Credit Agreement - Plantronics Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank NA
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of July 31, 2003
between
PLANTRONICS, INC.,
as the Company,
and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as the Bank
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section |
Page |
|
ARTICLE 1 |
1 |
|
DEFINITIONS |
1 |
|
1.01 |
Certain Defined Terms. |
1 |
1.02 |
Other Interpretive Provisions. |
19 |
1.03 |
Accounting Principles. |
20 |
ARTICLE 2 |
20 |
|
THE CREDIT |
20 |
|
2.01 |
The Revolving Credit. |
20 |
2.02 |
Loan Accounts; Notes. |
20 |
2.03 |
Procedure for Borrowing. |
21 |
2.04 |
Conversion and Continuation Elections. |
21 |
2.05 |
Voluntary Termination or Reduction of the Commitment. |
23 |
2.06 |
Optional Prepayments. |
23 |
2.07 |
Cash Collateralization; Mandatory Prepayments. |
23 |
2.08 |
Repayment. |
24 |
2.09 |
Interest. |
24 |
2.1 |
Commitment Fee. |
25 |
2.11 |
Computation of Fees and Interest. |
25 |
2.12 |
Payments by the Company. |
25 |
ARTICLE 3 |
26 |
|
THE LETTERS OF CREDIT |
26 |
|
3.01 |
The Letter of Credit Subfacility. |
26 |
3.02 |
Issuance, Amendment and Renewal of Letters of Credit. |
27 |
3.03 |
Drawings and Reimbursements. |
28 |
3.04 |
Role of the Bank. |
28 |
3.05 |
Obligations Absolute. |
29 |
3.06 |
Cash Collateralization Obligations. |
30 |
3.07 |
Letter of Credit Fees. |
30 |
3.08 |
Uniform Customs and Practice. |
30 |
ARTICLE 4 |
30 |
|
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY |
30 |
|
4.01 |
Taxes. |
30 |
4.02 |
Illegality. |
31 |
4.03 |
Increased Costs and Reduction of Return. |
32 |
4.04 |
Funding Losses. |
32 |
4.05 |
Inability to Determine Rates. |
33 |
4.06 |
Reserves on LIBOR Loans. |
33 |
4.07 |
Certificates of the Bank. |
34 |
4.08 |
Survival. |
34 |
ARTICLE 5 |
34 |
|
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
34 |
|
5.01 |
Conditions of Effectiveness of Agreement. |
34 |
5.02 |
Conditions to All Credit Extensions. |
35 |
ARTICLE 6 |
36 |
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
36 |
|
6.01 |
Corporate Existence and Power. |
36 |
6.02 |
Corporate Authorization; No Contravention. |
36 |
6.03 |
Governmental Authorization. |
37 |
6.04 |
Binding Effect. |
37 |
6.05 |
Litigation. |
37 |
6.06 |
ERISA Compliance. |
37 |
6.07 |
Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. |
38 |
6.08 |
Title to Properties. |
38 |
6.09 |
Taxes. |
38 |
6.1 |
Financial Condition. |
38 |
6.11 |
Environmental Matters. |
39 |
6.12 |
Regulated Entities. |
39 |
6.13 |
No Burdensome Restrictions; Labor Relations. |
39 |
6.14 |
Solvency. |
39 |
6.15 |
Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Licenses, etc. |
40 |
6.16 |
Subsidiaries. |
40 |
6.17 |
Insurance. |
40 |
6.18 |
Swap Obligations. |
40 |
6.19 |
Full Disclosure. |
41 |
6.2 |
Intentionally Deleted. |
41 |
6.21 |
Good Standing Certificates. |
41 |
ARTICLE 7 |
41 |
|
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
41 |
|
7.01 |
Financial Statements. |
42 |
7.02 |
Certificates; Other Information. |
42 |
7.03 |
Notices. |
43 |
7.04 |
Preservation of Existence, Rights, etc. |
44 |
7.05 |
Maintenance of Property. |
44 |
7.06 |
Insurance. |
45 |
7.07 |
Payment of Obligations. |
45 |
7.08 |
Compliance with Laws. |
45 |
7.09 |
Inspection of Property and Books and Records. |
45 |
7.1 |
Environmental Laws. |
46 |
7.11 |
Use of Proceeds. |
46 |
7.12 |
Intentionally Deleted. |
46 |
7.13 |
Solvency. |
46 |
7.14 |
Internal Controls. |
46 |
ARTICLE 8 |
47 |
|
NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
47 |
|
8.01 |
Limitation on Liens. |
47 |
8.02 |
Disposition of Assets. |
49 |
8.03 |
Consolidations and Mergers. |
50 |
8.04 |
Loans and Investments. |
50 |
8.05 |
Limitation on Indebtedness. |
52 |
8.06 |
Transactions with Affiliates. |
54 |
8.07 |
Use of Proceeds. |
54 |
8.08 |
Operating Lease Obligations. |
54 |
8.09 |
Restricted Payments. |
55 |
8.1 |
ERISA. |
55 |
8.11 |
Net Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio. |
56 |
8.12 |
Interest Coverage Ratio. |
56 |
8.13 |
Quick Ratio |
56 |
8.14 |
Change in Business. |
56 |
8.15 |
Accounting Changes. |
56 |
ARTICLE 9 |
56 |
|
EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
56 |
|
9.01 |
Event of Default. |
56 |
9.02 |
Remedies. |
58 |
9.03 |
Rights Not Exclusive. |
59 |
ARTICLE 10 |
59 |
|
GENERAL PROVISIONS |
59 |
|
10.01 |
Amendments and Waivers. |
59 |
10.02 |
Notices. |
60 |
10.03 |
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. |
60 |
10.04 |
Costs and Expenses. |
60 |
10.05 |
Indemnity. |
61 |
10.06 |
Payments Set Aside. |
62 |
10.07 |
Successors and Assigns. |
62 |
10.08 |
Assignments, Participations, etc. |
62 |
10.09 |
Confidentiality. |
63 |
10.1 |
Set-off. |
63 |
10.11 |
Counterparts. |
64 |
10.12 |
Severability. |
64 |
10.13 |
No Third Parties Benefited. |
64 |
10.14 |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction. |
64 |
10.15 |
Arbitration. |
65 |
10.16 |
Entire Agreement. |
67 |
SCHEDULES
3.07 Letter of Credit Fees and Charges
6.05 Certain Litigation Matters
6.06 Certain ERISA Matters
6.10 Certain Permitted Liabilities
6.11 Certain Environmental Matters
6.15 Certain Intellectual Property Matters
6.16 Subsidiaries and Minority Interests
6.17 Certain Insurance Matters
8.01(a) Certain Permitted Liens
8.05(b) Certain Permitted Indebtedness
10.02 Bank's Payment Office/Lending Office; Notice Information
EXHIBITS
A Form of Compliance Certificate
B Form of Note
C Form of Notice of Borrowing
D Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
CREDIT AGREEMENT
This CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of July 31, 2003, is between PLANTRONICS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the "Bank").
RECITALS
The Company has requested the Bank to extend credit to the Company in the form of a revolving credit facility with a letter of credit sub-facility to finance the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to include certain acquisitions, the repurchase of stock, and capital expenditures, and for other general corporate purposes.
The Bank has agreed to make available such credit to the Company on the terms and conditions contained herein.
Accordingly, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.01 Certain Defined Terms.
As used herein:
"AAA" has the meaning specified in Section 10.15(b).
"Acquired Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of a Person (a) assumed in connection with an Acquisition from such Person or (b) existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of another Person.
"Acquiree" has the meaning specified in Section 8.04(g).
"Acquisition" means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, by which any Person, in the transaction or as of the most recent transaction in a series of transactions, directly or indirectly: (a) acquires all or substantially all of the assets of a Person (other than a Person that is a Subsidiary of the Company), or of any business or division of a Person (other than a Person that is a Subsidiary of the Company); (b) acquires in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the capital stock, partnership interests or equity of any Person (other than a Person that is a Subsidiary of the Company) or otherwise causes any such Person to become a Subsidiary of the Company; or (c) merges, consolidates or otherwise combines with another Person (other than a Person that is a Subsidiary of the Company), provided that the Company or the Company's Subsidiary is the surviving entity or the surviving or resulting entity is under the control of, or under common control with, the Company.
"Adjusted EBITDA" means, for any period, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, EBITDA for such period minus Capital Expenditures incurred during such period.
"Affiliate" means any Person that directly or indirectly controls, or is under common control with, or is controlled by, another Person. As used in this definition, "control" (including, with its correlative meanings, "controlled by" and "under common control with") means the possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise), provided that, in any event, any Person that owns directly or indirectly securities having 5% or more of the voting power for the election of directors or other governing body of a corporation or 5% or more of the partnership or other ownership interests of any other Person (other than as a limited partner of such other Person) will be deemed to control such corporation or other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, the definition of "Affiliate" shall not include (a) any individual solely by reason of his or her being a director, officer or employee of (i) the Company or (ii) any of the Company's Subsidiaries or (b) the Bank.
