CBRL Group, Inc. 10-Q 05/30/06
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D. C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark
One)
of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For
the
Quarterly Period Ended April 28, 2006
or
of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For
the
Transition Period from ________ to _______.
Commission
file number 000-25225
CBRL
GROUP, INC.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as
Specified
in Its Charter)
Tennessee
|
|
62-1749513
|
(State
or Other Jurisdiction
|
|
(IRS
Employer
|
Of
Incorporation or Organization)
|
|
Identification
No.)
|
Hartmann
Drive, P. O. Box 787
Lebanon,
Tennessee 37088-0787
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
615-444-5533
(Registrant’s
Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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 whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer” and “large accelerated filer” (Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act).
Large
accelerated filer X
Accelerated
filer ____ Non-accelerated filer ____
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
___
No X
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date.
30,917,058
Shares
of
Common Stock
Outstanding
as of May 26, 2006
CBRL
GROUP, INC.
FORM
10-Q
For
the Quarter Ended April 28, 2006
INDEX
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
Page
|
|
|
Item
1
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
a) Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of April 28, 2006 and July 29,
2005
|
3
|
|
|
b) Condensed
Consolidated Statement of Income for the Quarter and Nine Months
Ended April 28, 2006 and April 29, 2005
|
4
|
|
|
c) Condensed
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended
April 28, 2006 and April 29, 2005
|
5
|
|
|
d) Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
|
6
|
|
|
Item
2
|
|
|
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
14
|
|
|
Item
3
|
|
|
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About market Risk
|
28
|
|
|
Item
4
|
|
|
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
28
|
|
|
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
Item
6
|
|
|
|
Exhibits
|
29
|
|
|
SIGNATURES
|
30
|
PART
I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item
1. Financial Statements
CBRL
GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(In
thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
April
28,
|
|
|
July
29,
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005*
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
20,148
|
|
$
|
17,173
|
|
Property
held for sale
|
|
|
10,495
|
|
|
--
|
|
Receivables
|
|
|
15,448
|
|
|
13,736
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
128,087
|
|
|
142,804
|
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
|
|
8,455
|
|
|
7,238
|
|
Deferred
income taxes
|
|
|
9,532
|
|
|
9,532
|
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
192,165
|
|
|
190,483
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property
and equipment
|
|
|
1,740,906
|
|
|
1,664,048
|
|
Less:
Accumulated depreciation and amortization of capital
leases
|
|
|
488,705
|
|
|
445,750
|
|
Property
and equipment - net
|
|
|
1,252,201
|
|
|
1,218,298
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
(see Note 7)
|
|
|
93,724
|
|
|
93,724
|
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
48,217
|
|
|
30,767
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$
|
1,586,307
|
|
$
|
1,533,272
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
$
|
62,984
|
|
$
|
97,710
|
|
Other
accrued expenses
|
|
|
189,682
|
|
|
197,425
|
|
Current
maturities of long-term debt and other long-term
obligations
|
|
|
153
|
|
|
210
|
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
252,819
|
|
|
295,345
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
debt
|
|
|
194,998
|
|
|
212,218
|
|
Tender
offer obligation (see Note 11)
|
|
|
704,071
|
|
|
--
|
|
Other
long-term obligations
|
|
|
58,737
|
|
|
48,411
|
|
Deferred
income taxes
|
|
|
104,734
|
|
|
107,310
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
and contingencies (see Note 9)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders’
equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
stock - 100,000,000 shares of $.01 par
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
value
authorized; no shares issued
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
Common
stock - 400,000,000 shares of $.01 par
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
value
authorized; at April 28, 2006, 47,661,958
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
shares
issued and outstanding and at July 29, 2005,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,619,803
shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
477
|
|
|
466
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retained
earnings (see Notes 10 and 11)
|
|
|
270,471
|
|
|
869,522
|
|
Total
shareholders’ equity
|
|
|
270,948
|
|
|
869,988
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities and shareholders’ equity
|
|
$
|
1,586,307
|
|
$
|
1,533,272
|
|
See
notes
to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
*
This
condensed consolidated balance sheet has been derived from the audited
consolidated balance sheet as of July 29, 2005, as filed in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 29, 2005.
CBRL
GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(In
thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
revenue
|
|
$
|
644,200
|
|
$
|
627,999
|
|
$
|
1,971,913
|
|
$
|
1,907,841
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of goods sold
|
|
|
201,817
|
|
|
203,702
|
|
|
637,008
|
|
|
639,933
|
|
Gross
profit
|
|
|
442,383
|
|
|
424,297
|
|
|
1,334,905
|
|
|
1,267,908
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Labor
and other related expenses
|
|
|
243,397
|
|
|
237,574
|
|
|
719,992
|
|
|
696,512
|
|
Other
store operating expenses
|
|
|
117,773
|
|
|
112,204
|
|
|
359,827
|
|
|
329,508
|
|
Impairment
and store closing charges (see Notes 7 and 8)
|
|
|
3,596
|
|
|
431
|
|
|
10,361
|
|
|
431
|
|
Store
operating income
|
|
|
77,617
|
|
|
74,088
|
|
|
244,725
|
|
|
241,457
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
|
|
38,808
|
|
|
31,242
|
|
|
115,185
|
|
|
98,831
|
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
38,809
|
|
|
42,846
|
|
|
129,540
|
|
|
142,626
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
2,700
|
|
|
2,221
|
|
|
7,516
|
|
|
6,516
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
118
|
|
|
96
|
|
Income
before income taxes
|
|
|
36,115
|
|
|
40,625
|
|
|
122,142
|
|
|
136,206
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision
for income taxes
|
|
|
12,143
|
|
|
14,054
|
|
|
41,651
|
|
|
47,127
|
|
Net
income
|
|
$
|
23,972
|
|
$
|
26,571
|
|
$
|
80,491
|
|
$
|
89,079
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income per share (see Note 5):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.51
|
|
$
|
0.56
|
|
$
|
1.72
|
|
$
|
1.85
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.47
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
$
|
1.60
|
|
$
|
1.72
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares (see Note 5):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
47,295,058
|
|
|
47,555,889
|
|
|
46,916,467
|
|
|
48,135,476
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
52,523,351
|
|
|
53,149,295
|
|
|
52,067,800
|
|
|
53,774,355
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See
notes
to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
CBRL
GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited
and in thousands)
|
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income
|
|
$
|
80,491
|
|
$
|
89,079
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
53,512
|
|
|
50,311
|
|
Loss
on disposition of property and equipment
|
|
|
1,185
|
|
|
2,278
|
|
Impairment
charges
|
|
|
8,430
|
|
|
431
|
|
Accretion
on zero-coupon contingently convertible senior notes
|
|
|
4,280
|
|
|
4,156
|
|
Share-based
compensation
|
|
|
10,353
|
|
|
1,204
|
|
Excess
tax benefit from share-based compensation
|
|
|
(5,737
|
)
|
|
--
|
|
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
14,717
|
|
|
16,864
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
(46,294
|
)
|
|
46,273
|
|
Other
current assets and other current liabilities
|
|
|
(5,551
|
)
|
|
10,165
|
|
Other
assets and other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
1,759
|
|
|
3,416
|
|
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
117,145
|
|
|
224,177
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
|
|
(106,862
|
)
|
|
(125,034
|
)
|
Proceeds
from sale of property and equipment
|
|
|
181
|
|
|
1,067
|
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(106,681
|
)
|
|
(123,967
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from issuance of long-term debt
|
|
|
618,500
|
|
|
396,600
|
|
Principal
payments under long-term debt and other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
long-term
obligations
|
|
|
(640,177
|
)
|
|
(390,741
|
)
|
Proceeds
from exercise of stock options
|
|
|
26,978
|
|
|
35,547
|
|
Purchases
and retirement of common stock
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
(131,916
|
)
|
Dividends
on common stock
|
|
|
(17,829
|
)
|
|
(17,060
|
)
|
Excess
tax benefit from share-based compensation
|
|
|
5,737
|
|
|
--
|
|
Other
|
|
|
(698
|
)
|
|
--
|
|
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(7,489
|
)
|
|
(107,570
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
2,975
|
|
|
(7,360
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
|
|
17,173
|
|
|
28,775
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents, end of period
|
|
$
|
20,148
|
|
$
|
21,415
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid during the nine months for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest,
net of amounts capitalized
|
|
$
|
1,848
|
|
$
|
687
|
|
Income
taxes
|
|
$
|
41,640
|
|
$
|
27,786
|
|
Non-cash
disclosures:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
purchased in tender offer (see Note 11)
|
|
$
|
704,071
|
|
$
|
--
|
|
Accrued
loan acquisition costs (see Note 12)
|
|
$
|
11,568
|
|
$
|
--
|
|
See
notes
to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
CBRL
GROUP, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In
thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
1.
Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
The
condensed consolidated balance sheets as of April 28, 2006 and July 29, 2005
and
the related condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows for
the
quarters and/or nine-month periods ended April 28, 2006 and April 29, 2005,
have
been prepared by CBRL Group, Inc. (the “Company”) in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) without audit. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting
of normal and recurring items) necessary for a fair presentation of such
condensed consolidated financial statements have been made. The results of
operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results
for
the full year.
These
condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with
the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in
the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 29, 2005 (the
“2005
Form 10-K”). Except as described below and in Note 3 to the Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 28, 2005 (filed with the SEC on November
30, 2005) (the “First Quarter 10-Q”), the accounting policies used in preparing
these condensed consolidated financial statements are the same as those
described in our 2005 Form 10-K.
References
in these Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements to a year
are
to the Company’s fiscal year unless otherwise noted. Certain reclassifications
have been made in the results for the quarter and nine-month period ended April
29, 2005 to conform to the classifications used in 2006.
2.
Recently
Adopted Accounting Policies
Share-Based
Compensation
Prior
to
July 30, 2005, the Company accounted for its share-based compensation under
the
recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”)
Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related
interpretations, the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”
(“SFAS No. 123”) and the disclosures required by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure” (“SFAS No. 148”). In
accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, no share-based compensation cost was
reflected in the Company’s prior year net income for grants of stock options
because the Company grants stock options with an exercise price equal to the
market value of the stock on the date of grant.
Had
the
Company used the fair value based accounting method for stock compensation
expense prescribed by SFAS Nos. 123 and 148 for the quarter and nine-month
period ended April 29, 2005, the Company's consolidated net income and net
income per share would have been reduced to the pro-forma amounts illustrated
as
follows:
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
Nine
Months
Ended
|
|
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
Net
income - as reported
|
|
$
|
26,571
|
|
$
|
89,079
|
|
Add:
Total share-based employee compensation
included in reported
net
income, net of related tax effects (a)
|
|
|
168
|
|
|
793
|
|
Deduct:
Total share-based compensation expense
determined under fair-value
based
method for all awards, net of related
tax effects
|
|
|
(2,202
|
)
|
|
(7,313
|
)
|
Net
income - pro forma
|
|
$
|
24,537
|
|
$
|
82,559
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
- as reported
|
|
$
|
0.56
|
|
$
|
1.85
|
|
Basic
- pro forma
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
$
|
1.72
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
- as reported
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
$
|
1.72
|
|
Diluted
- pro forma
|
|
$
|
0.49
|
|
$
|
1.60
|
|
(a)
The
reported share-based compensation expense, net of related tax effects, in the
table above represents the amortization of restricted stock grants.
Effective
July 30, 2005, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of
SFAS
No. 123 (Revised 2004), “Share Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”) using the
modified prospective method. Under this method, share-based compensation cost
in
2006 is recorded in general and administrative expenses and includes
amortization over the respective vesting periods for (1) all share-based
payments granted prior to, but not vested as of, July 29, 2005, based on the
grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions
of
SFAS No. 123 and (2) all share-based payments granted subsequent to July 29,
2005, based on the grant date fair value estimated using a binomial
lattice-based option valuation model. See Note 3 to the Company’s Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements in the First Quarter 10-Q for more details
on
the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123R.
Compensation
cost for share-based payment arrangements recognized in general and
administrative expenses for the quarter and nine-month period ended April 28,
2006 was $2,399 and $7,552, respectively, for stock options and $978 and $2,801,
respectively, for restricted stock grants. The adoption of SFAS No. 123R, for
the quarter and nine-month period ended April 28, 2006, decreased both the
Company’s reported operating income and income before income taxes by $2,399 and
$7,552, respectively, and decreased reported net income by $1,593 and $4,977,
respectively. The adoption of SFAS No. 123R decreased both reported basic and
diluted net income per share by $0.03 for the quarter ended April 28, 2006.
The
adoption of SFAS No. 123R for the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006
decreased both reported basic and diluted net income per share by $0.10. The
adoption of SFAS No. 123R for the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006 also
resulted in a decrease in reported cash flow from operating activities of $5,737
offset by an increase in reported cash flow from financing activities of $5,737.
Because the Company did not adopt SFAS No. 123R until July 30, 2005, operating
income, income before income taxes, net income, cash flow from operations,
cash
flow from financing activities, and basic and diluted net income per share
during the quarter or nine-month period ended April 29, 2005 were not affected
by its adoption.
As
of
April 28, 2006, there was $21,319 of total unrecognized compensation cost
related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements that is expected
to be
recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.27 years. No restricted stock
grants vested during the nine-month period ended April 28,
2006.
Rental
Costs
In
October 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Staff
Position No. FAS 13-1, “Accounting for Rental Costs Incurred During a
Construction Period” (“FSP No. 13-1”). FSP No. 13-1 states that rental costs
associated with ground or building operating leases that are incurred during
a
construction period shall be recognized as rental expense in income from
continuing operations as opposed to capitalizing such rental costs. Although
the
provisions of FSP No. 13-1 are effective for the first reporting period
beginning after December 15, 2005, the Company early adopted this guidance
in
its first quarter of 2006. The early adoption of FSP No. 13-1 did not affect
the
Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position since this
treatment did not differ from the Company’s then-existing accounting
policy.
Amortization
Period of Leasehold Improvements
In
September 2005, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) No. 05-6,
“Determining the Amortization Period for Leasehold Improvements Purchased after
Lease Inception or Acquired in a Business Combination” (“EITF 05-6”). EITF 05-6
states that leasehold improvements acquired in a business combination should
be
amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the assets or a term that
includes required lease periods and renewals that are deemed to be reasonably
assured at the date of acquisition. EITF 05-6 further states that leasehold
improvements placed in service significantly after and not contemplated at
or
near the beginning of a lease term should be amortized over the shorter of
the
useful life of the assets or a term that includes required lease periods and
renewals that are deemed to be reasonably assured at the date the leasehold
improvements are purchased. This consensus does not apply to preexisting
leasehold improvements. The provisions of EITF 05-6 are effective for leasehold
improvements that are purchased or acquired in reporting periods beginning
after
September 28, 2005, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this
guidance in the first quarter of 2006. The early adoption of EITF 05-6 did
not
affect the Company’s results of operations or financial position since this
treatment did not differ from the Company’s then-existing accounting
policy.
3.
Seasonality
Historically,
the net income of the Company has been lower in the first three quarters of
each
year and highest in the fourth quarter, which includes much of the summer
vacation and travel season. Management attributes these variations primarily
to
the decrease in interstate tourist traffic and propensity to dine out less
during the regular school year and winter months and the increase in interstate
tourist traffic and propensity to dine out more during the summer months. The
Company's retail sales historically have been highest in the Company's second
quarter, which includes the Christmas holiday shopping season. The Company
also
generally opens additional new locations throughout the year. Therefore,
the results of operations for the quarter and nine months ended April 28, 2006
cannot be considered indicative of the operating results for the entire
year.
4.
Inventories
Inventories
were comprised of the following at:
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
July
29,
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
$
|
85,981
|
|
$
|
101,604
|
|
Restaurant
|
|
|
21,661
|
|
|
21,588
|
|
Supplies
|
|
|
20,445
|
|
|
19,612
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
128,087
|
|
$
|
142,804
|
|
5.
Consolidated
Net Income Per Share and Weighted Average Shares
Basic
net
income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average
shares outstanding. Diluted net income per share reflects the potential dilution
that could occur if securities, options or other contracts to issue common
stock
were exercised or converted into common stock. Additionally, diluted net income
per share is calculated excluding the after-tax interest and financing expenses
associated with the Company’s senior notes (as described in Notes 2 and 5 to the
Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2005 Form 10-K)
since, for diluted net income per share calculations, these senior notes are
treated as if converted into common stock. The
Company’s senior notes, outstanding employee and director stock options,
restricted stock and stock awards issued by the Company represent the only
securities having a dilutive effect on diluted net income per share. The
following table reconciles the components of the diluted net income per share
computations:
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
Net
income per share numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income
|
|
$
|
23,972
|
|
$
|
26,571
|
|
$
|
80,491
|
|
$
|
89,079
|
|
Add:
Interest and loan acquisition costs
associated
with senior notes, net of
related
tax effects
|
|
|
951
|
|
|
1,071
|
|
|
2,820
|
|
|
3,398
|
|
Net
income available to common
shareholders
|
|
$
|
24,923
|
|
$
|
27,642
|
|
$
|
83,311
|
|
$
|
92,477
|
|
Net
income per share denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding for
basic
net income per share
|
|
|
47,295,058
|
|
|
47,555,889
|
|
|
46,916,467
|
|
|
48,135,476
|
|
Add
potential dilution:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior
notes
|
|
|
4,582,788
|
|
|
4,582,788
|
|
|
4,582,788
|
|
|
4,582,788
|
|
Stock
options, restricted stock and stock awards
|
|
|
645,505
|
|
|
1,010,618
|
|
|
568,545
|
|
|
1,056,091
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding for
diluted
net income per share
|
|
|
52,523,351
|
|
|
53,149,295
|
|
|
52,067,800
|
|
|
53,774,355
|
|
6.
Segment
Reporting
The
Company manages its business on the basis of one reportable operating
segment.
Cracker
Barrel Old Country Store® (“Cracker Barrel”) units represent a single,
integrated operation with two related and substantially integrated product
lines. The operating expenses of the restaurant and retail product line of
a
Cracker Barrel unit are shared and are indistinguishable in many respects.
The
chief operating decision-makers review operating results for both restaurant
and
retail operations on a combined basis. Likewise, Logan’s RoadhouseÒ
(“Logan’s”) units are restaurant operations and those operations have similar
investment criteria and economic and operating characteristics as the operations
of Cracker Barrel.
All
of
the Company’s operations are located within the United States. The following
data are presented in accordance with SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures About Segments
of an Enterprise and Related Information,” for all periods
presented.
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
sales in company-owned stores:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restaurant
|
|
$
|
541,582
|
|
$
|
523,423
|
|
$
|
1,606,978
|
|
$
|
1,521,892
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
101,938
|
|
|
103,973
|
|
|
363,088
|
|
|
384,225
|
|
Total
net sales
|
|
|
643,520
|
|
|
627,396
|
|
|
1,970,066
|
|
|
1,906,117
|
|
Franchise
fees and royalties
|
|
|
680
|
|
|
603
|
|
|
1,847
|
|
|
1,724
|
|
Total
revenue
|
|
$
|
644,200
|
|
$
|
627,999
|
|
$
|
1,971,913
|
|
$
|
1,907,841
|
|
7.
Impairment
of Long-lived Assets
Property
and Equipment
In
accordance with SFAS No. 144 “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” the
Company evaluates long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles to
be
held and used in the business for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be
recoverable. An impairment is determined by comparing undiscounted future
operating cash flows that are expected to result from an asset to the carrying
values of an asset on a store by store basis. In addition the recoverability
test considers the likelihood of possible outcomes that existed at the balance
sheet date, including the assessment of the likelihood of the future sale of
the
asset. If an impairment exists, the amount of impairment is measured as the
sum
of the estimated discounted future operating cash flows of the asset and the
expected proceeds upon sale of the asset less its carrying value. Assets held
for sale, if any, are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value
less costs to sell.
The
Company recorded an impairment loss of $431 in the nine-months ended April
29,
2005. During
the quarter ended January 27, 2006, the Company decided to close seven Cracker
Barrel stores and three Logan’s restaurants, which resulted in impairment
charges of $6,765. These impairments were recorded based upon the lower of
unit
carrying amount or fair value. Each unit’s fair value was determined based upon
estimates provided by third-party appraisers using market comparables. The
impaired locations were closed early in the quarter ended April 28, 2006 and
were classified at that time as held for sale. The
locations were closed due to weak financial performance, an unfavorable outlook,
and relatively positive prospects for proceeds from disposition for certain
locations. Due to the closed stores now being classified as held for sale,
during the quarter ended April 28, 2006, the Company re-measured the closed
store assets at the lower of their fair values less the costs to sell.
Additionally, during the quarter ended April 28, 2006, the Company recorded
an
impairment for its Cracker Barrel management trainee housing facility. The
total
impairment loss related to property and equipment recorded in the quarter ended
April 28, 2006 was $837.
Goodwill
At
least
annually the Company assesses the recoverability of goodwill. The impairment
tests require the Company to estimate fair values of its related reporting
units
by making assumptions regarding future cash flows and other factors. This
valuation may reflect, among other things, such external factors as capital
market valuation for public companies comparable to the operating unit. If
these
assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record material
impairment charges for these assets. The Company performed its annual assessment
in the quarter ended January 27, 2006, and concluded at that time that there
was
no indication of impairment. This annual assessment is performed in the second
quarter of each year. Additionally, an assessment is performed between annual
assessments if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely
than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying
amount.
8.
Store
Closing Charges
In
connection with the closing of seven Cracker Barrel stores and three Logan’s
restaurants (as described in Note 7 above), and in accordance with SFAS No.
146
“Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities,” the Company
incurred exit and disposal costs in the quarter ended April 28, 2006 totaling
$2,759. The
locations were closed due to weak financial performance, an unfavorable outlook,
and relatively positive prospects for proceeds from disposition for certain
locations. The Company expects the sale of the properties to be completed within
one year. The
store
closing charges included employee termination benefits, lease termination and
other costs and are included in the impairment and store closing charges line
on
the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of income.
The
following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending liability
balances related to the store closing charges for the quarter ended April 28,
2006.
|
|
Employee
Termination
benefits
|
|
Lease
termination costs
|
|
Other
|
|
Total
|
|
Beginning
liability balance at January 27, 2006
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
Expense
|
|
$
|
700
|
|
$
|
484
|
|
$
|
1,575
|
|
$
|
2,759
|
|
Costs
paid
|
|
|
(700
|
)
|
|
(31
|
)
|
|
(744
|
)
|
|
(1,475
|
)
|
Adjustments*
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
310
|
|
|
(306
|
)
|
|
4
|
|
Ending
liability balance at April 28, 2006
|
|
$
|
--
|
|
$
|
763
|
|
$
|
525
|
|
$
|
1,288
|
|
*The
adjustments represent the balance sheet reclass of accrued straight-line rent,
smallwares and prepaids.
The
expenses recorded above for the quarter ended April 28, 2006 represent the
total
amount expected to be incurred for these closing charges. The fair values of
all
liabilities associated with the store closing charges were able to be reasonably
estimated and have been recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated
financial statements.
9.
Commitments
and Contingencies
The
Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various legal and regulatory
proceedings and claims incidental to and arising out of the ordinary course
of
its business. In the opinion of management, however, based upon information
currently available, the ultimate liability with respect to these other
proceedings and claims will not materially affect the Company’s consolidated
results of operations or financial position. However, litigation involves an
element of uncertainty. Future developments could cause these actions or claims
to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements as a
whole.
The
Company was contingently liable pursuant to standby letters of credit as credit
guarantees primarily related to insurers. As of April 28, 2006 the Company
had
$38,508 of standby letters of credit related primarily to securing reserved
claims under workers' compensation and general liability insurance. All standby
letters of credit are renewable annually.
The
Company is secondarily liable for lease payments under the terms of an operating
lease that has been assigned to a third party. The operating lease has a
remaining life of approximately 7.4 years, with annual lease payments of
approximately $361. Under the assigned lease the Company’s performance is only
required if the assignee fails to perform his obligations as lessee. At this
time, the Company has no reason to believe that the assignee will not perform
and, therefore, no provision has been made in the accompanying condensed
consolidated financial statements for amounts to be paid as a result of
non-performance by the assignee.
10.
Shareholders’
Equity
During
the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006, the Company received proceeds of
$26,978 from the exercise of stock options on 1,042,155 shares of its common
stock. During the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006 the Company did not
repurchase any shares of its common stock, except as described in Note
11.
During
the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006, the Company paid a dividend of
$0.12
per common share on August 8, 2005 (declared May 27, 2005) and the Company
declared three dividends of $0.13 per common share each that were paid on
November 8, 2005, February 8, 2006 and May 8, 2006. The dividend paid on May
8,
2006 in the amount of $6,190 is recorded in other accrued expenses in the
accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet. Additionally, the Company
declared a dividend of $0.13 per common share on May 25, 2006 to be paid on
August 8, 2006 to shareholders of record on July 14, 2006.
The
decrease in shareholders’ equity from July 29, 2005 is primarily due to the
accounting for the Company’s Tender Offer discussed in Note 11.
11.
Tender
Offer
On
March
31, 2006, the Company commenced a tender offer in which it sought to acquire
up
to 16,750,000 shares of its common stock at a price between $42.00 and $46.00
per share (“the Tender Offer”). The Tender Offer expired at midnight on April
27, 2006, at which time approximately 23,500,000 shares were tendered at a
price
of $42.00 per share. The Tender Offer met the definition of a forward contract
under SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with
Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.” As of April 28, 2006, the
obligation to settle the Tender Offer of $702,852 and the related transaction
fees of $1,219 were recorded as a liability and a reduction to shareholders’
equity. The transaction fees include the dealer manager, information agent,
depository, legal and other fees. On May 4, 2006, the Company accepted for
payment 16,750,000 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $42.00
per
share for a total purchase price of $703,500. In accordance with SFAS No. 150,
the difference of $648 between the fair market value of the obligation at April
28, 2006 of $702,852 and the total purchase price of $703,500 will be included
in interest expense in the Company’s fourth quarter. The Company
contemporaneously drew approximately $725,000 under its new credit facility,
described in Note 12, to pay for the shares accepted in the Tender Offer and
related transaction fees and expenses.
12.
Debt
Effective
April 27, 2006, the Company entered into a $1,250,000 credit facility (the
“2006
Credit Facility”) that consisted of up to $1,000,000 in term loans (an $800,000
term B facility and a $200,000 delayed draw facility) with a scheduled maturity
date of April 27, 2013 and a $250,000 revolving credit facility expiring April
27, 2011. As described in Note 11, contemporaneously with the acceptance of
shares in the Tender Offer, on May 3, 2006, the Company drew $725,000 under
the
$800,000 available under the term B facility, which was used to pay for the
shares accepted in the Tender Offer, fees associated with the 2006 Credit
Facility and the related transaction costs. The $200,000 delayed draw facility
can be used any time prior to October 27, 2007 to refinance the Company’s senior
notes or for general corporate purposes.
The
term
loan interest rate is based on LIBOR initially and on LIBOR or prime following
the initial locked rate period and the revolving credit facility and delayed
draw facility interest rates are based on either LIBOR or prime. A spread is
added to the interest rates according to a defined schedule based on the
Company’s consolidated total leverage ratio as defined in the 2006 Credit
Facility. The Company’s policy is to manage interest cost using a mixture of
fixed-rate and variable-rate debt. To manage this risk in a cost efficient
manner, the Company entered into an interest rate swap on May 4, 2006 in which
it agreed to exchange with a counterparty, at specified intervals effective
August 3, 2006, the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts
calculated by reference to an agreed-upon notional principal amount. Interest
rate swaps that meet specific conditions under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” are accounted for as cash flow
hedges. The swapped portion of our $725,000 term loan will be fixed at a rate
of
5.57% plus our then current credit spread or 7.07% based on today’s credit
spread over the 7-year life of the term loan and the interest rate swap. The
swapped portion is $525,000 to May 2, 2007, $650,000 from May 3, 2007 to May
4,
2008, $625,000 from May 5, 2008 to May 3, 2009, $600,000 from May 4, 2009 to
May
2, 2010, $575,000 from May 3, 2010 to May 2, 2011, $550,000 from May 3, 2011
to
May 2, 2012, and $525,000 for May 3, 2012 to May 2, 2013.
Loan
acquisition costs associated with the term B loan, revolving credit facility
and
delayed draw facility were capitalized in the amount of $7,112 (net of $656
in
commitment fees that were written off in the quarter ended April 28, 2006
related to the $75,000 availability that was not drawn on the term B loan),
$2,453, and $1,962, respectively, and will be amortized over the respective
terms of the facilities. Financial covenants related to the 2006 Credit Facility
require that the Company maintain a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio
of
4.5 to 1.0 through April 27, 2007, 4.25 to 1.0 from April 28, 2007 through
May
2, 2008, 4.0 to 1.0 from May 3, 2008 through May 1, 2009 and 3.75 to 1.0 from
May 2, 2009 and thereafter. Financial covenants also require that the Company
maintain a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of 3.0 to 1.0 through
April 27, 2007, 3.25 to 1.0 from April 28, 2007 through May 2, 2008, 3.5 to
1.0
from May 3, 2008 through May 1, 2009, 3.75 to 1.0 from May 2, 2009 through
April
30, 2010 and 4.0 to 1.0 from April 31, 2010 and thereafter. The Company’s
subsidiaries have fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several
basis the obligations under the 2006 Credit Facility and pledged their
outstanding stock. Contemporaneously with entering into the 2006 Credit
Facility, the Company terminated its then-existing $300,000 revolving credit
agreement; at the time of termination, no amounts were outstanding.
Each
of
the Company’s $1 (face value at maturity) senior notes, (as more fully described
in the Company’s 2005 Form 10-K), became convertible into 10.8584 shares of the
Company’s common stock (approximately 4.6 million shares in the aggregate)
during the quarter ended April 28, 2006. The Company has received verification
from the Trustee of the senior notes that as of the filing of this Quarterly
Report, no holders of the senior notes have exercised their option to convert.
The Company has classified the senior notes as long-term obligations due to
the
Company’s intent and ability to refinance these senior notes on a long-term
basis.
13.
Compensatory
Plans and Arrangements
In
connection with the Company’s announced strategic review, the Company’s
Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board approved, pursuant to
the
Omnibus Plan, the “2006 Success Plan” for certain officers of the Company. This
plan was disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on
March 17, 2006. During the quarter ended April 28, 2006, the Company recorded
expense of $1,192 for this plan as general and administrative expenses on the
accompanying condensed consolidated statement of income. The maximum amount
payable under the 2006 Success Plan is $7,906. Any amounts payable under the
2006 Success Plan will become earned and payable six months after the completion
of the Logan’s divestiture or the date that the Company’s Board decides not to
divest Logan’s.
Item
2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of
Operations
CBRL
Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) are principally
engaged in the operation and development in the United States of the Cracker
Barrel Old Country StoreÒ
(“Cracker Barrel”) restaurant and retail concept and the Logan’s
RoadhouseÒ
(“Logan’s”) restaurant concept. All dollar amounts reported or discussed in Part
I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are shown in thousands, except
share and per share amounts. References in management’s discussion and analysis
of financial condition and results of operations to a year are to the Company’s
fiscal year unless otherwise noted. The following discussion and analysis
provides information which management believes is relevant to an assessment
and
understanding of the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial
condition. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the (i) condensed
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in this Form 10-Q and (ii)
the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 29, 2005 (the “2005 Form
10-K”).
Except
for specific historical information, many of the matters discussed in this
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may express or imply projections of revenues
or
expenditures, statements of plans and objectives or future operations or
statements of future economic performance. These and similar statements are
forward-looking statements concerning matters that involve risks, uncertainties
and other factors which may cause the actual performance of the
Company
and its
subsidiaries and the plans it has proposed to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by this discussion.
Forward-looking
statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology
such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “continues,” “estimates,” “expects,” “goals,”
“intends,” “opportunity,” “trends,” “assumptions,” “target,” “guidance,”
“forecast,” “outlook,” “plans,” “objectives,” “expectations,” “near-term,”
“long-term,” “projection,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” or “potential” (or
the negative or other derivatives of each of these terms) or similar
terminology. Factors which could materially affect actual results include,
but
are not limited to:
· |
the
timing and ability of the Company to execute a successful divestiture
of
its Logan’s Roadhouse, Inc. subsidiary, including the effects of changes
in capital market or economic conditions that could affect valuations
of
restaurant companies;
|
· |
the
effects of incurring substantial indebtedness and associated restrictions
on the Company’s financial and operating flexibility and ability to
execute or pursue its operating plans and objectives;
|
· |
the
effects of uncertain consumer confidence, higher costs for energy,
consumer debt payments, or general or regional economic weakness,
or
weather on sales and customer travel, discretionary income or personal
expenditure activity of our customers;
|
· |
the
ability of the Company to identify, acquire and sell successful new
lines
of retail merchandise and new menu items at our restaurants;
|
· |
the
ability of the Company to sustain or the effects of plans intended
to
improve operational execution and performance;
|
· |
changes
in or implementation of additional governmental or regulatory rules,
regulations and interpretations affecting tax, wage and hour matters,
health and safety, insurance or other undeterminable areas;
|
· |
the
effects of plans intended to promote or protect the Company’s brands and
products;
|
· |
consumer
behavior based on negative publicity or concerns over nutritional
or
safety aspects of the Company’s products or restaurant food in general,
including concerns about E. coli bacteria, hepatitis A, “mad cow” disease,
“foot-and-mouth” disease, and bird flu, as well as the possible effects of
such events on the price or availability of ingredients used in our
restaurants;
|
· |
changes
in interest rates or capital market conditions affecting the Company’s
financing costs or ability to obtain financing or execute initiatives;
|
· |
the
effects of business trends on the outlook for individual restaurant
locations and the effect on the carrying value of those locations;
|
· |
the
ability of the Company to retain key personnel during and after the
restructuring process;
|
· |
the
ability of and cost to the Company to recruit, train, and retain
qualified
hourly and management employees;
|
· |
the
effects of increased competition at Company locations on sales and
on
labor recruiting, cost, and retention;
|
· |
the
availability and cost of suitable sites for restaurant development
and our
ability to identify those sites;
|
· |
changes
in building materials and construction costs;
|
· |
the
actual results of pending, future or threatened litigation or governmental
investigations and the costs and effects of negative publicity associated
with these activities;
|
· |
practical
or psychological effects of natural disasters or terrorist acts or
war and
military or government responses;
|
· |
disruptions
to the Company’s restaurant or retail supply chain;
|
· |
changes
in foreign exchange rates affecting the Company’s future retail inventory
purchases;
|
· |
implementation
of new or changes in interpretation of existing accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”);
|
· |
effectiveness
of internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure;
|
· |
and
other factors described from time to time in the Company’s filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), press releases, and other
communications.
|
Results
of Operations
The
following table highlights operating results by percentage relationships to
total revenue for the quarter and nine-month period ended April 28, 2006 as
compared to the same periods a year ago:
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
Total
revenue
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of goods sold
|
|
|
31.3
|
|
|
32.4
|
|
|
32.3
|
|
|
33.5
|
|
Gross
profit
|
|
|
68.7
|
|
|
67.6
|
|
|
67.7
|
|
|
66.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Labor
and other related expenses
|
|
|
37.8
|
|
|
37.8
|
|
|
36.5
|
|
|
36.5
|
|
Other
store operating expenses
|
|
|
18.3
|
|
|
17.9
|
|
|
18.3
|
|
|
17.3
|
|
Impairment
and store closing charges
|
|
|
0.6
|
|
|
0.1
|
|
|
0.5
|
|
|
--
|
|
Store
operating income
|
|
|
12.0
|
|
|
11.8
|
|
|
12.4
|
|
|
12.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
|
|
6.0
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
|
5.8
|
|
|
5.2
|
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
6.0
|
|
|
6.8
|
|
|
6.6
|
|
|
7.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
0.4
|
|
|
0.3
|
|
|
0.4
|
|
|
0.4
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
Income
before income taxes
|
|
|
5.6
|
|
|
6.5
|
|
|
6.2
|
|
|
7.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision
for income taxes
|
|
|
1.9
|
|
|
2.3
|
|
|
2.1
|
|
|
2.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income
|
|
|
3.7
|
%
|
|
4.2
|
%
|
|
4.1
|
%
|
|
4.7
|
%
|
The
following table highlights the components of total revenue by percentage
relationships to total revenue for the quarter and nine-month period ended
April
28, 2006 as compared to the same periods a year ago:
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
Net
sales:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cracker
Barrel restaurant
|
|
|
67.1
|
%
|
|
67.5
|
%
|
|
65.6
|
%
|
|
65.1
|
%
|
Logan’s
|
|
|
17.0
|
|
|
15.8
|
|
|
15.9
|
|
|
14.7
|
|
Total
restaurant
|
|
|
84.1
|
|
|
83.3
|
|
|
81.5
|
|
|
79.8
|
|
Cracker
Barrel retail
|
|
|
15.8
|
|
|
16.6
|
|
|
18.4
|
|
|
20.1
|
|
Total
net sales
|
|
|
99.9
|
|
|
99.9
|
|
|
99.9
|
|
|
99.9
|
|
Franchise
fees and royalties
|
|
|
0.1
|
|
|
0.1
|
|
|
0.1
|
|
|
0.1
|
|
Total
revenue
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
The
following table highlights the units in operation, units opened and units closed
for the quarter and nine-month period ended April 28, 2006 as compared to the
same periods a year ago:
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
Cracker
Barrel:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Open
at beginning of period
|
|
|
540
|
|
|
514
|
|
|
529
|
|
|
504
|
|
Opened
during period
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
16
|
|
Closed
during period
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
--
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
--
|
|
Open
at end of period
|
|
|
539
|
|
|
520
|
|
|
539
|
|
|
520
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Logan’s
- company-owned:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Open
at beginning of period
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
118
|
|
|
124
|
|
|
107
|
|
Opened
during period
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
16
|
|
Closed
during period
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
--
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
--
|
|
Open
at end of period
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
123
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
123
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
company-owned units
|
|
|
673
|
|
|
643
|
|
|
673
|
|
|
643
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Logan’s
- franchised:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Open
at beginning of period
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
20
|
|
Opened
during period
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
2
|
|
Closed
during period
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
Open
at end of period
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
systemwide units
|
|
|
698
|
|
|
665
|
|
|
698
|
|
|
665
|
|
Average
unit volumes include sales of all company-owned units and are measured on
comparable calendar weeks in the prior year. The following table highlights
average unit volumes for the quarter and nine-month period ended April 28,
2006
as compared to the same periods a year ago:
|
|
Quarter
Ended
|
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
April
28,
2006
|
|
April
29,
2005
|
|
Cracker
Barrel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
sales:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restaurant
|
|
$
|
802.9
|
|
$
|
819.2
|
|
$
|
2,408.4
|
|
$
|
2,428.0
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
189.4
|
|
|
200.8
|
|
|
676.2
|
|
|
750.6
|
|
Total
net sales
|
|
$
|
992.3
|
|
$
|
1,020.0
|
|
$
|
3,084.6
|
|
$
|
3,178.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Logan’s
|
|
$
|
821.2
|
|
$
|
821.5
|
|
$
|
2,407.1
|
|
$
|
2,403.6
|
|
Total
Revenue
Total
revenue for the third
quarter of 2006 increased 2.6% compared to the prior year’s third quarter. For
the third quarter ended April 28, 2006, Cracker Barrel comparable store
restaurant sales decreased 2.1% and comparable store retail sales decreased
5.4%
resulting in a combined comparable store sales (total net sales) decrease of
2.8%. The comparable store restaurant sales decrease consisted of a 1.2% average
check increase for the quarter (including a 1.8% increase in average menu
prices) and a 3.3% guest traffic decrease. The comparable store retail sales
decrease is believed to be related to restaurant guest traffic decreases, lower
average price-points on items sold, uncertain consumer sentiment and reduced
discretionary spending. Logan’s comparable restaurant sales increased 0.5%,
which consisted of a 2.5% average check increase (including a 2.6% increase
in
average menu prices), and a 2.0% guest traffic decrease. Sales from newly opened
Cracker Barrel stores and Logan’s restaurants accounted for the balance of the
total revenue increase in the third quarter.
Total
revenue for the
nine-month period ended April 28, 2006 increased 3.4% compared to the nine-month
period ended April 29, 2005. For the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006,
Cracker Barrel comparable store restaurant sales decreased 0.5% and comparable
store retail sales decreased 8.9% resulting in a combined comparable store
sales
(total net sales) decrease of 2.4%. The comparable store restaurant sales
decrease consisted of a 2.5% average check increase for the nine months (which
reflected higher average menu prices), and a 3.0% guest traffic decrease. The
comparable store retail sales decrease is believed to be related to restaurant
guest traffic decreases, uncertain consumer sentiment and reduced discretionary
spending, weaker than expected response to the retail assortments and lower
average spending per retail purchase as a result of lower product price-points
and greater markdowns. Logan’s comparable restaurant sales increased 1.1%, which
consisted of a 2.6% average check increase (which reflected higher average
menu
prices), and a 1.5% guest traffic decrease. Sales from newly opened Cracker
Barrel stores and Logan’s restaurants accounted for the balance of the total
revenue increase in the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006.
Cost
of Goods Sold
Cost
of
goods sold as a percentage of total revenue for the third quarter of 2006
decreased to 31.3% from 32.4% in the third quarter of the prior year. This
decrease was due to higher average menu prices versus the prior year, lower
commodity costs, lower retail costs of goods and a lower percentage of retail
sales, which have a higher cost as a percent of sales than restaurant
sales.
Cost
of
goods sold as a percentage of total revenue for the nine-month period ended
April 28, 2006 decreased to 32.3% from 33.5% in the nine-month period ended
April 29, 2005. This decrease was due to higher average menu prices versus
the
prior year, lower commodity costs, lower retail costs of goods and a lower
percentage of retail sales, which have a higher cost as a percent of sales
than
restaurant sales.
