upon exercise of stock options for which the market price exceeded
the exercise price, less shares that could have been repurchased with the
related proceeds ("Treasury Stock" method). It also assumes that any dilutive
convertible subordinated notes outstanding at the beginning of each year were
converted, with related interest adjusted accordingly ("if converted" method).
Derivatives
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS 133 requires an entity to recognize
all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial
position and measure those instruments at fair value. We limit our use of
derivative financial instruments to the management of foreign currency risk and
had no derivatives outstanding during 1999. We are currently evaluating the
impact of SFAS 133 on our financial statements.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions.
These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Our accounting for long-term contracts requires that we
estimate our total revenues and our costs of providing outsourcing and other
services over long periods of time, typically 15 years. Because of various
factors affecting future costs and operations, actual results could differ from
estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts in the 1998 and 1997 financial statements have been
reclassified to conform to the 1999 presentation.
Note 2: Restructuring
1999 Charges:
In our ongoing efforts to improve efficiencies and reduce costs we recorded
restructuring charges of $16.7 million during 1999. Our restructuring plan
included the consolidation of high volume manufacturing to our plant in
Minnesota, a reduction of products and software platforms supported by the
Company, consolidation of product development locations, the transition in
Europe from direct sales to more of a distributor-based sales approach and
changes in key management positions. The majority of the charges were related to
a reduction in force of approximately 300 people of which approximately 50% were
in manufacturing, 25% in product development and the remainder throughout the
Company. Twenty-five percent of the reductions were management positions. The
additional charges relate to impairment of equipment and estimated future lease
payments for abandoned facilities. Total 1999 restructuring charges as of
December 31, 1999, are as follows:
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Reserve
Cash/ Restructuring Balance
(in thousands) Non-cash Charge Activity 12/31/99
--------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Severance and related charges Cash $9,237 $249 $8,988
Asset impairment Non-cash 4,764 1,164 3,600
Consolidation of facilities Cash 2,685 133 2,552
----------------- ------------ -------------
Total restructuring charges $ 16,686 $1,546 $15,140
----------------- ------------ -------------
</TABLE>
The reserve balances for severance and related charges and asset impairment
are expected to be fully utilized in 2000. Facility consolidation reserves are
dependent on our ability to sublease vacant space, which is under a
non-cancelable operating lease through 2008.
1998 Charges:
In 1998, in connection with management's measures to reduce costs and
improve operating efficiencies, we recorded restructuring charges of $3.9
million. The restructuring measures primarily involved the elimination or
consolidation of approximately 150 positions, primarily in product development,
the write-off of certain of our intangible assets and the consolidation of one
of our product development locations. Total 1998 restructuring charges as of
December 31, 1999, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Reserve
Cash/ Restructuring Balance
(in thousands) Non-cash Charge Activity 12/31/99
----------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Severance and related charges Cash $1,920 $1,920 -
Intangible asset impairment Non-cash 1,104 1,104 -
Consolidation of facilities Cash 665 236 429
Other Non-cash 241 241 -
----------------- ------------ -------------
Total restructuring charges $3,930 $3,501 $429
----------------- ------------ -------------
</TABLE>
Facility consolidation reserves are dependent on our ability to sublease
vacant space, which is under a non-cancelable operating lease through 2008.
Note 3: Sale of Outsourcing Equipment
On February 8, 2000, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with
DQE, the parent of Duquesne Light Company, to sell them (or an affiliate of
theirs) our network AMR system that provides Duquesne with meter information for
billing and other purposes for their customers in the Pittsburgh area. The sale,
which is dependent upon satisfactory completion of due diligence and is
scheduled to close in late March or early April 2000, provides for a cash
payment of $33 million for the purchase of the system, $1 million of which will
be held in escrow for post closing items. The expected $49.8 million loss
resulting from this sale has been recognized in 1999 in outsourcing cost of
sales, consisting primarily of a write-off of all of the Duquesne contracts
receivable (both current and non-current, net of certain liabilities) of
approximately $31.2 million, and $18.6 million for the impairment of the assets
being sold. In connection with this sale, we will enter into a warranty and
maintenance agreement under which we will provide Duquesne with certain
maintenance and support services for the period from closing through December
31, 2013. Duquesne will pay us approximately $695,000 per year for those
services. In connections with our performance responsibilities thereunder, we
have furnished Duquesne with a $5 million standby letter of credit. As of
December 31, 1999, we accrued forward losses for expenditures related to our
remaining obligations to Duquesne that were in excess of amounts to be received.
<PAGE>
Note 4: Balance Sheet Components
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At December 31,
(in thousands): 1999 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Accounts receivable
Trade (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,311 and $1,485) $ 40,747 $ 41,702
Unbilled revenue 5,814 20,551
------------ ------------
Total accounts receivable $ 46,561 $ 62,253
------------ ------------
Inventories, net
Material $6,428 $9,041
Work in process 1,462 1,599
Finished goods 5,702 6,947
Field inventories awaiting installation 466 -
------------ ------------
Total manufacturing inventories 14,058 17,587
Service inventories 1,242 3,067
------------ ------------
Total inventories $ 15,300 $ 20,654
------------ ------------
Property, plant and equipment
Machinery and equipment $ 37,740 $ 44,140
Equipment used in outsourcing 13,257 54,766
Computers and purchased software 28,331 25,909
Buildings, furniture and improvements 22,132 21,412
Land 2,195 2,195
------------ ------------
Total cost 103,655 148,422
Accumulated depreciation (66,077) (55,286)
------------ ------------
Property, plant and equipment, net $ 37,578 $ 93,136
------------ ------------
Intangible assets
Goodwill $ 16,991 $ 16,991
Capitalized software 6,309 6,370
Distribution and product rights 2,475 2,475
Patents 6,968 6,737
------------ ------------
Total cost 32,743 32,573
Accumulated amortization (17,547) (14,431)
------------ ------------
Intangible assets, net $ 15,196 $ 18,142
------------ ------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Note 5: Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt
Short-term Borrowings
In January 2000 we signed a new four-year agreement with a bank for a
revolving line of credit up to a maximum amount of $35 million. This replaced
the previous line of credit that we had with two banks. Borrowings available
under the new facility are based on accounts receivable and inventory and are
secured by those and certain cash accounts. Interest rates depend on the form of
borrowing and vary based on published rates and financial performance.
Additionally, an annual commitment fee of .375% is required on the unused
portion of the available line of credit. The new agreement contains covenants
which require the Company to maintain certain liquidity and coverage ratios. Any
borrowings mature on January 19, 2004. Our previous revolving line of credit
also allowed maximum borrowings up to $35 million, based on and secured by
accounts receivable and inventory. At December 31, 1999, the maximum amount we
could borrow under this agreement was $20 million. At December 31, 1999 and
1998, the weighted average interest rate was approximately 9.0% and 7.9%. This
line of credit, which contained certain financial covenants, was fully paid in
January 2000.
Mortgage Notes Payable
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Secured mortgage note payable to a shareholder with principal and
interest payments of 9% until maturity on August 1, 2015. $5,402 $5,555
Secured mortgage note payable to a shareholder with principal and
interest payments of 8 1/2% until maturity on June 1, 2019. $ 832 $ 840
</TABLE>
We incurred the above notes in conjunction with the purchase of our
headquarters and related manufacturing space in Spokane, Washington. Principal
payments due under these notes are $182,000 in 2000, $199,000 in 2001, $217,000
in 2002, $238,000 in 2003, $260,000 in 2004 and $5.1 million thereafter.
Project Financing
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Secured note payable with principal and interest payments
of 7.6% until maturity on May 31, 2009. $7,216 $7,722
</TABLE>
We incurred the above note in conjunction with project financing for one of
our outsourcing contracts. The note is secured by the assets of the project.
Principal payments due under the note are $546,000 in 2000, $589,000 in 2001,
$635,000 in 2002, $685,000 in 2003, $739,000 in 2004 and $4.0 million
thereafter.
<PAGE>
Convertible Subordinated Debt
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Unsecured, convertible subordinated notes. $57,234 $63,400
</TABLE>
We completed a $63.4 million convertible subordinated note offering in
March and April 1997. Interest of 6 3/4% on the notes is payable semi-annually
on March 31 and September 30 of each year until maturity on March 31, 2004. In
February 1999 we exchanged $22 million principal amount of original notes for
$15.8 million principal amount of exchange notes. The exchange notes have the
same maturity date, interest payment dates and rate of interest as the original
notes. Both the original notes and the exchange notes have no sinking fund
requirements and are redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option at any time
on or after April 4, 2000, (for the original notes) or March 12, 2002 (for the
exchange notes). The notes are convertible, in whole or in part, at the option
of the holder at any time prior to maturity at a price of $23.70 per common
share for the original notes and $9.65 per common share for the exchange notes.
The excess of principal amount of the original notes exchanged over that of the
exchange notes, net of issuance costs, has been recognized as an extraordinary
gain on early extinguishment of debt.
Note 6: Fair Values of Financial Instruments
The estimated fair value of financial instruments has been determined by
using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. The
values provided are representative of fair values only as of December 31, 1999
and 1998 and do not reflect subsequent changes in the economy, interest and tax
rates, and other variables that may effect determination of fair value. The
following methods and assumptions were used in estimating fair values.
Cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable: The carrying value
approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.
Long-term contracts receivable: The fair value of the non-current portion
of long-term contracts receivable is based on the discounted value of expected
cash flows at our current borrowing rate.
Mortgage notes payable: The fair value is estimated based on current
borrowing rates available for similar debt.
Project financing: The fair value is estimated based on quoted spreads
above treasury rates for similar issues.
Convertible subordinated debt: The fair value is estimated based on the
current trading activity of the notes.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Carrying Fair Carrying Fair
(in thousands) Amount Value Amount Value
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable $48,099 $48,099 $64,996 $64,996
Long-term contracts receivable 1,813 1,616 23,712 20,662
Mortgage notes payable 6,234 6,191 6,395 6,949
Project financing 7,216 6,715 7,722 7,722
Convertible subordinated debt 57,234 32,910 63,400 41,210
</TABLE>
Note 7: Statement of Cash Flows Data Supplemental disclosure of cash flow
information:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Income taxes paid $614 $156 $569
Interest paid 5,279 6,037 3,580
</TABLE>
Note 8: Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments
We have noncancelable capital leases for computer equipment and software,
and operating leases for office, production and storage space expiring at
various dates through June 2008. Rents under the Company's operating leases were
$2.4 million in 1999, $2.0 million in 1998 and $1.6 million in 1997. Assets
under capital leases are included in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Computers and software $1,188 $905
Accumulated amortization (394) (172)
------------ ------------
Net capital leases $794 $733
------------ ------------
</TABLE>
Future minimum payments, by year and in the aggregate, under the
aforementioned leases and other non-cancelable operating leases with initial or
remaining terms in excess of one year are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At December 31,
Capital Operating
(in thousands) Leases Leases
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
2000 $449 $2,973
2001 93 1,972
2002 13 1,454
2003 _ 926
2004 _ 644
Thereafter _ 1,327
------------ ---------------
Total minimum lease payments $555 $9,296
Less amount representing interest (19)
------------
Present value of net minimum lease payment 536
Less current portion (433)
------------
Long-term portion $ 103
------------
</TABLE>
In order to maintain certain distribution rights, we have agreed to
purchase minimum quantities of components from various suppliers. Minimum
purchase requirements under these agreements are approximately $7.9 million in
2000, $1.0 million in 2001 and $1.0 million in 2002. We believe these
commitments are not in excess of our requirements.
Contingencies
We maintain performance bonds for certain customers. The performance bonds
usually cover the installation phase of a contract and may on occasion cover the
operations and maintenance phase of outsourcing contracts. Additionally, we have
standby letters of credit to guarantee our performance under certain contracts.
The outstanding amounts of standby letters of credit were $6.3 million and
$778,000 at December 31, 1999 and 1998 respectively.
We are a party to various lawsuits and claims, both as plaintiff and
defendant, and have contingent liabilities arising from the conduct of business,
none of which, in the opinion of management, is expected to have a material
effect on our financial position or results of operations. We believe that we
have made adequate provisions for such contingent liabilities.
Note 9: Shareholder Rights Plan
We adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan and in November 1993 declared a
dividend of one common share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding
share of our common stock. Under certain conditions, each Right may be exercised
to purchase one share of common stock at a purchase price of $135 per share,
subject to adjustment. The Rights will be exercisable only if a person or group
has acquired 15% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock
(excluding certain persons who owned more than 15% of the common stock when the
Shareholder Rights Plan was adopted). If a person or group acquires 15% or more
of the then outstanding shares of common stock, each Right will entitle its
holder to receive, upon exercise, common stock having a market value equal to
two times the exercise price of the Right. In addition, if we are acquired in a
merger or other business combination transaction, each Right will entitle its
holder to purchase that number of the acquiring company's common shares having a
market value of twice the Right's exercise price. We are entitled to redeem the
Rights at $.001 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the expiration of
the Rights in July 2002 or the time that a person has acquired a 15% position.
The Rights do not have voting or distribution rights, and until they become
exercisable they have no effect on our earnings.
Note 10: Business Combination
On May 2, 1997, we acquired Design Concepts, Inc. ("DCI"), an Idaho-based
company that supplies outage detection, power quality monitoring and AMR
systems, that communicate collected data over telephone lines for electric
meters. Pursuant to the acquisition, we issued 759,297 shares of unregistered
Itron common stock to the shareholders of DCI in exchange for all outstanding
shares of DCI. Certificates representing 75,930 shares issued in the acquisition
were placed in escrow. In 1998, all but 1,517 of the shares were released to DCI
shareholders and the remaining shares were cancelled and not issued because of
expenses we incurred in relation to former DCI obligations. The transaction was
accounted for as pooling-of-interests.
Note 11: Earnings Per Share and Capital Structure
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Weighted average shares outstanding 14,851 14,668 14,118
Effect of dilutive securities:
Warrants - - 107
Stock options - - 337
------------ ------------ ------------
Weighted average shares outstanding assuming conversion 14,851 14,668 14,562
------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
We have granted options to purchase common stock to directors, employees
and other key personnel at fair market value on the date of grant. Additionally,
we issued warrants in conjunction with a private placement in 1989 and 1990 for
the formation of AMRplus Partners. As of December 31, 1998 there were no further
warrants outstanding. The dilutive effect of these options and warrants is
included for purposes of calculating dilutive EPS using the "treasury stock"
method. We also have subordinated convertible notes outstanding. These notes are
not included in the above calculation as the shares are anti-dilutive in all
periods when using the "if converted" method. There is no dilutive effect in
1999 and 1998, as the Company incurred a loss for each year and including the
securities would have been anti-dilutive.
Note 12: Employee Benefit Plans
Employee Savings Plan
We have an employee incentive savings plan in which substantially all
employees are eligible to participate. Employees may contribute, on a
tax-deferred basis, up to 22% of their salary, 50% of which we match by issuance
of common stock, subject to certain limitations. The expense for our matching
contribution was $1.2 million in 1999, $1.2 million in 1998 and $1.1 million in
1997. We do not offer post-employment or post-retirement benefits.
Stock Option Plans
At December 31, 1999, we had two stock-based compensation plans, which
are described below. We apply APB Opinion 25 and related interpretations in
accounting for our plans. Because all stock options were issued at fair value,
no compensation cost has been recognized for our stock option plans. The
following table summarizes information about stock options (including the
weighted average remaining contractual life and the weighted average exercise
price) outstanding at December 31, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Outstanding Options Exercisable Options
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Life Shares
Range of Exercise Prices (in 000's) (years) Price (in 000's) Price
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ .86 - $ 2.91 6 3.70 $1.87 6 $1.89
$ 4.63 - $ 5.16 1,361 8.82 4.97 461 4.97
$ 6.20 - $ 8.66 657 8.66 7.91 110 7.73
$12.60 - $17.88 674 6.23 15.90 481 16.02
$19.88 - $24.50 359 6.84 22.04 227 22.41
$58.75 12 6.33 58.75 12 58.75
--------------- -------------
$ .86 - $58.75 3,069 7.97 $10.20 1,297 $12.85
--------------- -------------
</TABLE>
1989 Restated Stock Option Plan
Under our 1989 Restated Stock Option Plan, we have granted options to
purchase shares of common stock to employees at prices no less than the fair
market value on the date of grant. Those options become fully exercisable within
three or four years from the date granted and terminate ten years from the date
granted. Incentive stock options and nonqualified options are exercisable at
prices ranging from $.86 to $24.25 per share. The price range of options
exercised was $.17 to $2.91 in 1999, $.86 to $17.88 in 1998 and $.86 to $24.25
in 1997. At December 31, 1999, there were 3.1 million shares of unissued common
stock under the plan, of which options for the purchase of 314,040 shares were
available for future grants. Share amounts (in thousands) and weighted average
exercise prices are as follows:
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
1999 1998 1997
------------------------ ----------------------- -------------------------
Shares Price Shares Price Shares Price
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Outstanding at beginning of year 2,557 $ 9.76 1,995 $18.78 1,267 $17.24
Granted 427 8.16 2,283 8.55 843 21.29
Exercised 38 2.47 (36) 12.45 (57) 10.98
Canceled 157 7.17 (1,685) 18.72 (58) 23.27
---------- ---------- -----------
Outstanding at end of year 2,789 $ 9.76 2,557 $ 9.76 1,995 $18.78
---------- ---------- -----------
Options exercisable at year end 1,176 $11.68 542 $14.96 690 $15.69
</TABLE>
1992 Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee Directors
Our 1992 Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee Directors provides for the
annual grant of nonqualified options to purchase 2,000 shares of common stock to
our nonemployee directors at an exercise price that is not less than the fair
market value per share at the date of grant. Outstanding options granted under
the plan are exercisable at prices ranging from $8.29 to $58.75 per share. The
granted options are fully vested and immediately exercisable. At December 31,
1999, there were 153,000 shares of unissued common stock under the plan, of
which options for the purchase of 32,000 shares were available for future grant.
Share amounts (in thousands) and weighted average exercise prices are as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
1999 1998 1997
------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Shares Price Shares Price Shares Price
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Outstanding at beginning of year 109 $25.96 97 $27.11 85 $28.14
Granted 12 8.29 12 16.63 12 19.88
Exercised - - - - -
--------- ----------- ----------
Outstanding at end of year 121 $24.21 109 $25.96 97 $27.11
--------- ----------- ----------
Options exercisable at year end 121 $24.21 109 $25.96 97 $27.11
</TABLE>
Pro forma Net Income and Per Share Amounts
Had the compensation cost for our stock-based compensation plans been
determined based on the fair value at the grant dates for awards under those
plans consistent with the method prescribed in SFAS No. 123, our net income and
earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated
below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands except per share data) 1999 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net income (loss) As reported (68,596) $(6,225) $1,010
Pro forma (68,801) (9,012) (3,679)
Diluted earnings per share As reported (4.62) (.42) .07
Pro forma (4.63) (.61) (.25)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
The weighted average fair value of options granted was $8.16, $7.82 and
$12.86 during 1999, 1998 and 1997 respectively. The fair value of each option
granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing
model using the following assumptions:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Dividend yield 0% 0% 0%
Expected volatility 59% 64% 57%
Risk-free interest rate 5.8% 4.7% 6.5%
Expected life (years) 5.9 5.3 6.0
</TABLE>
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, we are authorized to issue up to
430,000 shares of common stock to our eligible employees who have completed
three months of service, work more than 20 hours each week and are employed more
than five months in any calendar year. Employees who own 5% or more of our
common stock are not eligible to participate in the Plan. Under the terms of the
Plan, eligible employees can choose payroll deductions each year of up to 10% of
their regular cash compensation. Such deductions are applied toward the
discounted purchase price of our common stock. The purchase price of the common
stock is 85% of the fair market value of the stock as defined in the Plan.
Approximately 23% of eligible employees have participated in the Plan since its
inception on July 1, 1996. Under the Plan we sold 81,382, 88,683 and 42,558
shares to employees in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
Note 13: Income Taxes
A reconciliation of income taxes at the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35%
to the consolidated effective tax for continuing operations is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Expected federal income tax provision (benefit) $ (35,093) $ (3,515) $ 572
Change in valuation allowance 7,048 (200) 739
State income taxes (1,233) (397) 89
Goodwill amortization 309 309 302
Foreign sales corporation - (158) (107)
Tax credits - (285) (348)
Foreign operations 429 307 (913)
UTS acquisition - - 152
Meals and entertainment 122 212 134
Other, net 408 (93) 5
--------------- ------------ ------------
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes $ (28,010) $ (3,820) $ 625
--------------- ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
The domestic and foreign components of income before taxes were:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Domestic $ (92,108) $ (8,296) $2,965
Foreign (8,158) (1,749) (1,330)
---------------- ------------ ------------
Income (loss) before income taxes $ (100,266) $(10,045) $1,635
---------------- ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
The provision for income taxes consisted of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current:
Federal $ (2,931) $ 344 $ 331
State and local 1,000 324 133
Foreign 10 60 54
-------------- ------------ ------------
Total current $ (1,921) $ 728 $ 518
Deferred:
Federal (28,625) (3,332) 762
State and local (2,076) (651) 38
Foreign (2,436) (365) (1,432)
-------------- ------------ ------------
Total deferred (33,137) (4,348) (632)
Change in valuation allowance 7,048 (200) 739
-------------- ------------ ------------
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes $(28,010) $ (3,820) $ 625
-------------- ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
Deferred income taxes consisted of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Deferred tax assets
Loss carry forwards $20,796 $ 14,715 $ 6,259
Tax credits 7,066 5,925 4,999
Accrued expenses 6,507 5,367 4,033
Inventory valuation 1,806 1,889 2,175
Depreciation and amortization 356 - -
Long term contracts 6,814 - -
Other, net 284 228 97
-------------- ------------ -------------
Total deferred tax assets $43,629 $28,124 $17,563
Deferred tax liabilities
Acquisitions (173) (292) (391)
Depreciation and amortization - (2,789) (4,469)
Long term contracts - (14,729) (6,739)
-------------- ------------ -------------
Total deferred tax liabilities (173) (17,810) 11,599
Valuation allowance (8,518) (1,470) (1,670)
-------------- ------------ -------------
Net deferred tax assets $34,938 $ 8,844 $ 4,294
-------------- ------------ -------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Valuation allowances of $0 and $5.4 million in 1999, $70,000 and $1.4
million in 1998 and $70,000 and $1.6 million in 1997, were provided for capital
loss carryforwards and foreign net operating loss carryforwards, respectively,
for which we may not receive future benefits. A valuation allowance of $3.0
million was provided for research and development tax credits in 1999.
We have research and development tax credits and net operating loss
carryforwards available to offset future income tax liabilities. The tax credits
of $4.5 million expire from 2000-2012 and the loss carryforwards of $21.8
million begin to expire in 2018.
We also have alternative minimum tax credits, totaling $830,000 that are
available to offset future tax liabilities indefinitely.
Note 14: Other Related Party Transactions
Certain of our customers are also shareholders with more than 10% ownership
interest and/or hold positions on our Board of Directors. Revenue from such
customers was $4.6 million in 1999, $4.5 million in 1998 and $4.8 million in
1997. Accounts receivable from these customers were $137,000 and $303,000 at
December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Interest expense related to mortgage
notes payable to a shareholder was $561,000 in 1999, $475,000 in 1998 and
$483,000 in 1997.
Note 15: Segment Information
We review our operations using a variety of matrices, however, senior
management has primarily reviewed our manufacturing and sales operations on a
domestic vs. international basis and revenues and cost of sales have been
reviewed based on our major product lines of AMR systems, handheld systems and
outsourcing. Our outsourcing agreements are reported in the finance segment and
include those in which we both own and operate the system. These agreements
require a large amount of capital investment and related project and other debt.
Senior management reviews financing operations separately from manufacturing and
sales operations because they are essentially different businesses with
significantly different operating and leverage characteristics.
Segment debt and interest expense related to our finance and international
operations includes both direct and allocated debt and interest expense. Segment
debt and related interest expense are allocated based on each segment's funding
requirements for capital or operations. Intersegment revenues include shipments
to wholly owned subsidiaries and are eliminated in consolidation. EBITDA
includes earnings for each segment before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization and is used to allow a comparison of each segment's operating
results. Segment Debt/EBITDA is a ratio that is used to compare segment leverage
ratios to comparable industry ratios. We do not allocate income taxes to our
operating segments and the accounting policies of our reportable segments are
the same as those described in Note 1 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
<PAGE>
Year Ended December 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Manufacturing and Sales
--------------------------------------------
(in thousands) Domestic International Total Finance Eliminations Consolidated
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues from external customers:
AMR systems $108,436 $3,013 $111,449 _ _ $111,449
Handheld systems 52,469 17,088 69,557 _ _ 69,557
Outsourcing _ _ _ 12,406 _ 12,406
Intersegment revenues 1,241 157 1,398 _ (1,398) _
------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- --------------
Total revenues $162,146 $20,258 $182,404 $12,406 $ (1,398) $193,412
Interest income 382 47 429 _ (327) 102
Interest and other expense (1,227) (2,305) (3,532) (3,758) 327 (6,963)
Depreciation and amortization 14,515 660 15,175 3,299 _ 18,474
Segment loss (15,702) (9,757) (25,459) (69,296) 119 (94,636)
Segment assets 137,426 11,159 148,585 43,494 192,079
Segment debt 39,335 25,319 64,654 10,343 74,997
Cash flows:
Operating activities $52,152 $ (4,999) $47,153 $(22,654) _ $24,498
Investing activities (1) (6,150) (168) (6,318) (9,766) _ (16,084)
------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- --------------
Net operating and investing $46,002 $ (5,167) $40,835 $(32,420) _ $8,414
EBITDA (2) $(946) $ (6,716) $(7,662) $(62,239) _ $ (69,901)
Segment debt/EBITDA * * * * * *
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31, 1998
Manufacturing and Sales
--------------------------------------------
(in thousands) Domestic International Total Finance Eliminations Consolidated
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues from external customers:
AMR systems $155,511 $ 8,637 $164,148 $ - $ - $164,148
Handheld systems 42,774 11,183 53,957 - - 53,957
Outsourcing - - - 23,297 - 23,297
Intersegment revenues 3,680 211 3,891 - (3,891) -
------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- --------------
Total revenues $201,965 $20,031 $221,996 $23,297 $ (3,891) $241,402
Interest income 408 46 454 21 - 475
Interest and other expense (972) (1,715) (2,687) (4,296) - (6,983)
Depreciation and amortization 15,585 1,554 17,139 2,726 - 19,865
Segment loss (3,009) (4,915) (7,924) (664) (1,457) (10,045)
Segment assets 172,700 12,533 185,233 88,623 (26,101) 247,755
Segment debt 7,010 19,787 26,797 74,083 (8,683) 92,197
Cash flows:
Operating activities $13,153 $ (3,416) $9,737 $ (11,635) $ - $ (1,898)
Investing activities (1) (5,716) (537) (6,253) (10,851) - (17,104)
------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- --------------
Net operating and investing $ 7,437 $ (3,953) $3,484 $ (22,486) $ - $ (19,002)
EBITDA (2) $11,554 $ (1,584) $9,970 $ 6,358 $ - $ 16,328
Segment debt/EBITDA .61 * 3.10 11.65 - 5.65
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Year Ended December 31, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Manufacturing and Sales
--------------------------------------------
(in thousands) Domestic International Total Finance Eliminations Consolidated
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues from external customers:
AMR systems $138,109 $ 5,363 $143,472 $ - $ - $143,472
Handheld systems 31,907 17,502 49,409 - - 49,409
Outsourcing - - - 23,236 - 23,236
Intersegment revenues 817 658 1,475 - (1,475) -
------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- --------------
Total revenues $170,833 $23,523 $194,356 $ 23,236 $ (1,475) $216,117
Interest income 529 15 544 - (71) 473
Interest (expense) (206) (1,477) (1,683) (2,777) 71 (4,389)
Depreciation and amortization 14,316 1,289 15,605 1,176 - 16,781
Segment income (loss) 3,783 (3,634) 149 2,206 (720) 1,635
Segment assets 178,465 11,763 190,228 62,805 (12,822) 240,211
Segment debt 6,440 16,140 22,580 51,425 (191) 73,814
Cash flows:
Operating activities $ 3,405 $ 946 $ 4,351 $(7,569) $ - $ (3,218)
Investing activities (1) (9,029) (662) (9,691) (24,374) - (34,065)
------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- --------------
Net operating and investing $ (5,624) $ 284 $ (5,340) $(31,943) $ - $ (37,283)
EBITDA (2) $17,478 $ (1,305) $ 16,173 $ 6,159 $ - $ 22,332
Segment debt/EBITDA .37 * 1.40 8.35 - 3.31
</TABLE>
Domestic information includes the United States and Canada. International
information includes the results of wholly owned subsidiaries located in the
United Kingdom, France and Australia, as well as sales to international
distributors, which were $7.5 million in 1999, $3.0 million in 1998 and $9.7
million in 1997. International revenue includes sales to customers located in
Asia, Europe, Australia, Japan, Latin America and the Middle East. Approximately
16% of 1998 consolidated revenue related to a contract with Virginia Power is
included in the domestic manufacturing and sales segment. At December 31, 1999
and 1998, approximately 4% and 34%, respectively, of total accounts and
contracts receivable were due from one customer.
1 Investing activities primarily consist of capital expenditures for each
segment
2 EBITDA is calculated by adding net interest, depreciation, and amortization
expense to pre-tax income or loss, including extraordinary item, and is
presented because we believe that it allows for a more complete analysis of our
results of operations. This information should not be considered as an indicator
of our overall financial performance. Additionally, EBITDA as reported herein
may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
* Not meaningful.
<PAGE>
Note 16: Development Agreements
We received funding to develop certain products under joint development
agreements with several companies. We retain the intellectual property rights to
the products that are developed. Funding received under these agreements is
credited against product development expenses. The agreements require us to pay
royalties if successful products are developed and sold. Additionally, we are
required to pay royalties on future sales of products incorporating certain AMR
technologies. Funding received and royalty expense under these arrangements is
as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 1999 1998 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Funding received $382 $ 485 $731
Royalties paid 506 1,130 1,524
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Note 17: Quarterly Results (Unaudited) Quarterly results are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(in thousands, except per share and stock First Second Third Fourth Total
price data) Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Year
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1999
Statement of operations data:
Total revenues $51,945 $51,221 $48,533 $41,713 $193,412
Gross profit 19,301 17,201 18,293 (61,487) (6,692)
Net income (loss) before
extraordinary item (231) (1,584) (5,868) (64,573) (72,256)
Gain on extinguishment of debt 3,660 - - - 3,660
Net income (loss) $3,429 $(1,584) $(5,868) $ (64,573) $(68,596)
Basic net income (loss) per share
Before extraordinary item $ (.02) $ (.11) $ (.39) $ (4.32) $ (4.87)
Extraordinary item .25 - - - .25
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------- -------------
Basic net income (loss) per share $ .23 $ (.11) $ (.39) $ (4.32) $ (4.62)
Diluted net income (loss) per share
Before extraordinary item $ (.02) $ (.11) $ (.39) $ (4.32) $ (4.87)
Extraordinary item .24 - - - .25
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------- -------------
Basic net income (loss) per share $ .22 $ (.11) $ (.39) $ (4.32) $ (4.62)
Stock Price:
High $ 9.56 $ 9.50 $ 8.88 $ 6.94 $ 9.56
Low $ 6.88 $ 6.75 $ 5.88 $ 4.25 $ 4.25
1998
Statement of operations data:
Total revenues $63,708 $60,769 $54,839 $62,086 $241,402
Gross profit 20,795 19,968 15,031 21,009 76,803
Net income (loss) 153 (1,076) (5,929) 627 (6,225)
Basic net income (loss) per share $ .01 $(.07) $(.40) $ .04 $ (.42)
Diluted net income (loss) per share $ .01 $(.07) $(.40) $ .04 $ (.42)
Stock Price:
High $21.69 $20.63 $13.50 $9.50 $21.69
Low $15.69 $12.75 $6.38 $4.63 $4.63
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Item 9: CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
PART III
Item 10: DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The section entitled "Election of Directors" appearing in our Proxy
Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 28, 2000
(the "2000 Proxy Statement") sets forth certain information with regard to our
directors and is incorporated herein by reference.
Certain information with respect to persons who are or may be deemed to be
executive officers of Itron is set forth under the caption "Executive Officers
of the Registrant" in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 11: EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The section entitled "Executive Compensation" appearing in the 2000 Proxy
Statement sets forth certain information (except for those sections captioned
"Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation" and "Performance
Graph", which are not incorporated by reference herein) with respect to the
compensation of management of the Registrant and is incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 12: SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The section entitled "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management" appearing in the 2000 Proxy Statement sets forth certain information
with respect to the ownership of the Registrant's Common Stock and is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13: CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The section entitled "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions"
appearing in the 2000 Proxy Statement sets forth certain information with
respect to the certain business relationships and transactions between the
Registrant and its directors and officers and is incorporated herein by
reference.
<PAGE>
PART IV
Item 14: EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
2) List of Financial Statement Schedules:
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
3) Exhibits:
Exhibit
Number Description of Exhibits
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant. (A) (Exhibit 3.1)
3.2 Restated Bylaws of the Registrant. (A) (Exhibit 3.2) [Need to file]
4.1 Rights Agreement between the Registrant and Chemical Trust Company of
California dated as of July 15, 1992. (A) (Exhibit 4.1)
4.2 Indenture dated as of March 12, 1997 between the Registrant and
Chemical Trust Company of California, as trustee. *(G) (Exhibit 4.1)
10.1 Form of Change of Control Agreement between Registrant and certain
of its executive officers, together with schedule executive
officers who are parties thereto. *
10.2 Schedule of certain executive officers who are parties to Change of
Control Agreements (see Exhibit 10.1 hereto) with the Registrant.
10.4 Form of Confidentiality Agreement normally entered into with employees.
(A) (Exhibit 10.7)
10.5 Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among the
Registrant and certain holders of its securities dated March 25, 1996
(D) (Exhibit 10.4)
10.6 1989 Restated Stock Option Plan. (D) (Exhibit 10.5)
10.7 1992 Restated Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee Directors. (E)
10.8 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. *(A) (Exhibit 10.12)
10.9 Form of Indemnification Agreements between the Registrant and
certain directors and officers.
10.10 Schedule of directors and executive officers who are parties to
Indemnification Agreements (see Exhibit 10.09 hereto) with the
Registrant.
10.11 Employment Agreement between the Registrant and David G. Remington
dated February 29, 1996. * (C) (Exhibit 10.16)
10.12 Office Lease between the Registrant and Woodville Leasing Inc. dated
October 4, 1993. (B) (Exhibit 10.24).
10.13 Contract between the Registrant and Duquesne Light Company dated
January 15, 1996. (DELTA) (C) (Exhibit 10.18)
10.14 Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Utility Automated Meter Data
Acquisition Lease and Services Agreement between the Registrant and
Duquesne Light Company dated September 11, 1997. (DELTA)(F)(Exhibit 10)
10.15 Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and Pentzer Development
Corporation dated July 11, 1995. (C) (Exhibit 10.19)
10.16 Loan Agreement between Itron, Inc. and GE Capital Corporation dated
January 18, 2000.
10.17 Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Michael J. Chesser
dated May 17, 1999. * (I) (Exhibit 10.17)
10.18 First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated February 28, 2000.
12 Statement of Computation of Ratios
21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23 Independent Auditors' Consent
27 Financial Data Schedule.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration #33-49832),
as amended, filed on July 22, 1992.
(B) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's 1993 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 1994.
(C) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 1996.
(D) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 5, 1997.
(E) Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company's designated
Proxy Statement dated April 4, 1997 for its annual meeting of
shareholders held on April 29, 1997.
(F) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
30, 1997.
(G) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 18, 1997.
(H) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's 1997 Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 30, 1998.
(I) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated August 13, 1999.
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
(DELTA) Confidential treatment requested for a portion of this agreement.
4) Reports on Form 8-K:
There were no Current Reports on Form 8-K filed during the fourth quarter
of 1999.
<PAGE>
Schedule II: VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In thousands of dollars) Additions
----------
Balance at Charged to Balance at end of period
beginning costs and ----------------------------
Description of period expenses Deductions Current Non current
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year ended December 31, 1997:
Inventory obsolescence 4,131 7,831 8,138 3,824
Warranty 3,369 7,600 7,451 2,666 852
Allowance for doubtful accts. 752 745 745 752
Year ended December 31, 1998:
Inventory obsolescence 3,824 8,316 7,374 4,766
Warranty 3,518 7,381 4,953 5,100 846
Allowance for doubtful accts. 752 952 219 1,485
Year ended December 31, 1999:
Inventory obsolescence 4,766 2,697 4,093 3,370
Warranty 5,946 5,717 4,801 6,062 800
Allowance for doubtful accts. 1,485 4,808 4,982 1,311
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Spokane, State of Washington, on the 26th day of March 2000.
ITRON, INC.
By /s/DAVID G. REMINGTON
David G. Remington
Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated
below on the 26th day of March, 2000.
Signature Title
/s/LEROY D. NOSBAUM President and Chief Executive
LeRoy D. Nosbaum Officer (Principal Executive
Officer)
/s/DAVID G. REMINGTON Chief Financial Officer
David G. Remington (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
/s/S. EDWARD WHITE Chairman of the Board
S. Edward White
/s/MICHAEL B. BRACY Director
Michael B. Bracy
/s/MICHAEL J.CHESSER Director
Michael J. Chesser
/s/TED C. DEMERRITT Director
Ted C. DeMeritt
/s/JON E. ELIASSEN Director
Jon E. Eliassen
/s/MARY ANN PETERS Director
Mary Ann Peters
/s/PAUL A. REDMOND Director
Paul A. Redmond
/s/GRAHAM M. WILSON Director
Graham M. Wilson
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Change of Control Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of
______________, 199_, is between Itron, Inc., a Washington corporation (the
"Company"), and NAME (the "Executive").
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined that
it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to ensure that
the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding
the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in
Appendix A to this Agreement, which is incorporated herein by this reference) of
the Company. The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable
distraction of the Executive arising from the personal uncertainties and risks
created by a pending or threatened Change of Control, to encourage the
Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the
event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, to encourage the
Executive's willingness to serve a successor in an equivalent capacity, and to
provide the Executive with reasonable compensation and benefits arrangements in
the event that a Change of Control results in the Executive's loss of equivalent
employment.
In order to accomplish these objectives, the Board has caused the
Company to enter into this Agreement.
1. EMPLOYMENT
1.1 Certain Definitions
(a) "Effective Date" shall mean the first date during the
Change of Control Period (as defined in Section 1.1(b)) on which a Change of
Control occurs.
(b) "Change of Control Period" shall mean the period
commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the [first][second]
anniversary of the date the Company gives notice to the Executive that the
Change of Control Period shall be terminated.
1.2 Employment Period
The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ or in
the employ of its affiliated companies, and the Executive hereby agrees to
remain in the employ of the Company or its affiliated companies, in accordance
with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on
the Effective Date and ending on the [first][second][third] anniversary of such
date (the "Employment Period").
1.3 Position and Duties
During the Employment Period, the Executive's position, authority,
duties and responsibilities shall be at least reasonably commensurate in all
material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and
assigned at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date.
1.4 Location
During the Employment Period, the Executive's services shall be
performed at the Company's headquarters on the Effective Date or any office
which is subsequently designated as the headquarters of the Company and is less
than 50 miles from such location.
1.5 Employment at Will
The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may otherwise
be expressly provided under any other written employment agreement between the
Executive and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company or its
affiliated companies is "at will" and may be terminated by either the Executive
or the Company or its affiliated companies at any time. Moreover, if prior to
the Effective Date the Executive's employment with the Company or its affiliated
companies terminates, then the Executive shall have no further rights under this
Agreement.
1.6 Board of Directors
The Executive is either currently or at some future time may become a
member of the Board. His continuation as such shall be subject to the will of
the Company's stockholders and the Board, as provided in the Company's by-laws
and certificate of incorporation. Removal of the Executive from, or nonelection
of the Executive to, the Board by the Company's stockholders or the Board, as
provided in the Company's by-laws and articles of incorporation, shall in no
event be deemed a breach of this Agreement by the Company.
2. ATTENTION AND EFFORT
During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and
sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive will devote all of
his professional productive time, ability, attention and effort to the business
and affairs of the Company and the discharge of the responsibilities assigned to
him hereunder, and will use his best efforts to perform faithfully and
efficiently such responsibilities. It shall not be a violation of this Agreement
for the Executive to (a) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or
committees, (b) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at
educational institutions, and (c) manage personal investments, so long as such
activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the
Executive's responsibilities in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly
understood and agreed that to the extent any such activities have been conducted
by the Executive prior to the Employment Period, the continued conduct of such
activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto)
during the Employment Period shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with
the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company.
3. COMPENSATION
During the Employment Period, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be
paid to the Executive, and the Executive agrees to accept in exchange for the
services rendered hereunder by him, the following compensation:
3.1 Salary
The Executive shall receive an annual base salary (the "Annual Base
Salary"), at least equal to the annual salary established by the Board or the
Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Compensation Committee") prior to the
Effective Date for the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs or, if the
Executive's annual salary has not been established for the fiscal year in which
the Effective Date occurs prior to the Effective Date, then the Annual Base
Salary shall be the Executive's annual salary for the preceding fiscal year. The
Annual Base Salary shall be paid in substantially equal installments and at the
same intervals as the salaries of other officers of the Company are paid.