"Agreement" means this Credit Agreement.
"Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage" means, on any date, fifteen-hundredths of one percent (0.15%) per annum.
"Applicable Lending Office" means, for each Type of Loan, the "Lending Office" of the Bank (or of an Affiliate of the Bank) designated for such Type of Loan on Schedule 10.02 or such other office of the Bank (or of an Affiliate of the Bank) as the Bank may from time to time specify to the Company as the office for its Loans of such Type.
"Approved Replacement Director" means: (a) any director of the Company who has been approved by two-thirds of the Board of Directors of the Company as constituted at the beginning of any relevant period or by a Permitted Holder; or (b) any director of the Company who has been approved by two-thirds of those members of the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted at the beginning of any relevant period, entitled pursuant to the Organizational Documents of the Company to vote for such director, together with any directors referred to in the preceding clause (a) or previously approved in accordance with this clause (b) or by a Permitted Holder.
"Asset Sale" means any direct or indirect sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition to any Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of: (a) any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Company; or (b) any other Property of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company other than sales of inventory or other assets in the Ordinary Course of Business and other than isolated transactions which do not exceed $250,000, individually, or $500,000, in the aggregate. For purposes hereof, the term "Asset Sale" shall not include the following: (i) any disposition of the Property of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that is governed under and complies with Section 8.03 or any disposition of Investments of the type described in Sections 8.04(b), (c), (e), (f) and (k); or (ii) any issuance by the Company of its Capital Stock.
"Assignee" has the meaning specified in Section 10.08(a).
"Attorney Costs" means all fees and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel, the allocated cost of internal legal services and all disbursements of internal counsel.
"Bank" has the meaning specified in the introduction hereto.
"Bankruptcy Code" means the Bankruptcy Reform Act, Title 11 of the United States Code.
"Bank's Payment Office" means the address of the Bank for payments specified on Schedule 10.02 or such other address therefor as the Bank may from time to time specify in accordance with the terms hereof.
"Base LIBOR" has the meaning specified in the definition of "LIBOR" contained herein.
"Borrowing" means a borrowing hereunder consisting of Loans of the same Type made to the Company on the same day by the Bank under Article 2, and, other than in the case of Prime Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period.
"Borrowing Date" means any date on which a Borrowing occurs under Section 2.03.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or San Francisco, California are authorized or required by law to close and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any LIBOR Loan, means such a day on which dealings are carried on in the applicable offshore dollar inter-bank market.
"Capital Adequacy Regulation" means any guideline, request or directive of any central bank or other Governmental Authority, or any other law, rule or regulation, whether or not having the force of law, in each case, regarding capital adequacy of any bank or of any corporation controlling a bank.
"Capital Expenditures" means, for any period, the aggregate expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as a liability, including the aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations incurred during such period, but excluding capitalized interest and items paid in cash that had been accrued and counted as "Capital Expenditures" in a prior period) made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to acquire or to construct fixed assets, plant and equipment (including renewals, improvements and replacements, but excluding repairs in the ordinary course) during such period, determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Capital Lease Obligations" means, for any Person, all obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) Property to the extent such obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and, for purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount of such obligations, determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Capital Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights in, or other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) of, such Person's capital stock (including any partnership interest), whether outstanding on the Closing Date or issued after the Closing Date, and any and all rights, warrants or options exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock.
"Cash Collateralize" means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Bank, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank. Derivatives of such term shall have corresponding meaning.
"Cash Equivalents" means:
(a) any evidence of Indebtedness with a maturity of 365 days or less issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof);
(b) certificates of deposit or acceptances with a maturity of 365 days or less of any financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $100,000,000;
(c) commercial paper with a maturity of 365 days or less issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) organized under the laws of any State of the United States or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor's Corporation or P-1 by Moody's Investors Services, Inc.;
(d) repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements relating to marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition, provided that the terms of such agreements comply with the guidelines set forth in the Federal Financial Agreements of Depositary Institutions with Securities and Others, as adopted by the Comptroller of the Currency of the United States;
(e) deposit accounts maintained with financial institutions referred to in the preceding clause (b); and
(f) investments in mutual funds which invest exclusively in the items described in the preceding clauses (a) through (e).
"Cash Interest Expense" means, for any period, on a consolidated basis, total interest expense for the period (including all commissions, discounts, fees and other charges in connection with standby letters of credit and similar instruments) for the Company and its Subsidiaries, less non-cash items included in such interest expense (including any amortization of discount or interest expense not payable in cash).
"Change of Control" means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the direct or indirect sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of the Property of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person or group of Persons acting in concert as a partnership or other group (a "group of Persons"), other than a Permitted Holder; (b) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person with the effect that a Person or group of Persons (such Person or group of Persons, the "Acquiring Persons"), other than Permitted Holders, has become the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the surviving Person of such merger or consolidation or the corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such surviving or resulting Person, as the case may be, ordinarily (and apart from rights arising under special circumstances) having the right to vote in the election of directors, provided that such a merger or consolidation shall not be a "Change of Control" if, after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, Permitted Holders are then the beneficial owner of securities of such surviving Person representing combined voting power in excess of the combined voting power of such securities as to which the Acquiring Persons have become the beneficial owner; (c) a change to the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company over a two-year period such that the directors who constituted such Board of Directors at the beginning of such period, together with all Approved Replacement Directors elected since the beginning of such period, shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company; and (d) a Person or group of Persons (such Person or group of Persons, the "Purchasers"), other than Permitted Holders, shall, as a result of a tender or exchange offer, open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases or otherwise, have become the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) having the right to vote in the election of directors, provided that such a change of ownership shall not be a "Change of Control" if, after giving effect to such change, Permitted Holders are then the beneficial owner of securities of the Company representing combined voting power in excess of the combined voting power of such securities as to which the Purchasers have become the beneficial owner.
"Closing Date" means the date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.01 are satisfied, made conditions subsequent or waived by the Bank.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and all regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Commitment" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
"Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit A executed and delivered on behalf of the Company by a Responsible Officer.
"Consolidated Current Liabilities" means, as of any date of determination, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the amount of all liabilities which have been or properly should be classified as current liabilities in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, with respect to the Company for any period, the ratio of (a) the aggregate amount of EBITDA in such period for the four full fiscal quarters for which financial information in respect thereof is available immediately preceding the date of the transaction (the "Transaction Date") giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (such four full fiscal quarter period being referred to herein as the "Four Quarter Period") to (b) the aggregate amount of Consolidated Fixed Charges for the Four Quarter Period. In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, "Adjusted EBITDA" and "Consolidated Fixed Charges" shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of such calculation to, without duplication, (i) any incurrences, and permanent repayments out of the proceeds of such incurrences, of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries occurring during the period commencing on the first day of the Four Quarter Period through the Transaction Date (the "Reference Period"), including the incurrence of the Indebtedness giving rise to the need to make such calculation, as if such incurrence or repayment, as the case may be, occurred on the first day of the Reference Period, but excluding Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit or similar facility pursuant to which amounts incurred may be repaid and reborrowed for working capital purposes (it being understood that such incurrences and repayments referred to in this exclusion are included in the calculation of "Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" on an actual basis), unless a permanent reduction in the commitments is effected by such repayment and (ii) any Asset Sales or Acquisitions (including any Acquisition giving rise to the need to make such calculation as a result of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries (including any Person who becomes a Subsidiary as a result of the Acquisition) incurring, assuming or otherwise being liable for Acquired Indebtedness) occurring during the Reference Period, as if such Asset Sale or Acquisition occurred on the first day of the Reference Period. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in calculating "Consolidated Interest Expense" and "Consolidated Fixed Charges" for purposes of determining the denominator (but not the numerator) of "Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio," (A) interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis as of the Transaction Date and which will continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest on such Indebtedness in effect on the Transaction Date; (B) if interest on any Indebtedness actually incurred on the Transaction Date may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency inter-bank offered rate, or other rates, then the interest rate in effect on the Transaction Date will be deemed to have been in effect during the Reference Period; and (C) notwithstanding the immediately preceding clauses (A) and (B), interest on Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent such interest is covered by Swap Agreements, shall be deemed to have accrued at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to such agreements. If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly enters into a Guaranty Obligation with respect to Indebtedness of a third Person (other than Indebtedness of a consolidated Subsidiary of such Person or, with respect to a consolidated Subsidiary of the Company, other than Indebtedness of the Company), the immediately preceding clause shall give effect to the incurrence of such Guaranty Obligation as if such Person or such Subsidiary had directly incurred or otherwise assumed such Guaranty Obligation.