Labor
and Other Related Expenses
Labor
and
other related expenses include all direct and indirect labor and related costs
incurred in store operations. Labor and other related expenses as a percentage
of total revenue remained the same at 37.8% in the third quarter this year
as it
was in the third quarter of the prior year. This was due to higher average
menu
prices versus the prior year and lower group health costs offset by higher
hourly wages and higher store management salaries versus the prior year.
Labor
and
other related expenses as a percentage of total revenue remained the same at
36.5% in the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006 as it was in the nine-month
period ended April 29, 2005. This was due to higher average menu prices versus
the prior year and lower workers’ compensation insurance expense and group
health costs offset by higher hourly wages and store management salaries versus
the prior year.
Other
Store Operating Expenses
Other
store operating expenses include all unit-level operating costs, the major
components of which are operating supplies, repairs and maintenance, advertising
expenses, utilities, rent, depreciation, general insurance, credit card fees
and
non-labor-related pre-opening expenses. Other store operating expenses as a
percentage of total revenue increased to 18.3% in the third quarter of 2006
from
17.9% in the third quarter of the prior year. This increase was due to higher
utilities, supplies and other miscellaneous expenses. These increases were
partially offset by higher average menu prices versus the prior year and lower
advertising expense.
Other
store operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue increased to 18.3%
in
the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006 as compared to 17.3% in the
nine-month period ended April 29, 2005. This increase was due to higher
utilities, supplies and maintenance expenses partially offset by higher average
menu prices.
Impairment
and Store Closing Charges
During
the quarter ended January 27, 2006, the Company decided to close seven Cracker
Barrel stores and three Logan's restaurants, which resulted in impairment
charges of $6,765. The actual
closings all took place early in the third quarter. Upon closing, the locations
became classified as held for sale, therefore the Company re-measured the closed
store assets at the lower of their fair values less the costs to sell.
Additionally, during the quarter ended April 28, 2006, the Company recorded
an
impairment for its management trainee housing facility. The total impairment
and
store closing costs recorded in the quarter and nine months ended April 28,
2006
were $3,596 and $10,361, respectively. The total impairment and store closing
costs recorded in the quarter and nine months ended April 29, 2005 were $431.
See Notes 7 and 8 to the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements for more details surrounding the impairment and store closing
charges.
General
and Administrative Expenses
General
and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenue increased to 6.0%
in the third quarter of 2006 as compared to 5.0% in the third quarter of the
prior year. This increase was due to stock option expense as a result of the
adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123
(Revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”) in 2006 and the
non-recurrence of an insurance recovery in the prior year.
General
and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenue increased to 5.8%
in the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006 as compared to 5.2% in the
nine-month period ended April 29, 2005. This increase was due to stock option
expense as a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 123R in 2006, higher salaries
and wages and legal expenses versus the prior year.
Provision
for Income Taxes
The
provision for income taxes as a percent of pre-tax income was 33.6% in the
third
quarter and 34.1% for the first nine months of 2006 as compared to 34.6% for
both the quarter and nine months a year ago. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service
(“IRS”) has examined the Company’s consolidated federal income tax returns
through the year ended July 30, 2004. In March 2006, the Company reached a
settlement with the IRS for these tax periods. The settlement had no material
effect on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the
quarter or nine-month period ended April 28, 2006. In estimating our full year
2006 tax rate, which is used to determine our rate for the first nine months
of
2006, we reversed certain reserves previously accrued, which lowered our tax
rate from 2005. The variation between the statutory tax rate and the effective
tax rate is due to state income taxes offset by employer tax credits for FICA
taxes paid on employee tip income and various other federal tax
credits.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
Company's operating activities provided net cash of $117,145 for the nine-month
period ended April 28, 2006, which represented a decrease from the $224,177
provided during the same period a year ago. This decrease was due to a
significant increase in accounts payable in the first nine months of 2005 as
compared to a significant decrease in the first nine months of 2006, as well
as
an increase in income taxes payable in the first nine months of 2005 as compared
to a decrease in the first nine months of 2006. The changes in accounts payable
and income taxes payable were due to timing of payments this year compared
with
the timing of payments last year.
The
Company had negative working capital of $60,654 at April 28, 2006 versus
negative working capital of $104,862 at July 29, 2005. In the restaurant
industry, substantially all sales are either for cash or credit card. Like
many
other restaurant companies, the Company is able to, and generally does operate
with negative working capital. Restaurant inventories purchased through the
Company's principal food distributor are on terms of net zero days, while
restaurant inventories purchased locally generally are financed from normal
trade credit. Retail inventories purchased domestically generally are financed
from normal trade credit, while imported retail inventories generally are
purchased through wire transfers. These various trade terms are aided by rapid
turnover of the restaurant inventory. Employees generally are paid on weekly,
bi-weekly or semi-monthly schedules in arrears of hours worked, and certain
expenses such as certain taxes and some benefits are deferred for longer periods
of time. The smaller negative working capital compared with July 29, 2005
reflected lower accounts payable and income taxes payable and higher cash and
cash equivalents and properties held for sale, partially offset by lower
inventories.
Capital
expenditures were $106,862 for the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006 as
compared to $125,034 during the same period a year ago. Construction and
acquisition of new locations accounted for most of these expenditures. The
decrease from the prior year is due to the decrease in the number of new
locations under construction and the decrease in owned versus leased land for
new locations. Capitalized interest was $160 and $527 for the quarter and
nine-month period ended April 28, 2006, respectively, as compared to $232 and
$592 for the quarter and nine-month period ended April 29, 2005, respectively.
These differences were due primarily to decreases in the average number of
new
locations under construction versus the same periods a year ago.
During
the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006, the Company received proceeds of
$26,978 from the exercise of stock options on 1,042,155 shares of its common
stock. During the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006, the Company paid
a
dividend of $0.12 per common share on August 8, 2005 (declared May 27, 2005)
and
the Company declared three dividends of $0.13 per common share each that were
paid on November 8, 2005, February 8, 2006 and May 8, 2006. The dividend paid
on
May 8, 2006 was in the amount of $6,190. Additionally, the Company declared
a
dividend of $0.13 per common share on May 25, 2006 to be paid on August 8,
2006
to shareholders of record on July 14, 2006.
The
Company's internally generated cash and the Company’s availability under its
credit facilities, together with its ability to enter into real estate operating
lease arrangements, were sufficient to finance all of its growth, dividend
and
working capital needs in the first nine months of 2006 and are expected to
be
sufficient to meet the Company’s needs for the forseeable future.
Strategic
Initiatives
As
previously announced in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
March 17, 2006, the Company, with the assistance of a financial advisor,
reviewed its capital structure and other potential initiatives intended to
enhance shareholder value (the “Review”). At the time that the Review was
announced, the Company also disclosed that implementing some or all of the
initiatives under consideration in the Review could affect the Company’s
previously issued earnings guidance, as well as its financial position.
Accordingly, the Company formally withdrew that guidance and announced that
no
further earnings or related guidance (including updates to the Company’s
expectations for net cash provided by operating activities or cash used for
the
purchase of property and equipment) is expected to be given until completion
of
the Review and the implementation of the initiatives being considered.
The
Company’s Review, to date, has resulted in : 1) the repurchase of 16,750,000
shares of the Company’s common stock at $42.00 per share pursuant to a modified
“Dutch Auction” tender offer (the “Tender Offer”) and 2) the execution by the
Company, effective April 27, 2006, of a $1,250,000 credit facility (the “2006
Credit Facility”). The Company, pursuant to the Review, still plans to divest
its wholly-owned subsidiary, Logan’s, subject to achieving fair and satisfactory
consideration and approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. The proceeds of
that divesture could be used to repurchase additional CBRL common stock, to
reduce debt and/or for other general corporate purposes.
The
Tender Offer met the definition of a forward contract under SFAS No. 150,
“Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both
Liabilities and Equity” (“SFAS No. 150”). As of April 28, 2006, the obligation
to settle the tender offer was recorded as a liability at its fair value of
$702,852 plus related transaction fees of $1,219. On May 4, 2006, the Company
accepted for payment 16,750,000 shares of its common stock at a purchase price
of $42.00 per share for a total purchase price of $703,500. Per SFAS No. 150
the
difference of $648 between the liability at April 28, 2006 of $702,852 and
the
total purchase price of $703,500 will be included in interest expense in the
Company’s fourth quarter. Contemporaneously with accepting the shares pursuant
to the Tender Offer the Company drew approximately $725,000 under the 2006
Credit Facility to pay for the shares accepted in the Tender Offer, fees
associated with the execution of the 2006 Credit Facility and related
transaction costs.
During
the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006 the Company did not make any share
repurchases with the exception of those made in the Tender Offer. As of April
28, 2006, the Company had 821,081 shares remaining under a previously announced
repurchase authorization. The Company presently cannot determine when it will
complete the remaining share repurchase authorization because it has suspended
repurchase activity pending implementation of the initiatives considered in
the
Review.
Standard
& Poor’s (“S & P”) issued a “credit watch/negative” notice with respect
to the Company’s indebtedness when the Review was disclosed. Subsequently in
March 2006, S & P lowered its rating on the Company’s corporate credit and
senior notes from BBB- to BB+ upon the announcement of the approval of the
plan
to incur indebtedness and repurchase shares pursuant to the Tender Offer. In
May
2006, S & P again lowered the rating on the senior notes to B+ reflecting
the relatively large amount of secured debt and lowered the rating on the new
$1,175,000 credit facility to BB while taking the Company off its credit watch.
Moody’s Investor Service (“Moody’s”) changed the Company’s outlook to
“developing” when the Review was disclosed. Subsequently in March 2006, Moody’s
downgraded the Company’s corporate family rating to Baa3 from Ba1, resulting
from the company’s approval of the above mentioned Review and placed these
ratings under review for possible downgrade. Subsequently in April 2006, Moody’s
downgraded the Company’s senior notes to Ba3 from Ba1 and the corporate family
rating to Ba2 from Ba1, assigned a rating of Ba2 to the new $1,175,000 credit
facility and assigned a stable rating outlook for the Company upon completion
of
their rating review for possible downgrade of the Company announced in March
2006. Additionally, Moody’s has warned that should the divestiture of Logan’s
not materialize or significantly change from the expected scenario, Moody’s
would need to reassess the impact on all ratings at that time.
In
the
event that either or both of the Company’s ratings decline further, the Company
may incur an increase in future borrowing costs. Additionally, since the rating
from Moody’s declined to Ba3 and the Standard & Poor’s rating declined below
BB- each $1 (face value at maturity) senior note became convertible into 10.8584
shares of the Company’s common stock (approximately 4.6 million shares in the
aggregate). The Company has received verification from the Trustee of the senior
notes that, as of the filing of this Quarterly Report, no holders of the senior
notes have exercised their option to convert. The Company has classified the
senior notes as long-term obligations due to the Company’s intent and ability to
refinance these senior notes on a long-term basis.
Recently
Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Share-Based
Compensation
Prior
to
July 30, 2005, the Company accounted for its share-based compensation under
the
recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”)
Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“SFAS No. 123”), and
related interpretations, the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 123,
“Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and the disclosures required by SFAS
No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure.” In
accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, no share-based compensation cost was
reflected in the Company’s prior year net income for grants of stock options
because the Company grants stock options with an exercise price equal to the
market value of the stock on the date of grant.
Effective
July 30, 2005, the Company, with the assistance of an outside consulting
service, adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123R, as
discussed in Note 2 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained
in
this
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
The
Company elected to adopt using the modified prospective method, under which
share-based compensation cost in 2006 is recorded in general and administrative
expenses and includes amortization over the respective vesting periods for
(1)
all share-based payments granted prior to, but not vested as of July 29, 2005,
based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original
provisions of SFAS No. 123 and (2) all share-based payments granted subsequent
to July 29, 2005, based on the grant date fair value estimated using a binomial
lattice-based option valuation model.
Before
adoption of SFAS No. 123R, pro forma disclosure reflected the fair value of
each
option grant estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model (see Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements contained in
the
Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 28, 2005
(filed with the SEC on November 30, 2005)
(the
“Second Quarter 10-Q”) for the weighted-average assumptions used in 2005). Under
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model the Company estimated volatility using
only its historical share price performance over the expected life of the
option. However, under SFAS No. 123R the expected volatility is estimated using
a blend of implied volatility based on market-traded options on the Company’s
common stock and historical volatility of the Company’s common stock over the
contractual life of the options. Results of prior periods do not reflect any
restated amounts and the Company had no cumulative effect adjustment upon
adoption of SFAS No. 123R under
the
modified prospective method. The Company’s policy is to recognize compensation
cost for awards with only service conditions and a graded vesting schedule
on a
straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award.
Additionally, the Company issues new shares of common stock to satisfy stock
option exercises or grants of restricted shares.
Compensation
cost for share-based payment arrangements recognized in general and
administrative expenses for the quarter and nine-month period ended April 28,
2006 was $2,399 and $7,552, respectively, for stock options and $978 and $2,801,
respectively, for restricted stock grants. For the quarter and nine-month period
ended April 28, 2006, the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, decreased both the
Company’s reported operating income and income before income taxes by $2,399 and
$7,552, respectively, and decreased reported net income by $1,593 and $4,977,
respectively. The adoption of SFAS No. 123R decreased both reported basic and
diluted net income per share by $0.03 for the quarter ended April 28, 2006.
For
the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006, the adoption of SFAS No. 123R,
decreased both reported basic and diluted net income per share by $0.10. The
adoption of SFAS No. 123R for the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006 also
resulted in a decrease in reported cash flow from operating activities of $5,737
offset by an increase in reported cash flow from financing activities of $5,737.
Because the Company did not adopt SFAS No. 123R until July 30, 2005, operating
income, income before income taxes, net income, cash flow from operations,
cash
flow from financing activities, and basic and diluted net income per share
during the quarter or nine-month period ended April 29, 2005 were not affected
by its adoption.
As
of
April 28, 2006, there was $21,319 of total unrecognized compensation cost
related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements that is expected
to be
recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.27 years. No restricted stock
grants vested during the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006.
Rental
Costs
In
October 2005, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FAS 13-1, “Accounting for
Rental Costs Incurred During a Construction Period” (“FSP No. 13-1”). FSP No.
13-1 states that rental costs associated with ground or building operating
leases that are incurred during a construction period shall be recognized as
rental expense in income from continuing operations as opposed to capitalizing
such rental costs. Although the provisions of FSP No. 13-1 are effective for
the
first reporting period beginning after December 15, 2005, the Company has chosen
to early adopt this guidance in its first quarter of 2006. The early adoption
of
FSP No. 13-1 did not affect the Company’s consolidated results of operations or
financial position since this treatment did not differ from the Company’s
then-existing accounting policy.
Amortization
Period of Leasehold Improvements
In
September 2005, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) No. 05-6,
“Determining the Amortization Period for Leasehold Improvements Purchased after
Lease Inception or Acquired in a Business Combination” (“EITF 05-6”). EITF 05-6
states that leasehold improvements acquired in a business combination should
be
amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the assets or a term that
includes required lease periods and renewals that are deemed to be reasonably
assured at the date of acquisition. EITF 05-6 further states that leasehold
improvements placed in service significantly after and not contemplated at
or
near the beginning of a lease term should be amortized over the shorter of
the
useful life of the assets or a term that includes required lease periods and
renewals that are deemed to be reasonably assured at the date the leasehold
improvements are purchased. This consensus does not apply to preexisting
leasehold improvements. The provisions of EITF 05-6 are effective for leasehold
improvements that are purchased or acquired in reporting periods beginning
after
September 28, 2005, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this
guidance in the first quarter of 2006. The early adoption of EITF 05-6 did
not
affect the Company’s results of operations or financial position since this
treatment did not differ from the Company’s then-existing accounting
policy.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP.
The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of
the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the reporting period (see Note 2 to the 2005 Form 10-K). Actual results
could differ from those estimates. Critical accounting policies are those that
management believes are both most important to the portrayal of the Company's
financial condition and operating results, and require management's most
difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to
make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. The
Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other
assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the
results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value
of
assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.
Judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of those policies may
result in materially different amounts being reported under different conditions
or using different assumptions. The Company considers the following policies
to
be most critical in understanding the judgments that are involved in preparing
its consolidated financial statements.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
Property
and Equipment
In
accordance with SFAS No. 144 “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” the
Company assesses the impairment of long-lived assets whenever events or changes
in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
Recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying value to the
undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. In
addition to the recoverability test, the Company considers the likelihood of
possible outcomes existing at the balance sheet date, including the assessment
of the likelihood of the future sale of the asset. If the asset will be
classified as held and used, then the asset is written down to its estimated
fair value. If the asset will be classified as held for sale, then the asset
is
written down to its estimated fair value, net of estimated costs of disposal.
Judgments and estimates made by the Company related to the expected useful
lives
of long-lived assets are affected by factors such as changes in economic
conditions and changes in operating performance. As the Company assesses the
ongoing expected cash flows and carrying amounts of its long-lived assets,
these
factors could cause the Company to realize a material impairment charge. From
time to time the Company has decided to exit from or dispose of certain
operating units. Typically, such decisions are made based on operating
performance or strategic considerations and must be made before the actual
costs
or proceeds of disposition are known, and management must make estimates of
these outcomes. Such outcomes could include the sale of a property or leasehold,
mitigating costs through a tenant or subtenant, or negotiating a buyout of
a
remaining lease term. In these instances management evaluates possible outcomes,
frequently using outside real estate and legal advice, and records in the
financial statements provisions for the effect of such outcomes. The accuracy
of
such provisions can vary materially from original estimates, and management
regularly monitors the adequacy of the provisions until final disposition
occurs.
The
Company recorded an impairment loss of $431 in the nine-months ended April
29,
2005. During the quarter ended January 27, 2006, the Company decided to close
seven Cracker Barrel stores and three Logan’s restaurants, which resulted in
impairment charges of $6,765. These impairments were recorded based upon the
lower of unit carrying amount or fair value. Each unit’s fair value was
determined based upon estimates provided by third-party appraisers using market
comparables. The impaired locations were closed early in the quarter ended
April
28, 2006 and were classified at that time as held for sale. The locations were
closed due to weak financial performance, an unfavorable outlook, and relatively
positive prospects for proceeds from disposition for certain locations. Due
to
the closed stores now being classified as held for sale, during the quarter
ended April 28, 2006, the Company re-measured the closed store assets at the
lower of their fair values less the costs to sell. Additionally, during the
quarter ended April 28, 2006, the Company recorded an impairment on its Cracker
Barrel management trainee housing facility. The total impairment loss related
to
property and equipment recorded in the quarter ended April 28, 2006 was $837.
Goodwill
In
addition, at least annually the Company assesses the recoverability of goodwill.
The impairment tests require the Company to estimate fair values of its related
reporting units by making assumptions regarding future cash flows and other
factors. This valuation may reflect, among other things, such external factors
as capital market valuation for public companies comparable to the operating
unit. If these assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required
to
record material impairment charges for these assets. The Company performed
its
annual assessment in the quarter ending January 27, 2006, and concluded at
that
time that there was no indication of impairment. This annual assessment is
performed in the second quarter of each year. Additionally, an assessment is
performed between annual assessments if an event occurs or circumstances change
that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below
its carrying amount.
Insurance
Reserves
The
Company self-insures a significant portion of expected workers’ compensation,
general liability and health insurance claims. The Company has purchased
insurance for individual claims that exceed $500 for 2003 and $1,000 for certain
coverages for 2004, 2005 and going forward. The Company elected not to purchase
such insurance for its primary group health program, but its offered benefits
are limited to not more than $1,000 lifetime for any employee (including
dependents) in the program. The Company records a liability for workers’
compensation and general liability for all unresolved claims and for an estimate
of incurred but not reported claims at the anticipated cost to the Company
based
upon an actuarially determined reserve as of the end of the Company’s third
quarter and adjusting it by the actuarially determined losses and actual claims
payments for the subsequent quarters until the next annual, actuarial study
of
its reserve requirements. Those reserves and these losses are determined
actuarially from a range of possible outcomes within which no given estimate
is
more likely than any other estimate. In accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting
for Contingencies,” the Company records the losses at the low end of that range
and discounts them to present value using a risk-free interest rate based on
the
actuarially projected timing of payments. The Company also monitors actual
claims development, including incurrence or settlement of individual large
claims during the interim period between actuarial studies as another means
of
estimating the adequacy of its reserves. From time to time the Company has
performed limited scope interim updates of its actuarial studies to verify
and/or modify its reserves. The Company records a liability for its group health
program for all unpaid claims based primarily upon a loss development analysis
derived from actual group health claims payment experience provided by the
Company’s third-party administrator. The Company's accounting policies regarding
insurance reserves include certain actuarial assumptions and management
judgments regarding economic conditions, the frequency and severity of claims
and claim development history and settlement practices. Unanticipated changes
in
these factors may produce materially different amounts of expense than would
be
reported under these insurance programs.
Inventory
Shrinkage
Cost
of
sales includes the cost of retail merchandise sold at the Cracker Barrel stores
utilizing the retail inventory accounting method. During the quarter ended
October 28, 2005, an estimate of shortages was recorded based on the physical
inventory counts observed at the end of fiscal 2005. During the quarter ended
January 27, 2006, Cracker Barrel performed physical inventory counts in
approximately 26% of its stores and in its retail distribution center. Actual
shortages were recorded in the quarter ended January 27, 2006 for those stores
that were counted. An estimate of shortages was recorded for the remaining
stores based on the results of the physical inventory counts at approximately
26% of its stores. During the quarter ended April 28, 2006, an estimate of
shortages was recorded based on the physical inventory counts observed in
approximately 26% of its stores and in its retail distribution center in the
quarter ended January 27, 2006. This methodology is consistent with Cracker
Barrel’s practice in all periods presented. The 2006 estimated shortages will be
adjusted to actual upon physical inventory counts in all stores and the retail
distribution center during the quarter ended July 28, 2006 and, although the
Company believes the sampling approach to the mid-year inventory is statically
valid, could produce materially different amounts than estimated by the Company
for the quarters ended October 28, 2005, January 27, 2006 and April 28,
2006.
Tax
Provision
The
Company must make estimates of certain items that comprise its income tax
provision. These estimates include effective state and local income tax rates,
employer tax credits for items such as FICA taxes paid on tip income, Work
Opportunity and Welfare to Work, as well as estimates related to certain
depreciation and capitalization policies. These estimates are made based on
current tax laws, the best available information at the time of the provision
and historical experience. The Company files its income tax returns many months
after its year end. These returns are subject to audit by various federal and
state governments years after the returns are filed and could be subject to
differing interpretations of the tax laws. The Company then must assess the
likelihood of successful legal proceedings or reach a settlement with the
relevant taxing authority, either of which could result in material adjustments
to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and its consolidated
financial position (see Note 8 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial
Statements included in its 2005 Form 10-K).
Unredeemed
Gift Cards and Certificates
Unredeemed
gift cards and certificates represent a liability of the Company related to
unearned income and are recorded at their expected redemption value. The Company
makes estimates of the ultimate unredeemed gift cards and certificates in the
period of the original sale for those states that exempt gift cards and
certificates from their escheat laws and in the period that gift cards and
certificates are remitted to the state for the other states and reduces its
liability and records revenue accordingly. These estimates are determined based
on redemption history and trends and are amortized over the Company’s historical
redemption period based upon the Company’s monthly redemption rates. Changes in
redemption behavior or management's judgments regarding redemption trends in
the
future may produce materially different amounts of deferred revenue to be
reported. If gift cards and certificates that have been removed from the
liability are later redeemed, the Company recognizes revenue and reduces the
liability as it would with any redemption. Additionally, the initial reduction
to the liability would be reversed to offset the redemption. If gift cards
and
certificates that have been remitted to a state are later redeemed, the Company
will request the previously remitted cash back from the state. At that time
the
Company will increase its liability for gift cards and certificates to offset
the reduction to this same liability when the card was redeemed.
Share-Based
Compensation
In
accordance with the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company recognized
share-based compensation expense in the nine-month period ended April 28, 2006.
The fair value of each option award granted subsequent to July 29, 2005 was
estimated, with the assistance of an outside consulting service, on the date
of
grant using a binomial lattice-based option valuation model. This model
incorporates the following ranges of assumptions:
§
The
expected
volatility is a blend of implied volatility based on market-traded options
on
the Company's stock and historical volatility of the Company's stock over
the
contractual
life of the options.
§ The
Company
uses historical data to estimate option exercise and employee termination
behavior within the valuation model; separate groups of employees that have
similar
historical exercise behavior are considered separately for valuation
purposes. The expected life of options granted is derived from the output
of the option valuation
model
and represents the period of time the options are expected to be
outstanding.
§ The
risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect
at the time of grant for periods within the contractual life of the
option.
§ The
expected
dividend yield is based on the Company's current dividend yield as the
best
estimate of projected dividend yield for periods within the contractual
life of
the
option.
The
expected volatility, option exercise and termination assumptions involve
management’s best estimates at that time, all of which impact the fair value of
the option calculated by the binomial lattice-based option valuation model
and,
ultimately, the expense that will be recognized over the life of the
option. Management updates the historical and implied components of the
expected volatility assumption quarterly. Management updates option
exercise and termination assumptions quarterly. The expected life is a
by-product of the lattice model, and is updated when new grants are
made.
SFAS
No.
123R also requires that compensation expense be recognized for only the portion
of options that are expected to vest. Therefore, an estimated forfeiture rate
derived from historical employee termination behavior, grouped by job
classification, is applied against share-based compensation expense. The
forfeiture rate is applied on a straight-line basis over the service (vesting)
period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was,
in-substance, multiple awards. Management updates the estimated forfeiture
rate
to actual on each of the vesting dates and adjusts compensation expense
accordingly, so that the amount of compensation cost recognized at any date
is
at least equal to the portion of the grant-date value of the award that is
vested at that date.
Legal
Proceedings
The
Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various legal and regulatory
proceedings and claims incidental to its business. In the opinion of management,
however, based upon information currently available, the ultimate liability
with
respect to these actions will not materially affect the Company’s consolidated
results of operations or financial position. The
Company reviews outstanding claims and proceedings internally and with external
counsel as necessary to assess probability of loss and for the ability to
estimate loss. These assessments are re-evaluated each quarter or as new
information becomes available to determine whether a reserve should be
established or if any existing reserve should be adjusted. The actual cost
of
resolving a claim or proceeding ultimately may be substantially different than
the amount of the recorded reserve. In addition, because it is not
permissible under GAAP to establish a litigation reserve until the loss is
both
probable and estimable, in some cases there may be insufficient time to
establish a reserve prior to the actual incurrence of the loss (upon verdict
and
judgment at trial, for example, or in the case of a quickly negotiated
settlement).
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk
Item
7A
of the 2005 Form 10-K is incorporated in this item of this report by this
reference. There have been no material changes in the quantitative and
qualitative market risks of the Company since July 29, 2005.
Item
4. Controls and Procedures
The
Company’s management, with the participation of its principal executive and
financial officers, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief
Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(f) promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“the Exchange Act”)). Based upon this
evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
concluded that as of April 28, 2006, the Company’s disclosure controls and
procedures were effective for the purposes set forth in the definition thereof
in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e).
There
have been no changes (including corrective actions with regard to significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses) during the quarter ended April 28, 2006
in
the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange
Act Rule 13a-15(f)) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely
to
materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial
reporting.
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item
6. Exhibits
See
Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page hereto.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
CBRL
GROUP, INC.
Date:
6/2/06 By
/s/Lawrence
E. White
Lawrence
E. White, Senior Vice President, Finance
and
Chief
Financial Officer
Date:
6/2/06 By
/s/Patrick A. Scruggs
Patrick
A. Scruggs, Vice President, Accounting and Tax
and
Chief
Accounting Officer
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
|
10.1
|
|
Success
Plan (incorporated herein by this reference to Exhibit 99.D.12
to Form SC
TO-I filed with the SEC on March 31, 2006)
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
|
Form
of Success Award (incorporated herein by this reference to Exhibit
99.D.13
to Form SC TO-I filed with the SEC on March 31, 2006)
|
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
Credit
Agreement dated as of April 27, 2006 among CBRL Group, Inc., the
Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, the Lenders party thereto
and
Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent
|
|
|
|
31
|
|
Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications
|
|
|
|
32
|
|
Section
1350 Certifications
|
31
CBRL Group, Inc. 10-Q 05/30/06 Exhibit 10.3
Exhibit
10.3
Published
CUSIP Numbers:
Revolving
Credit Advances: ______
Term
Advances: ______
$1,250,000,000
CREDIT
AGREEMENT
Dated
as
of April 27, 2006
Among
CBRL
GROUP, INC.,
as
Borrower,
THE
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN,
as
Guarantors,
THE
LENDERS, SWING LINE BANK AND ISSUING BANKS NAMED HEREIN,
SUNTRUST
BANK,
as
Syndication Agent,
BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Co-Documentation Agent,
KEYBANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Co-Documentation Agent
and
WACHOVIA
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
WACHOVIA
CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC,
as
Sole
Bookrunner Manager and as Sole Lead Arranger
T
A B L
E O F C O N T E N T S
Section
|
|
Page
|
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
SECTION
1.01. Certain Defined Terms
|
|
1
|
SECTION
1.02. Computation of Time Periods ; Other Definitional
Provisions
|
|
25
|
SECTION
1.03. Accounting Terms
|
|
25
|
ARTICLE
11 AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES AND
THE LETTERS OF CREDIT
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
SECTION
2.01. The Advances and the Letters of Credit
|
|
26
|
SECTION
2.02. Making the Advances
|
|
27
|
SECTION
2.03. Issuance of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under Letters
of
Credit
|
|
30
|
SECTION
2.04. Repayment of Advances
|
|
32
|
SECTION
2.05. Termination or Reduction of the Commitments
|
|
34
|
SECTION
2.06. Prepayments
|
|
34
|
SECTION
2.07. Interest
|
|
36
|
SECTION
2.08. Fees
|
|
37
|
SECTION
2.09. Conversion of Advances
|
|
38
|
SECTION
2.10. Increased Costs, Etc.
|
|
38
|
SECTION
2.11. Payments and Computations
|
|
41
|
SECTION
2.12. Taxes
|
|
43
|
SECTION
2.13. Sharing of Payments, Etc.
|
|
45
|
SECTION
2.14. Use of Proceeds
|
|
46
|
SECTION
2.15. Defaulting Lenders
|
|
46
|
SECTION
2.16. Evidence of Debt
|
|
48
|
SECTION
2.17. Replacement of Lenders
|
|
49
|
ARTICLE
III CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCES OF LETTERS
OF CREDIT
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
SECTION
3.01. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness
|
|
50
|
SECTION
3.02. Conditions Precedent to Initial Extension of Credit
|
|
53
|
SECTION
3.03. Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing and Issuance and
Renewal
|
|
54
|
SECTION
3.04. Determinations under Section 3.01 and 3.02
|
|
54
|
ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
|
55
|
|
|
|
SECTION
4.01. Representations and Warranties of the Loan Parties
|
|
55
|
ARTICLE
V COVENANTS OF THE LOAN PARTIES
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
SECTION
5.01. Affirmative Covenants
|
|
61
|
SECTION
5.02. Negative Covenants
|
|
65
|
SECTION
5.03. Reporting Requirements
|
|
75
|
SECTION
5.04. Financial Covenants
|
|
77
|
ARTICLE
VI EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
|
78
|
|
|
|
SECTION
6.01. Events of Default
|
|
78
|
SECTION
6.02. Actions in Respect of the Letters of Credit upon
Default
|
|
80
|
ARTICLE
VII THE AGENTS
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
SECTION
7.01. Authorization and Action
|
|
81
|
SECTION
7.02. Agents’ Reliance, Etc.
|
|
82
|
SECTION
7.03. Wachovia and Affiliates
|
|
82
|
SECTION
7.04. Lender Party Credit Decision
|
|
83
|
SECTION
7.05. Indemnification
|
|
83
|
SECTION
7.06. Successor Agents
|
|
84
|
SECTION
7.07. Administrative Agent May File proofs of Claim
|
|
84
|
SECTION
7.08. Collateral and Guaranty Matters
|
|
85
|
SECTION
7.09. Other Agents ; Arrangers and Managers
|
|
85
|
ARTICLE
VIII GUARANTY
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
SECTION
8.01. Guaranty ; Limitation of Liability
|
|
86
|
SECTION
8.02. Guaranty Absolute
|
|
86
|
SECTION
8.03. Waivers and Acknowledgments
|
|
87
|
SECTION
8.04. Payments Free and Clear of Taxes, Etc.
|
|
88
|
SECTION
8.05. Continuing Guaranty ; Assignments
|
|
88
|
SECTION
8.06. Subrogation
|
|
88
|
SECTION
8.07. Guaranty Supplements
|
|
89
|
SECTION
8.08. Subordination
|
|
89
|
ARTICLE
IX MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
90
|
|
|
|
SECTION
9.01. Amendments, etc.
|
|
90
|
SECTION
9.02. Notices, Etc.
|
|
92
|
SECTION
9.03. No Waiver ; Remedies
|
|
93
|
SECTION
9.04. Costs and Expenses
|
|
93
|
SECTION
9.05. Right of Set-off
|
|
95
|
SECTION
9.06. Binding Effect
|
|
95
|
SECTION
9.07. Assignments and Participations
|
|
95
|
SECTION
9.08. Execution in Counterparts
|
|
100
|
SECTION
9.09. No Liability of the Issuing Bank
|
|
100
|
SECTION
9.10. Confidentiality
|
|
100
|
SECTION
9.11. Release of Collateral
|
|
100
|
SECTION
9.12. Patriot Act Notice
|
|
101
|
SECTION
9.13. Jurisdiction, Etc.
|
|
101
|
SECTION
9.14. GOVERNING LAW
|
|
101
|
SECTION
9.15. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
|
|
102
|
SCHEDULES
Schedule
I
- Guarantors
Schedule
4.01(b) - Subsidiaries
Schedule
4.01(d) - Authorizations,
Approvals, Actions, Notices and Filings
Schedule
4.01(f) - Disclosed
Litigation
Schedule
4.01(p) - ERISA
Plans, Multiemployer Plans and Welfare Plans
Schedule
4.01(q) - Environmental
Disclosure
Schedule
4.01(r) - Open
Years
Schedule
4.01(t) - Existing
Debt
Schedule
4.01(u) - Surviving
Debt
Schedule
4.01(v) - Liens
Schedule
4.01(w) - Owned
Real Property
Schedule
4.01(x) - Leased
Real Property (Lessee)
Schedule
4.01(y) - Leased
Real Property (Lessor)
Schedule
4.01(z) - Investments
Schedule
4.01(aa) - Intellectual
Property
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
A-1 - Form
of
Revolving Credit Note
Exhibit
A-2 - Form
of
Term Note
Exhibit
B - Form
of
Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit
C-1 - Form
of
Lender Addendum
Exhibit
C-2 - Form
of
Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit
D - Form
of
Pledge Agreement
Exhibit
E - Form
of
Guaranty Supplement
Exhibit
F - Form
of
Solvency Certificate
Exhibit
G - Form
of
Opinion of Counsel to the Loan Parties
CREDIT
AGREEMENT
CREDIT
AGREEMENT, dated as of April 27, 2006, among CBRL GROUP, INC., a Tennessee
corporation (the “Borrower”),
the
Guarantors (as hereinafter defined), the Lenders (as hereinafter defined),
the
Issuing Bank (as hereinafter defined), the Swing Line Bank (as hereinafter
defined), SUNTRUST BANK, as syndication agent, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as
co-documentation agent, KEYBANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
co-documentation agent, WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“Wachovia”),
as
collateral agent (together with any successor collateral agent appointed
pursuant to Article VII, in such capacity, the “Collateral
Agent”)
for
the Secured Parties (as hereinafter defined), Wachovia, as administrative agent
(together with any successor administrative agent appointed pursuant to Article
VII, in such capacity, the “Administrative
Agent”
and,
together with the Collateral Agent, the “Agents”)
for
the Lender Parties (as hereinafter defined), and
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC, as Sole Bookrunner Manager and Sole Lead Arranger
(in such capacities, the “Arranger”).
PRELIMINARY
STATEMENTS:
1. The
Borrower intends to repurchase a portion of its outstanding common stock (the
“Repurchase”),
as
described in the Tender Offer Documents (as defined below), in an aggregate
amount for the Repurchase not to exceed $775 million.
2. The
Borrower has requested that (a) the Lender Parties lend to the Borrower up
to
$800 million pursuant to a term facility under this Agreement, at least $700
million of which shall be used to finance the Repurchase, to refinance all
Existing Debt (as hereinafter defined) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
other than Surviving Debt (including existing Capitalized Leases and Convertible
Notes (each as hereinafter defined)) (collectively, the “Refinancing”),
and
to pay fees, expenses, and costs related thereto, and the balance of such
proceeds shall be used from time to time to purchase additional shares of the
Borrower’s outstanding common stock, (b) the Lender Parties lend to the Borrower
up to $200 million pursuant to a delayed draw term facility under this
Agreement, which may be used to acquire or refinance the Borrower’s 3.0%
Zero-Coupon Contingently Convertible Senior Notes (the “Convertible
Notes”)
and
for other general corporate purposes and (c) from time to time, the Lender
Parties lend to the Borrower and issue Letters of Credit for the account of
the
Borrower to provide working capital for and for other general corporate purposes
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, pursuant to the Revolving Credit
Commitments hereunder and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The
Lender Parties have indicated their willingness to agree to lend such amounts
and provide such Letters of Credit, but only on the terms and conditions of
this
Agreement, including the granting of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral
Documents and the making of the guarantees pursuant to Article VIII
hereof.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and
agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION
1.01. Certain
Defined Terms.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such
meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of
the
terms defined):
“Administrative
Agent”
has
the
meaning specified in the recital of parties to this Agreement.
“Administrative
Agent’s Account”
means
the account of the Administrative Agent specified by the Administrative Agent
in
writing to the Lender Parties from time to time.
“Advance”
means
a
Term B-1 Advance, a Term B-2 Advance, a Revolving Credit Advance, a Swing Line
Advance or a L/C Credit Extension.
“Affiliate”
means,
as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls,
is
controlled by or is under common control with such Person or is a director
or
officer of such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term “control”
(including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control
with”) of a Person means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
vote 10% or more of the Voting Interests of such Person or to direct or cause
the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through
the
ownership of Voting Interests, by contract or otherwise.
“Agents”
has
the
meaning specified in the recital of parties to this Agreement.
“Agreement”
means
this Credit Agreement, as amended.
“Agreement
Value”
means,
for each Hedge Agreement, on any date of determination, an amount determined
by
the Administrative Agent equal to (a) in the case of a Hedge Agreement
documented pursuant to the Master Agreement (Multicurrency-Cross Border)
published by the International Swap and Derivatives Association, Inc. (the
“Master
Agreement”),
the
amount, if any, that would be payable by any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries to its counterparty to such Hedge Agreement, as if (i) such Hedge
Agreement was being terminated early on such date of determination, (ii) such
Loan Party or Subsidiary was the sole “Affected Party”(as defined in the Master
Agreement), and (iii) the Administrative Agent was the sole party determining
such payment amount (with the Administrative Agent making such determination
pursuant to the provisions of the form of Master Agreement); or (b) in the
case
of a Hedge Agreement traded on an exchange, the mark-to-market value of such
Hedge Agreement, which will be the unrealized loss on such Hedge Agreement
to
the Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party that is a party to such Hedge
Agreement determined by the Administrative Agent based on the settlement price
of such Hedge Agreement on such date of determination, or (c) in all other
cases, the mark-to-market value of such Hedge Agreement, which will be the
unrealized loss on such Hedge Agreement to the Loan Party or Subsidiary of
a
Loan Party that is a party to such Hedge Agreement determined by the
Administrative Agent as the amount, if any, by which (i) the present value
of
the future cash flows to be paid by such Loan Party or Subsidiary exceeds (ii)
the present value of the future cash flows to be received by such Loan Party
or
Subsidiary pursuant to such Hedge Agreement.
“Applicable
Lending Office”
means,
with respect to each Lender Party, such Lender Party’s Domestic Lending Office
in the case of a Base Rate Advance and such Lender Party’s Eurodollar Lending
Office in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Advance.
“Applicable
Percentage”
means
(a) in respect of (i) each Term Facility, 0.50% per annum for Base Rate Advances
and 1.50% per annum for Eurodollar Rate Advances, (ii) the Revolving Credit
Facility, for the period from the Effective Date until the end of the first
full
fiscal quarter after the Effective Date, 0.50% per annum for Base Rate Advances
and 1.50% per annum for Eurodollar Rate Advances, (iii) the Revolving Credit
Commitment Fee, for the period from the Effective Date until the end of the
first full
fiscal quarter after the Effective Date, 0.25% per annum and (iv) Delayed Draw
Commitment Fee, 0.75% per annum; and (b) in respect of the Revolving Credit
Facility and the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee, for any time subsequent to
the
first full fiscal quarter after the Effective Date, the respective percentage
per annum determined by reference to the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio
as
set forth below:
Consolidated
Total Leverage Ratio
|
Eurodollar
Rate
Advance
|
Base
Rate Advance
|
Revolving
Credit Commitment Fee
|
Level
I:
> 4.00
|
1.75%
|
0.75%
|
0.375%
|
Level
II:
> 3.00 but ≤ 4.00
|
1.50%
|
0.50%
|
0.250%
|
Level
III:
> 2.00 but ≤ 3.00
|
1.25%
|
0.25%
|
0.200%
|
Level
IV:
≤
2.00
|
1.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.150%
|
Pursuant
to clause (b) above, in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility and the
Revolving Credit Commitment Fee, for any time after the first full fiscal
quarter after the Effective Date, the Applicable Percentage for each Base Rate
Advance and the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee shall be determined by reference
to the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio in effect from time to time and the
Applicable Percentage for each Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be determined
by
reference to the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio in effect on the first day
of
each Interest Period for such Advance; provided,
however,
that
(A) no change in the Applicable Percentage shall be effective until three
Business Days after the date on which the Administrative Agent receives the
certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower delivered pursuant
to
Section 5.03(b) or (c), as the case may be, and (B) the Applicable Percentage
shall be at Level I (in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility and the
Revolving Credit Commitment Fee) for so long as (x) the Borrower has not
submitted to the Administrative Agent the information described in clause (A)
of
this proviso as and when required under Section 5.03(b) or (c), as the case
may
be or (y) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
“Appropriate
Lender”
means,
at any time, with respect to (a) either of the Term Facility or the
Revolving Credit Facility, a Lender that has a Commitment with respect to such
Facility at such time, (b) the Letter of Credit Facility, (i) the Issuing
Bank and (ii) if the other Revolving Credit Lenders have made L/C Credit
Extensions pursuant to Section 2.03(c) that are outstanding at such time,
each such other Revolving Credit Lender and (c) the Swing Line Facility,
(i) the Swing Line Bank and (ii) if the other Revolving Credit Lenders have
made Swing Line Advances pursuant to Section 2.02(b) that are outstanding
at such time, each such other Revolving Credit Lender.