3.2 Bonus
In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded an
annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average
annualized (for any fiscal year consisting of less than 12 full months) bonus
paid or payable, including by reason of any deferral, to the Executive by the
Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the three fiscal years
immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs;
provided, however, that payment of the Annual Bonus may be tied to either
personal or Company performance goals reasonably consistent with those in the
Company's bonus plan during the immediately preceding three fiscal years. Each
such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than 90 days after the end of the
fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall
elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus.
4. BENEFITS
4.1 Benefit Plans; Vacation
During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
participate, subject to and in accordance with applicable eligibility
requirements, in such fringe benefit programs as shall be provided to other
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies from time to time during
the Employment Period by action of the Board (or any person or committee
appointed by the Board to determine fringe benefit programs and other
emoluments), including, without limitation, paid vacations; any incentive,
savings and retirement plan, practice, policy or program; and all welfare
benefit plans, practices, policies and programs (including, without limitation,
medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life,
group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs).
4.2 Expenses
During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable employment expenses incurred by
him in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company and
its affiliated companies in effect for the executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies during the Employment Period.
5. TERMINATION
Employment of the Executive during the Employment Period may be
terminated as follows but, in any case, the nondisclosure and noncompetition
provisions set forth in Section 8 hereof shall survive the termination of this
Agreement and the termination of the Executive's employment with the Company:
5.1 By the Company or the Executive
Upon giving Notice of Termination (as defined below), the Company may
terminate the employment of the Executive with or without Cause (as defined
below), and the Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason (as
defined below) or for any reason, at any time during the Employment Period.
5.2 Automatic Termination
This Agreement and the Executive's employment during the Employment
Period shall terminate automatically upon the death or Total Disability of the
Executive. The term "Total Disability" as used herein shall mean the Executive's
inability, as determined by a physician selected by the Company and acceptable
to the Executive, to perform the duties set forth in Section 1.3 hereof for a
period or periods aggregating 120 calendar days in any 12-month period as a
result of physical or mental illness, loss of legal capacity or any other cause
beyond the Executive's control, unless the Executive is granted a leave of
absence by the Board; provided, however, that the Executive shall not be deemed
to have a "Total Disability" if the Executive is capable of performing the
essential functions of his position after being provided with such accommodation
as may be necessary so long as such accommodation does not place undue burden on
the Company. The Executive and the Company hereby acknowledge that the
Executive's presence and ability to perform the duties specified in Section 1.3
hereof is of the essence of this Agreement.
5.3 Notice of Termination
Any termination by the Company or by the Executive during the
Employment Period shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other
party given in accordance with Section 10 hereof. The term "Notice of
Termination" shall mean a written notice which (a) indicates the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and (b) to the extent
applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed
to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the
provision so indicated. The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth
in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a
showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or
the Company hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company from asserting
such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's or the Company's rights
hereunder.
5.4 Date of Termination
During the Employment Period, "Date of Termination" means (a) if the
Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death, at the end of the
calendar month in which the Executive's death occurs, (b) if the Executive's
employment is terminated by reason of Total Disability, immediately upon a
determination by the Company of the Executive's Total Disability, and (c) in all
other cases, five days after the date of personal delivery of or mailing of, as
applicable, the Notice of Termination. The Executive's employment and
performance of services will continue during such five-day period; provided,
however, that the Company may, upon notice to the Executive and without reducing
the Executive's compensation during such period, excuse the Executive from any
or all of his duties during such period.
6. TERMINATION PAYMENTS
In the event of termination of the Executive's employment during the
Employment Period, all compensation and benefits set forth in this Agreement
shall terminate except as specifically provided in this Section 6.
6.1 Termination by the Company for Other Than Cause or by the Executive
for Good Reason
If the Company terminates the Executive's employment other than for
Cause or the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason prior to the
end of the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to:
(a) receive payment of the following accrued obligations
(the "Accrued Obligations"):
(i) the Executive's Annual Base Salary through
the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid;
(ii) the product of (x) the Annual Bonus payable with
respect to the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs and
(y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the
current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the
denominator of which is 365; and
(iii) any compensation previously deferred by the
Executive (together with accrued interest or earnings thereon, if any)
as such deferred compensation becomes payable under the deferral plan,
and any accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent not
theretofore paid;
(b) for [one][two] year[s] after the Date of Termination, the
Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible
for participation in and shall receive all benefits under group health insurance
plans and other group insurance programs (such as life, disability, etc.) such
that the Executive and/or the Executive's family is provided with benefits that
are, in the aggregate, substantially equivalent to those which would have been
provided to them in accordance with the Company plans that would have been
available to Executive if the Executive's employment had not been terminated;
provided, however, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another
employer and is eligible to receive health or other group insurance benefits
under another employer-provided plan, the health and other group insurance
benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other
plan during such applicable period of eligibility (such continuation of such
benefits for the period herein set forth shall be hereinafter referred to as the
"Welfare Benefit Continuation"); and
(c) subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6.2, an
amount as severance pay equal to the product of (i) [three][two][one] and (ii)
the sum of the Executive's (x) Annual Base Salary and (y) Annual Bonus payable
for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs.
6.2 Option Acceleration Value Adjustment to Severance Pay
If the multiplicand in clause 6.1(c)(i) above is "three" or "two," the
amount otherwise payable to Executive under Section 6.1(c) is subject to
reduction as provided in this Section 6.2 in the event that the Executive
receives value from acceleration of vesting of stock options in connection with
the Change of Control which triggered the Effective Date of this Agreement (as
further defined below, the "Option Acceleration Value"). In such case, any
amounts payable to Executive under Section 6.1(c) shall be reduced by the lesser
of (a) the amount calculated pursuant to clause 6.1(c)(ii) above or (b) the
Option Acceleration Value.
The "Option Acceleration Value," if any, shall be calculated by
multiplying (y) the amount by which the per share consideration received by the
Company's shareholders in connection with the Change of Control exceeds the per
share exercise price of options held by the Executive, by (z) the number of
options accelerated in connection with the Change of Control which would not
have subsequently vested prior to the termination of Executive's employment. If
Executive holds more than one option at varying exercise prices, the foregoing
calculation shall be done with respect to each option and the results of such
calculations shall be aggregated to determine the Option Acceleration Value.
The following example is intended to illustrate the foregoing
calculation of Option Acceleration Value. Facts assumed for purposes of example
only: (a) Executive is granted an option on November 1, 1998 to purchase 1,000
shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $10 per share, with
vesting 25% annually over a four-year period; (b) a Change of Control occurs on
March 31, 2000, in which the Company's shareholders exchange each of their
shares of the Company's common stock for $25 worth of common stock of the
acquiring company; (c) vesting of the unvested portion (750 shares) of
Executive's option is accelerated in connection with the Change of Control; and
(d) Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause on
November 30, 2000. Although vesting of options to purchase 750 shares was
accelerated in connection with the Change of Control, because Executive would
have vested (on November 1, 2000) an additional 250 shares prior to his
termination, the benefit Executive realized from the acceleration was
acceleration of vesting of 500 shares. Executive's Option Acceleration Value is
therefore ($25 - $10) x 500, which equals $7,500.
6.3 Termination for Cause or Other Than for Good Reason
If the Executive's employment shall be terminated by the Company for
Cause or by the Executive for other than Good Reason during the Employment
Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligation to the
Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive his Annual Base
Salary through the Date of Termination plus the amount of any compensation
previously deferred by the Executive (as such deferred compensation becomes
payable under the deferral plan), in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid.
6.4 Stay Bonus
If the Executive's employment is not terminated prior to the first
anniversary of the Effective Date, upon the first anniversary of the Effective
Date the Executive shall be entitled to receive a bonus equal to the sum of the
Executive's then current Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus paid or payable
with respect to the Company's most recently completed fiscal year, whether or
not Executive's employment with the Company continues beyond the first
anniversary of the Effective Date. The bonus payable under this Section 6.4
shall be in addition to all other compensation to which the Executive is
entitled.
6.5 Termination Because of Death or Total Disability
If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the
Executive's death or Total Disability during the Employment Period, this
Agreement shall terminate automatically without further obligations to the
Executive or his legal representatives under this Agreement, other than for
payment of Accrued Obligations (which shall be paid to the Executive's estate or
beneficiary, as applicable in the case of the Executive's death), and the timely
payment or provision of the Welfare Benefit Continuation.
6.6 Payment Schedule
All payments under Section 6.1(a) and (c) shall be paid to the
Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination.
6.7 Excise Taxes
(a) In the event that the Executive becomes entitled to the
payments or other benefits described in Section 6.1 hereof and the Executive
becomes subject to the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any successor provision (the "Excise Tax")
as a result of such payments and benefits and any other payments or benefits
from the Company required to be taken into account under Code Section 280G(b)(2)
(collectively, "Parachute Payments"), the Company shall pay to Executive an
additional amount (the "Make-Whole Payment") equal to the sum of (i) the Excise
Tax payable to the Executive prior to the Make-Whole Payment and (ii) the
Federal, state and local income tax and Excise Tax (including any interest or
penalties thereon) payable upon all payments made under subparagraphs (i) and
(ii) of this Section 6.7(a).
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section
6.7, including whether the Executive has received a Parachute Payment, shall be
made by the Company's accounting firm (the "Accounting Firm") which shall
provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive
within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that the
Executive has received a payment under Section 6.1, or such earlier time as is
requested by the Company. In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as
accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change
of Control, the Executive shall appoint another nationally recognized accounting
firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall
then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees and expenses of
the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. If the Accounting Firm
determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall furnish the
Executive with a written opinion that failure to report the Excise Tax on the
Executive's applicable federal income tax return would not result in the
imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. As promptly as practicable
following such determination, the Company shall pay to or distribute for the
benefit of the Executive such payments as are then due to the Executive under
this Agreement. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon
the Company and Executive.
6.8 Cause
For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means cause given by the
Executive to the Company and shall include, without limitation, the occurrence
of one or more of the following events:
(a) Failure or refusal to carry out any lawful duties of the
Executive described in Section 1.3 hereof or any directions of the Board
reasonably consistent with the duties herein set forth to be performed by the
Executive;
(b) Violation by the Executive of a state or federal criminal
law involving the commission of a crime against the Company or any other
criminal act involving moral turpitude;
(c) Current abuse by the Executive of alcohol or controlled
substances; deception, fraud, misrepresentation or dishonesty by the Executive;
any incident materially compromising the Executive's reputation or ability to
represent the Company with the public; any act or omission by the Executive
which substantially impairs the Company's business, goodwill or reputation; or
any other misconduct; or
(d) Any other material violation of any provision of this
Agreement.
6.9 Good Reason
For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means
(a) The assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent
in any material respect with the Executive's position, authority, duties or
responsibilities as contemplated by Section 1.3 hereof or any other action by
the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or
responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated and inadvertent action
not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after
receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive, and further excluding
reasonable changes in particular duties and reporting responsibilities which may
result from the Company becoming part of a larger business organization at some
future time provided that such changes in the aggregate do not result in a
material alteration in the Executive's position, authority, duties or
responsibilities;
(b) Any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
provisions of Section 3 hereof, other than an isolated and inadvertent failure
not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after
receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;
(c) The Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any
office or location other than that described in Section 1.4 hereof; or
(d) Any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy
Section 11 hereof, provided that the Company's successor has received at least
ten days' prior written notice from the Company or the Executive of the
requirements of Section 11 hereof.
7. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND OTHER CONDITIONS
In order to induce the Company to enter into this Agreement, the
Executive represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
7.1 Health
The Executive is in good health and knows of no physical or mental
disability which, with or without any accommodation which may be required by law
and which places no undue burden on the Company, would prevent him from
fulfilling his obligations hereunder. The Executive agrees, if the Company
requests, to submit to periodic medical examinations by a physician or
physicians designated by, paid for and arranged by the Company. The Executive
agrees that the examination's medical report shall be provided to the Company.
7.2 No Violation of Other Agreements
The Executive represents that neither the execution nor the performance
of this Agreement by the Executive will violate or conflict in any way with any
other agreement by which the Executive may be bound.
8. NONDISCLOSURE; NONCOMPETITION; RETURN OF MATERIALS
The Company and the Executive hereby reaffirm the Employee Invention
and Nondisclosure Agreement previously executed by the Executive (attached as
Exhibit A to this Agreement), and expressly incorporated herein as part of this
Agreement. Consistent with the Employee Invention and Nondisclosure Agreement,
Employee agrees that at no time during the Employment Period or within one year
thereafter will Employee become involved in any activity or with any business
entity anywhere in the world which directly or indirectly competes with any
material product or service of the Company or its affiliates.
All documents, records, notebooks, notes, memoranda, drawings or other
documents pertaining to the Company and its business made or compiled by the
Executive at any time, or in his possession, including any and all copies
thereof, shall be the property of the Company and shall be held by the Executive
in trust and solely for the benefit of the Company, and shall be delivered to
the Company by the Executive upon termination of employment or at any other time
upon request by the Company.
The Executive understands that the Company will be relying on this
Agreement in continuing the Executive's employment, paying him compensation,
granting him any promotions or raises, or entrusting him with any information
which helps the Company compete with others.
9. NOTICE AND CURE OF BREACH
Whenever a breach of this Agreement by either party is relied upon as
justification for any action taken by the other party pursuant to any provision
of this Agreement, other than clause (b), (c) or (d) of Section 6.8 hereof,
before such action is taken, the party asserting the breach of this Agreement
shall give the other party at least ten days' prior written notice of the
existence and the nature of such breach before taking further action hereunder
and shall give the party purportedly in breach of this Agreement the opportunity
to correct such breach during the ten-day period.
10. FORM OF NOTICE
Every notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in
writing by serving the same upon the party to whom it was addressed personally
or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at the address set
forth below or at such other address as may hereafter be designated by notice
given in compliance with the terms hereof:
If to the Executive:
If to the Company: Itron, Inc.
2818 N. Sullivan Rd.
Spokane, WA 99215
Attention: President
or such other address as shall be provided in accordance with the terms hereof.
Except as set forth in Section 5.4 hereof, if notice is mailed, such notice
shall be effective upon mailing.
11. ASSIGNMENT
This Agreement is personal to the Executive and shall not be assignable
by the Executive. The Company may assign its rights hereunder to (a) any
corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or other reorganization to
which the Company is a party or (b) any corporation, partnership, association or
other person to which the Company may transfer all or substantially all of the
assets and business of the Company existing at such time. All the terms and
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and
permitted assigns.
The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all the
business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform
this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would
be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this
Agreement, "Company" shall mean Itron, Inc. and any successor to its business
and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by
operation of law, or otherwise.
12. FULL SETTLEMENT
The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this
Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be
affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right
or action that the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event
shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other
action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of
the provisions of this Agreement, and, except as provided in Section 6.1(b),
such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other
employment. The Company agrees to pay promptly upon invoice, to the full extent
permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses that the Executive may incur as a
result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the
Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under,
any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof
(including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any
payment pursuant to this Agreement).
13. WAIVERS
No delay or failure by any party hereto in exercising, protecting or
enforcing any of its rights, titles, interests or remedies hereunder, and no
course of dealing or performance with respect thereto, shall constitute a waiver
thereof. The express waiver by a party hereto of any right, title, interest or
remedy in a particular instance or circumstance shall not constitute a waiver
thereof in any other instance or circumstance. All rights and remedies shall be
cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies.
14. TERMINATION; AMENDMENTS IN WRITING
The Company may unilaterally terminate the Change of Control Period by
notice given to the Executive in accordance with Section 1.1(b) and Section 9
hereof. No other amendment, modification, waiver, termination or discharge of
any provision of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure therefrom by
either party hereto, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in
writing, specifically identifying this Agreement and the provision intended to
be amended, modified, waived, terminated or discharged and signed by the Company
and the Executive, and each such amendment, modification, waiver, termination or
discharge shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which given. No provision of this Agreement shall be varied,
contradicted or explained by any oral agreement, course of dealing or
performance or any other matter not set forth in an agreement in writing and
signed by the Company and the Executive.
15. APPLICABLE LAW
This Agreement shall in all respects, including all matters of
construction, validity and performance, be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Washington, without regard
to any rules governing conflicts of laws.
16. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, for any reason, including, without
limitation, the duration of such provision, its geographical scope or the extent
of the activities prohibited or required by it, then, to the full extent
permitted by law, (a) all other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and
effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in order to carry
out the intent of the parties hereto as nearly as may be possible, (b) such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity,
legality or enforceability of any other provision hereof, and (c) any court or
arbitrator having jurisdiction thereover shall have the power to reform such
provision to the extent necessary for such provision to be enforceable under
applicable law.
17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement on and as of the date hereof constitutes the entire
agreement between the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject
matter hereof and all prior or contemporaneous oral or written communications,
understandings or agreements between the Company and the Executive with respect
to such subject matter are hereby superseded and nullified in their entireties,
with the exception of the Employee Invention and Nondisclosure Agreement
referenced in Section 8.
18. WITHHOLDING
The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement
such federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant
to any applicable law or regulation.
19. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
counterpart shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and entered into this
Agreement on the date set forth above.
EXECUTIVE
[Executive]
ITRON, INC.
By
Its Chairman of the Board,
President & CEO
APPENDIX A TO
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean:
(a) A "Board Change" which, for purposes of this Agreement, shall have
occurred if a majority (excluding vacant seats) of the seats on the Company's
Board are occupied by individuals who were neither (i) nominated by a majority
of the Incumbent Directors nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated. An
"Incumbent Director" is a member of the Board who has been either (i) nominated
by a majority of the directors of the Company then in office or (ii) appointed
by directors so nominated, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual
whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or
threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation
14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a Person (as hereinafter defined) other than the
Board; or
(b) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of (i) 20% or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (B) the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding
Company Voting Securities"), in the case of either (A) or (B) of this clause
(i), which acquisition is not approved in advance by a majority of the Incumbent
Directors, or (ii) 33% or more of either (A) the Outstanding Company Common
Stock or (B) the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, in the case of either
(A) or (B) of this clause (ii), which acquisition is approved in advance by a
majority of the Incumbent Directors; provided, however, that the following
acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (w) any acquisition
directly from the Company, (x) any acquisition by the Company, (y) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (z)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this
Appendix A are satisfied; or
(c) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, in each case, unless, immediately following such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such
reorganization, merger or consolidation and the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by all or substantially all the individuals and entities who were
the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as
their ownership immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
consolidation of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding
Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding the
Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such
corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation and any
Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
consolidation, directly or indirectly, 33% or more of the Outstanding Company
Common Stock or the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be)
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 33% or more of, respectively, the
then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such
reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger
or consolidation were the Incumbent Directors at the time of the execution of
the initial agreement providing for such reorganization, merger or
consolidation; or
(d) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of (i) a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the sale or other disposition
of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, other than to a
corporation with respect to which immediately following such sale or other
disposition, (A) more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
all or substantially all the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other
disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately
prior to such sale or other disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock
and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person
(excluding the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
Company or such corporation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately
prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 33% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or the Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 33%
or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such
corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors
of such corporation were approved by a majority of the Incumbent Directors at
the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the Board
providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall not be a Change of Control
if, in advance of such event, the Executive agrees in writing that such event
shall not constitute a Change of Control.
Change of Control Agreements indicated below between Company and each of
following executives:
Godwin, David C.
Neilson, Robert D.
Nosbaum, LeRoy D.
Remington, David G.
Scarpelli, Jemima G.
Shepherd, Dennis A.
Smith, John A.
White, Stuart Edward
Chesser, Michael
Fairbanks, Russell
ITRON, INC.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of , 1999 is
made between Itron, Inc., a Washington corporation (the "Company"), and a
director and/or officer of the Company ("Indemnitee").
Recitals
A. Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company and in
such capacity is performing valuable services for the Company.
B. The Company and Indemnitee recognize the difficulty in obtaining
directors' and officers' liability insurance, the significant cost of such
insurance and the general reduction in the coverage of such insurance.
C. The Company and Indemnitee further recognize the substantial
increase in litigation subjecting directors and officers to expensive litigation
risks at the same time that such liability insurance has been severely limited.
D. The shareholders of the Company have adopted bylaws (the "Bylaws")
providing for the indemnification of the directors, officers, agents and
employees of the Company to the full extent permitted by the Washington Business
Corporation Act (the "Statute").
E. The Bylaws and the Statute specifically provide that they are not
exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between
the Company and the members of its Board of Directors and its officers with
respect to indemnification of such directors and officers.
F. In order to induce Indemnitee to continue to serve as a director
and/or officer of the Company, the Company has agreed to enter into this
Agreement with Indemnitee.
Agreement
In consideration of the recitals above, the mutual covenants and
agreements herein contained, and Indemnitee's continued service as a director
and/or officer after the date hereof, the parties to this Agreement agree as
follows:
1. Indemnity of Indemnitee
1.1. Scope
The Company agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the
full extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification is not
specifically authorized by this Agreement, the Company's Articles of
Incorporation, the Bylaws, the Statute or otherwise. In the event of any change,
after the date of this Agreement, in any applicable law, statute or rule
regarding the right of a Washington corporation to indemnify a member of its
board of directors or an officer, such changes, to the extent that they would
expand Indemnitee's rights hereunder, shall be within the Scope of Indemnitee's
rights and the Company's obligations hereunder, and, to the extent that they
would narrow Indemnitee's rights hereunder, shall be excluded from this
Agreement; provided, however, that any change that is required by applicable
laws, statutes or rules to be applied to this Agreement shall be so applied
regardless of whether the effect of such change is to narrow Indemnitee's rights
hereunder.
1.2. Nonexclusivity
The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed
exclusive of any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under the Company's
Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of shareholders
or disinterested directors, the Statute or otherwise, whether as to actions
taken by Indemnitee in Indemnitee's official capacity or otherwise.
1.3. Included Coverage
If Indemnitee was or is made a party, or is threatened to be made a
party, to or is otherwise involved (including, without limitation, as a witness)
in any Proceeding (as defined below), the Company shall hold harmless and
indemnify Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA
excise taxes or penalties, amounts paid in settlement and other expenses
incurred in connection with such Proceeding) (collectively, "Damages").
1.4. Definition of Proceeding
For purposes of this Agreement, "Proceeding" shall mean any actual,
pending or threatened action, suit, claim or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, in
which Indemnitee is, was or becomes involved by reason of the fact that
Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or
that, being or having been such a director, officer, employee or agent,
Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise (collectively a "Related Company"),
including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, whether the basis of
such proceeding is alleged action (or inaction) by Indemnitee in an official
capacity as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent or in any other
capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent;
provided, however, that, except with respect to an action to enforce the
provisions of this Agreement, "Proceeding" shall not include any action, suit,
claim or proceeding instituted by or at the direction of Indemnitee unless such
action, suit, claim or proceeding is or was authorized by the Company's Board of
Directors.
1.5. Determination of Entitlement
In the event that a determination of Indemnitee's entitlement to
indemnification is required pursuant to Section+23B.08.550 of the Statute or a
successor statute or pursuant to other applicable law, the appropriate decision
maker shall make such determination; provided, however, that Indemnitee shall
initially be presumed in all cases to be entitled to indemnification, that
Indemnitee may establish a conclusive presumption of any fact necessary to such
a determination by delivering to the Company a declaration made under penalty of
perjury that such fact is true and that, unless the Company shall deliver to
Indemnitee written notice of a determination that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification within twenty (20) days of the Company's receipt of Indemnitee's
initial written request for indemnification, such determination shall
conclusively be deemed to have been made in favor of the Company's provision of
indemnification and the Company hereby agrees not to assert otherwise.
1.6. Survival
The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall apply to any
and all Proceedings, notwithstanding that Indemnitee has ceased to be a
director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of the Company or a Related
Company.
2. Expense Advances
2.1. Generally
The right to indemnification of Damages conferred by Section 1 shall
include the right to have the Company pay Indemnitee's expenses in any
Proceeding as such expenses are incurred and in advance of such Proceeding's
final disposition (such right is referred to hereinafter as an "Expense
Advance").
2.2. Conditions to Expense Advance
The Company's obligation to provide an Expense Advance is subject to
the following conditions:
2.2.1. Undertaking
If the Proceeding arose in connection with Indemnitee's
service as a director and/or officer of the Company (and not in any other
capacity in which Indemnitee rendered service, including service to any Related
Company), then Indemnitee or his representative shall have executed and
delivered to the Company an undertaking, which need not be secured and shall be
accepted without reference to Indemnitee's financial ability to make repayment,
by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay all Expense Advances if and to the extent
that it shall ultimately be determined by a final, unappealable decision
rendered by a court having jurisdiction over the parties and the question that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such Expense Advance under this
Agreement or otherwise.
2.2.2. Cooperation
Indemnitee shall give the Company such information and
cooperation as it may reasonably request and as shall be within Indemnitee's
power.
2.2.3. Affirmation
Indemnitee shall furnish, upon request by the Company and if
required under applicable law, a written affirmation of Indemnitee's good faith
belief that any applicable standards of conduct have been met by Indemnitee.
3. Procedures for Enforcement
3.1. Enforcement
In the event that a claim for indemnity, an Expense Advance or
otherwise is made hereunder and is not paid in full within sixty (60) days
(twenty (20) days for an Expense Advance) after written notice of such claim is
delivered to the Company, Indemnitee may, but need not, at any time thereafter
bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim (an
"Enforcement Action").
3.2. Presumptions in Enforcement Action
In any Enforcement Action the following presumptions (and limitation on
presumptions) shall apply:
(a) The Company shall conclusively be presumed to have entered into
this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereunder in order to
induce Indemnitee to continue as a director and/or officer of the Company;
(b) Neither (i)+the failure of the Company (including the Company's
Board of Directors, independent or special legal counsel or the Company's
shareholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of the
Enforcement Action that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the
circumstances nor (ii)+an actual determination by the Company, its Board of
Directors, independent or special legal counsel or shareholders that Indemnitee
is not entitled to indemnification shall be a defense to the Enforcement Action
or create a presumption that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder; and
(c) If Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, employee,
trustee or agent of a corporation of which a majority of the shares entitled to
vote in the election of its directors is held by the Company or in an executive
or management capacity in a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise of which the Company or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company is a
general partner or has a majority ownership, then such corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or enterprise shall conclusively be deemed a Related
Company and Indemnitee shall conclusively be deemed to be serving such Related
Company at the request of the Company.
3.3. Attorneys' Fees and Expenses for Enforcement Action
In the event Indemnitee is required to bring an Enforcement Action, the
Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all of Indemnitee's
fees and expenses in bringing and pursuing the Enforcement Action (including
attorneys' fees at any stage, including on appeal); provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to provide such indemnity for such attorneys' fees
or expenses if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the
material assertions made by Indemnitee in such Enforcement Action was not made
in good faith or was frivolous.
4. Limitations on Indemnity; Mutual Acknowledgment
4.1. Limitation on Indemnity
No indemnity pursuant to this Agreement shall be provided by the
Company:
(a) On account of any suit in which a final, unappealable judgment is
rendered against Indemnitee for an accounting of profits made from the purchase
or sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company in violation of the
provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and
amendments thereto or
(b) For Damages that have been paid directly to Indemnitee by an
insurance carrier under a policy of directors' and officers' liability insurance
maintained by the Company.
4.2. Mutual Acknowledgment
The Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that, in certain instances,
federal law or public policy may override applicable state law and prohibit the
Company from indemnifying Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise. For
example, the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") has taken the position that indemnification is not
permissible for liabilities arising under certain federal securities laws, and
federal legislation prohibits indemnification for certain ERISA violations.
Furthermore, Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has
undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the SEC to submit
the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a
determination of the Company's right under public policy to indemnify
Indemnitee.
5. Notification and Defense of Claim
5.1. Notification
Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of
any Proceeding, Indemnitee will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made
against the Company under this Agreement, notify the Company of the commencement
thereof; but the omission so to notify the Company will not relieve the Company
from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement unless
and only to the extent that such omission can be shown to have prejudiced the
Company's ability to defend the Proceeding.
5.2. Defense of Claim
With respect to any such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee notifies the
Company of the commencement thereof:
(a) The Company may participate therein at its own expense;
(b) The Company, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
notified, may assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to Indemnitee of its election so to
assume the defense thereof, the Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under
this Agreement for any legal or other expenses (other than reasonable costs of
investigation) subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the
defense thereof unless (i)+the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been
authorized by the Company, (ii)+Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that
there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the
conduct of the defense of such action, or (iii)+the Company shall not in fact
have employed counsel to assume the defense of such action, in each of which
cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the Company.
The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any action, suit or
proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which Indemnitee
shall have made the conclusion provided for in (ii)+above;
(c) The Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnitee under this
Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding effected without
its written consent;
(d) The Company shall not settle any action or claim in any manner
which would impose any penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee's
written consent; and
(e) Neither the Company nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold its,
his or her consent to any proposed settlement.
6. Severability
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed
as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable
law. The Company's inability, pursuant to court order, to perform its
obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this
Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable, as provided in
this Section+6. If this Agreement or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on
any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall
nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee to the full extent permitted by any applicable
portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated, and the balance
of this Agreement not so invalidated shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.
7. Governing Law; Binding Effect; Amendment and Termination
(a) This Agreement shall be interpreted and enforced in accordance with
the laws of the State of Washington.
(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon Indemnitee and upon the
Company, its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of
Indemnitee, Indemnitee's heirs, personal representatives and assigns and to the
benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns.
(c) No amendment, modification, termination or cancellation of this
Agreement shall be effective unless in writing signed by both parties hereto.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
and as of the day and year first above written.
COMPANY:
ITRON, INC.
By
Its [Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer]
INDEMNITEE:
[Director and/or Officer]
Indemnification Agreements between Company and each of following directors and/
or officers:
MariLyn R. Blair
Michael B. Bracy
Jemima G. Brennan
Jon E. Eliassen
Keith N. Hylton
Paul A. Redmond
Graham M. Wilson
Robert D. Neilson
Ted C. DeMerritt
Mary Ann Peters
David G. Remington
Stuart Edward White
LeRoy D. Nosbaum
J. Michael Quinlivan
Dennis A. Shepherd
John A. Smith
Deloris R. Duquette
Michael Chesser
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 18, 2000,
among
ITRON, INC.
and
UTILITY TRANSLATION SYSTEMS, INC.,
as Borrowers,
THE OTHER CREDIT PARTIES SIGNATORY HERETO,
as Credit Parties,
THE LENDERS SIGNATORY HERETO
FROM TIME TO TIME,
as Lenders,
and
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,
as Agent and a Lender
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF CREDIT.......................... ................1
1.1 Credit Facilities...........................................1
1.2 Letters of Credit...........................................5
1.3 Prepayments.................................................5
1.4 Use of Proceeds.............................................7
1.5 Interest and Applicable Margins.............................7
1.6 Eligible Accounts..........................................10
1.7 Eligible Inventory.........................................12
1.8 Cash Management System.....................................14
1.9 Fees.......................................................14
1.10 Receipt of Payments........................................14
1.11 Application and Allocation of Payments.....................14
1.12 Loan Account and Accounting................................15
1.13 Indemnity..................................................15
1.14 Access.....................................................16
1.15 Taxes......................................................17
1.16 Capital Adequacy; Increased Costs; Illegality..............18
1.17 Single Loan................................................19
2. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT................................................19
2.1 Conditions to the Initial Loans............................19
2.2 Further Conditions to Each Loan............................20
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES .....................................21
3.1 Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law...................21
3.2 Executive Offices; Collateral Locations; FEIN..............22
3.3 Corporate Power, Authorization, Enforceable Obligations....22
3.4 Financial Statements and Projections.......................22
3.5 Material Adverse Effect....................................23
3.6 Ownership of Property; Liens...............................23
3.7 Labor Matters..............................................24
3.8 Ventures, Subsidiaries and Affiliates; Outstanding Stock
and Indebtedness...........................................24
3.9 Government Regulation......................................24
3.10 Margin Regulations.........................................24
3.11 Taxes......................................................25
3.12 ERISA......................................................25
3.13 No Litigation..............................................26
3.14 Brokers....................................................26
3.15 Intellectual Property......................................26
3.16 Full Disclosure............................................26
3.17 Environmental Matters......................................27
3.18 Insurance..................................................27
3.19 Deposit and Disbursement Accounts..........................27
3.20 Government Contracts.......................................27
3.21 Customer and Trade Relations...............................27
3.22 Agreements and Other Documents.............................28
3.23 Solvency...................................................28
3.24 Year 2000 Representations..................................28
3.25 Subordinated Debt..........................................28
4. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION................................29
4.1 Reports and Notices........................................29
4.2 Communication with Accountants.............................29
5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS...............................................29
5.1 Maintenance of Existence and Conduct of Business...........29
5.2 Payment of Obligations.....................................29
5.3 Books and Records..........................................30
5.4 Insurance; Damage to or Destruction of Collateral..........30
5.5 Compliance with Laws.......................................32
5.6 Supplemental Disclosure....................................32
5.7 Intellectual Property......................................32
5.8 Environmental Matters......................................32
5.9 Landlords' Agreements, Mortgagee Agreements
and Bailee Letters.........................................33
5.10 Further Assurances.........................................33
6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS..................................................33
6.1 Mergers, Subsidiaries, Etc.................................33
6.2 Investments; Loans and Advances............................34
6.3 Indebtedness...............................................35
6.4 Employee Loans and Affiliate Transactions..................36
6.5 Capital Structure and Business.............................36
6.6 Guaranteed Indebtedness....................................37
6.7 Liens......................................................37
6.8 Sale of Stock and Assets...................................37
6.9 ERISA......................................................39
6.10 Financial Covenants........................................39
6.11 Hazardous Materials........................................39
6.12 Sale-Leasebacks....................................... ....39
6.13 Cancellation of Indebtedness...............................39
6.14 Restricted Payments........................................39
6.15 Change of Corporate Name or Location;
Change of Fiscal Year......................................40
6.16 No Impairment of Intercompany Transfers....................40
6.17 No Speculative Transactions................................41
6.18 Changes Relating to Subordinated Debt
and Other Indebtedness.....................................41
6.19 SCE Project................................................41
6.20 Bank Accounts..............................................41
7. TERM................................................................42
7.1 Termination................................................42
7.2 Survival of Obligations Upon Termination of
Financing Arrangements.....................................42
8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; RIGHTS AND REMEDIES..............................42
8.1 Events of Default..........................................42
8.2 Remedies...................................................44
8.3 Waivers by Credit Parties..................................44
9. ASSIGNMENT AND PARTICIPATIONS; APPOINTMENT OF AGENT.................45
9.1 Assignment and Participations..............................45
9.2 Appointment of Agent.......................................46
9.3 Agent's Reliance, Etc......................................47
9.4 GE Capital and Affiliates..................................47
9.5 Lender Credit Decision.....................................48
9.6 Indemnification............................................48
9.7 Successor Agent............................................48
9.8 Setoff and Sharing of Payments.............................49
9.9 Advances; Non-Funding Lenders;
Information; Actions in Concert............................49
10. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS..............................................51
11. MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................52
11.1 Complete Agreement; Modification of Agreement..............52
11.2 Amendments and Waivers.....................................52
11.3 Fees and Expenses..........................................54
11.4 No Waiver..................................................55
11.5 Remedies...................................................55
11.6 Severability...............................................55
11.7 Conflict of Terms..........................................55
11.8 Confidentiality............................................55
11.9 GOVERNING LAW..............................................56
11.10 Notices....................................................57
11.11 Section Titles.............................................57
11.12 Counterparts...............................................57
11.13 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.......................................57
11.14 Press Releases.............................................57
11.15 Reinstatement..............................................58
11.16 Advice of Counsel..........................................58
11.17 No Strict Construction.....................................58
11.18 WASHINGTON STATUTE OF FRAUDS...............................58
12. CROSS-GUARANTY......................................................58
12.1 Cross-Guaranty.............................................58
12.2 Waivers by Borrowers.......................................59
12.3 Benefit of Guaranty........................................59
12.4 Subordination of Subrogation, Etc..........................59
12.5 Election of Remedies.......................................60
12.6 Limitation.................................................60
12.7 Contribution with Respect to Guaranty Obligations..........60
12.8 Liability Cumulative.......................................61
<PAGE>
INDEX OF APPENDICES
Annex A (Recitals) - Definitions
Annex B (Section 1.2) - Letters of Credit
Annex C (Section 1.8) - Cash Management System
Annex D (Section 2.1(a)) - Schedule of Documents
Annex E (Section 4.1(a)) - Financial Statements and Projections -- Reporting
Annex F (Section 4.1(b)) - Collateral Reports
Annex G (Section 6.10) - Financial Covenants
Annex H (Section 9.9(a)) - Lenders' Wire Transfer Information
Annex I (Section 11.10) - Notice Addresses
Annex J ("Commitments") - Commitments as of Closing Date
Exhibit 1.1(a)(i) - Form of Notice of Revolving Credit Advance
Exhibit 1.1(a)(ii) - Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit 1.1(b)(ii) - Form of Swing Line Note
Exhibit 1.1(c) - Form of Notice of Authorized Representatives
Exhibit 1.5(a) - Form of Applicable Margin Certificate
Exhibit 1.5(e) - Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit 4.1(b) - Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit 9.1(a) - Form of Assignment Agreement
Exhibit A - Form of Compliance Certificate
Schedule (1.1) - Agent Representative
Disclosure Schedule (1.4) - Sources and Uses; Funds Flow Memorandum
Disclosure Schedule (3.2) - Executive Offices; Collateral Locations; FEIN
Disclosure Schedule (3.4(a))- Financial Statements
Disclosure Schedule (3.4(b))- Pro Forma
Disclosure Schedule (3.4(c))- Projections
Disclosure Schedule (3.6) - Real Estate and Leases
Disclosure Schedule (3.7) - Labor Matters
Disclosure Schedule (3.8) - Ventures and Affiliates; Stock
Disclosure Schedule (3.11) - Tax Matters
Disclosure Schedule (3.12) - ERISA Plans
Disclosure Schedule (3.13) - Litigation
Disclosure Schedule (3.15) - Intellectual Property
Disclosure Schedule (3.17) - Hazardous Materials
Disclosure Schedule (3.18) - Insurance
Disclosure Schedule (3.19) - Deposit and Disbursement Accounts
Disclosure Schedule (3.20) - Government Contracts
Disclosure Schedule (3.22) - Material Agreements
Disclosure Schedule (5.1) - Trade Names
Disclosure Schedule (6.2) - Investments
Disclosure Schedule (6.3) - Indebtedness
Disclosure Schedule (6.4(a))- Transactions with Affiliates
Disclosure Schedule (6.7) - Existing Liens
Disclosure Schedule (A) - Restructuring Activities
Disclosure Schedule (B) - International Loans and Advances
Disclosure Schedule (C) - Duquesne Agreement Termination Payments
<PAGE>
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into as January
18, 2000, by and among ITRON, INC., a Washington corporation ("Itron"), and
UTILITY TRANSLATION SYSTEMS, INC., a North Carolina corporation ("UTS") (Itron
and UTS are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the "Borrowers" and
individually as a "Borrower"); the other Credit Parties signatory hereto;
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, a New York corporation (in its individual
capacity, "GE Capital"), for itself, as a Lender, and as Agent for Lenders; and
the other Lenders signatory hereto from time to time.
RECITALS
A. Borrowers have requested that Lenders extend a revolving
credit facility to Borrowers of up to Thirty-Five Million Dollars ($35,000,000)
in the aggregate for the purpose of refinancing certain indebtedness of
Borrowers and to provide (i) working capital financing for Borrowers, (ii) funds
for other general corporate purposes of Borrowers, and (iii) funds for certain
fees and expenses in connection with the financing transactions contemplated
herein; and Lenders are willing to make certain loans and other extensions of
credit to Borrowers of up to such amount upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein.
B. Borrowers desire to secure all of their obligations under
the Loan Documents by granting to Agent, for the benefit of Agent and Lenders, a
security interest in and lien upon certain of their existing and after-acquired
personal property.
C. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in Annex A and, for purposes of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents, the rules of construction set forth in Annex A shall
govern. All exhibits, schedules, annexes and other attachments (collectively,
"Appendices") hereto, or expressly identified to this Agreement, are
incorporated herein by reference and, taken together with this Agreement, shall
constitute but a single agreement. These Recitals shall be construed as part of
the Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants hereinafter contained, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF CREDIT
1.2 Credit Facilities.
(a) Revolving Credit Facility.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each
Revolving Lender agrees to make available to Borrowers from time to time until
the Commitment Termination Date its Pro Rata Share of advances (each, a
"Revolving Credit Advance"). The Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Loan of any
Revolving Lender shall not at any time exceed its separate Revolving Loan
Commitment. The obligations of each Revolving Lender hereunder shall be several
and not joint. Except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1.1(a)(iii),
the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Advances outstanding shall not exceed
at any time the lesser of (A) the Maximum Amount and (B) the Aggregate Borrowing
Base, in each case less the sum of the Letter of Credit Obligations and the
Swing Line Loan outstanding at such time and any Reserves established by Agent
("Borrowing Availability"). Moreover, the sum of the Revolving Loan and Swing
Line Loan outstanding to any Borrower shall not exceed at any time that
Borrower's separate Borrowing Base. Until the Commitment Termination Date,
Borrowers may from time to time borrow, repay and reborrow under this Section
1.1(a). Each Revolving Credit Advance shall be made on notice by Borrower
Representative on behalf of the applicable Borrower to a representative of Agent
identified in Schedule (1.1) at the address specified therein. Any such notice
must be given no later than (1) 10:00 a.m. (California time) on the Business Day
of the proposed Revolving Credit Advance, in the case of an Index Rate Loan, or
(2) 10:00 a.m. (California time) on the date that is three Business Days prior
to the proposed Revolving Credit Advance, in the case of a LIBOR Loan. Each such
notice (a "Notice of Revolving Credit Advance") shall be given in writing (by
telecopy or overnight courier) substantially in the form of Exhibit 1.1(a)(i),
and shall include the information required in such Exhibit and such other
information as may be required by Agent. If any Borrower desires to have the
Revolving Credit Advances bear interest by reference to a LIBOR Rate, Borrower
Representative must comply with Section 1.5(e).