"Consolidated Fixed Charges" means, with respect to the Company for any period, the amounts for such period of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense and (b) the aggregate amount of dividends and other distributions paid or accrued during such period in respect of Disqualified Capital Stock of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; provided that, if, during such period, the Company or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries shall have made any Asset Sales or Acquisitions, "Consolidated Fixed Charges" for the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such period shall be adjusted to give pro forma effect to the Consolidated Fixed Charges directly attributable to the Properties which are the subject of such Asset Sales or Acquisitions during such period.
"Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to the Company for any period, without duplication, the sum of (a) the interest expense of such the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, including (i) any amortization of debt discount, (ii) the net cost of obligations under any Swap Agreements (including any amortization of discounts), (iii) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation, (iv) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers' acceptance financing and (v) all accrued interest, (b) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued by the Company and its Subsidiaries during such period on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP and (c) one-third of the amount of all lease payments (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations) paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued by the Company and its Subsidiaries during such period on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Contingent Obligation" means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability of that Person, whether or not contingent, with or without recourse, (a) with respect to any Indebtedness, lease, dividend, letter of credit or other obligation (the "primary obligations") of another Person (the "primary obligor"), including any obligation of that Person (i) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such primary obligations or any security therefor, (ii) to advance or provide funds for the payment or discharge of any such primary obligation, or to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation, or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof (each of the foregoing, a "Guaranty Obligation"); (b) with respect to any Surety Instrument issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings or payments; (c) to purchase any materials, supplies or other property from, or to obtain the services of, another Person if the relevant contract or other related document or obligation requires that payment for such materials, supplies or other property, or for such services, shall be made regardless of whether delivery of such materials, supplies or other property is ever made or tendered, or such services are ever performed or tendered, or (d) in respect of any Swap Contract. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall, in the case of Guaranty Obligations, be deemed equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made or, if not stated or if indeterminable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof, and in the case of other Contingent Obligations other than in respect of Swap Contracts, shall be equal to the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof and, in the case of Contingent Obligations in respect of Swap Contracts, shall be equal to the Swap Termination Value.
"Contractual Obligation" means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, undertaking, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument, document or agreement to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its Property is bound.
"Conversion/Continuation Date" means any date on which, under Section 2.04, the Company does either or both of the following: (a) converts Loans of one Type to another Type, or (b) continues as Loans of the same Type, but with a new Interest Period, Loans having Interest Periods expiring on such date.
"Credit Documents" means this Agreement, any Note, the L/C Related Documents and all other documents delivered to the Bank in connection herewith.
"Credit Extension" means the following: (a) the making of any Loans or L/C Advances hereunder; and (b) the Issuance of any Letters of Credit hereunder.
"Default" means any event or circumstance which, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, would (if not cured or otherwise remedied during such time) constitute an Event of Default.
"Dispute" has the meaning specified in Section 10.15.
"Disqualified Capital Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is exchangeable for Indebtedness, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the Revolving Termination Date.
"Dollars," "dollars" and "$" each mean lawful money of the United States.
"Domestic Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.
"EBITDA" means, for any period, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP, the sum of: (a) the net income (or net loss) for such period; plus (b) all amounts treated as expenses for such period for depreciation and interest and the amortization of intangibles of any kind, but in each case only to the extent included in the determination of such net income (or net loss); plus all accrued taxes for such period on or measured by income, but in each case only to the extent included in the determination of such net income (or net loss); plus (d) all non-cash expenses or charges for management stock compensation for such period, but in each case only to the extent included in the determination of such net income (or net loss); provided that net income (or net loss) shall be computed for all of the foregoing purposes without giving effect to extraordinary gains or extraordinary losses.
"Effective Amount" means: (a) with respect to any Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any Borrowings and prepayments or repayments occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any outstanding L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any Issuances of Letters of Credit occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.
"Eligible Assignee" means any of the following: (a) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof, and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000; (b) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country which is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the "OECD"), or a political subdivision of any such country, and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000, provided that such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the United States; (c) the central bank of any country which is a member of the OECD, provided that such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the United States; (d) any (i) a finance company, savings and loan association or other financial institution, mutual fund or other fund (whether a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity), or (ii) insurance company engaged in the business of writing insurance that, in either case, (A) is organized under the laws of the United States (or any state thereof or the District of Columbia), (B) is engaged in making, purchasing or otherwise investing in commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and having total assets of $500,000,000 or more, and (C) is operationally and procedurally able to meet the obligations of the Bank hereunder to the same degree as a commercial bank that would be an Eligible Assignee, as determined by the Bank; and (e) a Person that is primarily engaged in the business of commercial banking and that is (i) a Subsidiary of the Bank, (ii) a Subsidiary of a Person of which the Bank is a Subsidiary or (iii) a Person of which the Bank is a Subsidiary.
"Environmental Claims" means all claims, however asserted, by any Governmental Authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility of any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for violation of any Environmental Law, or for release or injury to the environment.
"Environmental Laws" means all federal, state, local or foreign laws, statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all administrative orders, directed duties, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authorities, in each case relating to environmental, health, safety and land use matters.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Company within the meaning of subsection 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
"ERISA Event" means any of the following: (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations which is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.
"Eurocurrency Liabilities" has the meaning specified in Regulation D (as amended) of the FRB.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 9.01.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and all regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Fair Market Value" means, with respect to any Property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm's-length free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Company acting in good faith; provided that, in the case of any transaction in excess of $500,000, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith and shall be evidenced by a certified copy of a resolution of such Board of Directors delivered to the Bank.
"FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
"Foreign Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person that is not a Domestic Subsidiary of such Person.
"FRB" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
"Further Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies, assessments, imposts, duties, deductions, fees, withholdings or similar charges (including net income taxes and franchise taxes), and all liabilities with respect thereto, imposed by any jurisdiction on account of amounts payable or paid pursuant to Section 4.01.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth from time to time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the U.S. accounting profession), which are applicable to the circumstances and consistently applied.
"Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.
"Guaranty Obligation" has the meaning specified in the definition of "Contingent Obligation" contained herein.
"Honor Date" has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c).
"Indebtedness" of any Person means (without duplication): (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money; (b) all obligations of such Person issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services; (c) all non-contingent reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to Surety Instruments; (d) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments issued by such Person, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of Property or businesses; (e) all indebtedness of such Person created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to Property acquired by the Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such Property); (f) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person; (g) all Contingent Obligations referred to in clause (d) of the definition of "Contingent Obligations" contained herein; (h) all indebtedness referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (a) through (g) secured by (or for which the holder of such indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien upon or in property (including accounts and contracts rights) owned by such Person (but only to the extent of the lesser of such indebtedness or the fair market value of the Property subject to such Lien, where such Lien secured another Person's indebtedness), even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness; (i) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person in respect of the indebtedness or other obligations of others of the kinds referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (a) through (g); and (j) all other Contingent Obligations; provided that, with respect to any Person, "Indebtedness" shall not include trade payables and accrued expenses (including those between the Company and its Subsidiaries), in each case arising in the Ordinary Course of Business; provided further that, for all purposes of this Agreement, "Indebtedness" of any Person shall include all recourse obligations or indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture or limited liability company in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer or a member.
"Indemnified Liabilities" has the meaning specified in Section 10.05(a).
"Indemnified Person" has the meaning specified in Section 10.05(a).
"Independent Auditor" has the meaning specified in Section 7.01(a).
"Insolvency Proceeding" means, with respect to any Person: (a) any case, action or proceeding with respect to such Person before any court or other Governmental Authority relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, dissolution, winding-up or relief of debtors; or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshaling of assets for creditors, or other, similar arrangement in respect of its creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors; in either event undertaken under United States federal, state or foreign law, including the Bankruptcy Code.
"Interest Coverage Ratio" means, as of any date of determination, in respect of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, (a) Adjusted EBITDA divided by (b) Cash Interest Expense, such amounts being calculated on a rolling four-quarter basis (all through the then-most recent quarter end for which the Company has delivered to the Bank a Compliance Certificate).
"Interest Payment Date" means, as to any Loan other than a Prime Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and, as to any Prime Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each calendar month and each date such Loan is converted into another Type of Loan; provided that, if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan exceeds one month, then each day during such Interest Period which is a monthly anniversary of the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be an Interest Payment Date.
"Interest Period" means, as to any LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the Borrowing Date of such Loan or on the Conversion/Continuation Date on which a Loan is converted into or continued as a LIBOR Loan, and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter as selected by the Company in its Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation; provided that:
(a) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, that Interest Period shall be extended to the following Business Day unless, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month, in which event such Interest Period shall end on the preceding Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the date set forth in clause (a) of the definition of "Revolving Termination Date" contained herein.