“Approved
Fund”
means
any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender Party, (b) an Affiliate
of a Lender Party or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers
or manages a Lender Party.
“Arranger”
has
the
meaning specified in the recital of parties to this Agreement.
“Assignment
and Acceptance”
means
an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender Party and an Eligible
Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section
9.07 or the definition of “Eligible
Assignee”),
and
accepted by the Administrative Agent, in accordance with Section 9.07 and
in substantially the form of Exhibit C-2 hereto or any other form approved
by the Administrative Agent.
“Available
Amount”
of
any
Letter of Credit means, at any time, the maximum amount available to be drawn
under such Letter of Credit at such time (assuming compliance at such time
with
all conditions to drawing).
“Bankruptcy
Law”
means
Title II, U.S. Code, or any similar foreign, federal or state law for the relief
of debtors under which a proceeding of the type referred to in Section 6.01(f)
could be commenced or maintained.
“Base
Rate”
means
a
fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time, which rate
per
annum shall at all times be equal to the higher of:
(a) the
rate
of interest established by Wachovia in Charlotte, North Carolina from time
to
time as Wachovia’s prime rate; and
(b) ½
of
1%
per annum above the Federal Funds Rate.
The
Base
Rate is not intended to be nor will it necessarily be the lowest rate of
interest extended by Wachovia to its customers.
“Base
Rate Advance”
means
an Advance that bears interest as provided in
Section 2.07(a)(i).
“Borrower”
has
the
meaning specified in the recital of parties to this Agreement.
“Borrower’s
Account”
means
the account of the Borrower specified by the Borrower in writing to the
Administrative Agent from time to time.
“Borrowing”
means
a
Term Borrowing, a Revolving Credit Borrowing or a Swing Line
Borrowing.
“Business
Day”
means
a
day of the year on which banks are not required or authorized by law to close
in
New York, New York or Charlotte, North Carolina and, if the applicable
Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, on which dealings are
carried on in the London interbank market.
“Capital
Expenditures”
means,
for any Person for any period, the sum of, without duplication, (a) all
expenditures made, directly or indirectly, by such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries during such period for equipment, fixed assets, real property
or
improvements, or for replacements or substitutions therefor or additions
thereto, that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, reflected as
additions to property, plant or equipment on a consolidated balance sheet of
such Person plus
(b) the
aggregate principal amount of all Debt (including Obligations under Capitalized
Leases) assumed or incurred in connection with any such expenditures
minus
(c) the
aggregate amount of proceeds of sales, transfers or other dispositions of assets
received by such Person during such period. For purposes of this definition,
the
purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in
of existing equipment or with insurance proceeds shall be included in Capital
Expenditures only to the extent of the gross amount of such purchase price
less
the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being
traded in at such time or the amount of such insurance proceeds, as the case
may
be.
“Capitalized
Leases”
means
all leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as
capitalized leases and under which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
is
the lessee or obligor, excluding, in the event of a change in GAAP, leases
originally and properly recorded as operating leases under GAAP, which leases
will continue to be treated as operating leases, and excluding, in any event,
ground leases.
“Cash
Equivalents”
means
any of the following, to the extent owned by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens other than Liens created under the
Collateral Documents and having a maturity of not greater than one year from
the
date of issuance thereof: (a) readily marketable direct obligations of the
Government of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof or
obligations unconditionally guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the
Government of the United States, (b) insured certificates of deposit of or
time deposits with any commercial bank that (i) is a Lender Party or a member
of
the Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues)
commercial paper rated as described in clause (c) below, (iii) is organized
under the laws of the United States or any State thereof and (iv) has combined
capital and surplus of at least $1 billion, (c) commercial paper issued by
any corporation organized under the laws of any State of the United States
and
rated at least “Prime-2” (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or “A-2” (or
the then equivalent grade) by S&P, (d) Investments, classified in
accordance with GAAP as Current Assets of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, in money market investment programs registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which are administered by financial
institutions that have the highest rating obtainable from either Moody’s or
S&P, and the portfolios of which are limited solely to Investments of the
character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of
this definition, or (e) any repurchase agreement entered into with either any
Lender Party or any other commercial banking institution of the nature referred
to in clause (b), secured by a fully perfected Lien in any obligation of the
type described in any of clauses (a) through (c), having a market value at
the
time such repurchase agreement is entered into of not less than 100% of the
repurchase obligation thereunder of such Lender Party or other commercial
banking institution.
“CERCLA”
means
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of
1980, as amended from time to time.
“CERCLIS”
means
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information
System maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“CFC”
means
an entity that is a controlled foreign corporation under Section 957 of the
Internal Revenue Code.
“Change
of Control”
means
the occurrence of any of the following: (a) during any period of up to 24
consecutive months, commencing before or after the date of this Agreement,
Continuing Directors shall cease to constitute a majority of the board of
directors of the Borrower because they are neither (i) nominated by those
Persons on the Borrower’s board of directors on the Closing Date nor (ii)
appointed by directors so nominated; or (b) any Person or two or more Persons
acting in concert shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of Equity or Voting Interests
of
the Borrower (or other securities convertible into such Equity or Voting
Interests) representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of all Equity
or Voting Interests of the Borrower; or (c) any Person or two or more
Persons acting in concert shall have acquired by contract or otherwise, or
shall
have entered into a contract or arrangement that, upon consummation, will result
in its or their acquisition of the power to exercise, directly or indirectly,
a
controlling influence over the management or policies of the Borrower; or (d)
the occurrence of a “change of control”, “change in control” or similar
circumstance under any material debt instrument of the Borrower.
“Collateral”
means
all “Collateral” referred to in the Collateral Documents and all other property
that is or is intended to be subject to any Lien in favor of the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
“Collateral
Account”
means
an interest bearing account of the Borrower to be designated by the Borrower
as
the Collateral Account and maintained with the Collateral Agent.
“Collateral
Agent”
has
the
meaning specified in the recital of parties to this Agreement.
“Collateral
Agent’s Office”
means,
with respect to the Collateral Agent or any successor Collateral Agent, the
office of such Agent as such Agent may from time to time specify to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent.
“Collateral
Documents”
means
the Pledge Agreement, each of the collateral documents, instruments and
agreements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(j) or (k), and any other agreement
that creates or purports to create or perfect a Lien in favor of the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, including under any supplement
to
the Pledge Agreement.
“Commitment”
means
a
Term B-1 Commitment, a Term B-2 Commitment, a Revolving Credit Commitment or
a
Letter of Credit Commitment.
“Confidential
Information”
means
information that any Loan Party furnishes to any Agent or any Lender Party
in a
writing designated as confidential, but does not include any such information
that is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result
of a
breach by such Agent or any Lender Party of its obligations hereunder or that
is
or becomes available to such Agent or such Lender Party from a source other
than
the Loan Parties that is not, to the best of such Agent’s or such Lender Party’s
knowledge, by making such information available to such Agent or such Lender
Party, acting in violation of a confidentiality agreement with any of the Loan
Parties.
“Consolidated
Debt for Borrowed Money”
of
any
Person means, at any date of determination, the sum of (a) all items that,
in
accordance with GAAP, would be classified as indebtedness on a consolidated
balance sheet of such Person at such date, excluding, in the event of a change
in GAAP, leases originally and properly recorded as operating leases under
GAAP,
which leases will continue to be treated as operating leases, and (b) all
Synthetic Debt of such Person at such date. The term “Consolidated Debt for
Borrowed Money” shall not include Obligations of such Person under bankers’
acceptances, letters of credit or similar facilities.
“Consolidated
EBITDA”
means,
for any period , the sum of (all determined on a consolidated basis for the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP for the most recently
completed Measurement Period): (a) net income (or net loss), plus
(b)
without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such net income
(or net loss), the sum of (i) interest expense, (ii) income tax expense, (iii)
depreciation and amortization expense and (iv) any other non-cash deductions,
including non-cash compensation and non-cash impairment charges (other than
any
deductions which require or represent the accrual of a reserve for the payment
of cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense
that was paid in a prior Measurement Period), in each case of the Borrower
and
its Subsidiaries, minus
(c)
without duplication and to the extent included in determining such net income
(or net loss), the sum of (i) any non-cash gains and (ii) any gains (or plus
losses) realized in connection with any disposition of property (other than
any
gains which represent the reversal of a reserve accrued for the payment of
cash
charges in any future Measurement Period and any gains from sales of inventory
in the ordinary course of business).
“Consolidated
Interest Coverage Ratio”
means,
for any Measurement Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA to (b) cash
interest payable on all Consolidated Debt for Borrowed Money, in each case,
of
or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for or during such Measurement Period;
provided
that,
for purposes of determining the amount in clause (b) above in the calculation
of
the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (i) for the Measurement Period ending
July 28, 2006, the amount in clause (b) shall equal cash interest payable on
all
Consolidated Debt for Borrowed Money, in each case of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter ending July 28, 2006, multiplied by four,
(ii) for the Measurement Period ending October 27, 2006, the amount in clause
(b) shall equal cash interest payable on all Consolidated Debt for Borrowed
Money, in each case of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the two fiscal
quarters ending October 27, 2006, multiplied by two and (iii) for the
Measurement Period ending January 26, 2007, the amount in clause (b) shall
equal
cash interest payable on all Consolidated Debt for Borrowed Money, in each
case
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the three fiscal quarters ending
January 26, 2007, multiplied by 4/3.
“Consolidated
Total Leverage Ratio”
means,
at any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Debt for Borrowed
Money of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date to (b) Consolidated
EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the most recently completed
Measurement Period.
“Continuing
Directors”
means
the directors of the Borrower on the date hereof and each other director if,
in
each case, such other director’s nomination for election to the board of
directors of the Borrower is recommended by at least a majority of the then
Continuing Directors.
“Conversion”,
“Convert”
and
“Converted”
each
refer to a conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances of the other Type
pursuant to Section 2.09 or 2.10.
“Convertible
Notes”
has
the
meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.
“Cracker
Barrel”
means
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., a Subsidiary of the Borrower as of
the
date hereof.
“Current
Assets”
of
any
Person means all assets of such Person that would, in accordance with GAAP,
be
classified as current assets of a company conducting a business the same as
or
similar to that of such Person, after deducting adequate reserves in each case
in which a reserve is proper in accordance with GAAP.
“Debt”
of
any
Person means, without duplication, (a) all Consolidated Debt for Borrowed
Money,
(b) all Obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property
or services (other than trade payables not overdue by more than 60 days incurred
in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), (c) all Obligations of such
Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments,
(d)
all Obligations of such Person 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 Obligations of such Person as lessee under Capitalized
Leases, (f) all Obligations of such Person under acceptance, letter of credit
or
similar facilities, (g) all Obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem,
retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interests
in such Person or any other Person or any warrants, rights or options to
acquire
such Equity Interests, valued, in the case of Redeemable Preferred Interests,
at
the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus
accrued
and unpaid dividends, other than amounts due for a period not exceeding five
(5)
Business Days for the purchase of the Borrower’s outstanding common stock as
permitted by this Agreement, (h) all Obligations of such Person in respect
of
Hedge Agreements, valued at the Agreement Value thereof, (i) all Synthetic
Debt
of such Person, (j) Obligations under direct or indirect guaranties in respect
of, and Obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire,
or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of, Debt of any
other
Person of the kinds referred to in clauses (a) through (i) above and (k)
all
Debt referred to in clauses (a) through (i) above of another Person secured
by
(or for which the holder of such Debt has an existing right, contingent or
otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property (including, without
limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though
such
Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Debt. The
amount
of any Debt referred to in clause (j) shall be deemed to be an amount equal
to
the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion
thereof, in respect of which such Debt is made or, if not stated or
determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof
as
determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.
“Default”
means
any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 or any event that would
constitute an Event of Default but for the passage of time or the requirement
that written notice be given or both.
“Default
Interest”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.07(b).
“Defaulted
Advance”
means,
with respect to any Lender Party at any time, the portion of any Advance
required to be made by such Lender Party to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.01 or 2.02 at or prior to such time that has not been made by
such Lender Party or by the Administrative Agent for the account of such
Lender
Party pursuant to Section 2.02(e) as of such time.
“Defaulted
Amount”
means,
with respect to any Lender Party at any time, any amount required to be paid
by
such Lender Party to any Agent or any other Lender Party hereunder or under
any
other Loan Document at or prior to such time that has not been so paid as
of
such time, including, without limitation, any amount required to be paid
by such
Lender Party to (a) the Swing Line Bank pursuant to Section 2.02(b) to purchase
a portion of a Swing Line Advance made by the Swing Line Bank, (b) the Issuing
Bank pursuant to Section 2.03(c) to purchase a portion of a L/C Credit
Extension made by the Issuing Bank, (c) the Administrative Agent pursuant
to Section 2.02(e) to reimburse the Administrative Agent for the amount of
any Advance made by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender
Party, (d) any other Lender Party pursuant to Section 2.13 to purchase
any participation in Advances owing to such other Lender Party and (e) any
Agent or the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 7.05 to reimburse such Agent
or the Issuing Bank for such Lender Party’s ratable share of any amount required
to be paid by the Lender Parties to such Agent or the Issuing Bank as provided
therein. In the event that a portion of a Defaulted Amount shall be deemed
paid
pursuant to Section 2.15(a), the remaining portion of such Defaulted Amount
shall be considered a Defaulted Amount originally required to be paid hereunder
or under any other Loan Document on the same date as the Defaulted Amount
so
deemed paid in part.
“Defaulting
Lender”
means,
at any time, any Lender Party that, at such time, (a) owes a Defaulted
Advance or a Defaulted Amount or (b) shall take any action or be the
subject of any action or proceeding of a type described in
Section 6.01(f).
“Delayed
Draw Commitment Fee”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.08(a)(ii).
“Disclosed
Litigation”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 3.01(f).
“Domestic
Lending Office”
means,
with respect to any Lender Party, the office of such Lender Party specified
as
its “Domestic Lending Office” in the Lender Addendum delivered by such Lender
Party or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender
Party, as the case may be, or such other office of such Lender Party as such
Lender Party may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent.
“Effective
Date”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 3.01.
“Eligible
Assignee”
means
(a) a Lender Party; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender Party; (c) an Approved Fund,
(d) any Federal Reserve Bank, and (e) any other Person (other than an
individual) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent, and (ii) in the case
of an
assignment of a Revolving Credit Commitment, (x) the Issuing Bank and (y) unless
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such
approval not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); provided,
however,
that
neither any Loan Party nor any Affiliate of a Loan Party shall qualify as an
Eligible Assignee under this definition.
“Environmental
Action”
means
any action, suit, demand, demand letter, claim, notice of non-compliance or
violation, notice of liability or potential liability, investigation,
proceeding, consent order or consent agreement relating in any way to any
Environmental Law, any Environmental Permit or Hazardous Material or arising
from alleged injury or threat to health, safety or the environment, including,
without limitation, (a) by any governmental or regulatory authority for
enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages
and (b) by any governmental or regulatory authority or third party for
damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or
injunctive relief.
“Environmental
Law”
means
any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation,
code, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or judicial or agency
interpretation, policy or guidance relating to pollution or protection of the
environment, health, safety or natural resources, including, without limitation,
those relating to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage,
disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials.
“Environmental
Permit”
means
any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization
required under any Environmental Law.
“Equity
Interests”
means,
with respect to any Person, shares of capital stock of (or other ownership
or
profit interests in) such Person, warrants, options or other rights for the
purchase or other acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of
(or
other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, securities convertible
into
or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit
interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or
other acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests),
and
other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including, without
limitation, partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting
or
nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other
interests are authorized or otherwise existing on any date of
determination.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to
time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued
thereunder.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means
any Person that for purposes of Title IV of ERISA is a member of the
controlled group of any Loan Party, or under common control with any Loan Party,
within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue
Code.
“ERISA
Event”
means
(a)(i) the occurrence of a reportable event, within the meaning of Section
4043
of ERISA, with respect to any Plan unless the 30 day notice requirement with
respect to such event has been waived by the PBGC or (ii) the requirements
of
Section 4043(b) of ERISA apply with respect to a contributing sponsor, as
defined in Section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of a Plan, and an event described
in
paragraph (9), (10), (11), (12) or (13) of Section 4043(c) of ERISA is
reasonably expected to occur with respect to such Plan within the following
30
days; (b) the application for a minimum funding waiver with respect to a Plan;
(c) the provision by the administrator of any Plan of a notice of intent to
terminate such Plan, pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA (including any
such
notice with respect to a plan amendment referred to in Section 4041(e) of
ERISA); (d) the cessation of operations at a facility of any Loan Party or
any
ERISA Affiliate in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA;
(e)
the withdrawal by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer
Plan during a plan year for which it was a substantial employer, as defined
in
Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA; (f) the conditions for imposition of a lien under
Section 302(f) of ERISA shall have been met with respect to any Plan; (g) the
adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring the provision of security to such
Plan pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA; or (h) the institution by the PBGC of
proceedings to terminate a Plan pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA, or the
occurrence of any event or condition described in Section 4042 of ERISA that
constitutes grounds for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee
to
administer, such Plan.
“Escrow
Bank”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.15(c).
“Eurocurrency
Liabilities”
has
the
meaning specified in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.
“Eurodollar
Lending Office”
means,
with respect to any Lender Party, the office of such Lender Party specified
as
its “Eurodollar Lending Office” in the Lender Addendum delivered by such Lender
Party or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender
Party (or, if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or
such
other office of such Lender Party as such Lender Party may from time to time
specify to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“Eurodollar
Rate”
means,
for any Interest Period for all Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of
the
same Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum obtained
by dividing (a) the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the
nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor page)
as
the London interbank offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars at 11:00 A.M.
(London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period
for
a period equal to such Interest Period (provided
that, if
for any reason such rate is not available, the term “Eurodollar Rate” shall
mean, for any Interest Period for all Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part
of the same Borrowing, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to
the
nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBO Page as the London
interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M.
(London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period
for a term comparable to such Interest Period; provided,
however,
if more
than one rate is specified on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate
shall be the arithmetic mean of all such rates), by (b) a percentage equal
to
100% minus
the
Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage for such Interest Period.
“Eurodollar
Rate Advance”
means
an Advance that bears interest as provided in
Section 2.07(a)(ii).
“Eurodollar
Rate Reserve Percentage”
means,
for any Interest Period for all Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of
the
same Borrowing, the reserve percentage applicable two Business Days before
the
first day of such Interest Period under regulations issued from time to time
by
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for
determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation,
any
emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for a member
bank
of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with respect to liabilities
or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or with respect
to any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to
which the interest rate on Eurodollar Rate Advances is determined) having a
term
equal to such Interest Period.
“Events
of Default”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 6.01 (for the avoidance of doubt, with the
passage of time or the giving of written notice as specified in Section 6.01
completed).
“Excess
Cash Flow”
means,
for any period, (a) the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
for such period, minus
(b) to
the extent permitted under this Agreement and paid during such period, the
sum
of:
(i) the
aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures of the Borrower (to the extent not
financed with Debt or equity) plus
(ii) the
aggregate amount of all regularly scheduled principal payments of Debt
plus
(iii)
the aggregate principal amount of all optional prepayments of Debt described
in
clause (ii) above (other than Debt that is
revolving
in nature) plus
(iv) the
aggregate principal amount of all mandatory prepayments of the Term Facilities
made during such period pursuant to Section 2.06(b)(ii) in respect of Net Cash
Proceeds of the type described in clause (a) of the definition thereof to the
extent that the applicable Net Cash Proceeds were taken into account in
calculating Consolidated EBITDA for such period; plus
(v) the
aggregate amount of cash taxes paid in such period; plus
(vi) the
aggregate amount of cash interest expenses paid in such period; plus
(vii) the
aggregate amount of permitted dividends, distributions and repurchases in
respect of the Borrower’s Equity Interests.
“Existing
Debt”
means
Debt of each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries outstanding immediately before
the
date hereof, other than intercompany debt.
“Existing
Issuing Bank”
means
SunTrust Bank in its capacity as an issuing bank with respect to the Existing
Letter of Credit.
“Existing
Letter of Credit”
means
the letter of credit outstanding as of the date hereof that was issued pursuant
to the Revolving Credit Loan Agreement dated as of February 21, 2003 among
the
Borrower, SunTrust Bank, as agent, and the other lenders party
thereto.
“Extension
of Credit”
means
the making of an Advance or the issuance or renewal of a Letter of
Credit.
“Extraordinary
Receipt”
means
any cash received by or paid to or for the account of any Person not in the
ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, pension plan
reversions, proceeds of insurance (including, without limitation, any key man
life insurance, except to the extent such insurance is used to pay costs of
benefits or replacement expenses for the covered parties, but excluding proceeds
of business interruption insurance to the extent such proceeds constitute
compensation for lost earnings), condemnation awards (and payments in lieu
thereof), indemnity payments and any purchase price adjustment received in
connection with any purchase agreement; provided,
however,
that an
Extraordinary Receipt shall not include Net Cash Proceeds nor shall it include
(a) cash receipts received from proceeds of insurance, condemnation awards
(or
payments in lieu thereof) or indemnity payments to the extent that such
proceeds, awards or payments (i) in respect of loss or damage to equipment,
fixed assets or real property are applied (or in respect of which expenditures
were previously incurred) to replace or repair the equipment, fixed assets
or
real property in respect of which such proceeds were received in accordance
with
the terms of the Loan Documents, so long as such application is made within
12
months after the occurrence of such damage of loss or (ii) are received by
any
Person in respect of any third party claim against such Person and applied
to
pay (or to reimburse such Person for its prior payment of) such claim and the
costs and expenses of such Person with respect thereto or (b) disbursements
or
liquidations from the Borrower’s Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan made
to fund distributions to participants, in each case as confirmed in writing
to
the Administrative Agent.
“Facility”
means
the Term B-1 Facility, the Term B-2 Facility, the Revolving Credit Facility,
the
Swing Line Facility or the Letter of Credit Facility.
“Federal
Funds Rate”
means,
for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during
such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds
transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal
funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business
Day,
for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a
Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day for such transactions
received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of
recognized standing selected by it.
“Fee
Letter”
means
the fee letter dated March 16, 2006 among the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent
and the Arranger, as amended.
“Fiscal
Year”
means
the regular reporting year of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries
ending on the Friday nearest July 31st in any calendar year.
“Foreign
Benefit Arrangement”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 4.01(p)(vi).
“Foreign
Plan”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 4.01(p)(vi).
“Fund”
means
any Person (other than an individual) that is or will be engaged in making,
purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar
extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.
“Granting
Lender”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 9.07(k).
“GAAP”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 1.03.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any nation or government, any state, province, city, municipal entity or other
political subdivision thereof, and any governmental, executive, legislative,
judicial, administrative or regulatory agency, department, authority,
instrumentality, commission, board, bureau or similar body, whether federal,
state, provincial, territorial, local or foreign.
“Governmental
Authorization”
means
any authorization, approval, consent, franchise, license, covenant, order,
ruling, permit, certification, exemption, notice, declaration or similar right,
undertaking or other action of, to or by, or any filing, qualification or
registration with, any Governmental Authority.
“Guaranteed
Obligations”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Guarantors”
means
each of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower listed on Schedule I
hereto
and each other Subsidiary of the Borrower that shall be required to execute
and
deliver a guaranty pursuant to Section 5.01(j).
“Guaranty”
means
the guaranty set forth in Article VIII together with each other guaranty
and Guaranty Supplement delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(j), in each case
as
amended, amended and restated, modified or otherwise supplemented.
“Guaranty
Supplement”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 8.07.
“Hazardous
Materials”
means
(a) petroleum or petroleum products, by-products or breakdown products,
radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls,
toxic mold and radon gas and (b) any other chemicals, materials or
substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as
a
pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental Law.
“Hedge
Agreements”
means
interest rate, commodity or currency swap, cap or collar agreements, interest
rate future or option contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future
or
option contracts and other hedging agreements (including, without limitation,
all “swap agreements” as defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101).
“Hedge
Bank”
means
any Lender Party or an Affiliate of a Lender Party in its capacity as a party
to
a Secured Hedge Agreement.
“Indemnified
Party”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 9.04(b).
“Information
Memorandum”
means
the information memorandum dated March, 2006 based on information provided
by
the Borrower used by the Arranger in connection with the syndication of the
Commitments.
“Initial
Extension of Credit”
means
the earlier to occur of the initial Borrowing and the initial issuance of a
Letter of Credit hereunder.
“Insufficiency”
means,
with respect to any Plan, the amount, if any, of its unfunded benefit
liabilities, as defined in Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA.
“Interest
Period”
means,
for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing, the
period commencing on the date of such Eurodollar Rate Advance or the date of
the
Conversion of any Base Rate Advance into such Eurodollar Rate Advance, and
ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the
provisions below and, thereafter, each subsequent period commencing on the
last
day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day
of
the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below. The
duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, two, three or six months,
as
the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Administrative Agent not later
than 11:00 A.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the third Business Day
prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select; provided,
however,
that:
(c) the
Borrower may not select any Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar
Rate
Advance under a Facility that ends after any principal repayment installment
date for such Facility unless, after giving effect to such selection, the
aggregate principal amount of Base Rate Advances and of Eurodollar Rate Advances
having Interest Periods that end on or prior to such principal repayment
installment date for such Facility shall be at least equal to the aggregate
principal amount of Advances under such Facility due and payable on or prior
to
such date;
(d) Interest
Periods commencing on the same date for Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising
part
of the same Borrowing shall be of the same duration;
(e) whenever
the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than
a
Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur
on
the next succeeding Business Day, provided,
however,
that, if
such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in
the
next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur
on the next preceding Business Day;
(f) whenever
the first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of an initial calendar
month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month
that succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months equal to
the
number of months in such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on
the
last Business Day of such succeeding calendar month; and
(g) in
respect of the initial Interest Period for Term B-2 Advances, to the extent
any
Term B-2 Advances are made during the middle of an Interest Period with respect
to any other Term Advance (each an “Existing
Term Advance”)
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such Term B-2 Advances, each
Interest Period of such Term B-2 Advances shall be lined up with the Interest
Period or Interest Periods of the Existing Term Advances as soon as
possible.
“Internal
Revenue Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the
regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
“Inventory”
of
any
Person means all such Person’s inventory in all of its forms, including, without
limitation, (a) all raw materials, work in process, finished goods and materials
used or consumed in the manufacture, production, preparation or shipping
thereof, (b) goods in which such Person has an interest in mass or a joint
or
other interest or right of any kind (including, without limitation, goods in
which such Person has an interest or right as consignee) and (c) goods that
are
returned to or repossessed or stopped in transit by such Person), and all
accessions thereto and products thereof and documents therefor.
“Investment”
in
any
Person means any loan or advance to such Person, any purchase or other
acquisition of any Equity Interests or Debt or the assets comprising a division
or business unit or a substantial part or all of the business of such Person,
any capital contribution to such Person or any other direct or indirect
investment in such Person, including, without limitation, any acquisition by
way
of a merger or consolidation (or similar transaction) and any arrangement
pursuant to which the investor incurs Debt of the types referred to in
clause (i) or (j) of the definition of “Debt”
in
respect of such Person. The amount of any Investment shall be the original
principal or capital amount thereof less
the sum
of (a) all cash returns of principal or equity thereon and (b) in the case
of
any guaranty, any reduction in the aggregate amount of liability under such
guaranty to the extent that such reduction is made strictly in accordance with
the terms of such guaranty (and, in each case, without adjustment by reason
of
the financial condition of such other Person).
“Issuing
Banks”
means
Wachovia, and, insofar as the Existing Letter of Credit is concerned, the
Existing Issuing Bank, and any Eligible Assignee to which the Letter of Credit
Commitment hereunder has been assigned pursuant to Section 9.07 so long as
each
such Eligible Assignee expressly agrees to perform in accordance with their
terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required
to
be performed by it as an Issuing Bank and notifies the Administrative Agent
of
its Applicable Lending Office and the amount of its Letter of Credit Commitment
(which information shall be recorded by the Administrative Agent in the
Register), for so long as Wachovia, the Existing Issuing Bank or such Eligible
Assignee, as the case may be, shall have a Letter of Credit
Commitment.
“L/C
Collateral Account”
“means
an interest bearing account of the Borrower to be designated by the Borrower
as
the L/C Collateral Account and maintained with the Collateral
Agent.
“L/C
Credit Extension”
means
an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit
which
has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Revolving
Credit Borrowing.
“L/C
Disbursement”
means
a
payment or disbursement made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of
Credit.
“L/C
Related Documents”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.04(d)(ii)(A).
“Leased
Real Properties”
means
those properties listed in Schedule
4.01(w)(i).
“Lender
Addendum”
shall
mean, with respect to any Lender Party on or prior to the date of Initial
Extension of Credit, a Lender Addendum in the form of Exhibit C-1, or such
other
form as may be supplied by the Administrative Agent, to be executed and
delivered by such Lender Party on or prior to the date hereof.
“Lender
Party”
means
any Lender, the Issuing Banks or the Swing Line Bank.
“Lenders”
means
each Person listed on the signature pages hereof as a Lender as of the date
hereof, each Person that has become a Lender by executing and delivering a
Lender Addendum on or prior to the date of Initial Extension of Credit and
each
Person that shall become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 9.07, for
so long as such Person shall be a party to this Agreement.
“Letter
of Credit Agreement”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).
“Letter
of Credit Commitment”
means,
with respect to the Issuing Bank at any time, the amount set forth opposite
the
Issuing Bank’s name in the Lender Addendum delivered by the Issuing Bank under
the caption “Letter of Credit Commitment” or, if the Issuing Bank has entered
into an Assignment and Acceptance, set forth for the Issuing Bank in the
Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.07(d)
as the Issuing Bank’s “Letter of Credit Commitment”, as such amount may be
reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.05. The aggregate
Letter of Credit Commitments are (before giving effect to any reduction pursuant
to Section 2.05) $50,000,000.
“Letter
of Credit Facility”
means,
at any time, an amount equal to the amount of the Issuing Bank’s Letter of
Credit Commitment at such time, as such amount may be reduced at or prior to
such time pursuant to Section 2.05.
“Letters
of Credit”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.01(d).
“Lien”
means
any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance of any kind, or
any
other type of preferential arrangement, including, without limitation, the
lien
or retained security title of a conditional vendor and any easement, right
of
way or other encumbrance on title to real property.
“Loan
Documents”
means
(a) this Agreement, (b) the Notes, (c) the Guaranty, (d) the
Collateral Documents, (e) the Fee Letter and (f) each Letter of Credit
Agreement, in each case as amended, and excluding any Secured Hedge
Agreement.
“Loan
Parties”
means
the Borrower and the Guarantors.
“Logan’s”
means
Logan’s Roadhouse, Inc., a Subsidiary of the Borrower as of the date
hereof.
“Margin
Stock”
has
the
meaning specified in Regulation U.
“Material
Adverse Change”
means
any material adverse change in the business, operations, condition (financial
or
otherwise), assets, liabilities (whether actual or contingent) or prospects
of
the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
any event, condition or circumstance, individually or in the aggregate, that
has
had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on
(a)
the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), assets,
liabilities (whether actual or contingent) or prospects of the Borrower and
its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the rights and remedies of any Agent or
any Lender Party under any Transaction Document or (c) the ability of any
Loan Party to perform its Obligations under any Transaction Document to which
it
is or is to be a party.
“Material
Contract”
means
any contract where the failure by any party thereto to perform its Obligations
thereunder could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
“Measurement
Period”
means,
at any date of determination, the most recently completed four consecutive
fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending on or prior to such date or, if less
than
four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower have been completed since
the
date of the Initial Extension of Credit, the fiscal quarters of the Borrower
that have been completed since the date of the Initial Extension of
Credit.
“Moody’s”
means
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
“Multiemployer
Plan”
means
a
multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any
Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make
contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years made or
accrued an obligation to make contributions.
“Multiple
Employer Plan”
means
a
single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that
(a) is maintained for employees of any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate
and at least one Person other than the Loan Parties and the ERISA Affiliates
or
(b) was so maintained and in respect of which any Loan Party or any ERISA
Affiliate could have liability under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the
event such plan has been or were to be terminated.
“Net
Cash Proceeds”
means,
with respect to (a) any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition (other
than by short-term lease but including by way of the occurrence of an event
that
gives rise to insurance proceeds) of any asset (other than Inventory in the
ordinary course of business), excluding disbursements or liquidations from
the
Borrower’s Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan made to fund distributions
to participants, or (b) the incurrence or issuance of any Debt or
(c) the sale or issuance of any Equity Interests (including, without
limitation, any capital contribution) by any Person (excluding proceeds received
pursuant to director or employee option plans or other employee benefit plans)
or (d) any Extraordinary Receipt received by or paid to or for the account
of any Person, the aggregate amount of cash received from time to time (whether
as initial consideration or through payment or disposition of deferred
consideration) by or on behalf of such Person in connection with such
transaction after deducting therefrom only (without duplication)
(i) reasonable and customary brokerage commissions, underwriting fees and
discounts, legal fees, finder’s fees and other similar fees and commissions,
(ii) the amount of taxes estimated in the Borrower’s good faith to be paid
in connection with or as a result of such transaction, (iii) the amount of
any Debt secured by a Lien on such asset that, by the terms of the agreement
or
instrument governing such Debt, is required to be repaid upon such disposition,
in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that the amounts so deducted
are, at the time of receipt of such cash, actually paid to a Person that is
not
an Affiliate of such Person or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan
Party
and are properly attributable to such transaction or to the asset that is the
subject thereof, and (iv) the amount of consideration paid in connection with
the purchase, repurchase or buy-out of leases or the exercise of any option
to
purchase real estate, improvements, fixtures or equipment used in its operations
by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries; provided
such
purchase, re-purchase, buy-out or exercise of such option is made within six
months of the receipt of such cash proceeds with respect thereto; provided,
however,
that if
any amounts described in clauses (i) and (ii) estimated to be paid in connection
with or as a result of any such transaction are not paid within one year
following the date of such transaction, the excess of such estimated amounts
over the amount of such fees, discounts, commissions and taxes paid within
such
one-year period in connection with or as a result of such transaction shall
be
“Net Cash Proceeds” at the end of such one-year period; provided
further
that Net
Cash Proceeds shall not include any such insurance proceeds to the extent such
insurance proceeds are applied to the replacement of the asset or property
in
respect of which such insurance proceeds were received, so long as such
application is made within 12 months after the occurrence of the event giving
rise to such insurance proceeds; provided
further
that Net
Cash Proceeds shall not include any cash receipts from any transaction described
in clause (a) or (d) above to the extent (A) such cash receipts are reinvested
in the same or similar assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries within 365
days after the date of receipt thereof or (B) the proceeds of such cash receipts
(individually or in the aggregate) shall not exceed $10 million.
“Non-Qualified
Deferred Compensation Plan”
means
the Borrower’s 2005 Non-Qualified Savings Plan effective January 1, 2005.
“Note”
means
a
Term Note or a Revolving Credit Note.
“Notice
of Borrowing”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
“Notice
of Issuance”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).
“Notice
of Swing Line Borrowing”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.02(b).
“NPL”
means
the National Priorities List under CERCLA.
“Obligation”
means,
with respect to any Person, any payment, performance or other obligation of
such
Person of any kind, including, without limitation, any liability of such Person
on any claim, whether or not the right of any creditor to payment in respect
of
such claim is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent,
matured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured, and
whether or not such claim is discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by any
proceeding referred to in Section 6.01(f). Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, the Obligations of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents
include (a) the obligation to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit
commissions, reimbursement amounts, charges, expenses, fees, attorneys’ fees and
disbursements, indemnities and other amounts payable by such Loan Party under
any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of such Loan Party to reimburse
any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Lender Party, in its
sole
discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Loan
Party.
“Open
Year”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 4.01(q)(iii).
“Other
Taxes”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.12(b).
“Owned
Real Properties”
means
those properties listed in Schedule
4.01(w).
“Patriot
Act”
means
the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required
to
Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-56.
“PBGC”
means
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor).
“Permitted
Disposition”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 5.02(e)(vi).
“Permitted
Liens”
means
such of the following as to which no enforcement, collection, execution, levy
or
foreclosure proceeding shall have been commenced: (a) Liens for taxes,
assessments and governmental charges or levies to the extent not required to
be
paid under Section 5.01 (b); (b) Liens imposed by law, such as
materialmen’s, mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s and repairmen’s Liens and other
similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business securing obligations
that (i) are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or are being
contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and as to which
appropriate reserves are being maintained and (ii) individually or together
with all other Permitted Liens outstanding on any date of determination do
not
materially adversely affect the use of the property to which they relate;
(c) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business to secure
obligations under workers’ compensation laws or similar legislation or to secure
public or statutory obligations; (d) easements, rights of way and other
encumbrances on title to real property that do not render title to the property
encumbered thereby unmarketable or materially adversely affect the use of such
property for its present purposes; (e) Liens securing judgments for the payment
of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 6.01(g); and (f)
deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for
borrowed money), leases, statutory obligation, surety and appeal bonds and
other
obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of
business.
“Person”
means
an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), limited
liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association,
joint
venture or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency
thereof.
“Plan”
means
a
Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.
“Pledge
Agreement”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 3.01(a)(iii).
“Pledged
Debt”
has
the
meaning specified in the Pledge Agreement.
“Pledged
Shares”
has
the
meaning specified in the Pledge Agreement.
“Post
Petition Interest”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 8.08(b).
“Preferred
Interests”
means,
with respect to any Person, Equity Interests issued by such Person that are
entitled to a preference or priority over any other Equity Interests issued
by
such Person upon any distribution of such Person’s property and assets, whether
by dividend or upon liquidation.
“Pro
Rata Share”
of
any
amount means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the
product of such amount times
a
fraction the numerator of which is the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit
Commitment at such time (or, if the Commitments shall have been terminated
pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment
as in effect immediately prior to such termination) and the denominator of
which
is an amount equal to the Revolving Credit Facility at such time (or, if the
Commitments shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01,
the Revolving Credit Facility as in effect immediately prior to such
termination).
“Real
Property Lease”
means
all of the leases of real property under which any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries is the lessor or the lessee from time to time.
“Redeemable”
means,
with respect to any Equity Interest, any such Equity Interest that (a) the
issuer has undertaken to redeem at a fixed or determinable date or dates,
whether by operation of a sinking fund or otherwise, or upon the occurrence
of a
condition not solely within the control of the issuer or (b) is redeemable
at the option of the holder.
“Refinancing”
has
the
meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.
“Register”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 9.07(d).
“Regulation
U”
means
Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in
effect from time to time.
“Related
Documents”
means
the Tender Offer Documents made by the Borrower to its shareholders, any other
document related to the Repurchase.
“Replaced
Lender”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.17.
“Replacement
Lender”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.17.
“Repurchase”
has
the
meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.
“Required
Lenders”
means,
at any time, Lenders owed or holding at least a majority in interest of the
sum
of (a) the aggregate principal amount of the Advances outstanding at such
time, (b) the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit
outstanding at such time, (c) the aggregate unused Term Commitments at such
time and (d) the aggregate Unused Revolving Credit Commitments at such time;
provided,
however,
that if
any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time, there shall be excluded
from the determination of Required Lenders at such time (i) the aggregate
principal amount of the Advances owing to such Lender (in its capacity as a
Lender) and outstanding at such time, (ii) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of
the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding at such
time, (iii) the aggregate unused Term Commitment of such Lender at such
time and (iv) the Unused Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender at such
time. For purposes of this definition, the aggregate principal amount of Swing
Line Advances owing to the Swing Line Bank and L/C Credit Extensions owing
to
the Issuing Bank and the Available Amount of each Letter of Credit shall be
considered to be owed to the Revolving Credit Lenders ratably in accordance
with
their respective Revolving Credit Commitments.
“Required
Revolving Credit Lenders”
means,
at any time, Revolving Credit Lenders owed or holding at least a majority in
interest of the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of (i) the
Revolving Credit Advances, (ii) the Swing Line Advances and (iii) the L/C Credit
Extensions outstanding at such time, (b) the aggregate Available Amount of
all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time and (c) the aggregate Unused
Revolving Credit Commitments at such time; provided,
however,
that if
any Revolving Credit Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time, there
shall be excluded from the determination of Required Revolving Credit Lenders
at
such time (i) the aggregate principal amount of (A) the Revolving Credit
Advances, (B) the Swing Line Advances and (C) the L/C Credit Extensions owing
to
such Revolving Credit Lender (in its capacity as a Revolving Credit Lender)
and
outstanding at such time, (ii) such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata
Share of the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding
at
such time and (iii) the Unused Revolving Credit Commitment of such
Revolving Credit Lender at such time. For purposes of this definition, the
aggregate principal amount of Swing Line Advances owing to the Swing Line Bank
and L/C Credit Extensions owing to the Issuing Bank and the Available Amount
of
each Letter of Credit shall be considered to be owed to the Revolving Credit
Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit
Commitments.