(ii) Each Borrower shall execute and deliver to each
Revolving Lender a note to evidence the Revolving Loan Commitment of such
Revolving Lender, which note shall be (A) in the principal amount of the
Revolving Loan Commitment of such Revolving Lender, (B) dated the Closing Date
and (C) substantially in the form of Exhibit 1.1(a)(ii) (each a "Revolving Note"
and collectively the "Revolving Notes"). Each Revolving Note shall represent the
obligation of the applicable Borrower to pay the amount of the applicable
Revolving Lender's Revolving Loan Commitment or, if less, such Revolving
Lender's Pro Rata Share of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all
Revolving Credit Advances made to such Borrower together with interest thereon
as prescribed in Section 1.5. The entire unpaid balance of the aggregate
Revolving Loan and all other noncontingent Obligations shall be immediately due
and payable in full in immediately available funds on the Commitment Termination
Date.
(iii) At the request of Borrower Representative,
Agent may (but shall have absolutely no obligation to), in its discretion, make
Revolving Credit Advances to Borrowers on behalf of Revolving Lenders in amounts
that cause the outstanding balance of the aggregate Revolving Loan to exceed the
Aggregate Borrowing Base (less the Swing Line Loan) or that cause the
outstanding balance of the Revolving Loan owing by any Borrower to exceed that
Borrower's separate Borrowing Base (less the Swing Line Loan advanced to that
Borrower) (any such excess Revolving Credit Advances are herein referred to
collectively as "Overadvances"); provided, that (A) no such event or occurrence
shall cause or constitute a waiver of Agent's, the Swing Line Lender's or
Revolving Lenders' right to refuse to make any further Overadvances, Swing Line
Advances or Revolving Credit Advances, or incur any Letter of Credit
Obligations, as the case may be, at any time that an Overadvance exists or would
result therefrom, and (B) any Overadvance shall not constitute a Default or
Event of Default due to any Borrower's failure to comply with Section 1.3(b)(i)
for so long as Agent permits such Overadvance to be outstanding. In addition,
Overadvances may be made even if the conditions to lending set forth in Section
2 have not been met. All Overadvances shall constitute Index Rate Loans, shall
bear interest at the Default Rate and shall be payable on demand. Except as
otherwise provided in Section 1.11(b), the authority of Agent to make
Overadvances (1) is limited to an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 at any
time, (2) shall not cause the aggregate Revolving Loan to exceed the Maximum
Amount, and (3) may be revoked prospectively by a written notice to Agent signed
by Revolving Lenders holding fifty percent (50%) or more of the Revolving Loan
Commitments.
(b) Swing Line Facility.
(i) Swing Line Advances. Agent shall notify the
Swing Line Lender upon Agent's receipt of any Notice of Revolving Credit
Advance. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender may,
in its discretion, make available from time to time until the Commitment
Termination Date advances (each, a "Swing Line Advance") in accordance with any
such notice. The aggregate amount of Swing Line Advances outstanding shall not
exceed at any time the lesser of (A) the Swing Line Commitment and (B) the
lesser of (1) the Maximum Amount and (2) (except for Overadvances) the Aggregate
Borrowing Base, in each case less the outstanding balance of the Revolving Loan
at such time ("Swing Line Availability"). Moreover, except for Overadvances, the
Swing Line Loan outstanding to any Borrower shall not exceed at any time such
Borrower's separate Borrowing Base less the Revolving Loan outstanding to such
Borrower. Until the Commitment Termination Date, Borrowers may from time to time
borrow, repay and reborrow under this Section 1.1(b). Each Swing Line Advance
shall be made pursuant to a Notice of Revolving Credit Advance delivered to
Agent by Borrower Representative on behalf of the applicable Borrower in
accordance with Section 1.1(a). Any such notice must be given no later than
10:00 a.m. (California time) on the Business Day of the proposed Swing Line
Advance. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received at least one Business Day's
prior written notice from Agent or Requisite Revolving Lenders instructing it
not to make any Swing Line Advance, the Swing Line Lender shall, notwithstanding
the failure of any condition precedent set forth in Section 2.2 (other than the
condition precedent set forth in Section 2.2(e)) be entitled to fund such Swing
Line Advance and, in connection with such Swing Line Advance, to have each
Revolving Lender make Revolving Credit Advances in accordance with Section
1.1(b)(iii) and to purchase participating interests in accordance with Section
1.1(b)(iv). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents, the Swing Line Loan shall constitute an Index Rate Loan. Unless
the Swing Line Lender has received at least one Business Day's prior written
notice from Agent or Requisite Revolving Lenders instructing it not to make any
Swing Line Advance, the Swing Line Lender shall, notwithstanding the failure of
any condition precedent set forth in Section 2.2 (other than the condition
precedent set forth in Section 2.2(e)) be entitled to fund such Swing Line
Advance and, in connection with such Swing Line Advance, to have each Revolving
Lender make Revolving Credit Advances in accordance with Section 1.1(b)(iii) and
to purchase participating interests in accordance with Section 1.1(b)(iv).
Borrowers shall repay the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Swing
Line Loan upon demand therefor by Agent, which repayment shall be made
exclusively from the proceeds of Revolving Credit Advances made in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement pursuant to Section 1.11(b) or otherwise.
(ii) Swing Line Notes. Each Borrower shall
execute and deliver to the Swing Line Lender a promissory note to evidence the
Swing Line Commitment. Each note shall be (A) in the principal amount of the
Swing Line Commitment, (B) dated the Closing Date, and (C) substantially in the
form of Exhibit 1.1(b)(ii) (each a "Swing Line Note" and collectively the "Swing
Line Notes"). Each Swing Line Note shall represent the obligation of the
applicable Borrower to pay the amount of the Swing Line Commitment or, if less,
the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Swing Line Advances made to such
Borrower together with interest thereon as prescribed in Section 1.5. The entire
unpaid balance of the Swing Line Loan and all other noncontingent Obligations
shall be immediately due and payable in full in immediately available funds on
the Commitment Termination Date if not sooner paid in full.
(iii) Refunding of Swing Line Loans. The Swing
Line Lender, at any time and from time to time in its sole and absolute
discretion, but not less frequently than weekly, shall on behalf of any Borrower
(and each Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so act
on its behalf) request each Revolving Lender (including the Swing Line Lender)
to make a Revolving Credit Advance to such Borrower (which shall be an Index
Rate Loan) in an amount equal to such Revolving Lender's Pro Rata Share of the
principal amount of such Borrower's Swing Line Loan (the "Refunded Swing Line
Loan") outstanding on the date such notice is given. Unless any of the events
described in Sections 8.1(h) or 8.1(i) shall have occurred (in which event the
procedures of Section 1.1(b)(iv) shall apply) and regardless of whether the
conditions precedent set forth in this Agreement to the making of a Revolving
Credit Advance are then satisfied, each Revolving Lender shall disburse directly
to Agent its Pro Rata Share of a Revolving Credit Advance on behalf of the Swing
Line Lender prior to 12:00 noon (California time) in immediately available funds
on the Business Day next succeeding the date such notice is given. The proceeds
of such Revolving Credit Advances shall be immediately paid to the Swing Line
Lender and applied to repay the Refunded Swing Line Loan of the applicable
Borrower.
(iv) Participation in Swing Line Loans. If,
prior to refunding a Swing Line Loan with a Revolving Credit Advance pursuant to
Section 1.1(b)(iii), one of the events described in Sections 8.1(h) or 8.1(i)
shall have occurred, then, subject to the provisions of Section 1.1(b)(v) below,
each Revolving Lender shall, on the date such Revolving Credit Advance was to
have been made for the benefit of the applicable Borrower, purchase from the
Swing Line Lender an undivided participation interest in the Swing Line Loan to
such Borrower in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of such Swing Line Loan.
Upon request, each Revolving Lender shall promptly transfer to the Swing Line
Lender, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participation
interest.
(v) Revolving Lenders' Obligations Unconditional
Each Revolving Lender's obligation to make Revolving Credit Advances in
accordance with Section 1.1(b)(iii) and to purchase participating interests in
accordance with Section 1.1(b)(iv) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall
not be affected by any circumstance, including: (A) any setoff, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other right that such Revolving Lender may have against
the Swing Line Lender, any Borrower or any other Person for any reason
whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of any Default or Event of
Default; (C) any inability of any Borrower to satisfy the conditions precedent
to borrowing set forth in this Agreement on the date upon which such
participating interest is to be purchased; or (D) any other circumstance,
happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
If any Revolving Lender does not make available to Agent or the Swing Line
Lender, as applicable, the amount required pursuant to Sections 1.1(b)(iii) or
1.1(b)(iv), as the case may be, the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to
recover such amount on demand from such Revolving Lender, together with interest
thereon for each day from the date of non-payment until such amount is paid in
full at the Federal Funds Rate for the first two Business Days and at the Index
Rate thereafter.
(c) Reliance on Notices; Appointment of Borrower
Representative. Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully
protected in relying upon, any Notice of Authorized Representative, Notice of
Revolving Credit Advance, Notice of Conversion/Continuation or similar notice
believed by Agent to be genuine. Agent may assume that each person identified as
an Authorized Representative executing and delivering any such notice was duly
authorized, unless Agent has actual knowledge to the contrary or the most recent
Notice of Authorized Representative received by Agent does not list such person
as an Authorized Representative. Each Borrower hereby designates Itron as its
representative and agent on its behalf for the purposes of issuing Notices of
Revolving Credit Advances and Notices of Conversion/Continuation, giving
instructions with respect to the disbursement of the proceeds of the Loans,
selecting interest rate options, requesting Letters of Credit, giving and
receiving all other notices and consents hereunder or under any of the other
Loan Documents and taking all other actions (including in respect of compliance
with covenants) on behalf of any Borrower or Borrowers under the Loan Documents.
Borrower Representative hereby accepts such appointment. Agent and each Lender
shall be entitled to rely exclusively on the authority of each Person designated
in the most current Notice of Authorized Representative received by Agent, and
Agent shall have no duty or obligation to verify the authenticity of any Person
purporting to be an Authorized Representative giving any telephonic notice
permitted below. Agent and each Lender may regard any notice or other
communication pursuant to any Loan Document from Borrower Representative as a
notice or communication from all Borrowers, and may give any notice or
communication required or permitted to be given to any Borrower or Borrowers
hereunder to Borrower Representative on behalf of such Borrower or Borrowers.
Each Borrower agrees that each notice, election, representation and warranty,
covenant, agreement and undertaking made on its behalf by Borrower
Representative shall be deemed for all purposes to have been made by such
Borrower and shall be binding upon and enforceable against such Borrower to the
same extent as if the same had been made directly by such Borrower. In addition,
as an accommodation to Borrowers, Agent may permit telephonic requests setting
forth the information in a Notice of Revolving Credit Advance or Notice of
Conversion/Continuation (in each case immediately confirmed in writing) from
Borrower Representative. Unless Borrower Representative specifically directs
Agent in writing not to accept or act upon telephonic communications, Agent
shall have no liability to Borrowers for any loss or damage suffered by any
Borrower as a result of Agent's honoring of any requests communicated to it
telephonically and purporting to have been sent to Agent by Borrower
Representative, and Agent shall have no duty to verify the origin of any such
communication or the identity or authority of the Person sending it.
1.3 Letters of Credit. Subject to and in accordance with the terms and
conditions contained herein and in Annex B, Borrower Representative, on behalf
of the applicable Borrower, shall have the right to request, and Revolving
Lenders agree to incur, or purchase participations in, Letter of Credit
Obligations in respect of each Borrower.
1.4 Prepayments.
(a) Voluntary Prepayments. Borrowers may at any time on at
least five Business Days' prior written notice by Borrower Representative to
Agent terminate the Revolving Loan Commitment; provided, that upon such
termination, all Loans and other Obligations shall be immediately due and
payable in full and Borrowers shall make arrangements, in accordance with the
terms and conditions of Annex B, for the satisfaction of any outstanding Letter
of Credit Obligations. Any such voluntary prepayment and any such termination of
the Revolving Loan Commitment must be accompanied by payment of the Fee required
by Section 1.9(c), if any, Agent's and each Lender's out-of-pocket expenses, and
payment of any LIBOR funding breakage costs in accordance with Section 1.13(b).
Upon any such prepayment and termination of the Revolving Loan Commitment, each
Borrower's right to request Revolving Credit Advances, or request that Letter of
Credit Obligations be incurred on its behalf, or request Swing Line Advances,
shall simultaneously be terminated.
(b) Mandatory Prepayments.
(i) If at any time the outstanding balance of
the aggregate Revolving Loan exceeds the lesser of (A) the Maximum Amount and
(B) the Aggregate Borrowing Base, in each case less the aggregate outstanding
Swing Line Loan at such time, then Borrowers shall immediately repay the
aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Advances to the extent required to
eliminate such excess. If any such excess remains after repayment in full of the
aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Advances, Borrowers shall provide cash
collateral for the Letter of Credit Obligations in the manner set forth in Annex
B to the extent required to eliminate such excess. Furthermore, if at any time
the outstanding balance of the Revolving Loan of any Borrower exceeds such
Borrower's separate Borrowing Base less the outstanding balance of the Swing
Line Loan of such Borrower at such time, then such Borrower shall immediately
repay its Revolving Credit Advances in the amount of such excess (and, if
necessary, shall provide cash collateral for its Letter of Credit Obligations as
described above). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Overadvance made pursuant
to Section 1.1(a)(iii) shall be repaid only on demand.
(ii) Except as otherwise permitted in any Loan
Documents, immediately upon receipt by any Credit Party of cash proceeds of any
asset disposition or any sale of Stock of any Subsidiary of any Credit Party,
Borrowers shall prepay the Loans, in each case in an amount equal to all such
proceeds, net of (A) commissions and other reasonable and customary transaction
costs, fees and expenses properly attributable to such transaction and payable
by Borrowers in connection therewith (in each case, paid to non-Affiliates), (B)
transfer taxes, (C) amounts payable to holders of senior Liens (to the extent
such Liens constitute Permitted Encumbrances hereunder), if any, and (D) an
appropriate reserve for income taxes in accordance with GAAP in connection
therewith. Any such prepayment shall be applied in accordance with Section
1.3(c).
(c) Application of Certain Mandatory Prepayments. Any
prepayments made by any Borrower pursuant to Sections 1.3(b)(ii) or (b)(iii), or
clause (d) below shall be applied as follows: first, to Fees and reimbursable
expenses of Agent then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents;
second, to interest then due and payable on such Borrower's Swing Line Loan;
third to the principal balance of the Swing Line Loan outstanding to such
Borrower until the same shall have been repaid in full; fourth to interest then
due and payable on Revolving Credit Advances made to such Borrower; fifth to the
principal balance of Revolving Credit Advances outstanding to such Borrower
until the same shall have been repaid in full; sixth to any Letter of Credit
Obligations of such Borrower to provide cash collateral therefor in the manner
set forth in Annex B, until all such Letter of Credit Obligations have been
fully cash collateralized in the manner set forth in Annex B; seventh to
interest then due and payable on the Swing Line Loan of each other Borrower, pro
rata; eighth to the principal balance of the Swing Line Loan outstanding to each
other Borrower, pro rata, until the same shall have been repaid in full; ninth
to interest then due and payable on the Revolving Credit Advances outstanding to
each other Borrower, pro rata; tenth to the principal balance of the Revolving
Credit Advances made to each other Borrower, pro rata, until the same shall have
been paid in full, and last to any Letter of Credit Obligations of each other
Borrower, pro rata, to provide cash collateral therefor in the manner set forth
in Annex B, until all such Letter of Credit Obligations have been fully cash
collateralized. Neither the Revolving Loan Commitment nor the Swing Line
Commitment shall be permanently reduced by the amount of any such prepayments.
(d) Application of Prepayments from Insurance and Condemnation
Proceeds. Prepayments from insurance or condemnation proceeds in accordance with
Sections 5.4(c) or 5.4(d), respectively, shall be applied in accordance with
Section 1.3(c). Neither the Revolving Loan Commitment nor the Swing Line Loan
Commitment shall be permanently reduced by the amount of any such prepayments.
If the insurance or condemnation proceeds received as to a particular Borrower
exceed the outstanding principal balances of the Loans to that Borrower or if
the precise amount of insurance or condemnation proceeds allocable to Inventory
as compared to Equipment, Fixtures and Real Estate are not otherwise determined,
the allocation and application pursuant to Section 1.3(c) of those proceeds
shall be reasonably determined by Agent.
(e) Application of Payments with Respect to Certain Restricted
Payments. The net cash proceeds received by Itron from (i) its issuance of
additional Subordinated Debt or common Stock pursuant to Section 6.14(f) shall
be applied first, to the repurchase of Itron's Subordinated Debt, and then, to
Agent and Lenders in accordance with Section 1.3(c), and (ii) either its
restructure and reallocation of payments owing by Duquesne Light Company under
the Duquesne Agreement or the financing of the Duquesne Project by a third party
lender pursuant to Section 6.14(g) shall be allocated up to 30% (at the option
of Itron) to the repurchase of Itron's Subordinated Debt until repaid in full
and the remaining percentage of such proceeds to Agent and Lenders in accordance
with Section 1.3(c).
(f) No Consent to Prohibited Transactions. Nothing in this
Section 1.3 shall be construed to constitute Agent's or any Lender's consent to
any transaction that is not permitted by other provisions of this Agreement or
the other Loan Documents.
1.5 Use of Proceeds. Borrowers shall utilize the proceeds of the
Revolving Loan and the Swing Line Advances solely for the Refinancing (and to
pay any related transaction expenses), and for the financing of Borrowers'
ordinary working capital and general corporate needs (but excluding in any event
the making of any Restricted Payment not specifically permitted by Section
6.14). Disclosure Schedule (1.4) contains a description of Borrowers' sources
and uses of funds as of the Closing Date, including Loans and Letter of Credit
Obligations to be made or incurred on such date.
1.6 Interest and Applicable Margins.
(a) Borrowers shall pay interest to Agent, for the ratable
benefit of Lenders in accordance with the various Loans being made by each
Lender, in arrears on each applicable Interest Payment Date, at the following
rates: (i) with respect to the Revolving Credit Advances, the Index Rate plus
the Applicable Revolver Index Margin per annum or, at the election of Borrower
Representative, the applicable LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Revolver LIBOR
Margin per annum, based on the aggregate Revolving Credit Advances outstanding
from time to time; and (ii) with respect to the Swing Line Loan, the Index Rate
plus the Applicable Revolver Index Margin per annum.
The Applicable Revolver Index Margin and Applicable Revolver
LIBOR Margin shall be 0.50% and 2.00% per annum, respectively, as of the Closing
Date. The Applicable Margins shall be adjusted (up or down) prospectively on a
quarterly basis as determined by the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of Borrowers
and their Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the 12-month period then
ended, commencing with the first day of the first calendar month that occurs
more than five days after delivery of Borrowers' quarterly Financial Statements
to Lenders for the Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2000. Adjustments in
Applicable Margins will be determined by reference to the following grids:
If Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is: Level of
Applicable Margins:
>3.0 to 1 Level I
-
>2.5 to 1, but < 3.0 to 1 Level I I
-
>2.0 to 1, but < 2.5 to 1 Level III
-
<2.0 to 1 Level IV
Applicable Margins
Level I Level II Level III Level IV
Applicable Revolver 0% 0.25% 0.50% 0.75%
Index Margin
Applicable Revolver 1.50% 1.75% 2.00% 2.25%
LIBOR Margin
All adjustments in the Applicable Margins after December 31,
2000, shall be implemented quarterly on a prospective basis, for each calendar
month commencing at least five days after the date of delivery to Lenders of the
quarterly unaudited or annual audited (as applicable) Financial Statements
evidencing the need for an adjustment. Concurrently with the delivery of such
Financial Statements, Borrower Representative shall deliver to Agent and Lenders
a certificate, in the form of Exhibit 1.5(a), signed by its chief financial
officer, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for the continuance of, or
any change in, the Applicable Margins. Failure to timely deliver such Financial
Statements in accordance with Annex E shall, in addition to any other remedy
provided for in this Agreement, result in an increase in the Applicable Margins
to the highest level set forth in the foregoing grid until delivery of those
Financial Statements demonstrating that such an increase is not required. If a
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time
any reduction in the Applicable Margins is to be implemented, that reduction
shall be deferred until the first day of the first calendar month following the
date on which such Default or Event of Default is waived or cured.
(b) If any payment on any Loan becomes due and payable on a
day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof will be extended to the next
succeeding Business Day (except as set forth in the definition of LIBOR Period)
and, with respect to payments of principal, interest thereon shall be payable at
the then applicable rate during such extension.
(c) All computations of Fees calculated on a per annum basis
and interest shall be made by Agent on the basis of a 360-day year, in each case
for the actual number of days occurring in the period for which such Fees or
interest are payable. Each determination by Agent of an interest rate and Fees
hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive on Borrower (absent manifest
error).
(d) So long as an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing under Sections 8.1(a), (h) or (i) or so long as any other Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and at the election of Agent (or
upon the written request of Requisite Lenders) confirmed by written notice from
Agent to Borrower Representative, the interest rates applicable to the Loans and
the Letter of Credit Fees shall be increased by two percentage points (2%) per
annum above the rates of interest or the rate of such Fees otherwise applicable
hereunder (the "Default Rate"), and all outstanding Obligations shall bear
interest at the Default Rate applicable to such Obligations. Interest and Letter
of Credit Fees at the Default Rate shall accrue from the initial date of such
Default or Event of Default until that Default or Event of Default is cured or
waived and shall be payable upon demand.
(e) Subject to the conditions precedent set forth in Section
2.2, Borrower Representative shall have the option to (i) request that any
Revolving Credit Advance be made as a LIBOR Loan, (ii) convert at any time all
or any part of outstanding Loans (other than the Swing Line Loan) from Index
Rate Loans to LIBOR Loans, (iii) convert any LIBOR Loan to an Index Rate Loan,
subject to payment of LIBOR breakage costs in accordance with Section 1.13(b) if
such conversion is made prior to the expiration of the LIBOR Period applicable
thereto, or (iv) continue all or any portion of any Loan (other than the Swing
Line Loan) as a LIBOR Loan upon the expiration of the applicable LIBOR Period
and the succeeding LIBOR Period of that continued Loan shall commence on the
last day of the LIBOR Period of the Loan to be continued. Any Loan to be made or
continued as, or converted into, a LIBOR Loan must be in a minimum amount of
$2,000,000, and integral multiples of $500,000 in excess of such amount. Any
such election must be made by 10:00 a.m. (California time) on the third Business
Day prior to (A) the date of any proposed Advance that is to bear interest at
the LIBOR Rate, (B) the end of each LIBOR Period with respect to any LIBOR Loans
to be continued as such, or (C) the date on which Borrower Representative wishes
to convert any Index Rate Loan to a LIBOR Loan for a LIBOR Period designated by
Borrower Representative in such election. If no election is received with
respect to a LIBOR Loan by 10:00 a.m. (California time) on the third Business
Day prior to the end of the LIBOR Period with respect thereto (or if an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing or if the additional conditions
precedent set forth in Section 2.2 shall not have been satisfied), that LIBOR
Loan shall be converted to an Index Rate Loan at the end of its LIBOR Period.
Borrower Representative must make such election by notice to Agent in writing,
by telecopy or overnight courier. In the case of any conversion or continuation,
such election must be made pursuant to a written notice (a "Notice of
Conversion/Continuation") in the form of Exhibit 1.5(e).
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Section 1.5, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final order
that the rate of interest payable hereunder exceeds the highest rate of interest
permissible under law (the "Maximum Lawful Rate"), then so long as the Maximum
Lawful Rate would be so exceeded, the rate of interest payable hereunder shall
be equal to the Maximum Lawful Rate; provided, that if at any time thereafter
the rate of interest payable hereunder is less than the Maximum Lawful Rate,
Borrowers shall continue to pay interest hereunder at the Maximum Lawful Rate
until such time as the total interest received by Agent, on behalf of Lenders,
is equal to the total interest that would have been received had the interest
rate payable hereunder been (but for the operation of this paragraph) the
interest rate payable since the Closing Date as otherwise provided in this
Agreement. Thereafter, interest hereunder shall be paid at the rate(s) of
interest and in the manner provided in Sections 1.5(a) through (e), unless and
until the rate of interest again exceeds the Maximum Lawful Rate, and at that
time this paragraph shall again apply. In no event shall the total interest
received by any Lender pursuant to the terms hereof exceed the amount that such
Lender could lawfully have received had the interest due hereunder been
calculated for the full term hereof at the Maximum Lawful Rate. If the Maximum
Lawful Rate is calculated pursuant to this paragraph, such interest shall be
calculated at a daily rate equal to the Maximum Lawful Rate divided by the
number of days in the year in which such calculation is made. If,
notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 1.5(f), a court of competent
jurisdiction shall finally determine that a Lender has received interest
hereunder in excess of the Maximum Lawful Rate, Agent shall, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, promptly apply such excess in the order specified
in Section 1.11 and thereafter shall refund any excess to Borrowers or as a
court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise order.
1.7 Eligible Accounts. Based on the most recent Borrowing Base
Certificate delivered by each Borrower to Agent and on other information
available to Agent, Agent shall in its reasonable credit judgment determine
which Accounts of each Borrower shall be "Eligible Accounts" for purposes of
this Agreement. In determining whether a particular Account of any Borrower
constitutes an Eligible Account, Agent shall not include any such Account to
which any of the exclusionary criteria set forth below applies. Agent reserves
the right, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date in its
reasonable credit judgment, to adjust any such criteria, to establish new
criteria, to adjust advance rates, to establish Reserves, and to modify Reserves
with respect to Eligible Accounts, subject to the approval of Supermajority
Revolving Lenders in the event any such adjustments or the establishment of such
new criteria or Reserves have the effect of making more credit available.
Eligible Accounts shall not include any Account of any Borrower:
(a) that does not arise from the sale of goods or the
performance of services by such Borrower in the ordinary course of its business;
(b) (i) upon which such Borrower's right to receive payment is
not absolute or is contingent upon the fulfillment of any condition whatsoever
or (ii) as to which such Borrower is not able to bring suit or otherwise enforce
its remedies against the Account Debtor through judicial process or (iii) if the
Account represents a progress billing consisting of an invoice for goods sold or
used or services rendered pursuant to a contract under which the Account
Debtor's obligation to pay that invoice is subject to such Borrower's completion
of further performance under such contract or is subject to the equitable Lien
of a surety bond issuer;
(c) to the extent that any defense, counterclaim, setoff or
dispute is asserted as to such Account;
(d) that represents a pre-billed Account or is not otherwise a
true and correct statement of bona fide indebtedness incurred in the amount of
the Account for merchandise sold to or services rendered and accepted by the
applicable Account Debtor;
(e) with respect to which an invoice, acceptable to Agent in
form and substance, has not been sent to the applicable Account Debtor;
(f) that is not owned by such Borrower or is subject to any
right, claim, security interest or other interest of any other Person, other
than Liens in favor of Agent, on behalf of itself and Lenders;
(g) that arises from a sale to any director, officer, other
employee or Affiliate (other than (i) Centra Gas, (ii) Avista Corporation, (iii)
Houston Industries, Inc., (iv) Reliant Resources Corporation or (v) Arkla
Finance Corp.) of any Credit Party, or to any entity that has any common officer
or director with any Credit Party;
(h) that is the obligation of an Account Debtor that is the
United States government or a political subdivision thereof, or any state or
municipality or department, agency or instrumentality thereof unless Agent, in
its sole discretion, has agreed to the contrary in writing and such Borrower, if
necessary or desirable, has complied with the Federal Assignment of Claims Act
of 1940 or any applicable state statute or municipal ordinance of similar
purpose and effect, with respect to such obligation;
(i) that is the obligation of an Account Debtor located in a
foreign country other than Canada (excluding the provinces of Quebec and
Newfoundland and the Northwest Territories) unless payment thereof is assured by
a letter of credit assigned and delivered to Agent, satisfactory to Agent as to
form, amount and issuer;
(j) to the extent such Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof is
liable for goods sold or services rendered by the applicable Account Debtor to
such Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof but only to the extent of the potential
offset;
(k) that arises with respect to goods that are delivered on a
bill-and-hold, cash-on-delivery basis or placed on consignment, guaranteed sale
or other terms by reason of which the payment by the Account Debtor is or may be
conditional;
(l) that is in default; provided, that without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, an Account shall be deemed in default upon the
occurrence of any of the following:
(i) such Account is not paid within the earlier of 60
days following its due date or 90 days following its original invoice
date;
(ii) the Account Debtor obligated upon such Account
suspends business, makes a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors or fails to pay its debts generally as they come due; or
(iii) a petition is filed by or against any Account
Debtor obligated upon such Account under any bankruptcy law or any
other federal, state or foreign (including any provincial)
receivership, insolvency relief or other law or laws for the relief of
debtors;
(m) that is an obligation of an Account Debtor with respect to
which fifty percent (50%) or more of the Dollar amount of all Accounts owing by
such Account Debtor are ineligible under the other criteria set forth in this
Section 1.6;
(n) as to which Agent's Lien thereon, on behalf of itself and
Lenders, is not a first priority perfected Lien;
(o) as to which any of the representations or warranties
pertaining to Accounts in the Loan Documents is untrue;
(p) to the extent such Account is evidenced by a judgment
Instrument or Chattel Paper;
(q) to the extent such Account exceeds any credit limit
established by Agent, in its reasonable credit judgment, following prior notice
of such limit by Agent to Borrower Representative;
(r) to the extent that such Account, together with all other
Accounts owing by such Account Debtor and its Affiliates as of any date of
determination exceed 25% of all Eligible Accounts;
(s) that is payable in any currency other than Dollars; or
(t) that is otherwise unacceptable to Agent in its reasonable
credit judgment.
1.8 Eligible Inventory. Based on the most recent Borrowing Base
Certificate delivered by each Borrower to Agent and on any other information
available to Agent, Agent shall in its reasonable credit judgment determine
which Inventory of each Borrower shall be "Eligible Inventory" for purposes of
this Agreement. In determining whether any particular Inventory of any Borrower
constitutes Eligible Inventory, Agent shall not include any such Inventory to
which any of the exclusionary criteria set forth below applies. Agent reserves
the right, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date in its
reasonable credit judgment, to adjust any such criteria, to establish new
criteria, to adjust advance rates, to establish Reserves, and to modify Reserves
with respect to Eligible Inventory, subject to the approval of Supermajority
Revolving Lenders in the event any such adjustments or the establishment of such
new criteria or Reserves have the effect of making more credit available.
Eligible Inventory shall not include any Inventory of any Borrower that:
(a) is not owned by such Borrower free and clear of all Liens
and rights of any other Person (including the rights of a purchaser that has
made progress payments and the rights of a surety that has issued a bond to
assure such Borrower's performance with respect to such Inventory), except the
Liens in favor of Agent, on behalf of itself and Lenders, and Permitted
Encumbrances in favor of landlords and bailees to the extent permitted in
Section 5.9 (subject to Reserves established by Agent in accordance with Section
5.9);
(b) (i) is not located on premises owned or leased by such
Borrower or stored at a public warehouse, in each case located within the United
States of America and referenced in Disclosure Schedule (3.2), (ii) is located
at a public warehouse, unless (A) the warehouseman has executed a bailee letter
in form and substance acceptable to Agent and (B) Agent has determined the
amount of, and is maintaining, a Reserve against the Borrowing Base with respect
to the Inventory located at such public warehouse, (iii) is located at one of
such Borrower's owned or leased locations, unless either (A) the mortgagee or
landlord, as applicable, has executed a mortgagee's waiver or a landlord's
waiver, as the case may be, in form and substance acceptable to Agent or (B)
Agent has determined the amount of, and is maintaining, a Reserve against the
Borrowing Base with respect to the Inventory located at such owned or leased
location, (iv) is located at any site if the aggregate book value of Inventory
at any such location is less than $100,000, or (v) is located at any outside
processing facility or is otherwise in the custody of third parties for
processing or manufacture, including any Inventory that, upon its sale or
delivery, would constitute an Eligible Unbilled Account, unless, with respect to
such Inventory that is in the custody of the entity to be created in accordance
with the transaction described in Disclosure Schedule (6.2) for processing at
Itron's facility located at E. 15913 Euclid Avenue, Spokane, Washington, (A)
such entity shall have executed a bailee letter in form and substance acceptable
to Agent, (B) such Inventory shall be segregated from the other Inventory of
such entity, and (C) such Borrower shall have complied with such other criteria
as Agent may establish from time to time in its reasonable credit judgment;
provided, that Inventory that otherwise complies with the criteria set forth in
clauses (A) through (C) of this clause (v) shall only constitute Eligible
Inventory to the extent that the book value of such Inventory, when added to the
book value of all other Inventory that constitutes Eligible Inventory pursuant
to such criteria, does not exceed $10,000,000;
(c) is placed on consignment or is in transit;
(d) is covered by a negotiable document of title, unless such
document has been delivered to Agent with all necessary endorsements, free and
clear of all Liens except those in favor of Agent on behalf of itself and
Lenders;
(e) in Agent's reasonable determination is excess, obsolete,
unsalable, shopworn, seconds, damaged or unfit for sale;
(f) consists of display items or packing or shipping
materials, manufacturing supplies, items used for repairs or maintenance or
work-in-process Inventory;
(g) consists of goods that have been returned by the buyer,
unless such goods are inspected by such Borrower and returned unopened in their
original packaging;
(h) is not of a type held for sale in the ordinary course
of such Borrower's business;
(i) is not subject to a first priority perfected Lien in favor
of Agent, on behalf of itself and Lenders;
(j) does not comply with any of the representations or
warranties pertaining to Inventory set forth in the Loan Documents;
(k) consists of any costs associated with "freight-in" charges;
(l) consists of Hazardous Materials or goods that can be
transported or sold only with licenses that are not readily available;
(m) is not covered by casualty insurance acceptable to Agent;
(n) is subject to licensing or distribution agreements unless
Agent has obtained all consents, approvals and other documents required, in its
sole discretion, to provide Agent with the ability under such licensing or
distribution agreements and applicable laws and regulations to sell or dispose
of such Inventory;
(o) consists of goods delivered by such Borrower pursuant to
the Duquesne Agreement, the Houston Agreement or the Philadelphia Agreement; or
(p) is otherwise unacceptable to Agent in its reasonable
credit judgment.
1.9 Cash Management System. On or prior to the Closing Date, Borrowers
will establish and will maintain until the Termination Date, the cash management
system described in Annex C (the "Cash Management Systems").
1.10 Fees.
(a) Borrowers shall pay to GE Capital, individually, the Fees
specified in that certain fee letter of even date herewith, among Borrowers and
GE Capital (the "GE Capital Fee Letter"), at the times specified for payment
therein.
(b) As additional compensation for the Revolving Lenders,
Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the ratable benefit of such Lenders, in
arrears, on the first Business Day of each month prior to the Commitment
Termination Date and on the Commitment Termination Date, a Fee for Borrowers'
non-use of available funds in an amount equal to (i) three-eighths of one
percent (0.375%) per annum (calculated on the basis of a 360 day year for actual
days elapsed) multiplied by (ii) (A) the Aggregate Borrowing Base (as in effect
from time to time) minus (B) the average for the period of the daily closing
balances of the aggregate Revolving Loan and the Swing Line Loan outstanding
during the period for which such Fee is due.
(c) If Borrowers prepay the Revolving Loan and terminate the
Revolving Loan Commitment on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing
Date, whether voluntarily or involuntarily and whether before or after
acceleration of the Obligations, then Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the
benefit of Lenders as liquidated damages and compensation for the costs of being
prepared to make funds available hereunder an amount equal to (i) one percent
(1%) multiplied by (ii) the Maximum Amount.
(d) Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the ratable benefit of
Revolving Lenders, the Letter of Credit Fee as provided in Annex B.
1.11 Receipt of Payments. Borrowers shall make each payment under this
Agreement not later than 2:00 p.m. (California time) on the day when due in
immediately available funds in Dollars to the Collection Account. For purposes
of computing Fees or determining Borrowing Availability or Net Borrowing
Availability as of any date, all payments shall be deemed received on the
Business Day of receipt by Agent of immediately available funds therefor in the
Collection Account prior to 11:00 a.m. (California time). For purposes of
computing interest only, all payments shall be deemed received one Business Day
after receipt of immediately available funds therefor in the Collection Account
prior to 2:00 p.m. (California time). Payments received after 2:00 p.m.
(California time) on any Business Day or on a day that is not a Business Day
shall be deemed to have been received on the following Business Day.
1.12 Application and Allocation of Payments.
(a) So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing: (i) payments consisting of proceeds of Accounts received in the
ordinary course of business shall be applied first to the Swing Line Loan and
second to the Revolving Loan; (ii) voluntary prepayments shall be applied as
determined by Borrower Representative, subject to the applicable provisions of
Section 1.3; and (iii) mandatory prepayments and other specific payments
described in Section 1.3 shall be applied as set forth therein. As to each other
payment, and as to all payments made when an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing or following the Commitment Termination Date, each
Borrower hereby irrevocably waives the right to direct the application of any
and all payments received from or on behalf of such Borrower, and each Borrower
hereby irrevocably agrees that Agent shall have the continuing exclusive right
to apply any and all such payments against the Obligations of Borrowers as Agent
may deem advisable notwithstanding any previous entry by Agent in the Loan
Account or any other books and records. In the absence of a specific
determination by Agent with respect thereto, payments shall be applied to
amounts then due and payable in the following order: (A) to Fees and Agent's
expenses reimbursable hereunder; (B) to interest on the Swing Line Loan; (C) to
principal payments on the Swing Line Loan; (D) to interest on the other Loans,
ratably in proportion to the interest accrued as to each Loan; (E) to principal
payments on the other Loans and to provide cash collateral for Letter of Credit
Obligations in the manner described in Annex B, ratably to the aggregate,
combined principal balance of the other Loans and outstanding Letter of Credit
Obligations; and (F) to all other Obligations, including expenses of Lenders to
the extent reimbursable under Section 11.3.
(b) Agent is authorized to, and at its sole election may,
charge to the Revolving Loan balance on behalf of each Borrower and cause to be
paid all Fees, expenses, Charges, costs (including insurance premiums in
accordance with Section 5.4(a)) and interest and principal to the extent that
such principal payment consists of a repayment of the Swing Line Loan upon
demand by Agent pursuant to Section 1.1(b)(i) owing by Borrowers under this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents if and to the extent Borrowers fail
to pay promptly any such amounts as and when due, even if such charges would
cause the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Advances and Swing Line Advances
outstanding after giving effect to such charges to exceed Borrowing Availability
or would cause the balance of the Revolving Loan and the Swing Loan of any
Borrower to exceed such Borrower's separate Borrowing Base. At Agent's option
and to the extent permitted by law, any charges so made shall constitute part of
the Revolving Loan hereunder.
1.13 Loan Account and Accounting. Agent shall maintain a loan account
(the "Loan Account") on its books to record: (a) all Revolving Credit Advances;
(b) all payments made by Borrowers; and (c) all other debits and credits as
provided in this Agreement with respect to the Loans or any other Obligations.
All entries in the Loan Account shall be made in accordance with Agent's
customary accounting practices as in effect from time to time. The balance in
the Loan Account, as recorded on Agent's most recent printout or other written
statement, shall, absent manifest error, be presumptive evidence of the amounts
due and owing to Agent and Lenders by each Borrower; provided, that any failure
to so record or any error in so recording shall not limit or otherwise affect
any Borrower's duty to pay the Obligations. Agent shall render to Borrower
Representative a monthly accounting of transactions with respect to the Loans
setting forth the balance of the Loan Account as to each Borrower for the
immediately preceding month. Unless Borrower Representative notifies Agent in
writing of any objection to any such accounting (specifically describing the
basis for such objection), within 60 days after the date thereof, each and every
such accounting shall be deemed final, binding and conclusive on Borrowers
(absent manifest error) in all respects as to all matters reflected therein.
Only those items expressly objected to in such notice shall be deemed to be
disputed by Borrowers.