"Investments" has the meaning specified in Section 8.04.
"IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service, and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under the Code.
"Issuance Date" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).
"Issue" means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, to issue or to extend the expiry of, or to renew or increase the amount of, such Letter of Credit; and the terms "Issued," "Issuing" and "Issuance" have corresponding meanings.
"Joint Venture" means a single-purpose corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other similar legal arrangement (whether created by contract or conducted through a separate legal entity) now or hereafter formed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with another Person in order to conduct a common venture or enterprise with such Person.
"L/C Advance" means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which is not reimbursed on the date of such drawing nor converted into a Loan.
"L/C Amendment Application" means an application form for amendment of outstanding standby or commercial documentary letters of credit as shall at any time be in use at the Bank, as the Bank shall request.
"L/C Application" means an application form for issuances of standby or commercial documentary letters of credit as shall at any time be in use at the Bank, as the Bank shall request.
"L/C Borrowing" means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which is not reimbursed on the date when made nor converted into a Borrowing under Section 3.03(c).
"L/C Commitment" means the obligation of the Bank to issue Letters of Credit pursuant to Article 3 and to make L/C Advances, in an aggregate amount not to exceed on any date the amount equal to $10,000,000 less the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding on such date. The L/C Commitment is a part of the Commitment, rather than a separate, independent commitment.
"L/C Obligations" means at any time the sum of: (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding; plus (b) the amount of all unreimbursed drawings under all Letters of Credit, including all outstanding L/C Borrowings.
"L/C-Related Documents" means the Letters of Credit, the L/C Applications, the L/C Amendment Applications and any other documents relating to any Letter of Credit, including any of the Bank's standard form documents for letter of credit issuances.
"Lending Office" means the office or offices of the Bank specified on Schedule 10.02, or such other office or offices as the Bank may from time to time notify the Company.
"Letters of Credit" means all letters of credit (whether standby letters of credit or commercial letters of credit) Issued by the Bank pursuant to Article 3.
"LIBOR" means, for any Interest Period, with respect to LIBOR Loans comprising part of the same Borrowing, the rate of interest per annum (rounded upward to the nearest 1/16th of 1%) determined by the Bank as follows:
LIBOR = BASE LIBOR____________
1.00 - LIBOR Reserve Percentage
Where,
"Base LIBOR" means the rate per annum for United States dollar deposits quoted by the Bank as the Inter-Bank Market Offered Rate, with the understanding that such rate is quoted by the Bank for the purpose of calculating effective rates of interest for loans making reference thereto, on the first day of an Interest Period for delivery of funds on such date for a period of time approximately equal to the number of days in such Interest Period and in an amount approximately equal to the principal amount to which such Interest Period applies. The understands and agrees that the Bank may base its quotation of the Inter-Bank Market Offered Rate upon such offers or other market indicators of the Inter-Bank Market as the Bank in its sole discretion deems appropriate, including the rate offered for U.S. dollar deposits on the London Inter-Bank Market.
"LIBOR Reserve Percentage" means the reserve percentage prescribed by the FRB for Eurocurrency Liabilities, adjusted by the Bank for expected changes in such reserve percentage during the applicable Interest Period.
The LIBOR shall be adjusted automatically as to all LIBOR Loans then outstanding as of the effective date of any change in the LIBOR Reserve Percentage.
"LIBOR Loan" means a Loan that bears interest based on the LIBOR.
"Lien" means any security interest, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, charge or deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other) or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever in respect of any property (including those created by, arising under or evidenced by any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, the interest of a lessor under a capital lease, any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, or the filing of any financing statement naming the owner of the asset to which such lien relates as debtor, under the UCC or any comparable law) and any contingent or other agreement to provide any of the foregoing, but not including the interest of a lessor under an operating lease.
"Loan" means an extension of credit made (or deemed made) by the Bank to the Company under Article 2, which extension of credit may be a Prime Rate Loan or a LIBOR Loan (each, a "Type" of Loan).
"Margin Stock" means "margin stock" as such term is defined in Regulation U of the FRB.
"Material Adverse Effect" means any of the following: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Company to perform its payment obligations under any of the Credit Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any Credit Document.
"Material Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, a Subsidiary of such Person that would, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to any Transfer permitted hereunder, constitute a "significant subsidiary" as such term is defined under Rule 1.02(v) of Regulation S-X of the SEC.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiple employer plan" or a "multiemployer plan," within the meaning of Sections 4064(a) and 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions or, during the preceding three calendar years, has made, or been obligated to make, contributions.
"Net Funded Debt" means, as of any date of determination, (a) Indebtedness (other than the types described in clause (i) of the definition thereof) and, without duplication, all Guaranty Obligations with respect to any such Indebtedness of another Person less (b) cash and Cash Equivalents, to the extent not subject to any Lien, and to the extent exceeding in aggregate the amount of $5,000,000, in each case determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.
"Net Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio" means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of Net Funded Debt to EBITDA, calculated on a rolling four-quarter basis (through the then-most recent quarter end for which the Company has delivered to the Bank a Compliance Certificate).
"Net Proceeds" means, in the case of any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of Property (including a sale/leaseback), the gross consideration received in cash, checks or other cash equivalent financial instruments (including Cash Equivalents) as and when received by the Person making the disposition from such disposition (other than liabilities assumed directly or indirectly by the buyer), less: (a) the amount of actual liabilities for taxes reasonably anticipated by the Company to be attributable to such disposition; (b) the amount of any reserves against any liabilities associated with such disposition required to be retained by the Person making such disposition after the disposition in conformity with GAAP (but only for the period required to be retained as a reserve); (c) the amount of Indebtedness required to be repaid or defeased under the terms thereof or under the terms of the disposition in connection with the disposition; and (d) the amount of fees and commissions payable to Persons other than the Person making the disposition and other costs and expenses related to the disposition that are to be paid in cash, in each case only to the extent customarily borne by a seller in an arm's-length transaction; provided that gross consideration shall not include the amount of intercompany indebtedness forgiven in connection with the disposition.
"Note" means a promissory note executed by the Company in favor of the Bank pursuant to Section 2.02(b), in substantially the form of Exhibit B.
"Notice of Borrowing" means a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit C.
"Notice of Conversion/Continuation" means a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit D.
"Obligations" means all advances, debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties and other Indebtedness arising under any Credit Document (including all Loans and L/C Borrowings and any obligation to Cash Collateralize) owing by the Company to the Bank or any Indemnified Person, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and however acquired.
"OECD" has the meaning specified in the definition of "Eligible Assignee" contained herein.
"Ordinary Course of Business" means, in respect of any transaction involving any Person, the ordinary course of such Person's business, as undertaken by such Person in good faith and, with respect to the Company and any Subsidiary of the Company, not for the specific purpose of evading any covenant or restriction contained in any Credit Document.
"Organization Documents" means: (a) for any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation, the bylaws, any certificate of determination or instrument relating to the rights of preferred shareholders of such corporation, any shareholder rights agreement, and all applicable resolutions of the board of directors (or any committee thereof) of such corporation; (b) for any partnership, the partnership agreement, any other agreements or instruments relating to the rights or the partners of such partnership or limiting or authorizing the activities of such partnership, and all applicable resolutions of such partnership; and (c) for any limited liability company, the articles or certificate of formation, the operating agreement, any other agreements or instruments relating to the rights or the members of such limited liability company or authorizing the activities of such limited liability company, and all applicable resolutions of such limited liability company.
"Other Taxes" means any present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Credit Documents.
"Participant" has the meaning specified in Section 10.08(b).
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under ERISA.
"PBV" means Plantronics B.V., a Netherlands corporation, and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company.
"Pension Plan" means a pension plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or to which it makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions, or in the case of a multiple employer plan (as described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA) has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years.
"Permitted Holders" means Citicorp Venture Capital Ltd. and its Affiliates.
"Permitted Liens" has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
"Permitted Swap Obligations" means all obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries existing or arising under Swap Contracts, provided that each of the following criteria is satisfied: (a) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the Ordinary Course of Business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments or assets held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person in conjunction with a securities repurchase program not otherwise prohibited hereunder, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a "market view"; and (b) such Swap Contracts do not contain (i) any provision (a "walk-away" provision) exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party, or (ii) any provision creating or permitting the declaration of an event of default, termination event or similar event upon the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder (other than an Event of Default under Section 9.01(a)).
"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or Governmental Authority.
"Plan" means an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which the Company sponsors or maintains or to which the Company makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions and includes any Pension Plan.
"Plantronics Germany" means Plantronics Gmbh, a German Corporation, and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company.
"Plantronics UK" means Plantronics Limited, a United Kingdom corporation, and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company.