“Responsible
Officer”
means
any officer of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Revolving
Credit Advance”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).
“Revolving
Credit Borrowing”
means
a
borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit Advances of the same
Type
made by the Revolving Credit Lenders.
“Revolving
Credit Commitment”
means,
with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the amount set forth
in
the Lender Addendum delivered by such Revolving Credit Lender under the caption
“Revolving Credit Commitment” or, if such Lender has entered into one or more
Assignment and Acceptances, set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained
by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.07(d) as such Lender’s
“Revolving Credit Commitment”, as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such
time pursuant to Section 2.05. The aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments
are (before giving effect to any reduction pursuant to Section 2.05) $250
million.
“Revolving
Credit Commitment Fee”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.08(a).
“Revolving
Credit Facility”
means,
at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving
Credit Commitments at such time.
“Revolving
Credit Lender”
means
any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment.
“Revolving
Credit Note”
means
a
promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of any Revolving Credit
Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, evidencing the
aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the
Revolving Credit Advances, L/C Credit Extensions and Swing Line Advances made
by
such Lender, as amended, endorsed or replaced.
“S&P”
means
Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc.
“Secured
Hedge Agreement”
means
any Hedge Agreement required or permitted under Article V that is entered into
by and between any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank and that is secured by the
Collateral Documents.
“Secured
Obligations”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2 of the Pledge Agreement and shall include,
without limitation, the obligations of the Borrower under each Secured Hedge
Agreement.
“Secured
Parties”
means
the Agents, the Lender Parties and the Hedge Banks.
“Single
Employer Plan”
means
a
single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that
(a) is maintained for employees of any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate
and no Person other than the Loan Parties and the ERISA Affiliates or
(b) was so maintained and in respect of which any Loan Party or any ERISA
Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event
such plan has been or were to be terminated.
“Solvent”
and
“Solvency”
mean,
with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date, after giving
effect to any transaction contemplated to be consummated as of such date,
(a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total
amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, 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 such debts and
liabilities as they mature and (d) such Person is not engaged in business
or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction,
for
which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The
amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount
that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time,
represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or
matured liability.
“SPC”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 9.07(k).
“Subordinated
Obligations”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 8.08.
“Subsidiary”
of
any
Person means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company, trust or estate of which (or in which) more than 50% of (a) the
issued and outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect
a
majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether
at the time capital stock of any other class or classes of such corporation
shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency),
(b) the interest in the capital or profits of such partnership, joint
venture or limited liability company or (c) the beneficial interest in such
trust or estate is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by
such Person, by such Person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or by
one
or more of such Person’s other Subsidiaries.
“Supplemental
Collateral Agent”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 7.01(c).
“Surviving
Debt”
means
Debt of each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries outstanding immediately before
giving effect to the Initial Extension of Credit that remains outstanding
immediately after giving effect to the Initial Extension of Credit, other than
intercompany debt.
“Swing
Line Advance”
means
an advance made by (a) the Swing Line Bank pursuant to Section 2.01(c) or (b)
any Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to Section 2.02(b).
“Swing
Line Bank”
means
Wachovia and any Eligible Assignee to which the Swing Line Commitment hereunder
has been assigned pursuant to Section 9.07 so long as such Eligible Assignee
expressly agrees to perform in accordance with their terms all obligations
that
by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Swing
Line Bank and notifies the Administrative Agent of its Applicable Lending Office
and the amount of its Swing Line Commitment (which information shall be recorded
by the Administrative Agent in the Register), for so long as Wachovia or such
Eligible Assignee, as the case may be, shall have a Swing Line Commitment.
“Swing
Line Borrowing”
means
a
borrowing consisting of a Swing Line Advance made by the Swing Line Bank
pursuant to Section 2.01(c) or the Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to Section
2.02(b).
“Swing
Line Commitment”
means,
with respect to the Swing Line Bank at any time, the amount set forth in the
Lender Addendum delivered by the Swing Line Bank under the caption “Swing Line
Commitment” or, if the Swing Line Bank has entered into an Assignment and
Acceptance, set forth for the Swing Line Bank in the Register maintained by
the
Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.07(d) as the Swing Line Bank’s “Swing
Line Commitment”, as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such time
pursuant to Section 2.05. The aggregate Swing Line Commitments are (before
giving effect to any reduction pursuant to Section 2.05)
$25,000,000.
“Swing
Line Facility”
means,
at any time, an amount equal to the amount of the Swing Line Bank’s Swing Line
Commitment at such time, as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such
time
pursuant to Section 2.05.
“Synthetic
Debt”
means,
with respect to any Person, without duplication of any clause within the
definition of “Debt,” all (a) Obligations of such Person under any lease that is
treated as an operating lease for financial accounting purposes and a financing
lease for tax purposes (i.e., a “synthetic lease”), (b) Obligations of such
Person in respect of transactions entered into by such Person, the proceeds
from
which would be reflected on the financial statements of such Person in
accordance with GAAP as cash flows from financings at the time such transaction
was entered into (other than as a result of the issuance of Equity Interests)
and (c) Obligations of such Person in respect of other transactions entered
into
by such Person that are not otherwise addressed in the definition of “Debt” or
in clause (a) or (b) above that are intended to function primarily as a
borrowing of funds (including, without limitation, any minority interest
transactions that functions primarily as a borrowing.
“Taxes”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.12(a).
“Tender
Offer Documents”
means
the Offer to Purchase of the Borrower dated March 31, 2006 and the related
Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO and all attachments and exhibits
thereto.
“Term
Advance”
means
a
Term B-1 Advance or a Term B-2 Advance.
“Term
Borrowing”
means
a
borrowing consisting of simultaneous Term Advances of the same Type made by
the
Term Lenders.
“Term
Commitment”
means,
with respect to any Term Lender at any time, the sum of such Lender’s Term B-1
Commitment and such Lender’s Term B-2 Commitment.
“Term
Facility”
means,
collectively, the Term B-1 Facility and the Term B-2 Facility.
“Term
Lender”
means
any Term B-1 Lender or Term B-2 Lender.
“Term
Note”
means
a
promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of any Term Lender, in
substantially the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, evidencing the indebtedness of
the
Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Term Advance made by such Lender,
as
amended, endorsed or replaced.
“Term
B-1 Advance”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.01(a)(i).
“Term
B-1 Commitment”
means,
with respect to any Term B-1 Lender at any time, the amount set forth in the
Lender Addendum delivered by such Term B-1 Lender under the caption “Term B-1
Commitment” or, if such Lender has entered into one of more Assignment and
Acceptances, set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the
Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.07(d) as such Lender’s “Term B-1
Commitment”, as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to
Section 2.05. The aggregate Term B-1 Commitments are (before giving effect
to
any reduction pursuant to Section 2.05) $800 million.
“Term
B-1 Facility”
means,
at any time, the aggregate amount of the Term B-1 Lenders’ Term B-1 Commitments
at such time.
“Term
B-1 Lender”
means
any Lender that has a Term B-1 Commitment.
“Term
B-2 Advance”
has
the
meaning specified in Section 2.01(a)(ii).
“Term
B-2 Availability Period”
means
the period from and including the Effective Date to the earlier of (a) October
27, 2007 and (b) the date of termination in whole of the Term Commitments
pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01.
“Term
B-2 Commitment”
means,
with respect to any Term B-2 Lender at any time, the amount set forth in the
Lender Addendum delivered by such Term B-2 Lender under the caption “Term B-2
Commitment” or, if such Lender has entered into one of more Assignment and
Acceptances, set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the
Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.07(d) as such Lender’s “Term B-2
Commitment”, as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to
Section 2.05. The aggregate Term B-2 Commitments are (before giving effect
to
any reduction pursuant to Section 2.05) $200 million.
“Term
B-2 Facility”
means,
at any time, the aggregate amount of the Term B-2 Lenders’ Term B-2 Commitments
at such time.
“Term
B-2 Lender”
means
any Lender that has a Term B-2 Commitment.
“Termination
Date”
means
(a) with respect to the Term Facility, the earlier of April 27, 2013 and the
date of termination in whole of the Term Commitments pursuant to Section 6.01,
and (b) with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, the earlier of April
27,
2011 and the date of termination in whole of the Revolving Credit Commitments
pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01 and (c) with respect to the Swing
Line Facility and the Letter of Credit Facility, the earlier of April 27, 2011
and the date of termination in whole of the Swing Line Facility or the Letter
of
Credit Commitment, as the case may be, in each case pursuant to
Section 2.05 or 6.01.
“Transaction”
means
the Repurchase and the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents.
“Transaction
Documents”
means,
collectively, the Loan Documents and the Related Documents.
“Type”
refers
to the distinction between Advances bearing interest at the Base Rate and
Advances bearing interest at the Eurodollar Rate.
“Unused
Revolving Credit Commitment”
means,
with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, an amount equal to
(a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time minus
(b) the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving
Credit Advances, Swing Line Advances and L/C Credit Extensions made by such
Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) and outstanding at such time plus
(without
duplication of any amount described in clause (i)) (ii) such Lender’s Pro
Rata Share of (A) the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit
outstanding at such time, (B) the aggregate principal amount of all L/C
Credit Extensions made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and
outstanding at such time and (C) the aggregate principal amount of all Swing
Line Advances made by the Swing Line Bank pursuant to Section 2.01(c) and
outstanding at such time. For the avoidance of doubt, such Lender’s Pro Rata
Share of the amounts in clauses (b)(ii)(B) and (b)(ii)(C) above shall be reduced
on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the amount of L/C Credit Extensions or Swing
Line Advances, as applicable, made by such Lender, as described in clause (b)(i)
above.
“Voting
Interests”
means
shares of capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent Equity Interests
in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of
contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons
performing similar functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote
has
been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
“Wachovia”
has
the
meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.
“Welfare
Plan”
means
a
welfare plan, as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, that is maintained for
employees of any Loan Party or in respect of which any Loan Party could have
liability.
“Withdrawal
Liability”
has
the
meaning specified in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION
1.02. Computation
of Time Periods; Other Definitional Provisions
.
In this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents in the computation of periods of time
from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from”
means
“from and including” and the words “to”
and
“until”
each
mean “to but excluding”. References in the Loan Documents to any agreement or
contract “as
amended”
shall
mean and be a reference to such agreement or contract as amended, amended and
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance
with its terms.
SECTION
1.03. Accounting
Terms
.
All
accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those
applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in
Section 4.01(i) (“GAAP”).
ARTICLE
II
AMOUNTS
AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
AND
THE LETTERS OF CREDIT
SECTION
2.01. The
Advances and the Letters of Credit.
(a)(i)
The
Term B-1 Advances.
Each
Term B-1 Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set
forth, to make a single advance (a “Term
B-1 Advance”)
to the
Borrower on or after the Effective Date in an amount not to exceed such Lender’s
Term B-1 Commitment at such time, consisting of Term B-1 Advances made
simultaneously by the Term B-1 Lenders ratably according to their Term B-1
Commitments. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a)(i) and repaid or
prepaid may not be reborrowed.
(ii)
The
Term B-2 Advances.
Each
Term B-2 Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set
forth, to make either one advance or two advances of equal principal amount
(each, a “Term
B-2 Advance”)
to the
Borrower on any Business Day during the Term B-2 Availability Period in an
aggregate amount for all such advances not to exceed such Lender’s Term B-2
Commitment at such time, consisting of Term B-2 Advances made simultaneously
by
the Term B-2 Lenders ratably according to their Term B-2 Commitments. Amounts
borrowed under this Section 2.01(a)(ii) and repaid or prepaid may not be
reborrowed.
(b) The
Revolving Credit Advances.
Each
Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth, to make advances (each a “Revolving
Credit Advance”)
to the
Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the
Business Day after the date of Initial Extension of Credit until the Termination
Date in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility in an amount for each such
Advance not to exceed such Lender’s Unused Revolving Credit Commitment at such
time. Each Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be, in the case of a Eurodollar
Rate
Advance, in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of
$100,000 in excess thereof, or, in the case of a Base Rate Advance, in an
aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 in excess
thereof (other than a Revolving Credit Borrowing the proceeds of which shall
be
used solely to repay or prepay in full outstanding Swing Line Advances or
outstanding L/C Credit Extensions) and shall consist of Revolving Credit
Advances made simultaneously by the Revolving Credit Lenders ratably according
to their Revolving Credit Commitments. Within the limits of each Revolving
Credit Lender’s Unused Revolving Credit Commitment in effect from time to time,
the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(b), prepay pursuant to
Section 2.06(a) and reborrow under this Section 2.01(b).
(c) The
Swing Line Advances.
The
Swing Line Bank agrees on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to
make Swing Line Advances to the Borrower from time to time on any Business
Day
during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date in respect
of the Revolving Credit Facility (i) in an aggregate amount for all Swing Line
Advances not to exceed at any time outstanding the Swing Line Bank’s Swing Line
Commitment at such time and (ii) in an amount for each such Swing Line Borrowing
not to exceed the aggregate of the Unused Revolving Credit Commitments of the
Revolving Credit Lenders at such time. No Swing Line Advance shall be used
for
the purpose of funding the payment of principal of any other Swing Line Advance.
Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be in an amount of $100,000 or an integral
multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and shall bear interest at the Base
Rate
plus the Applicable Percentage then applicable, or a rate mutually agreed by
the
Borrower and the Swing Line Bank. Within the limits of the Swing Line Facility
and within the limits referred to in clause (ii) above, the Borrower may borrow
under this Section 2.01(c), repay pursuant to Section 2.04(c) or prepay pursuant
to Section 2.06(a) and reborrow under this Section 2.01(c). Immediately upon
the
making of a Swing Line Advance, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed
to,
and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing
Line Bank a risk participation in such Swing Line Advance in an amount equal
to
such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Swing Line Advance.
(d) The
Letters of Credit.
The
Existing Issuing Bank, the Lenders and the Borrower agree that effective as
of
the Effective Date, the Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to have been
issued and maintained under, and to be governed by the terms and conditions
of,
this Agreement. Each Issuing Bank (other than the Existing Issuing Bank) agrees,
on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to issue (or cause its
Affiliate that is a commercial bank to issue on its behalf) letters of credit
(together with the Existing Letter of Credit, the “Letters
of Credit”)
in
U.S. Dollars for the account of the Borrower from time to time on any Business
Day during the period from the Effective Date until 60 days before the
Termination Date in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate
Available Amount (i) for all Letters of Credit not to exceed at any time
the lesser of (x) the Letter of Credit Facility at such time and (y)
the Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment at such time and (ii) for
each such Letter of Credit not to exceed the Unused Revolving Credit Commitments
of the Revolving Credit Lenders at such time. No Letter of Credit shall have
an
expiration date (including all rights of the Borrower or the beneficiary to
require renewal) later than the earlier of (a) one year after its date of
issuance and (b) the 60th day prior to the Termination Date in respect of the
Revolving Credit Facility, but may by its terms be renewable annually in
accordance with the applicable Letter of Credit Agreement. Within the limits
of
the Letter of Credit Facility, and subject to the limits referred to above,
the
Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit under this
Section 2.01(d), repay any L/C Credit Extensions resulting from drawings
thereunder pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and request the issuance of
additional Letters of Credit under this Section 2.01(d). Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Existing Letter of Credit
(including any automatic renewal provision), the Existing Letter of Credit
may
not be renewed after the Effective Date and shall expire on the expiration
date
in effect as of the Effective Date without giving effect to any renewal of
the
Existing Letter of Credit.
SECTION
2.02. Making
the Advances.
(a)
Except
as otherwise provided in Section 2.02(b) or 2.03, each Borrowing shall be
made on notice, given not later than 11:00 A.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina
time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing
in
the case of a Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances, or the date
of
the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Base Rate
Advances, by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, which shall give to
each
Appropriate Lender prompt notice thereof. Each such notice of a Borrowing (a
“Notice
of Borrowing”)
shall
be in writing, or by telephone, confirmed promptly in writing, or telex or
telecopier, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, specifying therein
the requested (i) date of such Borrowing, (ii) Facility under which
such Borrowing is to be made, (iii) Type of Advances comprising such
Borrowing, (iv) aggregate amount of such Borrowing and (v) in the case
of a Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances, initial Interest Period
for each such Advance. Each Appropriate Lender shall, before 11:00 A.M.
(Charlotte, North Carolina time) in the case of a Borrowing consisting of
Eurodollar Rate Advances and 2:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) in
the
case of a Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances, in each case on the date
of such Borrowing, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending
Office to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Account, in
same day funds, such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing in accordance
with the respective Commitments under the applicable Facility of such Lender
and
the other Appropriate Lenders. After the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such
funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III, the Administrative Agent will make such funds available to the
Borrower by crediting the Borrower’s Account no later than 2:00 P.M. (Charlotte,
North Carolina time) on the date of such Borrowing); provided,
however,
that, in
the case of any Revolving Credit Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall
first
apply such funds to prepay ratably the aggregate principal amount of any Swing
Line Advances and L/C Credit Extensions outstanding at such time, together
with
interest accrued and unpaid thereon to and as of such date.
(b) (i)
Each
Swing Line Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than
11:00 A.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date of the proposed
Swing Line Borrowing, by the Borrower to the Swing Line Bank and the
Administrative Agent. Each such notice of a Swing Line Borrowing (a
“Notice
of Swing Line Borrowing”)
shall
be in writing, or by telephone, confirmed promptly in writing, or telex or
telecopier, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such Borrowing,
(ii) amount of such Borrowing and (iii) maturity of such Borrowing
(which maturity shall be no later than the seventh day after the requested
date
of such Borrowing). The Swing Line Bank will make the amount of the requested
Swing Line Advances available to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative
Agent’s Account, in same day funds. After the Administrative Agent’s receipt of
such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III, the Administrative Agent will make such funds available to the
Borrower by crediting the Borrower’s Account no later than 2:00 P.M. (Charlotte,
North Carolina time) on the date of such Borrowing).
(ii) The
Swing
Line Bank may, at any time in its sole and absolute discretion, request on
behalf of the Borrower (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the
Swing
Line Bank to so request on its behalf) that each Revolving Credit Lender make
a
Base Rate Advance in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the
amount of Swing Line Advances then outstanding. Such request shall be deemed
to
be a Notice of Borrowing for purposes hereof and shall be made in accordance
with the provisions of Section 2.02(a) without regard solely to the minimum
amounts specified therein but subject to the satisfaction of the conditions
set
forth in Section 3.02. The Swing Line Bank shall furnish the Borrower with
a
copy of the applicable Notice of Borrowing promptly after delivering such notice
to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall make an amount
equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount specified in such Notice of Borrowing
available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the Swing Line Bank, by deposit to the Administrative
Agent’s Account, in same date funds, not later than 11:00 A.M. on the day
specified in such Notice of Borrowing.
(iii) If
for
any reason any Swing Line Advance cannot be refinanced by a Revolving Credit
Borrowing as contemplated by Section 2.02(b)(ii), the request for Base Rate
Advances submitted by the Swing Line Bank as set forth in Section 2.02(b)(ii)
shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Bank that each of the
Revolving Credit Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing
Line
Advance and each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent
for the account of the Swing Line Bank pursuant to Section 2.02(b)(ii) shall
be
deemed payment in respect of such participation.
(iv) If
and to
the extent that any Revolving Credit Lender shall not have made the amount
of
its Pro Rata Share of such Swing Line Advance available to the Administrative
Agent in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02(b)(ii), such Revolving
Credit Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand
such
amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date of the
applicable Notice of Borrowing delivered by the Swing Line Bank until the date
such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate
plus
1/2 of
1%.
(v) Each
Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Advances or to
purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Advance pursuant to this
Section 2.02(b) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected
by
any circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense
or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Bank, the
Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence
or
continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition,
whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided,
however,
that
each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Advances
pursuant to Section 2.02(b)(ii) is subject to satisfaction of the conditions
set
forth in Section 3.02. No funding of risk participations shall relieve or
otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Advances,
together with interest as provided herein.
(c) Anything
in subsection (a) above to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the
Borrower may not select Eurodollar Rate Advances for the initial Borrowing
hereunder or for any Borrowing during the period from the date hereof until
the
earlier of (x) thirty days thereafter and (y) the completion of the primary
syndication of the Facilities, as determined by the Administrative Agent in
its
sole discretion, or for any Borrowing if the aggregate amount of such Borrowing
is less than $5,000,000 or if the obligation of the Appropriate Lenders to
make
Eurodollar Rate Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to Section 2.09
or Section 2.10 and (ii) the Term Advances may not be outstanding as part of
more than 6 separate Borrowings and the Revolving Credit Advances may not be
outstanding as part of more than 5 separate Borrowings.
(d) Each
Notice of Borrowing and each Notice of Swing Line Borrowing shall be irrevocable
and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Borrowing that the related
Notice of Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances,
the Borrower shall indemnify each Appropriate Lender against any loss, cost
or
expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure by the Loan Parties
to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of Borrowing for
such
Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including,
without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost
or
expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or
other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Advance to be made by such
Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Advance, as a result of such failure,
is not made on such date.
(e) Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from an Appropriate
Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing under a Facility under which such
Lender has a Commitment that such Lender will not make available to the
Administrative Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available
to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with
subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the Administrative Agent may,
in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date
a
corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have
so
made such ratable portion available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender
and
the Borrower severally agree to repay or pay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand such corresponding amount and to pay interest thereon,
for
each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until
the
date such amount is repaid or paid to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in
the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at such time under
Section 2.07 to Advances comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the
case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate plus
1/2 of
1%. If such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding
amount, such amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Advance as part of
such Borrowing for all purposes.
(f) The
failure of any Lender to make the Advance to be made by it as part of any
Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any,
hereunder to make its Advance on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender
shall
be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance to be
made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.
SECTION
2.03. Issuance
of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under Letters of Credit.
(a)
Request
for Issuance.
Each
Letter of Credit shall be issued upon notice, given not later than
11:00 A.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the tenth Business Day prior
to the date of the proposed issuance of such Letter of Credit (or such later
day
as the Issuing Bank shall agree), by the Borrower to the Issuing Bank, which
shall give to the Administrative Agent prompt notice thereof by telecopier
or
electronic communication. Each such notice of issuance of a Letter of Credit
(a
“Notice
of Issuance”)
shall
be in writing, or by telephone, confirmed promptly in writing, or telecopier
or
electronic communication, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such
issuance (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) Available Amount of such
Letter of Credit (which amount shall not be less than $1,000,000 unless
otherwise agreed by the Issuing Bank and to the Administrative Agent),
(iii) expiration date of such Letter of Credit, (iv) name and address
of the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit and (v) form of such Letter of
Credit, and shall be accompanied by such application and agreement for letter
of
credit as the Issuing Bank may specify to the Borrower for use in connection
with such requested Letter of Credit (a “Letter
of Credit Agreement”).
If
(A) the requested form of such Letter of Credit is acceptable to the
Issuing Bank in its sole discretion and (B) it has not received notice of
objection to such issuance from the Required Lenders, the Issuing Bank will,
upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III,
make such Letter of Credit available to the Borrower at the Issuing Bank’s
office referred to in Section 9.02 or as otherwise agreed with the Borrower
in connection with such issuance. In the event and to the extent that the
provisions of any Letter of Credit Agreement shall conflict with this Agreement,
the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.
(b) Letter
of Credit Reports.
Upon
request by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank shall furnish (i) to
the Administrative Agent on or about the first Business Day of each month a
written report summarizing issuance and expiration dates of Letters of Credit
issued during the previous month and drawings during such month under all
Letters of Credit, (ii) to each Revolving Credit Lender on or about the
first Business Day of each month a written report summarizing issuance and
expiration dates of Letters of Credit issued during the preceding month and
drawings during such month under all Letters of Credit and (iii) to the
Administrative Agent and each Revolving Credit Lender on or about the first
Business Day of each calendar quarter a written report setting forth the average
daily aggregate Available Amount during the preceding calendar quarter of all
Letters of Credit.
(c) Participations
in Letters of Credit.
Upon
the issuance of a Letter of Credit by the Issuing Bank under Section 2.03(a)
or
the deemed issuance of the Existing Letter of Credit under Section 2.01(e),
the
Issuing Bank shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to
have sold to each Revolving Credit Lender, and each such Revolving Credit Lender
shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have purchased
from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount
for
each Revolving Credit Lender equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the
Available Amount of such Letter of Credit, effective upon the issuance of such
Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each
Revolving Credit Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay
such
Lender’s Pro Rata Share of each L/C Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and
not reimbursed by the Borrower forthwith on the date due as provided in Section
2.04(d) (or which has been so reimbursed but must be returned or restored by
the
Issuing Bank because of the occurrence of an event specified in Section 6.01(f)
or otherwise) by making available for the account of its Applicable Lending
Office to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank by
deposit to the Administrative Agent’s Account, in same day funds, an amount
equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such L/C Disbursement. Each Revolving
Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire and pay
for
participations pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) in respect of Letters of Credit
is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance
whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or an Event
of
Default or the termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall
be made without any off-set, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
If
and to the extent that any Revolving Credit Lender shall not have so made the
amount of such L/C Disbursement available to the Administrative Agent, such
Revolving Credit Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith
on
demand such amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date
such L/C Disbursement is due pursuant to Section 2.04(d) until the date such
amount is paid to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate for its
account or the account of the Issuing Bank, as applicable. If such Lender shall
pay to the Administrative Agent such amount for the account of the Issuing
Bank
on any Business Day, such amount so paid in respect of principal shall
constitute a L/C Credit Extension made by such Lender on such Business Day
for
purposes of this Agreement, and the outstanding principal amount of the L/C
Credit Extension made by the Issuing Bank shall be reduced by such amount on
such Business Day.
(d) Drawing
and Reimbursement.
The
payment by the Issuing Bank of a draft drawn under any Letter of Credit shall
constitute for all purposes of this Agreement the making by the Issuing Bank
of
a L/C Credit Extension, which shall be a Base Rate Advance, in the amount of
such draft.
(e) Failure
to Make L/C Credit Extensions.
The
failure of any Lender to make the L/C Credit Extension to be made by it on
the
date specified in Section 2.03(c) shall not relieve any other Lender of its
obligation hereunder to make its L/C Credit Extension on such date, but no
Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the
L/C
Credit Extension to be made by such other Lender on such date.
(f) Applicability
of ISP98.
Unless
otherwise expressly agreed by the Issuing Bank and the Borrower when a Letter
of
Credit is issued, the rules of the “International Standby Practices 1998”
published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such
later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance) shall apply
to each Letter of Credit.
SECTION
2.04. Repayment
of Advances.
(a)
Term
Advances.
(i) Term
B-1 Advances.
The
Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of
the
respective Term B-1 Lenders the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Term B-1 Advances on the following dates in amounts specified below (which
amounts shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in
accordance with Section 2.06):
Date
|
Amount
|
July
28, 2006
|
$2,000,000
|
October
27, 2006
|
$2,000,000
|
January
26, 2007
|
$2,000,000
|
April
27, 2007
|
$2,000,000
|
August
3, 2007
|
$2,000,000
|
November
2, 2007
|
$2,000,000
|
February
1, 2008
|
$2,000,000
|
May
2, 2008
|
$2,000,000
|
August
1, 2008
|
$2,000,000
|
October
31, 2008
|
$2,000,000
|
January
30, 2009
|
$2,000,000
|
May
1, 2009
|
$2,000,000
|
July
31, 2009
|
$2,000,000
|
October
30, 2009
|
$2,000,000
|
January
29, 2010
|
$2,000,000
|
April
30, 2010
|
$2,000,000
|
July
30, 2010
|
$2,000,000
|
October
29, 2010
|
$2,000,000
|
January
28, 2011
|
$2,000,000
|
April
29, 2011
|
$2,000,000
|
July
29, 2011
|
$2,000,000
|
October
28, 2011
|
$2,000,000
|
January
27, 2012
|
$2,000,000
|
April
27, 2012
|
$2,000,000
|
August
3, 2012
|
$2,000,000
|
November
2, 2012
|
$2,000,000
|
February
1, 2013
|
$2,000,000
|
April
27, 2013
|
All
remaining balance of Term B-1
Advances
|
provided,
however,
that
the final principal installment shall be repaid on the Termination Date in
respect of each Term Facility and in any event shall be in an amount equal
to
the aggregate principal amount of the Term Advances outstanding on such date;
provided,
further,
that
upon the making of any Term B-2 Advances, the amortization schedule set forth
above and this Section 2.04(a)(i) shall be subject to Section
2.04(a)(ii).
(ii) Term
B-2 Advances.
The
Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of
the
respective Term B-2 Lenders the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Term B-2 Advances as follows: upon the making of any Term B-2 Advances pursuant
to Section 2.01(a)(ii), (x) amortization shall commence with respect to such
Term B-2 Advances and shall be payable in the same proportions (adjusted for
the
later commencement date) and on the dates as amortization is payable on the
Term
B-1 Advances, (y) Section 2.04(a) and the amortization schedule set forth herein
shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to incorporate the amortization
of such Term B-2 Advances and (z) any such deemed amendment may be memorialized
in writing by the Administrative Agent with the Borrower’s consent (not to be
unreasonably withheld) and made available to the other parties
hereto.
(b) Revolving
Credit Advances.
The
Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of
the
Revolving Credit Lenders on the Termination Date in respect of the Revolving
Credit Facility the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances
then outstanding.
(c) Swing
Line Advances.
The
Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing
Line Bank and each other Revolving Credit Lender that has made a Swing Line
Advance the outstanding principal amount of each Swing Line Advance made by
each
of them on the earlier of the maturity date specified in the applicable Notice
of Swing Line Borrowing (which maturity shall be no later than the seventh
Business Day after the requested date of such Borrowing) and the Termination
Date in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility.
(d) L/C
Credit Extensions.
(i)
The
Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing
Bank and each other Revolving Credit Lender that has made a L/C Credit Extension
on the earlier of demand and the Termination Date in respect of the Revolving
Credit Facility the outstanding principal amount of each L/C Credit Extension
made by each of them.
(ii) The
Obligations of the Borrower (with respect to payment) and the Revolving Credit
Lenders under this Agreement, any Letter of Credit Agreement and any other
agreement or instrument relating to any Letter of Credit in respect of any
Letter of Credit (including all reimbursement obligations payable to the Issuing
Bank with respect thereto) shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall
be
paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such Letter of
Credit Agreement and such other agreement or instrument under all circumstances,
including, without limitation, any or all of the following circumstances (it
being understood that any such payment by the Borrower is without prejudice
to,
and does not constitute a waiver of, any rights the Borrower might have or
might
acquire as a result of the payment by the Issuing Bank of any draft or the
reimbursement by the Borrower thereof):
(A) any
lack
of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document, any Letter of Credit
Agreement, any Letter of Credit or any other agreement or instrument relating
thereto (all of the foregoing being, collectively, the “L/C
Related Documents”);
(B) any
change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of,
all
or any of the Obligations of the Borrower in respect of any L/C Related Document
or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or
any
of the L/C Related Documents;
(C) the
existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may
have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of a Letter of Credit
(or any Persons for which any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be
acting), the Issuing Bank or any other Person, whether in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the L/C Related Documents or any unrelated
transaction;
(D) any
statement or any other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving
to be
forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement
therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;
(E) payment
by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft,
certificate or other document that does not strictly comply with the terms
of
such Letter of Credit;
(F) any
exchange, release or non-perfection of any Collateral or other collateral,
or
any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from the
Guaranties or any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations of the
Borrower in respect of the L/C Related Documents; or
(G) any
other
circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the
foregoing, including, without limitation, any other circumstance that might
otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower
or
a guarantor.
SECTION
2.05. Termination
or Reduction of the Commitments. (a) Optional.
The
Borrower may, upon at least five Business Days’ written notice to the
Administrative Agent, terminate in whole or reduce in part the unused portions
of the Term B-1 Commitments, the Term B-2 Commitments, the Swing Line Facility
and the Letter of Credit Facility and the Unused Revolving Credit Commitments;
provided,
however,
that
each partial reduction of a Facility (i) shall be in an aggregate amount of
$5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in
excess
thereof and (ii) shall be made ratably among the Appropriate Lenders in
accordance with their Commitments with respect to such Facility. Any such
termination or reduction of the Unused Revolving Credit Commitments shall be
permanent.
(b) Mandatory.
(i)
Upon
each making of the Term Advances, the aggregate Term Commitments of the Term
Lenders shall be automatically and permanently reduced, on a pro rata basis,
by
an amount equal to the aggregate amount of such Term Advances. The Term B-1
Commitment shall automatically terminate in whole upon the drawing thereunder.
The Term B-2 Commitment shall automatically terminate in whole upon the earlier
to occur of (A) the second drawing thereunder and (B) the end of the Term B-2
Availability Period.
(ii) The
Letter of Credit Facility shall be permanently reduced from time to time on
the
date of each reduction in the Revolving Credit Facility by the amount, if any,
by which the amount of the Letter of Credit Facility exceeds the Revolving
Credit Facility after giving effect to such reduction of the Revolving Credit
Facility.
(iii) The
Swing
Line Facility shall be permanently reduced from time to time on the date of
each
reduction in the Revolving Credit Facility by the amount, if any, by which
the
amount of the Swing Line Facility exceeds the Revolving Credit Facility after
giving effect to such reduction of the Revolving Credit Facility.
SECTION
2.06. Prepayments.
(a) Optional.
The
Borrower may, upon at least one Business Day’s notice in the case of Base Rate
Advances and three Business Days’ notice in the case of Eurodollar Rate
Advances, in each case to the Administrative Agent stating the proposed date
and
aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given the
Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the
Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing in whole or ratably in part,
together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the
aggregate principal amount prepaid; provided,
however,
that
(i) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount of
$5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (ii)
if
any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance is made on a date other than the
last day of an Interest Period for such Advance, the Borrower shall also pay
any
amounts owing pursuant to Section 9.04(c). Each such prepayment shall be
applied ratably to the amortization installments under the Term
Facility.
(b) Mandatory.
(i)
The
Borrower shall, on the 90th
day
following the end of each Fiscal Year, commencing in respect of the Fiscal
Year
ended on or about August 3, 2007, prepay an aggregate principal amount of the
Advances comprising part of the same Borrowings and (if applicable pursuant
to
Section 2.06(b)(vi) below) deposit an amount in the Collateral Account in an
amount equal to, (A) at any time when the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio
as
of the end of the applicable Fiscal Year is greater than 2.50:1.00, 50% of
the
amount of Excess Cash Flow for such Fiscal Year and (B) at any time when the
Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as of the end of the applicable Fiscal Year
is
less than or equal to 2.50:1.00, 25% of the amount of Excess Cash Flow for
such
Fiscal Year. Each such prepayment shall be applied first
ratably
to the amortization installments under the Term Facility and second
to the
Revolving Credit Facility without reduction in the Revolving Credit Commitment
or the Letter of Credit Commitment as set forth below in clause (v) of this
Section 2.06(b).
(ii) The
Borrower shall, on the date of receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds by any Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries from (A) the sale, lease, transfer or
other disposition of any assets of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries
(other than any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of assets pursuant
to
clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi), (vii)(B) or (vii)(D)(except as provided
in
the proviso thereto) of Section 5.02(e)), (B) the incurrence or issuance by
any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Debt (other than Debt incurred
or issued pursuant to Section 5.02(b)), (C) the issuance of any class of
equity (other than pursuant to a Permitted Disposition or the issuance of equity
compensation to the employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries including
stock option exercises and restricted stock issuance), (D) any capital
contribution and (E) any Extraordinary Receipt received by or paid to or for
the
account of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and not otherwise included
in clause (A), (B), (C) or (D) above, prepay an aggregate principal amount
of
the Advances comprising part of the same Borrowings and (if applicable pursuant
to Section 2.06(b)(vi) below) deposit an amount in the Collateral Account in
an
amount equal to 100% of the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds. Each such
prepayment shall be applied first
to the
Term Facility to reduce in direct order the next four scheduled amortization
payments thereunder immediately following the date of such prepayment unless
and
until such amortization payments have been eliminated as a result of such
reductions and, thereafter ratably to the remaining amortization installments
thereunder and second
to the
Revolving Credit Facility without reduction in the Revolving Credit Commitment
or the Letter of Credit Commitment as set forth below in clause (v) of this
Section 2.06(b).
(iii) The
Borrower shall, on each Business Day, prepay an aggregate principal amount
of
the Revolving Credit Advances comprising part of the same Borrowings, the L/C
Credit Extensions and the Swing Line Advances and (if applicable pursuant to
Section 2.06(b)(vi) below) deposit an amount in the Collateral Account in an
amount equal to the amount by which (A) the sum of the aggregate principal
amount of (x) the Revolving Credit Advances, (y) the L/C Credit Extensions
and
(z) the Swing Line Advances then outstanding plus
the
aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding exceeds
(B) the Revolving Credit Facility on such Business Day.
(iv) The
Borrower shall, on each Business Day, pay to the Administrative Agent for
deposit in the L/C Collateral Account an amount sufficient to cause the
aggregate amount on deposit in the L/C Collateral Account to equal the amount
by
which the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding
exceeds the Letter of Credit Facility on such Business Day.
(v) Prepayments
of the Revolving Credit Facility made pursuant to clause (i), (ii), or (iii)
above shall be made without reduction in the Revolving Credit Commitment or
the
Letter of Credit Commitment and shall be first
applied
to prepay L/C Credit Extensions then outstanding until such Advances are paid
in
full, second
applied
to prepay Swing Line Advances then outstanding until such Advances are paid
in
full, and third
applied
to prepay Revolving Credit Advances then outstanding comprising part of the
same
Borrowings until such Advances are paid in full and, in the case of prepayments
of the Revolving Credit Facility required pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above,
the amount remaining (if any) after the prepayment in full of the Advances
then
outstanding may be retained by the Borrower. Upon the drawing of any Letter
of
Credit for which funds are on deposit in the L/C Collateral Account, such funds
shall be applied to reimburse the Issuing Bank or Revolving Credit Lenders,
as
applicable.
(vi) All
prepayments under this subsection (b) shall be made together with accrued
interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid,
together with any amounts owing pursuant to Section 9.04(c). If any payment
of
Eurodollar Rate Advances otherwise required to be made under Section 2.06(b)
would be made on a day other than the last day of the applicable Interest Period
therefor, the Borrower may direct the Administrative Agent to (and if so
directed, the Administrative Agent shall) deposit such payment in the Collateral
Account until the last day of the applicable Interest Period at which time
the
Administrative Agent shall apply the amount of such payment to the prepayment
of
such Advances; provided,
however,
that
such Advances shall continue to bear interest as set forth in Section 2.07
until the last day of the applicable Interest Period therefor.
SECTION
2.07. Interest
.
(a) Scheduled
Interest.
The
Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance
owing
to each Lender from the date of such Advance until such principal amount shall
be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:
(i) Base
Rate Advances.
During
such periods as such Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal
at
all times to the sum of (A) the Base Rate in effect from time to time
plus
(B) the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time, payable in
arrears quarterly on the last day of each April, July, October and January
during such periods and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted
or
paid in full.
(ii) Eurodollar
Rate Advances.
During
such periods as such Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum
equal at all times during each Interest Period for such Advance to the sum
of
(A) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period for such Advance
plus
(B) the Applicable Percentage in effect on the first day of such Interest
Period, payable in arrears on the last day of such Interest Period and, if
such
Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that
occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day of
such
Interest Period and on the date such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be Converted
or paid in full.
(b) Default
Interest.
Upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default under Section 6.01(a)
or
6.01(f) or an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the
request of the Required Lenders shall, require that the Borrower pay interest
(“Default
Interest”)
on (i)
the unpaid principal amount of each Advance owing to each Lender Party, payable
in arrears on the dates referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 2.07(a),
as
applicable, and on demand, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per
annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on such Advance pursuant
to
clause (i) or (ii) of Section 2.07(a), as applicable, and (ii) to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, the amount of any interest, fee or other
amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to any Agent
or
any Lender Party that is not paid when due, from the date such amount shall
be
due until such amount shall be paid in full, payable in arrears on the date
such
amount shall be paid in full and on demand, at a rate per annum equal at all
times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid, in the
case
of interest, on the Type of Advance on which such interest has accrued pursuant
to clause (i) or (ii) of Section 2.07(a), as applicable, and, in all other
cases, on Base Rate Advances pursuant to clause (i) of Section 2.07(a);
provided,
however,
that
(x) following the acceleration of the Advances, or the giving of notice by
the
Agent to accelerate the Advances, pursuant to Section 6.01, Default Interest
shall accrue and be payable hereunder whether or not previously required by
the
Administrative Agent and (y) at any time after the payment of Default Interest
has been required, the Required Lenders may, if they so determine, rescind
the
accrual or payment of any or all Default Interest.
(c) Notice
of Interest Period and Interest Rate.
Promptly after receipt of a Notice of Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.02(a),
a
notice of Conversion pursuant to Section 2.09 or a notice of selection of
an Interest Period pursuant to the terms of the definition of “Interest Period”,
the Administrative Agent shall give notice to the Borrower and each Appropriate
Lender of the applicable Interest Period and the applicable interest rate
determined by the Administrative Agent for purposes of clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii)
above.
SECTION
2.08. Fees.
(a) Commitment
Fee.
(i) The
Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving
Credit Lenders a commitment fee (the “Revolving
Credit Commitment Fee”),
from
and including the date hereof in the case of each Person that is a Lender as
of
the date hereof and from and including the effective date specified in the
Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case
of
each other Lender until the Termination Date in respect of the Revolving Credit
Commitment, payable in arrears, quarterly, as invoiced by the Administrative
Agent on or before the due date, on the last day of each April, July, October
and January, commencing July 31, 2006, and on the Termination Date in respect
of
the applicable Facility, at the Applicable Percentage in respect of Revolving
Credit Commitment Fee on the average daily Unused Revolving Credit Commitment
of
such Lender; provided,
however,
that (A)
outstanding Swing Line Advances shall not constitute usage of the Revolving
Credit Commitments for purposes of calculating the foregoing and (B) no
commitment fee shall accrue on any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender
so
long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender.