1.14 Indemnity.
(a) Each Credit Party that is a signatory hereto shall jointly
and severally indemnify and hold harmless each of Agent, Lenders and their
respective Affiliates, and each such Person's respective officers, directors,
employees, attorneys, agents and representatives (each, an "Indemnified
Person"), from and against any and all suits, actions, proceedings, claims,
damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys' fees and
disbursements and other costs of investigation or defense, including those
incurred upon any appeal) that may be instituted or asserted against or incurred
by any such Indemnified Person as the result of credit having been extended,
suspended or terminated under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and
the administration of such credit, and in connection with or arising out of the
transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder and any actions or failures
to act in connection therewith, including any and all Environmental Liabilities
and legal costs and expenses arising out of or incurred in connection with
disputes between or among any parties to any of the Loan Documents
(collectively, "Indemnified Liabilities"); provided, that no such Credit Party
shall be liable for any indemnification to an Indemnified Person to the extent
that any such suit, action, proceeding, claim, damage, loss, liability or
expense results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
Indemnified Person or any Affiliate of such Indemnified Person, as finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. NO INDEMNIFIED PERSON SHALL BE
RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE TO ANY OTHER PARTY TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, ANY SUCCESSOR,
ASSIGNEE OR THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY OF SUCH PERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON ASSERTING
CLAIMS DERIVATIVELY THROUGH SUCH PARTY, FOR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT MAY BE ALLEGED AS A RESULT OF CREDIT HAVING BEEN
EXTENDED, SUSPENDED OR TERMINATED UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR AS A RESULT OF ANY
OTHER TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER.
(b) To induce Lenders to provide the LIBOR Rate option on the
terms provided herein, if: (i) any LIBOR Loans are repaid in whole or in part
prior to the last day of any applicable LIBOR Period (whether such repayment is
made pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or
occurs as a result of acceleration, by operation of law or otherwise); (ii) any
Borrower shall default in payment when due of the principal amount of or
interest on any LIBOR Loan; (iii) any Borrower shall default in making any
borrowing of, conversion into or continuation of LIBOR Loans after Borrower
Representative has given notice requesting the same in accordance herewith; or
(iv) any Borrower shall fail to make any prepayment of a LIBOR Loan after
Borrower Representative has given a notice thereof in accordance herewith, then
Borrowers shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless each Lender
from and against all losses, costs and expenses resulting from or arising from
any of the foregoing. Such indemnification shall include any loss (including
loss of margin) or expense arising from the reemployment of funds obtained by it
or from fees payable to terminate deposits from which such funds were obtained.
For the purpose of calculating amounts payable to a Lender under this
subsection, each Lender shall be deemed to have actually funded its relevant
LIBOR Loan through the purchase of a deposit bearing interest at the LIBOR Rate
in an amount equal to the amount of that LIBOR Loan and having a maturity
comparable to the relevant Interest Period; provided, that each Lender may fund
each of its LIBOR Loans in any manner it sees fit, and the foregoing assumption
shall be utilized only for the calculation of amounts payable under this
subsection. This covenant shall survive the termination of this Agreement and
the payment of the Notes and all other amounts payable hereunder. As promptly as
practicable under the circumstances, each Lender shall provide Borrower
Representative with its written calculation of all amounts payable pursuant to
this Section 1.13(b), and such calculation shall be binding on the parties
hereto unless Borrower Representative shall object in writing within 30 days of
receipt thereof, specifying the basis for such objection in detail.
1.15 Access. Each Credit Party that is a party hereto shall, during
normal business hours, from time to time upon one Business Day's prior notice as
frequently as Agent determines to be appropriate: (a) provide Agent and any of
its officers, employees and agents access to its properties, facilities,
advisors and employees (including officers) of each Credit Party and to the
Collateral; (b) permit Agent and any of its officers, employees and agents to
inspect, audit and make extracts from any Credit Party's books and records; and
(c) permit Agent and its officers, employees and agents to inspect, review,
evaluate and make test verifications and counts of the Accounts, Inventory and
other Collateral of any Credit Party. If a Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing or if access is necessary to preserve or protect
the Collateral as determined by Agent, each such Credit Party shall provide such
access to Agent and to each Lender at all times and without advance notice.
Furthermore, so long as any Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, Borrowers shall cooperate with Agent and Lenders to provide Agent
and each Lender with access to Borrowers' suppliers and customers. Each Credit
Party shall make available to Agent and its counsel, as quickly as is reasonably
possible under the circumstances, originals or copies of all books and records
that Agent may reasonably request. Each Credit Party shall deliver any document
or instrument necessary for Agent, as it may from time to time request, to
obtain records from any service bureau or other Person that maintains records
for such Credit Party, and shall maintain duplicate records or supporting
documentation on media, including computer tapes and discs owned by such Credit
Party. Agent will give Lenders at least ten days' prior written notice of
regularly scheduled audits. Representatives of the Lenders may accompany Agent's
representatives on regularly scheduled audits at no charge to Borrowers.
1.16 Taxes.
(a) Any and all payments by each Borrower hereunder (including
any payments made pursuant to Section 12) or under the Notes shall be made, in
accordance with this Section 1.15, free and clear of and without deduction for
any and all present or future Taxes. If any Borrower shall be required by law to
deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder (including any
sum payable pursuant to Section 12) or under the Notes, (i) the sum payable
shall be increased as much as shall be necessary so that after making all
required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable
under this Section 1.15) Agent or Lenders, as applicable, receive an amount
equal to the sum they would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii)
such Borrower shall make such deductions, and (iii) such Borrower shall pay the
full amount deducted to the relevant taxing or other authority in accordance
with applicable law. Within 30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes,
Borrower Representative shall furnish to Agent the original or a certified copy
of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.
(b) Each Credit Party that is a signatory hereto shall jointly
and severally indemnify and, within 30 days of demand therefor, pay Agent and
each Lender for the full amount of Taxes (including any Taxes imposed by any
jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 1.15) paid by Agent or such
Lender, as appropriate, in connection with the transactions contemplated under
the Loan Documents and any liability (including penalties, interest and
expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes
were correctly or legally asserted.
(c) Each Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
outside the United States (a "Foreign Lender") as to which payments to be made
under this Agreement or under the Notes are exempt from United States
withholding tax under an applicable statute or tax treaty shall provide to
Borrower Representative and Agent a properly completed and executed IRS Forms
4224 (or IRS Forms W-8ECI) or IRS Forms 1001 (or IRS Forms W-8BEN) or other
applicable form, certificate or document prescribed by the IRS or the United
States certifying as to such Foreign Lender's entitlement to such exemption (a
"Certificate of Exemption"). Any foreign Person that seeks to become a Lender
under this Agreement shall provide a Certificate of Exemption to Borrower
Representative and Agent prior to becoming a Lender hereunder. No foreign Person
may become a Lender hereunder if such Person is unable to deliver a Certificate
of Exemption.
1.17 Capital Adequacy; Increased Costs; Illegality.
(a) If any Lender shall have determined that the adoption
after the date hereof of any law, treaty, governmental (or quasi-governmental)
rule, regulation, guideline or order regarding capital adequacy, reserve
requirements or similar requirements or compliance by any Lender with any
request or directive regarding capital adequacy, reserve requirements or similar
requirements (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or
other Governmental Authority increases or would have the effect of increasing
the amount of capital, reserves or other funds required to be maintained by such
Lender and thereby reducing the rate of return on such Lender's capital as a
consequence of its obligations hereunder, then Borrowers shall from time to time
upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to Agent) pay to Agent,
for the account of such Lender, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such
Lender for such reduction. A certificate as to the amount of that reduction and
showing the basis of the computation thereof submitted by such Lender to
Borrower Representative and to Agent shall be final, binding and conclusive on
Borrower (absent manifest error) for all purposes.
(b) If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change in
any law or regulation (or any change in the interpretation thereof) or (ii) the
compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other
Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law), in each case
adopted after the Closing Date, there shall be any increase in the cost to any
Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Loan, then
Borrowers shall, from time to time upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of
such demand to Agent), pay to Agent for the account of such Lender additional
amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased cost. A
certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted to Borrower
Representative and to Agent by such Lender, shall be final, binding and
conclusive on Borrowers (absent manifest error) for all purposes. Each Lender
agrees that, as promptly as practicable after it becomes aware of any
circumstances referred to above that would result in any such increased cost,
the affected Lender shall, to the extent not inconsistent with such Lender's
internal policies of general application, use reasonable commercial efforts to
minimize costs and expenses incurred by it and payable to it by Borrowers
pursuant to this Section 1.16(b).
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
if the introduction of or any change in any law or regulation (or any change in
the interpretation thereof) shall make it unlawful, or any central bank or other
Governmental Authority shall assert that it is unlawful, for any Lender to agree
to make or to make or to continue to fund or maintain any LIBOR Loan, then,
unless that Lender is able to make or to continue to fund or to maintain such
LIBOR Loan at another branch or office of that Lender without, in that Lender's
opinion, adversely affecting it or its Loans or the income obtained therefrom,
on notice thereof and demand therefor by such Lender to Borrower Representative
through Agent, (i) the obligation of such Lender to agree to make or to make or
to continue to fund or maintain LIBOR Loans shall terminate, and (ii) each
Borrower shall forthwith prepay in full all outstanding LIBOR Loans owing by
such Borrower to such Lender, together with interest accrued thereon, unless
Borrower Representative on behalf of such Borrower, within five Business Days
after the delivery of such notice and demand, converts all such LIBOR Loans into
Index Rate Loans.
(d) (i) Within 30 days after receipt by Borrower
Representative of written notice and demand from any Lender (an "Affected
Lender") for payment of additional amounts or increased costs as provided in
Sections 1.15(a), 1.16(a) or 1.16(b), Borrower Representative may, at its
option, notify Agent and such Affected Lender of its intention to replace the
Affected Lender. So long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, Borrower Representative, with the consent of Agent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, may obtain, at Borrowers' expense, a
replacement Lender ("Replacement Lender") for the Affected Lender, which
Replacement Lender must be satisfactory to Agent. If Borrower Representative
obtains a Replacement Lender within 90 days following notice of its intention to
do so, the Affected Lender must sell and assign its Loans and Commitments to
such Replacement Lender for an amount equal to the principal balance of all
Loans held by the Affected Lender and all accrued interest and Fees with respect
thereto through the date of such sale; provided, that Borrowers shall have
reimbursed such Affected Lender for the additional amounts or increased costs
that it is entitled to receive under this Agreement through the date of such
sale and assignment.
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Borrowers shall
not have the right to obtain a Replacement Lender if the Affected Lender
rescinds its demand for increased costs or additional amounts within 15 days
following its receipt of Borrowers' notice of intention to replace such Affected
Lender. Furthermore, if Borrowers give a notice of intention to replace and fail
to replace such Affected Lender within 90 days thereafter, then Borrowers (A)
shall not be permitted to replace such Affected Lender under this Section
1.16(d) based on the increased costs or additional amounts demanded by such
Affected Lender in the written notice and demand for payment of such costs or
amounts received by Borrowers from such Affected Lender and (B) shall promptly
pay all increased costs or additional amounts demanded by such Affected Lender
pursuant to Sections 1.15(a), 1.16(a) and 1.16(b); provided, that Borrowers
shall retain the right to replace any Lender that may become an Affected Lender
based on any subsequent written notice and demand for payment of additional
amounts or increased costs not the subject of any prior demand by such Lender.
1.18 Single Loan. All Loans to each Borrower and all of the other
Obligations of each Borrower arising under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents shall constitute one general obligation of that Borrower secured,
until the Termination Date, by all of the Collateral.
2. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
2.1 Conditions to the Initial Loans. No Lender shall be obligated to
make any Loan or incur any Letter of Credit Obligations on the Closing Date, or
to take, fulfill, or perform any other action hereunder, until the following
conditions have been satisfied or provided for in a manner satisfactory to
Agent, or waived in writing by Agent and Lenders:
(a) Credit Agreement; Loan Documents. This Agreement or
counterparts hereof shall have been duly executed by and delivered to Borrowers,
each other Credit Party, Agent and Lenders, and Agent shall have received such
documents, instruments, agreements and legal opinions as Agent shall request in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents, including all those listed in the Schedule of Documents, each in
form and substance satisfactory to Agent.
(b) Repayment of Prior Lender Obligations; Satisfaction of
Outstanding L/Cs. (i) Agent shall have received a fully executed original of a
pay-off letter satisfactory to Agent confirming that all of the Prior Lender
Obligations will be repaid in full from the proceeds of the initial Revolving
Credit Advance and all Liens upon any of the property of Borrowers or any of
their Subsidiaries in favor of Prior Lender shall be terminated by Prior Lender
immediately upon such payment; and (ii) all letters of credit issued or
guaranteed by Prior Lender shall have been cash collateralized, supported by a
guaranty of Agent or supported by a Letter of Credit issued pursuant to Annex B,
as mutually agreed upon by Agent, Borrowers and Prior Lender.
(c) Approvals. Agent shall have received (i) satisfactory
evidence that the Credit Parties have obtained all required consents and
approvals of all Persons, including all requisite Governmental Authorities, to
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and the consummation of the Related Transactions; or (ii) an officer's
certificate in form and substance satisfactory to Agent affirming that no such
consents or approvals are required.
(d) Opening Availability. The Eligible Accounts and Eligible
Inventory supporting the initial Revolving Credit Advance and the initial Letter
of Credit Obligations incurred and the amount of the Reserves to be established
on the Closing Date shall be sufficient in value, as determined by Agent, to
provide Borrowers, collectively, with Net Borrowing Availability, after giving
effect to the initial Revolving Credit Advance made to each Borrower, the
incurrence of any initial Letter of Credit Obligations and the consummation of
the Related Transactions (on a pro forma basis, with trade payables being paid
currently, and expenses and liabilities being paid in the ordinary course of
business and without acceleration of sales) of at least $9,800,000.
(e) Payment of Fees. Borrowers shall have paid the Fees
required to be paid on the Closing Date in the respective amounts specified in
Section 1.9 (including the Fees specified in the GE Capital Fee Letter), and
shall have reimbursed Agent for all fees, costs and expenses of closing
presented as of the Closing Date.
(f) Capital Structure; Other Indebtedness. The capital
structure of each Credit Party and the terms and conditions of all Indebtedness
of each Credit Party shall be acceptable to Agent in its sole discretion.
(g) Due Diligence. Agent shall have completed its business and
legal due diligence, including a roll forward of its previous Collateral audit,
with results satisfactory to Agent.
(h) Consummation of Related Transactions. Agent shall have
received fully executed copies of each of the Related Transactions Documents,
each of which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and its
counsel. The Related Transactions shall have been consummated in accordance with
the terms of the Related Transactions Documents.
2.2 Further Conditions to Each Loan. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, no Lender shall be obligated to fund any Loan, convert or
continue any Loan as a LIBOR Loan or incur any Letter of Credit Obligation, if,
as of the date thereof:
(a) any representation or warranty by any Credit Party
contained herein or in any other Loan Document shall be untrue or incorrect as
of such date, except to the extent that such representation or warranty
expressly relates to an earlier date and except for changes therein expressly
permitted or expressly contemplated by this Agreement; and Agent or Requisite
Revolving Lenders shall have determined not to make any Loan or incur any Letter
of Credit Obligation so long as such representation or warranty continues to be
untrue or incorrect;
(b) any event or circumstance having a Material Adverse Effect
shall have occurred since the date hereof;
(c) any Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing or would result after giving effect to any Loan or the incurrence of
any Letter of Credit Obligations, and Agent or Requisite Revolving Lenders shall
have determined not to make any Loan or incur any Letter of Credit Obligation so
long as such Default or Event of Default is continuing;
(d) after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Advance (or
the incurrence of any Letter of Credit Obligations), (i) the outstanding
principal amount of the aggregate Revolving Loan would exceed the lesser of the
Aggregate Borrowing Base and the Maximum Amount, in each case less the then
outstanding principal amount of the Swing Line Loan, or (ii) the outstanding
principal amount of the Revolving Loan of the applicable Borrower would exceed
such Borrower's separate Borrowing Base less the outstanding principal amount of
the Swing Line Loan to that Borrower; or
(e) after giving effect to any Swing Line Advance, (i) the
outstanding principal amount of the Swing Line Loan would exceed Swing Line
Availability, or (ii) the outstanding principal amount of the Swing Line Loan of
the applicable Borrower would exceed such Borrower's separate Borrowing Base
less the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loan to such Borrower.
The request and acceptance by any Borrower of the proceeds of any Loan, the
incurrence of any Letter of Credit Obligations or the conversion or continuation
of any Loan into, or as, a LIBOR Loan, as the case may be, shall be deemed to
constitute, as of the date of such request, acceptance or incurrence, (i) a
representation and warranty by Borrowers that the conditions in this Section 2.2
have been satisfied and (ii) a reaffirmation by Borrowers of the cross-guaranty
provisions set forth in Section 12 and of the granting and continuance of
Agent's Liens, on behalf of itself and Lenders, pursuant to the Collateral
Documents.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To induce Lenders to make Revolving Credit Advances and Swing Line
Advances and to incur Letter of Credit Obligations, the Credit Parties executing
this Agreement, jointly and severally, make the following representations and
warranties to Agent and each Lender with respect to all Credit Parties, each and
all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
3.1 Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law. Each Credit Party: (a) is
a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; (b) is duly qualified to conduct
business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction where its ownership
or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification,
except where the failure to be so qualified would not result in exposure to
losses, damages or liabilities in excess of $250,000; (c) has the requisite
corporate power and authority and the legal right to own, pledge, mortgage or
otherwise encumber and operate its properties, to lease the property it operates
under lease and to conduct its business as now, heretofore and proposed to be
conducted; (d) has all licenses, permits, consents or approvals from or by, and
has made all filings with, and has given all notices to, all Governmental
Authorities having jurisdiction, to the extent required for such ownership,
operation and conduct; (e) is in compliance with its charter and bylaws; and (f)
subject to specific representations set forth herein regarding ERISA,
Environmental Laws, tax and other laws, is in compliance with all applicable
provisions of law, except where the failure to comply, individually or in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.2 Executive Offices; Collateral Locations; FEIN. As of the Closing
Date, the current location of each Credit Party's chief executive office and the
warehouses and premises within which any Collateral is stored or located are set
forth in Disclosure Schedule (3.2), and none of such locations has changed
within the 12 months preceding the Closing Date. In addition, Disclosure
Schedule (3.2) lists the federal employer identification number of each Credit
Party.
3.3 Corporate Power, Authorization, Enforceable Obligations. The
execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of the Loan Documents
to which it is a party and the creation of all Liens provided for therein: (a)
are within such Credit Party's corporate power; (b) have been duly authorized by
all necessary or proper corporate and shareholder action; (c) do not contravene
any provision of such Credit Party's charter or bylaws; (d) do not violate any
law or regulation, or any order or decree of any court or Governmental
Authority; (e) do not conflict with or result in the breach or termination of,
constitute a default under or accelerate or permit the acceleration of any
performance required by, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease,
agreement or other instrument to which such Credit Party is a party or by which
such Credit Party or any of its property is bound; (f) do not result in the
creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the property of such Credit Party
other than those in favor of Agent, on behalf of itself and Lenders, pursuant to
the Loan Documents; and (g) do not require the consent or approval of any
Governmental Authority or any other Person, except those referred to in Section
2.1(c), all of which will have been duly obtained, made or complied with prior
to the Closing Date. On or prior to the Closing Date, each of the Loan Documents
shall have been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party that is a party
thereto and each such Loan Document shall then constitute a legal, valid and
binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms.
3.4 Financial Statements and Projections. Except for the Projections,
all Financial Statements concerning Itron and its Subsidiaries that are
referenced below have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
throughout the periods covered (except as disclosed therein and except, with
respect to unaudited Financial Statements, for the absence of footnotes and
normal year-end audit adjustments) and present fairly in all material respects
the financial position of the Persons covered thereby as at the dates thereof
and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended.
(a) The following Financial Statements attached hereto as
Disclosure Schedule (3.4(a)) have been delivered on the date hereof:
(i) The audited consolidated balance sheets at December
31, 1997, and December 31, 1998, and the related statements of income and cash
flows of Itron and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Years then ended, certified
by Deloitte & Touche LLP.
(ii) The unaudited balance sheet(s) at November 30,
1999, and the related statement(s) of income and cash flows of Itron and its
Subsidiaries for the11 Fiscal Months then ended.
(b) Pro Forma. The Pro Forma delivered on the date hereof and
attached hereto as Disclosure Schedule (3.4(b)) was prepared by Borrowers giving
pro forma effect to the Related Transactions, was based on the unaudited
consolidated balance sheets of Itron and its Subsidiaries dated November 30,
1999, and was prepared in accordance with GAAP, with only such adjustments
thereto as would be required in accordance with GAAP.
(c) Projections. The Projections delivered on the date hereof
and attached hereto as Disclosure Schedule (3.4(c)) have been prepared by
Borrowers on a consolidated basis in light of the past operations of their
businesses, but including future payments of known contingent liabilities, and
reflect projections for the four year period beginning on January 1, 2000, on a
month-by-month basis for the first year and on a year-by-year basis thereafter.
The Projections are based upon estimates and assumptions stated therein, all of
which Borrowers believe to be reasonable and fair in light of current conditions
and current facts known to Borrowers and, as of the Closing Date, reflect
Borrowers' good faith and reasonable estimates of the future financial
performance of Borrowers and of the other information projected therein for the
period set forth therein.
3.5 Material Adverse Effect. Between December 31, 1998, and the Closing
Date: (a) no Credit Party has incurred any obligations, contingent or
noncontingent liabilities, liabilities for Charges, long-term leases or unusual
forward or long-term commitments that are not reflected in the Pro Forma and
that, alone or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect; (b) no contract, lease or other agreement or instrument has been
entered into by any Credit Party or has become binding upon any Credit Party's
assets and no law or regulation applicable to any Credit Party has been adopted
that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
and (c) no Credit Party is in default and to the best of Borrowers' knowledge no
third party is in default under any material contract, lease or other agreement
or instrument to which such Credit Party is a party that alone or in the
aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Between December 31, 1998, and the Closing Date, no event has occurred that
alone or together with other events could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect other than events disclosed in writing to Agent prior to
the Closing Date and events reflected on the unaudited Financial Statements
dated November 30, 1999.
3.6 Ownership of Property; Liens. As of the Closing Date, the real
estate ("Real Estate") listed in Disclosure Schedule (3.6) constitutes all of
the real property owned, leased, subleased, or used by any Credit Party. Each
Credit Party owns good and marketable fee simple title to all of its owned Real
Estate, and valid and marketable leasehold interests in all of its leased Real
Estate, all as described in Disclosure Schedule (3.6), and copies of all such
leases or a summary of terms thereof satisfactory to Agent have been delivered
to Agent. Disclosure Schedule (3.6) further describes any Real Estate with
respect to which any Credit Party is a lessor, sublessor or assignor as of the
Closing Date. Each Credit Party also has good title to, or valid leasehold
interests in, all of its personal property and assets. As of the Closing Date,
none of the properties and assets of any Credit Party are subject to any Liens
other than Permitted Encumbrances, and there are no facts, circumstances or
conditions known to any Credit Party that may result in any Liens (including
Liens arising under Environmental Laws) other than Permitted Encumbrances. As of
the Closing Date, no portion of any Credit Party's Real Estate has suffered any
material damage by fire or other casualty loss that has not heretofore been
repaired and restored in all material respects to its original condition or
otherwise remedied. As of the Closing Date, all material permits required to
have been issued or appropriate to enable the Real Estate to be lawfully
occupied and used for all of the purposes for which it is currently occupied and
used have been lawfully issued and are in full force and effect.
3.7 Labor Matters. As of the Closing Date (a) no strikes or other
material labor disputes against any Credit Party are pending or, to any Credit
Party's knowledge, threatened; (b) hours worked by and payment made to employees
of each Credit Party comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act and each other
federal, state, local or foreign law applicable to such matters; (c) all
payments due from any Credit Party for employee health and welfare insurance
have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of such Credit Party; (d)
except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule (3.7), no Credit Party is a party to
or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, management agreement,
consulting agreement, employment agreement, bonus plan or agreement or stock
option, restricted stock, stock appreciation right or any similar plan,
agreement or arrangement (and true and complete copies of any agreements
described in Disclosure Schedule (3.7) have been delivered to Agent); (e) there
is no organizing activity involving any Credit Party pending or, to any Credit
Party's knowledge, threatened by any labor union or group of employees; (f)
there are no representation proceedings pending or, to any Credit Party's
knowledge, threatened with the National Labor Relations Board, and no labor
organization or group of employees of any Credit Party has made a pending demand
for recognition; and (g) except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule (3.7), there
are no complaints or charges against any Credit Party pending or, to the
knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened to be filed with any Governmental
Authority or arbitrator based on, arising out of, in connection with, or
otherwise relating to the employment or termination of employment by any Credit
Party of any individual.
3.8 Ventures, Subsidiaries and Affiliates; Outstanding Stock and
Indebtedness. Except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule (3.8), no Credit Party
has any Subsidiaries, is engaged in any joint venture or partnership with any
other Person, or is an Affiliate of any other Person. All of the issued and
outstanding Stock of each Credit Party is owned by each of the Stockholders and
in the amounts set forth in Disclosure Schedule (3.8). There are no outstanding
rights to purchase, options, warrants or similar rights or agreements pursuant
to which any Credit Party may be required to issue, sell, repurchase or redeem
any of its Stock or other equity securities or any Stock or other equity
securities of its Subsidiaries. All outstanding Indebtedness of each Credit
Party as of the Closing Date is described in Section 6.3 (including Disclosure
Schedule (6.3)).
3.9 Government Regulation. No Credit Party is an "investment company"
or an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for, an
"investment company," as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940. No Credit Party is subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, or any other federal or state
statute that restricts or limits its ability to incur Indebtedness or to perform
its obligations hereunder. The making of the Loans by Lenders to Borrowers, the
incurrence of the Letter of Credit Obligations on behalf of Borrowers, the
application of the proceeds thereof and repayment thereof and the consummation
of the Related Transactions will not violate any provision of any such statute
or any rule, regulation or order issued by the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
3.10 Margin Regulations. No Credit Party is engaged, nor will it
engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of
extending credit for the purpose of "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin
security" as such terms are defined in Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board
as now and from time to time hereafter in effect (such securities being referred
to herein as "Margin Stock"). No Credit Party owns any Margin Stock, and none of
the proceeds of the Loans or other extensions of credit under this Agreement
will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
any Margin Stock, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness that
was originally incurred to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or for any other
purpose that might cause any of the Loans or other extensions of credit under
this Agreement to be considered a "purpose credit" within the meaning of
Regulations T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board. No Credit Party will take or
permit to be taken any action that might cause any Loan Document to violate any
regulation of the Federal Reserve Board.
3.11 Taxes. All tax returns, reports and statements, including
information returns, required by any Governmental Authority to be filed by any
Credit Party have been filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority and all
Charges have been paid prior to the date on which any fine, penalty, interest or
late charge may be added thereto for nonpayment thereof (or any such fine,
penalty, interest, late charge or loss has been paid), excluding Charges or
other amounts being contested in accordance with Section 5.2(b). Proper and
accurate amounts have been withheld by each Credit Party from its respective
employees for all periods in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws and such withholdings have
been timely paid to the respective Governmental Authorities. Disclosure Schedule
(3.11) sets forth as of the Closing Date those taxable years for which any
Credit Party's tax returns are currently being audited by the IRS or any other
applicable Governmental Authority, and any assessments or threatened assessments
in connection with such audit, or otherwise currently outstanding. Except as
described in Disclosure Schedule (3.11), no Credit Party has executed or filed
with the IRS or any other Governmental Authority any agreement or other document
extending, or having the effect of extending, the period for assessment or
collection of any Charges. None of the Credit Parties or their respective
predecessors are liable for any Charges: (a) under any agreement (including any
tax sharing agreements) or (b) to each Credit Party's knowledge, as a
transferee. As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party has agreed or been requested
to make any adjustment under IRC Section 481(a), by reason of a change in
accounting method or otherwise, that would have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.12 ERISA.
(a) Disclosure Schedule (3.12) lists all Plans and separately
identifies all Pension Plans, including all Title IV Plans, Multiemployer Plans,
ESOPs and Welfare Plans, including all Retiree Welfare Plans. Copies of all such
listed Plans, together with a copy of the latest IRS/DOL 5500-series form for
each such Plan, have been delivered to Agent. Except with respect to
Multiemployer Plans, each Qualified Plan has been determined by the IRS to
qualify under Section 401 of the IRC, and the trusts created thereunder have
been determined to be exempt from tax under the provisions of Section 501 of the
IRC, and nothing has occurred that would cause the loss of such qualification or
tax-exempt status. Each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of
ERISA and the IRC, including the timely filing of all reports required under the
IRC or ERISA. Neither any Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has failed to
make any contribution or pay any amount due as required by either Section 412 of
the IRC or Section 302 of ERISA or the terms of any such Plan. Neither any
Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a "prohibited transaction,"
as defined in Section 4975 of the IRC, in connection with any Plan, that would
subject any Credit Party to a material tax on prohibited transactions imposed by
Section 4975 of the IRC.
(b) Except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule (3.12): (i) no
Title IV Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (ii) no ERISA Event or event
described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA with respect to any Title IV Plan has
occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (iii) there are no pending, or to
the knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened claims (other than claims for
benefits in the normal course), sanctions, actions or lawsuits, asserted or
instituted against any Plan or any Person as fiduciary or sponsor of any Plan;
(iv) no Credit Party or ERISA Affiliate has incurred or reasonably expects to
incur any liability as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from a
Multiemployer Plan; (v) within the last five years no Title IV Plan of any
Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate (determined at any time within the last five
years) has been terminated, whether or not in a "standard termination" as that
term is used in Section 4041(b)(1) of ERISA, nor has any Title IV Plan of any
Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate (determined at any time within the last five
years) with Unfunded Pension Liabilities been transferred outside of the
"controlled group" (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA) of any
Credit Party or ERISA Affiliate (determined at such time); (vi) except in the
case of any ESOP, Stock of all Credit Parties and their ERISA Affiliates makes
up, in the aggregate, no more than 10% of the assets of any Plan, measured on
the basis of fair market value as of the latest valuation date of any Plan; and
(vii) no liability under any Title IV Plan has been satisfied with the purchase
of a contract from an insurance company that is not rated AAA by the Standard &
Poor's Corporation or an equivalent rating by another nationally recognized
rating agency.
3.13 No Litigation. No action, claim, lawsuit, demand, investigation or
proceeding is now pending or, to the knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened
against any Credit Party before any Governmental Authority or before any
arbitrator or panel of arbitrators (collectively, "Litigation") that (a)
challenges any Credit Party's right or power to enter into or perform any of its
obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, or the validity or
enforceability of any Loan Document or any action taken thereunder, or (b) has a
reasonable risk of being determined adversely to any Credit Party and that, if
so determined, could have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in
Disclosure Schedule (3.13), as of the Closing Date there is no Litigation
pending or threatened that seeks damages in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate
or injunctive relief against, or alleges criminal misconduct by, any Credit
Party.
3.14 Brokers. No broker or finder acting on behalf of any Person
brought about the obtaining, making or closing of the Loans or the Related
Transactions, and no Credit Party has any obligation to any Person in respect of
any finder's or brokerage fees in connection therewith.
3.15 Intellectual Property. As of the Closing Date, each Credit Party
owns or has rights to use all Intellectual Property necessary to continue to
conduct its business as now or heretofore conducted by it or proposed to be
conducted by it, and each Patent, Trademark, Copyright and License is listed,
together with application or registration numbers, as applicable, in Disclosure
Schedule (3.15). Each Credit Party conducts its business and affairs without
infringement of or interference with any Intellectual Property of any other
Person that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule (3.15), no Credit Party is aware of
any infringement or claim of infringement by others of any of any Credit Party's
Intellectual Property.
3.16 Full Disclosure. No information contained in this Agreement, any
of the other Loan Documents, any Projections, Financial Statements or Collateral
Reports or other reports from time to time delivered hereunder or any written
statement furnished by or on behalf of any Credit Party to Agent or any Lender
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement contains or will contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances under which they were made. The Liens granted to
Agent, on behalf of itself and Lenders, pursuant to the Collateral Documents
will at all times be fully perfected first priority Liens in and to the
Collateral described therein, subject, as to priority, only to Permitted
Encumbrances with respect to the Collateral other than Accounts.
3.17 Environmental Matters.
(a) Except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule (3.17), as of
the Closing Date: (i) the Credit Parties are and have been in compliance with
all Environmental Laws, except for such noncompliance that would not result in
Environmental Liabilities that could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect; (ii) the Credit Parties have obtained, and are in compliance
with, all Environmental Permits required by Environmental Laws for the
operations of their respective businesses as presently conducted or as proposed
to be conducted, except where the failure to so obtain or comply with such
Environmental Permits would not result in Environmental Liabilities that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and all such
Environmental Permits are valid, uncontested and in good standing; (iii) no
Credit Party is involved in operations or knows of any facts, circumstances or
conditions, including any Releases of Hazardous Materials, that are likely to
result in any Environmental Liabilities of such Credit Party that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and no Credit Party
has permitted any current or former tenant or occupant of the Real Estate to
engage in any such operations; (iv) there is no Litigation arising under or
related to any Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits or Hazardous Material
that seeks damages, penalties, fines, costs or expenses in excess of $100,000 or
injunctive relief against, or that alleges criminal misconduct by, any Credit
Party; (v) no notice has been received by any Credit Party identifying it as a
"potentially responsible party" or requesting information under CERCLA or
analogous state statutes, and to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, there are
no facts, circumstances or conditions that may result in any Credit Party being
identified as a "potentially responsible party" under CERCLA or analogous state
statutes; and (vi) the Credit Parties have provided to Agent copies of all
existing environmental reports, reviews and audits and all written information
pertaining to actual or potential Environmental Liabilities, in each case
relating to any Credit Party.
(b) Each Credit Party hereby acknowledges and agrees that
Agent (i) is not now, and has not ever been, in control of any of the Real
Estate or any Credit Party's affairs, and (ii) does not have the capacity
through the provisions of the Loan Documents or otherwise to influence any
Credit Party's conduct with respect to the ownership, operation or management of
any of its Real Estate or compliance with Environmental Laws or Environmental
Permits.
3.18 Insurance. Disclosure Schedule (3.18) lists all insurance policies
of any nature maintained, as of the Closing Date, for current occurrences by
each Credit Party, as well as a summary of the terms of each such policy.
3.19 Deposit and Disbursement Accounts. Disclosure Schedule (3.19)
lists all banks and other financial institutions at which any Credit Party
maintains deposit or other accounts as of the Closing Date, including any
Disbursement Accounts, and such Schedule correctly identifies the name, address
and telephone number of each depository, the name in which the account is held,
a description of the purpose of the account, and the complete account number
therefor.
3.20 Government Contracts. Except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule
(3.20), as of the Closing Date, no Credit Party is a party to any contract or
agreement with any Governmental Authority and no Credit Party's Accounts are
subject to the Federal Assignment of Claims Act (31 U.S.C. Section 3727) or any
similar state or local law.
3.21 Customer and Trade Relations. As of the Closing Date, there exists
no actual or, to the knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened termination or
cancellation of, or any material adverse modification or change in: (a) the
business relationship of any Credit Party with any customer or group of
customers whose purchases during the preceding 12 months caused them to be
ranked among the ten largest customers of such Credit Party; or (b) the business
relationship of any Credit Party with any supplier material to its operations.
3.22 Agreements and Other Documents. As of the Closing Date, each
Credit Party has provided to Agent or its counsel, on behalf of Lenders,
accurate and complete copies (or summaries) of all of the following agreements
or documents to which it is subject, each of which is listed in Disclosure
Schedule (3.22): (a) supply agreements and purchase agreements not terminable by
such Credit Party within 60 days following written notice issued by such Credit
Party and involving transactions in excess of $1,000,000 per annum; (b) leases
of Equipment having a remaining term of one year or longer and requiring
aggregate rental and other payments in excess of $500,000 per annum; (c)
licenses and permits held by the Credit Parties, the absence of which could be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; (d) instruments and
documents evidencing Indebtedness of such Credit Party and any Lien granted by
such Credit Party with respect thereto; and (e) instruments and agreements
evidencing the issuance of any equity securities, warrants, rights or options to
purchase equity securities of such Credit Party.
3.23 Solvency. Both before and after giving effect to: (a) the Loans
and Letter of Credit Obligations to be made or incurred on the Closing Date or
such other date as Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations requested hereunder
are made or incurred; (b) the disbursement of the proceeds of such Loans
pursuant to the instructions of Borrower Representative; (c) the Refinancing and
the consummation of the other Related Transactions; and (d) the payment and
accrual of all transaction costs in connection with the foregoing, each Credit
Party is and will be Solvent.
3.24 Year 2000 Representations. Each Credit Party has completed a Year
2000 Assessment and a Year 2000 Corrective Plan, copies of which have been
delivered to Agent, and each Credit Party completed all Year 2000 Corrective
Actions and Year 2000 Implementation Testing as of November 15, 1999. Each
Credit Party has eliminated all Year 2000 Problems, except where the failure to
correct the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, individually or in the aggregate.
3.25 Subordinated Debt. As of the Closing Date, (a) Borrowers have
delivered to Agent a complete and correct copy of each of (i) the Indenture
between Itron and Chemical Trust Company of California, a California
corporation, as trustee, dated as of March 12, 1997, and (ii) the Indenture
between Itron and Chase Manhattan Trust Company of California, formerly known as
Chemical Trust Company of California, a California corporation, as trustee,
dated as of March 12, 1999 (collectively, the "Indentures"), and (b) neither of
the Indentures has been amended, supplemented or otherwise modified. Borrower
Representative has the corporate power and authority to incur the Indebtedness
evidenced by the Subordinated Notes. The subordination provisions of the
Subordinated Notes are enforceable against the holders of the Subordinated Notes
by Agent and Lenders. All Obligations, including the Obligations to pay
principal of and interest on the Loans, constitute senior Indebtedness entitled
to the benefits of the subordination provisions contained in the Subordinated
Notes. The principal of and interest on the Notes, all Letter of Credit
Obligations and all other Obligations will constitute "senior debt" as that or
any similar term is or may be used in any other instrument evidencing or
applicable to any other Subordinated Debt. Borrowers acknowledge that Agent and
each Lender are entering into this Agreement and are extending the Commitments
in reliance upon the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Notes and this
Section 3.25.
3.26 Unbilled Accounts. With respect to any Eligible Unbilled Account
of any Borrower, (a) such Borrower intends for the goods giving rise to such
Unbilled Account to be installed within 60 days after shipment and accepted and
invoiced within 75 days after shipment, and (b) such Unbilled Account is only
being currently reported as an Eligible Unbilled Account if and for so long as
not more than 60 days have elapsed since the date of shipment of the goods
giving rise to such Unbilled Account.
4. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION
4.1 Reports and Notices.
(a) Each Credit Party executing this Agreement hereby agrees
that, from and after the Closing Date and until the Termination Date, it shall
deliver to Agent or Lenders, as required, the Financial Statements, notices,
Projections and other information at the times, to the Persons and in the manner
set forth in Annex E.
(b) Each Credit Party executing this Agreement hereby agrees
that, from and after the Closing Date and until the Termination Date, it shall
deliver to Agent or Lenders, as required, the various Collateral Reports
(including Borrowing Base Certificates in the form of Exhibit 4.1(b)) at the
times, to the Persons and in the manner set forth in Annex F.
4.2 Communication with Accountants. Each Credit Party executing this
Agreement authorizes Agent and, so long as a Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, to communicate directly with its
independent certified public accountants, including Deloitte & Touche LLP, and
authorizes and shall instruct those accountants and advisors to disclose and
make available to Agent and each Lender any and all Financial Statements and
other supporting financial documents, schedules and information relating to any
Credit Party (including copies of any issued management letters) with respect to
the business, financial condition and other affairs of any Credit Party.
5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Each Credit Party executing this Credit Agreement jointly and severally
agrees as to all Credit Parties that from and after the date hereof and until
the Termination Date:
5.1 Maintenance of Existence and Conduct of Business. Each Credit Party
shall: (a) do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in
full force and effect its corporate existence and its rights and franchises; (b)
continue to conduct its business substantially as now conducted or as otherwise
permitted hereunder; (c) at all times maintain, preserve and protect all of its
assets and properties used or useful in the conduct of its business, and keep
the same in good repair, working order and condition in all material respects
(taking into consideration ordinary wear and tear) and from time to time make,
or cause to be made, all necessary or appropriate repairs, replacements and
improvements thereto consistent with industry practices; and (d) transact
business only in such corporate and trade names as are set forth in Disclosure
Schedule (5.1).
5.2 Payment of Obligations.
(a) Subject to Section 5.2(b), each Credit Party shall pay and
discharge or cause to be paid and discharged promptly all (i) Charges payable by
it, including Charges imposed upon it, its income and profits, or any of its
property (real, personal or mixed) and all Charges with respect to tax, social
security and unemployment withholding with respect to its employees, and (ii)
lawful claims for labor, materials, supplies and services or otherwise, in each
case before any thereof shall become past due.