"Prime Rate" means at any time the rate of interest most recently announced within the Bank at its principal office as its "Prime Rate," with the understanding that the Bank's "Prime Rate" is one of the Bank's base rates and serves as the basis upon which effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans making reference thereto, and is evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such internal publication or publications as the Bank may designate. Any change in the Bank's "Prime Rate" as announced by the Bank shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
"Prime Rate Loan" means a Loan or an L/C Advance that bears interest based on the Prime Rate.
"Property" means any estate or interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, and whether tangible or intangible.
"Purchase Money Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business by a Person to finance the cost (including the cost of construction) of an item of Property, the principal amount of which Indebtedness does not exceed the sum of (i) 100% of such cost and (ii) reasonable fees and expenses of such Person incurred in connection therewith.
"Quick Ratio" means, as of any date of determination for any period, the ratio of (a) the sum of all cash, marketable securities and trade accounts receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries on such date of determination (the foregoing determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) to (b) Consolidated Current Liabilities including without limitation the outstanding principal balance of Loans irrespective of the maturity date(s) thereof.
"Reportable Event" means, any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder, other than any such event for which the 30-day notice requirement under ERISA has been waived in regulations issued by the PBGC.
"Requirement of Law" means, as to any Person, any law (statutory or common), treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or of a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon the Person or any of its property or to which the Person or any of its property is subject.
"Responsible Officer" means the chief executive officer, the president, or the chief financial officer (or, if at the relevant time there is no chief financial officer, the General Counsel and Secretary) of the Company, or any other officer having substantially the same authority and responsibility or, with respect to compliance with financial covenants, the chief financial officer (or, if at the relevant time there is no chief financial officer, the General Counsel and Secretary) or the treasurer of the Company, or any other officer having substantially the same authority and responsibility.
"Revolving Termination Date" means the earlier to occur of: (a) July 31, 2005; and (b) the date on which the Commitment terminates in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
"Santa Cruz Property" means those certain three buildings containing an aggregate of approximately 160,000 square feet owned by the Company and located in Santa Cruz, California.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
"Solvent" means, as to any Person at any time, that: (a) the fair value of the Property of such Person is greater than the amount of such Person's liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated liabilities) as such value is established and liabilities evaluated for purposes of Section 101(31) of the Bankruptcy Code and, in the alternative, for purposes of the California Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act; (b) the present fair saleable value of the Property 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 is able to realize upon its Property and pay its debts and other liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated liabilities) as they mature in the normal course of business; and (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction for which such Person's property would constitute unreasonably small capital.
"Subordinated Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the Company which is by its terms subordinated in any manner in right of payment of the Obligations.
"Subsidiary" of a Person means any corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other business entity of which more than 50% of the voting stock, membership interests or other equity interests (in the case of Persons other than corporations), is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the Person, or one or more of the Subsidiaries of the Person, or a combination thereof. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, references herein to a "Subsidiary" refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.
"Surety Instruments" means all letters of credit (including standby and commercial), banker's acceptances, bank guaranties, shipside bonds, surety bonds and similar instruments.
"Swap Contract" means any agreement, whether or not in writing, relating to any transaction that is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap or option, bond, note or bill option, interest rate option, forward foreign exchange transaction, cap, collar or floor transaction, currency swap, cross-currency rate swap, swap option, currency option or any other, similar transaction (including any option to enter into any of the foregoing) or any combination of the foregoing, and, unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any master agreement relating to or governing any or all of the foregoing.
"Swap Termination Value" means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a) the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include the Bank).
"Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies, assessments, imposts, duties, deductions, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of the Bank, taxes imposed on or measured by its net income or gross receipts by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which the Bank is organized or maintains a lending office.
"Transfers" has the meaning specified in Section 8.02.
"Type" has the meaning specified in the definition of "Loan" contained herein.
"UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of California.
"Unfunded Pension Liability" means the excess of a Plan's benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Plan's assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.
"United States" and "U.S." each means the United States of America.
"Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary" means a Domestic Subsidiary that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary.
"Wholly Owned Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any entity of which (other than directors' qualifying shares required by law) 100% of the Capital Stock of each class having ordinary voting power, and 100% of the Capital Stock of every other class, in each case, at the time as of which any determination is being made, is owned, beneficially and of record, by such Person or by one or more of such Person's other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, or both.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions.
1.03 Accounting Principles.
ARTICLE 2
THE CREDIT
2.01 The Revolving Credit.
The Bank agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, to make loans to the Company from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the Revolving Termination Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the principal amount of Seventy-Five Million Dollars ($75,000,000) (such amount, as the same may be reduced under Section 2.05 or as a result of one or more assignments under Section 10.08, the Bank's "Commitment"); provided that, after giving effect to any Credit Extension, the Effective Amount of all outstanding Loans and L/C Obligations together shall not at any time exceed the Commitment. Within the limits of the Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.06 and reborrow under this Section 2.01.
2.02 Loan Accounts; Notes.
2.03 Procedure for Borrowing.
(A) the amount of the Borrowing, which shall be in an aggregate minimum amount of $500,000, in the case of LIBOR Loans, or $100,000, in the case of Prime Rate Loans (provided that, if there shall have been a partial assignment to an Assignee pursuant to Section 10.08, the minimum principal amount for any Prime Rate Loan shall be $500,000) or any multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof;
(B) the requested Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day;
(C) the Type of Loans comprising the Borrowing; and
(D) with respect to LIBOR Loans, the duration of the Interest Period applicable to such Loans included in such notice. If the Notice of Borrowing fails to specify the duration of the Interest Period for any Borrowing comprised of LIBOR Loans, such Interest Period shall be three months.
.
2.04 Conversion and Continuation Elections.
provided that, if at any time the aggregate amount of LIBOR Loans in respect of any Borrowing is reduced, by payment, prepayment, or conversion of part thereof (but not by partial assignment to an Assignee pursuant to Section 10.08), to be less than $500,000, such LIBOR Loans shall automatically convert into Prime Rate Loans, and on and after such date the right of the Company to continue such Loans as, and convert such Loans into, LIBOR Loans shall terminate.
(A) the proposed Conversion/Continuation Date;
(B) the aggregate amount of Loans to be converted or continued;
(C) the Type of Loans resulting from the proposed conversion or continuation; and
(D) other than in the case of conversions into Prime Rate Loans, the duration of the requested Interest Period.
2.05 Voluntary Termination or Reduction of the Commitment.
The Company may, upon five Business Days prior notice to the Bank, terminate the Commitment, or permanently reduce the Commitment by an aggregate minimum amount of $1,000,000 or any multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or of the balance of the Commitment, if less); unless, after giving effect thereto and to any prepayments of the Loans made on the effective date thereof, the then Effective Amount of the Loans and the L/C Obligations would exceed the Commitment then in effect. Once reduced in accordance with this Section 2.05, the Commitment (and, to the extent reduced in accordance with the provisions hereof, the L/C Commitment) may not be increased. All accrued commitment fees to the effective date of any reduction or termination of the Commitment shall be paid on the effective date of such reduction or termination. Any notice of a reduction of the Commitment shall specify to what extent if any to which to such reduction shall be applied to reduce the L/C Commitment. Any termination of the entire Commitment shall also terminate the entire L/C Commitment.
2.06 Optional Prepayments.
Subject to Section 4.04, the Company may, at any time or from time to time, upon irrevocable notice received by the Bank, in the case of LIBOR Loans, not less than three Business Days prior to the requested prepayment date, and, in the case of Prime Rate Loans, on the Business Day prior to the requested prepayment date, prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, in minimum amounts of (a) $100,000 or any multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof in the case of Prime Rate Loans and (b) $500,000 or any multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof in the case of LIBOR Loans. Such notice of prepayment shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. If any such notice is given by the Company, then the Company shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, together with accrued interest to each such date on the amount prepaid and any amounts required pursuant to Section 4.04.
2.07 Cash Collateralization; Mandatory Prepayments.
2.08 Repayment.
The Company shall repay the Bank on the Revolving Termination Date the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding on such date.
2.09 Interest.
2.10 Commitment Fee.
The Company shall pay to the Bank a commitment fee on the average daily unused portion of the Commitment, computed on a monthly basis in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar month based upon the daily utilization for that month as calculated by the Bank, equal to such unused portion as so calculated multiplied by the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage for such period. Such commitment fee shall accrue from the Closing Date to the Revolving Termination Date and shall be due and payable monthly in arrears on the last Business Day of each month commencing on August 31, 2003 through the Revolving Termination Date, with the final payment to be made on the Revolving Termination Date; provided that, in connection with any reduction or termination of the Commitment hereunder, the accrued commitment fee calculated for the period ending on such date shall also be paid on the date of such reduction or termination, with the following monthly payment being calculated on the basis of the period from such reduction or termination date to such monthly payment date. The commitment fees provided in this Section shall accrue at all times after the Closing Date, including at any time during which one or more conditions in Article 5 are not met, and are non-refundable.
2.11 Computation of Fees and Interest.
2.12 Payments by the Company.
ARTICLE 3
THE LETTERS OF CREDIT
3.01 The Letter of Credit Subfacility.
(i) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the Bank from Issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Requirement of Law applicable to the Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Bank shall prohibit, or request that the Bank refrain from, the Issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the Bank in good faith deems material to it;
(ii) the Bank has received written notice from the Company, on or prior to the Business Day prior to the requested date of Issuance of such Letter of Credit, that one or more of the applicable conditions contained in Article 5 is not then satisfied;
(iii) the expiry date of any requested Letter of Credit is (A) more than 360 days after the date of Issuance, or (B) more than 200 days after the Revolving Termination Date, unless the Bank has approved such expiry date in writing;
(iv) any requested Letter of Credit does not provide for drafts, or is not otherwise in form and substance acceptable to the Bank, or the Issuance of a Letter of Credit shall violate any applicable policies of the Bank; or
(v) any standby Letter of Credit is for the purpose of supporting the issuance of any letter of credit by any other Person or for the purpose of supporting any debt for borrowed money.
3.02 Issuance, Amendment and Renewal of Letters of Credit.
3.03 Drawings and Reimbursements.
3.04 Role of the Bank.
The Bank and the Company agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the Bank shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft and certificates expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. The Company hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Company from pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. No Indemnified Person nor any Indemnified Person's correspondents, participants or assignees, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in subsections (a) through (h) of Section 3.05; provided that the Company may have a claim against the Bank, and the Bank may be liable to the Company, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Company which the Company proves were caused by the Bank's willful misconduct or gross negligence or the Bank's willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing: (a) the Bank may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary; and (b) the Bank shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.
3.05 Obligations Absolute.
The obligations of the Company under this Agreement and any L/C-Related Document to reimburse the Bank for a drawing under a Letter of Credit, and to repay any L/C Borrowing and any drawing under a Letter of Credit converted into Loans, shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and each such other L/C-Related Document under all circumstances, including the following:
3.06 Cash Collateralization Obligations.
Upon (a) the request of the Bank (i) if the Bank has honored any full or partial drawing request on any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing hereunder and (ii) if, as of the Revolving Termination Date, any Letters of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, or (b) the occurrence of the circumstances described in Section 2.07 requiring the Company to Cash Collateralize Letters of Credit, then, the Company shall immediately Cash Collateralize or cause to be Cash Collateralized the L/C Obligations in an amount equal to such L/C Obligations. Such amount, when received by the Bank, shall be held by the Bank and maintained in a blocked deposit account or deposit accounts at the Bank, as Cash Collateral for reimbursement obligations of the Company in respect of the L/C Obligations and for the other Obligations. The Company hereby grants to the Bank a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and deposit account balances. Amounts held in such account(s) shall be applied by the Bank to the payment and reimbursement of the Bank in full for all L/C Obligations, and the unused portion thereof after all Letters of Credit have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay other Obligations of the Company hereunder. The Company shall execute such further agreements, documents, instruments or financing statements as the Bank reasonably deems necessary in connection with the foregoing.
3.07 Letter of Credit Fees.
The Company shall pay to the Bank fees and charges in respect of the Issuance, presentation, amendment, renewal and processing of any Letter of Credit hereunder in the amount(s) and at the time(s) specified on Schedule 3.07(a). All fees and charges payable under this Section 3.07 shall be nonrefundable.
3.08 Uniform Customs and Practice.
The Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits as published by the International Chamber of Commerce most recently at the time of issuance of any Letter of Credit shall (unless otherwise expressly provided in the Letters of Credit) apply to the Letters of Credit.
ARTICLE 4
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
4.01 Taxes.
(i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that, after making all required deductions and withholdings (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section), the Bank receives and retains an amount equal to the sum it would have received and retained had no such deductions or withholdings been made;
(ii) the Company shall make such deductions and withholdings;
(iii) the Company shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant taxing authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law; and
(iv) the Company shall also pay to the Bank, at the time interest is paid, Further Taxes in the amount that the Bank specifies is necessary to preserve the after-tax yield that the Bank would have received if such Taxes, Other Taxes or Further Taxes had not been imposed.
4.02 Illegality.
4.03 Increased Costs and Reduction of Return.
4.04 Funding Losses.
The Company shall reimburse the Bank and hold the Bank harmless from any actual loss or expense which the Bank may sustain or incur as a consequence of:
including any such loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain its LIBOR Loans hereunder or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Company to the Bank under this Section and under Section 4.03(a), each LIBOR Loan made by the Bank (and each related reserve, special deposit or similar requirement) shall be conclusively deemed to have been funded at the Base LIBOR used in determining the LIBOR for such LIBOR Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the inter-bank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBOR Loan is in fact so funded.
4.05 Inability to Determine Rates.
If the Bank determines that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the LIBOR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan, or that the LIBOR applicable pursuant to Section 2.09(a) for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Bank of funding such Loan, then the Bank will promptly so notify the Company. Thereafter, the obligation of the Bank to make or maintain LIBOR Loans hereunder shall be suspended until the Bank revokes such notice in writing. Upon receipt of such notice, the Company may revoke without further obligation or penalty any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation then submitted by it. If the Company does not revoke such Notice, the Bank shall make, convert or continue the Loans, as proposed by the Company, in the amount specified in the applicable notice submitted by the Company, but such Loans shall be made, converted or continued as Prime Rate Loans instead of LIBOR Loans.
4.06 Reserves on LIBOR Loans.
The Company shall pay to the Bank, as long as the Bank shall be required under regulations of the FRB to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as Eurocurrency Liabilities), additional costs on the unpaid principal amount of each LIBOR Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by the Bank (as determined by the Bank in good faith, which determination shall be prima facie evidence of such amounts), payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that the Company shall have received at least fifteen days prior written notice of such additional costs from the Bank. If the Bank fails to give notice fifteen days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be payable fifteen days from receipt of such notice.
4.07 Certificates of the Bank.
If the Bank claims reimbursement or compensation under this Article 4, it shall deliver to the Company a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the amount payable to the Bank hereunder and such certificate shall be prima facie evidence of the amounts stated therein.
4.08 Survival.
The agreements and obligations of the Company in this Article 4 shall survive the payment of all other Obligations.
ARTICLE 5
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
5.01 Conditions of Effectiveness of Agreement.
The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to satisfaction or waiver of the condition that the Bank shall have received on or before the Closing Date all of the following, in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank and its counsel:
(i) Copies of the resolutions of the board of directors of the Company authorizing the transactions contemplated hereby, certified as of the Closing Date by the Company's Secretary or an Assistant Secretary; and
(ii) A certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Company authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and all other Credit Documents to be delivered by it hereunder;
(i) the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of the Company as in effect on the Closing Date, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company as of the Closing Date; and
(ii) a good standing certificate from the Secretary of State (or similar, applicable Governmental Authority) as of a recent date;
5.02 Conditions to All Credit Extensions.
The obligation of the Bank to make any Credit Extension (including its initial Credit Extension) or to continue/convert any Loan is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the relevant Borrowing Date, Conversion/Continuation Date or Issuance Date:
Each Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Conversion/Continuation, L/C Application or L/C Amendment Application submitted by the Company hereunder shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company hereunder, as of the date of each such notice, L/C Application or L/C Amendment (as applicable) and as of each Borrowing Date, Conversion/Continuation Date or Issuance Date (as applicable) that the conditions contained in this Section 5.02 are satisfied.
ARTICLE 6
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Company represents and warrants to the Bank that:
6.01 Corporate Existence and Power.
The Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries:
6.02 Corporate Authorization; No Contravention.
The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and each other Credit Document to which the Company is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not and will not:
6.03 Governmental Authorization.
No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Company of the Agreement or any other Credit Document to which the Company is a party.
6.04 Binding Effect.
This Agreement and each other Credit Document to which the Company is a party constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.
6.05 Litigation.
Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.05, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending, or to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, against the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Properties which:
6.06 ERISA Compliance.
Except as specifically disclosed on Schedule 6.06:
6.07 Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations.
The proceeds of the Loans are to be used solely for the purposes set forth in and permitted by Section 7.11 and Section 8.07. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is generally engaged in the business of purchasing or selling Margin Stock or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.
6.08 Title to Properties.
The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the Ordinary Course of Business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, the Properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries are subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens.
6.09 Taxes.
The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have filed all federal and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all federal and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.10 Financial Condition.
(i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP;
(ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and results of operations for the period covered thereby; and
(iii) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.10, show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date hereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Contingent Obligations required to be disclosed in accordance with GAAP.
6.11 Environmental Matters.
The Company conducts in the Ordinary Course of Business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and existing Environmental Claims on its business, operations and properties and the business, operations and properties of its Subsidiaries, and, as a result thereof, the Company has reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.11, such Environmental Laws and Environmental Claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. In that regard, the on-going operations of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries comply in all respects with all Environmental Laws, except to the extent that the failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.12 Regulated Entities.
None of the Company, any Person controlling the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company is an "Investment Company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Company is not subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, any state public utilities code, or any other federal or state statute or regulation limiting its ability to incur Indebtedness.
6.13 No Burdensome Restrictions; Labor Relations.
6.14 Solvency.
The Company is Solvent and as of the Closing Date: (a) the Company does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts beyond the Company's ability to pay as such debts mature, and (b) the Company is not about to engage in a transaction, after giving effect to which the Company's remaining property would constitute unreasonably small capital for the business conducted or transactions engaged by the Company.
6.15 Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Licenses, etc.
Except as specifically disclosed on Schedule 6.15, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries own or are licensed or otherwise have the right to use all of the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, contractual franchises, authorizations and other rights that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person, except where such conflict could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the best knowledge of the Company, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company infringes upon any rights held by any other Person, except where such infringement could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.05, no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or threatened, and no patent, invention, device, application, principle or any statute, law, rule, regulation, standard or code is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, proposed, which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.16 Subsidiaries.
As of the Closing Date, the Company does not have any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in part (a) of Schedule 6.16 hereto, which shows the form of organization and ownership of each such Person and has no equity investments in any other Person constituting in excess of 5% of the outstanding equity of such Person other than those specifically disclosed in part (b) of Schedule 6.16. As of the Closing Date, the Material Subsidiaries of the Company are as listed in part (c) of Schedule 6.16.
6.17 Insurance.
Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.17, the respective Properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates.
6.18 Swap Obligations.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any outstanding obligations under any Swap Contracts, other than Permitted Swap Obligations. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has voluntarily entered into each Swap Contract to which each such Person is a party based upon each such Person's own independent assessment of its consolidated assets, liabilities and commitments, in each case as an appropriate means of mitigating and managing risks associated with such matters, and has not relied on any swap counterparty or any Affiliate of any swap counterparty in determining whether to enter into any such Swap Contract.
6.19 Full Disclosure.
To the best knowledge after due inquiry of any Responsible Officer, none of the representations or warranties made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the Credit Documents as of the date such representations and warranties are made or deemed made, and none of the statements contained in any exhibit, report, statement or certificate furnished by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Credit Documents (including any offering or disclosure materials delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Bank prior to the Closing Date), contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading as of the time when made or delivered. It is recognized by the Bank that projections and forecasts provided by or on behalf of the Company, although reflecting the Company's good faith projections and forecasts based on methods and data which the Company believes to be reasonable and accurate, are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections and forecasts may (and are likely to) differ from the projected or forecasted results.
ARTICLE 7
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any of the Obligations shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, any Letter of Credit (other than a Letter of Credit that has been fully Cash Collateralized) shall remain outstanding or the Bank shall have any Commitment, the Company agrees as follows:
7.01 Financial Statements.
The Company shall deliver to the Bank:
(a) as soon as available, but not later than ninety days after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, and accompanied by the opinion of a nationally recognized independent public accounting firm ("Independent Auditor") which report shall state that such consolidated financial statements present fairly the financial position for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years, and together with SEC Form 10K for the Company. The Independent Auditor's opinion shall not be qualified or limited because of a restricted or limited examination by the Independent Auditor of any material portion of the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' records; and
(b) as soon as available, but not later than forty-five days after the end of each fiscal quarter of each year (other than the last fiscal quarter of each fiscal year), a copy for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the period commencing on the first day and ending on the last day of such quarter, and certified by a Responsible Officer as fairly presenting, in accordance with GAAP (subject to ordinary, good faith year-end audit adjustments), the financial position and the results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, together with SEC Form 10Q for the Company.
7.02 Certificates; Other Information.
The Company shall furnish to the Bank:
7.03 Notices.
(i) (A) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, and of the occurrence or existence of any event or circumstance that foreseeably will become a Default or Event of Default; (B) the commencement of, or any material adverse development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in which the amount of damages claimed and not covered by insurance is $2,000,000 or more (or its equivalent in another currency or currencies); (C) the commencement of, or any material adverse development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which the Company would be required to report to the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, and in any event within ten days after reporting the same to the SEC, provided that the notice requirement with respect to this clause shall be satisfied if the Company furnishes the Bank with a copy of any such report made to the SEC; (D) any labor controversy resulting in or threatening to result in any strike, work stoppage, boycott, shutdown or other labor disruption against or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (E) if the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall at any time or from time to time execute an agreement for an Asset Sale where the aggregate amount of consideration to be paid has a value equal to or greater than $5,000,000, of such proposed Asset Sale (including the amount of the estimated Net Proceeds to be received by the Company or such Subsidiary in respect thereof);
(ii) any matter that has resulted or could reasonably result in a Material Adverse Effect, including: (A) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (B) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any Governmental Authority; (C) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including any of the foregoing involving any applicable Environmental Laws or Environmental Claims; or (D) the imposition of any fine or penalty by any Governmental Authority against or with respect to any facility or plants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(iii) the occurrence of any of the following events affecting the Company or any ERISA Affiliate (but in no event more than 10 days after such event), and deliver to the Bank a copy of any notice with respect to such event that is filed with a Governmental Authority and any notice delivered by a Governmental Authority to the Company or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to such event:
(A) an ERISA Event;
(B) an increase in the Unfunded Pension Liability of any Pension Plan, including as a result of the adoption of any amendment to a Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, that could reasonably be likely to cause or result in an Event of Default under Section 9.01(h); or
(C) the adoption of, or the commencement of contributions to, any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate other than any such Plan in effect and receiving contributions as of the Closing Date.
(iv) any Acquisition, or incurring any Contractual Obligations with respect to any Acquisition, by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, if the aggregate cash and noncash consideration (including assumption of liabilities and including all Contingent Obligations) in connection with such Acquisition is (or could reasonably be expected to become) $10,000,000 or more; and
(v) any Change in Control or any event or circumstance that is reasonably likely to result in any Change in Control.
7.04 Preservation of Existence, Rights, etc.
Except as otherwise permitted by Section 8.02, 8.03 or 8.05, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to:
7.05 Maintenance of Property.
The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain and preserve all its Property which is used or useful in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. In connection with the foregoing, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use a standard of care not less than that typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of their respective facilities.
7.06 Insurance.
The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable independent insurers, insurance with respect to its Property and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.
7.07 Payment of Obligations.
The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable:
(a) all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary;
(b) all lawful material claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its Property, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary.
7.08 Compliance with Laws.
The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply in all respects with all Requirements of Law of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or its business or properties (including the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act), unless such noncompliance is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary with respect thereto, or such noncompliance, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.09 Inspection of Property and Books and Records.
The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Company and such Subsidiary. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Bank to visit and inspect any of their respective Properties, to examine their respective corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective directors, officers, and independent public accountants at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company; provided that, when an Event of Default exists, the Bank may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Company at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice; provided further that the Company and it Subsidiaries will not be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination, copying or making of extracts of, or discuss, any document, any portion thereof, or any information in respect of which and to the extent that disclosure to the Bank is then prohibited by law or by an agreement binding on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries entered into by such Person in good faith and not for the specific purpose of evading the provisions of this Section or any other provision of this Agreement.
7.10 Environmental Laws.
Except as otherwise specifically disclosed to the Bank in writing prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, conduct its operations and keep and maintain its Property in compliance with all Environmental Laws, except where such noncompliance, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.11 Use of Proceeds.
The Company shall use the proceeds of the Loans for working capital and other general corporate purposes, in each case not in contravention of any Requirement of Law or of any Credit Document; provided that the Company shall not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Loans for any Acquisition of any Person if such Acquisition has not been approved by the board of directors (or other body exercising similar authority) of such Person.
Intentionally Deleted.
7.12 Solvency.
The Company shall at all times be Solvent.
7.13 Internal Controls.
The Company will maintain reasonable internal controls and reporting systems designed to insure that a Responsible Officer will be promptly informed of all material financial, operational and compliance matters relevant to compliance with the provisions of the Credit Documents to which the Company is a party.
ARTICLE 8
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any of the Obligations shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, any Letter of Credit (other than a Letter of Credit that has been fully Cash Collateralized) shall remain outstanding or the Bank shall have any Commitment, the Company agrees as follows:
8.01 Limitation on Liens.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any part of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following ("Permitted Liens"):
8.02 Disposition of Assets.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of (whether in one or a series of transactions) any Property or enter into any agreement (other than an agreement expressly contingent on obtaining the consent of the Bank thereto) (collectively, "Transfers") to do any of the foregoing, except:
8.03 Consolidations and Mergers.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, merge, consolidate with or into any Person, except:
8.04 Loans and Investments.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase or acquire, or make any commitment therefor, any Capital Stock or any obligations or other securities of, or any interest in, any Person, or make or commit to make any Acquisitions, or make or commit to make any advance, loan, extension of credit or capital contribution to or any other investment in, or Joint Venture with, any Person, including any Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (together, "Investments"), except for (without duplication):
8.05 Limitation on Indebtedness.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume, suffer to exist, or otherwise become or remain directly or indirectly liable with respect to, any Indebtedness, except (and without duplication):
8.06 Transactions with Affiliates.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction with any Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than would obtain in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate of the Company or such Subsidiary.
8.07 Use of Proceeds.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, use; (a) any portion of the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit, directly or indirectly, (i) to purchase or carry Margin Stock, (ii) to repay or otherwise refinance indebtedness of the Company or others incurred to purchase or carry Margin Stock or (iii) to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or (b) more than $35,000,000 of proceeds of Loans or Letters of Credit to pay cash dividends to its common stock shareholders or to repurchase or redeem its common stock, in each case to the extent permitted under Section 8.09(c)..
8.08 Operating Lease Obligations.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create or suffer to exist any obligations under any operating leases, except for (and without duplication):
8.09 Restricted Payments.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries) to, declare or make any dividend payment or other distribution of assets, properties, cash, rights, obligations or securities (other than to the Company or to any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company) on account of any shares of any class of its Capital Stock, or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value any shares of its Capital Stock or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such shares, now or hereafter outstanding; except that the Company may:
8.10 ERISA.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its ERISA Affiliates to: (a) engage in a prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan; (b) cause or permit any Plan which is qualified under subsection 401(a) of the Code to lose such qualification; or (c) fail to make all required contributions to any Plan subject to subsection 412 of the Code; but only to the extent that any such act or failure to act, separately or together with all other such acts or failures to act, in any of the foregoing subsections (a), (b) or (c) has resulted or could reasonably expected to result in liability of the Company in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000; or (d) engage in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
8.11 Net Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio.
The Company shall not permit as of the last day of any fiscal quarter the Net Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio to be greater than 1.25 to 1:00.
8.12 Interest Coverage Ratio.
The Company shall not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter to be less than 6:00 to 1:00.
8.13 Quick Ratio.
The Company shall not permit as of the last day of any fiscal quarter the Quick Ratio to be less than 1.00 to 1.00.
8.14 Change in Business.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its subsidiaries to, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business carried on by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof, except businesses contemplated by it has have been disclosed to the Bank in writing prior to the date hereof.
8.15 Accounting Changes.
The Company shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required or permitted by GAAP, or change the fiscal year of the Company or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries, provided that the Company may change its fiscal year and the fiscal year of its consolidated Subsidiaries to a calendar year so long as it obtains any required consents of Governmental Authorities in connection therewith. Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE 9
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
9.01 Event of Default.
Any of the following shall constitute an event of default hereunder ("Event of Default"):
9.02 Remedies.
If any Event of Default occurs, the Bank may:
provided that, upon the occurrence of any event specified in subsection (f) or (g) of Section 9.01 (in the case of clause (i) of subsection (g) upon the expiration of the sixty day period mentioned therein), the Commitment, and the obligation of the Bank to make Loans or L/C Advances and to Issue, amend or renew Letters of Credit, shall automatically terminate and the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and L/C Advances, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon and all other Obligations shall become and be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Company.
9.03 Rights Not Exclusive.
The rights provided for in this Agreement and the other Credit Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights, powers, privileges or remedies provided by law or in equity, or under any other instrument, document or agreement now existing or hereafter arising.
ARTICLE 10
GENERAL PROVISIONS
10.01 Amendments and Waivers.
Subject to Section 9.02, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document, and no consent with respect to any departure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries therefrom, shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Bank and the Company, and then any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given..
10.02 Notices.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.
No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Bank, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
10.04 Costs and Expenses.
The Company shall:
10.05 Indemnity.
(i) The Company hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Indemnified Person, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, charges, expenses or disbursements (including Attorney Costs and the allocated cost of internal environmental audit or review services), which may be incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Person in connection with or arising out of any pending or threatened investigation, litigation or proceeding, or any action taken by any Person, with respect to any Environmental Claim arising out of or related to any Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No action taken by legal counsel chosen by the Bank in defending against any such investigation, litigation or proceeding or requested remedial, removal or response action shall vitiate or any way impair the Company's obligation and duty hereunder to indemnify and hold harmless all Indemnified Persons.
(ii) In no event shall any site visit, observation, or testing by the Bank be deemed a representation or warranty that Hazardous Materials are or are not present in, on, or under the site, or that there has been or shall be compliance with any Environmental Law. Neither the Company nor any other Person is entitled to rely on any site visit, observation, or testing by the Bank. The Bank does not owe any duty of care to protect the Company or any other Person against, or to inform the Company or any other Person of, any Hazardous Materials or any other adverse condition affecting any site or Property. The Bank shall not be obligated to disclose to the Company or any other Person any report or findings made as a result of, or in connection with, any site visit, observation, or testing by the Bank.
10.06 Payments Set Aside.
To the extent that the Company makes a payment to the Bank, or the Bank exercises its right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement agreed to by the Bank in its sole discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, then, to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred.
10.07 Successors and Assigns.
The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Company may not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Bank (which consent may be withheld for any reason).
10.08 Assignments, Participations, etc.
10.09 Confidentiality.
The Bank agrees, and agrees to cause its Affiliates to, take normal and reasonable precautions and exercise due care to maintain the confidentiality of all information identified as "confidential" or "secret" by the Company and provided to it by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under this Agreement or any other Credit Document, and neither the Bank nor any of its Affiliates shall use any such information other than in connection with or in enforcement of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents or in connection with other business now or hereafter existing or contemplated with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; except to the extent such information (i) was or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by the Bank, or (ii) was or becomes available on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or its Subsidiaries, so long as such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries known to the Bank; provided that the Bank may disclose such information (A) at the request or pursuant to any requirement of any Governmental Authority to which the Bank is subject or in connection with an examination of the Bank by any such authority; (B) pursuant to subpoena or other court process; (C) when required to do so in accordance with the provisions of any applicable Requirement of Law; (D) to the extent reasonably required in connection with any litigation or proceeding to which the Bank or any of its Affiliates may be party; (E) to the extent reasonably required in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Credit Document; (F) to the Bank's independent auditors and other professional advisors; (G) to any Participant or Assignee, actual or potential, provided that such Person agrees in writing to keep such information confidential to the same extent required of the Bank hereunder; (H) as to the Bank or any of its Affiliates, as expressly permitted under the terms of any other document or agreement regarding confidentiality to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is deemed a party with the Bank or the Bank's Affiliates; and (I) to the Bank's Affiliates.
10.10 Set-off.
In addition to any rights and remedies of the Bank provided hereunder or at law, if an Event of Default exists or the Obligations have been accelerated, the Bank is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Company, any such notice being waived by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other indebtedness at any time owing by, the Bank to or for the credit or the account of the Company against any and all Obligations now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not the Bank shall have made demand under this Agreement or any Credit Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured. The Bank agrees to notify promptly the Company after any such set-off and application made by the Bank, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.
10.11 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute but one and the same instrument.
10.12 Severability.
The illegality or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement or any instrument or agreement required hereunder shall not in any way affect or impair the legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement or any instrument or agreement required hereunder.
10.13 No Third Parties Benefited.
This Agreement is made and entered into for the sole protection and legal benefit of the Company, the Bank and the Indemnified Persons, and their permitted successors and assigns, and no other Person shall be a direct or indirect legal beneficiary of, or have any direct or indirect cause of action or claim in connection with, this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction.
10.15 Arbitration.
10.16 Entire Agreement.
This Agreement, together with the other Credit Documents, embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the Company and the Bank and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings of such Persons, verbal or written, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. This Agreement amends, replaces and supersedes the Credit Agreement dated as of November 29, 1999, as amended from time to time.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered in San Francisco, California by their proper and duly authorized officers as of the day and year first written above.
The Company:
PLANTRONICS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By: _________________________________
Name: _________________________________
Title: _________________________________
By: _________________________________
Name: _________________________________
Title: _________________________________
The Bank:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By: _________________________________
Name: _________________________________
Title: _________________________________