(ii)
The
Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Term
B-2
Lenders a commitment fee (the “Delayed
Draw Commitment Fee”),
from
and including the date hereof in the case of each Person that is a Lender as
of
the date hereof and from and including the effective date specified in the
Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Term B-2 Lender in
the
case of each other Lender until the termination or expiration of each Lender’s
Term B-2 Commitment, payable in arrears, quarterly, as invoiced by the
Administrative Agent on or before the due date, on the last day of each April,
July, October and January, commencing July 31, 2006, and on the date of
termination of such Lender’s Term B-2 Commitment, at the Applicable Percentage
in respect of Delayed Draw Commitment Fee on the unused Term B-2 Commitment
of
such Lender.
(b) Letter
of Credit Fees, Etc.
(i)
The
Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving
Credit Lender a commission, payable in arrears quarterly, as invoiced by the
Administrative Agent on or before the due date, on the last day of each April,
July, October and January, commencing July 31, 2006, and on the Termination
Date
in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, on such Lender’s Pro Rata
Share of the average daily aggregate Available Amount during such quarter of
all
Letters of Credit at the Applicable Percentage for Eurodollar Rate Advances
under the Revolving Credit Facility. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of a Default under Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(f) or an Event of
Default, the amount of commission payable by the Borrower under this clause
(b)(i) shall be increased by 2% per annum.
(ii) The
Borrower shall pay to the Issuing Bank, for its own account, such commissions,
issuance fees, fronting fees, transfer fees and other fees and charges in
connection with the issuance or administration of each Letter of Credit as
the
Borrower and the Issuing Bank shall agree, with the initial fronting fee to
be
0.125% per annum on the Available Amount of all Letters of Credit payable
quarterly, as invoiced by the Administrative Agent on or before the due date,
in
arrears on the last day of each April, July, October and January, commencing
July 31, 2006.
(c) Agents’
Fees.
The
Borrower shall pay to each Agent for its own account such fees pursuant to
the
Fee Letter.
SECTION
2.09. Conversion
of Advances.
(a) Optional.
The
Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Administrative Agent
not later than 11:00 A.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the third
Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and subject to the
provisions of Sections 2.07 and 2.10, Convert all or any portion of the
Advances of one Type comprising the same Borrowing into Advances of the other
Type; provided,
however,
that
this Section 2.09(a) shall not apply to Swing Line Advances; and provided
further that
except as provided in Section 2.10(a), any Conversion of Eurodollar Rate
Advances into Base Rate Advances shall be made only on the last day of an
Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advances, any Conversion of Base Rate
Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be in an amount not less than
the
minimum amount specified in Section 2.02(c), no Conversion of any Advances
shall result in more separate Borrowings than permitted under
Section 2.02(c) and each Conversion of Advances comprising part of the same
Borrowing under any Facility shall be made ratably among the Appropriate Lenders
in accordance with their Commitments under such Facility. Each such notice
of
Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify (i) the
date of such Conversion, (ii) the Advances to be Converted and
(iii) if such Conversion is into Eurodollar Rate Advances, the duration of
the initial Interest Period for such Advances. Each notice of Conversion shall
be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.
(b) Mandatory.
(i)
On the
date on which the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Eurodollar Rate Advances
comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by payment or prepayment or
otherwise, to less than $5,000,000, such Advances shall automatically Convert
into Base Rate Advances.
(ii) If
the
Borrower shall fail to select the duration of any Interest Period for any
Eurodollar Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the
definition of “Interest Period” in Section 1.01, the Administrative Agent
will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Appropriate Lenders, whereupon
each such Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the
then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate
Advance.
(iii) Upon
the
occurrence and during the continuance of any Default, (A) each Eurodollar
Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest
Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance and (B) the obligation of
the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances
shall
be suspended, unless in any such case the Required Lenders shall otherwise
agree.
SECTION
2.10. Increased
Costs, Etc.
(a)
If, due
to either (i) the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation
of any law or regulation 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), there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender
Party of agreeing to make or of making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate
Advances or of agreeing to issue or of issuing or maintaining or participating
in Letters of Credit or of agreeing to make or of making or maintaining L/C
Credit Extensions (excluding, for purposes of this Section 2.10, any such
increased costs resulting from (x) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which
Section 2.12 shall govern) and (y) changes in the basis of taxation of
overall net income or overall gross income by the United States or by the
foreign jurisdiction or state under the laws of which such Lender Party is
organized or has its Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision
thereof), then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender
Party (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender Party additional amounts
sufficient to compensate such Lender Party for such increased
cost; provided,
however,
that a
Lender Party claiming additional amounts under this Section 2.10(a) agrees
to
use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and
regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Applicable Lending Office
if
the making of such a designation would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount
of, such increased cost that may thereafter accrue and would not, in the
reasonable judgment of such Lender Party, be otherwise disadvantageous to such
Lender Party. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted
to the Borrower by such Lender Party, shall be conclusive and binding for all
purposes, absent manifest error. Upon receipt of notice from a Lender Party
claiming compensation pursuant to this Section 2.10(a) and so long as no Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower, in addition
to
its rights under Section 2.10(e), shall have the right, on or before the 30th
day after receipt of such notice, to Convert each Eurodollar Rate Advance under
which such Lender has a Commitment into a Base Rate Advance, subject to payment
in full of (i) all amounts necessary to compensate such Lender for such
increased costs and (ii) any amounts owing pursuant to Section 9.04(c) as a
result of such conversion.
(b) If,
due
to either (i) the introduction or effectiveness of or any change in or in
the interpretation of any law or regulation 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), there shall be any increase in the
amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by any Lender Party
or
any corporation controlling such Lender Party as a result of or based upon
the
existence of such Lender Party’s commitment to lend or to issue or participate
in Letters of Credit hereunder and other commitments of such type or the
issuance or maintenance of or participation in the Letters of Credit (or similar
guaranteed Debts), then, upon demand by such Lender Party or such corporation
(with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall
pay
to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender Party, from time
to
time as specified by such Lender Party, additional amounts sufficient to
compensate such Lender Party in the light of such circumstances, to the extent
that such Lender Party reasonably determines such increase in capital to be
allocable to the existence of such Lender Party’s commitment to lend or to issue
or participate in Letters of Credit hereunder or to the issuance or maintenance
of or participation in any Letters of Credit. A certificate as to such amounts
submitted to the Borrower by such Lender Party shall be conclusive and binding
for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(c) If
(i)
the Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine (which determination shall
be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that, by reason of
circumstances affecting the relevant market, reasonable and adequate means
do
not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period or (ii)
the Required Lenders shall reasonably determine (which determination shall
be
conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Eurodollar Rate does
not
adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding or maintaining
the Eurodollar Rate Advances for any Interest Period that the Borrower has
requested be outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith so notify
the
Borrower and the Appropriate Lenders. Unless the Borrower shall have notified
the Administrative Agent upon receipt of such notice that it wishes to rescind
or modify its request regarding such Eurodollar Rate Advances, (x) each
such Eurodollar Rate Advance that was requested to be Converted into or
continued as a Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day
of
the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance
and
(y) the obligation of the Appropriate Lenders to make, or to Convert
Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower that such Lenders have determined
that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.
(d) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, if the introduction or effectiveness
of
or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation shall make
it
unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority shall assert
that
it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform
its
obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to continue to fund
or
maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder, then, on notice thereof and demand
therefor by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent,
(i) each Eurodollar Rate Advance under each Facility under which such
Lender has a Commitment will automatically, upon such demand, Convert into
a
Base Rate Advance and (ii) the obligation of the Appropriate Lenders to
make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended
until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower that such Lender has
determined that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist;
provided,
however,
that,
before making any such demand, such Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts
(consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions)
to
designate a different Eurodollar Lending Office if the making of such a
designation would allow such Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to continue
to perform its obligations to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to continue
to
fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances and would not, in the judgment of
such
Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.
(e) In
the
event that any Lender Party demands payment of costs or additional amounts
pursuant to Section 2.10 or Section 2.12 or asserts, pursuant to Section
2.10(d), that it is unlawful for such Lender Party to make Eurodollar Rate
Advances or becomes a Defaulting Lender then (subject to such Lender Party’s
right to rescind such demand or assertion within 10 days after the notice from
the Borrower referred to below) the Borrower may, so long as no Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing and so long as such costs or additional amounts
are materially more than those charged by other Lenders, upon 20 days’ prior
written notice to such Lender Party and the Administrative Agent, elect to
cause
such Lender Party to assign its Advances and Commitments in full to one or
more
Persons selected by the Borrower so long as (a) each such Person satisfies
the
criteria of an Eligible Assignee and is reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent, (b) such Lender Party receives payment in full of the
outstanding principal amount of all Advances made by it and all accrued and
unpaid interest thereon and all other amounts due and payable to such Lender
Party as of the date of such assignment (including, without limitation, amounts
owing pursuant to Section 2.10, 2.12, 2.15 and 9.04) and (c) each such Lender
Party assignee agrees to accept such assignment and to assume all obligations
of
such Lender Party hereunder in accordance with Section 9.07.
SECTION
2.11. Payments
and Computations.
(a)
The
Borrower shall make each payment hereunder and under the other Loan Documents,
irrespective of any right of counterclaim or set-off (except as otherwise
provided in Section 2.15), not later than 11:00 A.M. (Charlotte, North
Carolina time) on the day when due in U.S. dollars to the Administrative Agent
at the Administrative Agent’s Account in same day funds, with payments being
received by the Administrative Agent after such time being deemed to have been
received on the next succeeding Business Day. The Administrative Agent will
promptly thereafter cause like funds to be distributed (i) if such payment
by the Borrower is in respect of principal, interest, commitment fees or any
other Obligation then payable hereunder and under the other Loan Documents
to
more than one Lender Party, to such Lender Parties for the account of their
respective Applicable Lending Offices ratably in accordance with the amounts
of
such respective Obligations then payable to such Lender Parties and (ii) if
such payment by the Borrower is in respect of any Obligation then payable
hereunder to one Lender Party, to such Lender Party for the account of its
Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement. Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Acceptance
and
recording of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to
Section 9.07(d), from and after the effective date of such Assignment and
Acceptance, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments hereunder and
under
the other Loan Documents in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the
Lender Party assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and
Acceptance shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods
prior to such effective date directly between themselves.
(b) The
Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender Party and each of its Affiliates, if
and
to the extent payment owed to such Lender Party is not made when due hereunder
or under the other Loan Documents to charge from time to time, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, against any or all of the Borrower’s accounts with such
Lender Party or such Affiliate any amount so due.
(c) All
computations of interest based on the Base Rate shall be made by the
Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case
may
be, and all computations of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate or the Federal
Funds Rate and of fees and Letter of Credit commissions shall be made by the
Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days, in each case for the
actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day)
occurring in the period for which such interest, fees or commissions are
payable. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate,
fee
or commission hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error.
(d) Whenever
any payment hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall be stated to
be
due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next
succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be
included in the computation of payment of interest or commitment or letter
of
credit fee or commission, as the case may be; provided,
however,
that, if
such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar
Rate Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment
shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.
(e) Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior
to
the date on which any payment is due to any Lender Party hereunder that the
Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent may assume
that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent
on
such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption,
cause to be distributed to each such Lender Party on such due date an amount
equal to the amount then due such Lender Party. If and to the extent the
Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Administrative
Agent, each such Lender Party shall repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith
on demand such amount distributed to such Lender Party together with interest
thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender
Party until the date such Lender Party repays such amount to the Administrative
Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.
(f) Whenever
any payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any
of
the other Loan Documents or any Secured Hedge Agreement is insufficient to
pay
in full all amounts due and payable to the Agents, the Lender Parties and the
Hedge Banks under or in respect of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents
and
the Secured Hedge Agreement on any date, such payment shall be distributed
by
the Administrative Agent and applied by the Agents and the Lender Parties in
the
following order of priority:
(i) first,
to the
payment of all of the fees, indemnification payments, costs and expenses that
are due and payable to the Agents (solely in their respective capacities as
Agents) under or in respect of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
on
such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such
fees,
indemnification payments, costs and expenses owing to the Agents on such
date;
(ii) second,
to the
payment of all of the fees, indemnification payments, costs and expenses that
are due and payable to the Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Bank (solely in
their
respective capacities as such) under or in respect of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate
amounts of all such fees, indemnification payments, costs and expenses owing
to
the Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Bank on such date;
(iii) third,
to the
payment of all of the indemnification payments, costs and expenses that are
due
and payable to the Lenders under Sections 9.04 hereof, Section 14 of the Pledge
Agreement and any similar section of any of the other Loan Documents on such
date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such
indemnification payments, costs and expenses owing to the Lenders on such
date;
(iv) fourth,
to the
payment of all of the amounts that are due and payable to the Administrative
Agent and the Lender Parties under Sections 2.10 and 2.12 hereof on such date,
ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts thereof owing to the
Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties on such date;
(v) fifth,
to the
payment of all of the fees that are due and payable to the Lenders under Section
2.08(a) on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate Commitments
of
the Lenders under the Facilities on such date;
(vi) sixth,
to the
payment of all of the accrued and unpaid interest on the Obligations of the
Borrower under or in respect of the Loan Documents that is due and payable
to
the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties under Section 2.07(b) on such
date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such interest
owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties on such
date;
(vii) seventh,
to the
payment of all of the accrued and unpaid interest on the Advances that is due
and payable to the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties under Section
2.07(a) on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of
all
such interest owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties on such
date;
(viii) eighth,
ratably
to (A) the payment of the principal amount of all of the outstanding Advances
that is due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties
on
such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such
principal owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties on such
date
and (B) the payment of all amounts due and payable under each Secured Hedge
Agreement ratably; and
(ix) ninth,
to the
payment of all other Obligations of the Loan Parties owing under or in respect
of the Loan Documents that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent
and
the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective
aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent
and
the other Secured Parties on such date.
If
the
Administrative Agent receives funds for application to the Obligations of the
Loan Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents under circumstances
for
which the Loan Documents do not specify the Advances or the Facility to which,
or the manner in which, such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent
may, but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each
of
the Lender Parties in accordance with such Lender Party’s Pro Rata Share of the
sum of (A) the aggregate principal amount of all Advances outstanding at such
time and (B) the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding
at such time, in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Advances
or
other Obligations then owing to such Lender Party, and, in the case of the
Term
Facility, for application to such principal repayment installments thereof,
as
the Administrative Agent shall direct.
SECTION
2.12. Taxes.
(a)
Any and
all payments by any Loan Party to or for the account of any Lender Party or
any
Agent hereunder or under any Loan Document shall be made, in accordance with
Section 2.11 or the applicable provisions of such other Loan Document, if
any, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future
taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges, assessments, fees or
withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding,
in the
case of each Lender Party and each Agent, taxes that are imposed on its overall
net income by the United States and taxes that are imposed on or measured by
its
overall net income (and franchise taxes or similar taxes imposed in lieu thereof
including those imposed by Sections 67-4-2001 through 2121 of the Tennessee
Code
Annotated) by the state or foreign jurisdiction under the laws of which such
Lender Party or such Agent, as the case may be, is organized or any political
subdivision thereof and, in the case of each Lender Party, taxes that are
imposed on its overall net income (and franchise taxes imposed in lieu thereof)
by the state or foreign jurisdiction of such Lender Party’s Applicable Lending
Office or any political subdivision thereof (all such non-excluded taxes,
levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities in respect
of
payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document being hereinafter referred
to as “Taxes”).
If
any Loan Party shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect
of any sum payable hereunder or under Loan Document to any Lender Party or
any
Agent, (i) the sum payable by such Loan Party shall be increased as may be
necessary so that after such Loan Party and the Administrative Agent have made
all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums
payable under this Section 2.12) such Lender Party or such Agent, as the
case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had
no
such deductions been made, (ii) such Loan Party shall make all such
deductions and (iii) such Loan Party shall pay the full amount deducted to
the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable
law.
(b) In
addition, each Loan Party shall pay any present or future stamp, documentary,
excise, property, intangible, mortgage recording or similar taxes, charges
or
levies that arise from any payment made by such Loan Party hereunder or under
any Loan Documents or from the execution, delivery or registration of,
performance under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents (hereinafter referred to as “Other
Taxes”).
(c) The
Loan
Parties shall indemnify each Lender Party and each Agent for and hold them
harmless against the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes, and for the full
amount of taxes of any kind imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts
payable under this Section 2.12, imposed on or paid by such Lender Party or
such Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties,
additions to tax, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect
thereto. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date such
Lender Party or such Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand
therefor.
(d) Within
30
days after the date of any payment of Taxes, the appropriate Loan Party shall
furnish to the Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in
Section 9.02, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing such
payment, to the extent such a receipt is issued therefor, or other written
proof
of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
In the case of any payment hereunder or under the Loan Documents by or on behalf
of a Loan Party through an account or branch outside the United States or by
or
on behalf of a Loan Party by a payor that is not a United States person, if
such
Loan Party determines that no Taxes are payable in respect thereof, such Loan
Party shall furnish, or shall cause such payor to furnish, to the Administrative
Agent, at such address, an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Administrative
Agent stating that such payment is exempt from Taxes. For purposes of
subsections (d) and (e) of this Section 2.12, the terms “United
States”
and
“United
States person”
shall
have the meanings specified in Section 7701 of the Internal Revenue
Code.
(e) Each
Lender Party organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United
States shall, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this
Agreement in the case of each Person that is a Lender Party as of the date
hereof and on the date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it
becomes a Lender Party in the case of each other Lender Party, and from time
to
time thereafter as reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower (but only
so
long thereafter as such Lender Party remains lawfully able to do so), provide
each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with two original Internal
Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN or W-8EC1 or (in the case of a Lender Party
that has certified in writing to the Administrative Agent that it is not (i)
a
“bank” as defined in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code), (ii) a
10-percent shareholder (within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the
Internal Revenue Code) of any Loan Party or (iii) a controlled foreign
corporation related to any Loan Party (within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4)
of the Internal Revenue Code), Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, as
appropriate, or any successor or other form prescribed by the Internal Revenue
Service, certifying that such Lender Party is exempt from or entitled to a
reduced rate of United States withholding tax on payments pursuant to this
Agreement or any Loan Document or, in the case of a Lender Party that has
certified that it is not a “bank” as described above, certifying that such
Lender Party is a foreign corporation, partnership, estate or trust. If the
forms provided by a Lender Party at the time such Lender Party first becomes
a
party to this Agreement indicate a United States interest withholding tax rate
in excess of zero, withholding tax at such rate shall be considered excluded
from Taxes unless and until such Lender Party provides the appropriate forms
certifying that a lesser rate applies, whereupon withholding tax at such lesser
rate only shall be considered excluded from Taxes for periods governed by such
forms; provided,
however,
that
if, at the effective date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which
a
Lender Party becomes a party to this Agreement, the Lender Party assignor was
entitled to payments under subsection (a) of this Section 2.12 in
respect of United States withholding tax with respect to interest paid at such
date, then, to such extent, the term Taxes shall include (in addition to
withholding taxes that may be imposed in the future or other amounts otherwise
includable in Taxes) United States withholding tax, if any, applicable with
respect to the Lender Party assignee on such date. If any form or document
referred to in this subsection (e) requires the disclosure of information,
other than information necessary to compute the tax payable and information
required on the date hereof by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or
W-8EC1 or the related certificate described above, that the applicable Lender
Party reasonably considers to be confidential, such Lender Party shall give
notice thereof to the Borrower and shall not be obligated to include in such
form or document such confidential information.
(f) For
any
period with respect to which a Lender Party has failed to provide the Borrower
with the appropriate form, certificate or other document described in
subsection (e) above (other
than
if such
failure is due to a change in law, or in the interpretation or application
thereof, occurring after the date on which a form, certificate or other document
originally was required to be provided or if such form, certificate or other
document otherwise is not required under subsection (e) above), such Lender
Party shall not be entitled to indemnification under subsection (a) or (c)
of this Section 2.12 with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States by
reason of such failure; provided,
however,
that
should a Lender Party become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver
a form, certificate or other document required hereunder, the Loan Parties
shall
take such steps as such Lender Party shall reasonably request to assist such
Lender Party to recover such Taxes.
(g) Any
Lender Party claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this
Section 2.12 agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal
policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of
its
Applicable Lending Office if the making of such a change would avoid the need
for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts that may thereafter
accrue and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender Party, be
otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender Party.
SECTION
2.13. Sharing
of Payments, Etc.
If
any
Lender Party shall obtain at any time any payment (whether voluntary,
involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise, other
than as a result of an assignment pursuant to Section 9.07) (a) on
account of Obligations due and payable to such Lender Party hereunder and under
the Notes and the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable
share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations
due and payable to such Lender Party at such time to (ii) the aggregate
amount of the Obligations due and payable to all Lender Parties hereunder and
under the Notes and the other Loan Documents at such time) of payments on
account of the Obligations due and payable to all Lender Parties hereunder
and
under the Notes at such time obtained by all the Lender Parties at such time
or
(b) on account of Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to such
Lender Party hereunder and under the Notes and the other Loan Documents at
such
time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the
amount of such Obligations owing to such Lender Party at such time to
(ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations owing (but not due and
payable) to all Lender Parties hereunder and under the Notes and the other
Loan
Documents at such time) of payments on account of the Obligations owing (but
not
due and payable) to all Lender Parties hereunder and under the Notes at such
time obtained by all of the Lender Parties at such time, such Lender Party
shall
forthwith purchase from the other Lender Parties such interests or participating
interests in the Obligations due and payable or owing to them, as the case
may
be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender Party to share the
excess payment ratably with each of them; provided,
however,
that if
all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such
purchasing Lender Party, such purchase from each other Lender Party shall be
rescinded and such other Lender Party shall repay to the purchasing Lender
Party
the purchase price to the extent of such Lender Party’s ratable share (according
to the proportion of (i) the purchase price paid to such Lender Party to
(ii) the aggregate purchase price paid to all Lender Parties) of such
recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender Party’s ratable share
(according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such other Lender Party’s
required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the
purchasing Lender Party) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by
the
purchasing Lender Party in respect of the total amount so recovered;
provided
further
that, so
long as the Obligations under the Loan Documents shall not have been
accelerated, any excess payment received by any Appropriate Lender shall be
shared on a pro rata basis only with other Appropriate Lenders. The Borrower
agrees that any Lender Party so purchasing an interest or participating interest
from another Lender Party pursuant to this Section 2.13 may, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the
right
of set-off) with respect to such interest or participating interest, as the
case
may be, as fully as if such Lender Party were the direct creditor of the
Borrower in the amount of such interest or participating interest, as the case
may be.
SECTION
2.14. Use
of
Proceeds.
With
respect to the proceeds of the Term B-1 Advances, at least $700 million of
such
proceeds shall be used to finance the Repurchase and the Refinancing, and to
pay
fees, expenses, and costs related thereto on the date of the Initial Extension
of Credit, and the balance of such proceeds shall be used from time to time
on
and after such date to purchase additional shares of the Borrower’s outstanding
common stock. The proceeds of the Term B-2 Advances shall be used to refinance
the Convertible Notes and for other general corporate purposes. The proceeds
of
the Revolving Credit Advances and the Swing Line Advances and the issuance
of
the Letters of Credit shall be used for the account of the Borrower to provide
working capital for and for other general corporate purposes of the Borrower
and
its Subsidiaries (other than to finance any portion of the Repurchase or the
Refinancing).
SECTION
2.15. Defaulting
Lenders.
(a) In
the event that, at any one time, (i) any Lender Party shall be a Defaulting
Lender, (ii) such Defaulting Lender shall owe a Defaulted Advance to the
Borrower and (iii) the Borrower shall be required to make any payment hereunder
or under any other Loan Document to or for the account of such Defaulting
Lender, then the Borrower may, so long as no Default shall occur or be
continuing at such time and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
set off and otherwise apply the Obligation of the Borrower to make such payment
to or for the account of such Defaulting Lender against the Obligation of such
Defaulting Lender to make such Defaulted Advance. In the event that, on any
date, the Borrower shall so set off and otherwise apply its obligation to make
any such payment against the obligation of such Defaulting Lender to make any
such Defaulted Advance on or prior to such date, the amount so set off and
otherwise applied by the Borrower shall constitute for all purposes of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents an Advance by such Defaulting Lender
made
on the date of such setoff under the Facility pursuant to which such Defaulted
Advance was originally required to have been made pursuant to Section 2.01.
Such
Advance shall be considered, for all purposes of this Agreement, to comprise
part of the Borrowing in connection with which such Defaulted Advance was
originally required to have been made pursuant to Section 2.01, even if the
other Advances comprising such Borrowing shall be Eurodollar Rate Advances
on
the date such Advance is deemed to be made pursuant to this subsection (a).
The
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent at any time the Borrower
exercises its right of set-off pursuant to this subsection (a) and shall set
forth in such notice (A) the name of the Defaulting Lender and the Defaulted
Advance required to be made by such Defaulting Lender and (B) the amount set
off
and otherwise applied in respect of such Defaulted Advance pursuant to this
subsection (a). Any portion of such payment otherwise required to be made by
the
Borrower to or for the account of such Defaulting Lender which is paid by the
Borrower, after giving effect to the amount set off and otherwise applied by
the
Borrower pursuant to this subsection (a), shall be applied by the Administrative
Agent as specified in subsection (b) or (c) of this Section 2.15.
(b) In
the
event that, at any one time, (i) any Lender Party shall be a Defaulting Lender,
(ii) such Defaulting Lender shall owe a Defaulted Amount to any Agent or any
of
the other Lender Parties and (iii) the Borrower shall make any payment
hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for
the
account of such Defaulting Lender, then the Administrative Agent may, on its
behalf or on behalf of such other Agents or such other Lender Parties and to
the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, apply at such time the amount so
paid by the Borrower to or for the account of such Defaulting Lender to the
payment of each such Defaulted Amount to the extent required to pay such
Defaulted Amount. In the event that the Administrative Agent shall so apply
any
such amount to the payment of any such Defaulted Amount on any date, the amount
so applied by the Administrative Agent shall constitute for all purposes of
this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents payment, to such extent, of such
Defaulted Amount on such date. Any such amount so applied by the Administrative
Agent shall be retained by the Administrative Agent or distributed by the
Administrative Agent to such other Agents or such other Lender Parties, ratably
in accordance with the respective portions of such Defaulted Amounts payable
at
such time to the Administrative Agent, such other Agents and such other Lender
Parties and, if the amount of such payment made by the Borrower shall at such
time be insufficient to pay all Defaulted Amounts owing at such time to the
Administrative Agent, such other Agents and such other Lender Parties, in the
following order of priority:
(i) first,
to the
Agents for any Defaulted Amounts then owing to them, in their capacities as
such, ratably in accordance with such respective Defaulted Amounts then owing
to
the Agents;
(ii) second,
to the
Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Bank for any Defaulted Amounts then owing to
them, in their capacities as such, ratably in accordance with such respective
Defaulted Amounts then owing to the Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Bank;
and
(iii) third,
to any
other Lender Parties for any Defaulted Amounts then owing to such other Lender
Parties, ratably in accordance with such respective Defaulted Amounts then
owing
to such other Lender Parties.
Any
portion of such amount paid by the Borrower for the account of such Defaulting
Lender remaining, after giving effect to the amount applied by the
Administrative Agent pursuant to this subsection (b), shall be applied by
the Administrative Agent as specified in subsection (c) of this
Section 2.15.
(c) In
the
event that, at any one time, (i) any Lender Party shall be a Defaulting
Lender, (ii) such Defaulting Lender shall not owe a Defaulted Advance or a
Defaulted Amount and (iii) the Borrower, any Agent or any other Lender
Party shall be required to pay or distribute any amount hereunder or under
any
other Loan Document to or for the account of such Defaulting Lender, then the
Borrower or such Agent or such other Lender Party shall pay such amount to
the
Administrative Agent to be held by the Administrative Agent, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, in escrow or the Administrative Agent shall,
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, hold in escrow such amount
otherwise held by it. Any funds held by the Administrative Agent in escrow
under
this subsection (c) shall be deposited by the Administrative Agent in an
account with a bank (the “Escrow
Bank”)
selected by the Administrative Agent, in the name and under the control of
the
Administrative Agent, but subject to the provisions of this subsection (c).
The terms applicable to such account, including the rate of interest payable
with respect to the credit balance of such account from time to time, shall
be
the Escrow Bank’s standard terms applicable to escrow accounts maintained with
it. Any interest credited to such account from time to time shall be held by
the
Administrative Agent in escrow under, and applied by the Administrative Agent
from time to time in accordance with the provisions of, this
subsection (c). The Administrative Agent shall, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, apply all funds so held in escrow from time to
time
to the extent necessary to make any Advances required to be made by such
Defaulting Lender and to pay any amount payable by such Defaulting Lender
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents to the Administrative Agent or
any
other Lender Party, as and when such Advances or amounts are required to be
made
or paid and, if the amount so held in escrow shall at any time be insufficient
to make and pay all such Advances and amounts required to be made or paid at
such time, in the following order of priority:
(i) first,
to the
Agents for any amounts then due and payable by such Defaulting Lender to them
hereunder, in their capacities as such, ratably in accordance with such
respective amounts then due and payable to the Agents;
(ii) second,
to the
Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Bank for any Defaulted Amounts then owing to
them, in their capacities as such, ratably in accordance with such respective
Defaulted Amounts then owing to the Issuing Bank and the Swing Line
Bank;
(iii) third,
to
any
other Lender Parties for any amount then due and payable by such Defaulting
Lender to such other Lender Parties hereunder, ratably in accordance with such
respective amounts then due and payable to such other Lender Parties;
and
(iv) fourth,
to the
Borrower for any Advance then required to be made by such Defaulting Lender
pursuant to a Commitment of such Defaulting Lender.
In
the
event that any Lender Party that is a Defaulting Lender shall, at any time,
cease to be a Defaulting Lender, any funds held by the Administrative Agent
in
escrow at such time with respect to such Lender Party shall be distributed
by
the Administrative Agent to such Lender Party and applied by such Lender Party
to the Obligations owing to such Lender Party at such time under this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents ratably in accordance with the respective amounts
of such Obligations outstanding at such time.
(d) The
rights and remedies against a Defaulting Lender under this Section 2.15 are
in addition to other rights and remedies that the Borrower may have against
such
Defaulting Lender with respect to any Defaulted Advance and that any Agent
or
any Lender Party may have against such Defaulting Lender with respect to any
Defaulted Amount.
SECTION
2.16. Evidence
of Debt.
(a)
Each
Lender Party shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account
or
accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting
from each Advance owing to such Lender Party from time to time, including the
amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time
to
time hereunder. The Borrower agrees that upon written notice by any Lender
Party
to the Borrower (with a copy of such notice to the Administrative Agent) to
the
effect that a promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness is required
or
appropriate in order for such Lender Party to evidence (whether for purposes
of
pledge, enforcement or otherwise) the Advances owing to, or to be made by,
such
Lender Party, the Borrower shall promptly execute and deliver to such Lender
Party, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, a Revolving Credit Note and
a
Term Note, as applicable, in substantially the form of Exhibits A-1 and A-2
hereto, respectively, payable to the order of such Lender Party in a principal
amount equal to the Revolving Credit Commitment and the Term Commitment,
respectively, of such Lender Party. All references to Notes in the Loan
Documents shall mean Notes, if any, to the extent issued hereunder.
(b) The
Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.07(d)
shall include a control account, and a subsidiary account for each Lender Party,
in which accounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the date and
amount of each Borrowing made hereunder, the Type of Advances comprising such
Borrowing and, if appropriate, the Interest Period applicable thereto,
(ii) the terms of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted
by it, (iii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to
become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender Party hereunder, and
(iv) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent from the
Borrower hereunder and each Lender Party’s share thereof.
(c) Entries
made in good faith by the Administrative Agent in the Register pursuant to
subsection (b) above, and by each Lender Party in its account or accounts
pursuant to subsection (a) above, shall be prima
facie
evidence
of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and
payable from the Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each Lender Party
and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender Party, under this
Agreement, absent manifest error; provided,
however,
that
the failure of the Administrative Agent or such Lender Party to make an entry,
or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account
or
accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower
under this Agreement.
SECTION
2.17. Replacement
of Lenders.
If any
Lender (a) shall become affected by any of the changes or events described
in
Sections 2.10 or 2.12 and shall request that the Borrower pay for any increased
cost or amounts thereunder, (b) is a Defaulting Lender or (c) has failed to
consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination which pursuant
to the terms of Section 9.01 or any other provision of any Loan Document
requires the consent of all affected Lenders and with respect to which the
Required Lenders shall have granted their consent (any such Lender being
hereinafter referred to as a “Replaced
Lender”),
then
in such case, the Borrower may, upon at least five (5) Business Days’ notice to
the Administrative Agent and such Replaced Lender (or such shorter notice period
specified by the Administrative Agent), designate a replacement lender (a
“Replacement
Lender”)
acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, to which
such Replaced Lender shall, subject to its receipt (unless a later date for
the
remittance thereof shall be agreed upon by the Borrower and the Replaced Lender)
of all amounts owed to such Replaced Lender under Sections 2.10 and 2.12 assign
all (but not less than all) of its rights, obligations, Advances and Commitments
hereunder; provided,
that
all amounts owed to such Replaced Lender by the Borrower (except liabilities
which by the terms hereof survive the payment in full of the Advances and
termination of this Agreement) shall be paid in full as of the date of such
assignment. Upon any assignment by any Lender pursuant to this Section 2.17
becoming effective, the Replacement Lender shall thereupon be deemed to be
a
“Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement (unless such Replacement Lender was,
itself, a Lender prior thereto) and such Replaced Lender shall thereupon cease
to be a “Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement and shall have no further
rights or obligations hereunder (other than pursuant to Section 2.10 or 2.12
and
Section 9.04 while such Replaced Lender was a Lender). Notwithstanding any
Replaced Lender’s failure or refusal to assign its rights, obligations, Advances
and Commitments under this Section 2.17, the Replaced Lender shall cease to
be a
“Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement and the Replacement Lender shall be
substituted therefor upon payment to the Replaced Lender by the Replacement
Lender of all amounts set forth in this Section 2.17 without any further action
of the Replaced Lender.
ARTICLE
III
CONDITIONS
OF LENDING AND
ISSUANCES
OF LETTERS OF CREDIT
SECTION
3.01. Conditions
Precedent to Effectiveness.
The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions precedent on and as of the first date (the “Effective
Date”)
on
which such conditions precedent have been satisfied:
(a) The
Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall have received on or before the
day
of the Initial Extension of Credit the following, each dated such day (unless
otherwise specified), in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent and the Arranger (unless otherwise specified) and (except for the Notes)
in sufficient copies for each Lender Party:
(i) a
counterpart to this agreement duly executed by a Responsible Officer of each
Loan Party.
(ii) The
Notes
payable to the order of the Lenders to the extent requested by the Lenders
pursuant to the terms of Section 2.16.
(iii) A
pledge
agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto (together with each
other Pledge Agreement and pledge agreement supplement delivered pursuant to
Section 5.01(j) or otherwise, in each case as amended, the “Pledge
Agreement”),
duly
executed by each Loan Party, together with:
(A) certificates
representing the Pledged Shares referred to therein accompanied by undated
stock
powers executed in blank and instruments evidencing the Pledged Debt indorsed
in
blank,
(B) proper
financing statements in form appropriate for filing under the Uniform Commercial
Code of all jurisdictions (other than the State of Tennessee) that the
Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect and
protect the first priority Liens created under the Pledge Agreement, covering
the Collateral described in the Pledge Agreement,
(C) completed
requests for information, dated on or before the date of the Initial Extension
of Credit, listing all effective financing statements filed in the jurisdictions
referred to in clause (B) above that name any of the Loan Parties as debtor,
together with copies of such other financing statements, all as satisfactory
to
the Administrative Agent,
(D) evidence
of the completion of all other recordings and filings of or with respect to
the
Pledge Agreement (or, as the Administrative Agent may determine, delivery to
the
Administrative Agent of satisfactory documentation with respect thereto) that
the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect
and
protect the Liens created thereunder,
(E) evidence
that all other action that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or
desirable in order to perfect and protect the first priority Liens created
under
the Pledge Agreement has been taken, and
(F) receipt
of duly executed payoff letters in respect of the Borrower’s revolving credit
facility existing immediately prior to the Initial Extension of
Credit.
(iv) Certified
copies of (A) the resolutions of the Board of Directors (or other governing
body) of each Loan Party approving the Transaction and each Transaction Document
to which it is or is to be a party as in full force and effect on, and without
amendment or modification as of, the Effective Date, and of all documents
evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental approvals and
(B)
other third party approvals and consents, if any, with respect to the
Transaction and each Transaction Document to which it is or is to be a
party.
(v) A
copy of
a certificate of the Secretary of State (or other appropriate officer) of the
jurisdiction of incorporation or formation of each Loan Party, dated reasonably
near the Effective Date, certifying (A) as to a true and correct copy of
the charter or certificate of formation, and each amendment thereto, of such
Loan Party and each amendment thereto on file in such Secretary’s office and (B)
that (1) such Loan Party has paid all franchise taxes to the date of such
certificate and (2) such Loan Party is duly incorporated or formed and in
good standing or presently subsisting under the laws of the State of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation.
(vi) A
certificate of each Loan Party, signed on behalf of such Loan Party by a
Responsible Officer and its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, dated the
Effective Date (the statements made in which certificate shall be true on and
as
of the date of the Effective Date), certifying as to (A) the absence of any
amendments to the charter or other organizational documents of such Loan Party
since the date of the certificate referred to in Section 3.01(a)(v),
(B) a true and correct copy of the bylaws, limited partnership agreement or
limited liability operating agreement, as applicable, of such Loan Party as
in
effect on the date on which the resolutions referred to in
Section 3.01(a)(iv) were adopted and on the date of the Initial Extension
of Credit, (C) the due incorporation or formation and good standing or
valid existence of such Loan Party as a corporation, limited partnership or
limited liability company, as the case may be, organized under the laws of
the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, and the absence of any
proceeding for the dissolution or liquidation of such Loan Party, (D) the
truth of the representations and warranties contained in the Loan Documents
as
though made on and as of the Effective Date and (E) the absence of any
event occurring and continuing, or resulting from the Initial Extension of
Credit, that constitutes a Default.
(vii) A
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each Loan Party
certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of such Loan Party
authorized to sign each Loan Document to which it is or is to be a party and
the
other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder.
(viii) Certified
copies of each of the Tender Offer Documents (including all schedules and
exhibits thereto), duly executed by the parties thereto and in form and
substance satisfactory to the Lender Parties, together with all agreements,
instruments and other documents delivered in connection therewith as the
Arranger shall request.
(ix) A
certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit F hereto from Borrower’s chief
financial officer attesting to the Solvency of the Loan Parties, before and
after giving effect to the Transaction.
(x) Evidence
of the Loan Parties’ insurance coverage reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent, demonstrating that the Loan Parties’ existing
insurance coverage
remains in effect, and a broker’s letter reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent, dated on the Effective Date, to the effect that such
coverage is customary and reasonable when compared to the insurance coverage
purchased by similarly situated companies.
(xi) Copies
of
satisfactory audited and pro
forma consolidated
financial statements and forecasts for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
(xii) A
certificate from the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower certifying and
setting forth the following calculations in reasonable detail: after giving
pro
forma effect to the Initial Extension of Credit and the consummation of the
other elements of the Transaction, (A) the ratio of aggregate total funded
Debt
(including the Initial Extension of Credit ) of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date (“Total
Funded Debt”)
to
Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the four-quarter
period ended as of January 27, 2006 (calculated with adjustments reasonably
acceptable to the Arranger) shall not exceed 3.8:1.0 and (B) Total Funded Debt
(excluding Debt in respect of letters of credit) shall not exceed $1
billion.
(xiii) A
favorable opinion of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC,
counsel for the Loan Parties, in substantially the form of Exhibit G hereto
and as to such other matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
request.
(b) The
Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be satisfied that all Existing
Debt,
other than Surviving Debt, has been prepaid, redeemed or defeased in full or
otherwise satisfied and extinguished and all commitments, security interests
and
guaranties relating thereto terminated and that all Surviving Debt shall be
in
an amount and on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
and the Arranger.
(c) All
material Governmental Authorizations and all shareholder, board of director,
and
material third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the
Transaction and the continued operation of the business of the Loan Parties,
after giving effect to the Transaction shall have been obtained (without the
imposition of any conditions that are not acceptable to the Lender Parties)
and
shall remain in effect; all applicable waiting periods in connection with the
Transaction shall have expired without any action being taken by any competent
authority, and no law or regulation shall be applicable in the judgment of
the
Lender Parties, in each case that restrains, prevents or imposes materially
adverse conditions upon the Transaction or the rights of the Loan Parties or
their Subsidiaries freely to transfer or otherwise dispose of, or to create
any
Lien on, any properties now owned or hereafter acquired by any of
them.
(d) There
shall exist no action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding affecting
any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries pending or threatened before any
Governmental Authority that (i) could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect other than the matters described on
Schedule 4.01(f) hereto (the “Disclosed Litigation”), (ii) would
reasonably be expected to restrain, prevent, or impose materially adverse
conditions on the Transaction or any element thereof or (iii) purports to
affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document
or
the consummation of the Transaction, and there shall have been no adverse change
in the status, or financial effect on the Borrower, any other Loan Party or
any
of its Subsidiaries, of the Disclosed Litigation from that described on
Schedule 4.01(f) hereto.