(b) Each Credit Party may in good faith contest, by
appropriate proceedings, the validity or amount of any Charges, Taxes or claims
described in Section 5.2(a); provided, that: (i) at the time of commencement of
any such contest no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (ii)
adequate reserves with respect to such contest are maintained on the books of
such Credit Party, in accordance with GAAP; (iii) no Lien shall be imposed to
secure payment of such Charges, Taxes or claims but that is superior to any of
the Liens securing payment of the Obligations (other than a Lien in favor of a
Governmental Authority for which such Governmental Authority has not taken steps
to perfect such Lien that would have priority if certain steps had been taken),
and such contest is maintained and prosecuted with diligence and operates to
suspend collection or enforcement of such Charges, Taxes or claims; (iv) none of
the Collateral could reasonably be expected to be forfeited or lost as a result
of such contest; (v) such Credit Party shall promptly pay or discharge such
contested Charges, Taxes or claims and all additional charges, interest,
penalties and expenses, if any, and shall deliver to Agent evidence acceptable
to Agent of such compliance, payment or discharge, if such contest is terminated
or discontinued adversely to such Credit Party or the conditions set forth in
this Section 5.2(b) are no longer met; and (vi) Agent has not advised Borrowers
in writing that Agent reasonably believes that nonpayment or nondischarge
thereof could have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
5.3 Books and Records. Each Credit Party shall keep adequate books and
records with respect to its business activities in which proper entries,
reflecting all financial transactions, are made in accordance with GAAP and on a
basis consistent with the Financial Statements attached as Disclosure Schedule
(3.4(a)).
5.4 Insurance; Damage to or Destruction of Collateral.
(a) The Credit Parties shall, at their sole cost and expense,
maintain the policies of insurance described in Disclosure Schedule (3.18) in
form and with insurers reasonably acceptable to Agent. If any Credit Party at
any time or times hereafter shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies
of insurance required above, or to pay all premiums relating thereto, Agent may
at any time or times thereafter obtain and maintain such policies of insurance
and pay such premiums and take any other action with respect thereto that Agent
deems advisable. Agent shall have no obligation to obtain insurance for any
Credit Party or pay any premiums therefor. By doing so, Agent shall not be
deemed to have waived any Default or Event of Default arising from any Credit
Party's failure to maintain such insurance or pay any premiums therefor. All
sums so disbursed, including attorneys' fees, court costs and other charges
related thereto, shall be payable on demand by Borrowers to Agent and shall be
additional Obligations hereunder secured by the Collateral.
(b) Agent reserves the right at any time upon any change in
any Credit Party's risk profile (including any change in the product mix
maintained by any Credit Party or any laws affecting the potential liability of
such Credit Party) to require additional forms and limits of insurance to, in
Agent's opinion, adequately protect both Agent's and Lenders' interests in all
or any portion of the Collateral and to ensure that each Credit Party is
protected by insurance in amounts and with coverage customary for its industry.
If requested by Agent, each Credit Party shall deliver to Agent from time to
time a report of a reputable insurance broker, satisfactory to Agent, with
respect to its insurance policies.
(c) Each Credit Party shall deliver to Agent, in form and
substance satisfactory to Agent, endorsements to (i) all "All Risk" and business
interruption insurance naming Agent, on behalf of itself and Lenders, as loss
payee, and (ii) all general liability and other liability policies naming Agent,
on behalf of itself and Lenders, as additional insured. Each Credit Party
irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints Agent (and all officers, employees
or agents designated by Agent), so long as any Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing or the anticipated insurance proceeds exceed
$1,000,000, as such Credit Party's true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact
for the purpose of making, settling and adjusting claims under such "All Risk"
policies of insurance, endorsing the name of such Credit Party on any check or
other item of payment for the proceeds of such "All Risk" policies of insurance
and for making all determinations and decisions with respect to such "All Risk"
policies of insurance. Agent shall have no duty to exercise any rights or powers
granted to it pursuant to the foregoing power-of-attorney. Borrower
Representative shall promptly notify Agent of any loss, damage, or destruction
to the Collateral in the amount of $100,000 or more, whether or not covered by
insurance. After deducting from such proceeds the reasonable expenses, if any,
incurred by Agent in the collection or handling thereof, Agent may, at its
option, (A) permit or require such Credit Party to use such money, or any part
thereof, to replace, repair, restore or rebuild the Collateral in a diligent and
expeditious manner with materials and workmanship of substantially the same
quality as existed before the loss, damage or destruction or (B) apply such
proceeds to the reduction of the Obligations in accordance with Section 1.3(d);
(provided, that in the case of insurance proceeds pertaining to any Credit Party
other than Borrowers, such insurance proceeds shall be applied to the Loans
owing by Borrowers), or permit or require each Credit Party to use such money,
or any part thereof, to replace, repair, restore or rebuild the Collateral in a
diligent and expeditious manner with materials and workmanship of substantially
the same quality as existed before the loss, damage or destruction.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the casualty giving rise to such insurance
proceeds could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and
such insurance proceeds do not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate, Agent shall
permit the applicable Credit Party to replace, restore, repair or rebuild the
property; provided, that if such Credit Party shall not have completed or
entered into binding agreements to complete such replacement, restoration,
repair or rebuilding within 180 days of such casualty, Agent may apply such
insurance proceeds to the Obligations in accordance with Section 1.3(d). All
insurance proceeds that are to be made available to any Borrower to replace,
repair, restore or rebuild the Collateral shall be applied by Agent to reduce
the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Loan of such Borrower (which
application shall not result in a permanent reduction of the Revolving Loan
Commitment) and upon such application, Agent shall establish a Reserve against
the separate Borrowing Base of the affected Borrower in an amount equal to the
amount of such proceeds so applied. All insurance proceeds made available to any
Credit Party that is not a Borrower to replace, repair, restore or rebuild
Collateral shall be deposited in a cash collateral account. Thereafter, such
funds shall be made available to such Credit Party to provide funds to replace,
repair, restore or rebuild the Collateral as follows: (C) Borrower
Representative shall request a Revolving Credit Advance be made to such Credit
Party in the amount requested to be released; (D) so long as the conditions set
forth in Section 2.2 have been met, Revolving Lenders shall make such Revolving
Credit Advance; and (E) the Reserve established with respect to such insurance
proceeds shall be reduced by the amount of such Revolving Credit Advance. To the
extent not used to replace, repair, restore or rebuild the Collateral, such
insurance proceeds shall be applied in accordance with Section 1.3(d).
5.5 Compliance with Laws. Each Credit Party shall comply with all
federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations applicable to it,
including those relating to FCC, licensing, ERISA and labor matters and
Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits, except to the extent that the
failure to comply, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.6 Supplemental Disclosure. From time to time as may be requested by
Agent (which request will not be made more frequently than once each year absent
the occurrence and continuance of a Default or an Event of Default), the Credit
Parties shall supplement each Disclosure Schedule hereto, or any representation
herein or in any other Loan Document, with respect to any matter hereafter
arising that, if existing or occurring at the date of this Agreement, would have
been required to be set forth or described in such Disclosure Schedule or as an
exception to such representation or that is necessary to correct any information
in such Disclosure Schedule or representation that has been rendered inaccurate
thereby (and, in the case of any supplements to any Disclosure Schedule, such
Disclosure Schedule shall be appropriately marked to show the changes made
therein); provided, that (a) no such supplement to any such Disclosure Schedule
or representation shall be or be deemed a waiver of any Default or Event of
Default resulting from the matters disclosed therein, except as consented to by
Agent and Requisite Revolving Lenders in writing, and (b) no supplement shall be
required as to representations and warranties that relate solely to the Closing
Date.
5.7 Intellectual Property. Each Credit Party shall conduct its business
and affairs without infringement of or interference with any Intellectual
Property of any other Person, except to the extent the failure to so conduct its
business, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.8 Environmental Matters. Each Credit Party shall and shall cause each
Person within its control to: (a) conduct its operations and keep and maintain
its Real Estate in compliance with all Environmental Laws and Environmental
Permits other than noncompliance that could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect; (b) implement any and all investigation, remediation,
removal and response actions that are reasonably appropriate or necessary to
comply with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits pertaining to the
presence, generation, treatment, storage, use, disposal, transportation or
Release of any Hazardous Material on, at, in, under, above, to, from or about
any of its Real Estate, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) notify Agent promptly after
such Credit Party becomes aware of any violation of Environmental Laws or
Environmental Permits or any Release on, at, in, under, above, to, from or about
any Real Estate that is reasonably likely to result in Environmental Liabilities
in excess of $100,000; and (d) promptly forward to Agent a copy of any order,
notice, request for information or any communication or report received by such
Credit Party in connection with any such violation or Release or any other
matter relating to any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits that could
reasonably be expected to result in Environmental Liabilities in excess of
$100,000, in each case whether or not the Environmental Protection Agency or any
Governmental Authority has taken or threatened any action in connection with any
such violation, Release or other matter. If Agent at any time has a reasonable
basis to believe that there may be a violation of any Environmental Laws or
Environmental Permits by any Credit Party or any Environmental Liability arising
thereunder, or a Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, in, under, above, to,
from or about any of its Real Estate, that, in each case, could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, then each Credit Party shall, upon
Agent's written request (i) cause the performance of such environmental audits
including subsurface sampling of soil and groundwater, and preparation of such
environmental reports, in each case at Borrowers' expense, as Agent may from
time to time reasonably request, all of which shall be conducted by reputable
environmental consulting firms reasonably acceptable to Agent and shall be in
form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent, and (ii) permit Agent or its
representatives to have access to all Real Estate for the purpose of conducting
such environmental audits and testing as Agent deems reasonably appropriate,
including subsurface sampling of soil and groundwater. Borrowers shall reimburse
Agent for the reasonable costs of such audits and tests and the same will
constitute a part of the Obligations secured hereunder.
5.9 Landlords' Agreements, Mortgagee Agreements and Bailee Letters.
Each Credit Party shall use reasonable efforts to obtain a landlord's agreement,
mortgagee agreement or bailee letter, as applicable, from the lessor of each
leased property, mortgagee of owned property or bailee with respect to any
warehouse, processor or converter facility or other location where Collateral
having an aggregate book value in excess of $100,000 is stored or located, which
agreement or letter shall contain a waiver or subordination of all Liens or
claims that the landlord, mortgagee or bailee may assert against the Collateral
at that location, and shall otherwise be reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to Agent. With respect to such locations or warehouse space leased or
owned as of the Closing Date, if Agent has not received a landlord or mortgagee
agreement or bailee letter as of the Closing Date, any Borrower's Eligible
Inventory at that location shall, in Agent's discretion, be excluded from the
Borrowing Base or be subject to such Reserves as may be established by Agent in
its reasonable credit judgment. After the Closing Date, no real property or
warehouse space that is not set forth in Disclosure Schedule (3.2) shall be
leased, acquired or used by any Credit Party and no Inventory of any Credit
Party shall be shipped to a processor or converter under arrangements
established after the Closing Date, in each case without the prior written
consent of Agent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, but, in
Agent's discretion, may be conditioned upon the exclusion from the Borrowing
Base of Eligible Inventory at that location or the establishment of Reserves
acceptable to Agent) or unless and until a satisfactory landlord or mortgagee
agreement or bailee letter, as appropriate, shall first have been obtained with
respect to such location; provided, that no such agreement or letter shall be
necessary if the aggregate book value at such location is less than $100,000.
Each Credit Party shall timely and fully pay and perform its obligations under
all leases and other agreements with respect to each leased location or public
warehouse where assets having an aggregate book value in excess of $100,000 are
or may be located.
5.10 Further Assurances. Each Credit Party executing this Agreement
agrees that it shall and shall cause each other Credit Party to, at such Credit
Party's expense and upon request of Agent, duly execute and deliver, or cause to
be duly executed and delivered, to Agent such further instruments and do and
cause to be done such further acts as may be necessary or proper in the
reasonable opinion of Agent to carry out more effectively the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Each Credit Party executing this Agreement jointly and severally agrees
as to all Credit Parties that, without the prior written consent of Agent and
the Requisite Revolving Lenders, from and after the date hereof until the
Termination Date:
6.1 Mergers, Subsidiaries, Etc. No Credit Party shall directly or
indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise, take any of the following actions:
(a) form or acquire any Subsidiary (other than the SCE
Subsidiary); provided, that Itron may form one or more SPV Subsidiaries so long
as any such SPV Subsidiary either (1) will not receive the proceeds of any Loan
(except as otherwise permitted in clause (e) of Section 6.2), or (2) will
receive the proceeds of any Loan and is not financed by a third party lender
(i.e., with funds other than the Obligations) and satisfies each of the
following terms and conditions:
(i) Agent shall receive at least 30 days' prior
written notice of the proposed creation of such SPV Subsidiary, which
notice shall include a reasonably detailed description of the types and
locations of assets to be held by such SPV Subsidiary and the book
value of the assets at each such location;
(ii) such SPV Subsidiary shall only hold assets
located in the United States or Canada (other than the provinces of
Quebec and Newfoundland and the Northwest Territories) and comprising a
business, or those assets of a business, of the type engaged in by
Borrowers as of the Closing Date, and which business would not subject
Agent or any Lender to regulatory or third party approvals in
connection with the exercise of its rights and remedies under this
Agreement or any other Loan Documents other than approvals applicable
to the exercise of such rights and remedies with respect to Borrowers
prior to the creation of such SPV Subsidiary;
(iii) except as otherwise permitted in this Section
6, no additional Indebtedness, Guaranteed Indebtedness, contingent
obligations or other liabilities shall be incurred, assumed or
otherwise be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Itron after
giving effect to the creation of such SPV Subsidiary, except (A) Loans
made hereunder and (B) ordinary course trade payables, accrued expenses
and unsecured Indebtedness of such SPV Subsidiary; and
(iv) upon the creation of such SPV Subsidiary, such
SPV Subsidiary shall become a "Borrower" hereunder and a "Grantor"
under the Security Agreement, Agent will be granted a first priority
perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) in all assets of
such SPV Subsidiary except to the extent prohibited by applicable law
and regulations, and such SPV Subsidiary and the other Credit Parties
shall have executed such documents and taken such other actions as may
be required by Agent in connection therewith; or
(b) merge with, consolidate with, acquire all or substantially
all of the assets or capital Stock of, or otherwise combine with or acquire, any
Person, except that (i) any Borrower may merge with another Borrower; provided,
that Borrower Representative is the survivor of any such merger to which it is a
party, (ii) any Subsidiary of a Credit Party may be merged into such Credit
Party so long as such Credit Party is the survivor, and (iii) any Credit Party
(other than a Borrower) may be merged with another Credit Party (other than a
Borrower).
6.2 Investments; Loans and Advances. Except as otherwise expressly
permitted by this Section 6, no Credit Party shall make or permit to exist any
investment in, or make, accrue or permit to exist loans or advances of money to,
any Person, through the direct or indirect lending of money, holding of
securities or otherwise, except that: (a) Credit Parties may hold investments
comprised of notes payable, or stock or other securities issued by Account
Debtors to any Credit Party pursuant to negotiated agreements with respect to
settlement of such Account Debtor's Accounts in the ordinary course of business,
so long as the aggregate amount of such Accounts so settled by Credit Parties
does not exceed $100,000 in any Fiscal Year; (b) each Credit Party may maintain
its existing investments in its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date; (c)
Borrowers may make investments not to exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate
outstanding at any time in joint ventures with the prior written consent of
Agent and Requisite Revolving Lenders; (d) Itron may make the contemplated
investments and loans described in Disclosure Schedule (6.2); (e) Itron may fund
that portion of expenditures incurred by an SPV Subsidiary, in connection with
Outsourcing Contracts, that are not funded by a third party lender (i.e., with
funds other than the Obligations) and are otherwise permitted under paragraphs
(a) and (d) of Annex G; (f) Itron may make loans or otherwise advance funds to a
Subsidiary that is not domiciled in the United States of America and is not a
Credit Party that are not related to an Outsourcing Contract and are used by
such Subsidiary (i) for working capital purposes or (ii) in the ordinary course
of such Subsidiary's business in an amount not to exceed (A) $1,500,000 in any
Fiscal Year and (B) $3,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any time;
provided, that, for purposes of this Section 6.2(f), (I) any non-cash repayments
of loans by such Subsidiary to Itron shall not be applied as a credit against
the outstanding amount of such loans or other advances and (II) if the proceeds
of such loans or advances are to be used for Capital Expenditures, then such
Capital Expenditures are permitted under paragraph (a) of Annex G; (g) Itron may
make loans or otherwise advance funds to a Subsidiary that is not domiciled in
the United States of America and is not a Credit Party that are not related to
an Outsourcing Contract and are used by such Subsidiary in connection with the
restructuring, closing, consolidation and reorganization activities described in
Disclosure Schedule (B); in an amount not to exceed (i) $4,500,000 in the Fiscal
Year ending December 31, 2000, and (ii) $5,000,000 in the aggregate over the
term of this Agreement; and (h) so long as Agent has not delivered an Activation
Notice, Credit Parties may make investments, subject to Control Letters in favor
of Agent for the benefit of Lenders or otherwise subject to a perfected security
interest in favor of Agent for the benefit of Lenders, in (i) marketable direct
obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America
or any agency thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition
thereof, (ii) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date of
creation thereof and currently having the highest rating obtainable from either
Standard & Poor's Corporation or Moody's Investors Service, Inc., (iii)
certificates of deposit maturing no more than one year from the date of creation
thereof issued by commercial banks incorporated under the laws of the United
States of America, each having combined capital, surplus and undivided profits
of not less than $300,000,000 and having a senior secured rating of "A" or
better by a nationally recognized rating agency (an "A Rated Bank"), and (iv)
time deposits maturing no more than 30 days from the date of creation thereof
with A Rated Banks.
6.3 Indebtedness.
(a) No Credit Party shall create, incur, assume or permit to
exist any Indebtedness, except (without duplication) (i) Indebtedness secured by
purchase money security interests and Capital Leases permitted in clause (l) of
the definition of Permitted Encumbrances, (ii) the Loans and the other
Obligations, (iii) deferred taxes, (iv) unfunded pension fund and other employee
benefit plan obligations and liabilities to the extent they are permitted to
remain unfunded under applicable law, (v) existing and contemplated Indebtedness
described in Disclosure Schedule (6.3) and refinancings thereof or amendments or
modifications thereto that do not have the effect of increasing the principal
amount thereof or changing the amortization thereof (other than to extend the
same) and that are otherwise on terms and conditions no less favorable to any
Credit Party, Agent or any Lender, as reasonably determined by Agent, than the
terms of the Indebtedness being refinanced, amended or modified, (vi)
Subordinated Debt, (vii) Indebtedness that is without recourse to any Credit
Party, (viii) unsecured Indebtedness that supports the obligations of any Credit
Party with respect to Outsourcing Contracts or Turnkey Contracts, and (ix)
Indebtedness consisting of intercompany loans and advances made by any Borrower
to any Credit Party; provided, that: (A) such Credit Party shall have executed
and delivered to such Borrower, on the Closing Date, a demand note
("Intercompany Note") to evidence any such intercompany Indebtedness owing at
any time by such Credit Party to such Borrower which Intercompany Note shall be
in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and shall be pledged and delivered
to Agent pursuant to the applicable Security Agreement as additional collateral
security for the Obligations; (B) each Credit Party shall record all
intercompany transactions on its books and records in a manner reasonably
satisfactory to Agent; (C) the obligations of each Credit Party under any such
Intercompany Note shall be subordinated to the Obligations hereunder in a manner
satisfactory to Agent; (D) at the time any such intercompany loan or advance is
made by any Borrower to any Credit Party and after giving effect thereto, such
Borrower shall be Solvent; (E) no Default or Event of Default would occur and be
continuing after giving effect to any such proposed intercompany loan; and (F)
in the case of any intercompany Indebtedness, the Borrower advancing such funds
shall have Net Borrowing Availability under its separate Borrowing Base of not
less than $1,000,000 after giving effect to such intercompany loan.
(b) No Credit Party shall, directly or indirectly, voluntarily
purchase, redeem, defease or prepay any principal of, premium, if any, interest
or other amount payable in respect of any Indebtedness, other than: (i) the
Obligations; (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Permitted Encumbrance if the asset
securing such Indebtedness has been sold or otherwise disposed of in accordance
with Sections 6.8(b) or (c); and (iii) Subordinated Debt to the extent permitted
by Section 6.14.
6.4 Employee Loans and Affiliate Transactions.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly permitted in this Section 6
with respect to Affiliates, no Credit Party shall enter into or be a party to
any transaction with any other Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof except in
the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of such
Credit Party's business and upon fair and reasonable terms that are no less
favorable to such Credit Party than would be obtained in a comparable arm's
length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate of such Credit Party;
provided, that each sale of Inventory by any Borrower to an SPV Subsidiary that
is not a Borrower, which sale is in excess of $250,000, shall be on terms
requiring payment in cash not later than 60 days after shipment of such
Inventory. In addition, if any such transaction or series of related
transactions involves payments in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate (other
than transactions relating to sales of Inventory to, or Accounts owing from, (i)
Centra Gas, (ii) Avista Corporation, (iii) Houston Industries, Inc., (iv)
Reliant Resources Corporation or (v) Arkla Finance Corp.), the terms of these
transactions must be disclosed in advance to Agent and Lenders. All such
transactions existing as of the date hereof are described in Disclosure Schedule
(6.4(a)).
(b) No Credit Party shall enter into any lending or borrowing
transaction with any employees of any Credit Party, except loans to its
respective employees on an arm's length basis in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices for travel expenses, relocation costs and similar
purposes and stock option financing up to a maximum of $100,000 to any employee
and up to a maximum of $250,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding.
6.5 Capital Structure and Business. No Credit Party shall (a) make any
changes in any of its business objectives, purposes or operations that could in
any way adversely affect the repayment of the Loans or any of the other
Obligations or could have or result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) except as
otherwise permitted in Section 6.1, Section 6.14(f) or Section 6.14(g), change
its capital structure with respect to Stock (including securities convertible
into Stock) as described in Disclosure Schedule (3.8) by means of the issuance
of any shares of Stock, warrants or other securities convertible into Stock or
any revision of the terms of its outstanding Stock; provided, that Itron may (i)
make a Qualified Public Offering of its common Stock so long as no Change of
Control occurs after giving effect thereto or (ii) grant options or issue shares
of Stock (A) in connection with the employee stock ownership plan described in
Disclosure Schedule (3.8) or (B) otherwise to its employees, or (c) amend its
charter or bylaws in a manner that would adversely affect Agent or Lenders or
such Credit Party's duty or ability to repay the Obligations. No Credit Party
shall engage in any business other than the types of businesses currently
engaged in by it.
6.6 Guaranteed Indebtedness. No Credit Party shall create, incur,
assume or permit to exist any Guaranteed Indebtedness except (a) by endorsement
of instruments or items of payment for deposit to the general account of any
Credit Party, (b) for Guaranteed Indebtedness incurred for the benefit of any
other Credit Party if the primary obligation is expressly permitted by this
Agreement and (c) for Guaranteed Indebtedness that is unsecured for which the
primary obligor is an SPV Subsidiary in connection with third party lender
financing (i.e., with funds other than the Obligations).
6.7 Liens. No Credit Party shall create, incur, assume or permit to
exist any Lien on or with respect to its Accounts or any of its other properties
or assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) except for (a) Liens in
existence on the date hereof and summarized in Disclosure Schedule (6.7) and
other Permitted Encumbrances, (b) Liens granted in connection with any third
party lender financing of the Duquesne Project, which Liens shall be on terms
reasonably acceptable to Agent, and (c) Liens granted on the capital Stock of
any SPV Subsidiary that is not a Borrower in connection with any third party
financing of such SPV Subsidiary. In addition, no Credit Party shall become a
party to any agreement, note, indenture or instrument or take any other action
that would prohibit the creation of a Lien on any of its properties or other
assets in favor of Agent, on behalf of itself and Lenders, as additional
collateral for the Obligations, except (i) operating leases, Capital Leases or
Licenses that prohibit Liens upon the assets that are subject thereto, (ii) any
agreement, note, indenture or instrument granted in connection with any third
party lender financing of the Duquesne Project, which agreement, note, indenture
or instrument shall be on terms reasonably acceptable to Agent, and (iii) Liens
granted on the capital Stock of any SPV Subsidiary that is not a Borrower in
connection with any third party financing of such SPV Subsidiary.
6.8 Sale of Stock and Assets. Except as otherwise permitted in Section
6.14(f), Section 6.14(g) or Section 6.19, no Credit Party shall sell, transfer,
convey, assign, contribute or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or
other assets, including its capital Stock or the capital Stock of any of its
Subsidiaries (whether in a public or a private offering or otherwise but
subject, in the case of Itron, to the provisions of Section 6.5(b)) or any of
its Accounts, other than:
(a) the sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(b) the sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition by a
Credit Party of Equipment, Fixtures or Real Estate that is obsolete or no longer
used or useful in such Credit Party's business and having a value not exceeding
$100,000 in any single transaction or $500,000 in the aggregate in any Fiscal
Year;
(c) other Equipment and Fixtures having a value not exceeding
$100,000 in any single transaction or $500,000 in the aggregate in any Fiscal
Year;
(d) the contemplated transaction described in Disclosure
Schedule (6.2);
(e) the sale, transfer, conveyance, assignment, contribution
or other disposition of any of its properties or other assets to an SPV
Subsidiary that is a Borrower; and
(f) the sale, transfer, conveyance, assignment, contribution
or other disposition of the properties or other assets (in each case, a
"Permitted Transfer") by Itron to an SPV Subsidiary that is not a Borrower in
connection with the closing of a financing by a third party lender (i.e., with
funds other than the Obligations) of such SPV Subsidiary upon terms and
conditions satisfactory to Agent in its reasonable credit judgment, and provided
that each of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) Agent shall receive at least 30 days' prior
written notice of such Permitted Transfer and related financing, which
notice shall include a reasonably detailed description of the purposes
of such Permitted Transfer;
(ii) the proceeds of such third party financing shall
be (A) paid to a Borrower in cash, (B) equal to or greater than the
book value of the portion of the transferred assets that constitute
Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory and are included in the
calculation of such Borrower's Borrowing Base at such time, and (C)
applied to the Loans in the manner set forth in Section 1.11;
(iii) the amount equal to (A) the book value of the
transferred assets (excluding the short-term and long-term portions of
the Contracts Receivable transferred by Itron to such SPV Subsidiary),
minus (B) the proceeds of such financing, is an amount that, at the
time of such transfer, is otherwise permitted under paragraphs (a) and
(d) of Annex G;
(iv) concurrently with delivery of the notice
referred to in clause (i) above, Borrowers shall have delivered to
Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, (A) a pro forma
consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of Itron and its
Subsidiaries (the "Subsidiary Pro Forma"), based on recent financial
data, which shall fairly represent the assets, liabilities, financial
condition and results of operations of Itron and its Subsidiaries in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied, but taking into account such
Permitted Transfer, the funding of the third party finance and all
Loans in connection therewith, and such Subsidiary Pro Forma shall
reflect that, on a pro forma basis, (I) such SPV Subsidiary will be
able to perform all of its obligations to third parties, (II) no Event
of Default would result after giving effect to such Permitted Transfer,
and (III) Borrowers would have been in compliance with the financial
covenants set forth in Annex G for the four quarter period reflected in
the Compliance Certificate most recently delivered to Agent pursuant to
Annex E prior to the creation of such Permitted Transfer (after giving
effect to such transfer and all Loans funded in connection therewith as
if made on the first day of such period), and (B) the certification of
the Chief Financial Officer of Itron that (1) such Subsidiary Pro Forma
fairly represents the information described in clause (A) above in
accordance with GAAP, and (2) any other information presented is true,
correct and complete in all material respects and that there was no
Event of Default in existence as of such time or that would result
after giving effect to such Permitted Transfer; and
(v) at the time of such Permitted Transfer and after
giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing.
With respect to any disposition of assets or other properties permitted pursuant
to clauses (b) and (c) above, Agent agrees on reasonable prior written notice to
release its Lien on such assets or other properties in order to permit the
applicable Credit Party to effect such disposition and shall execute and deliver
to Borrowers, at Borrowers' expense, appropriate UCC termination statements and
other releases as reasonably requested by Borrowers in connection therewith.
6.9 ERISA. No Credit Party shall, or shall cause or permit any ERISA
Affiliate to, cause or permit to occur an event that could result in the
imposition of a Lien under Section 412 of the IRC or Section 302 or 4068 of
ERISA.
6.10 Financial Covenants. Borrowers shall not breach or fail to comply
with any of the financial covenants set forth in Annex G (the "Financial
Covenants").
6.11 Hazardous Materials. No Credit Party shall cause or permit a
Release of any Hazardous Material on, at, in, under, above, to, from or about
any of the Real Estate where such Release would (a) violate in any respect, or
form the basis for any Environmental Liabilities under, any Environmental Laws
or Environmental Permits or (b) otherwise adversely impact the value or
marketability of any of the Real Estate or any of the Collateral, other than
such violations or impacts that could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
6.12 Sale-Leasebacks. Except in connection with sales and leases
expressly permitted under this Section 6, no Credit Party shall engage in any
sale-leaseback, synthetic lease or similar transaction involving any of its
assets; provided, that Itron shall be permitted to enter into a sale-leaseback
transaction with respect to its facility located at 2818 North Sullivan Road,
Spokane, Washington, so long as the terms of such transaction are disclosed in
advance to, and are consented to by (which consent shall not unreasonably be
withheld by), Agent.
6.13 Cancellation of Indebtedness. No Credit Party shall cancel any
claim or debt owing to it, except for reasonable consideration negotiated on an
arm's length basis and in the ordinary course of its business consistent with
past practices.
6.14 Restricted Payments. No Credit Party shall make any
Restricted Payment, except, without duplication, any of the following:
(a) intercompany loans and advances between Borrowers to
the extent permitted by Section 6.3;
(b) dividends and distributions by Subsidiaries of any
Borrower paid to such Borrower;
(c) employee loans permitted under Section 6.4(b);
(d) scheduled payments of interest with respect to the
Subordinated Debt;
(e) redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund
or similar payments made to holders of Itron's Subordinated Debt or redemption,
purchase, repurchase or retirement payments to holders of Itron's common Stock,
which payments to such holders of Subordinated Debt or common Stock shall not
exceed in the aggregate (i) $10,000,000 during the period from the Closing Date
through and including the Commitment Termination Date and (ii) $7,000,000 during
any immediately trailing 12-month period, measured as of any date for the
12-month period then ended;
(f) the repurchase of Itron's Subordinated Debt in an amount
not to exceed the net cash proceeds received by Itron from the issuance of
additional Subordinated Debt or common Stock by Itron, in each case so long as
such issuance would not result in a Default or Event of Default; and
(g) the repurchase of Itron's Subordinated Debt in an amount
not to exceed 30% of the net cash proceeds received by Itron from (i) Duquesne
Light Company upon the consummation of the restructure and reallocation of
payments owing to Itron by Duquesne Light Company under the Duquesne Agreement,
or (ii) a third party lender (i.e., with funds other than the Obligations) that
finances the Duquesne Project in accordance with terms and conditions
satisfactory to Agent in its reasonable credit judgment,
provided, that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing or would result after giving effect to any payment pursuant to
clauses (d), (e), (f) or (g) above, (ii) the aggregate amount of redemption,
purchase, repurchase or retirement payments to holders of Itron's common Stock
under clause (e) above shall not exceed $5,000,000 during the period from the
Closing Date through and including the Commitment Termination Date, and (iii)
with respect to any payment pursuant to clauses (e), (f) or (g) above, Borrowers
collectively shall have Net Borrowing Availability of not less than $5,000,000
after giving effect (including pro forma effect during the 90-day period prior
to such payment) to any such payment at all times during the period from the
date that is 90 days prior to any such payment and through and including the
date that is 90 days after such payment.
6.15 Change of Corporate Name or Location; Change of Fiscal Year. No
Credit Party shall (a) change its corporate name or (b) change its chief
executive office, principal place of business, corporate offices or warehouses
or locations at which Collateral is held or stored, or the location of its
records concerning the Collateral, in each case without at least 30 days' prior
written notice to Agent and after Agent's written acknowledgment that any
reasonable action requested by Agent in connection therewith, including to
continue the perfection of any Liens in favor of Agent, on behalf of Lenders, in
any Collateral, has been completed or taken, and provided that any such new
location shall be in the continental United States of America. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, no Credit Party shall change its name, identity
or corporate structure in any manner that might make any financing or
continuation statement filed in connection herewith seriously misleading within
the meaning of Section 9402(7) of the Code or any other then applicable
provision of the Code except upon prior written notice to Agent and Lenders and
after Agent's written acknowledgment that any reasonable action requested by
Agent in connection therewith, including to continue the perfection of any Liens
in favor of Agent, on behalf of Lenders, in any Collateral, has been completed
or taken. No Credit Party shall change its Fiscal Year.
6.16 No Impairment of Intercompany Transfers. No Credit Party shall
directly or indirectly enter into or become bound by any agreement, instrument,
indenture or other obligation (other than this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents) that could directly or indirectly restrict, prohibit or require the
consent of any Person with respect to the payment of dividends or distributions
or the making or repayment of intercompany loans by a Subsidiary of any Borrower
to any Borrower or between Borrowers.
6.17 No Speculative Transactions. No Credit Party shall engage in any
transaction involving commodity options, futures contracts or similar
transactions, except solely to hedge against fluctuations in the prices of
commodities owned or purchased by it and the values of foreign currencies
receivable or payable by it and interest swaps, caps or collars.
6.18 Changes Relating to Subordinated Debt and Other Indebtedness. No
Credit Party shall change or amend the terms of any Subordinated Debt (or any
indenture or agreement in connection therewith) if the effect of such amendment
is to: (a) increase the interest rate on such Subordinated Debt; (b) change the
dates upon which payments of principal or interest are due on such Subordinated
Debt other than to extend such dates; (c) change any default or event of default
other than to delete or make less restrictive any default provision therein, or
add any covenant with respect to such Subordinated Debt; (d) change the
redemption or prepayment provisions of such Subordinated Debt other than to
extend the dates therefor or to reduce the premiums payable in connection
therewith; (e) grant any security or collateral to secure payment of such
Subordinated Debt; or (f) change or amend any other term if such change or
amendment would materially increase the obligations of such Credit Party
thereunder or confer additional material rights on the holder of such
Subordinated Debt in a manner adverse to any Credit Party, Agent or any Lender.
No Credit Party shall change or amend the terms of any documents, agreement or
instrument relating to Indebtedness of such Credit Party secured by a Permitted
Encumbrance if the effect of such change or amendment is to grant any additional
collateral to secure payment of such Indebtedness or if such change or amendment
would materially increase the obligations of such Credit Party thereunder or
confer additional material rights on the applicable secured party in a manner
adverse to any Credit Party, Agent or any Lender.
6.19 SCE Project. Itron shall not finance the SCE Project through a
third party lender (i.e., with funds other than the Obligations) unless (a) as a
result of such financing, the SCE Equipment and certain other assets with
respect thereto are transferred to the SCE Subsidiary and none of the assets
(other than the capital Stock of the SCE Subsidiary) of any Borrower or any
other Credit Party shall become subject to any Lien in favor of a third party
lender, and (b) the proceeds of such financing shall be (i) paid to Itron in
cash at closing, (ii) equal to or greater than the gross book value of the
portion of the transferred assets that constituted Eligible Accounts and
Eligible Inventory and were included in the calculation of the Borrowing Base at
such time, and (iii) applied to the Loans in the manner set forth in Section
1.11; provided, that such transfer shall only be permitted so long as the amount
equal to (A) the book value of the transferred assets, minus (B) the proceeds of
such financing, is an amount that, at the time of such transfer, is otherwise
permitted under paragraphs (a) and (d) of Annex G. Upon the consummation of any
such financing, the receipt by Itron of the proceeds thereof and application of
such proceeds to the Loans in the manner set forth in Section 1.11, Agent will,
on reasonable prior written notice, release its Lien on the SCE Equipment, the
SCE Agreement and the Accounts arising under the SCE Agreement in order to
permit Itron to effect such transaction and shall execute and deliver to Itron,
at Itron's expense, appropriate UCC termination statements and other releases as
reasonably requested by Itron in connection therewith.
6.20 Bank Accounts. No Credit Party shall alter or otherwise modify the
zero balance account designation of any Disbursement Account identified as a
"ZBA" account in Disclosure Schedule 3.19.
7. TERM
7.1 Termination. The financing arrangements contemplated hereby shall
be in effect until the Commitment Termination Date, and the Loans and all other
Obligations shall be automatically due and payable in full on such date.
7.2 Survival of Obligations Upon Termination of Financing Arrangements.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Loan Documents, no termination or
cancellation (regardless of cause or procedure) of any financing arrangement
under this Agreement shall in any way affect or impair the obligations, duties
and liabilities of the Credit Parties or the rights of Agent and Lenders
relating to any unpaid portion of the Loans or any other Obligations, due or not
due, liquidated, contingent or unliquidated, or any transaction or event
occurring prior to such termination, or any transaction or event, the
performance of which is required after the Commitment Termination Date. Except
as otherwise expressly provided herein or in any other Loan Document, all
undertakings, agreements, covenants, warranties and representations of or
binding upon the Credit Parties, and all rights of Agent and each Lender, all as
contained in the Loan Documents, shall not terminate or expire, but rather shall
survive any such termination or cancellation and shall continue in full force
and effect until the Termination Date; provided, that the provisions of Section
11, the payment obligations under Sections 1.15 and 1.16, and the indemnities
contained in the Loan Documents shall survive the Termination Date.
8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; RIGHTS AND REMEDIES
8.1 Events of Default. The occurrence of any one or more of the
following events (regardless of the reason therefor) shall constitute an "Event
of Default" hereunder:
(a) Any Borrower (i) shall fail to make any payment of
principal of, or interest on, or Fees owing in respect of, the Loans or any of
the other Obligations when due and payable, or (ii) shall fail to pay or
reimburse Agent or Lenders for any expense reimbursable hereunder or under any
other Loan Document within ten days following Agent's written demand for such
reimbursement or payment of expenses.
(b) Any Credit Party shall fail or neglect to perform, keep or
observe any of the provisions of Sections 1.4, 1.8, 5.4 or 6, or any of the
provisions set forth in Annexes C or G, respectively.
(c) Any Borrower shall fail or neglect to perform, keep or
observe any of the provisions of Section 4 or any provisions set forth in
Annexes E or F, respectively, and the same shall remain unremedied for three
Business Days or more.
(d) Any Credit Party shall fail or neglect to perform, keep or
observe any other provision of this Agreement or of any of the other Loan
Documents (other than any provision embodied in or covered by any other clause
of this Section 8.1) and the same shall remain unremedied for 20 days or more
following the earlier of (i) receipt by such Credit Party of written notice of
such failure and (ii) such Credit Party's knowledge of such failure.
(e) A default or breach shall occur under (i) any other
agreement, document or instrument to which any Credit Party is a party that is
not cured within any applicable grace period therefor, and such default or
breach (A) involves the failure to make any payment when due in respect of any
Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) of any Credit Party in excess of
$250,000 in the aggregate, or (B) causes, or permits any holder of such
Indebtedness or a trustee to cause, Indebtedness or a portion thereof in excess
of $250,000 in the aggregate to become due prior to its stated maturity or prior
to its regularly scheduled dates of payment, regardless of whether such default
is waived, or such right is exercised, by such holder or trustee, or (ii) any of
the Subordinated Debt Documents that is not cured within any applicable grace
period therefor.
(f) Any information contained in any Borrowing Base
Certificate (excluding immaterial clerical errors) shall be untrue or incorrect
in any respect, or any representation or warranty herein or in any Loan Document
or in any written statement, report, financial statement or certificate (other
than a Borrowing Base Certificate) made or delivered to Agent or any Lender by
any Credit Party is untrue or incorrect in any material respect as of the date
when made or deemed made.
(g) Assets of any Credit Party with a fair market value of
$100,000 or more shall be attached, seized, levied upon or subjected to a writ
or distress warrant, or come within the possession of any receiver, trustee,
custodian or assignee for the benefit of creditors of any Credit Party and such
condition continues for 30 days or more.
(h) A case or proceeding shall have been commenced against any
Credit Party seeking a decree or order in respect of such Credit Party (i) under
the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy
or other similar law, (ii) appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator,
assignee, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) for such Credit Party or
for any substantial part of such Credit Party's assets, or (iii) ordering the
winding-up or liquidation of the affairs of such Credit Party, and such case or
proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for 60 days or more or a decree
or order granting the relief sought in such case or proceeding shall be entered
by a court of competent jurisdiction over such case or proceeding.
(i) Any Credit Party shall (i) file a petition seeking relief
under the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, state or foreign
bankruptcy or other similar law, (ii) consent to or fail to contest in a timely
and appropriate manner the institution of proceedings thereunder or the filing
of any such petition or the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian,
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official)
for such Credit Party or for any substantial part of such Credit Party's assets,
(iii) make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (iv) take any corporate
action in furtherance of any of the foregoing, or (v) admit in writing its
inability to, or shall be generally unable to, pay its debts as such debts
become due.
(j) A final judgment or judgments for the payment of money in
excess of $250,000 in any one case or $500,000 in the aggregate at any time
outstanding shall be rendered against any Credit Party and the same shall not,
within 30 days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution
thereof stayed or bonded pending appeal, or shall not have been discharged prior
to the expiration of any such stay.
(k) Any material provision of any Loan Document shall for any
reason cease to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms
(or any Credit Party shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or
shall assert in writing, or engage in any action or inaction based on any such
assertion, that any provision of any of the Loan Documents has ceased to be or
otherwise is not valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms),
or any Lien created under any Loan Document shall cease to be a valid and
perfected first priority Lien (except as otherwise permitted herein or therein)
in any of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby.
(l) Any Change of Control shall occur.
(m) (i) Any material damage to, or loss, theft, or destruction
of, any Collateral, whether or not insured or insurable, or (ii) any strike,
lockout, labor dispute, embargo, condemnation, act of God or public enemy, or
other casualty or similar event, as a result of which revenue-producing
activities cease or are substantially curtailed at any facility of Borrowers
generating more than 20% of Borrowers' consolidated revenues for the Fiscal Year
preceding such event and such cessation or curtailment continues for more than
20 days.
(n) Any default or breach by Itron that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect shall occur and be continuing under
the Duquesne Agreement, or the Duquesne Agreement shall be terminated (other
than a termination for convenience by Duquesne Light Company under any provision
of the Duquesne Agreement giving Duquesne Light Company the right to terminate
upon the payment from Duquesne Light Company to Itron of the applicable amount
set forth in Disclosure Schedule (C)) for any reason.
8.2 Remedies.
(a) If any Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, then Agent may (and at the written request of the Requisite
Revolving Lenders, shall), without notice, (i) suspend this facility with
respect to further Advances or the incurrence of further Letter of Credit
Obligations, whereupon any further Advances and the incurrence of further Letter
of Credit Obligations shall be made or extended in Agent's sole discretion (or
in the sole discretion of the Requisite Revolving Lenders, if such suspension
occurred at their direction) so long as such Default or Event of Default is
continuing, and (ii) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, increase the
rate of interest applicable to the Loans and the Letter of Credit Fees to the
Default Rate.
(b) If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, Agent may (and at the written request of the Requisite Revolving
Lenders shall), without notice: (i) terminate this facility with respect to
further Revolving Credit Advances or the incurrence of further Letter of Credit
Obligations; (ii) declare all or any portion of the Obligations, including all
or any portion of any Loan, to be forthwith due and payable, and require that
the Letter of Credit Obligations be cash collateralized as provided in Annex B,
all without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of
which are expressly waived by Borrowers and each other Credit Party; or (iii)
exercise any rights and remedies provided to Agent under the Loan Documents or
at law or in equity, including all remedies provided under the Code; provided,
that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 8.1(g),
(h) or (i), all of the Obligations, including the aggregate Revolving Loan,
shall become immediately due and payable without declaration, notice or demand
by any Person.
8.3 Waivers by Credit Parties. Except as otherwise provided for in this
Agreement or by applicable law, each Credit Party waives (including for purposes
of Section 12): (a) presentment, demand and protest and notice of presentment,
dishonor, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, protest,
default, nonpayment, maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension or
renewal of any or all commercial paper, accounts, contract rights, documents,
instruments, chattel paper and guaranties at any time held by Agent on which any
Credit Party may in any way be liable, and hereby ratifies and confirms whatever
Agent may do in this regard, (b) all rights to notice and a hearing prior to
Agent's taking possession or control of, or Agent's replevy, attachment or levy
upon, the Collateral or any bond or security that might be required by any court
prior to allowing Agent to exercise any of its remedies, and (c) the benefit of
all valuation, appraisal, marshalling and exemption laws.
9. ASSIGNMENT AND PARTICIPATIONS; APPOINTMENT OF AGENT
9.1 Assignment and Participations.
(a) The Credit Parties signatory hereto consent to any
Lender's assignment of, or sale of participations in, at any time or times, the
Loan Documents, Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations or any Commitment or of any
portion thereof or interest therein, including any Lender's rights, title,
interests, remedies, powers or duties thereunder, whether evidenced by a writing
or not. Any assignment by a Lender shall: (i) require the consent of (A)
Borrower Representative (so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing), which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed,
and (B) Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and the
execution of an assignment agreement (an "Assignment Agreement") substantially
in the from attached hereto as Exhibit 9.1(a) and otherwise in form and
substance satisfactory to, and acknowledged by, Agent; (ii) be conditioned on
such assignee Lender representing to the assigning Lender and Agent that it is
purchasing the applicable Loans to be assigned to it for its own account, for
investment purposes and not with a view to the distribution thereof; (iii) if a
partial assignment, be in an amount at least equal to $5,000,000 and, after
giving effect to any such partial assignment, the assigning Lender shall have
retained Commitments in an amount at least equal to $5,000,000; and (iv) include
a payment to Agent of an assignment fee of $3,500. In the case of an assignment
by a Lender under this Section 9.1, the assignee shall have, to the extent of
such assignment, the same rights, benefits and obligations of all other Lenders
hereunder. The assigning Lender shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder
with respect to its Commitments or assigned portion thereof from and after the
date of such assignment. Each Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that any
permitted assignment shall give rise to a direct obligation of Borrowers to the
assignee and that the assignee shall be considered to be a "Lender." In all
instances, each Lender's liability to make Loans hereunder shall be several and
not joint and shall be limited to such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the applicable
Commitment. In the event Agent or any Lender so assigns or otherwise transfers
all or any part of a Note, Agent or any such Lender shall so notify Borrowers
and Borrowers shall, upon the request of Agent or such Lender, execute new Notes
in exchange for the Notes being assigned. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 9.1(a), any Lender may at any time pledge or assign
all or any portion of such Lender's rights under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided, that no such pledge or
assignment shall release such Lender from such Lender's obligations hereunder or
under any other Loan Document.
(b) Any participation by a Lender of all or any part of its
Commitments shall be in an amount at least equal to $5,000,000, and with the
understanding that all amounts payable by Borrowers hereunder shall be
determined as if that Lender had not sold such participation, and that the
holder of any such participation shall not be entitled to require such Lender to
take or omit to take any action hereunder except actions directly affecting (i)
any reduction in the principal amount of, or interest rate or Fees payable with
respect to, any Loan in which such holder participates, (ii) any extension of
the scheduled amortization of the principal amount of any Loan in which such
holder participates or the final maturity date thereof, and (iii) any release of
all or substantially all of the Collateral (other than in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, the Collateral Documents or the other Loan Documents).
Solely for purposes of Sections 1.13, 1.15, 1.16 and 9.8, each Borrower
acknowledges and agrees that a participation shall give rise to a direct
obligation of Borrowers to the participant and the participant shall be
considered to be a "Lender." Except as set forth in the preceding sentence no
Borrower or Credit Party shall have any obligation or duty to any participant.
Neither Agent nor any Lender (other than the Lender selling a participation)
shall have any duty to any participant and may continue to deal solely with the
Lender selling a participation as if no such sale had occurred.
(c) Except as expressly provided in this Section 9.1, no
Lender shall, as between Borrowers and that Lender, or Agent and that Lender, be
relieved of any of its obligations hereunder as a result of any sale,
assignment, transfer or negotiation of, or granting of participation in, all or
any part of the Loans, the Notes or other Obligations owed to such Lender.
(d) Each Credit Party executing this Agreement shall assist
any Lender permitted to sell assignments or participations under this Section
9.1 as reasonably required to enable the assigning or selling Lender to effect
any such permitted assignment or participation, including the execution and
delivery of any and all agreements, notes and other documents and instruments as
shall be requested and, if requested by Agent, the preparation of informational
materials for, and the participation of management in meetings with, potential
assignees or participants. Each Credit Party executing this Agreement shall
certify the correctness, completeness and accuracy of all descriptions of the
Credit Parties and their respective affairs contained in any selling materials
provided by them and all other information provided by them and included in such
materials, except that any Projections delivered by Borrowers shall only be
certified by Borrowers as having been prepared by Borrowers in compliance with
the representations contained in Section 3.4(c).
(e) Any Lender may furnish any information concerning
Borrowers in the possession of such Lender from time to time to assignees and
participants (including prospective assignees and participants); provided, that
such Lender shall obtain from assignees or participants confidentiality
covenants substantially equivalent to those contained in Section 11.8.
(f) So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, no Lender shall assign or sell participations in any portion of its
Loans or Commitments to a potential Lender or participant if, as of the date of
the proposed assignment or sale, the assignee Lender or participant would be
subject to capital adequacy or similar requirements under Section 1.16(a),
increased costs under Section 1.16(b), an inability to fund LIBOR Loans under
Section 1.16(c), or withholding taxes in accordance with Section 1.16(d).
9.2 Appointment of Agent.
(a) GE Capital is hereby appointed to act on behalf of all
Lenders as Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The
provisions of this Section 9.2 are solely for the benefit of Agent and Lenders
and no Credit Party nor any other Person shall have any rights as a third party
beneficiary of any of the provisions hereof. In performing its functions and
duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, Agent shall act solely
as an agent of Lenders and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have
assumed any obligation toward or relationship of agency or trust with or for any
Credit Party or any other Person. Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities
except for those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents. The duties of Agent shall be mechanical and administrative in nature
and Agent shall not have, or be deemed to have, by reason of this Agreement, any
other Loan Document or otherwise a fiduciary relationship in respect of any
Lender. Neither Agent nor any of its Affiliates nor any of their respective
officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives shall be liable to any
Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any
other Loan Document, or in connection herewith or therewith, except for damages
solely caused by its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct as
finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) If Agent shall request instructions from Requisite
Lenders, Requisite Revolving Lenders, Supermajority Revolving Lenders or all
affected Lenders with respect to any act or action (including failure to act) in
connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, then Agent shall be
entitled to refrain from such act or taking such action unless and until Agent
shall have received instructions from Requisite Lenders, Requisite Revolving
Lenders, Supermajority Revolving Lenders or all affected Lenders, as the case
may be, and Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so
refraining. Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any
action hereunder or under any other Loan Document (i) if such action would, in
the reasonable opinion of Agent, be contrary to law or the terms of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) if such action would, in the
reasonable opinion of Agent, expose Agent to Environmental Liabilities or (iii)
if Agent shall not first be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction against
any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking
or continuing to take any such action. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender
shall have any right of action whatsoever against Agent as a result of Agent
acting or refraining from acting hereunder or under any other Loan Document in
accordance with the instructions of Requisite Revolving Lenders, Supermajority
Revolving Lenders or all affected Lenders, as applicable.
9.3 Agent's Reliance, Etc. Neither Agent nor any of its Affiliates nor
any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable
for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection
with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except for damages caused by
its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct as finally determined by
a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Agent: (a) may treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof
until Agent receives written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof signed
by such payee and in form satisfactory to Agent; (b) may consult with legal
counsel, independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and
shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good
faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (c)
makes no warranty or representation to Agent or any Lender and shall not be
responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations made
in or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; (d) shall
not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance
of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents on the part of any Credit Party or to inspect the Collateral
(including the books and records) of any Credit Party; (e) shall not be
responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity,
enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or
thereto; and (f) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement
or the other Loan Documents by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or
other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopy, telegram, cable or telex)
believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.
9.4 GE Capital and Affiliates. With respect to its Commitments
hereunder, GE Capital shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents as any other Lender and may exercise the same as
though it were not Agent; and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless
otherwise expressly indicated, include GE Capital in its individual capacity. GE
Capital and its Affiliates may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in
any kind of business with, any Credit Party, any of their Affiliates and any
Person who may do business with or own securities of any Credit Party or any
such Affiliate, all as if GE Capital were not Agent and without any duty to
account therefor to Lenders. GE Capital and its Affiliates may accept fees and
other consideration from any Credit Party for services in connection with this
Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to Lenders. Each
Lender acknowledges the potential conflict of interest between GE Capital as a
Lender holding disproportionate interests in the Loans, and GE Capital as Agent.
9.5 Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon Agent or any other Lender and based on
the Financial Statements referred to in Section 3.4(a) and such other documents
and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit and financial
analysis of the Credit Parties and its own decision to enter into this
Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without
reliance upon Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own
credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement. Each
Lender acknowledges the potential conflict of interest of each other Lender as a
result of Lenders holding disproportionate interests in the Loans, and expressly
consents to, and waives any claim based upon, such conflict of interest.
9.6 Indemnification. Lenders agree to indemnify Agent (to the extent
not reimbursed by Borrowers and without limiting the obligations of Credit
Parties hereunder), ratably according to their respective Pro Rata Shares, from
and against any and all liabilities, 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 Agent
in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or any action taken or omitted to be taken by Agent in connection
therewith; provided, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements resulting solely from Agent's gross negligence
or wilful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse Agent promptly
upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including
counsel fees) incurred by Agent in connection with the preparation, execution,
delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether
through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in
respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement and each other Loan
Document, to the extent that Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by Credit
Parties.
9.7 Successor Agent. Agent may resign at any time by giving not less
than 30 days' prior written notice thereof to Lenders and Borrower
Representative. Upon any such resignation, the Requisite Revolving Lenders shall
have the right to appoint a successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have
been so appointed by the Requisite Revolving Lenders and shall have accepted
such appointment within 30 days after the resigning Agent's giving notice of
resignation, then the resigning Agent may, on behalf of Lenders, appoint a
successor Agent, which shall be a Lender if a Lender is willing to accept such
appointment, or otherwise shall be a commercial bank or financial institution or
a subsidiary of a commercial bank or financial institution if such commercial
bank or financial institution is organized under the laws of the United States
of America or of any State thereof and has a combined capital and surplus of at
least $300,000,000. If no successor Agent has been appointed pursuant to the
foregoing within 30 days after the date such notice of resignation was given by
the resigning Agent, such resignation shall become effective and the Requisite
Revolving Lenders shall thereafter perform all the duties of Agent hereunder
until such time, if any, as the Requisite Revolving Lenders appoint a successor
Agent as provided above. Any successor Agent appointed by Requisite Revolving
Lenders hereunder shall be subject to the approval of Borrower Representative,
such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, that such
approval shall not be required if a Default or an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent
hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall succeed to and become
vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning
Agent. Upon the earlier of the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder
by a successor Agent or the effective date of the resigning Agent's resignation,
the resigning Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, except that any indemnity rights or
other rights in favor of such resigning Agent shall continue. After any
resigning Agent's resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 9 shall
inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while
it was acting as Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
9.8 Setoff and Sharing of Payments. In addition to any rights now or
hereafter granted under applicable law and not by way of limitation of any such
rights, and subject to the provisions of Section 9.9(f), upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and each holder of
any Note is hereby authorized at any time or from time to time, without notice
to any Credit Party or to any other Person, any such notice being hereby
expressly waived, to offset and to appropriate and to apply any and all balances
held by it at any of its offices for the account of any Credit Party (regardless
of whether such balances are then due to such Credit Party) and any other
properties or assets at any time held or owing by that Lender or that holder to
or for the credit or for the account of Credit Parties against and on account of
any of the Obligations that are not paid when due. Any Lender or holder of any
Note exercising a right to offset or otherwise receiving any payment on account
of the Obligations in excess of its Pro Rata Share thereof shall purchase for
cash (and the other Lenders or holders shall sell) such participations in each
such other Lender's or holder's Pro Rata Share of the Obligations as would be
necessary to cause such Lender to share the amount so offset or otherwise
received with each other Lender or holder in accordance with their respective
Pro Rata Shares. Each Lender's obligation under this Section 9.8 shall be in
addition to and not in limitation of its obligations to purchase a participation
in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Swing Line Loans under Section
1.1. Each Credit Party agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that (a)
any Lender or holder may exercise its right to offset with respect to amounts in
excess of its Pro Rata Share of the Obligations and may sell participations in
such amounts so offset to other Lenders and holders and (b) any Lender or
holders so purchasing a participation in the Loans made or other Obligations
held by other Lenders or holders may exercise all rights of setoff, bankers'
lien, counterclaim or similar rights with respect to such participation as fully
as if such Lender or holder were a direct holder of the Loans and the other
Obligations in the amount of such participation. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if all or any portion of the setoff amount or payment otherwise received is
thereafter recovered from the Lender that has exercised the right of setoff, the
purchase of participations by that Lender shall be rescinded and the purchase
price restored without interest.
9.9 Advances; Non-Funding Lenders; Information; Actions in Concert.
(a) Advances; Payments.
(i) Revolving Lenders shall refund or participate
in the Swing Line Loan in accordance with clauses (iii) and (iv) of Section
1.1(b). If the Swing Line Lender declines to make a Swing Line Loan or if Swing
Line Availability is zero, Agent shall notify Revolving Lenders promptly after
receipt of a Notice of Revolving Credit Advance and in any event prior to 1:00
p.m. (California time) on the date such Notice of Revolving Advance is received,
by telecopy, telephone or other similar form of transmission. Each Revolving
Lender shall make the amount of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of each Revolving
Credit Advance available to Agent in same day funds by wire transfer to Agent's
account as set forth in Annex H not later than 12:00 noon (California time) on
the requested funding date, in the case of an Index Rate Loan, and not later
than 10:00 a.m. (California time) on the required funding date, in the case of a
LIBOR Loan. After receipt of such wire transfers (or, in the Agent's sole
discretion, before receipt of such wire transfers), subject to the terms hereof,
Agent shall make the requested Revolving Credit Advance to the Borrower
designated by Borrower Representative in the Notice of Revolving Credit Advance.
All payments by each Revolving Lender shall be made without setoff, counterclaim
or deduction of any kind.
(ii) On the second Business Day of each calendar week
or more frequently as aggregate cumulative payments in excess of $5,000,000 are
received with respect to the Loans (other than the Swing Line Loan) (each, a
"Settlement Date"), Agent shall advise each Lender by telephone or telecopy of
the amount of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of principal, interest and Fees paid
for the benefit of Lenders with respect to each applicable Loan. Provided that
each Lender has made all payments required to be made by it and has purchased
all participations required to be purchased by it under this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents as of such Settlement Date, Agent shall pay to each Lender
such Lender's Pro Rata Share of principal, interest and Fees paid by Borrowers
since the previous Settlement Date for the benefit of such Lender on the Loans
held by it. Such payments shall be made by wire transfer to such Lender's
account (as specified by such Lender in Annex H or the applicable Assignment
Agreement) not later than 1:00 p.m. (California time) on the next Business Day
following each Settlement Date.
(b) Availability of Lender's Pro Rata Share. Agent may assume
that each Revolving Lender will make its Pro Rata Share of each Revolving Credit
Advance available to Agent on each funding date. If such Pro Rata Share is not,
in fact, paid to Agent by such Revolving Lender when due, Agent will be entitled
to recover such amount on demand from such Revolving Lender without setoff,
counterclaim or deduction of any kind. If any Revolving Lender fails to pay the
amount of its Pro Rata Share forthwith upon Agent's demand, Agent shall promptly
notify Borrower Representative and Borrowers shall immediately repay such amount
to Agent. Nothing in this Section 9.9(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement or the
other Loan Documents shall be deemed to require Agent to advance funds on behalf
of any Revolving Lender or to relieve any Revolving Lender from its obligation
to fulfill its Commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that Borrowers
may have against any Revolving Lender as a result of any default by such
Revolving Lender hereunder. To the extent that Agent advances funds to any
Borrower on behalf of any Revolving Lender and is not reimbursed therefor on the
same Business Day as such Revolving Credit Advance is made, Agent shall be
entitled to retain for its account all interest accrued on such Revolving Credit
Advance until reimbursed by the applicable Revolving Lender.
(c) Return of Payments.
(i) If Agent pays an amount to a Lender under this
Agreement in the belief or expectation that a related payment has been or will
be received by Agent from Borrowers and such related payment is not received by
Agent, then Agent will be entitled to recover such amount from such Lender on
demand without setoff, counterclaim or deduction of any kind.
(ii) If Agent determines at any time that any amount
received by Agent under this Agreement must be returned to any Borrower or paid
to any other Person pursuant to any insolvency law or otherwise, then,
notwithstanding any other term or condition of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, Agent will not be required to distribute any portion thereof to any
Lender. In addition, each Lender will repay to Agent on demand any portion of
such amount that Agent has distributed to such Lender, together with interest at
such rate, if any, as Agent is required to pay to any Borrower or such other
Person without setoff, counterclaim or deduction of any kind.
(d) Non-Funding Lenders. The failure of any Revolving Lender
(such Revolving Lender, a "Non-Funding Lender") to make any Revolving Credit
Advance or to purchase any participation in any Swing Line Loan to be made or
purchased by it on the date specified therefor shall not relieve any other
Revolving Lender (each such other Revolving Lender, an "Other Lender") of its
obligations to make such Revolving Credit Advance or purchase such participation
on such date, but neither any Other Lender nor Agent shall be responsible for
the failure of any Non-Funding Lender to make an Advance to be made, or to
purchase a participation to be purchased, by such Non-Funding Lender, and no
Non-Funding Lender shall have any obligation to Agent or any Other Lender for
the failure by such Non-Funding Lender. Notwithstanding anything set forth
herein to the contrary, a Non-Funding Lender shall not have any voting or
consent rights under or with respect to any Loan Document or constitute a
"Lender" or a "Revolving Lender" (or be included in the calculation of
"Requisite Revolving Lenders" or "Supermajority Revolving Lenders" hereunder)
for any voting or consent rights under or with respect to any Loan Document.
(e) Dissemination of Information. Agent shall use reasonable
efforts to provide Lenders with any notice of Default or Event of Default
received by Agent from, or delivered by Agent to, any Credit Party, with notice
of any Event of Default of which Agent has actually become aware and with notice
of any action taken by Agent following any Event of Default; provided, that
Agent shall not be liable to any Lender for any failure to do so, except to the
extent that such failure is attributable solely to Agent's gross negligence or
willful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Lenders acknowledge that Borrowers are required to provide Financial Statements
and Collateral Reports to Lenders in accordance with Annexes E and F hereto and
agree that Agent shall have no duty to provide the same to Lenders.
(f) Actions in Concert. Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, each Lender hereby agrees with each other Lender that
no Lender shall take any action to protect or enforce its rights arising out of
this Agreement or the Notes (including exercising any rights of setoff) without
first obtaining the prior written consent of Agent or Requisite Revolving
Lenders, it being the intent of Lenders that any such action to protect or
enforce rights under this Agreement and the Notes shall be taken in concert and
at the direction or with the consent of Agent.
10. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding on and
shall inure to the benefit of each Credit Party, Agent, Lenders and their
respective successors and assigns (including, in the case of any Credit Party, a
debtor-in-possession on behalf of such Credit Party), except as otherwise
provided herein or therein. No Credit Party may assign, transfer, hypothecate or
otherwise convey its rights, benefits, obligations or duties hereunder or under
any of the other Loan Documents without the prior express written consent of
Agent and Requisite Lenders. Any such purported assignment, transfer,
hypothecation or other conveyance by any Credit Party without the prior express
written consent of Agent and Requisite Lenders shall be void. The terms and
provisions of this Agreement are for the purpose of defining the relative rights
and obligations of each Credit Party, Agent and Lenders with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby and no Person shall be a third party
beneficiary of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or any of the
other Loan Documents.
11. MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Complete Agreement; Modification of Agreement. The Loan Documents
constitute the complete agreement between the parties with respect to the
subject matter thereof and may not be modified, altered or amended except as set
forth in Section 11.2. Any letter of interest, commitment letter, fee letter
(other than the GE Capital Fee Letter) or confidentiality agreement between any
Credit Party and Agent or any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates,
predating this Agreement and relating to a financing of substantially similar
form, purpose or effect shall be superseded by this Agreement.
11.2 Amendments and Waivers. (a) Except for actions expressly permitted
to be taken by Agent, no amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement, any of the Notes or any other Loan Document, or any
consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall in any event be
effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Agent and Borrowers,
and by Requisite Revolving Lenders, Supermajority Revolving Lenders or all
affected Lenders, as applicable. Except as set forth in clauses (b) and (c)
below, all such amendments, modifications, terminations or waivers requiring the
consent of any Lenders shall require the written consent of Requisite Revolving
Lenders.
(b) No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of or
consent with respect to any provision of this Agreement that increases the
percentage advance rates set forth in the definition of the Itron Borrowing
Base, the UTS Borrowing Base or any other component of the Aggregate Borrowing
Base, or that makes less restrictive the nondiscretionary criteria for exclusion
from Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory set forth in Sections 1.6 and 1.7,
shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Agent,
Supermajority Revolving Lenders and Borrowers. No amendment, modification,
termination or waiver of or consent with respect to any provision of this
Agreement that waives compliance with the conditions precedent set forth in
Section 2.2 to the making of any Loan or the incurrence of any Letter of Credit
Obligations shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by
Agent, Requisite Revolving Lenders and Borrowers. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no waiver or consent with respect
to any Default (if in connection therewith Agent or Requisite Revolving Lenders,
as the case may be, have exercised its or their right to suspend the making or
incurrence of further Revolving Credit Advances or Letter of Credit Obligations
pursuant to Section 8.2(a)) or any Event of Default shall be effective for
purposes of the conditions precedent to the making of Loans or the incurrence of
Letter of Credit Obligations set forth in Section 2.2 unless the same shall be
in writing and signed by Agent, Requisite Revolving Lenders and Borrowers.
(c) No amendment, modification, termination or waiver shall,
unless in writing and signed by Agent and each Lender directly affected thereby:
(i) increase the principal amount of any Lender's Commitment (which action shall
be deemed to directly affect all Lenders); (ii) reduce the principal of, rate of
interest on or Fees payable with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit
Obligations of any affected Lender; (iii) extend any scheduled payment date or
final maturity date of the principal amount of any Loan of any affected Lender;
(iv) waive, forgive, defer, extend or postpone any payment of interest or Fees
as to any affected Lender; (v) release any Guaranty or, except as otherwise
permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents, permit any Credit Party to sell
or otherwise dispose of any Collateral with a value exceeding $5,000,000 in the
aggregate (which action shall be deemed to directly affect all Lenders); (vi)
change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of the Loans that shall be required for Lenders or any of them to take
any action hereunder; and (vii) amend or waive this Section 11.2 or the
definitions of the terms "Requisite Lenders," "Requisite Revolving Lenders" or
"Supermajority Revolving Lenders" insofar as such definitions affect the
substance of this Section 11.2. Furthermore, no amendment, modification,
termination or waiver affecting the rights or duties of Agent under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be effective unless in writing and
signed by Agent, in addition to Lenders required hereinabove to take such
action. Each amendment, modification, termination or waiver shall be effective
only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was
given. No amendment, modification, termination or waiver shall be required for
Agent to take additional Collateral pursuant to any Loan Document. No amendment,
modification, termination or waiver of any provision of any Note shall be
effective without the written concurrence of the holder of such Note. No notice
to or demand on any Credit Party in any case shall entitle such Credit Party or
any other Credit Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or
other circumstances. Any amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent
effected in accordance with this Section 11.2 shall be binding upon each holder
of the Notes at the time outstanding and each future holder of the Notes.
(d) If, in connection with any proposed amendment,
modification, waiver or termination (a "Proposed Change"):
(i) requiring the consent of all affected Lenders,
the consent of Supermajority Revolving Lenders is obtained,
but the consent of other Lenders whose consent is required is
not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is not obtained as
described in this clause (i) and in clauses (ii) and (iii)
below being referred to as a "Non-Consenting Lender"),
(ii) requiring the consent of Supermajority Revolving
Lenders, the consent of Requisite Revolving Lenders is
obtained, but the consent of Supermajority Revolving Lenders
is not obtained,
(iii) requiring the consent of Requisite Revolving
Lenders, the consent of Revolving Lenders holding 51% or more
of the aggregate Revolving Loan Commitments is obtained, but
the consent of Requisite Revolving Lenders is not obtained,
then, so long as Agent is not a Non-Consenting Lender, at Borrower
Representative's request, Agent or a Person acceptable to Agent shall have the
right with Agent's consent and in Agent's sole discretion (but shall have no
obligation) to purchase from such Non-Consenting Lenders, and such
Non-Consenting Lenders agree that they shall, upon Agent's request, sell and
assign to Agent or such Person, all of the Commitments of such Non-Consenting
Lenders for an amount equal to the principal balance of all Loans held by such
Non-Consenting Lenders and all accrued interest and Fees with respect thereto
through the date of sale, such purchase and sale to be consummated pursuant to
an executed Assignment Agreement.
(e) Upon indefeasible payment in full in cash and performance
of all of the Obligations (other than indemnification Obligations under Section
1.13), termination of the Commitments and a release of all claims against Agent
and Lenders, and so long as no suits, actions, proceedings or claims are pending
or threatened against any Indemnified Person asserting any damages, losses or
liabilities that are Indemnified Liabilities, Agent shall deliver to Borrowers
termination statements, mortgage releases and other documents necessary or
appropriate to evidence the termination of the Liens securing payment of the
Obligations.
11.3 Fees and Expenses. Borrowers shall reimburse Agent for all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation and
preparation of the Loan Documents (including the reasonable fees and expenses of
all of its special loan counsel, advisors, consultants and auditors retained in
connection with the Loan Documents and the Related Transactions and advice in
connection therewith). Borrowers shall reimburse Agent (and, with respect to
clauses (c), (d) and (e) below, all Lenders) for all fees, costs and expenses,
including the fees, costs and expenses of counsel or other advisors (including
environmental and management consultants and appraisers) for advice, assistance,
or other representation in connection with:
(a) the forwarding to Borrowers or any other Person on behalf
of Borrowers by Agent of the proceeds of the Loans;
(b) any amendment, modification or waiver of, consent with
respect to, or termination of, any of the Loan Documents or Related Transactions
Documents or advice in connection with the administration of the Loans made
pursuant hereto or its rights hereunder or thereunder;
(c) any litigation, contest, dispute, suit, proceeding or
action (whether instituted by Agent, any Lender, any Borrower or any other
Person, and whether as a party, witness or otherwise) in any way relating to the
Collateral, any of the Loan Documents or any other agreement to be executed or
delivered in connection herewith or therewith, including any litigation,
contest, dispute, suit, case, proceeding or action, and any appeal or review
thereof, in connection with a case commenced by or against any or all of the
Borrowers or any other Person that may be obligated to Agent by virtue of the
Loan Documents, including any such litigation, contest, dispute, suit,
proceeding or action arising in connection with any work-out or restructuring of
the Loans during the pendency of one or more Events of Default; provided, that
in the case of reimbursement of counsel for Lenders other than Agent, such
reimbursement shall be limited to one counsel for all such Lenders;
(d) any attempt to enforce any remedies of Agent against any
or all of the Credit Parties or any other Person that may be obligated to Agent
or any Lender by virtue of any of the Loan Documents, including any such attempt
to enforce any such remedies in the course of any work-out or restructuring of
the Loans during the pendency of one or more Events of Default; provided, that
in the case of reimbursement of counsel for Lenders other than Agent, such
reimbursement shall be limited to one counsel for all such Lenders;
(e) any work-out or restructuring of the Loans during the
pendency of one or more Events of Default; and
(f) efforts to (i) monitor the Loans or any of the other
Obligations, (ii) evaluate, observe or assess any of the Credit Parties or their
respective affairs, and (iii) verify, protect, evaluate, assess, appraise,
collect, sell, liquidate or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral;
including all reasonable attorneys' and other professional and service
providers' fees arising from such services, including those in connection with
any appellate proceedings, and all expenses, costs, charges and other fees
incurred by such counsel and others in connection with or relating to any of the
events or actions described in this Section 11.3, all of which shall be payable,
on demand, by Borrowers to Agent. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, such expenses, costs, charges and fees may include: fees, costs and
expenses of accountants, environmental advisors, appraisers, investment bankers,
management and other consultants and paralegals; court costs and expenses;
photocopying and duplication expenses; court reporter fees, costs and expenses;
long distance telephone charges; air express charges; telegram or telecopy
charges; secretarial overtime charges; and expenses for travel, lodging and food
paid or incurred in connection with the performance of such legal or other
advisory services.
11.4 No Waiver. Agent's or any Lender's failure, at any time or times,
to require strict performance by the Credit Parties of any provision of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document shall not waive, affect or diminish any
right of Agent or such Lender thereafter to demand strict compliance and
performance herewith or therewith. Any suspension or waiver of an Event of
Default shall not suspend, waive or affect any other Event of Default whether
the same is prior or subsequent thereto and whether the same or of a different
type. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.2, none of the undertakings,
agreements, warranties, covenants and representations of any Credit Party
contained in this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and no Default or
Event of Default by any Credit Party shall be deemed to have been suspended or
waived by Agent or any Lender, unless such waiver or suspension is by an
instrument in writing signed by an officer of or other authorized employee of
Agent and the applicable required Lenders, and directed to Borrowers specifying
such suspension or waiver.
11.5 Remedies. Agent's and Lenders' rights and remedies under this
Agreement shall be cumulative and nonexclusive of any other rights and remedies
that Agent or any Lender may have under any other agreement, including the other
Loan Documents, by operation of law or otherwise. Recourse to the Collateral
shall not be required.
11.6 Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement
or any other Loan Document shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable
law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition
or invalidity without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the
remaining provisions of this Agreement or such other Loan Document.
11.7 Conflict of Terms. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents by specific reference to the applicable
provisions of this Agreement, if any provision contained in this Agreement is in
conflict with, or inconsistent with, any provision in any of the other Loan
Documents, the provision contained in this Agreement shall govern and control.
11.8 Confidentiality. Agent and each Lender agree to use commercially
reasonable efforts (equivalent to the efforts Agent or such Lender applies to
maintaining the confidentiality of its own confidential information) to maintain
as confidential all confidential information provided to them by the Credit
Parties and designated as confidential for a period of two years following
receipt thereof, except that Agent and any Lender may disclose such information
(a) to Persons employed or engaged by Agent or such Lender in evaluating,
approving, structuring or administering the Loans and the Commitments; (b) to
any bona fide assignee or participant or potential assignee or participant that
has agreed to comply with the covenant contained in this Section 11.8 (and any
such bona fide assignee or participant or potential assignee or participant may
disclose such information to Persons employed or engaged by them as described in
clause (a) above); (c) as required or requested by any Governmental Authority or
reasonably believed by Agent or such Lender to be compelled by any court decree,
subpoena or legal or administrative order or process; (d) as, in the opinion of
Agent's or such Lender's counsel, is required by law; (e) in connection with the
exercise of any right or remedy under the Loan Documents or in connection with
any Litigation to which Agent or such Lender is a party; or (f) that ceases to
be confidential through no fault of Agent or any Lender.
11.9 GOVERNING LAW. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN ANY OF
THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, IN ALL RESPECTS, INCLUDING ALL MATTERS OF CONSTRUCTION,
VALIDITY AND PERFORMANCE, THE LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE OBLIGATIONS SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED IN THAT STATE
(WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF) AND ANY APPLICABLE
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. EACH CREDIT PARTY HEREBY CONSENTS AND
AGREES THAT THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY, CITY OF
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION TO HEAR AND
DETERMINE ANY CLAIMS OR DISPUTES BETWEEN THE CREDIT PARTIES, AGENT AND LENDERS
PERTAINING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY MATTER
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS;
PROVIDED, THAT AGENT, LENDERS AND THE CREDIT PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ANY
APPEALS FROM THOSE COURTS MAY HAVE TO BE HEARD BY A COURT LOCATED OUTSIDE OF SAN
FRANCISCO COUNTY, CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA; PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT
NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED OR OPERATE TO PRECLUDE AGENT FROM
BRINGING SUIT OR TAKING OTHER LEGAL ACTION IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION TO REALIZE
ON THE COLLATERAL OR ANY OTHER SECURITY FOR THE OBLIGATIONS, OR TO ENFORCE A
JUDGMENT OR OTHER COURT ORDER IN FAVOR OF AGENT. EACH CREDIT PARTY EXPRESSLY
SUBMITS AND CONSENTS IN ADVANCE TO SUCH JURISDICTION IN ANY ACTION OR SUIT
COMMENCED IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND EACH CREDIT PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION
THAT SUCH CREDIT PARTY MAY HAVE BASED UPON LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION,
IMPROPER VENUE OR FORUM NON CONVENIENS AND HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE GRANTING OF
SUCH LEGAL OR EQUITABLE RELIEF AS IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY SUCH COURT. EACH
CREDIT PARTY HEREBY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF THE SUMMONS, COMPLAINT AND OTHER
PROCESS ISSUED IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR SUIT AND AGREES THAT SERVICE OF SUCH
SUMMONS, COMPLAINT AND OTHER PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL
ADDRESSED TO SUCH CREDIT PARTY AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN ANNEX I OF THIS
AGREEMENT AND THAT SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED COMPLETED UPON THE EARLIER OF
SUCH CREDIT PARTY'S ACTUAL RECEIPT THEREOF OR THREE DAYS AFTER DEPOSIT IN THE
UNITED STATES MAILS, PROPER POSTAGE PREPAID.
11.10 Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever it is
provided herein that any notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration
or other communication shall or may be given to or served upon any of the
parties by any other parties, or whenever any of the parties desires to give or
serve upon any other parties any communication with respect to this Agreement,
each such notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other
communication shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been validly
served, given or delivered: (a) upon the earlier of actual receipt and three
Business Days after deposit in the United States Mail, registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, with proper postage prepaid; (b) upon
transmission, when sent by telecopy or other similar facsimile transmission
(with such telecopy or facsimile promptly confirmed by delivery of a copy by
personal delivery or United States Mail as otherwise provided in this Section
11.10); (c) one Business Day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier
with all charges prepaid; or (d) when delivered, if hand-delivered by messenger,
all of which shall be addressed to the party to be notified and sent to the
address or facsimile number indicated in Annex I or to such other address (or
facsimile number) as may be substituted by notice given as herein provided. The
giving of any notice required hereunder may be waived in writing by the party
entitled to receive such notice. Failure or delay in delivering copies of any
notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication
to any Person (other than Borrower Representative or Agent) designated in Annex
I to receive copies shall in no way adversely affect the effectiveness of such
notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication.
11.11 Section Titles. The Section titles and Table of Contents
contained in this Agreement are and shall be without substantive meaning or
content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the
parties hereto.
11.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
separate counterparts, each of which shall collectively and separately
constitute one agreement.
11.13 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. BECAUSE DISPUTES ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH
COMPLEX FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS ARE MOST QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY RESOLVED BY AN
EXPERIENCED AND EXPERT PERSON AND THE PARTIES WISH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL
LAWS TO APPLY (RATHER THAN ARBITRATION RULES), THE PARTIES DESIRE THAT THEIR
DISPUTES BE RESOLVED BY A JUDGE APPLYING SUCH APPLICABLE LAWS. THEREFORE, TO
ACHIEVE THE BEST COMBINATION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND OF
ARBITRATION, THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,
SUIT, OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE, WHETHER SOUNDING IN
CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, AMONG AGENT, LENDERS AND ANY CREDIT PARTY ARISING
OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED TO, OR INCIDENTAL TO THE RELATIONSHIP
ESTABLISHED AMONG THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER
LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO.
11.14 Press Releases. Each Credit Party executing this Agreement agrees
that neither it nor its Affiliates will in the future issue any press releases
or other public disclosure (other than required filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission) using the name of GE Capital or its affiliates or referring
to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or the Related Transactions
Documents without at least two Business Days' prior notice to GE Capital and
without the prior written consent of GE Capital unless (and only to the extent
that) such Credit Party or Affiliate is required to do so under law and then, in
any event, such Credit Party or Affiliate will consult with GE Capital before
issuing such press release or other public disclosure (other than required
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission). Each Credit Party consents
to the publication by Agent or any Lender of a tombstone or similar advertising
material relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
provided, that Agent or such Lender provides a draft of such tombstone or
material to Borrower Representative for review and comment before publication
thereof.
11.15 Reinstatement. This Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against
any Borrower for liquidation or reorganization, should any Borrower become
insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of any creditor or creditors or
should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of any
Borrower's assets, and shall continue to be effective or to be reinstated, as
the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Obligations, or
any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in
amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the
Obligations, whether as a "voidable preference," "fraudulent conveyance," or
otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the
event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or
returned, the Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such
amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.
11.16 Advice of Counsel. Each of the parties represents to each other
party hereto that it has discussed this Agreement and, specifically, the
provisions of Sections 11.9 and 11.13, with its counsel.
11.17 No Strict Construction. The parties hereto have participated
jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an
ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall
be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or
burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the
authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.
11.18 WASHINGTON STATUTE OF FRAUDS. ORAL AGREEMENTS OR ORAL COMMITMENTS
TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT, OR TO FORBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT
ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE UNDER WASHINGTON LAW.
12. CROSS-GUARANTY
12.1 Cross-Guaranty. Each Borrower hereby agrees that such Borrower is
jointly and severally liable for, and hereby absolutely and unconditionally
guarantees to Agent and Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, the
full and prompt payment (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) and performance of, all Obligations owed or hereafter owing to Agent
and Lenders by each other Borrower. Each Borrower agrees that its guaranty
obligation hereunder is a continuing guaranty of payment and performance and not
of collection, and that its obligations under this Section 12 shall be absolute
and unconditional, irrespective of, and unaffected by,
(a) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability or
any future amendment of, or change in, this Agreement, any other Loan Document
or any other agreement, document or instrument to which any Borrower is or may
become a party (except to the extent expressly set forth in any such amendment
or change);
(b) the absence of any action to enforce this Agreement
(including this Section 12) or any other Loan Document or the waiver or consent
by Agent and Lenders with respect to any of the provisions thereof;
(c) the existence, value or condition of, or failure to
perfect its Lien against, any security for the Obligations or any action, or the
absence of any action, by Agent and Lenders in respect thereof (including the
release of any such security);
(d) the insolvency of any Credit Party; or
(e) any other action or circumstances that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor,
it being agreed by each Borrower that its obligations under this Section 12
shall not be discharged until the payment and performance, in full, of the
Obligations has occurred. Each Borrower shall be regarded, and shall be in the
same position, as principal debtor with respect to the Obligations guaranteed
hereunder.