(e) The
elements of the Transaction to be effected on or before the Effective Date
shall
have been consummated on terms and conditions consistent with those described
in
the Tender Offer Documents and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and in compliance with applicable law and regulatory
approvals, and each of the Administrative Agent shall be satisfied in all
reasonable respects with the terms and conditions of all material agreements
and
instruments relating to the Transaction and there shall not have been any
material modification, amendment, supplement or waiver to any material agreement
or instrument relating to the Transaction that could adversely affect the
Lenders in any material respect including, without limitation, any modification,
amendment, supplement or waiver relating to (i) the amount or type of
consideration to be paid in connection with the Transaction and all related
tax,
legal and accounting matters and (ii) the capitalization, structure and equity
ownership of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries after giving effect to the
Transaction
(f) The
Borrower shall have received public surveillance ratings from S&P and by
Moody’s at least 20 days prior to the Effective Date and the results of such
ratings shall have been provided to the Administrative Agent.
(g) There
shall have been no Material Adverse Change since July 29, 2005.
SECTION
3.02. Conditions
Precedent to Initial Extension of Credit.
The
obligation of each Lender to make an Advance or of the Issuing Bank to issue
a
Letter of Credit on the occasion of the Initial Extension of Credit hereunder
is
subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent before or
concurrently with the Initial Extension of Credit (and Article II of this
Agreement shall become effective on and as of the first date on which such
conditions precedent have been satisfied):
(a) The
Effective Date shall have occurred.
(b) The
Administrative Agent shall have received on or before the day of the Initial
Extension of Credit the following, each dated such day, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (unless otherwise
specified):
(i) A
Notice
of Borrowing or Notice of Issuance, as applicable, relating to the Initial
Extension of Credit.
(ii) A
certificate from the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Borrower certifying that all certifications made in the
certificates delivered pursuant to Section 3.01 shall remain true and correct,
and all conditions set forth in Section 3.01 shall remain satisfied, in each
case as of the day of the Initial Extension of Credit.
(iii) A
reliance letter of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC,
counsel for the Loan Parties, confirming the opinion delivered pursuant to
Section 3.01(a)(xiii) and as to such other matters as the Administrative Agent
may reasonably request.
(c) The
Borrower shall have paid all accrued fees of the Agents and the Lender Parties
and all accrued expenses of the Agents (including the accrued fees and expenses
of counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Arranger and local counsel to
the
Lender Parties).
(d) The
Administrative Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions or
documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
SECTION
3.03. Conditions
Precedent to Each Borrowing and Issuance and Renewal.
The
obligation of each Appropriate Lender to make an Advance (other than an L/C
Credit Extension made by the Issuing Bank or a Revolving Credit Lender pursuant
to Section 2.03(c) and a Swing Line Advance made by a Revolving Credit
Lender pursuant to Section 2.02(b)) on the occasion of each Borrowing (including
the Initial Extension of Credit ), and the obligation of the Issuing Bank to
issue a Letter of Credit (including the initial issuance) or renew a Letter
of
Credit and the right of the Borrower to request a Swing Line Borrowing, shall
be
subject to the further conditions precedent that on the date of such Borrowing
or issuance or renewal (a) the following statements shall be true (and each
of the giving of the applicable Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Swing Line
Borrowing or Notice of Issuance and the acceptance by the Borrower of the
proceeds of such Borrowing or of such Letter of Credit or the renewal of such
Letter of Credit shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower
that both on the date of such notice and on the date of such Borrowing or
issuance or renewal such statements are true):
(i) the
representations and warranties contained in each Loan Document are true and
correct in all material respects on and as of such date, before and after giving
effect to such Borrowing or issuance or renewal and to the application of the
proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date, other than any such
representations or warranties that, by their express terms, refer to a specific
date other than the date of such Borrowing or issuance or renewal, in which
case
as of such specific date; and
(ii) no
Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Borrowing
or
issuance or renewal or from the application of the proceeds therefrom;
and
(b) The
Administrative Agent shall have received the applicable Notice as described
in
paragraph (a) of this Section 3.03.
SECTION
3.04. Determinations
Under Section 3.01 and 3.02.
For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in
Section 3.01 and 3.02, each Lender Party shall be deemed to have consented
to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with each document or other matter
required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or
satisfactory to the Lender Parties unless an officer of the Administrative
Agent
responsible for the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents shall have
received notice from such Lender Party prior to the Initial Extension of Credit
specifying its objection thereto and, if the Initial Extension of Credit
consists of a Borrowing, such Lender Party shall not have made available to
the
Administrative Agent such Lender Party’s ratable portion of such
Borrowing.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
4.01. Representations
and Warranties of the Loan Parties.
Each Loan Party represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Each
Loan
Party and each of its Subsidiaries (i) is a corporation, limited
partnership or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and
in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, (ii) is
duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation, limited
partnership or limited liability company in each other jurisdiction in which
it
owns or leases property or in which the conduct of its business requires it
to
so qualify or be licensed except where the failure to so qualify or be licensed
could not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect and
(iii) has all requisite corporate, limited liability company or partnership
(as applicable) power and authority to own or lease and operate its properties
and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted;
and (iv) has all Governmental Authorizations necessary to own or lease and
operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as
proposed to be conducted except where the failure to have such Governmental
Authorization could not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.01(b) hereto is a complete and accurate list of all
Subsidiaries of each Loan Party, showing as of the date hereof (as to each
such
Subsidiary) the jurisdiction of its formation, the number of shares, membership
interests or limited partnership interest (as applicable) of each class of
its
Equity Interests authorized, and the number outstanding, on the date hereof
and
the percentage of each such class of its Equity Interests owned (directly or
indirectly) by such Loan Party and the number of shares, units or partnership
interests covered by all outstanding options, warrants, rights of conversion
or
purchase and similar rights at the date hereof. All of the outstanding Equity
Interests in each Loan Party’s Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully
paid and non-assessable and except as indicated on Schedule 4.01(b) hereto,
are
owned by such Loan Party or one or more of its Subsidiaries free and clear
of
all Liens, except those created under the Loan Documents.
(c) The
execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Transaction
Document to which it is or is to be a party, and the consummation of the
Transaction, are within such Loan Party’s corporate, limited liability company
or limited partnership (as applicable) powers, have been duly authorized by
all
necessary corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership (as
applicable) action, and do not (i) contravene such Loan Party’s charter,
certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement,
partnership agreement or other constituent documents, (ii) violate any
current law, rule, regulation (including, without limitation, Regulations U
or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), order, writ,
judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award, (iii) conflict with
or result in the breach of, or constitute a default or require any payment
to be
made under, any contract, loan agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
lease or other instrument binding on or affecting any Loan Party, any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their properties or (iv) except for the Liens
created under the Loan Documents, result in or require the creation or
imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any of the properties of any
Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries. No Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries
is in
violation of any such law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction,
decree, determination or award or in breach of any such contract, loan
agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other instrument, the
violation or breach of which could be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(d) No
Governmental Authorization, and no notice to or filing with any Governmental
Authority or any other third party, is required for (i) the due execution,
delivery, recordation, filing or performance by any Loan Party of any
Transaction Document to which it is or is to be a party, or for the consummation
of the Transaction, (ii) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted
by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (iii) the perfection or
maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including
the
first priority nature thereof), or (iv) the exercise by any Agent or any
Lender Party of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect
of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents , except for the
authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings listed on Schedule 4.01(d)
hereto,
all of which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full
force
and effect. All applicable waiting periods in connection with the Transaction
have expired without any action having been taken by any competent authority
restraining, preventing or imposing materially adverse conditions upon the
Transaction or the rights of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries freely
to
transfer or otherwise dispose of, or to create any Lien on, any properties
now
owned or hereafter acquired by any of them. The Repurchase has been consummated
or will be consummated simultaneously with the Initial Extension of Credit
in
accordance with the Tender Offer Documents and applicable law.
(e) This
Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document when delivered hereunder will
have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party
thereto. This Agreement is, and each other Loan Document when delivered
hereunder will be, the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party
that is a party thereto, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance
with
its terms subject, as to enforcement only, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratoriums or similar laws at the time in effect affecting
the
enforceability of the rights of creditors generally.
(f) There
is
no action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding affecting any Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries, including any Environmental Action, pending
or
threatened before any Governmental Authority or arbitrator that (i) could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) purports
to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document
or the consummation of the Transaction, and there has been no Material Adverse
Change in the status, or financial effect on any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries, of the Disclosed Litigation from that described on Schedule 4.01(f)
hereto.
(g) The
consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at July
29,
2005, and the related consolidated statements of income and consolidated
statement of cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal
year
then ended, accompanied by an unqualified opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent registered public accountants, and the unaudited consolidated
balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at January 27, 2006,
and
the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and consolidated
statement of cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the six months
then ended, duly certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower,
copies of which have been furnished to each Lender Party, fairly present the
consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at
such
dates and the consolidated results of operations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for the periods ended on such dates, all in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, except
(insofar as consistency is concerned) as related to the adoption on July 30,
2005 of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (Revised 2004),
“Share-Based Payment”, and since July 29, 2005, there has been no event,
development or occurrence that could have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(h) The
consolidated pro
forma
balance
sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at January 27, 2006, the related
consolidated pro
forma
statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for
the
four-quarter period then ended, in each case certified by the chief financial
officer of the Borrower, copies of which have been furnished to each Lender
Party, fairly present the consolidated pro
forma
financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such dates and
the consolidated pro
forma
results
of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period ended on
such
dates, in each case giving effect to the Transaction, all in accordance with
GAAP.
(i) The
consolidated forecasted balance sheet, statement of income and statement of
cash
flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, delivered to the Lender Parties
pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(xi) or 5.03, were prepared in good faith on the
basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were reasonable
in
light of the conditions existing at the time of delivery of such forecasts,
and
represented, at the time of delivery, the Borrower’s reasonable best estimate of
its future financial performance, based upon the assumptions set forth in such
forecast.
(j) Neither
the Information Memorandum, the Tender Offer Documents nor any other
information, exhibit or report furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party
to
any Agent or any Lender Party in connection with the negotiation and syndication
of the Loan Documents or pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading.
(k) The
Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose
of
purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no proceeds of any Advance or drawings
under any Letter of Credit will be used, directly or indirectly, to purchase
or
carry any Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock.
(l) Neither
any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries 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, as amended. Neither the making of any Advances, nor the issuance of any
Letters of Credit, nor the application of the proceeds or repayment thereof
by
the Borrower, nor the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by
the
Transaction Documents, will violate any provision of any such Act or any rule,
regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.
(m) Neither
any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any indenture, loan
or
credit agreement or any lease or other agreement or instrument or subject to
any
charter or corporate restriction that could be reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(n) The
provisions of the Collateral Documents executed by the Loan Parties are
effective to create, in favor of the Lenders, legal, valid and enforceable
security interests in all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in
any
and all of the collateral described therein, securing the Notes and all other
Obligations from time to time outstanding under the Loan Documents, and each
of
such Collateral Documents, upon the taking of possession of the Security
Collateral as provided in the Pledge Agreement shall create a fully perfected
security interest in all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such
collateral, superior in right to any liens, existing or future, which the Loan
Parties or any creditors of or purchasers from, or any other Person, may have
against such collateral or interests therein. The Loan Parties are the legal
and
beneficial owners of the Collateral free and clear of any Lien, except for
the
liens and security interests created or permitted under the Loan
Documents.
(o) Each
Loan
Party is, individually and together with its Subsidiaries, Solvent.
(p) (i)
Set
forth on Schedule 4.01(p) hereto is a complete and accurate list of all Plans,
Multiemployer Plans and Welfare Plans.
(ii) No
ERISA
Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan
that has resulted in or is reasonably expected to result in a material liability
of any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate.
(iii) Schedule
B (Actuarial Information), if applicable, to the most recent annual report
(Form
5500 Series) for each Plan, copies of which have been filed with the Internal
Revenue Service and furnished to the Lender Parties, is complete and accurate
and fairly presents the funding status of such Plan, and since the date of
such
Schedule B there has been no material adverse change in such funding
status.
(iv) Neither
any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or is reasonably expected
to
incur any Withdrawal Liability to any Multiemployer Plan.
(v) Neither
any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has been notified by the sponsor of
a
Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or has
been
terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, and no such Multiemployer
Plan is reasonably expected to be in reorganization or to be terminated, within
the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
(vi) With
respect to each employee benefit arrangement mandated by non-U.S. law (a
“Foreign
Benefit Arrangement”)
and
with respect to each employee benefit plan maintained or contributed to by
any
Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party that is not subject to United
States law (a “Foreign
Plan”):
(A) Any
employer and employee contributions required by law or by the terms of any
Foreign Benefit Arrangement or any Foreign Plan have been made, or, if
applicable, accrued, in accordance with normal accounting
practices.
(B) The
fair
market value of the assets of each funded Foreign Plan, the liability of each
insurer for any Foreign Plan funded through insurance or the book reserve
established for any Foreign Plan, together with any accrued contributions,
is
sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit obligations, as of
the
date hereof, with respect to all current and former participants in such Foreign
Plan according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used
to
account for such obligations in accordance with applicable generally accepted
accounting principles.
(C) Each
Foreign Plan that is required to be registered has been registered and has
been
maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities.
(q) (i)
The
operations and properties of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries comply
in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws and
Environmental Permits, all past non-compliance with such Environmental Laws
and
Environmental Permits has been resolved without ongoing obligations or costs,
and no circumstances exist that could be reasonably likely to (A) form the
basis of an Environmental Action against any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their properties that would be reasonably expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect or (B) cause any such property to be subject
to any material restrictions on ownership, occupancy, use or transferability
under any Environmental Law.
(ii) None
of
the properties currently or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, formerly
owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is listed or
proposed for listing on the NPL or on the CERCLIS or any analogous foreign,
state or local list or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, is adjacent to
any
such property; except for the properties that are listed in Schedule 4.01(q),
there are no and, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, never have been any
underground or aboveground storage tanks or any surface impoundments, septic
tanks, pits, sumps or lagoons in which Hazardous Materials are being or have
been treated, stored or disposed on any property currently owned or operated
by
any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Loan
Parties, on any property formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any
of
its Subsidiaries; there is no asbestos or asbestos-containing material on any
property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries in a form or condition which violates, or gives rise to liability
under, Environmental Laws; and Hazardous Materials have not been released,
discharged or disposed of on any property currently or, to the knowledge of
the
Loan Parties, formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries, in each case, the release, discharge or disposal of which would
be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(iii) Except
as
otherwise set forth on Schedule 4.01(q)
hereto,
neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is undertaking, and has
not
completed, either individually or together with other potentially responsible
parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating
to any actual or threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous
Materials at any site, location or operation, either voluntarily or pursuant
to
the order of any governmental or regulatory authority or the requirements of
any
Environmental Law; and all Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled
or stored at, or transported to or from, any property currently or, to the
knowledge of any Loan Party, formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or
any
of its Subsidiaries have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected
to
result in a Material Adverse Effect .
(r) (i)
Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.01(r), neither any Loan Party nor any of
its
Subsidiaries is party to any tax sharing agreement other than a tax sharing
agreement approved by the Required Lenders.
(ii) Each
Loan
Party and each of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates has filed, has caused to
be
filed or has been included in all tax returns (Federal, state, local and
foreign) required to be filed and has paid all taxes shown thereon to be due,
together with applicable interest and penalties.
(iii) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.01(r)
hereto
is a complete and accurate list, as of the date hereof, of each taxable year
of
each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates for which Federal
income tax returns have been filed and for which the expiration of the
applicable statute of limitations for assessment or collection has not occurred
by reason of extension or otherwise (an “Open
Year”).
(s) The
representations and warranties contained in the other Loan Documents are true
and correct in all material respects.
(t) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.01(t)
hereto
is a complete and accurate list of all Existing Debt (other than Surviving
Debt), showing as of the date hereof the obligor and the principal amount
outstanding thereunder.
(u) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.01(u)
hereto
is a complete and accurate list of all Surviving Debt, showing as of the date
hereof the obligor and the principal amount outstanding thereunder and the
maturity date thereof.
(v) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.01(v)
hereto
is a complete and accurate list of all Liens on the property or assets of any
Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, showing as of the date hereof the
lienholder thereof, the principal amount of the obligations secured thereby
and
the property or assets of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary subject
thereto.
(w) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.01(w)
hereto
is a complete and accurate list of all real property owned by any Loan Party
or
any of its Subsidiaries (“Owned
Real Property”),
showing as of the date hereof the street address, county or other relevant
jurisdiction, state and record owner. Each Loan Party or such Subsidiary has
good and marketable fee simple title to such real property, free and clear
of
all Liens, other than Permitted Liens and those created by the Loan
Documents.
(x) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.01(x)
hereto
is a complete and accurate list of all Real Property Leases under which any
Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries is the lessee, showing as of the date hereof
the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, names of
the
lessor and lessee, expiration date and annual rental cost thereof.
(y) Set
forth
on Schedule
4.01(y)
hereto
is a complete and accurate list of all Real Property Leases under which any
Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries is the lessor, showing as of the date hereof
the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, names of
the
lessor and lessee, expiration date and annual rental received therefor.
(z) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.01(z)
hereto
is a complete and accurate list of all Investments held by any Loan Party or
any
of its Subsidiaries on the date hereof, showing as of the date hereof the
amount, obligor or issuer and maturity, if any, thereof.
(aa) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.01(aa)
hereto
is a complete and accurate list of all patents, trademarks, registered trade
names, service marks and registered copyrights, and all applications therefor
and licenses thereof (other than to franchisees of Logan’s), of each Loan Party
or any of its Subsidiaries, showing, as of the date hereof, (i) in the case
of
registrations, the jurisdiction in which it is registered, the registration
number, the date of registration and, other than for copyrights, the expiration
date; and (ii) in the case of pending applications, the jurisdiction in which
such applications are filed, the application number and the date of
filing.
(bb) Each
Loan
Party is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all
laws (including, without limitation, the Patriot Act), rules, regulations and
all orders, writs, injunctions, decrees, determinations or awards applicable
to
it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (i) such requirement
of law, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction, decree, determination or
award is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently
conducted or (ii) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in
the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Neither
the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material violation of any laws
relating to terrorism or money laundering, including, without limitation, the
Patriot Act.
(cc) None
of
the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries is (i) named on the list of
Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons maintained by the U.S.
Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control available at
http://www.treas.gov/offices/eotffc/ofac/sdn/index.html, or (ii) (A) an agency
of the government of a country, (B) an organization controlled by a country,
or
(C) a person resident in a country that is subject to a sanctions program
identified on the list maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s
Office of Foreign Assets Control and available at
http://www.treas.gov/offices/eotffc/ofac/sanctions/index.html, or as otherwise
published from time to time, as such program may be applicable to such agency,
organization or person, and the Letters of Credit and the proceeds from any
Advances hereunder will not be used by any Loan Party to fund any operations
in,
finance any investments or activities in, or make any payments to, any such
country, agency, organization or person.
(dd) Each
Loan
Party and its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the
trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights,
franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively,
“IP
Rights”)
that
the Loan parties consider reasonably necessary for the operation of their
respective businesses as presently conducted, without any infringement upon
the
rights of any other Person that could have a Material Adverse Effect. To the
knowledge of the Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product,
process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now
contemplated to be employed, by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary infringes
upon
any rights held by any other Person in any manner that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding
any
of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower,
threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE
V
COVENANTS
OF THE LOAN PARTIES
SECTION
5.01. Affirmative
Covenants.
So long as any Advance or any other Obligation of any Loan Party under any
Loan Document shall remain unpaid, any Letter of Credit shall be outstanding
or
any Lender Party shall have any Commitment hereunder, each Loan Party
will:
(a) Compliance
with Laws, Etc.
Comply,
and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects, with
all
applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include,
without limitation, compliance with ERISA, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations Chapter of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 and the Patriot
Act.
(b) Payment
of Taxes, Etc.
Pay and
discharge, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, before
the
same shall become delinquent, (i) all taxes, assessments and governmental
charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its property and (ii) all lawful
claims that, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon its property;
provided,
however,
that no
Loan Party shall be required to pay or discharge any such tax, assessment,
charge or claim that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings
and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained, unless and until
any
Lien resulting therefrom attaches to its property and becomes
enforceable.
(c) Compliance
with Environmental Laws.
Comply,
and cause each of its Subsidiaries and all lessees and other Persons operating
or occupying its properties to comply, in all material respects, with all
applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain and renew,
and
cause each of its Subsidiaries to obtain and renew, all Environmental Permits
necessary for its operations and properties; and conduct, and cause each of
its
Subsidiaries to conduct, any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and
undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove
and
clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties, in accordance
with
the requirements of all Environmental Laws; provided,
however,
that no
Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any such
cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation
to
do so is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and appropriate
reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances.
(d) Maintenance
of Insurance.
Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance (including
business interruption and hazards) with responsible and reputable insurance
companies or associations and such insurance shall be maintained in such amounts
(with such deductibles and self insured retentions) and covering such risks
as
is usually carried by companies of similar size, engaged in similar businesses
and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which any Loan Party
or any of its Subsidiaries operates.
(e) Preservation
of Corporate Existence, Etc.
Preserve and maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to preserve and
maintain, its existence, legal structure, legal name, rights (charter and
statutory), permits, licenses, approvals, privileges and franchises;
provided,
however,
that
the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries may consummate any merger
or
consolidation permitted under Section 5.02(d)
);
provided,
further,
that
none of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries shall be required
to
preserve any right, permit, license, approval, privilege or franchise if the
board of directors of the Borrower or such Subsidiary or equivalent governing
body shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in
the
conduct of the business of the Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as the case may
be, and that the loss thereof does not have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(f) Visitation
Rights.
At any
reasonable time and from time to time, permit any of the Agents or any of the
Lender Parties, or any agents or representatives thereof, to examine and make
copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit
the
properties of, the Loan Parties and any of their Subsidiaries, and to discuss
the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries
with any of their officers or directors and (in the case of discussions with
any
of the Agents or any agents or representatives thereof) with their independent
certified public accountants; provided
that in
the case of discussions with or examination or visits by any of the Agents
(or
any agents or representatives of the Agents), such discussions, examination
or
visits shall be at the expense of the Borrower.
(g) Keeping
of Books.
Keep,
and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account,
in which full and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions
and the assets and business of each Loan Party in accordance with
GAAP.
(h) Maintenance
of Properties, Etc.
Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and
preserve, all of its properties that are used or useful in the conduct of its
business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted
and except for such failure to so maintain which would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) Maintenance
of Credit Ratings.
Use
best efforts to maintain public surveillance ratings of the Facilities by
Moody’s and S&P.
(j) Covenant
to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security.
Upon
the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Subsidiaries by
any
Loan Party, then in each case at the Borrower’s expense:
(i) in
connection with the formation or acquisition of a Subsidiary that is not (x)
a
CFC or (y) a Subsidiary that is held directly or indirectly by a CFC, within
10
days after such formation or acquisition, cause each such Subsidiary, and cause
each direct and indirect parent of such Subsidiary (if it has not already done
so), to duly execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent a guaranty or guaranty
supplement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent,
guaranteeing the other Loan Parties’ obligations under the Loan
Documents,
(ii) within
30
days after such formation or acquisition of any new Subsidiary, duly execute
and
deliver and cause such Subsidiary and each Loan Party acquiring Equity Interests
in such Subsidiary to duly execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent pledges,
assignments, pledge agreement supplements and other pledge agreements as
specified by, and in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent,
securing payment of all of the obligations of such Subsidiary or Loan Party,
respectively, under the Loan Documents; provided
that (A)
the Equity Interests in any Subsidiary held by a CFC shall not be required
to be
pledged and (B) if such new property is Equity Interests in a CFC, only 66%
of
the voting Equity Interests and 100% of the non-voting Equity Interests of
such
CFC shall be pledged in favor of the Secured Parties,
(iii) within
30
days after such formation or acquisition of any new Subsidiary, take, and cause
each newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary that
is a CFC or a Subsidiary that is held directly or indirectly by a CFC) to take,
whatever action (including, without limitation, the filing of Uniform Commercial
Code financing statements) may be necessary or advisable in the opinion of
the
Collateral Agent to vest in the Collateral Agent (or in any representative
of
the Collateral Agent designated by it) valid and subsisting Liens on the
properties purported to be subject to the pledges, assignments, pledge agreement
supplements and pledge agreements delivered pursuant to the Loan Documents,
enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms,
(iv) within
60
days after formation or acquisition of any new Subsidiary that is a “significant
subsidiary” as defined by Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission, deliver to the Collateral Agent, upon the request of the
Collateral Agent in its sole discretion, a signed copy of a favorable opinion,
addressed to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, of counsel
for
the Loan Parties acceptable to the Collateral Agent as to (1) the matters
contained in this Section 5.01(j), (2) such guaranties, guaranty supplements,
pledges, assignments, pledge agreement supplements and other pledge agreements
being legal, valid and binding obligations of each Loan Party that is a party
thereto enforceable in accordance with their terms, as to the matters contained
in this Section 5.01(j), (3) such recordings, filings, notices, endorsements
and
other actions being sufficient to create valid perfected Liens on such
properties and (4) such other matters as the Collateral Agent may reasonably
request, and
(v) at
any
time and from time to time, promptly execute and deliver, and cause to execute
and deliver, each newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary (other than any
Subsidiary that is a CFC or a Subsidiary that is held directly or indirectly
by
a CFC) any and all further instruments and documents and take, and cause each
newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary that is
a
CFC or a Subsidiary that is held directly or indirectly by a CFC) to take,
all
such other action as the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or desirable in
obtaining the full benefits of, or in perfecting and preserving the Liens
created or purported to be created under the Loan Documents.
(k) Further
Assurances.
Promptly upon request by any Agent, or any Lender Party through the
Administrative Agent, take and cause each Subsidiary to take the following
actions: (i)
correct
any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or
in
the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation thereof, and
(ii) execute,
acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register
any and all such further acts, deeds, conveyances, pledge agreements,
assignments, financing statements and continuations thereof, termination
statements, notices of assignment, transfers, certificates, assurances and
other
instruments as any Agent, or any Lender Party through the Administrative Agent,
reasonably determines is necessary from time to time in order to (A) carry
out more effectively the purposes of the Loan Documents, (B) to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, subject any Loan Party’s or any of its
Subsidiaries’ properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or
hereafter intended to be covered by any of the Collateral Documents,
(C) perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of
the Collateral Documents and any of the Liens intended to be created thereunder
and (D) assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and
confirm more effectively unto the Secured Parties the rights granted or now
or
hereafter intended to be granted to the Secured Parties under any Loan Document
or under any other instrument executed in connection with any Loan Document
to
which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is or is to be a
party.
(l) Performance
of Related Documents.
Perform
and observe, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to perform and observe, all
of
the terms and provisions of each Related Document to be performed or observed
by
it, maintain each such Related Document in full force and effect in all material
respects, enforce such Related Document in accordance with its terms except
when
the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, take all such action to such end as may be from time to time requested
by the Administrative Agent and, upon the reasonable request of the
Administrative Agent, make to each other party to each such Related Document
such demands and requests for information and reports or for action as any
Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled to make under such Related
Document.
(m) Preparation
of Environmental Reports.
At the
request of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent after the occurrence
or discovery of an event, condition or circumstance reasonably likely to give
rise to an Environmental Action that would be reasonably likely (whether
individually or in the aggregate) to have a Material Adverse Effect, provide
to
the Lender Parties within 60 days after such request, at the expense of the
Borrower, an environmental site assessment report for any of its or its
Subsidiaries’ properties affected by the event, condition or circumstance in
question, prepared by an environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable
to
the Administrative Agent , indicating the presence or absence of Hazardous
Materials and the estimated cost of any compliance, removal or remedial action
in connection with any Hazardous Materials on such properties; without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent determines at
any
time that a material risk exists that any such report will not be provided
within the time referred to above, the Administrative Agent may retain an
environmental consulting firm to prepare such report at the expense of the
Borrower, and the Borrower hereby grants and agrees to cause any Subsidiary
that
owns any property affected by the event, condition or circumstance in question
to grant at the time of such request to the Agents, the Lender Parties, such
firm and any agents or representatives thereof an irrevocable non-exclusive
license, subject to the rights of tenants, to enter onto any of their respective
properties affected by the event, condition or circumstance in question to
undertake such an assessment.
(n) Compliance
with Terms of Leaseholds.
Take
and cause each Subsidiary to take the following actions: make all payments
and
otherwise perform all obligations in respect of all leases of real property
to
which the any of the Loan Parties or their respective Subsidiaries is a party,
keep such leases in full force and effect and not allow such leases to lapse
or
be terminated or any rights to renew such leases to be forfeited or cancelled,
notify the Administrative Agent of any default by any party with respect to
such
leases and cooperate with the Administrative Agent in all respects to cure
any
such default, except, in any case, where the failure to do so, either
individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(o) Performance
of Material Contracts.
Take
and cause each Subsidiary to take the following actions: perform and observe
all
the terms and provisions of each Material Contract to which any of the Loan
Parties or their respective Subsidiaries is a party, maintain each such Material
Contract in full force and effect, enforce each such Material Contract in
accordance with its terms, take all such action to such end as may be from
time
to time requested by the Administrative Agent and, upon request of the
Administrative Agent, make to each other party to each such Material Contract
such demands and requests for information and reports or for action as the
Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled to make under such Material
Contract, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so, except, in any case,
where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, would
not
be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) Use
of
Proceeds.
Use the
proceeds of each of the Advances and Letters of Credit solely for the purposes
set forth in the Preliminary Statements hereof.
SECTION
5.02. Negative
Covenants.
So long as any Advance or any other Obligation of any Loan Party under any
Loan Document shall remain unpaid, any Letter of Credit shall be outstanding
or
any Lender Party shall have any Commitment hereunder, each Loan Party and its
Subsidiaries will not, at any time:
(a) Liens,
Etc.
Create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its
properties of any character (including, without limitation, accounts) whether
now owned or hereafter acquired, or sign or file or suffer to exist, or permit
any of its Subsidiaries to sign or file or suffer to exist, under the Uniform
Commercial Code of any jurisdiction, a financing statement that names any Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries as debtor, or sign or suffer to exist, or
permit any of its Subsidiaries to sign or suffer to exist, any security
agreement authorizing any secured party thereunder to file such financing
statement, or assign, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to assign, any accounts
or other right to receive income, except:
(i) Liens
created under the Loan Documents;
(ii) Permitted
Liens;
(iii) Liens
existing on the date hereof and described on Schedule 4.01(v)
hereto;
(iv) purchase
money Liens upon or in real property or equipment acquired or held by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to secure
the purchase price of such property or equipment or to secure Debt incurred
solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction or improvement
of any such property or equipment to be subject to such Liens, or Liens existing
on any such property or equipment at the time of acquisition (other than any
such Liens created in contemplation of such acquisition that do not secure
the
purchase price), or extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing
for the same or a lesser amount; provided,
however,
that no
such Lien shall extend to or cover any property other than the property or
equipment being acquired, constructed or improved, and no such extension,
renewal or replacement shall extend to or cover any property not theretofore
subject to the Lien being extended, renewed or replaced; and provided further
that the
aggregate principal amount of the Debt secured by Liens permitted by this
clause (iv) shall not exceed the amount permitted under Section
5.02(b)(iii)(B) at any time outstanding;
(v) Liens
arising in connection with Capitalized Leases of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries permitted under Section 5.02(b)(iii)(C); provided
that no
such Lien shall extend to or cover any Collateral or assets other than the
assets subject to such Capitalized Leases;
(vi) the
replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by clause (iii) above
upon or in the same property theretofore subject thereto or the replacement,
extension or renewal (without increase in the amount or change in any direct
or
contingent obligor) of the Debt secured thereby provided that such replacement,
extension or renewal does not extend to any additional property other than
(A)
after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property
covered by such Lien and (B) the proceeds thereof;
(vii) Liens
securing any of the Debt described in Section 5.02(b)(i)(B) and Section
5.02(b)(ii); and
(viii) other
Liens securing Debt outstanding in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
$10,000,000; provided
that no
such Lien shall extend to or cover any Collateral.
(b) Debt.
Create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Debt, except:
(i) in
the
case of the Borrower,
(A) Debt
in
respect of Hedge Agreements designed to hedge against fluctuations in interest
rates or commodity pricing, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with prudent business practice, and
(B) Debt
owed
to a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, which Debt
(x)
shall constitute Pledged Debt, (y) shall be subordinated to any Debt of the
Borrower under the Loan Documents on terms reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent and (z) if evidenced by promissory notes, shall be in
form
and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall be pledged
as
security for the Obligations of the holder thereof under the Loan Documents
to
which such holder is a party and delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant
to
the terms of the Pledge Agreement.
(ii) in
the
case of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, Debt owed to the Borrower or to a wholly
owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, provided
that, in
each case, to the extent such Debt exceeds $10,000,000 in the aggregate, such
Debt (x) shall constitute Pledged Debt, (y) shall be on terms acceptable to
the
Administrative Agent and (z) shall be evidenced by promissory notes in form
and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and such promissory notes
shall be pledged as security for the Obligations of the holder thereof under
the
Loan Documents to which such holder is a party and delivered to the Collateral
Agent pursuant to the terms of the Pledge Agreement; and
(iii) the
Guaranties and, in the case of the Loan Parties and their
Subsidiaries,
(A) Debt
under the Loan Documents;
(B) So
long
as no Default has occurred and is continuing, Debt secured by Liens permitted
by
Section 5.02(a)(iv) not to exceed in the aggregate $10,000,000 at any time
outstanding; provided
that to
the extent any Debt is created, incurred or assumed in compliance with this
clause (B) while no Default has occurred and is continuing, such Debt shall
continue to be permitted under this clause (B) in the event that a Default
has
occurred and is continuing;
(C) Capitalized
Leases (other than those permitted by clause (F) below) not to exceed in the
aggregate $10,000,000 at any time outstanding, and in the case of Capitalized
Leases to which any Subsidiary of a Loan Party is a party, Debt of the Loan
Party of the type described in clause (j) of the definition of “Debt”
guaranteeing the Obligations of such Subsidiary under the Capitalized Leases
permitted under this clause (C);
(D) Debt
of
any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower after the date hereof
in
accordance with the terms of Section 5.02(f) which Debt does not exceed
$10,000,000 in the aggregate and is existing at the time such Person becomes
a
Subsidiary of the Borrower;
(E) So
long
as no Default has occurred and is continuing, other unsecured Debt of the
Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any
one
time outstanding; provided
that to
the extent any Debt is created, incurred or assumed in compliance with this
clause (E) while no Default has occurred and is continuing, such Debt shall
continue to be permitted under this clause (E) in the event that a Default
has
occurred and is continuing;
(F) the
Surviving Debt, and any Debt extending the maturity of, or refunding or
refinancing, in whole or in part, any Surviving Debt; provided
that the
terms of any such extending, refunding or refinancing Debt, and of any agreement
entered into and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are otherwise
permitted by the Loan Documents and provided
further
that the
principal amount of such Surviving Debt shall not be increased above the
principal amount thereof outstanding immediately prior to such extension,
refunding or refinancing, and the direct and contingent obligors therefor shall
not be changed, as a result of or in connection with such extension, refunding
or refinancing;
(G) Contingent
obligations of the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries in an amount not
to
exceed $10,000,000; provided
that
such contingent obligations are unsecured;
(H) Endorsement
of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions
in
the ordinary course of business;
(I) Debt
in
respect of letters of credit in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000
at
any time outstanding;
(J) Debt
in
respect of indemnification obligations in connection with bonds and letters
of
credit related to self insurance and insurance programs and policies of the
Loan
Parties and their respective Subsidiaries; and
(K) Obligations
in respect of the Borrower’s Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan to the
extent of assets of such plan are on the Borrower’s balance sheet.
(c) Change
in Nature of Business.
Make,
or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make, any material change in the nature
of
its business as carried on at the date hereof.
(d) Mergers,
Etc.
Merge
into or consolidate with any Person or permit any Person to merge into it,
or
permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, except that:
(i) any
Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into or consolidate with the Borrower
or
any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, provided
that, in
the case of any merger or consolidation with another Subsidiary, the Person
formed by such merger or consolidation shall be a direct or indirect wholly
owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, provided
further
that, in
the case of any such merger or consolidation to which a Guarantor is a party,
the Person formed by such merger or consolidation shall be a Guarantor;
(ii) in
connection with any acquisition permitted under Section 5.02(f), any Subsidiary
of the Borrower may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit
any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided
that the
Person surviving such merger shall be a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower
and the provisions of Section 5.01(j) shall have been complied with;
and
(iii) in
connection with any sale or other disposition (which takes the form of a merger
rather than a sale of stock or assets) permitted under Section 5.02(e)(ii),
any
Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into or consolidate with any other Person
or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it;
provided,
however,
that in
the case of any such merger to which the Borrower is a party, the Borrower
is
the surviving corporation.
(e) Sales,
Etc., of Assets.
Sell,
lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of (including by any sale and leaseback
transaction), or permit any of its Subsidiaries to sell, lease, transfer or
otherwise dispose of (including by any sale and leaseback transaction), any
assets, or grant any option or other right to purchase, lease or otherwise
acquire, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to grant any option or other right
to
purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any assets, except:
(i) sales
of
Inventory in the ordinary course of its business and the granting of any option
or other right to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire Inventory in the ordinary
course of its business;
(ii) sale,
liquidation, or other disposition of assets under the Company’s Non-Qualified
Deferred Compensation Plan when made for the purpose of distribution to
participants,
(iii) in
a
transaction authorized by Section 5.02(d) (other than subsection (iii)
thereof);
(iv) sales,
transfers or other dispositions of assets among the Borrower and
Guarantors;
(v) the
sale
of any asset by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a bulk
sale
of Inventory) so long as (A) no Default shall occur and be continuing,
(B) the purchase price paid to the Borrower or such Subsidiary for such
asset shall be no less than the fair market value of such asset at the time
of
such sale, (C) the purchase price for such asset shall be paid to the
Borrower or such Subsidiary in 100% cash and (D) the aggregate fair market
value of such asset and all other assets sold by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, and the aggregate purchase price paid to the Borrower and all
of
its Subsidiaries for such asset and all other assets sold by the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries, in each case during the same Fiscal Year pursuant to this
clause (iv), shall not exceed $5,000,000;
(vi) so
long
as (A) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (B)
immediately after giving effect thereto the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio
shall not exceed 3.75:1 and the Borrower and its subsidiaries shall be otherwise
in compliance with all Section 5.04 and (C) the purchase or offering price
paid
to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be no less than the fair market
value
thereof, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may consummate the sale of assets
or
capital stock (including through a spin-off) and/or initial public offering
of
all or any portion of the capital stock of Logan’s (any such sale or public
offering, a “Permitted
Disposition”)
(and
in connection therewith the Guaranty made be Logan’s shall be
released);
(vii) so
long
as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries shall be in pro
forma
compliance with Section 5.04 and shall receive cash therefor:
(A)
Cracker
Barrel may, subject to the proviso below, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise
dispose of real property with a fair market value in an aggregate amount not
to
exceed $150,000,000, so long as the aggregate fair market value of the real
property sold in each Fiscal Year is less than $50,000,000;
(B)
Cracker
Barrel may also sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of other real
property with a fair market value in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$100,000,000;
(C)
Logan’s
may, subject to the proviso below, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose
of
real property in an aggregate fair market value of less than $5,000,000 in
any
Fiscal Year; and
(D) Logan’s
may also sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of other real property,
provided
that if
the fair market value of any real property of Logan’s being sold, leased,
transferred or otherwise disposed of pursuant to this clause (D), when
aggregated with the fair market value of other real property sold, leased,
transferred or otherwise disposed of by Logan’s pursuant to this clause (D) in
the then-current Fiscal Year, shall exceed $5,000,000, and the Consolidated
Total Leverage Ratio after giving effect thereto shall exceed 3.75:1, the
proceeds of such sale, lease, transfer or disposition shall be subject to the
mandatory prepayment provisions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii);
provided
that in
the case of any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of assets pursuant
to
clauses (v), (vii)(A) or (vii)(C) above or the proviso to clause (vii)(D)
above, the applicable Loan Party shall, on the date of receipt by such Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries of the Net Cash Proceeds from such sale, prepay
the Advances pursuant to, and in the amount and order of priority set forth
in,
Section 2.06(b)(ii), as specified therein.
(f) Investments
in Other Persons.