12.2 Waivers by Borrowers. Each Borrower expressly waives all rights it
may have now or in the future under any statute, or at common law, or at law or
in equity, or otherwise, to compel Agent or Lenders to marshall assets or to
proceed in respect of the Obligations guaranteed hereunder against any other
Credit Party, any other party or against any security for the payment and
performance of the Obligations before proceeding against, or as a condition to
proceeding against, such Borrower. It is agreed among each Borrower, Agent and
Lenders that the foregoing waivers are of the essence of the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and that, but for
the provisions of this Section 12 and such waivers, Agent and Lenders would
decline to enter into this Agreement.
12.3 Benefit of Guaranty. Each Borrower agrees that the provisions of
this Section 12 are for the benefit of Agent and Lenders and their respective
successors, transferees, endorsees and permitted assigns, and nothing herein
contained shall impair, as between any other Borrower and Agent or Lenders, the
obligations of such other Borrower under the Loan Documents.
12.4 Subordination of Subrogation, Etc. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, and except as set
forth in Section 12.7, each Borrower hereby expressly and irrevocably
subordinates to payment of the Obligations any and all rights at law or in
equity to subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification
or set off and any and all defenses available to a surety, guarantor or
accommodation co-obligor until the Obligations are indefeasibly paid in full in
cash. Each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that this subordination is intended
to benefit Agent and Lenders and shall not limit or otherwise affect such
Borrower's liability hereunder or the enforceability of this Section 12, and
that Agent, Lenders and their respective successors and assigns are intended
third party beneficiaries of the waivers and agreements set forth in this
Section 12.4.
12.5 Election of Remedies. If Agent or any Lender may, under applicable
law, proceed to realize its benefits under any of the Loan Documents giving
Agent or such Lender a Lien upon any Collateral, whether owned by any Borrower
or by any other Person, either by judicial foreclosure or by non-judicial sale
or enforcement, Agent or any Lender may, at its sole option, determine which of
its remedies or rights it may pursue without affecting any of its rights and
remedies under this Section 12. If, in the exercise of any of its rights and
remedies, Agent or any Lender shall forfeit any of its rights or remedies,
including its right to enter a deficiency judgment against any Borrower or any
other Person, whether because of any applicable laws pertaining to "election of
remedies" or the like, each Borrower hereby consents to such action by Agent or
such Lender and waives any claim based upon such action, even if such action by
Agent or such Lender shall result in a full or partial loss of any rights of
subrogation that each Borrower might otherwise have had but for such action by
Agent or such Lender. Any election of remedies that results in the denial or
impairment of the right of Agent or any Lender to seek a deficiency judgment
against any Borrower shall not impair any other Borrower's obligation to pay the
full amount of the Obligations. In the event Agent or any Lender shall bid at
any foreclosure or trustee's sale or at any private sale permitted by law or the
Loan Documents, Agent or such Lender may bid all or less than the amount of the
Obligations and the amount of such bid need not be paid by Agent or such Lender
but shall be credited against the Obligations. The amount of the successful bid
at any such sale, whether Agent, Lender or any other party is the successful
bidder, shall be conclusively deemed to be the fair market value of the
Collateral and the difference between such bid amount and the remaining balance
of the Obligations shall be conclusively deemed to be the amount of the
Obligations guaranteed under this Section 12, notwithstanding that any present
or future law or court decision or ruling may have the effect of reducing the
amount of any deficiency claim to which Agent or any Lender might otherwise be
entitled but for such bidding at any such sale.
12.6 Limitation. Notwithstanding any provision herein contained to the
contrary, each Borrower's liability under this Section 12 (which liability is in
any event in addition to amounts for which such Borrower is primarily liable
under Section 1) shall be limited to an amount not to exceed as of any date of
determination the greater of:
(a) the net amount of all Loans advanced to any other Borrower
under this Agreement and then re-loaned or otherwise transferred to, or for the
benefit of, such Borrower; and
(b) the amount that could be claimed by Agent and Lenders from
such Borrower under this Section 12 without rendering such claim voidable or
avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any
applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance
Act or similar statute or common law after taking into account, among other
things, such Borrower's right of contribution and indemnification from each
other Borrower under Section 12.7.
12.7 Contribution with Respect to Guaranty Obligations.
(a) To the extent that any Borrower shall make a payment under
this Section 12 of all or any of the Obligations (other than Loans made to that
Borrower for which it is primarily liable) (a "Guarantor Payment") that, taking
into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made
by any other Borrower, exceeds the amount that such Borrower would otherwise
have paid if each Borrower had paid the aggregate Obligations satisfied by such
Guarantor Payment in the same proportion that such Borrower's "Allocable Amount"
(as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment)
bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Borrowers as determined
immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following
indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations and termination of the
Commitments, such Borrower shall be entitled to receive contribution and
indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Borrower for the
amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in
effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.
(b) As of any date of determination, the "Allocable Amount" of
any Borrower shall be equal to the maximum amount of the claim that could then
be recovered from such Borrower under this Section 12 without rendering such
claim voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform
Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law.
(c) This Section 12.7 is intended only to define the relative
rights of Borrowers and nothing set forth in this Section 12.7 is intended to or
shall impair the obligations of Borrowers, jointly and severally, to pay any
amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, including Section 12.1. Nothing contained in this
Section 12.7 shall limit the liability of any Borrower to pay the Loans made
directly or indirectly to that Borrower and accrued interest, Fees and expenses
with respect thereto for which such Borrower shall be primarily liable.
(d) The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of
contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the
Borrower to which such contribution and indemnification is owing.
(e) The rights of the indemnifying Borrowers against other
Credit Parties under this Section 12.7 shall be exercisable upon the full and
indefeasible payment of the Obligations and the termination of the Commitments.
12.8 Liability Cumulative. The liability of Borrowers under this
Section 12 is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of
each Borrower to Agent and Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents to which such Borrower is a party or in respect of any Obligations or
obligation of the other Borrower, without any limitation as to amount, unless
the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability
specifically provides to the contrary.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the date first
written above.
ITRON, INC., as a Borrower
By: /s/ David G. Remington
Name: David G. Remington
Title: VP & CFO
UTILITY TRANSLATION SYSTEMS, INC., as a Borrower
By: /s/ David G. Remington
Name: David G. Remington
Title: VP & CFO
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Agent and a
Lender
By: /s/ Mark Mascia
Name: Mark Mascia
Duly Authorized Signatory
Revolving Loan
Commitment (including
a Swing Line Commitment
of $3,500,000):
$35,000,000
<PAGE>
The following Persons are signatories to this Agreement in
their capacity as Credit Parties and not as Borrowers.
"Credit Parties"
ITRON FINANCE, INC.
By: /s/ David G. Remington
Name: David G. Remington
Title: VP & CFO
ITRON INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: /s/ David G. Remington
Name: David G. Remington
Title: VP & CFO
<PAGE>
CREDIT AGREEMENT
ANNEX A (Recitals)
to
CREDIT AGREEMENT
DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms used in the Loan Documents shall have
(unless otherwise provided elsewhere in the Loan Documents) the following
respective meanings, and all references in the following definitions to
Sections, Exhibits, Schedules or Annexes shall refer to Sections, Exhibits,
Schedules or Annexes of the Agreement:
"Account Debtor" shall mean any Person who may become
obligated to any other Person under, with respect to, or on account of, an
Account.
"Accounting Changes" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Annex G.
"Accounts" shall mean all "accounts," as such term is defined
in the Code, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person, including (a) all
accounts receivable, other receivables, book debts and other forms of
obligations (other than forms of obligations evidenced by Chattel Paper,
Documents or Instruments), whether arising out of goods sold or services
rendered by it or from any other transaction (including any such obligations
that may be characterized as an account or contract right under the Code), (b)
all of such Person's rights in, to and under all purchase orders or receipts for
goods or services, (c) all of such Person's rights to any goods represented by
any of the foregoing (including unpaid sellers' rights of rescission, replevin,
reclamation and stoppage in transit and rights to returned, reclaimed or
repossessed goods), (d) all monies due or to become due to such Person under all
purchase orders and contracts for the sale of goods or the performance of
services or both by such Person or in connection with any other transaction
(whether or not yet earned by performance on the part of such Person), including
the right to receive the proceeds of said purchase orders and contracts, and (e)
all collateral security and guaranties of any kind given by any other Person
with respect to any of the foregoing.
"Activation Event" and "Activation Notice" shall have the
meanings assigned to them in Annex C.
"Advance" shall mean any Revolving Credit Advance or Swing
Line Advance, as the context may require.
"Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) each
Person that, directly or indirectly, owns or controls, whether beneficially, or
as a trustee, guardian or other fiduciary, five percent (5%) or more of the
Stock having ordinary voting power in the election of directors of such Person,
(b) each Person that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with
such Person, (c) each of such Person's officers, directors, joint venturers and
partners or (d) in the case of Borrowers, the immediate family members, spouses
and lineal descendants of individuals who are Affiliates of any Borrower. For
the purposes of this definition, "control" of a Person shall mean the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of its management or policies, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise; provided, that the term "Affiliate" shall
specifically exclude Agent and each Lender.
"Agent" shall mean GE Capital, in its capacity as Agent for
Lenders, or its successor appointed pursuant to Section 9.7.
"Aggregate Borrowing Base" shall mean, as of any date of
determination, an amount equal to the sum of the Itron Borrowing Base and the
UTS Borrowing Base.
"Agreement" shall mean the Credit Agreement by and among
Borrowers, the other Credit Parties party thereto, GE Capital, as Agent and a
Lender, and the other Lenders from time to time party thereto, as the same may
be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
"Appendices" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the
recitals to the Agreement.
"Applicable Margins" shall mean, collectively, the Applicable
Revolver Index Margin and the Applicable Revolver LIBOR Margin.
"Applicable Revolver Index Margin" shall mean the per annum
interest rate margin from time to time in effect and payable in addition to the
Index Rate applicable to the Revolving Loan, as determined by reference to
Section 1.5(a).
"Applicable Revolver LIBOR Margin" shall mean the per annum
interest rate from time to time in effect and payable in addition to the LIBOR
Rate applicable to the Revolving Loan, as determined by reference to Section
1.5(a).
"Assignment Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to it
in Section 9.1(a).
"Authorized Representative" shall mean a person designated by
Borrower Representative in the most recent Notice of Authorized Representative
received by Agent.
"Bankruptcy Code" shall mean the provisions of title 11 of the
United States Code, 11 U.S.C. ss.ss. 101 et seq.
"Borrower" shall mean each of Itron, UTS or any other Person
that becomes a "Borrower" in accordance with Section 6.1(a)(2)(iv) of the
Agreement.
"Borrower Accounts" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Annex C.
"Borrower Representative" shall mean Itron, in its capacity as
Borrower Representative pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.1(c), acting
through an Authorized Representative.
"Borrowers" shall mean Itron, UTS and any other Person that
becomes a "Borrower" in accordance with Section 6.1(a)(2)(iv) of the Agreement.
"Borrowing Availability" shall have the meaning assigned to it
in Section 1.1(a)(i).
"Borrowing Base" shall mean, as the context may require, the
Itron Borrowing Base or the UTS Borrowing Base.
"Borrowing Base Certificate" shall mean a certificate to be
executed and delivered from time to time by each Borrower in the form attached
to the Agreement as Exhibit 4.1(b).
"Business Day" shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, a
Sunday or a day on which banks are required or permitted to be closed in the
States of California or New York and in reference to LIBOR Loans shall mean any
such day that is also a LIBOR Business Day.
"Capital Expenditures" shall mean, with respect to any Person,
all expenditures (by the expenditure of cash or the incurrence of Indebtedness)
by such Person during any measuring period for any fixed assets or improvements
or for replacements, substitutions or additions thereto that have a useful life
of more than one year and that are required to be capitalized under GAAP.
"Capital Lease" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any
lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee
that, in accordance with GAAP, would be required to be classified and accounted
for as a capital lease on a balance sheet of such Person.
"Capital Lease Obligation" shall mean, with respect to any
Capital Lease of any Person, the amount of the obligation of the lessee
thereunder that, in accordance with GAAP, would appear on a balance sheet of
such lessee in respect of such Capital Lease.
"Cash Collateral Account" shall have the meaning assigned to
it in Annex B.
"Cash Equivalents" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Annex B.
"Cash Management System" shall have the meaning assigned to it
in Section 1.8.
"Change of Control" shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following without the prior written consent of Agent and Lenders: (a) any Person
or group of Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act) shall
have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated
by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act) of
20% or more of the issued and outstanding shares of capital Stock of Itron
having the right to vote for the election of directors of Itron under ordinary
circumstances; (b) during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the board of
directors of Itron (together with any new directors whose election by the board
of directors of Itron or whose nomination for election by the Stockholders of
Itron was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still
in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose
election or nomination for election were previously so approved) cease for any
reason other than death or disability to constitute a majority of the directors
then in office; or (c) Itron shall cease to own and control all of the economic
and voting rights associated with all of the outstanding capital Stock of each
of the Credit Parties.
"Charges" shall mean all federal, state, county, city,
municipal, local, foreign or other governmental taxes (including taxes owed to
the PBGC at the time due and payable), levies, assessments, charges, liens,
claims or encumbrances upon or relating to (a) the Collateral, (b) the
Obligations, (c) the employees, payroll, income or gross receipts of any Person,
(d) any Person's ownership or use of any properties or other assets, or (e) any
other aspect of any Person's business.
"Chattel Paper" shall mean any "chattel paper," as such term
is defined in the Code, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person, wherever
located.
"Closing Date" shall mean January 18, 2000.
"Code" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may,
from time to time, be enacted and in effect in the State of California;
provided, that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any
or all of the attachment, perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect
to, Agent's or any Lender's Lien on any Collateral is governed by the Uniform
Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State
of California, the term "Code" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted
and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions
thereof relating to such attachment, perfection, priority or remedies and for
purposes of definitions related to such provisions.
"Collateral" shall mean the property covered by the Security
Agreement and the other Collateral Documents and any other property, real or
personal, tangible or intangible, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may
at any time be or become subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of
Agent, on behalf of itself and Lenders, to secure the Obligations.
"Collateral Documents" shall mean the Security Agreement, the
Guaranties, and all similar agreements entered into guaranteeing payment of, or
granting a Lien upon property as security for payment of, the Obligations.
"Collateral Reports" shall mean the reports with respect to
the Collateral referred to in Annex F.
"Collection Account" shall mean that certain account of Agent,
account number 502-328-54 in the name of Agent at Bankers Trust Company in New
York, New York, ABA No. 021 001 033, or such other account as may be designated
in writing by Agent as the "Collection Account."
"Commitment Termination Date" shall mean the earliest of (a)
January 18, 2004, (b) the date of termination of Lenders' obligations to make
Revolving Credit Advances and to incur Letter of Credit Obligations or permit
existing Loans to remain outstanding pursuant to Section 8.2(b), and (c) the
date of indefeasible prepayment in full by Borrowers of the Loans, the
cancellation and return (or stand-by guarantee) of all Letters of Credit or the
cash collateralization of all Letter of Credit Obligations pursuant to Annex B,
and the permanent reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitment and the Swing Line
Commitment to zero dollars ($0), in each case in accordance with the provisions
of Section 1.3(a).
"Commitments" shall mean (a) as to any Lender, the aggregate
of such Lender's Revolving Loan Commitment (including without duplication the
Swing Line Lender's Swing Line Commitment) as set forth on the signature page to
the Agreement or in the most recent Assignment Agreement executed by such Lender
and (b) as to all Lenders, the aggregate of all Lenders' Revolving Loan
Commitments (including without duplication the Swing Line Lender's Swing Line
Commitment), which aggregate commitment shall be $35,000,000 on the Closing
Date, as such amount may be adjusted, if at all, from time to time in accordance
with the Agreement.
"Compliance Certificate" shall have the meaning assigned to it
in Annex E.
"Contract Receivable" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
accordance with the cost-to-cost percentage of completion long term contract
method of accounting.
"Contracts" shall mean all contracts, undertakings, or
agreements (other than rights evidenced by Chattel Paper, Documents or
Instruments) in or under which such Person may now or hereafter have any right,
title or interest, including any agreement relating to the terms of payment or
the terms of performance of any Account.
"Control Letter" shall mean a letter agreement between Agent
and (a) the issuer of uncertificated securities with respect to uncertificated
securities in the name of any Credit Party, (b) a securities intermediary with
respect to securities, whether certificated or uncertificated, securities
entitlements and other financial assets held in a securities account in the name
of any Credit Party, (c) a futures commission merchant or clearing house with
respect to commodity accounts and commodity contracts held by any Credit Party,
whereby, among other things, the issuer, securities intermediary or futures
commission merchant, as applicable, disclaims any security interest in the
applicable financial assets, acknowledges the Lien of Agent, on behalf of itself
and Lenders, on such financial assets, and agrees to follow the instructions or
entitlement orders of Agent without further consent by the affected Credit
Party.
"Copyright License" shall mean any and all rights now owned or
hereafter acquired by any Person under any written agreement granting any right
to use any Copyright or Copyright registration.
"Copyrights" shall mean all of the following now owned or
existing or hereafter adopted or acquired by any Person: (a) all copyrights and
General Intangibles of like nature (whether registered or unregistered), all
registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection
therewith, including all registrations, recordings and applications in the
United States Copyright Office or in any similar office or agency of the United
States or territory thereof, or any other country or any political subdivision
thereof, and (b) all extensions or renewals thereof.
"Credit Parties" shall mean Borrowers and each of their
respective domestic Subsidiaries other than (a) SPV Subsidiaries that do not
receive the proceeds of any Loan (except as otherwise permitted in clause (e) of
Section 6.2) and are financed by a third party lender (i.e., with funds other
than the Obligations) and (b) Existing SPV Subsidiaries.
"Default" shall mean any event that, with the passage of time
or notice or both, would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
"Default Rate" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 1.5(d).
"Disbursement Account" shall have the meaning assigned to it
in Annex C.
"Disclosure Schedules" shall mean the Schedules prepared by
Borrowers and denominated as Disclosure Schedules (1.4) through (6.7) in the
Index to the Agreement.
"Documents" shall mean any "documents," as such term is
defined in the Code, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person, wherever
located.
"Dollars" or "$" shall mean lawful currency of the United
States of America.
"Duquesne Agreement" shall mean that certain Amended and
Restated Utility Automated Meter Data Acquisition Equipment Lease and Services
Agreement, dated as of January 15, 1996, between Itron and Duquesne Light
Company, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise
modified from time to time.
"Duquesne Project" shall mean the provision by Itron of
automated meter data acquisition equipment and related services in accordance
with the terms of the Duquesne Agreement.
"EBITDA" shall mean, with respect to any Person for any fiscal
period, without duplication, an amount equal to (a) consolidated net income of
such Person, plus (b) Interest Expense, plus (c) Taxes, plus (d) to the extent
deducted in determining such net income, depreciation, amortization and similar
non-cash charges, plus (e) to the extent deducted in determining such net
income, extraordinary losses, minus (f) to the extent recognized in determining
such net income, extraordinary gains, in each case of such Person for such
period.
"Eligible Accounts" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 1.6.
"Eligible Inventory" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 1.7.
"Eligible Unbilled Account" shall mean an Unbilled Account
that (a) complies with all of the criteria in the definition of "Eligible
Accounts" and (b) as to which each of the representations and warranties with
respect to Eligible Unbilled Accounts in the Loan Documents is true, except that
such Account does not comply with (i) clause (b) of the definition of "Eligible
Accounts" because (A) Inventory has been shipped by any Borrower to an Account
Debtor's location to generate any such Account but has not been installed or
accepted or (B) related installation services have not been provided by such
Borrower, (ii) clause (e) of the definition of "Eligible Accounts" because an
invoice has not been sent to the applicable Account Debtor and (iii) clause
(l)(i) of the definition of "Eligible Accounts" because there is no original
invoice date for such Account; provided, that (1) no obligation of Philadelphia
Municipal Authority, the City of Houston, Texas, a municipal corporation, or
Duquesne Light Company shall constitute an Eligible Unbilled Account and (2) the
amount of such Eligible Unbilled Account shall exclude Retention Amounts in
connection therewith.
"Environmental Laws" shall mean all applicable federal, state,
local and foreign laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, standards and
regulations, now or hereafter in effect, and any applicable judicial or
administrative interpretation thereof, including any applicable judicial or
administrative order, consent decree, order or judgment, imposing liability or
standards of conduct for or relating to the regulation and protection of human
health, safety, the environment and natural resources (including ambient air,
surface water, groundwater, wetlands, land surface or subsurface strata,
wildlife, aquatic species and vegetation). Environmental Laws include the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 9601 et seq.) ("CERCLA"); the Hazardous Materials
Transportation Authorization Act of 1994 (49 U.S.C. ss.ss. 5101 et seq.); the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. ss.ss. 136 et
seq.); the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 6901 et seq.); the Toxic
Substance Control Act (15 U.S.C. ss.ss. 2601 et seq.); the Clean Air Act (42
U.S.C. ss.ss. 7401 et seq.); the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
ss.ss. 1251 et seq.); the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. ss.ss.
651 et seq.); and the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 300(f) et seq.),
and any and all regulations promulgated thereunder, and all analogous state,
local and foreign counterparts or equivalents and any transfer of ownership
notification or approval statutes.
"Environmental Liabilities" shall mean, with respect to any
Person, all liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, response, remedial and
removal costs, investigation and feasibility study costs, capital costs,
operation and maintenance costs, losses, damages, punitive damages, property
damages, natural resource damages, consequential damages, treble damages, costs
and expenses (including all fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, experts
and consultants), fines, penalties, sanctions and interest incurred as a result
of or related to any claim, suit, action, investigation, proceeding or demand by
any Person, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict
liability, criminal or civil statute or common law, including any arising under
or related to any Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits, or in connection
with any Release or threatened Release or presence of a Hazardous Material
whether on, at, in, under, from or about or in the vicinity of any real or
personal property.
"Environmental Permits" shall mean all permits, licenses,
authorizations, certificates, approvals, registrations or other written
documents required by any Governmental Authority under any Environmental Laws.
"Equipment" shall mean all "equipment," as such term is
defined in the Code, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person, wherever
located, including all such Person's machinery and equipment, including
processing equipment, conveyors, machine tools, data processing and computer
equipment with software and peripheral equipment, and all engineering,
processing and manufacturing equipment, office machinery, furniture, materials
handling equipment, tools, attachments, accessories, automotive equipment,
trailers, trucks, forklifts, molds, dies, stamps, motor vehicles, rolling stock
and other equipment of every kind and nature, trade fixtures and fixtures,
together with all additions and accessions thereto, replacements therefor, all
parts therefor, all substitutes for any of the foregoing, fuel therefor, and all
manuals, drawings, instructions, warranties and rights with respect thereto, and
all products and proceeds thereof and condemnation awards and insurance proceeds
with respect thereto.
"ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
"ERISA Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Credit
Party, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with
such Credit Party, are treated as a single employer within the meaning of
Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the IRC.
"ERISA Event" shall mean, with respect to any Credit Party or
any ERISA Affiliate, (a) any event described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA with
respect to a Title IV Plan; (b) the withdrawal of any Credit Party or ERISA
Affiliate from a Title IV Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan
year in which it was a "substantial employer," as defined in Section 4001(a)(2)
of ERISA; (c) the complete or partial withdrawal of any Credit Party or any
ERISA Affiliate from any Multiemployer Plan; (d) the filing of a notice of
intent to terminate a Title IV Plan or the treatment of a plan amendment as a
termination under Section 4041 of ERISA; (e) the institution of proceedings to
terminate a Title IV Plan or Multiemployer Plan by the PBGC; (f) the failure by
any Credit Party or ERISA Affiliate to make when due required contributions to a
Multiemployer Plan or Title IV Plan unless such failure is cured within 30 days;
(g) any other event or condition that might reasonably be expected to constitute
grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment
of a trustee to administer, any Title IV Plan or Multiemployer Plan or for the
imposition of liability under Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA; (h) the
termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the
reorganization or insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4241 of
ERISA; or (i) the loss of a Qualified Plan's qualification or tax exempt status.
"ESOP" shall mean a Plan that is intended to satisfy the
requirements of Section 4975(e)(7)of the IRC.
"Event of Default" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 8.1.
"Existing SPV Subsidiaries" shall mean Itron Connecticut
Finance, Inc.
"Fair Labor Standards Act" shall mean the provisions of the
Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. ss.ss. 201 et seq.
"FCC" shall mean the Federal Communications Commission.
"FCC License" shall mean any and all rights now owned or
hereafter acquired by any Person under any agreement with the FCC.
"Federal Funds Rate" shall mean, for any day, a floating rate
equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds
transactions among members of the Federal Reserve System, as determined by Agent
in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final, binding and
conclusive (absent manifest error).
"Federal Reserve Board" shall mean the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System.
"Fees" shall mean any and all fees payable to Agent or any
Lender pursuant to the Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.
"Financial Covenants" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 6.10.
"Financial Statements" shall mean the income statements,
statements of cash flows and balance sheets of Borrowers delivered in accordance
with Section 3.4 and Annex E.
"Fiscal Month" shall mean any of the monthly accounting
periods of Borrowers.
"Fiscal Quarter" shall mean any of the quarterly accounting
periods of Borrowers, ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31
of each year.
"Fiscal Year" shall mean any of the annual accounting periods
of Borrowers ending on December 31 of each year.
"Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" shall mean, with respect to any
Person for any fiscal period, the ratio of (a) (i) EBITDA minus (ii) Capital
Expenditures paid by such Person during such period (other than Capital
Expenditures financed by a third party lender not a party to the Agreement)
minus (iii) income Taxes (including state income Taxes) paid in cash during such
period, to (b) Fixed Charges; provided, that, for purposes of clause (a)(ii) of
this definition, in no event shall Capital Expenditures include expenditures
made to repair, modify or replace any fixed asset or improvement damaged or
destroyed by or as a result of any insurable event to the extent that the
aggregate amount of all such expenditures does not exceed the amount of the net
insurance proceeds payable to Borrowers and their Subsidiaries with respect to
such insurable event.
"Fixed Charges" shall mean, with respect to any Person for any
fiscal period, (a) the aggregate of all Interest Expense paid or accrued during
such period, plus (b) scheduled payments of principal with respect to
Indebtedness during such period.
"Fixtures" shall mean all "fixtures," as such term is defined
in the Code, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person, wherever located.
"Funded Debt" shall mean, with respect to any Person, without
duplication, all Indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money evidenced by
notes, bonds, debentures or similar evidences of Indebtedness that by its terms
matures more than one year from, or is directly or indirectly renewable or
extendible at such Person's option under a revolving credit or similar agreement
obligating the lender or lenders to extend credit over a period of more than one
year from the date of creation thereof, and specifically including Capital Lease
Obligations, current maturities of long-term debt, revolving credit and
short-term debt extendible beyond one year at the option of the debtor, and also
including, in the case of Borrowers, the Obligations.
"GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in
the United States of America as in effect on the Closing Date, consistently
applied as such term is further defined in Annex G to the Agreement.
"GE Capital" shall mean General Electric Capital Corporation,
a New York corporation.
"GE Capital Fee Letter" shall mean that certain letter of even
date herewith between GE Capital and Borrowers with respect to certain Fees to
be paid from time to time by Borrowers to GE Capital.
"General Intangibles" shall mean all "general intangibles," as
such term is defined in the Code, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person,
including all right, title and interest that such Person may now or hereafter
have in or under any Contracts, Licenses, Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents and
all applications therefor and reissues, extensions or renewals thereof,
interests in partnerships, joint ventures and other business associations,
permits, inventions (whether or not patented or patentable), knowledge,
know-how, software, data bases, data, skill, expertise, experience, processes,
models, drawings, materials and records, Goodwill (including the goodwill
associated with any Trademark or Trademark License), all rights and claims in or
under insurance policies (including insurance for fire, damage, loss and
casualty, whether covering personal property, real property, tangible rights or
intangible rights, all liability, life, key man and business interruption
insurance, and all unearned premiums), uncertificated and certificated
securities, choses in action, deposit, checking and other bank accounts, rights
to receive tax refunds and other payments, rights to receive dividends,
distributions, cash, instruments and other property in respect of or in exchange
for pledged shares or other equity interests, rights of indemnification, all
books and records, correspondence, credit files, invoices and other papers,
including all tapes, cards, computer runs and other papers and documents in the
possession or under the control of such Person or any computer bureau or service
company from time to time acting for such Person.
"Goods" shall mean any "goods" as such term is defined in the
Code, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person.
"Goodwill" shall mean all goodwill, trade secrets, proprietary
or confidential information, technical information, procedures, formulae,
quality control standards, designs, operating and training manuals, customer
lists and distribution agreements now or hereafter owned or acquired by any
Person.
"Governmental Authority" shall mean any nation or government,
any state or other political subdivision thereof, and any agency, department or
other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or
administrative functions of or pertaining to government.
"Guaranteed Indebtedness" shall mean, as to any Person, any
obligation of such Person guaranteeing any indebtedness, lease, dividend, or
other obligation ("primary obligation") of any other Person (the "primary
obligor") in any manner, including any obligation or arrangement of such Person
to (a) purchase or repurchase any such primary obligation, (b) advance or supply
funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (ii) to
maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise
to maintain the net worth or solvency or any balance sheet condition of the
primary obligor, (c) purchase property, securities or services primarily for the
purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of
the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation, or (d) indemnify
the owner of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof. The amount
of any Guaranteed Indebtedness at any time shall be deemed to be an amount equal
to the lesser at such time of (x) the stated or determinable amount of the
primary obligation in respect of which such Guaranteed Indebtedness is incurred
and (y) the maximum amount for which such Person may be liable pursuant to the
terms of the instrument embodying such Guaranteed Indebtedness or, if not stated
or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability (assuming full
performance) in respect thereof.
"Guaranties" shall mean, collectively, the Subsidiary Guaranty
and any other guaranty executed by any Guarantor in favor of Agent and Lenders
in respect of the Obligations.
"Guarantors" shall mean each Subsidiary of each Borrower, and
each other Person, if any, that executes a guaranty or other similar agreement
in favor of Agent for itself and the benefit of Agent and Lenders in connection
with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.
"Hazardous Material" shall mean any substance, material or
waste that is regulated by, or forms the basis of liability now or hereafter
under, any Environmental Laws, including any material or substance that is (a)
defined as a "solid waste," "hazardous waste," "hazardous material," "hazardous
substance," "extremely hazardous waste," "restricted hazardous waste,"
"pollutant," "contaminant," "hazardous constituent," "special waste," "toxic
substance" or other similar term or phrase under any Environmental Laws, or (b)
petroleum or any fraction or by-product thereof, asbestos, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCB's), or any radioactive substance.
"Houston Agreement" shall mean that certain Contract for
Automated Meter Reading System dated August 19, 1998, between Itron and the City
of Houston, Texas, a municipal corporation, as the same may be amended,
supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Indebtedness" shall mean, with respect to any Person, without
duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or for the
deferred purchase price of property payment for that is deferred six months or
more, but excluding obligations to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary
course of business that are not overdue by more than six months unless being
contested in good faith, (b) all reimbursement and other obligations with
respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances and surety bonds, whether or
not matured, (c) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or
similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property
acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or
lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession
or sale of such property), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations, (f) all
obligations of such Person under commodity purchase or option agreements or
other commodity price hedging arrangements, in each case whether contingent or
matured, (g) all obligations of such Person under any foreign exchange contract,
currency swap agreement, interest rate swap, cap or collar agreement or other
similar agreement or arrangement designed to alter the risks of that Person
arising from fluctuations in currency values or interest rates, in each case
whether contingent or matured, (h) all Indebtedness referred to above secured by
(or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent
or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien upon or in property or other assets
(including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such
Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness,
and (i) the Obligations, if any, with respect to which such Person is liable.
"Indemnified Liabilities" shall have the meaning assigned to
it in Section 1.13.
"Indentures" shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.25.
"Index Rate" shall mean, for any day, a floating rate equal to
the higher of (a) the rate publicly quoted from time to time by The Wall Street
Journal as the "base rate on corporate loans at large U.S. money center
commercial banks" (or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases quoting a base rate of
the type described, the highest per annum rate of interest published by the
Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve statistical release H.15 (519) entitled
"Selected Interest Rates" as the Bank prime loan rate or its equivalent), and
(b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 50 basis points per annum. Each change in any
interest rate provided for in the Agreement based upon the Index Rate shall take
effect at the time of such change in the Index Rate.
"Index Rate Loan" shall mean a Loan or any portion thereof
bearing interest by reference to the Index Rate.
"Instruments" shall mean any "instrument," as such term is
defined in the Code, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person, wherever
located, including all certificated securities, all certificates of deposit, and
all notes and other evidences of indebtedness, other than instruments that
constitute, or are a part of a group of writings that constitute, Chattel Paper.
"Intellectual Property" shall mean any and all Licenses,
Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks and the Goodwill associated with the foregoing.
"Intercompany Note" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 6.3.
"Interest Expense" shall mean, with respect to any Person for
any fiscal period, interest expense (whether cash or non-cash) of such Person
determined in accordance with GAAP for the relevant period ended on such date,
including interest expense with respect to any Funded Debt of such Person.
"Interest Payment Date" shall mean (a) as to any Index Rate
Loan, the first Business Day of each month to occur while such Loan is
outstanding, and (b) as to any LIBOR Loan, the last day of the applicable LIBOR
Period provided, that, in addition to the foregoing, each of (x) the date upon
which all of the Commitments have been terminated and the Loans have been paid
in full and (y) the Commitment Termination Date shall be deemed to be an
"Interest Payment Date" with respect to any interest that has then accrued under
the Agreement.
"Inventory" shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) any
"inventory," as such term is defined in the Code, of such Person and (b) any
Equipment of such Person that was previously in the form of "inventory," as such
term is defined in the Code, of such Person, including electronic or handheld
meter reading systems and components thereof and automatic meter reading systems
and components thereof, in each case whether now owned or hereafter acquired by
any Person, wherever located, including inventory, merchandise, goods and other
personal property that are held by or on behalf of such Person for sale or lease
or are furnished or are to be furnished under a contract of service, or that
constitute raw materials, work in process, finished goods, returned goods, or
materials or supplies of any kind, nature or description used or consumed or to
be used or consumed in such Person's business or in the processing, production,
packaging, promotion, delivery or shipping of the same, including other
supplies.
"Investment Property" shall mean all "investment property," as
such term is defined in Section 9115 of the Code in those jurisdictions in which
such definition has been adopted, now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person,
wherever located, including (a) all securities, whether certificated or
uncertificated, including stocks, bonds, interests in limited liability
companies, partnership interests, treasuries, certificates of deposit, and
mutual fund shares, (b) all securities entitlements of such Person, including
the rights of such Person to any securities account and the financial assets
held by a securities intermediary in such securities account and any free credit
balance or other money owing by any securities intermediary with respect to such
account, (c) all securities accounts of such Person, (d) all commodity contracts
held by such Person, and (e) all commodity accounts held by such Person.
"IRC" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and any
regulations promulgated thereunder.
"IRS" shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
"Itron" shall mean Itron, Inc., a Washington corporation.
"Itron Borrowing Base" shall mean, as of any date of
determination by Agent, from time to time, an amount equal to the sum at such
time of:
(a) up to 85% of Itron's Eligible Accounts, less any
Reserves established by Agent at such time;
(b) up to 50% of Itron's Eligible Unbilled Accounts, less any
Reserves established by Agent at such time; and
(c) the lesser of (i) $15,000,000, and (ii) the sum of (A) up
to 50% of Itron's Eligible Inventory consisting of finished goods
valued at the lower of cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis)
or market, and (B) up to 25% of the book value of Itron's Eligible
Inventory other than finished goods valued at the lower of cost
(determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or market, in each case
less any Reserves established by Agent at such time.
"L/C Issuer" shall have the meaning assigned to it in Annex B.
"L/C Sublimit" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Annex B.
"Lenders" shall mean GE Capital, the other Lenders named on
the signature pages of the Agreement and, if any such Lender shall decide to
assign all or any portion of the Obligations, such term shall include any
permitted assignee of such Lender.
"Letter of Credit Fee" shall have the meaning assigned to it
in Annex B.
"Letter of Credit Obligations" shall mean all outstanding
obligations incurred by Agent and Lenders at the request of Borrower
Representative, whether direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, due or not
due, in connection with the issuance of a reimbursement agreement or guaranty by
Agent with respect to any Letter of Credit. The amount of such Letter of Credit
Obligations shall equal the maximum amount that may be payable by Agent or
Lenders thereupon or pursuant thereto.
"Letters of Credit" shall mean commercial or standby letters
of credit issued for the account of any Borrower by any L/C Issuer, and bankers'
acceptances issued by any Borrower, for which Agent and Lenders have incurred
Letter of Credit Obligations.
"LIBOR Business Day" shall mean a Business Day on which banks
in the City of London are generally open for interbank or foreign exchange
transactions.
"LIBOR Loan" shall mean a Loan or any portion thereof bearing
interest by reference to the LIBOR Rate.
"LIBOR Period" shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan,
each period commencing on a LIBOR Business Day selected by Borrower
Representative pursuant to the Agreement and ending one, two or three months
thereafter, as selected by Borrower Representative's irrevocable notice to Agent
as set forth in Section 1.5(e); provided, that the foregoing provision relating
to LIBOR Periods is subject to the following:
(a) if any LIBOR Period would otherwise end on a day that is
not a LIBOR Business Day, such LIBOR Period shall be extended to the
next succeeding LIBOR Business Day unless the result of such extension
would be to carry such LIBOR Period into another calendar month in
which event such LIBOR Period shall end on the immediately preceding
LIBOR Business Day;
(b) any LIBOR Period that would otherwise extend beyond the
Commitment Termination Date shall end two LIBOR Business Days prior to
such date;
(c) any LIBOR Period that begins on the last LIBOR Business
Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such LIBOR
Period) shall end on the last LIBOR Business Day of a calendar month;
(d) Borrower Representative shall select LIBOR Periods so as
not to require a payment or prepayment of any LIBOR Loan during a LIBOR
Period for such Loan; and
(e) Borrower Representative shall select LIBOR Periods so that
there shall be no more than five separate LIBOR Loans in existence at
any one time.
"LIBOR Rate" shall mean for each LIBOR Period, a rate of
interest determined by Agent equal to:
(a) the offered rate for deposits in United States Dollars for
the applicable LIBOR Period that appears on Dow Jones Telerate Market
Service Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the second full
LIBOR Business Day preceding the first day of such LIBOR Period;
divided by
(b) a number equal to 1.0 minus the aggregate (but without
duplication) of the rates (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve
requirements in effect on the day that is two LIBOR Business Days prior
to the beginning of such LIBOR Period (including basic, supplemental,
marginal and emergency reserves under any regulations of the Federal
Reserve Board or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with
respect thereto, as now and from time to time in effect) for
Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency
Liabilities" in Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board) that are
required to be maintained by a member bank of the Federal Reserve
System.
If such interest rates shall cease to be available from Dow Jones Telerate
Market Service, the LIBOR Rate shall be determined from such financial reporting
service or other information as shall be mutually acceptable to Agent and
Borrower Representative.
"License" shall mean any Copyright License, Patent License,
Trademark License, FCC License or other license of rights or interests now held
or hereafter acquired by any Person.
"Lien" shall mean any mortgage or deed of trust, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, lien, charge, claim, security
interest, easement or encumbrance, or preference, priority or other security
agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including any lease or title retention agreement, any financing lease having
substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, and the filing
of, or agreement to give, any financing statement perfecting a security interest
under the Code or comparable law of any jurisdiction).
"Litigation" shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.13.
"Loan Account" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 1.12.
"Loan Documents" shall mean the Agreement, the Notes, the
Collateral Documents and all other agreements, instruments, documents and
certificates identified in the Schedule of Documents executed and delivered to,
or in favor of, Agent or any Lender and including all other pledges, powers of
attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, notices, and all other written
matter whether now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of any Credit Party,
and delivered to Agent or any Lender in connection with the Agreement or the
transactions contemplated thereby. Any reference in the Agreement or any other
Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or
schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other
modifications thereto, and shall refer to such Agreement or Loan Document as the
same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.
"Loans" shall mean the Revolving Loan and the Swing Line Loan.
"Lock Boxes" shall have the meaning assigned to it in Annex C.
"Margin Stock" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 3.10.
"Material Adverse Effect" shall mean a material adverse effect
on (a) the business, assets, operations, prospects or financial or other
condition of (i) Itron or (ii) Borrowers taken as a whole, (b) any Borrower's
ability to pay any of the Loans and other Obligations made directly to such
Borrower in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, (c) the Guarantors'
ability, taken as a whole, to pay their respective obligations under the
Guaranties, (d) the Collateral or Agent's Liens, on behalf of itself and
Lenders, on the Collateral or the priority of such Liens, or (e) Agent's or any
Lender's rights and remedies under the Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any event or occurrence that
results or could reasonably be expected to result in costs or liabilities in
excess of the lesser of $1,000,000 and 10% of Borrowing Availability as of any
date of determination shall be deemed to constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
"Maximum Amount" shall mean, at the time any determination
thereof is to be made, the amount at such time equal to the Revolving Loan
Commitment of all Lenders.
"Maximum Lawful Rate" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 1.5(f).
"Multiemployer Plan" shall mean a "multiemployer plan" as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, and to which any Credit Party or ERISA
Affiliate is making, is obligated to make, or has made or been obligated to
make, contributions on behalf of participants who are or were employed by any of
them.
"Net Borrowing Availability" shall mean as of any date of
determination (a) as to all Borrowers, the lesser of (i) the Maximum Amount and
(ii) the Aggregate Borrowing Base, in each case less the sum of the aggregate
Revolving Loan and Swing Line Loan then outstanding, or (b) as to an individual
Borrower, the lesser of (i) the Maximum Amount less the sum of the Revolving
Loan and Swing Line Loan outstanding to all Borrowers and (ii) such Borrower's
separate Borrowing Base, less the sum of the Revolving Loan and Swing Line Loan
outstanding to such Borrower.
"Notes" shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Notes and the
Swing Line Notes.
"Notice of Authorized Representative" shall mean the notice
given from time to time by Borrower Representative to Agent substantially in the
form of Exhibit 1.1(c) which notice designates by name one or more persons as
Authorized Representatives of Borrower Representative.
"Notice of Conversion/Continuation" shall have the meaning
assigned to it in Section 1.5(e).
"Notice of Revolving Credit Advance" shall have the meaning
assigned to it in Section 1.1(a).
"Obligations" shall mean all loans, advances, debts,
liabilities and obligations for the performance of covenants, tasks or duties or
for payment of monetary amounts (whether or not such performance is then
required or contingent, or such amounts are liquidated or determinable) owing by
any Credit Party to Agent or any Lender, and all covenants and duties regarding
such amounts, of any kind or nature, present or future, whether or not evidenced
by any note, agreement or other instrument, arising under the Agreement or any
of the other Loan Documents. This term includes all principal, interest
(including all interest that accrues after the commencement of any case or
proceeding by or against any Credit Party in bankruptcy, whether or not allowed
in such case or proceeding), Fees, Charges, expenses, attorneys' fees and any
other sum chargeable to any Credit Party under the Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents.
"Outsourcing Contracts" shall mean a contract or arrangement
pursuant to which one or more Credit Parties installs, operates or maintains
meter reading systems to provide meter information for billing and management
purposes in return for a scheduled amount over a period of time, either directly
or through a joint venture with a utility or other industry participant.
"Overadvance" shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
1.1(a)(iii).
"Patent License" shall mean rights under any written agreement
now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person granting any right with respect to
any invention on which a Patent is in existence.
"Patents" shall mean all of the following in which any Person
now holds or hereafter acquires any interest: (a) all letters patent of the
United States or of any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof,
and all applications for letters patent of the United States or of any other
country, including registrations, recordings and applications in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the
United States or any territory thereof, or any other country, and (b) all
reissues, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, or extensions
thereof.
"PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
"Pension Plan" shall mean a Plan described in Section 3(2) of
ERISA.
"Permitted Encumbrances" shall mean the following
encumbrances: (a) Liens for taxes or assessments or other governmental Charges
not yet due and payable; (b) pledges or deposits of money securing obligations
under workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance, social security or public
liability laws or similar legislation; (c) pledges or deposits of money securing
bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money) or
leases to which any Credit Party is a party as lessee made in the ordinary
course of business; (d) deposits of money securing statutory obligations of any
Credit Party; (e) inchoate and unperfected workers', mechanics' or similar liens
arising in the ordinary course of business, so long as such Liens attach only to
Equipment, Fixtures or Real Estate; (f) carriers', warehousemen's, suppliers' or
other similar possessory liens arising in the ordinary course of business and
securing liabilities in an outstanding aggregate amount not in excess of
$100,000 at any time, so long as such Liens attach only to Inventory; (g)
deposits securing, or in lieu of, surety, appeal or customs bonds in proceedings
to which any Credit Party is a party; (h) any attachment or judgment lien not
constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.1(j); (i) zoning restrictions,
easements, licenses, or other restrictions on the use of any Real Estate or
other minor irregularities in title (including leasehold title) thereto, so long
as the same do not materially impair the use, value, or marketability of such
Real Estate; (j) Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed in Disclosure
Schedule (6.7); (k) presently existing or hereafter created Liens in favor of
Agent, on behalf of Lenders; (l) Liens created after the Closing Date by
conditional sale or other title retention agreements (including Capital Leases)
or in connection with purchase money Indebtedness with respect to Equipment and
Fixtures acquired by any Credit Party in the ordinary course of business,
involving the incurrence of an aggregate amount of purchase money Indebtedness
and Capital Lease Obligations of not more than $1,250,000 outstanding at any one
time for all such Liens (provided that such Liens attach only to the assets
subject to such purchase money debt and such Indebtedness is incurred within 20
days following such purchase and does not exceed 100% of the purchase price of
the subject assets); and (m) other Liens securing Indebtedness not exceeding
$100,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding, so long as such Liens do not
attach to any Accounts or Inventory.
"Permitted Subsidiary" shall have the meaning assigned to it
in Section 6.1(a)(ii).
"Permitted Transfer" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 6.8(f).
"Person" shall mean any individual, sole proprietorship,
partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association,
corporation, limited liability company, institution, public benefit corporation,
other entity or government (whether federal, state, county, city, municipal,
local, foreign, or otherwise, including any instrumentality, division, agency,
body or department thereof).
"Philadelphia Agreement" shall mean that certain Automatic
Meter Reading System Service Contract, dated as of July 10, 1997, by and between
Itron and the Philadelphia Municipal Authority, as amended by that certain
Amendment I to Automatic Meter Reading System Service Contract dated as of
August 14, 1998, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise
modified from time to time.
"Plan" shall mean, at any time, an "employee benefit plan," as
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, that any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate
maintains, contributes to or has an obligation to contribute to on behalf of
participants who are or were employed by any Credit Party.
"Prior Lender" shall mean Bank of America National Trust and
Savings Association, as agent for itself, U.S. Bank National Association and
each other lender party to the Prior Lender Agreement.
"Prior Lender Agreement" shall mean that certain Loan
Agreement dated as of September 30, 1998, by and among Itron, as borrower, the
lenders party thereto, and Bank of America National Trust and Savings
Association, as agent, as the same may have been amended, restated, supplemented
or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Prior Lender Obligations" shall mean all obligations of
Borrowers to Prior Lender pursuant to the Prior Lender Agreement, and all other
agreements, instruments or documents executed and delivered to, or in favor of,
Prior Lender in connection therewith or the transactions contemplated thereby.
"Proceeds" shall mean "proceeds," as such term is defined in
the Code, including (a) any and all proceeds of any insurance, indemnity,
warranty or guaranty payable to any Person from time to time with respect to any
of the Collateral, (b) any and all payments (in any form whatsoever) made or due
and payable to any Person from time to time in connection with any requisition,
confiscation, condemnation, seizure or forfeiture of all or any part of the
Collateral by any Governmental Authority (or any Person acting under color of
governmental authority), (c) any claim of any Person against third parties (i)
for past, present or future infringement of any Patent or Patent License, or
(ii) for past, present or future infringement or dilution of any Copyright,
Copyright License, Trademark or Trademark License, or for injury to the Goodwill
associated with any Trademark or Trademark License, (d) any recoveries by any
Person against third parties with respect to any litigation or dispute
concerning any of the Collateral, and (e) any and all other amounts from time to
time paid or payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral, upon
disposition or otherwise.
"Pro Forma" shall mean the unaudited consolidated balance
sheet of Itron and its Subsidiaries as of November 30, 1999, after giving pro
forma effect to the Related Transactions.
"Projections" shall mean Borrowers' forecasted: (a) balance
sheets; (b) profit and loss statements; (c) cash flow statements; and (d)
capitalization statements, all prepared on a Subsidiary-bySubsidiary or
division-by-division basis, if applicable, and otherwise consistent with the
historical Financial Statements of the Borrowers, together with appropriate
supporting details and a statement of underlying assumptions.
"Pro Rata Share" shall mean, with respect to all matters
relating to any Lender, with respect to the Revolving Loan or the Swing Line
Loan, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the Revolving Loan Commitment
(including the Swing Line Commitment as a subset of the Swing Line Lender's
Revolving Loan Commitment) of such Lender by (b) the aggregate Revolving Loan
Commitments of all Lenders, including the Swing Line Commitment of all Lenders,
as any such percentages may be adjusted by assignments permitted pursuant to
Section 9.1.
"Qualified Plan" shall mean a Pension Plan that is intended to
be tax-qualified under Section 401(a) of the IRC.
"Qualified Public Offering" shall mean a firm underwritten
secondary public offering of common stock registered on form S-1, S-2 or S-3
under the Securities Act by a nationally recognized investment banking firm,
resulting in net proceeds to the issuer of at least $10,000,000, and after
giving effect to which the issuer shall be qualified for listing on the NASDAQ
National Market, the American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange.
"Real Estate" shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.6.
"Refinancing" shall mean the repayment in full by Borrowers of
the Prior Lender Obligations on the Closing Date.
"Refunded Swing Line Loan" shall have the meaning assigned to
it in Section 1.1(b)(iii).
"Related Transactions" shall mean the initial borrowing under
the Revolving Loan on the Closing Date, the Refinancing, the payment of all
fees, costs and expenses associated with all of the foregoing, the merger of
Itron Minnesota, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, and Itron Manufacturing, Inc., a
Washington corporation, into Itron and the execution and delivery of all of the
Related Transactions Documents.
"Related Transactions Documents" shall mean the Loan
Documents, the Plan and Agreement of Merger between Itron, Itron Minnesota,
Inc., a Minnesota corporation, and Itron Manufacturing, Inc., a Washington
corporation, and all other documents executed in connection with the Related
Transactions.
"Release" shall mean any release, threatened release, spill,
emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, escape, injection,
deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping, leaching or migration of
Hazardous Material in the indoor or outdoor environment, including the movement
of Hazardous Material through or in the air, soil, surface water, ground water
or property.
"Requisite Revolving Lenders" shall mean Lenders having (a)
more than sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the Revolving Loan
Commitments of all Lenders, or (b) if the Revolving Loan Commitments have been
terminated, more than sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the
aggregate outstanding amount of the Revolving Loan (with the Swing Line Loan
being attributed to the Lender making such Loan) and Letter of Credit
Obligations.
"Reserves" shall mean, with respect to the Borrowing Base of
any Borrower, (a) reserves established by Agent from time to time against
Eligible Inventory pursuant to Section 5.9, (b) reserves established pursuant to
Section 5.4(c), and (c) such other reserves against Eligible Accounts or
Eligible Inventory of any Borrower that Agent may, in its reasonable credit
judgment, establish from time to time. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Reserves established to ensure the payment of accrued Interest
Expenses or Indebtedness shall be deemed to be a reasonable exercise of Agent's
credit judgment.
"Restricted Payment" shall mean, with respect to any Person:
(a) the declaration or payment of any dividend or the incurrence of any
liability to make any other payment or distribution of cash or other property or
assets in respect of such Person's Stock; (b) any payment on account of the
purchase, redemption, defeasance, sinking fund or other retirement of such
Person's Stock or any other payment or distribution made in respect thereof,
either directly or indirectly; (c) any payment or prepayment of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest, fees or other charges on or with respect to, and
any redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund or similar
payment and any claim for rescission with respect to, any Subordinated Debt of
such Person; (d) any payment made to redeem, purchase, repurchase or retire, or
to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to
acquire Stock of such Person now or hereafter outstanding; (e) any payment of a
claim for the rescission of the purchase or sale of, or for material damages
arising from the purchase or sale of, any shares of such Person's Stock or of a
claim for reimbursement, indemnification or contribution arising out of or
related to any such claim for damages or rescission; (f) any payment, loan,
contribution, or other transfer of funds or other property to any Stockholder of
such Person other than payment of compensation in the ordinary course of
business to Stockholders who are employees of such Person; and (g) any payment
of management fees (or other fees of a similar nature) by such Person to any
Stockholder of such Person or its Affiliates.
"Restructuring Charges" shall mean, to the extent recognized
in determining Net Income, cash restructuring charges or other extraordinary
cash expenditures incurred or accrued by Itron or any of its Subsidiaries in
connection with the restructuring, closing, consolidation and reorganization
activities described in Disclosure Schedule (A).
"Retention Amount" shall mean, with respect to any Unbilled
Account, the amount retained or held back by the Account Debtor subject to
satisfaction of any condition, milestone or other requirement (other than
installation or acceptance of the underlying goods or completion of services).
"Retiree Welfare Plan" shall mean, at any time, a Welfare Plan
that provides for continuing coverage or benefits for any participant or any
beneficiary of a participant after such participant's termination of employment,
other than continuation coverage provided pursuant to Section 4980B of the IRC
and at the sole expense of the participant or the beneficiary of the
participant.
"Revolving Credit Advance" shall have the meaning assigned to
it in Section 1.1(a)(i).
"Revolving Lenders" shall mean, as of any date of
determination, Lenders having a Revolving Loan Commitment.
"Revolving Loan" shall mean as the context may require, at any
time, (a) the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Advances outstanding to any
Borrower or to all Borrowers plus (b) the aggregate Letter of Credit Obligations
incurred on behalf of any Borrower or all Borrowers.
"Revolving Loan Commitment" shall mean (a) as to any Lender,
the aggregate commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Credit Advances
(including without duplication Swing Line Advances) or incur Letter of Credit
Obligations as set forth in the signature page to the Agreement or in the most
recent Assignment Agreement executed by such Lender and (b) as to all Lenders,
the aggregate commitment of all Lenders to make Revolving Credit Advances
(including without duplication Swing Line Advances) or incur Letter of Credit
Obligations, which aggregate commitment shall be Thirty-Five Million Dollars
($35,000,000) on the Closing Date, as such amount may be adjusted, if at all,
from time to time in accordance with the Agreement.
"Revolving Note" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 1.1(a)(ii).
"SCE" shall mean Southern California Edison Company.
"SCE Agreement" shall mean that certain Agreement for
Automated Meter Reading Services, dated as of May 28, 1999, between Itron and
SCE, as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified
from time to time.
"SCE Equipment" shall mean all "Equipment" as such term is
defined in the SCE Agreement as of the Closing Date.
"SCE Project" shall mean the provision by Itron of utility
meter reading services in accordance with the terms of the SCE Agreement.
"SCE Subsidiary" shall mean a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Itron
that will be a special purpose vehicle for the sole purpose of performing the
SCE Project.
"Schedule of Documents" shall mean the schedule, including all
appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, listing certain documents and
information to be delivered in connection with the Agreement, the other Loan
Documents and the transactions contemplated thereunder, substantially in the
form attached hereto as Annex D.
"Securities Act" shall mean the provisions of the Securities
Act of 1933, 15 U.S.C. Sections 77a et seq.
"Securities Exchange Act" shall mean the provisions of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. Sections 78a et seq.
"Security Agreement" shall mean the Security Agreement of even
date herewith entered into by and among Agent, on behalf of itself and Lenders,
and each Credit Party signatory thereto.
"Solvent" shall mean, with respect to any Person on a
particular date, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such
Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent
liabilities, of such Person; (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of
such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the
probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and
matured; (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will,
incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person's ability to pay as such debts and
liabilities mature; and (d) such Person is not engaged in a business or
transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which
such Person's property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The
amount of contingent liabilities (such as litigation, guaranties and pension
plan liabilities) at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of
all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount that
can be reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
"SPV Subsidiary" shall mean an Existing SPV Subsidiary and any
other wholly-owned Subsidiary of Itron that is a special purpose vehicle created
for the sole purpose of performing one or more Outsourcing Contracts.
"Stock" shall mean all shares, options, warrants, general or
limited partnership interests or other equivalents (regardless of how
designated) of or in a corporation, partnership or equivalent entity whether
voting or nonvoting, including common stock, preferred stock or any other
"equity security" (as such term is defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules
and Regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act).
"Stockholder" shall mean, with respect to any Person, each
holder of Stock of such Person.
"Subordinated Debt" shall mean the Indebtedness of Itron
evidenced by the Subordinated Notes and any other Indebtedness of any Credit
Party subordinated to the Obligations in a manner and form satisfactory to Agent
and Lenders in their sole discretion, as to right and time of payment and as to
any other rights and remedies thereunder.
"Subordinated Debt Documents" shall mean the Subordinated
Notes and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates executed
in connection therewith.
"Subordinated Notes" shall mean (a) those certain 6 3/4%
Subordinated Notes due 2004 issued by Itron, together with the Indenture between
Itron and Chemical Trust Company of California, a California corporation, as
trustee, dated as of March 12, 1997, and (b) those certain 6 3/4% Subordinated
Notes due 2004 issued by Itron, together with the Indenture between Itron and
Chase Manhattan Trust Company of California, formerly known as Chemical Trust
Company of California, a California corporation, as trustee, dated as of March
12, 1999.
"Subsidiary" shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) any
corporation of which an aggregate of more than 50% of the outstanding Stock
having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of
such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, Stock of any other class
or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason
of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly,
owned legally or beneficially by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person, or with respect to which any such Person has the right to vote or
designate the vote of more than 50% of such Stock whether by proxy, agreement,
operation of law or otherwise, and (b) any partnership or limited liability
company in which such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person shall
have an interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or
capital contribution) of more than 50% or of which any such Person is a general
partner or may exercise the powers of a general partner; provided, that each
reference to a "Subsidiary" of Itron in this Agreement shall not include Star
Data Services, LLC or Kommco.
"Subsidiary Guaranty" shall mean the Subsidiary Guaranty of
even date herewith executed by each Subsidiary of each Borrower in favor of
Agent, on behalf of itself and Lenders.
"Supermajority Revolving Lenders" shall mean Lenders having
(a) 80% or more of the Revolving Loan Commitments of all Lenders, or (b) if the
Revolving Loan Commitments have been terminated, 80% or more of the aggregate
outstanding amount of the Revolving Loan (with the Swing Line Loan being
attributed to the Lender making such Loan) and Letter of Credit Obligations.
"Swing Line Advance" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 1.1(b)(i).
"Swing Line Availability" shall have the meaning assigned to
it in Section 1.1(b)(i).
"Swing Line Commitment" shall mean, as to the Swing Line
Lender, the commitment of the Swing Line Lender to make Swing Line Advances as
set forth on the signature page to the Agreement, which commitment constitutes a
subfacility of the Revolving Loan Commitment of the Swing Line Lender.
"Swing Line Lender" shall mean GE Capital.
"Swing Line Loan" shall mean, as the context may require, at
any time, the aggregate amount of Swing Line Advances outstanding to any
Borrower or to all Borrowers.
"Swing Line Loan Participation Certificate" shall mean a
certificate delivered pursuant to Section 1.1(b)(iv).
"Swing Line Note" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 1.1(b)(ii).
"Taxes" shall mean taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, Charges
or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding taxes
imposed on or measured by the income of Agent or a Lender.
"Termination Date" shall mean the date on which (a) the Loans
have been indefeasibly repaid in full, (b) all other Obligations under the
Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been completely discharged (other
than Obligations that expressly survive the Termination Date), (c) Letter of
Credit Obligations have been terminated, replaced, guaranteed or cash
collateralized in accordance with Annex B, and (d) none of Borrowers shall have
any further right to borrow any monies under the Agreement.
"Third Party Interactives" shall mean all Persons with whom
any Credit Party exchanges data electronically in the ordinary course of
business, including customers, suppliers, third party vendors, subcontractors,
processors-converters, shippers and warehousemen.
"Title IV Plan" shall mean a Pension Plan (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) that is covered by Title IV of ERISA and that any Credit
Party or ERISA Affiliate maintains, contributes to or has an obligation to
contribute to on behalf of participants who are or were employed by any of them.
"Total Capital Expenditures" shall mean the sum of the
following amounts (without duplication): (a) Capital Expenditures made by
Borrowers and their Subsidiaries other than expenditures made in connection with
the Outsourcing Contracts of Borrowers and their Subsidiaries; (b) expenditures
made in connection with the Outsourcing Contracts of Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries (including capital expenditures and labor and installation costs),
to the extent that all or a portion of such expenditures are not financed by a
third party lender (other than Loans); and (c) cash payments or like-kind
exchanges made by Borrowers and their Subsidiaries in connection with the
financing of Outsourcing Contracts or similar Indebtedness (other than Loans)
incurred by any Borrower or its Subsidiaries that is permitted under this
Agreement.
"Trademark License" shall mean rights under any written
agreement now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person granting any right to
use any Trademark.
"Trademarks" shall mean all of the following now owned or
existing or hereafter adopted or acquired by any Person: (a) all trademarks,
trade names, corporate names, business names, trade styles, service marks,
logos, other source or business identifiers, prints and labels on which any of
the foregoing have appeared or appear, designs and general intangibles of like
nature (whether registered or unregistered), all registrations and recordings
thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, including registrations,
recordings and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or
in any similar office or agency of the United States, any state or territory
thereof, or any other country or any political subdivision thereof; (b) all
extensions or renewals thereof; and (c) all goodwill associated with or
symbolized by any of the foregoing.
"Turnkey Contracts" shall mean contracts between or among one
or more Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries on the one hand and third parties
on the other hand for the purchase of meter reading systems, pursuant to which
such Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries remain responsible for installation
of such systems, and the third party's obligation to pay and responsibility to
operate systems occurs upon installation or acceptance of the system.
"Unbilled Accounts" shall mean an Account (a) arising from the
shipment of goods that have not been installed or accepted or from the related
installation services and (b) for which an invoice has not been sent to the
applicable Account Debtor.
"Unfunded Pension Liability" shall mean, at any time, the
aggregate amount, if any, of the sum of (a) the amount by which the present
value of all accrued benefits under each Title IV Plan exceeds the fair market
value of all assets of such Title IV Plan allocable to such benefits in
accordance with Title IV of ERISA, all determined as of the most recent
valuation date for each such Title IV Plan using the actuarial assumptions for
funding purposes in effect under such Title IV Plan, and (b) for a period of
five years following a transaction that might reasonably be expected to be
covered by Section 4069 of ERISA, the liabilities (whether or not accrued) that
could be avoided by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate as a result of such
transaction.
"UTS" shall mean Utility Translation Systems, Inc., a North
Carolina corporation.
"UTS Borrowing Base" shall mean, as of any date of
determination by Agent, from time to time, an amount equal to up to 85% of UTS's
Eligible Accounts, less any Reserves established by Agent at such time.
"Welfare Plan" shall mean a Plan described in Section 3(1) of
ERISA.
"Year 2000 Assessment" shall mean a comprehensive written
assessment of the nature and extent of each Credit Party's Year 2000 Problems
and Year 2000 Date-Sensitive Systems/Components, including Year 2000 Problems
regarding data exchanges with Third Party Interactives.
"Year 2000 Corrective Actions" shall mean, as to each Credit
Party, all actions necessary to eliminate such Person's Year 2000 Problems,
including computer code enhancements and revisions, upgrades and replacements of
Year 2000 Date-Sensitive Systems/Components, and coordination of such
enhancements, revisions, upgrades and replacements with Third Party
Interactives.
"Year 2000 Corrective Plan" shall mean, with respect to each
Credit Party, a comprehensive plan to eliminate all of its Year 2000 Problems on
or before December 31, 1999, including (a) computer code enhancements or
revisions, (b) upgrades or replacements of Year 2000 Date-Sensitive
Systems/Components, (c) test and validation procedures, (d) an implementation
time line and budget, and (e) designation of specific employees who will be
responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing each phase or subpart of
the Year 2000 Corrective Plan.
"Year 2000 Date-Sensitive System/Component" shall mean, as to
any Person, any system software, network software, applications software, data
base, computer file, embedded microchip, firmware or hardware that accepts,
creates, manipulates, sorts, sequences, calculates, compares or outputs
calendar-related data accurately; such systems and components shall include
mainframe computers, file server/client systems, computer workstations, routers,
hubs, other network-related hardware, and other computer-related software,
firmware or hardware and information processing and delivery systems of any kind
and telecommunications systems and other communications processors, security
systems, alarms, elevators and HVAC systems.
"Year 2000 Implementation Testing" shall mean, as to each
Credit Party, (a) the performance of test and validation procedures regarding
Year 2000 Corrective Actions on a unit basis and on a systemwide basis, (b) the
performance of test and validation procedures regarding data exchanges among the
Credit Parties' Year 2000 Date-Sensitive Systems/Components and data exchanges
with Third Party Interactives, and (c) the design and implementation of
additional Year 2000 Corrective Actions, the need for which has been
demonstrated by test and validation procedures.
"Year 2000 Problems" shall mean, with respect to each Credit
Party, limitations on the capacity or readiness of any such Credit Party's Year
2000 Date-Sensitive Systems/Components to accurately accept, create, manipulate,
sort, sequence, calculate, compare or output calendar date information with
respect to calendar year 1999 or any subsequent calendar year beginning on or
after January 1, 2000 (including leap year computations), including exchanges of
information among Year 2000 Date-Sensitive Systems/Components of the Credit
Parties and exchanges of information among the Credit Parties and Year 2000
Date-Sensitive Systems/Components of Third Party Interactives and functionality
of peripheral interfaces, firmware and embedded microchips.
Rules of construction with respect to accounting terms used in
the Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be as set forth in Annex
G. All other undefined terms contained in any of the Loan Documents shall,
unless the context indicates otherwise, have the meanings provided for by the
Code as in effect in the State of California to the extent the same are used or
defined therein. Unless otherwise specified, references in the Agreement or any
of the Appendices to a section, subsection or clause refer to such section,
subsection or clause as contained in the Agreement. The words "herein," "hereof"
and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to the Agreement as a
whole, including all Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules, as the same may from time
to time be amended, restated, modified or supplemented, and not to any
particular section, subsection or clause contained in the Agreement or any such
Annex, Exhibit or Schedule.
Wherever from the context it appears appropriate, each term
stated in either the singular or plural shall include the singular and the
plural, and pronouns stated in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall
include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders. The words "including,"
"includes" and "include" shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation"; the word "or" is not exclusive; references to Persons include their
respective successors and assigns (to the extent and only to the extent
permitted by the Loan Documents) or, in the case of governmental Persons,
Persons succeeding to the relevant functions of such Persons; and all references
to statutes and related regulations shall include any amendments of the same and
any successor statutes and regulations. Whenever any provision in any Loan
Document refers to the knowledge (or an analogous phrase) of any Credit Party,
such words are intended to signify that such Credit Party has actual knowledge
or awareness of a particular fact or circumstance or that such Credit Party, if
it had exercised reasonable diligence, would have known or been aware of such
fact or circumstance.
<PAGE>
CREDIT AGREEMENT
ANNEX G (Section 6.10)
to
CREDIT AGREEMENT
FINANCIAL COVENANTS
Borrowers shall not breach or fail to comply with any of the
following financial covenants, each of which shall be calculated in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied:
(a) Maximum Total Capital Expenditures. Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis shall not make Total Capital Expenditures
during any Fiscal Year that exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate; provided, that
in no event shall "Total Capital Expenditures" include expenditures made to
repair, modify or replace any fixed asset or improvement damaged or destroyed by
or as a result of any insurable event to the extent that the aggregate amount of
all such expenditures does not exceed the amount of the net insurance proceeds
payable to Borrowers and their Subsidiaries with respect to such insurable
event.
(b) Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis shall have, at the end of each Fiscal
Quarter set forth below, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the respective
periods set forth below of not less than the following:
Period Ratio
1/1/00 through 3/31/00 1.0
1/1/00 through 6/30/00 1.5
1/1/00 through 9/30/00 1.5
1/1/00 through 12/31/00 1.5
at the end of each Fiscal Quarter thereafter
for the 12-month period then ended 1.5
(c) Minimum EBITDA. Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis shall have, at the end of each Fiscal Quarter set forth
below, EBITDA for the respective periods set forth below of not less than the
following:
Period EBITDA
10/1/99 through 12/31/99 $(16,500,000)
1/1/00 through 3/31/00 $ 3,500,000
1/1/00 through 6/30/00 $ 11,000,000
1/1/00 through 9/30/00 $ 17,000,000
1/1/00 through 12/31/00 $ 25,000,000
at the end of each Fiscal Quarter thereafter
or the 12-month period then ended $ 25,000,000
(d) Maximum Outsourcing Expenditures. Expenditures made as of
any date in connection with the Outsourcing Contracts of Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries (including capital expenditures and labor and installation costs),
to the extent that as of such date all or a portion of such expenditures have
not been financed by a third party lender (other than any Loans), shall not
exceed $40,000,000 in the aggregate.
(e) Restructuring Charges. Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on
a consolidated basis shall not have Restructuring Charges for the period from
October 1, 1999 through December 31, 1999 in excess of $13,500,000.
Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, any accounting
term used in the Agreement shall have the meaning customarily given such term in
accordance with GAAP, and all financial computations hereunder shall be computed
in accordance with GAAP consistently applied. That certain items or computations
are explicitly modified by the phrase "in accordance with GAAP" shall in no way
be construed to limit the foregoing. If any "Accounting Changes" (as defined
below) occur and such changes result in a change in the calculation of the
financial covenants, standards or terms used in the Agreement or any other Loan
Document, then Borrowers, Agent and Lenders agree to enter into negotiations in
order to amend such provisions of the Agreement so as to equitably reflect such
Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating
Borrowers' and their Subsidiaries' financial condition shall be the same after
such Accounting Changes as if such Accounting Changes had not been made;
provided, that the agreement of Requisite Revolving Lenders to any required
amendments of such provisions shall be sufficient to bind all Lenders.
"Accounting Changes" means (i) changes in accounting principles required by the
promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants (or any successor thereto or any agency with similar functions),
(ii) changes in accounting principles concurred in by any Borrower's certified
public accountants, (iii) purchase accounting adjustments under A.P.B. 16 or 17
and EITF 88-16, and the application of the accounting principles set forth in
FASB 109, including the establishment of reserves pursuant thereto and any
subsequent reversal (in whole or in part) of such reserves, and (iv) the
reversal of any reserves established as a result of purchase accounting
adjustments. All such adjustments resulting from expenditures made subsequent to
the Closing Date (including capitalization of costs and expenses or payment of
pre-Closing Date liabilities) shall be treated as expenses in the period the
expenditures are made and deducted as part of the calculation of EBITDA in such
period. If Agent, Borrowers and Requisite Revolving Lenders agree upon the
required amendments, then after appropriate amendments have been executed and
the underlying Accounting Change with respect thereto has been implemented, any
reference to GAAP contained in the Agreement or in any other Loan Document
shall, only to the extent of such Accounting Change, refer to GAAP consistently
applied after giving effect to the implementation of such Accounting Change. If
Agent, Borrowers and Requisite Revolving Lenders cannot agree upon the required
amendments within 30 days following the date of implementation of any Accounting
Change, then all Financial Statements delivered and all calculations of
financial covenants and other standards and terms in accordance with the
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be prepared, delivered and made
without regard to the underlying Accounting Change.
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT ("Amendment") is
entered into as of February 28, 2000, by and among ITRON, INC., a Washington
corporation, ("Itron"), and UTILITY TRANSLATION SYSTEMS, INC., a North Carolina
corporation ("UTS"), (Itron and UTS are sometimes collectively referred to
herein as the "Borrowers" and individually as a "Borrower"); the other Credit
Parties signatory hereto; the lenders signatory hereto (each individually a
"Lender" and collectively the "Lenders"); and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL
CORPORATION, a New York corporation (in its individual capacity, "GE Capital"),
for itself, as a Lender, and as administrative agent for Lenders (in such
capacity, "Agent").
RECITALS
A. Borrowers, the other Credit Parties signatory hereto,
Lenders, and Agent have entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of
January 18, 2000 (the "Credit Agreement"), pursuant to which Agent and Lenders
are providing financial accommodations to or for the benefit of Borrowers upon
the terms and conditions contained therein. Unless otherwise defined herein,
capitalized terms or matters of construction defined or established in Annex A
to the Credit Agreement shall be applied herein as defined or established
therein.
B. Borrowers have requested that Agent and Lenders make
certain amendments to the Credit Agreement, and Agent and Lenders are willing to
do so subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the continued performance
by Borrowers and each other Credit Party of their respective promises and
obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, Borrowers, the other Credit Parties signatory hereto,
Lenders, and Agent hereby agree as follows:
1. Ratification and Incorporation of Credit Agreement and
other Loan Documents. Except as expressly modified under this Amendment, (a)
each of each Borrower and each other Credit Party hereby acknowledges, confirms,
and ratifies all of the terms and conditions set forth in, and all of their
respective obligations under, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
including the provisions of Section 12 of the Credit Agreement, and (b) all of
the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents are incorporated herein by this reference as if set forth in full
herein.
2. Amendments to Credit Agreement
a. Paragraph (a) of Annex B of the Credit
Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the reference to "Ten Million Dollars
($10,000,000)" and replacing it with "Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000)."
b. Paragraph (c) of Annex G of the Credit
Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the reference to "$(16,500,000)" and
replacing it with "($71,000,000)."
C. Paragraph (e) of Annex G of the Credit
Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the reference to $13,500,000," and
replacing it with "$13,750,000."
3. Consent. Notwithstanding any contrary term or provision set
forth in the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents, including Section
6.13 of the Credit Agreement, Agent and Lenders hereby consent, subject to the
terms and conditions set forth below, to the cancellation by Itron of
Indebtedness owing to it by Star Data Services in an amount not to exceed
$1,260,000 in connection with the transaction identified in Disclosure Schedule
(6.2).
4. Extension of Deadline for Certain Open Items. At Borrowers'
request, Agent agrees to extend the date for delivery of the following open
items under and as defined in that certain open items letter agreement dated
January 18, 2000 (the "Open Items Letter"), as follows:
a. Paragraph 1 of the Open Items Letter is
amended to provide that on or before March 31, 2000, Borrowers shall deliver
or cause to be delivered to Agent:
(i) with respect to UTS, a tax good standing certificate
for the State of Washington;
(ii) with respect to Itron, a tax good standing
certificate for the District of Columbia; and
(iii) with respect to Itron Finance, a tax good standing
certificate for the State of Washington.
b. Paragraph 2 of the Open Items Letter is
amended to provide that on or before March 31, 2000, Borrowers shall deliver or
cause to be delivered, a copy of Itron's and UTS' secretary's certificate to
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., that attaches a duly authorized and adopted resolution
by the Board of Directors of such Borrower in form and substance satisfactory to
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., regarding the Lockbox Account Agreement of such
Borrower.
If Borrowers are unable to deliver or cause the delivery by the applicable
period for delivery therefor, then such failure shall constitute an Event of
Default under the Credit Agreement.
5. Conditions to Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this
Amendment is subject to satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
a. receipt by Agent of copies of this Amendment
duly executed by each Borrower, each other Credit Party, and Lenders
constituting Requisite Lenders; and
b. the absence of any Defaults or Events of
Default as of the date hereof.
6. Entire Agreement. This Amendment, together with the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, is the entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof This Amendment
supersedes all prior and contemporaneous oral and written agreements and
discussions with respect to the subject matter hereof.
7. Representations and Warranties. Each of each Borrower and
each other Credit Party hereby represents and warrants that the representations
and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement were true and correct in all
material respects when made and, except to the extent that (a) a particular
representation or warranty by its terms expressly applies only to an earlier
date or (b) Borrowers or any other Credit Party, as applicable, has previously
advised Agent in writing as contemplated under the Credit Agreement, are true
and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof.
8. Guarantor Consents. By signing this Amendment, each
Guarantor hereby (a) ratifies and reaffirms, as of the date hereof, all of the
provisions of that certain Continuing Guaranty dated as of January 18, 2000, in
favor of Agent, (b) acknowledges receipt of a copy of this Amendment, and (c)
consents to all of the provisions of this Amendment.
9. Miscellaneous.
a. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed
in identical counterpart copies, each of which shall be an original, but all of
which shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed
counterpart of a signature page to this Amendment by facsimile transmission
shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.
b. Headings. Section headings used herein are
for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Amendment, and are not
to be taken into consideration in interpreting this Amendment.
C. Recitals. The recitals set forth at the
beginning of this Amendment are true and correct, and such recitals are
incorporated into and are a part of this Amendment.
d. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be
governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the
State of California applicable to contracts made and performed in such state,
without regard to the principles thereof regarding conflict of laws.
e. STATUTE OF FRAUDS. ORAL AGREEMENTS OR ORAL
COMMITMENTS TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT, OR TO FORBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT
OF A DEBT ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE UNDER WASHINGTON LAW.
f. Effect. Upon the effectiveness of this
Amendment, from and after the date hereof, each reference in the Credit
Agreement to "this Agreement," "hereunder," "hereof," or words of like import
shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby and each
reference in the other Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement, "thereunder,"
"thereof," or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit
Agreement as amended hereby.
g. No Novation. Except as expressly provided in
Sections 2, 3 and 4 of this Amendment, the execution, delivery, and
effectiveness of this Amendment shall not (i) limit, impair, constitute a waiver
of, or otherwise affect any right, power, or remedy of Agent or any Lender under
the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) constitute a waiver of any
provision in the Credit Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents, or
(iii) alter, modify, amend, or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions,
obligations, covenants, or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any
other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and
shall continue in full force and effect.
h. Conflict of Terms. In the event of any
inconsistency between the provisions of this Amendment and any provision of the
Credit Agreement, the terms and provisions of this Amendment shall govern and
control.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed as of the date
first written above.
ITRON, INC. as a Borrower and a Credit Party
By: /s/ David G. Remington
Name: David G. Remington
Title: Vice President & CEO
UTILITY TRANSLATION SYSTEMS, INC., as a
Borrower and a Credit Party
By: /s/ David G. Remington
Name: David G. Remington
Title: Vice President & CEO
ITRON INTERNATIONAL, INC., as a Guarantor
and a Credit Party
By: /s/ David G. Remington
Name: David G. Remington
Title: Treasurer
ITRON FINANCE, INC., as a Guarantor and a
Credit Party
By: /s/ David G. Remington
Name: David G. Remington
Title: Vice President & CEO
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,
as Agent and a Lender
By: /s/ Mark Mascia
Mark Mascia
Duly Authorized Signatory
Itron, Inc.
Statement of Computation of Ratios
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31,
--------------------------------------------------------------------
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------ ------------
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Earnings:
Pre-tax income (loss) 16,401 (2,134) 1,635 (10,045) (100,266)
Fixed charges:
Converible debt amortization 357 426 311
Interest capitalized 533 994 260
Interest expense, gross 252 923 3,834 6,557 6,405
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------ ------------
a) Fixed charges 252 1,456 5,185 7,243 6,716
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------ ------------
b) Earnings for ratio 16,653 (678) 6,820 (2,802) (93,550)
Ratios:
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (b/a) 66.0833 n/a 1.3153 n/a n/a
</TABLE>
ITRON SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATED COMPANIES
Domestic Subsidiaries: International Subsidiaries:
Itron, Inc. Itron Canada, Ltd. (Canada)
Corporate Headquarters 160 Wilkinson Rd., #22
2818 N. Sullivan Rd. Brampton, ON. L6T 4Z4
Spokane, WA. 99216-1897
P.O. Box 15288 Spokane, WA. 99215-5288 Itron S.A. (France)
Immeuble Merblanc
Utility Translation Systems, Inc. 1, rue du Port au Prince
200 UTS Centre 38200 Vienne, France
5909 Falls of the Neuse Road
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27609 Itron Ltd. (England)
Kilnbrook House
Genesis Services Pittsburgh, Inc. Rose Kiln Lane
N 2818 Sullivan Rd Reading, Berkshire RG2 0BY
Spokane, WA 99216 United Kingdom
Genesis Services Portland, Inc Itron Australisia Pty Ltd. (Australia)
N 2818 Sullivan Rd BHP Building
Spokane, WA 99216 Level 6, 55 Sussex Street
Itron International, Inc
N 2818 Sullivan Rd
Spokane, WA 99216
Itron Finance, Inc.
N 2818 Sullivan Rd
Spokane, WA 99216
Itron Connecticut Finance, Inc
N 2818 Sullivan Rd
Spokane, WA 99216
Independent Auditors' Consent
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement
Nos. 333-28933, 333-63147, 333-04685, 333-86581 and 333-81925 of Itron, Inc. and
subsidiaries on form S-8 of our report dated March 28, 2000, appearing in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Itron, Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended
December 31, 1999.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Seattle, Washington
March 28, 2000
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<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
<CASH> 1,538
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 47,872
<ALLOWANCES> (1,311)
<INVENTORY> 15,300
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 108,084
<PP&E> 106,655
<DEPRECIATION> (66,077)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 192,079
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 63,824
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 106,031
<OTHER-SE> (58,506)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 192,079
<SALES> 193,412
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 193,412
<CGS> 200,104
<TOTAL-COSTS> 200,104
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 86,713
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> (6,861)
<INCOME-PRETAX> (100,266)
<INCOME-TAX> 28,010
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (72,256)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 3,660
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (68,596)
<EPS-BASIC> (4.62)
<EPS-DILUTED> (4.62)
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