Make or
hold, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make or hold, any Investment in
any
Person, except:
(i) (A)
equity Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in their Subsidiaries
outstanding on the date hereof and (B) additional equity Investments in Loan
Parties;
(ii) loans
and
advances to employees in the ordinary course of the business of the Loan Parties
and their Subsidiaries as presently conducted in compliance with all applicable
laws (including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended) an aggregate
principal amount not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(iii) Investments
by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in Cash Equivalents;
(iv) Investments
existing on the date hereof and described on Schedule 4.01(z)
hereto;
(v) Investments
by the Borrower in Hedge Agreements permitted under
Section 5.02(b)(i);
(vi) Investments
consisting of inter-company Debt permitted under
Section 5.02(b);
(vii) the
purchase or other acquisition of all of the Equity Interests in any Person
that,
upon the consummation thereof, will be wholly owned directly by one or more
Loan
Parties (including, without limitation, as a result of a merger or
consolidation) and the purchase or other acquisition by one or more Loan Parties
of all or substantially all of the property and assets of any Person;
provided
that,
with respect to each purchase or other acquisition made pursuant to this clause
(vii), such purchase or other acquisition shall be at all times negotiated
without the objection of the Board of Directors of the entity to be acquired;
and provided
further
that:
(A) the
Loan
Parties and any such newly created or acquired Subsidiary shall comply with
the
requirements of Section 5.01(j);
(B) the
lines
of business of the Person to be (or the property and assets of which are to
be)
so purchased or otherwise acquired shall be substantially the same lines of
business as one or more of the principal businesses of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course;
(C) such
purchase or other acquisition shall not include or result in any contingent
liabilities that could reasonably be expected to be material to the business,
financial condition, operations or prospects of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (as determined in good faith by the board of
directors (or the persons performing similar functions) of the Borrower, if
the
board of directors is otherwise approving such transaction, or, in each other
case, by the chief executive or financial officer of the Borrower);
(D) the
total
cash and noncash consideration (including, without limitation, the fair market
value of all Equity Interests issued or transferred to the sellers of such
Person or assets, all indemnities, earnouts and other contingent payment
obligations to, and the aggregate amounts paid or to be paid under noncompete,
consulting and other affiliated agreements with, the sellers of such Person
or
assets, all write-downs of property and assets and reserves for liabilities
with
respect thereto and all assumptions of debt, liabilities and other obligations
in connection therewith) paid by or on behalf of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for any such purchase or other acquisition, when aggregated with
the total cash and noncash consideration paid by or on behalf of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries for all other purchases and other acquisitions made by
the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (vii), shall not exceed
$100,000,000;
(E) (1)
immediately before and immediately after giving effect to any such purchase
or
other acquisition, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (2)
immediately after giving effect to such purchase or other acquisition, the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in pro forma compliance with all of
the
covenants set forth in Section 5.04, such compliance to be determined on the
basis of audited financial statements of such Person or assets as though such
purchase or other acquisition had been consummated as of the first day of the
fiscal period covered thereby; and
(F) the
Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the
Lender Parties, at least five Business Days prior to the date on which any
such
purchase or other acquisition is to be consummated, a certificate of a
Responsible Officer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent, certifying that all of the requirements set forth in
this
clause (vii) have been satisfied or will be satisfied on or prior to the
consummation of such purchase or other acquisition;
(viii) Investments
by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section
5.02(f) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000; provided
that
immediately before and immediately after giving effect to any such Investment,
no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(ix) Investments
that comprise the assets of the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation
Plan.
(g) Restricted
Payments.
Declare
or pay any dividends, purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise acquire
for
value any of its Equity Interests now or hereafter outstanding, return any
capital to its stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons
thereof) as such, make any distribution of assets, Equity Interests, obligations
or securities to its stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent
Persons thereof) as such, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the
foregoing, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to purchase, redeem, retire,
defease or otherwise acquire for value any Equity Interests in the Borrower
or
to issue or sell any Equity Interests therein,
except
that so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time
of
any action described below or would result therefrom:
(i) the
Borrower may (A) declare and pay dividends and distributions payable only
in common stock of the Borrower and (B) except to the extent the Net Cash
Proceeds thereof are required to be applied to the prepayment of the Advances
pursuant to Section 2.06(b), purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise
acquire shares of its capital stock with the proceeds received contemporaneously
from the issue of new shares of its capital stock with equal or inferior voting
powers, designations, preferences and rights;
(ii) any
Subsidiary of the Borrower may declare and pay dividends to the
Borrower;
(iii) the
Borrower may consummate the Repurchase and from time to time on and after the
date of such Repurchase purchase additional shares of its outstanding common
stock with the proceeds of the Term B-1 Advances that remain after consummation
of the Repurchase and may pay fees, expenses and costs related to the Repurchase
and such additional purchases;
(iv) the
Borrower may repurchase or acquire the Convertible Notes with the proceeds
of
the Term B-2 Facility and/or cash on hand;
(v) so
long
as immediately after giving effect thereto at least $100,000,000 of the
Revolving Credit Facility shall be available for the borrowing of Revolving
Credit Advances, the Borrower may (A) declare and pay cash dividends to its
stockholders if after giving effect thereto the aggregate amount of such
dividends paid during any Fiscal Year would be less than 15% of Consolidated
EBITDA from continuing operations of the Borrower for the Fiscal Year
immediately preceding the Fiscal Year in which such dividend is paid, or (B)
in
any fiscal quarter increase its regular quarterly dividend by an amount not
to
exceed the greater of $.01 or 10% of the amount of the dividend paid in the
prior fiscal quarter;
(vi) so
long
as immediately after giving effect thereto at least $100,000,000 of the
Revolving Credit Facility shall be available for the borrowing of Revolving
Credit Advances, the Borrower may purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire
shares of its own outstanding capital stock for cash in any Fiscal Year if
after
giving effect thereto the aggregate amount (net of any amounts received from
the
exercise of stock options or reduction in tax obligations) of such purchases,
redemptions, retirements and acquisitions made in such Fiscal Year (other than
the Repurchase) would be less than the amount set forth below:
Fiscal
Year Ending
|
Amount
|
August
3, 2007
|
$50,000,000
|
August
1, 2008
|
$50,000,000
|
July
31, 2009 and each Fiscal Year thereafter
|
$65,000,000
|
(vii) the
Borrower may issue (A) rights or options to acquire capital stock of the
Borrower pursuant to employee stock purchase plans, director or employee option
plans and other employee benefit plans and (B) common stock upon the exercise
of
options issued under, or pursuant to, employee stock purchase plans, director
or
employee option plans and other employee benefit plans;
(viii) the
repurchase of the Borrower’s common stock using proceeds from the disposition of
Logan’s made in accordance with all of the provisions of Section 5.02(e)(vii)
(to the extent such proceeds are not subject to the proviso to Section
5.02(e)(vii)); and
(ix) (A)
Rocking Chair, Inc. may issue Preferred Interests to the other Loan Parties,
(B)
the Loan Parties may award to or repurchase from employees of the Loan Parties
the Preferred Interests issued by Rocking Chair, Inc. and (C) Rocking Chair,
Inc. may pay dividends on its Preferred Interests in an annual amount not to
exceed $250,000.
(h) Amendments
of Constitutive Documents.
Amend,
or permit any of its Subsidiaries to amend, its certificate of incorporation,
certificate of formation, operating agreement, bylaws or other constitutive,
other than amendments that could not be reasonably expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect or adversely affect the interests of the Lender
Parties.
(i) Accounting
Changes.
Make or
permit, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make or permit, any change in
(i) accounting policies or reporting practices except as permitted by GAAP
or (ii) its Fiscal Year.
(j) Prepayments,
Etc., of Debt.
(i)
Prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled
maturity thereof in any manner, or make any payment in violation of any
subordination terms of, any Debt, except (A) the prepayment of the Advances
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (B) regularly scheduled
or required repayments or redemptions of Surviving Debt; (C) the conversion
of
subordinated debt into equity in accordance with its terms; (ii) amend, modify
or change in any manner any term or condition of any Surviving Debt or
subordinated debt, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing
other than to prepay any Debt payable to the Borrower;
or
(iii) amend or modify any documents or instruments governing any Debt other
than the Loan Documents, other than amendments that could not be reasonably
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or adversely affect the interests
of
the Lender Parties.
(k) Amendment,
Etc., of Related Documents.
Cancel
or terminate any Related Document or consent to or accept any cancellation
or
termination thereof, amend, modify or change in any manner any term or condition
of any Related Document or give any consent, waiver or approval thereunder,
waive any default under or any breach of any term or condition of any Related
Document, agree in any manner to any other amendment, modification or change
of
any term or condition of any Related Document or take any other action in
connection with any Related Document that would impair the value of the interest
or rights of any Loan Party thereunder or that would impair the rights or
interests of any Agent or any Lender Party, or permit any of its Subsidiaries
to
do any of the foregoing.
(l) Negative
Pledge.
Enter
into or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into or
suffer to exist, any agreement prohibiting or conditioning the creation or
assumption of any Lien upon any of its property or assets except (i) in
favor of the Secured Parties or (ii) in connection with (A) any
Surviving Debt; (B) any Debt permitted by Section 5.02(b)(iii)(B) solely to
the extent that the agreement or instrument governing such Debt prohibits a
Lien
on the property acquired with the proceeds of such Debt or (C) any
Capitalized Lease permitted by Section 5.02(b)(iii)(C) solely to the extent
that such Capitalized Lease prohibits a Lien on the property subject
thereto.
(m) Partnerships,
Etc.
Become
a general partner in any general or limited partnership or joint venture with
any Person other than a Loan Party or one of its Subsidiaries, or permit any
of
its Subsidiaries to do so with the exception of those partnerships or joint
ventures existing on the date of this Agreement.
(n) Speculative
Transactions.
Engage,
or permit any of its Subsidiaries to engage, in any transaction involving
commodity options or futures contracts or any similar speculative transactions
with the exception of the Hedge Agreements permitted under Section 5.02(b)(i)(A)
this Agreement.
(o) Payment
Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.
Directly or indirectly, enter into or suffer to exist, or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to enter into or suffer to exist, any agreement or arrangement
limiting the ability of any of its Subsidiaries to declare or pay dividends
or
other distributions in respect of its Equity Interests or repay or prepay any
Debt owed to, make loans or advances to, or otherwise transfer assets to or
invest in, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower (whether through
a
covenant restricting dividends, loans, asset transfers or investments, a
financial covenant or otherwise), except (i) the Loan Documents, (ii) any
agreement or instrument evidencing Surviving Debt, in each case as in effect
on
the date hereof, and (iii) any agreement in effect at the time such Subsidiary
becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such agreement was not entered
into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the
Borrower.
(p) Transactions
with Affiliates.
With
the exception of inter-company transactions among the Loan Parties, conduct,
and
permit any of its Subsidiaries to conduct, any transaction with any of their
Affiliates on terms that are either not fair and reasonable or less favorable
to
the a Loan Party or such Subsidiary than it would obtain in a comparable
arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.
(q) Capital
Expenditures.
Make,
or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make, any Capital Expenditures that would
cause the aggregate of all such Capital Expenditures made by the Loan Parties
and their Subsidiaries in any Fiscal Year set forth below to exceed the
percentage set forth below of the Consolidated EBITDA for the immediately
preceding Fiscal Year:
Fiscal
Year Ending In
|
Percentage
of Consolidated EBITDA
|
July
28, 2006 through August 3, 2007
|
65%
|
August
1, 2008 and thereafter
|
60%
|
;
provided,
however,
that
(i) if, for any Fiscal Year, the amount of Capital Expenditures allowed above
for such Fiscal Year exceeds the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures made
by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such Fiscal Year, the Borrower
and
its Subsidiaries shall be entitled to make additional Capital Expenditures
in
the immediately succeeding Fiscal Year in an amount (such amount being referred
to herein as the “Capex
Carryover”)
equal
to the lesser amount of (x) the Capex Carryover and (y) 15% of such amount
of
Capital Expenditures allowed above for such Fiscal Year and (ii) in determining
whether any amount is available for carryover, the amount expended in any Fiscal
Year shall first be deemed to be from the Capex Carryover amount from the prior
Fiscal Year that has been allocated to such current Fiscal Year; provided,
further,
that
notwithstanding the foregoing limitations contained in this Section 5.02, the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be permitted to make Capital Expenditures
in
respect of “land banking” in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15,000,000.
SECTION
5.03. Reporting
Requirements.
So long as any Advance or any other Obligation of any Loan Party under any
Loan Document shall remain unpaid, any Letter of Credit shall be outstanding
or
any Lender Party shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will furnish
to the Agents and the Lender Parties:
(a) Default
Notice.
As soon
as possible and in any event within two Business Days after the occurrence
of
each Default or any event, development or occurrence reasonably likely to have
a
Material Adverse Effect continuing on the date of such statement, a statement
of
the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of such
Default, or such event, development or occurrence, and the action that the
Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.
(b) Annual
Financials.
As soon
as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year,
a copy of the annual audit report for such year for the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, including therein consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower
and
its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and consolidated statements
of income and a consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, in each case accompanied by an opinion
acceptable to the Administrative Agent of Deloitte & Touche LLP or
such
other independent registered public accountants of recognized standing
acceptable to the Administrative Agent , together with (i) a certificate of
such
accounting firm to the Lender Parties stating that in the course of the regular
audit of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which audit was
conducted by such accounting firm in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards, such accounting firm has obtained no knowledge that a Default of
a
financial nature under Section 5.02(a), 5.02(b), 5.02(f), 5.02(q) or 5.04 has
occurred and is continuing, or if, in the opinion of such accounting firm,
a
Default of a financial nature under Section 5.02(a), 5.02(b), 5.02(f), 5.02(q)
or 5.04 has occurred and is continuing, a statement as to the nature thereof
and
(ii) a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Borrower (A)
setting forth in reasonably detail the compliance with the negative covenants
contained in Section 5.02 (including provisions with respect to dispositions
and
acquisitions of assets) and stating that no Default has occurred and is
continuing or, if a Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement as
to
the nature thereof and the action that the Borrower has taken and proposes
to
take with respect thereto and (B) that includes or to which is attached a
schedule in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of the computations
used by the Borrower in determining compliance with the covenants contained
in
Section 5.02(q) and Section 5.04, provided
that in
the event of any change in GAAP used in the preparation of such financial
statements, the Borrower shall also provide, if necessary for the determination
of compliance with Section 5.02(q) and Section 5.04, a statement of
reconciliation conforming such financial statements to GAAP.
(c) Quarterly
Financials.
As soon
as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first
three fiscal quarters of each Fiscal Year, consolidated balance sheets of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter and
consolidated statements of income and a consolidated statement of cash flows
of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the
previous fiscal quarter and ending with the end of such fiscal quarter and
consolidated statements of income and a consolidated statement of cash flows
of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the
previous Fiscal Year and ending with the end of such quarter, setting forth
in
each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding
date or period of the preceding Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and duly
certified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments) by the chief financial
officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP,
together with a certificate of said officer (A) setting forth in reasonably
detail the compliance with the negative covenants contained in Section 5.02
(including provisions with respect to dispositions and acquisitions of assets)
and stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing or, if a Default
has
occurred and is continuing, a statement as to the nature thereof and the action
that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto and (B)
that includes or to which is attached a schedule in form satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent of the computations used by the Borrower in determining
compliance with the covenants contained in Section 5.04, provided
that in
the event of any change in GAAP used in the preparation of such financial
statements, the Borrower shall also provide, if necessary for the determination
of compliance with Section 5.04, a statement of reconciliation conforming such
financial statements to GAAP.
(d) Annual
Forecasts.
As soon
as available and in any event no later than 90 days after the end of each Fiscal
Year, forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower, in form satisfactory
to
the Administrative Agent, of balance sheets, income statements and cash flow
statements on a quarterly basis for the Fiscal Year following such Fiscal Year
and on an annual basis for each Fiscal Year thereafter until the Termination
Date in respect of the Facilities.
(e) Litigation.
Promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of all actions, suits,
investigations, litigation and proceedings before any Governmental Authority
affecting any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of the type described in
Section 4.01(f), and promptly after the occurrence thereof, notice of any
material adverse change in the status or the financial effect on any Loan Party
or any of its Subsidiaries of the Disclosed Litigation from that described
on
Schedule 4.01(f)
hereto.
For
purposes of this subclause (e), any litigation, arbitration, or governmental
investigation or proceeding which involves an uninsured damage claim of
$2,000,000 or less need not be the subject of any such notice unless it is
one
of a series of claims arising out of the same set of facts or circumstances
which, in the aggregate, exceed $10,000,000.
(f) Securities
Reports.
Promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all proxy statements,
financial statements and reports that any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries
sends to its stockholders, and copies of all annual reports on Form 10-K and
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and all registration statements, that any Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries files with the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any governmental authority that may be substituted therefor,
or
with any national securities exchange,
in each
case excluding the exhibits thereto unless requested by the Administrative
Agent.
(g) Creditor
Reports.
Promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report
furnished (i) to any holder of Debt securities of any Loan Party or of any
of
its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or
similar agreement or (ii) under or pursuant to any Related Document, and in
each
case not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lender Parties pursuant
to
any other clause of this Section 5.03.
(h) ERISA.
(i) ERISA
Events and ERISA Reports.
(A)
Promptly and in any event within 10 Business Days after any Loan Party or any
ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know that any ERISA Event has occurred,
a
statement of the chief financial officer of the Borrower describing such ERISA
Event and the action, if any, that such Loan Party or such ERISA Affiliate
has
taken and proposes to take with respect thereto and (B) on the date any records,
documents or other information must be furnished to the PBGC with respect to
any
Plan pursuant to Section 4010 of ERISA, a copy of such records, documents and
information.
(ii) Plan
Terminations.
Promptly and in any event within two Business Days after receipt thereof by
any
Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate, copies of each notice from the PBGC stating
its intention to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer
any Plan.
(iii) Plan
Annual Reports.
Promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent, copies of each Schedule
B
(Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect
to
each Plan.
(iv) Multiemployer
Plan Notices.
Promptly and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by
any
Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan,
copies of each notice concerning (A) the imposition of Withdrawal Liability
by
any such Multiemployer Plan, (B) the reorganization or termination, within
the
meaning of Title IV of ERISA, of any such Multiemployer Plan or (C) the amount
of liability incurred, or that may be incurred, by such Loan Party or any ERISA
Affiliate in connection with any event described in clause (A) or
(B);
provided,
however,
that
the notice under this clause (iv) is required to be given only if the event
or
circumstance identified in such notice, when aggregated with any other events
or
circumstances required to be reported under Section 5.03(h) could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) Environmental
Conditions.
Promptly after the assertion or occurrence thereof, notice of any Environmental
Action against or of any noncompliance by any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries with any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
(j) Insurance.
As soon
as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year,
a report summarizing the insurance coverage (specifying type, amount and
carrier) in effect for each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries and containing
such
additional information as any Agent, or any Lender Party (through the
Administrative Agent) may reasonably specify.
(k) Other
Information.
Such
other information respecting the business, condition (financial or otherwise),
operations, performance, properties or prospects of any Loan Party or any of
its
Subsidiaries as any Agent, or any Lender Party through the Administrative Agent,
may from time to time reasonably request.
SECTION
5.04. Financial
Covenants.
So long as any Advance or any other Obligation of any Loan Party under any
Loan Document shall remain unpaid, any Letter of Credit shall be outstanding
or
any Lender Party shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower
will:
(a) Consolidated
Total Leverage Ratio.
Maintain, as of the end of each Measurement Period ending during any period
set
forth in the table below, a Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio of not more than
the ratio set forth opposite such period in the table below:
Period
|
Ratio
|
Effective
Date through April 27, 2007
|
4.50:1.00
|
April
28, 2007 through May 2, 2008
|
4.25:1.00
|
May
3, 2008 through May 1, 2009
|
4.00:1.00
|
May
2, 2009 and thereafter
|
3.75:1.00
|
(b) Consolidated
Interest Coverage Ratio.
Maintain, as of the end of each Measurement Period ending during any period
set
forth in the table below, a Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio of not less
than the ratio set forth opposite such period in the table below:
Period
|
Ratio
|
Effective
Date through April 27, 2007
|
3.00:1.00
|
April
28, 2007 through May 2, 2008
|
3.25:1.00
|
May
3, 2008 through May 1, 2009
|
3.50:1.00
|
May
2, 2009 through April 30, 2010
|
3.75:1.00
|
April
31, 2010 and thereafter
|
4.00:1.00
|
ARTICLE
VI
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
SECTION
6.01. Events
of Default.
If any of the following events (“Events
of Default”)
shall
occur and be continuing:
(a) (i)
the
Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance when the same shall
become due and payable or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest
on
any Advance, or any Loan Party shall fail to make any other payment under any
Loan Document, in each case under this clause (ii) within 3 Business Days after
the same becomes due and payable; or
(b) any
representation or warranty made by any Loan Party (or any of its officers)
under
or in connection with any Loan Document shall have been incorrect in any
material respect when made; or
(c) the
Borrower shall fail to perform any term, covenant or agreement contained in
Section 2.14, 5.01(e) or (j), 5.02, 5.03 or 5.04; or
(d) any
Loan
Party shall fail to perform any other term, covenant or agreement contained
in
any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed if such failure shall
remain unremedied for 30 days after the earlier of the date on which (i) a
Responsible Officer becomes aware of such failure or (ii) written notice
thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by any Agent or any Lender Party;
or
(e) any
Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay any principal of, premium
or
interest on or any other amount payable in respect of any Debt of such Loan
Party or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) that is outstanding in a principal
amount (or, in the case of any Hedge Agreement, an Agreement Value) of at least
$15,000,000 either individually or in the aggregate for all such Loan Parties
and Subsidiaries (but excluding Debt outstanding hereunder), when the same
becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment,
acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the
applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument
relating to such Debt; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist
under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Debt and shall continue
after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or
instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or to
permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Debt or otherwise to cause,
or
to permit the holder thereof to cause, such Debt to mature; or any such Debt
shall be declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid or redeemed
(other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption),
purchased or defeased, or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such
Debt shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity
thereof; or
(f) any
Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall generally not pay its debts as such
debts
become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally,
or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any
proceeding shall be instituted by or against any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking
liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection,
relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of
an
order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee or other similar
official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case
of
any such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it) that is
being diligently contested by it in good faith, either such proceeding shall
remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 30 days or any of the actions
sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order
for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or
other similar official for, it or any substantial part of its property) shall
occur; or any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall take any corporate
action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this
subsection (f); or
(g) any
judgments or orders, either individually or in the aggregate , for the payment
of money in excess of $15,000,000 or otherwise material to the Borrower and
its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall be rendered against any Loan Party or
any
of its Subsidiaries and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been
commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall
be any period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of
such
judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be
in
effect provided, however, that any such judgment or court order shall not be
an
Event of Default under this Section 6.01(g) if and for so long as (i) the entire
amount of such judgment or court order is covered by a valid and binding policy
of insurance between the defendant and the insurer covering payment thereof
and
(ii) such insurer, which shall be rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company, has
been notified of, and has not disputed the claim made for payment of the amount
of such judgment or order;; or
(h) any
non-monetary judgment or order shall be rendered against any Loan Party or
any
of its Subsidiaries that could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect, and there shall be any period of 30 consecutive days during which a
stay
of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or
otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
(i) any
provision of any Loan Document after delivery thereof pursuant to
Section 3.01 or 5.01(j) shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding
on or enforceable against any Loan Party party to it, or any such Loan Party
shall so state in writing; or
(j) any
Collateral Document or financing statement after delivery thereof pursuant
to
Section 3.01 or 5.01(j) shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the
terms thereof) cease to create a valid and perfected first priority lien on
and
security interest in the Collateral purported to be covered thereby (or any
Loan
Party shall so assert or shall take any action to discontinue or to assert
the
invalidity or unenforceability thereof) , other than in respect of any item
or
items of Collateral the fair market value of which, either individually or
in
the aggregate, does not exceed $10,000,000; or
(k) a
Change
of Control shall occur; or
(l) any
ERISA
Event shall have occurred with respect to a Plan and the sum (determined as
of
the date of occurrence of such ERISA Event) of the Insufficiency of such Plan
and the Insufficiency of any and all other Plans with respect to which an ERISA
Event shall have occurred and then exist (or the liability of the Loan Parties
and the ERISA Affiliates related to such ERISA Event) exceeds $15,000,000;
or
(m) any
Loan
Party or any ERISA Affiliate shall have been notified by the sponsor of a
Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred Withdrawal Liability to such
Multiemployer Plan in an amount that, when aggregated with all other amounts
required to be paid to Multiemployer Plans by the Loan Parties and the ERISA
Affiliates as Withdrawal Liability (determined as of the date of such
notification), exceeds $15,000,000; or
(n) any
Loan
Party or any ERISA Affiliate shall have been notified by the sponsor of a
Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or is
being
terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, and as a result of such
reorganization or termination the aggregate annual contributions of the Loan
Parties and the ERISA Affiliates to all Multiemployer Plans that are then in
reorganization or being terminated have been or will be increased over the
amounts contributed to such Multiemployer Plans for the plan years of such
Multiemployer Plans immediately preceding the plan year in which such
reorganization or termination occurs by an amount exceeding $15,000,000;
then,
and
in any such event, the Administrative Agent (i) shall, at the written
request of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare all or
any
portion of the Commitments of each Lender Party and the obligation of each
Lender Party to make Advances (other than L/C Credit Extensions by the Issuing
Bank or a Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and Swing
Line Advances by a Swing-Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.02) and of each
Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit to be terminated, whereupon the same
shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the request, or may with the
consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare all or
any
portion of the Advances, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to be forthwith due and
payable, whereupon all or such portion, as applicable, of the Advances, all
such
interest and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable,
without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of
which
are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; provided,
however,
that in
the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect
to
the Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (x) the Commitments of each
Lender Party and the obligation of each Lender Party to make Advances (other
than L/C Credit Extensions by the Issuing Bank or a Revolving Credit Lender
pursuant to Section 2.03(c)) and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of
Credit shall automatically be terminated and (y) the Advances, all such
interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable,
without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which
are
hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.
SECTION
6.02. Actions
in Respect of the Letters of Credit upon Default.
If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
Administrative Agent may, or shall at the request of the Required Lenders,
irrespective of whether it is taking any of the actions described in Section
6.01 or otherwise, make demand upon the Borrower to, and forthwith upon such
demand the Borrower will, pay to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the
Lender Parties in same day funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office, for
deposit in the L/C Collateral Account, an amount equal to the aggregate
Available Amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding; provided,
however,
that in
the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect
to
the Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the Borrower shall be obligated
to pay to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lender Parties in same
day
funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office, for deposit in the L/C Collateral
Account, an amount equal to the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of
Credit then outstanding, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice
of
any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower. If at any
time the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent determines that any
funds held in the L/C Collateral Account are subject to any right or claim
of
any Person other than the Agents and the Lender Parties or that the total amount
of such funds is less than the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of
Credit, the Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent,
pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held
in
the L/C Collateral Account, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such
aggregate Available Amount over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then
held in the L/C Collateral Account that the Administrative Agent determines
to
be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter
of
Credit for which funds are on deposit in the L/C Collateral Account, such funds
shall be applied to reimburse the Issuing Bank or Revolving Credit Lenders,
as
applicable, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
ARTICLE
VII
THE
AGENTS
SECTION
7.01. Authorization
and Action.
(a)
Each
Lender Party (in its capacities as a Lender, the Swing Line Bank (if
applicable), the Issuing Bank (if applicable) and on behalf of itself and its
Affiliates as potential Hedge Banks) hereby appoints and authorizes each Agent
to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and
discretion under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated
to
such Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers and
discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly
provided for by the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, enforcement
or collection of the Obligations of the Loan Parties), no Agent shall be
required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required
to
act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or
refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Required Lenders or such
other Lenders required by Section 9.01, and such instructions shall be binding
upon all Lender Parties, all Hedge Banks and all holders of Notes; provided,
however,
that,
whether or not expressly provided for by this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents, no Agent shall be required to take any action that exposes or such
Agent reasonably believes may expose such Agent to personal liability or that
is
contrary to this Agreement or applicable law. The Administrative Agent may
release the Liens on any assets permitted to be sold, leased, transferred or
otherwise disposed of pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(b) In
furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender Party (in its capacities as a Lender,
the Swing Line Bank (if applicable), the Issuing Bank (if applicable) and on
behalf of itself and its Affiliates as potential Hedge Banks) hereby appoints
and authorizes the Collateral Agent to act as the agent of such Lender Party
for
purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral
granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Secured Obligations,
together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto.
In this connection, the Collateral Agent (and any Supplemental Collateral Agents
appointed by the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 7.01(c) for purposes
of
holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted
under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights or remedies
thereunder at the direction of the Collateral Agent) shall be entitled to the
benefits of this Article VII (including, without limitation, Section 7.05)
as
though the Collateral Agent (and any such Supplemental Collateral Agents) were
an “Agent” under the Loan Documents, as if set forth in full herein with respect
thereto.
(c) Any
Agent
may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document
(including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral
(or
any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents or of exercising
any
rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Collateral Agent) by
or
through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice
of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining
to
such duties. The Collateral Agent may also from time to time, when the
Collateral Agent deems it to be necessary or desirable, appoint one or more
trustees, co-trustees, collateral co-agents, collateral subagents or
attorneys-in-fact (each, a “Supplemental
Collateral Agent”)
with
respect to all or any part of the Collateral; provided,
however,
that no
such Supplemental Collateral Agent shall be authorized to take any action with
respect to any Collateral unless and except to the extent expressly authorized
in writing by the Collateral Agent. Should any instrument in writing from any
Loan Party be required by any Supplemental Collateral Agent so appointed by
the
Collateral Agent to more fully or certainly vest in and confirm to such
Supplemental Collateral Agent such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the
Borrower shall, or shall cause such Loan Party to, execute, acknowledge and
deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by the Collateral
Agent. If any Supplemental Collateral Agent, or successor thereto, shall die,
become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all rights, powers, privileges
and duties of such Supplemental Collateral Agent, to the extent permitted by
law, shall automatically vest in and be exercised by the Collateral Agent until
the appointment of a new Supplemental Collateral Agent. No Agent shall be
responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent, attorney-in-fact
or
Supplemental Collateral Agent that it selects in accordance with the foregoing
provisions of this Section 7.01(c) in the absence of such Agent’s gross
negligence or willful misconduct.
SECTION
7.02. Agents’
Reliance, Etc.
Neither
any Agent 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 the Loan Documents, except for its or their own gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the generality of the
foregoing, each Agent: (a) may treat the payee of any Note as the holder
thereof until, in the case of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative
Agent
receives and accepts an Assignment and Acceptance entered into by the Lender
that is the payee of such Note, as assignor, and an Eligible Assignee, as
assignee, or, in the case of any other Agent, such Agent has received notice
from the Administrative Agent that it has received and accepted such Assignment
and Acceptance, in each case as provided in Section 9.07; (b) may consult
with legal counsel (including counsel for any Loan Party), independent public
accountants and other experts selected by it with reasonable care and shall
not
be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in
accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts;
(c) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender Party and shall not
be responsible to any Lender Party for any statements, warranties or
representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with the
Loan
Documents; (d) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the
performance, observance or satisfaction of any of the terms, covenants or
conditions of any Loan Document on the part of any Loan Party or the existence
at any time of any Default under the Loan Documents or to inspect the property
(including the books and records) of any Loan Party and shall not be deemed
to
have notice or knowledge of a Default or Event of Default unless it receives
a
written notice from the Borrower expressly stating that a Default or Event
of
Default has occurred; (e) shall not be responsible to any Lender Party for
the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency
or value of, or the perfection or priority of any lien or security interest
created or purported to be created under or in connection with, any Loan
Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and
(f) shall incur no liability under or in respect of any Loan Document by
acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing
(which may be by telegram, telecopy or telex) believed by it to be genuine
and
signed or sent by the proper party or parties.
SECTION
7.03. Wachovia
and Affiliates.
With respect to its Commitments, the Advances made by it and the Notes
issued to it, if any, Wachovia shall have the same rights and powers under
the
Loan Documents as any other Lender Party and may exercise the same as though
it
were not an Agent; and the term “Lender Party” or “Lender Parties” shall, unless
otherwise expressly indicated, include Wachovia in its individual capacity.
Wachovia and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as
trustee under indentures of, accept investment banking engagements from and
generally engage in any kind of business with, any Loan Party, any of its
Subsidiaries and any Person that may do business with or own securities of
any
Loan Party or any such Subsidiary, all as if Wachovia was not an Agent and
without any duty to account therefor to the Lender Parties. No Agent shall
have
any duty to disclose any information obtained or received by it or any of its
Affiliates relating to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent
such information was obtained or received in any capacity other than as such
Agent.
SECTION
7.04. Lender
Party Credit Decision.
Each Lender Party acknowledges that it has, independently and without
reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender Party and based on the financial
statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender Party also acknowledges
that
it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender
Party 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.
SECTION
7.05. Indemnification.
(a)
Each
Lender Party severally agrees to indemnify each Agent (to the extent not
promptly reimbursed by the Loan Parties ) from and against such Lender Party’s
ratable share (determined as provided below) of 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 such Agent in any way relating to or
arising out of the Loan Documents or any action taken or omitted by such Agent
under the Loan Documents (collectively, the “Indemnified
Costs”);
provided,
however,
that no
Lender Party shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or
disbursements resulting from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct
as found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent
jurisdiction. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender Party agrees
to
reimburse each Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any costs
and
expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) payable
by the Borrower under Section 9.04, to the extent that such Agent is not
promptly reimbursed for such costs and expenses by the Borrower. In the case
of
any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified
Costs, this Section 7.05 applies whether any such investigation, litigation
or proceeding is brought by any Lender Party or any other Person.
(b) Each
Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to indemnify the Issuing Bank (to
the
extent not promptly reimbursed by the Borrower) from and against such Revolving
Credit Lender’s ratable share (determined as provided below) of 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 the Issuing Bank in any way
relating to or arising out of the Loan Documents or any action taken or omitted
by the Issuing Bank under the Loan Documents; provided,
however,
that no
Lender Party shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or
disbursements resulting from the Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or willful
misconduct as found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent
jurisdiction. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Revolving Credit Lender
agrees to reimburse the Issuing Bank promptly upon demand for its ratable share
of any costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses
of
counsel) payable by the Borrower under Section 9.04, to the extent that the
Issuing Bank is not promptly reimbursed for such costs and expenses by the
Borrower.
(c) For
purposes of this Section 7.05, the Lender Parties’ respective ratable
shares of any amount shall be determined, at any time, according to the sum
of
(i) the aggregate principal amount of the Advances outstanding at such time
and owing to the respective Lender Parties, (ii) their respective Pro Rata
Shares of the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding
at
such time and (iii) the aggregate unused portions of their respective
Revolving Credit Commitments and Term Commitments at such time; provided
that the
aggregate principal amount of Swing Line Advances owing to the Swing Line Bank
and the aggregate principal amount of L/C Credit Extensions owing to the Issuing
Bank shall be considered to be owed to the Revolving Credit Lenders ratably
in
accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitments. The failure
of
any Lender Party to reimburse any Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may
be,
promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any amount required to be paid
by
the Lender Parties to such Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, as
provided herein shall not relieve any other Lender Party of its obligation
hereunder to reimburse such Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be,
for
its ratable share of such amount, but no Lender Party shall be responsible
for
the failure of any other Lender Party to reimburse such Agent or the Issuing
Bank, as the case may be, for such other Lender Party’s ratable share of such
amount. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of any Lender
Party hereunder, the agreement and obligations of each Lender Party contained
in
this Section 7.05 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest
and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents.
SECTION
7.06. Successor
Agents. Any
Agent
may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lender Parties
and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have
the
right to appoint a successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so
appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment,
within 30 days after the retiring Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then
the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lender Parties, appoint a successor
Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United
States or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of
at
least $250,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder
by
a successor Agent and, in the case of a successor Collateral Agent, upon the
execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments
thereto, and such amendments or supplements to such other instruments or
notices, as the Required Lenders reasonably determine to be necessary, or as
the
Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order to continue the perfection
of
the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents, such
successor Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers,
discretion, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent
shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents.
If
within 45 days after written notice is given of the retiring Agent’s resignation
under this Section 7.06 no successor Agent shall have been appointed and shall
have accepted such appointment, then on such 45th
day
(a) the retiring Agent’s resignation shall become effective, (b) the
retiring Agent shall thereupon be discharged from its duties and obligations
under the Loan Documents and (c) the Required Lenders shall thereafter
perform all duties of the retiring Agent under the Loan Documents until such
time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided
above. After any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as Agent shall have
become effective, the provisions of this Article VII shall inure to its
benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent
under this Agreement.
SECTION
7.07. Administrative
Agent May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation,
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other
judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent
(irrespective of whether the principal of any Advance or Letter of Credit shall
then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise
and
irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand
on
any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such
proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to
file
and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing
and
unpaid in respect of the Advances, Letter of Credit Agreements and all other
Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may
be
necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lender Parties and
the
Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lender Parties and the
Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other
amounts due the Lender Parties and the Administrative Agent under Sections
2.07,
2.08(b) and 9.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to
collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on
any
such claims and to distribute the same;
and
any
custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other
similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each
Lender Party to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the
event
that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments
directly to the Lender Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount
due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the
Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due
the
Administrative Agent under Sections 2.08 and 9.04.
Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender Party any
plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Obligations or the rights of any Lender Party or to authorize the Administrative
Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender Party in any such
proceeding.
SECTION
7.08. Collateral
and Guaranty Matters.
The Lender Parties (on behalf of themselves and any affiliated Secured
Hedge Banks) and the Secured Hedge Banks irrevocably authorize the
Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, in connection with
a
sale of assets or Equity Interests of a Subsidiary of the Borrower permitted
under the Loan Documents:
(a) to
release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent
(and/or the Lender Parties and the Secured Hedge Banks, as the case may be)
under any Loan Document or Secured Hedge Agreement; and
(b) to
release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person
ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted
hereunder.
Upon
request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will
confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or
subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release
any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty in either case pursuant
to
this Section 7.08.
SECTION
7.09. Other
Agents; Arrangers and Managers.
None of the Lender Parties or other Persons identified on the facing page
or signature pages of this Agreement as a “syndication agent,” “documentation
agent,” “bookrunner manager,” “bookrunner,” “lead arranger,” “co-arranger” or
“arranger” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or
duty under this Agreement other than to the extent expressly set forth herein
and, in the case of such Lenders, those applicable to all Lender Parties as
such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lender Parties or other
Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship
with any Lender. Each Lender Party acknowledges that it has not relied, and
will
not rely, on any of the Lender Parties or other Persons so identified in
deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action
hereunder.
ARTICLE
VIII
GUARANTY
SECTION
8.01. Guaranty;
Limitation of Liability. (a)
Each
Guarantor except when and as released upon the occurrence of a Permitted
Disposition, jointly and severally, hereby absolutely, unconditionally and
irrevocably guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at scheduled
maturity or on any date of a required prepayment or by acceleration, demand
or
otherwise, of all Obligations of each other Loan Party now or hereafter existing
under or in respect of the Loan Documents and the Secured Hedge Agreements
(including, without limitation, any extensions, modifications, substitutions,
amendments or renewals of any or all of the foregoing Obligations), whether
direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, and whether for principal,
reimbursement obligations, interest (including Post Petition Interest),
premiums, fees, indemnities, contract causes of action, costs, expenses or
otherwise (such Obligations being the “Guaranteed
Obligations”),
and
agrees to pay any and all expenses (including, without limitation, fees and
expenses of counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured
Party in enforcing any rights under this Guaranty or any other Loan Document
or
any Secured Hedge Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
each Guarantor’s liability shall extend to all amounts that constitute part of
the Guaranteed Obligations and would be owed by any other Loan Party to any
Secured Party under or in respect of the Loan Documents or the Secured Hedge
Agreements but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due
to
the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving
such other Loan Party.
(b) Each
Guarantor, and by its acceptance of this Guaranty, the Administrative Agent
and
each other Secured Party, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such
Persons that this Guaranty and the Obligations of each
Guarantor hereunder not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for
purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform
Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar foreign, federal or state law to the
extent applicable to this Guaranty and the Obligations of each Guarantor
hereunder. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Administrative Agent,
the
other Secured Parties and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the
Obligations of each Guarantor under this Guaranty at any time shall be limited
to the maximum amount as will result in the Obligations of such Guarantor under
this Guaranty not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance (after taking
into account the provisions of paragraph (c) below).
(c) Each
Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that in the event any
payment shall be required to be made to any Secured Party under this Guaranty
or
any other guaranty, such Guarantor will contribute, to the maximum extent
permitted by law, such amounts to each other Guarantor and each other guarantor
so as to maximize the aggregate amount paid to the Secured Parties under or
in
respect of the Loan Documents.
SECTION
8.02. Guaranty
Absolute.
Each
Guarantor guarantees that the Guaranteed Obligations will be paid strictly
in
accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, regardless of any law,
regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting
any
of such terms or the rights of any Secured Party with respect thereto. The
Obligations of each Guarantor under or in respect of this Guaranty are
independent of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Obligations of any other
Loan Party under or in respect of the Loan Documents, and a separate action
or
actions may be brought and prosecuted against each Guarantor to enforce this
Guaranty, irrespective of whether any action is brought against the Borrower
or
any other Loan Party or whether the Borrower or any other Loan Party is joined
in any such action or actions. The liability of each Guarantor under this
Guaranty shall be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional irrespective of,
and
each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now have or
hereafter acquire in any way relating to, any or all of the
following:
(a) any
lack
of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any agreement or
instrument relating thereto;
(b) any
change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of,
all
or any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Obligations of any other
Loan
Party under or in respect of the Loan Documents, or any other amendment or
waiver of or any consent to departure from any Loan Document, including, without
limitation, any increase in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from the
extension of additional credit to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries
or
otherwise;
(c) any
taking, exchange, release or non-perfection of any Collateral or any other
collateral, or any taking, release or amendment or waiver of, or consent to
departure from, any other guaranty, for all or any of the Guaranteed
Obligations;
(d) any
manner of application of Collateral or any other collateral, or proceeds
thereof, to all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any manner of sale
or
other disposition of any Collateral or any other collateral for all or any
of
the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Obligations of any Loan Party under
the
Loan Documents or any other assets of any Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(e) any
change, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence
of
any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries;
(f) any
failure of any Secured Party to disclose to any Loan Party any information
relating to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations,
performance, properties or prospects of any other Loan Party now or hereafter
known to such Secured Party (each Guarantor waiving any duty on the part of
the
Secured Parties to disclose such information);
(g) the
failure of any other Person to execute or deliver this Guaranty, any Guaranty
Supplement or any other guaranty or agreement or the release or reduction of
liability of any Guarantor or other guarantor or surety with respect to the
Guaranteed Obligations; or
(h) any
other
circumstance (including, without limitation, any statute of limitations) or
any
existence of or reliance on any representation by any Secured Party that might
otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party
or any other guarantor or surety.
This
Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be,
if
at any time any payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or
must otherwise be returned by any Secured Party or any other Person upon the
insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or any other Loan
Party
or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.
SECTION
8.03. Waivers
and Acknowledgments. (a)
Each
Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives promptness, diligence,
notice of acceptance, presentment, demand for performance, notice of
nonperformance, default, acceleration, protest or dishonor and any other notice
with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations and this Guaranty and any
requirement that any Secured Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien
or any property subject thereto or exhaust any right or take any action against
any Loan Party or any other Person or any Collateral.
(b) Each
Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any right to revoke
this
Guaranty and acknowledges that this Guaranty is continuing in nature and applies
to all Guaranteed Obligations, whether existing now or in the
future.
(c) Each
Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives (i) any defense
arising by reason of any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies
by
any Secured Party that in any manner impairs, reduces, releases or otherwise
adversely affects the subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution
or
indemnification rights of such Guarantor or other rights of such Guarantor
to
proceed against any of the other Loan Parties, any other guarantor or any other
Person or any Collateral and (ii) any defense based on any right of set-off
or counterclaim against or in respect of the Obligations of such Guarantor
hereunder.
(d) Each
Guarantor acknowledges that the Collateral Agent may, without notice to or
demand upon such Guarantor and without affecting the liability of such Guarantor
under this Guaranty, foreclose under any mortgage by nonjudicial sale, and
each
Guarantor hereby waives any defense to the recovery by the Collateral Agent
and
the other Secured Parties against such Guarantor of any deficiency after such
nonjudicial sale and any defense or benefits that may be afforded by applicable
law.
(e) Each
Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any duty on the part
of
any Secured Party to disclose to such Guarantor any matter, fact or thing
relating to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations,
performance, properties or prospects of any other Loan Party or any of its
Subsidiaries now or hereafter known by such Secured Party.
(f) Each
Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive substantial direct and indirect
benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Loan Documents
and
that the waivers set forth in Section 8.02 and this Section 8.03 are
knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
SECTION
8.04. Payments
Free and Clear of Taxes, Etc.
Any
and
all payments made by any Guarantor under or in respect of this Guaranty or
any
other Loan Document shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.12, free and
clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future Taxes and
subject to the limitations set forth herein.
SECTION
8.05. Continuing
Guaranty; Assignments.
This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty and shall (a) remain in full force
and effect until the latest of (i) the payment in full of the Guaranteed
Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty, (ii) the
Termination Date for all of the Facilities and (iii) the latest date of
expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit, (b) be binding upon each
Guarantor, its successors and assigns and (c) inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Lender Parties, the Administrative Agent and their
successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing clause (c), any Lender Party may assign or otherwise transfer all
or
any portion of its rights and obligations hereunder (including, without
limitation, all or any portion of its Commitment, the Advances owing to it
and
the Note or Notes held by it) to any other Person, and such other Person shall
thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to
such
Lender Party herein or otherwise, in each case as provided in Section 9.07.
No
Guarantor shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest
herein without the prior written consent of the Administrative
Agent.
SECTION
8.06. Subrogation.
Each
Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees not to exercise any
rights that it may now have or hereafter acquire against the Borrower, any
other
Loan Party or any other insider guarantor that arise from the existence,
payment, performance or enforcement of such Guarantor’s Obligations under or in
respect of this Guaranty or any other Loan Document, including, without
limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution
or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of any
Secured Party against the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other insider
guarantor or any Collateral, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises
in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without
limitation, the right to take or receive from the Borrower, any other Loan
Party
or any other insider guarantor, directly or indirectly, in cash or other
property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account
of
such claim, remedy or right, unless and until all of the Guaranteed Obligations
and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty shall have been paid in full
in cash, all Letters of Credit and all Secured Hedge Agreements shall have
expired or been terminated and the Commitments shall have expired or been
terminated. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor in violation of the
immediately preceding sentence at any time prior to the latest of (a) the
payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts
payable under this Guaranty, (b) the Termination Date of all Facilities and
(c) the latest date of expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit
and all Secured Hedge Agreements, such amount shall be received and held in
trust for the benefit of the Secured Parties, shall be segregated from other
property and funds of such Guarantor and shall forthwith be paid or delivered
to
the Administrative Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary
endorsement or assignment) to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed
Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty, whether matured
or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, or to be
held
as Collateral for any Guaranteed Obligations or other amounts payable under
this
Guaranty thereafter arising. If (i) any Guarantor shall make payment to any
Secured Party of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) all of
the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty
shall have been paid in full in cash, (iii) the Termination Date for all
Facilities shall have occurred and (iv) all Letters of Credit and all
Secured Hedge Agreements shall have expired or been terminated, the Parties
will, at such Guarantor’s request and expense, execute and deliver to such
Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation
or
warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor
of
an interest in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from such payment made
by
such Guarantor pursuant to this Guaranty.
SECTION
8.07. Guaranty
Supplements.
Upon
the
execution and delivery by any Person of a guaranty supplement in substantially
the form of Exhibit E hereto (each, a “Guaranty
Supplement”),
(a) such Person shall be referred to as an “Additional
Guarantor”
and
shall become and be a Guarantor hereunder, and each reference in this Guaranty
to a “Guarantor”
shall
also mean and be a reference to such Additional Guarantor, and (b) each
reference herein to “
this Guaranty”,
“hereunder”,
“hereof”
or
words of like import referring to this Guaranty, and each reference in any
other
Loan Document to the “Guaranty”,
“thereunder”,
“thereof”
or
words of like import referring to this Guaranty, shall mean and be a reference
to this Guaranty as supplemented by such Guaranty Supplement.
SECTION
8.08. Subordination.
Each
Guarantor hereby subordinates any and all debts, liabilities and other
Obligations owed to such Guarantor by each other Loan Party (the “Subordinated
Obligations”)
to the
Guaranteed Obligations to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth
below in this Section 8.08:
(a) Prohibited
Payments, Etc.
Except
after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default
(including the commencement and continuation of any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law relating to any other Loan Party), each Guarantor may receive
regularly scheduled payments from any other Loan Party on account of the
Subordinated Obligations. After the occurrence and during the continuance of
any
Default (including the commencement and continuation of any proceeding under
any
Bankruptcy Law relating to any other Loan Party), however, unless the Required
Lenders otherwise agree, no Guarantor shall demand, accept or take any action
to
collect any payment on account of the Subordinated Obligations.
(b) Prior
Payment of Guaranteed Obligations.
In any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law relating to any other Loan Party, each
Guarantor agrees that the Secured Parties shall be entitled to receive payment
in full in cash of all Guaranteed Obligations (including all interest and
expenses accruing after the commencement of a proceeding under any Bankruptcy
Law, whether or not constituting an allowed claim in such proceeding
(“Post
Petition Interest”))
before such Guarantor receives payment of any Subordinated
Obligations.
(c) Turn-Over.
After
the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default (including
the
commencement and continuation of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law
relating to any other Loan Party), each Guarantor shall, if the Administrative
Agent so requests, collect, enforce and receive payments on account of the
Subordinated Obligations as trustee for the Secured Parties and deliver such
payments to the Administrative Agent on account of the Guaranteed Obligations
(including all Post Petition Interest), together with any necessary endorsements
or other instruments of transfer, but without reducing or affecting in any
manner the liability of such Guarantor under the other provisions of this
Guaranty.
(d) Administrative
Agent Authorization.
After
the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default (including
the
commencement and continuation of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law
relating to any other Loan Party), the Administrative Agent is authorized and
empowered (but without any obligation to so do), in its discretion, (i) in
the
name of each Guarantor, to collect and enforce, and to submit claims in respect
of, Subordinated Obligations and to apply any amounts received thereon to the
Guaranteed Obligations (including any and all Post Petition Interest), and
(ii)
to require each Guarantor (A) to collect and enforce, and to submit claims
in
respect of, Subordinated Obligations and (B) to pay any amounts received on
such
obligations to the Administrative Agent for application to the Guaranteed
Obligations (including any and all Post Petition Interest).
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
9.01. Amendments,
Etc.
No
amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes or any
other
Loan Document, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan
Party therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in
writing and signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent
on
their behalf upon its receipt of the consent thereof) and the Borrower or the
applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the
Administrative Agent, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only
in
the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided,
however,
that no
such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) Except
as
provided in Section 3.03, waive any of the conditions, in the case of the
Initial Extension of Credit, specified in Section 3.02, without the written
consent of each Lender (other than any Lender that is, at such time, a
Defaulting Lender);
(b) extend
or
increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated
pursuant to Article VI) without the written consent of such Lender or extend
or
increase the amount of the aggregate Commitments under any Facility, or amend
the pro rata treatment of any reduction of Commitments set forth in Section
2.05
or of distribution of payments set forth in Section 2.11(f), without the written
consent of each Lender
directly affected thereby;
(c) postpone
any date scheduled for any payment of principal or interest under
Section 2.04, 2.06(b) or 2.07, or any date fixed by the Administrative
Agent for the payment of fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of
them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document or extend the maximum duration
of an Interest Period without the written consent of each Lender directly
affected thereby;
(d) reduce
the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Advance
or
L/C Disbursement, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any
other Loan Document, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio
(including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the
Applicable Percentage that would result in a reduction of any interest rate
on
any Loan or any fee payable hereunder without the written consent of each Lender
directly affected thereby; provided,
however,
that
only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the
definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay
interest at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder
(or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would
be
to reduce the rate of interest on any Advance or L/C Disbursement or to reduce
any fee payable hereunder;
(e) change
the order of application of any reduction in the Commitments or any prepayment
of Advances between the Facilities from the application thereof set forth in
the
applicable provisions of Section 2.06(a) and (b) respectively, in any
manner that materially and adversely affects the Lenders under such Facilities
or require the permanent reduction of the Revolving Credit Facility at any
time
when all or a portion of the Term Facility remains in effect without the written
consent of each such Lender directly affected thereby;
(f) change
any provision of this Section 9.01 without the written consent of each Lender,
or change (i) the definition of (A) “Required Lenders” without the written
consent of each Lender or (B) “Secured Obligations”, without the written consent
of each Hedge Bank or (ii) any other provision hereof specifying the number
or
percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights
hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without
the
written consent of each Lender;
(g) release
all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of
related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender (it being
understood that any Permitted Disposition of Logan’s pursuant to Section 5.02(e)
shall not be subject to this clause);
(h) release
one or more Guarantors (or otherwise limit such Guarantors’ liability with
respect to the Obligations owing to the Agents and the Lender Parties under
the
Guaranties) if such release or limitation is in respect of a material portion
of
the value of the Guaranties to the Lender Parties, without the written consent
of each Lender (it being understood that any Permitted Disposition of Logan’s
pursuant to Section 5.02(e) shall not be subject to this clause);
or
(i) as
to any
Facility, impose any greater restriction on the ability of any Lender under
such
Facility to assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the
written consent of Lenders having at least a majority of the sum of (i) the
unused portion, if any, of the Commitments under such Facility plus
(ii) the
total outstanding amount of the Advances under such Facility, in each case,
at
such time then in effect. For purposes of this clause, the aggregate amount
of
each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Disbursements
shall be deemed to be held by such Lender; or
(j) amend
or
waive any of the conditions set forth in Sections 3.01, 3.02 or 3.03 relating
to
the obligations of any Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit
Advances, Swing Line Advances or L/C Credit Extensions without the written
consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders;
and
provided
further
that (i)
no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the
Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Bank, as the case may be, in addition to the
Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or Obligations
of
the Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Bank, as the case may be, under this
Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit
issued or to be issued by the Issuing Bank; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent
shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition
to
the Lenders required above, affect the rights or Obligations of, or any fees
or
other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or
any
other Loan Document; (iii) Section 9.07(k) may not be amended, waived or
otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part
of whose Advances are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment,
waiver or other modification; and (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights
or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties
thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender
shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent
hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or
extended without the consent of such Lender.
SECTION
9.02. Notices,
Etc.
(a)
All
notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing
(including fax communication) and mailed, faxed or delivered, if to any Loan
Party at the address specified below its name on the signature pages hereof
or
of a Supplement to the Pledge Agreement delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(j)
or
(k); if to any Person that is a Lender Party as of the date hereof, at its
Domestic Lending Office specified in the Lender Addendum delivered by such
Lender Party; if to any other Lender Party, at its Domestic Lending Office
specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender
Party; if to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, at its address
at
201 South College Street, NC0608/CP8, Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0608,
Attention: Syndication Agency Services, Telecopier: 704-383-0288, Telephone:
704-374-2698, with a copy to: Wachovia Bank, National Association, One Wachovia
Center, 6th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28288-0760, Attention: Jorge Gonzalez,
Telecopier: 704-383-6647, Telephone: 704-383-8461; or, as to any party, at
such
other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the
other parties. All such notices and other communications shall, when mailed
or
faxed, be effective when deposited in the mails or transmitted by fax, except
that notices and communications to any Agent pursuant to Article II, III or
VII shall not be effective until received by such Agent. Delivery by fax or
electronic mail of an executed counterpart of a signature page to any amendment
or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes or of any Exhibit
hereto to be executed and delivered hereunder shall be effective as delivery
of
an original executed counterpart thereof.
(b) The
Loan
Parties hereby agree that they will provide to the Administrative Agent all
information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish
to
the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents, including, without
limitation, all notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other
reports, certificates and other information materials, but excluding any such
communication that (i) relates to a request for a new, or a Conversion of an
existing, Borrowing or other Extension of Credit (including any election of
an
interest rate or interest period relating thereto), (ii) relates to the payment
of any principal or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled
date therefor, (iii) provides notice of any Default or Event of Default under
this Agreement or (iv) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition
precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any Borrowing or other
Extension of Credit thereunder (all such non-excluded communications being
referred to herein collectively as “Communications”),
by
faxing the Communications to a telecopier number specified by the Administrative
Agent to the Loan Parties. In addition, each Loan Party agrees to continue
to
provide the Communications to the Administrative Agent in the manner specified
in the Loan Documents but only to the extent requested by the Administrative
Agent. Each Loan Party further agrees that the Administrative Agent may make
the
Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on
SyndTrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the
“Platform”).
(c) THE
PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED
BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR
THE
ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR
OMISSIONS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED
OR
STATUTORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR
FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE AGENT PARTIES IN
CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, ADVISORS OR REPRESENTATIVES
(COLLECTIVELY, “AGENT PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE LOAN PARTIES , ANY
LENDER PARTY OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING
OUT
OF THE LOAN PARTIES’ OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF
COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LIABILITY OF
ANY
AGENT PARTY IS FOUND IN A FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT BY A COURT OF COMPETENT
JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED PRIMARILY FROM SUCH AGENT PARTY’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE
OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.
(d) The
Administrative Agent agrees that the receipt of the Communications by the
Administrative Agent at its telecopier number set forth above shall constitute
effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for
purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender Party agrees that notice to it
(as
provided in the next sentence) specifying that the Communications have been
posted to the Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications
to such Lender Party for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender Party
agrees to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by fax) from
time to time of such Lender Party’s E-mail address to which the foregoing notice
may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may
be
sent to such E-mail address. Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender Party to give any notice or other
communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in
such Loan Document.
SECTION
9.03. No
Waiver; Remedies.
No failure on the part of any Lender Party or any Agent to exercise, and
no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any Note or any other
Loan
Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the
exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and
not
exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
SECTION
9.04. Costs
and Expenses.
(a)
The Loan
Parties agree to pay from time to time on demand (i) all costs and expenses
of each Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery,
administration, modification and amendment of, or any consent or waiver under
(in each case whether or not effective), the Loan Documents (including, without
limitation, (A) all due diligence, collateral review, syndication,
transportation, computer, duplication, appraisal, audit, insurance, consultant,
search, filing and recording fees and expenses and (B) the reasonable fees
and expenses of counsel for each Agent with respect thereto, with respect to
advising such Agent as to its rights and responsibilities, or the perfection,
protection, interpretation or preservation of rights or interests, under the
Loan Documents, with respect to negotiations with any Loan Party or with other
creditors of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries arising out of any
Default or any events or circumstances that may give rise to a Default and
with
respect to presenting claims in or otherwise participating in or monitoring
any
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar proceeding involving creditors’ rights
generally and any proceeding ancillary thereto) and (ii) all costs and
expenses of each Agent and each Lender Party in connection with the enforcement
of the Loan Documents, whether in any action, suit or litigation, or any
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar proceeding affecting creditors’ rights
generally (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses
of
counsel for the Administrative Agent and each Lender Party with respect
thereto).
(b) The
Loan
Parties agree to indemnify, defend and save and hold harmless each Agent, each
Lender Party and each of their Affiliates and their respective officers,
directors, employees, agents and advisors (each, an “Indemnified
Party”)
from
and against, and shall pay on demand, any and all claims, damages, losses,
liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel and settlement costs) that may be incurred by or asserted
or
awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in
connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection
with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or preparation of a defense
in
connection therewith) (i) the Facilities, the actual or proposed use of the
proceeds of the Advances or the Letters of Credit, the Transaction Documents
or
any of the transactions contemplated thereby or (ii) the actual or alleged
presence of Hazardous Materials on any property of any Loan Party or any of
its
Subsidiaries or any Environmental Action relating in any way to any Loan Party
or any of its Subsidiaries, except to the extent such claim, damage, loss,
liability or expense is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court
of
competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross
negligence or willful misconduct. In the case of an investigation, litigation
or
other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 9.04(b) applies, such
indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation
or
proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, its directors, shareholders or
creditors or an Indemnified Party or any other Person, whether or not any
Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not the
Transaction is consummated. Each Loan Party also agrees that, without the prior
written consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld),
it will not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any
pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification has been or could be sought under the indemnification provisions
hereof (whether or not any Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party
to
such claim, action or proceeding), unless such settlement, compromise or consent
(a) includes a full and unconditional written release of each Indemnified Party
from all liability arising out of such claim, action or proceeding and (b)
does
not include any statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or failure
to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.
In
the
event that an Indemnified Party is requested or required to appear as a witness
in any action brought by or on behalf of or against any Loan Party or any of
its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates in which such Indemnified Party is not named as
a
defendant, such Loan Party agrees to reimburse such Indemnified Party for all
reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with such Indemnified Party’s
appearing and preparing to appear as such a witness, including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of its legal counsel. Each Loan
Party also agrees not to assert any claim against any Agent, any Lender Party
or
any of their Affiliates, or any of their respective officers, directors,
employees, agents and advisors, on any theory of liability, for special,
indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating
to the Facilities, the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances
or
the Letters of Credit, the Transaction Documents or any of the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for direct, as opposed to
consequential, damages determined in a final nonappealable judgment by a court
of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross
negligence or willful misconduct.
(c) If
any
payment or prepayment of principal of, or Conversion of, any Eurodollar Rate
Advance is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Lender Party other
than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance, as a result of
a
payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.06, 2.09(b)(i) or 2.10(d),
acceleration of the maturity of the Advances pursuant to Section 6.01 or
for any other reason, or by an Eligible Assignee to a Lender Party other than
on
the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance upon an assignment of
rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.07 as a result
of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.10(e), or if the Borrower
fails to make any payment or prepayment of an Advance for which a notice of
prepayment has been given or that is otherwise required to be made, whether
pursuant to Section 2.04, 2.06 or 6.01 or otherwise, the Borrower shall,
upon demand by such Lender Party (with a copy of such demand to the
Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such
Lender Party any amounts required to compensate such Lender Party for any
additional losses, costs or expenses that it may reasonably incur as a result
of
such payment or Conversion or such failure to pay or prepay, as the case may
be,
including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits),
cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of
deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender Party to fund or maintain such
Advance.
(d) If
any
Loan Party fails to pay when due any costs, expenses or other amounts payable
by
it under any Loan Document, including, without limitation, fees and expenses
of
counsel and indemnities, such amount may be paid on behalf of such Loan Party
by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party, in its sole
discretion.
(e) Without
prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of any Loan Party hereunder
or
under any other Loan Document, the agreements and obligations of the Loan
Parties contained in Sections 2.10 and 2.12 and this Section 9.04 shall
survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable
hereunder and under any of the other Loan Documents.
SECTION
9.05. Right
of Set-off.
Upon (a) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default and (b) the making of the request or the granting of the consent
specified by Section 6.01 to authorize the Administrative Agent to declare
the Advances due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.01,
each Agent and each Lender Party and each of their respective Affiliates is
hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, to set off and otherwise apply any and all deposits (general
or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other
indebtedness at any time owing by such Agent, such Lender Party or such
Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and
all of the Obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under the
Loan
Documents, irrespective of whether such Agent or such Lender Party shall have
made any demand under this Agreement and although such Obligations may be
unmatured. Each Agent and each Lender Party agrees promptly to notify the
Borrower after any such set-off and application; provided,
however,
that the
failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and
application. The rights of each Agent and each Lender Party and their respective
Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies
(including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Agent, such
Lender Party and their respective Affiliates may have.
SECTION
9.06. Binding
Effect.
This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by
each Loan Party and each Agent and the Administrative Agent shall have been
notified by each Person that is a Lender Party as of the date hereof that such
Lender Party has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure
to
the benefit of each Loan Party, each Agent and each Lender Party and their
respective successors and assigns, except that no Loan Party shall have the
right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior
written consent of all the Lender Parties.
SECTION
9.07. Assignments
and Participations.
(a)
Each
Lender (and the Existing Issuing Bank, Wachovia and any subsequent Issuing
Bank)
may, and so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if
demanded by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.10(e) upon at least five
Business Days’ notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent will, assign
to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without
limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment or Commitments, the Advances
(including, for the purposes of this Section 9.07(a), participations in Letters
of Credit and in Swing Line Advances) owing to it and the Note or Notes held
by
it); provided,
however,
that
(i) each such assignment shall be of a uniform, and not a varying,
percentage of all rights and obligations under and in respect of any or all
Facilities (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect
to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date”
is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date),
(ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Person that, immediately
prior to such assignment, was a Lender, an Affiliate of any Lender or an
Approved Fund of any Lender or an assignment of all of a Lender’s rights and
obligations under this Agreement, the aggregate amount of the Commitments being
assigned to such Eligible Assignee pursuant to such assignment (determined
as of
the date of the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment and
treating related Approved Funds as one assignee for this purpose) shall in
no
event be less than $1,000,000 (or such lesser amount as shall be approved by
the
Administrative Agent) under each Facility for which a Commitment is being
assigned, (iii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a
proportionate part of all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under
this Agreement with respect to the Advances or the Commitment assigned, except
that this clause (iii) shall not (x) apply to rights in respect of Swing Line
Advances or (y) prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its
rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis,
(iv) each such assignment shall be to an Eligible Assignee, (v) each
such assignment made as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.10(e) shall be arranged by the Borrower after consultation with
the Administrative Agent and shall be either an assignment of all of the rights
and obligations of the assigning Lender under this Agreement or an assignment
of
a portion of such rights and obligations made concurrently with another such
assignment or other such assignments that together cover all of the rights
and
obligations of the assigning Lender under this Agreement, (vi) no Lender
shall be obligated to make any such assignment as a result of a demand by the
Borrower pursuant to Section 2.10(e) unless and until such Lender shall have
received one or more payments from either the Borrower or one or more Eligible
Assignees in an aggregate amount at least equal to the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Advances owing to such Lender, together with accrued
interest thereon to the date of payment of such principal amount and all other
amounts payable to such Lender under this Agreement, (vii) no such assignments
shall be permitted without the consent of the Administrative Agent until the
Administrative Agent shall have notified the Lender Parties that syndication
of
the Commitments hereunder has been completed and (viii) the parties to each
such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, for
its
acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance, together
with any Note or Notes subject to such assignment and a processing and
recordation fee of $3,500; provided,
however,
that for
each such assignment made as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant
to
Section 2.10(e), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent the
applicable processing and recordation fee; provided
further
that
only one such fee shall be payable in connection with simultaneous assignments
to or by two or more Approved Funds.
(b) Upon
such
execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective
date
specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, (i) the assignee thereunder
shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder
have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, have the
rights and obligations of a Lender, the Swing Line Bank or the Issuing Bank,
as
the case may be, hereunder and (ii) the Lender Party assignor thereunder
shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned
by
it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights (other
than
its rights under Sections 2.10, 2.12 and 9.04 to the extent any claim
thereunder relates to an event arising prior to such assignment) and be released
from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment
and
Acceptance covering all of the remaining portion of an assigning Lender Party’s
rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender Party shall cease
to be
a party hereto).
(c) By
executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, each Lender Party
assignor thereunder and each assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with
each
other and the other parties thereto and hereto as follows: (i) other than
as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender Party
makes
no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to
any
statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with any
Loan
Document or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of, or the perfection or priority of any lien or security
interest created or purported to be created under or in connection with, any
Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto;
(ii) such assigning Lender Party makes no representation or warranty and
assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of any Loan
Party or the performance or observance by any Loan Party of any of its
obligations under any Loan Document or any other instrument or document
furnished pursuant thereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has
received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial
statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee
will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, such assigning Lender
Party or any other Lender Party 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; (v) such assignee
confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (vi) such assignee appoints and
authorizes each Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise
such powers and discretion under the Loan Documents as are delegated to such
Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers and discretion
as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee agrees that
it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that
by
the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender,
Swing Line Bank or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be.
(d) The
Administrative Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 9.02
a
copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and
a
register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lender Parties
and the Commitment under each Facility of, and principal amount of the Advances
owing under each Facility to, each Lender Party from time to time (the
“Register”).
The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agents and the Lender Parties may treat
each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender Party hereunder
for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for
inspection by the Borrower or any Agent at any reasonable time and from time
to
time upon reasonable prior notice.
(e) Upon
its
receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender Party
and an assignee, together with any Note or Notes (if any) subject to such
assignment, the Administrative Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance
has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit C-2 hereto,
(i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information
(the “Ownership Information”) contained therein in the Register and
(iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower and each other Agent. Any
transfer of an ownership interest in any Advance, including any right to
principal or interest payable with respect to the Advance, shall be subject
to
and conditioned upon the due recordation of such transfer and the Ownership
Information with respect to the transferee in the Register and such transfer
shall be effective only upon such recordation (and not prior thereto). In the
case of any assignment by a Lender, within five Business Days after its receipt
of such notice, the Borrower, at its own expense, shall execute and deliver
to
the Administrative Agent in exchange for the surrendered Note or Notes (if
any)
a new Note to the order of such Eligible Assignee in an amount equal to the
Commitment assumed by it under each Facility pursuant to such Assignment and
Acceptance and, if any assigning Lender that had a Note or Notes prior to such
Assignment has retained a Commitment hereunder under such Facility, a new Note
to the order of such assigning Lender in an amount equal to the Commitment
retained by it hereunder. Such new Note or Notes shall be in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such surrendered
Note or Notes, shall be dated the effective date of such Assignment and
Acceptance and shall otherwise be in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1
or A-2 hereto, as the case may be.
(f) The
Issuing Bank may assign to an Eligible Assignee all of its rights and
obligations under the undrawn portion of its Letter of Credit Commitment at
any
time; provided,
however,
that (i)
each such assignment shall be to an Eligible Assignee and (ii) the parties
to
each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent,
for
its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance,
together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500.
(g) Each
Lender Party may sell participations to one or more Persons (other than any
Loan
Party or any of its Affiliates) in or to all or a portion of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a
portion of its Commitments, the Advances (including such Lender’s participations
in L/C Credit Extensions and/or Swing Line Advances) owing to it and the Note
or
Notes (if any) held by it); provided,
however,
that
(i) such Lender Party’s obligations under this Agreement (including,
without limitation, its Commitments) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such
Lender Party shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for
the
performance of such obligations, (iii) such Lender Party shall remain the
holder of any such Note for all purposes of this Agreement, (iv) the Loan
Parties, the Agents and the other Lender Parties shall continue to deal solely
and directly with such Lender Party in connection with such Lender Party’s
rights and obligations under this Agreement and (v) no participant under
any such participation shall have any right to approve any amendment or waiver
of any provision of any Loan Document, or any consent to any departure by any
Loan Party therefrom, except to the extent that such amendment, waiver or
consent would reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Advances or any
fees
or other amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such
participation, postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or
interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in
each case to the extent subject to such participation, or release all or
substantially all of the Collateral
or
release any of the Subsidiary Guarantors from any of their Obligations under
the
Loan Documents if such release is in respect of all or substantially all of
the
value of the Guaranties. Each of the Loan Parties agrees that each participant
shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 8.04 and 9.04(b)
to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by
assignment pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section. To the extent permitted
by
law, each participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.05
as
though it were a Lender, provided
such
participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a
Lender.
A
participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections
2.10 and 2.12 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive
with respect to the participation sold to such participant, unless the sale
of
the participation to such participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written
consent.
(h) Any
Lender Party may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed
assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 9.07, disclose to the
assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant any information
relating to the Loan Parties furnished to such Lender Party by or on behalf
of
the Loan Parties; provided,
however,
that,
prior to any such disclosure, the assignee or participant or proposed assignee
or participant shall agree to preserve the confidentiality of any Confidential
Information received by it from such Lender Party.
(i) Notwithstanding
any other provision set forth in this Agreement, any Lender Party may at any
time create a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the
Advances owing to it and the Note or Notes (if any) held by it) in favor of
any
Federal Reserve Bank.
(j) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender that is a Fund may create
a security interest in all or any portion of the Advances owing to it and any
Note or Notes held by it to a creditor or the trustee for holders of obligations
owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or
securities, provided,
that
unless and until such creditor or trustee actually becomes a Lender in
compliance with the other provisions of this Section 9.07, (i) no such pledge
shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan
Documents and (ii) such creditor or trustee shall not be entitled to exercise
any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee
may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through
foreclosure or otherwise.
(k) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender Party (a “Granting
Lender”)
may
grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from
time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
(an “SPC”)
the
option to provide all or any part of any Advance that such Granting Lender
would
otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement, provided
that
(i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any
Advance, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise
fails to make all or any part of such Advance, the Granting Lender shall be
obligated to make such Advance pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of
an
Advance by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender
to the same extent, and as if, such Advance were made by such Granting Lender.
Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) no SPC shall be liable for any
indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender
Party would be liable, (ii) no SPC shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections
2.10 and 2.12 (or any other increased costs protection provision) and (iii)
the
Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including, without limitation, the
approval of any amendment or waiver of any provision of any Loan Document,
remain the Lender Party of record hereunder. In furtherance of the foregoing,
each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination
of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after
the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior Debt
of
any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting
against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency,
or
liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any SPC
may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of, the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign
all
or any portion of its interest in any Advance to the Granting Lender and
(ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating
to its funding of Advances to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or
provider of any surety or guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such
SPC. This subsection (k) may not be amended without the prior written consent
of
each Granting Lender, all or any part of whose Advances are being funded by
the
SPC at the time of such amendment.
(l) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Wachovia assigns
all
of its Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Advances pursuant
to
Section 9.07(a), Wachovia may, (i) upon 10 days’ notice to the Loan Parties
and the Lenders, resign as Issuing Bank and/or (ii) upon 10 days’ notice to the
Loan Parties, resign as Swing Line Bank. In the event of any such resignation
as
Issuing Bank or Swing Line Bank, the Loan Parties shall be entitled to appoint
from among the Lenders a successor Issuing Bank or Swing Line Bank hereunder;
provided,
however,
that no
failure by the Loan Parties to appoint any such successor shall affect the
resignation of Wachovia as Issuing Bank or Swing Line Bank, as the case may
be.
If Wachovia resigns as Issuing Bank, it shall retain all the rights and
obligations of the Issuing Bank hereunder with respect to all L/C Credit
Extensions outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as Issuing
Bank and all L/C Credit Extensions with respect thereto (including the right
to
require the Lenders to make Base Rate Advances or fund risk participations
in
unreimbursed amounts pursuant to Section 2.03). If Wachovia resigns as Swing
Line Bank, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Bank provided for
hereunder with respect to Swing Line Advances made by it and outstanding as
of
the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the
Lenders to make Base Rate Advances or fund risk participations in outstanding
Swing Line Advances pursuant to Section 2.02.
SECTION
9.08. Execution
in Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by
different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together
shall
constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery by telecopier or electronic
mail
of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement shall be
effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this
Agreement.
SECTION
9.09. No
Liability of the Issuing Bank.
The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary
or transferee of any Letter of Credit with respect to its use of such Letter
of
Credit. Neither the Issuing Bank nor any of its officers or directors shall
be
liable or responsible for: (a) the use that may be made of any Letter of Credit
or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee in connection
therewith; (b) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or of
any
endorsement thereon, even if such documents should prove to be in any or all
respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (c) payment by the Issuing
Bank against presentation of documents that do not comply with the terms of
a
Letter of Credit, including failure of any documents to bear any reference
or
adequate reference to the Letter of Credit; or (d) any other circumstances
whatsoever in making or failing to make payment under any Letter of Credit,
except that the Borrower shall have a claim against the Issuing Bank, and the
Issuing Bank shall be liable to the Borrower, to the extent of any direct,
but
not consequential, damages suffered by the Borrower that the Borrower proves
were caused by (i) the Issuing Bank’s willful misconduct or gross negligence as
determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent
jurisdiction in determining whether documents presented under any Letter of
Credit comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit or (ii) the Issuing Bank’s
willful failure to make lawful payment under a Letter of Credit after the
presentation to it of a draft and certificates strictly complying with the
terms
and conditions of the Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation
of
the foregoing, the Issuing Bank may accept documents that appear on their face
to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless
of
any notice or information to the contrary.
SECTION
9.10. Confidentiality.
Neither any Agent nor any Lender Party shall disclose any Confidential
Information to any Person without the consent of the Borrower, other than
(a) to such Agent’s or such Lender Party’s Affiliates and their officers,
directors, employees, agents and advisors and to any pledgee referred to in
Section 9.07(j) and any actual or prospective Eligible Assignees and
participants, and then only on a confidential basis, (b) as required by any
law, rule or regulation or judicial process, (c) as requested or required
by any state, Federal or foreign authority or examiner (including the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization or
quasi-regulatory authority) regulating such Lender Party, (d) to any rating
agency when required by it, provided
that,
prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve
the
confidentiality of any Confidential Information relating to the Loan Parties
received by it from such Lender Party, (e) in connection with any litigation
or
proceeding to which such Agent or such Lender Party or any of its Affiliates
may
be a party or (f) in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
SECTION
9.11. Release
of Collateral. Upon
the
sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of any item of Collateral of or
by
any Loan Party (including, without limitation, as a result of the sale, in
accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, of the Loan Party that owns
such Collateral) in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, the
Collateral Agent will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to such
Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence
the release of such item of Collateral from the Liens granted under the
Collateral Documents in accordance with the terms of the Loan
Documents.
SECTION
9.12. Patriot
Act Notice.
Each Lender Party and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on
behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the
requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record
information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the
name
and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender
or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in
accordance with the Patriot Act. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of
its
Subsidiaries to, provide such information and take such actions as are
reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party in order
to
assist the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties in maintaining compliance
with the Patriot Act.
SECTION
9.13. Jurisdiction,
Etc. (a)
EACH
OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF
AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT
OR FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY,
AND
ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND FOR PURPOSES OF ENFORCEMENT OF
COLLATERAL SECURITY OR RELATED MATTERS, THE COURTS OF THE JURISDICTION WHERE
SUCH COLLATERAL IS LOCATED, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR FOR RECOGNITION
OR
ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR
PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES
THAT
A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY
BE
ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER
PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT ANY
PARTY
MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT
OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.
(b) EACH
OF
THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY AND EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW
OR
HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING
OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS IN ANY NEW
YORK
STATE OR FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES,
TO
THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO
THE
MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
SECTION
9.14. GOVERNING
LAW.
THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION
9.15. WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY
LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO
(A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY
HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN
THE
EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND
(B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO
ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY,
AMONG
OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION
9.15.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
by
their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above
written.
CBRL
GROUP, INC., as Borrower
By /s/
Lawrence E. White
Name:
Lawrence E. White
Title:
Senior Vice President-Finance and
Chief
Financial Officer
CB
MUSIC,
LLC, as a Guarantor
By /s/
N.B.
Forrest Shoaf
Name:
N.B. Forrest Shoaf
Title:
Assistant Secretary
CBOCS
DISTRIBUTION, INC., as a Guarantor
By /s/
N.B. Forrest Shoaf
Name:
N.B. Forrest Shoaf
Title:
Assistant Secretary
CBOCS
PARTNER I, LLC, as a Guarantor
By /s/
Elizabeth Wilson
Name:
Elizabeth Wilson
Title:
Assistant Secretary
CBOCS
PARTNER II, LLC, as a Guarantor
By /s/
Elizabeth Wilson
Name:
Elizabeth Wilson
Title:
Secretary
CBOCS
PENNSYLVANIA, LLC, as a Guarantor
By /s/
N.B.
Forrest Shoaf
Name:
N.B. Forrest Shoaf
Title:
Assistant Secretary
CBOCS
PROPERTIES, INC., as a Guarantor
By /s/
Ursula Holmes
Name:
Ursula Holmes
Title:
President
CBOCS
SUPPLY, INC., as a Guarantor
By /s/
N.B.
Forrest Shoaf
Name:
N.B. Forrest Shoaf
Title:
Assistant Secretary
CBOCS
TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as a Guarantor
By:
CBOCS
Partner I, LLC, its general partner
By /s/
Elizabeth Wilson
Name:
Elizabeth Wilson
Title:
Assistant Secretary
CBOCS
WEST, INC., as a Guarantor
By /s/
N.B.
Forrest Shoaf
Name:
N.B. Forrest Shoaf
Title:
Assistant Secretary
CRACKER
BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC., as a Guarantor
By /s/
N.B.
Forrest Shoaf
Name:
N.B. Forrest Shoaf
Title:
Assistant Secretary
LOGAN’S
ROADHOUSE, INC., as a Guarantor
By /s/
N.B.
Forrest Shoaf
Name:
N.B. Forrest Shoaf
Title:
Assistant Secretary
LOGAN’S
ROADHOUSE OF TEXAS, INC., as a Guarantor
By /s/
N.B.
Forrest Shoaf
Name:
N.B. Forrest Shoaf
Title:
Assistant Secretary
ROCKING
CHAIR, INC., as a Guarantor
By /s/
Elizabeth Wilson
Name:
Elizabeth Wilson
Title:
Assistant Secretary
WACHOVIA
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent,
Collateral
Agent, Issuing Bank, Swing Line Bank and Lender
By /s/
Richard DiDonato
Name:
Richard DiDonato
Title:
Managing Director
All
schedules and exhibits of this Credit Agreement have been excluded from this
exhibit due to immateriality.
CBRL Group, Inc. 10-Q 05/0/06 Exhibit 31
EXHIBIT
31.1
CERTIFICATION
I,
Michael A. Woodhouse, certify that:
1. |
I
have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CBRL Group,
Inc.;
|
2. |
Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
|
3. |
Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects
the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;
|
4. |
The
registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules
13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have:
|
(a) Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls
and
procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
material
information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly
during the period in which
this report is being prepared; and
(b) Designed
such internal controls over financial reporting, or caused such internal control
over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to
provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with
generally accepted
accounting principles; and
(c) Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and
presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
disclosure
controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this
report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed
in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial
reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter
that
has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
registrant's internal control over financial reporting;
5. |
The
registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based
on
our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting,
to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's
board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
functions):
|
(a) All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation
of
internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to
adversely affect the
registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information; and
(b) Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who
have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial
reporting.
Date:
June
2, 2006
/s/Michael
A. Woodhouse
Michael
A. Woodhouse, Chairman, President
and
Chief
Executive Officer
EXHIBIT
31.2
CERTIFICATION
I,
Lawrence E. White, certify that:
1.
|
I
have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of CBRL Group,
Inc.;
|
2.
|
Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
|
3.
|
Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects
the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;
|
4.
|
The
registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules
13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have:
|
(a) Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls
and
procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
material
information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly
during the period in which
this report is being prepared; and
(b) Designed
such internal controls over financial reporting, or caused such internal
control
over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to
provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with
generally accepted
accounting principles; and
(c) Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures
and
presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
disclosure
controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this
report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed
in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial
reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter
that
has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
registrant's internal control over financial reporting;
5.
|
The
registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based
on
our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting,
to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's
board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
functions):
|
(a) All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation
of
internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to
adversely affect the
registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information; and
(b) Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who
have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial
reporting.
Date:
June
2, 2006
/s/Lawrence
E. White
Lawrence
E. White, Senior Vice President, Finance and
Chief
Financial Officer
CBRL Group, Inc. 10-Q 05/30/06 Exhibit 32
Exhibit
32.1
CERTIFICATION
OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT
TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED
PURSUANT
TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In
connection with the Quarterly Report of CBRL Group, Inc. (the “Issuer”) on Form
10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 28, 2006, as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Michael A.
Woodhouse, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer,
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1.
The
Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. The
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects,
the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer.
Date:
June
2, 2006
By:
/s/
Michael A. Woodhouse
Michael A. Woodhouse,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit
32.2
CERTIFICATION
OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT
TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED
PURSUANT
TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In
connection with the Quarterly Report of CBRL Group, Inc. (the “Issuer”) on Form
10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 28, 2006, as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Lawrence E. White,
Senior Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Issuer,
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1. The
Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. The
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects,
the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer.
Date:
June
2, 2006 By:
/s/
Lawrence E. White
Lawrence E. White,
Senior Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer