PRIME REFRACTIVE MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
LOAN AGREEMENT
$14,000,000.00 ADVANCING TERM LOAN
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
as Administrative Agent
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
as Documentation Agent
and
THE LENDERS NAMED HEREIN,
as Lenders
Dated as of January 31, ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES LLC
as Lead Arranger and Book Manager
LOAN AGREEMENT
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I -- DEFINITIONS...................................................2
Section 1.1 Amendment and Restatement........................2
Section 1.2 Definitions......................................2
Section 1.3 Other Definitional Provisions...................17
ARTICLE II -- ADVANCES....................................................17
Section 2.1 Commitments.....................................17
Section 2.2 Notes..........................................18
Section 2.3 Repayment of Notes..............................18
Section 2.4 Interest........................................19
Section 2.5 Borrowing Procedure.............................19
Section 2.6 Continuations; Conversions......................20
Section 2.7 Use of Proceeds.................................20
Section 2.8 Fees............................................20
ARTICLE III -- PAYMENTS...................................................20
Section 3.1 Method of Payment...............................20
Section 3.2 Optional Prepayment.............................21
Section 3.3 Pro Rata Treatment..............................21
Section 3.4 Non-Receipt of Funds by the
Administrative Agent......................21
Section 3.5 Withholding Taxes...............................21
Section 3.6 Withholding Tax Exemption.......................22
Section 3.7 Computation of Interest.........................22
Section 3.8 Order of Application............................22
ARTICLE IV -- YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY.............................23
Section 4.1 Additional Costs................................23
Section 4.2 Limitation on Eurodollar Advances...............24
Section 4.3 Illegality......................................24
Section 4.4 Treatment of Eurodollar Advances................25
Section 4.5 Compensation....................................25
Section 4.6 Capital Adequacy................................26
ARTICLE V -- SECURITY.....................................................26
Section 5.1 Collateral......................................26
Section 5.2 Future Liens. ..................................27
Section 5.3 Release of Collateral...........................28
Section 5.4 Setoff..........................................28
ARTICLE VI -- CONDITIONS PRECEDENT........................................28
Section 6.1 Initial Advance.................................28
Section 6.2 All Advances....................................30
ARTICLE VII -- REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.............................31
Section 7.1 Existence.......................................31
Section 7.2 Financial Statements............................31
Section 7.3 Corporate Action: No Breach....................32
Section 7.4 Operation of Business...........................32
Section 7.5 Litigation and Judgments........................32
Section 7.6 Rights in Properties; Liens.....................32
Section 7.7 Enforceability..................................32
Section 7.8 Approvals.......................................33
Section 7.9 Debt............................................33
Section 7.10 Taxes...........................................33
Section 7.11 Use of Proceeds; Margin Securities..............33
Section 7.12 ERISA...........................................33
Section 7.13 Disclosure......................................33
Section 7.14 Subsidiaries; Partnerships......................34
Section 7.15 Agreements......................................34
Section 7.16 Compliance with Legal Requirements;
Governmental Authorizations................34
Section 7.17 Investment Company Act..........................35
Section 7.18 Public Utility Holding Company Act..............35
Section 7.19 Environmental Matters...........................35
Section 7.20 Year 2000 Compliance............................35
ARTICLE VIII -- POSITIVE COVENANTS........................................35
Section 8.1 Reporting Requirements..........................35
Section 8.2 Maintenance of Existence; Conduct of Business...38
Section 8.3 Maintenance of Properties.......................38
Section 8.4 Taxes and Claims................................38
Section 8.5 Insurance.......................................39
Section 8.6 Inspection Rights...............................39
Section 8.7 Keeping Books and Records.......................39
Section 8.8 Compliance with Laws............................39
Section 8.9 Compliance with Agreements......................39
Section 8.10 Further Assurances..............................39
Section 8.11 ERISA...........................................40
Section 8.12 Information Relating to Proposed Acquisitions...40
Section 8.13 After-Acquired Subsidiaries.....................40
Section 8.14 Syndication Cooperation.........................40
ARTICLE IX -- NEGATIVE COVENANTS..........................................40
Section 9.1 Debt............................................40
Section 9.2 Limitation on Liens.............................41
Section 9.3 Mergers, Etc....................................42
Section 9.4 Restricted Payments.............................42
Section 9.5 Investments.....................................42
Section 9.6 Limitation on Issuance of Capital Stock.........43
Section 9.7 Transactions With Affiliates....................43
Section 9.8 Disposition of Assets. ........................43
Section 9.9 Sale and Leaseback..............................43
Section 9.10 Prepayment of Debt..............................43
Section 9.11 Nature of Business..............................44
Section 9.12 Environmental Protection........................44
Section 9.13 Accounting......................................44
Section 9.14 Amendment of Partnership
and Management Agreements..................44
Section 9.15 Financial ▇▇▇▇▇▇................................44
Section 9.16 Capital Expenditures............................44
Section 9.17 Operating Expenses..............................44
Section 9.18 Control of Prime Refractive, L.L.C..............45
ARTICLE X -- FINANCIAL COVENANTS..........................................45
Section 10.1 Senior Funded Debt To EBITDA Ratio..............45
Section 10.2 Debt Service Coverage Ratio.....................45
ARTICLE XI -- DEFAULT.....................................................45
Section 11.1 Events of Default...............................45
Section 11.2 Remedies........................................47
Section 11.3 Performance by the Administrative Agent.........48
ARTICLE XII -- THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT...................................48
Section 12.1 Appointment, Powers and Immunities..............48
Section 12.2 Rights of Administrative Agent as a Lender......49
Section 12.3 Sharing of Payments, Etc........................50
Section 12.4 Indemnification.................................50
Section 12.5 Independent Credit Decisions....................51
Section 12.6 Several Commitments.............................51
Section 12.7 Successor Administrative Agent..................51
Section 12.8 Independent Contractor..........................52
ARTICLE XIII -- MISCELLANEOUS.............................................52
Section 13.1 Expenses........................................52
Section 13.2 Indemnification.................................52
Section 13.3 No Duty.........................................53
Section 13.4 No Fiduciary Relationship.......................53
Section 13.5 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies..................53
Section 13.6 Successors and Assigns..........................53
Section 13.7 Survival........................................56
Section 13.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT................................56
Section 13.9 Amendments, Etc.................................56
Section 13.10 Maximum Interest Rate...........................56
Section 13.11 Notices.........................................57
Section 13.12 Governing Law...................................57
Section 13.13 Counterparts....................................57
Section 13.14 Severability....................................57
Section 13.15 Headings........................................57
Section 13.16 Construction....................................57
Section 13.17 Independence of Covenants.......................57
Section 13.18 Confidentiality.................................58
Section 13.19 Waiver of Jury Trial............................58
Section 13.20 Choice of Forum; Consent to
Service of Process and Jurisdiction. ......58
Section 13.21 Chapter 346.....................................59
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Description of Exhibit
A Advance Request Form
B Form of Assignment and Acceptance
C Form of Note
D Perfection Certificate
E Form of Opinion of Counsel for Borrower and Guarantors
F Compliance Certificate
G Permitted Refractive Acquisition Certificate
INDEX TO SCHEDULES
Schedule Description of Schedule
1 Commitments
2 Guarantors
3 Partnerships
7.5 Existing Litigation
7.9 Existing Debt
7.14.1 Capitalization of Subsidiaries
7.14.2 Partners
7.15 Agreements
7.16 Governmental Disclosures
7.19 Environmental Matters
9.2 Existing Liens
LOAN AGREEMENT
LOAN AGREEMENT
THIS LOAN AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of January 31, 2000, is
among PRIME REFRACTIVE MANAGEMENT, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
("Borrower"), each of the lenders or other lending institutions which is or
which may from time to time become a signatory hereto or any successor or
assignee thereof (collectively, the "Lenders" and individually, a "Lender"),
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. ("Bank of America"), a national banking association, as
Administrative Agent for itself and the other Lenders (in such capacity,
together with its successors in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent"), and
BANKBOSTON, N.A. ("BankBoston"), a national banking association, as
Documentation Agent for itself and the other Lenders (in such capacity, together
with its successors in such capacity, the "Documentation Agent").
R E C I T A L S
1. Reference is hereby made to that certain Loan Agreement dated as of
November 28, 1994, by and between Prime Medical Services, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Prime Medical"), of which Borrower is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary,
the Banks defined therein, and BankBoston (then known as The First National Bank
of Boston), as Agent for the Banks defined therein, as amended by that certain
First Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of August 17, 1995, as amended by the
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of April 26, 1996 among Prime
Medical, Bank of America (then known as NationsBank of Texas, N.A.), as
Documentation Agent, BankBoston, as Administrative Agent, and BankBoston, as
Syndication Agent, as amended by the First Amendment to Amended and Restated
Loan Agreement dated as of June 14, 1996 among Prime Medical, BankBoston, Bank
of America (then known as NationsBank of Texas, N.A.), and the other banks named
therein, as further amended by the Second Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
dated as of March 31, 1997 among Prime Medical, BankBoston, as Administrative
Agent, Bank of America (then known as NationsBank of Texas, N.A.), as
Documentation Agent, and NationsBanc Capital Markets, Inc., and the lenders
named therein, as amended and waived from time to time, as further amended by
the Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of April 20, 1998 among
Prime Medical, BankBoston, as original Administrative Agent, and successor
Documentation Agent, Bank of America (then known as NationsBank of Texas, N.A.),
as original Documentation Agent and successor Administrative Agent, and the
lenders named therein, as amended and waived from time to time (collectively,
the "Original Credit Agreement").
2. The parties hereto desire to restructure, modify, refinance, and
replace a $14,000,000 portion of the credit available under Original Credit
Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I -- DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Amendment and Restatement. The Obligations (as hereinafter
defined) are in restructure, modification, refinancing, and replacement of a
portion of the credit available under the Original Credit Agreement and
constitutes and is hereby designated by Borrower as "Designated Senior Debt" as
defined in the Senior Subordinated Indenture, and is a portion of the "Senior
Credit Facility" under the Senior Subordinated Indenture.
Section 1.2 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the following meanings: "Acquisition" means any transaction, or any
series of related transactions, consummated on or after the date hereof, by
which Borrower or Prime Refractive, L.L.C. directly or indirectly (a) acquires
all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, whether through purchase
of assets, merger, or otherwise, (b) acquires (in one transaction or as the most
recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in number
of votes) of the securities (or similar ownership interests) of any Person, or
(c) acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series
of transactions) at least a majority of the general partnership or managing
member interests of any Person, or (d) acquires additional Partnership or other
equity interests in any Subsidiary.
"Additional Costs" has the meaning specified in Section 4.1.
"Adjusted EBITDA" means for any Person for any period, the sum of: (i)
EBITDA, except in the case of any Target Company in respect of which
Consolidated Earn-Out Indebtedness is payable, EBITDA of such Target Company
shall be increased by the amount, if any, by which the annualized fiscal year to
date EBITDA used in the definition of Consolidated Earn-Out Indebtedness exceeds
the actual EBITDA for the four previous fiscal quarters of such Person for such
period, plus (ii) without duplication, all cash Distributions related to
minority interests in Partnerships actually received by Borrower; plus (iii)
without duplication, on a pro forma basis the EBITDA of any Target Company
acquired during such period as if it were acquired on the first day of such
period.
"Adjusted Eurodollar Rate" means, for any Eurodollar Advance for any
Interest Period therefor, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to
the nearest 0.01%) determined by the Administrative Agent to be equal to (a) the
Eurodollar Rate for such Eurodollar Advance for such Interest Period divided by
(b) 1.00 minus the Reserve Requirement for such Eurodollar Advance for such
Interest Period.
"Administrative Agent" means Bank of America, N.A., and its permitted
successors and assigns as "Administrative Agent" for Lenders under this
Agreement.
"Advance" means each advance of funds by the Lenders or any of them to
Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5(a).
"Advance Request Form" means a certificate, in substantially the form
of Exhibit A, properly completed and signed by Borrower requesting an Advance.
"Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person (a) that directly
or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by,
or is under common Control with, such Person, (b) that directly or indirectly
beneficially owns or holds five percent (5%) or more of any class of voting
stock of such Person, or (c) five percent (5%) or more of the voting stock of
which is directly or indirectly beneficially owned or held by the Person in
question; provided, however, in no event shall the Agents or any Lender be
deemed an Affiliate of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
"After-Acquired Subsidiary" has the meaning specified in Section 8.13.
"Agents" means the Administrative Agent, the Documentation Agent, and the
Lead Arranger. "Agent" means any one of the Agents.
"Alternate Base Rate" means, at any time, the greater of (a) the
variable rate of interest established from time to time by the Administrative
Agent as its "base rate" and set by the Administrative Agent as a general
reference rate of interest charged by the Administrative Agent, and (b) the
Federal Funds Rate plus one-half of one percent (.5%). Borrower acknowledges
that the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, extend credit to other
borrowers at rates of interest varying from, and having no relationship to, such
general reference rate. Each change in the Alternate Base Rate shall become
effective without prior notice to Borrower automatically as of the opening of
business on the date of such change in the Alternate Base Rate.
"Alternate Base Rate Advances" means Advances that bear interest at
rates based upon the Alternate Base Rate.
"Applicable Lending Office" means for each Lender and each Type of
Advance, the lending office of such Lender (or of an Affiliate of such Lender)
designated for such Type of Advance below its name on the signature pages hereof
or an Assignment and Acceptance, or such other office of such Lender (or of an
Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to
Borrower and the Administrative Agent as the office by which its Advances of
such Type are to be made and maintained.
"Applicable Margin" means the interest margin over the Alternate Base
Rate or the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, as the case may be, for Advances under the
Commitment (a) from the date hereof until the delivery of financial statements
and a compliance certificate for the period ending December 31, 1999, as
required hereunder, three-eighths of one percent (.375%) for Alternate Base Rate
Advances, and one and seven-eighths of one percent (1.875%) for Eurodollar
Advances; and (b) thereafter, based on the Total Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio as
of and for the most recent four (4) quarter period ending on or before the date
of determination, the margin set forth opposite such ratio below:
========================== =========================== =========================
Applicable Margin
Total Funded Alternate Base Rate Applicable Margin
Debt to EBITDA Ratio Advances Eurodollar Advances
-------------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------
-------------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------
Less than 1.5 to 1.0 0.375% 1.875%
-------------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------
-------------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------
-------------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------
-------------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------
-------------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------
-------------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------
Greater than or equal
to 2.75 to 1.0 1.375% 2.875%
========================== =========================== =========================
The Total Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall be determined from the then most
current of either (a) the quarterly or annual financial statements and related
compliance certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1, or (b) the most recent
Advance Request Form for a Permitted Refractive Acquisition, calculating any
adjustments to such ratio necessitated as a result of the Permitted Refractive
Acquisition for which such Advance was made. The adjustment, if any, to the
Applicable Margin shall be effective commencing on the fifth (5th) Business Day
after delivery of such financial statements (and related compliance certificate)
or the respective date of Advance for a Permitted Refractive Acquisition, as the
case may be. If Borrower fails at any time to furnish to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders the financial statements and related compliance
certificate as required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.1, then the
maximum Applicable Margin shall apply until such time as such financial
statements and compliance certificates are so delivered.
"Applicable Rate" means: (a) during any period that an Advance is an
Alternate Base Rate Advance, the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin;
and (b) during any period that an Advance is a Eurodollar Advance, the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Margin.
"Applicable Unused Fee Percentage" means the per annum rate with
respect to the unused portion of the Commitments as follows: (a) from the date
hereof until delivery of financial statements and a compliance certificate for
the period ending December 31,1999, as required hereunder, three-eights of one
percent (.375%); and (b) thereafter, based on the Total Funded Debt to EBITDA
Ratio as of and for the most recent four (4) quarter period ending on or before
the date of determination, the percentage set forth opposite such ratio below:
====================================================== =========================
Total Funded Applicable Unused Fee
Debt to EBITDA Ratio Percentage
------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------
------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------
Less than 1.5 to 1.0 .375%
------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------
------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------
Greater than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0 .500%
====================================================== =========================
The Applicable Unused Fee Percentage shall be adjusted, if necessary, at the
same time as adjustments to the Applicable Margin. If Borrower fails at any time
to furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the financial statements
and related compliance certificate as required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 8.1, then the maximum Applicable Unused Fee Percentage shall apply until
such time as such financial statements and compliance certificates are so
delivered.
"Assignee" has the meaning specified in Section 13.6.
"Assigning Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 13.6.
"Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance entered
into by an Assigning Lender and its Assignee and accepted by the Administrative
Agent pursuant to Section 13.6, in substantially the form of Exhibit B.
"Bank of America" means Bank of America, N.A. and its permitted successors
and assigns.
"BankBoston" means BankBoston, N.A. and its permitted successors and
assigns.
"Basle Accord" means the proposals for risk-based capital framework
described by the Basle Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory
Practices in its paper entitled "International Convergence of Capital
Measurement and Capital Standards" dated July, 1988, as amended, supplemented
and otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, or any replacement
thereof.
"Borrower Security Agreement" means (a) the Borrower Security Agreement
dated as of the date hereof, executed by Borrower in favor of Administrative
Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, as the same may be amended, supplemented,
or modified from time to time.
"Business Day" means (a) any day on which the Administrative Agent is
open for regular business, and (b) with respect to all borrowings, payments,
Conversions, Continuations, Interest Periods, and notices in connection with
Eurodollar Advances, any day which is a Business Day described in clause (a)
above and which is also a day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are carried
out in the London interbank market.
"Capital Expenditure" means any expenditure by a Person for an asset
which will be used in a year or years subsequent to the year in which the
expenditure is made and which asset is properly classifiable in relevant
financial statements of such Person as property, equipment or improvements,
fixed assets, or a similar type of capitalized asset in accordance with GAAP.
"Capital Lease Obligations" means, as to any Person, the obligations of
such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other agreement
conveying the right to use) real and/or personal property, which obligations are
required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance
sheet of such Person under GAAP. For purposes of this Agreement, the amount of
such Capital Lease Obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof, as
determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Change in Control" means any of the following has occurred: (i)
Borrower ceases to own legally and beneficially at least 51% of the membership
interests in Prime Refractive, LLC or ceases to Control Prime Refractive, LLC,
(ii) Prime RVC ceases to own legally and beneficially 100% of the issued and
outstanding equity securities of Borrower, (iii) PMOI ceases to own legally and
beneficially 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of Prime RVC, or (iv)
Prime Medical Services, Inc. ceases to own legally and beneficially 100% of the
issued and outstanding stock of PMOI.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
"Collateral" has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.
"Collateral Documents" means the Borrower Security Agreement, the
Guarantor Security Agreements, the Pledge Agreements, and all other collateral,
security, lien creating agreements executed or delivered pursuant to or in
connection with this Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified, renewed,
or supplemented from time to time.
"Commitment" means, as to each Lender as of any date, the obligation of
such Lender on such date to make Advances hereunder in an aggregate principal
amount at any time outstanding up to but not exceeding the amount shown on
Schedule 1 as its Commitment, as the same may be reduced pursuant to Section
2.1(b) or terminated pursuant to Section 2.1(b) or Section 11.2 and as the same
may be increased or decreased from time to time by further assignment pursuant
to Section 13.6. "Commitments" means the Commitments of all of the Lenders in
the original aggregate amount of $14,000,000.00.
"Companies" means Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
"Confidential Information" means any and all information relating to
the Companies, including, without limitation, information relating to each of
the Company's financial condition, business plans, management, earnings, assets,
liabilities, contracts, processes, products, research and development
activities, intellectual property, services, customers, suppliers, marketing and
sales. In addition, Confidential Information shall include any and all other
information marked or identified in writing by any of the Companies as
"Confidential" or "Confidential Information" and provided by each of the
Companies or its representatives to any of the Lenders or the Agents or obtained
by the Lenders or the Agents after an inspection pursuant to Section 8.6.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, "Confidential Information" shall not include:
(i) any information known to an Agent or a Lender prior to
disclosure by any of the Companies or its representatives, as
documented prior to such disclosure in such Agent's or Lender's written
records;
(ii) any information which an Agent or a Lender demonstrates
became available to it on a non-confidential basis from a source (other
than any of the Companies) who is not bound by a confidentiality
agreement with, or any other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation
of confidentiality to, any of the Companies or any other party with
respect to such information;
(iii) any information which an Agent or a Lender demonstrates
is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result
of a disclosure by it in breach of Section 13.18; and
(iv) any information which an Agent or a Lender demonstrates
was conceived of or developed by it or any of its employees without
access or reference, directly or indirectly, to the Confidential
Information.
"Consolidated Earn-Out Indebtedness" means as to any Person, at any
time, in connection with each applicable Permitted Refractive Acquisition in
which an earn-out payment or other post-closing payment or payments is or may be
due pursuant to the applicable purchase or acquisition agreement, the projected
aggregate amount of such earn-out or post-closing payments that would be or
become due based upon all events or circumstances that have occurred as of any
date of determination, regardless of whether any such payments are then actually
payable under the terms of the applicable purchase or acquisition agreement;
provided that to the extent any such payments are based on net income, revenues,
EBITDA or similar financial performance criteria of any Target Company for a
defined post-closing period or periods, the actual applicable financial
performance during the applicable period to date shall be utilized in making
such projection. Borrower shall submit the calculation of Consolidated Earn-Out
Indebtedness with respect to each applicable Permitted Refractive Acquisition,
together with each compliance certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(d),
together with any applicable supporting documentation, all of which must be
satisfactory to Administrative Agent.
"Consolidated Net Income" means, for any Person for any period, the
amount which, in conformity with GAAP, would be shown on a consolidated income
statement of such Person as net income for such period, after deduction of any
minority interests.
"Continue," "Continuation," and "Continued" refers to the continuation
pursuant to Section 2.6 of a Eurodollar Advance from one Interest Period to the
next Interest Period.
"Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities or other ownership interests, by
contract or otherwise. "Controlling" and "Controlled" have meanings correlative
thereto.
"Conversion" and "Converted" refers to a conversion pursuant to Section
2.6 of one Type of Advance into another Type of Advance.
"Debt" means as to any Person at any time (without duplication and
without duplication among the Companies): (a) all obligations of such Person for
borrowed money; (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, notes,
debentures, or other similar instruments, including, without limitation,
Subordinated Debt; (c) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred
purchase price of property or services, including, without limitation,
Consolidated Earn-Out Indebtedness, except trade accounts payable of such Person
arising in the ordinary course of business that are not past due by more than
ninety (90) days; (d) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person; (e) all
indebtedness or other obligations of others of the types described in this
definition, if Guaranteed by such Person or for which such Person is liable as a
partner in any partnership or joint venturer in any joint venture; (f) all
obligations secured by a Lien existing on property owned by such Person, whether
or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed by such Person or are
non-recourse to the credit of such Person; (g) all reimbursement obligations of
such Person (whether contingent or otherwise) in respect of letters of credit,
banker's acceptances, surety or other bonds and similar instruments; (h)
obligations under any Financial Hedge; and (i) all liabilities of such Person in
respect of unfunded vested benefits under any Plan; provided, however, that the
term Debt shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or
collection in the ordinary course of business.
"Debt Service Coverage Ratio" means, as to the Companies (including on
a pro forma basis any Company acquired in any Permitted Refractive Acquisition
for each of the components of and for the entire period of calculation of Debt
Service Coverage Ratio) for any period, the ratio of (a) the sum of: (i)
Adjusted EBITDA for such period, minus (ii) the aggregate amount of capital
expenditures made during such period, minus (iii) all cash tax payments, divided
by (b) the sum of: (w) all cash interest payments payable during such period in
respect of all Debt of the Companies (without deduction for any minority
interests), plus (x) 1/7 of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans as of
any date of determination, plus (y) 1/7 of the then applicable aggregate
Earn-Out Indebtedness, plus (z) any regularly scheduled principal payments on
Debt (including Subordinated Debt, but excluding Consolidated Earn-Out
Indebtedness) all as determined on a rolling four (4) quarter and consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP.
"Default" means an Event of Default or the occurrence of an event or
condition which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would
become an Event of Default.
"Default Rate" means the lesser of (a) the Maximum Rate, and (b) the
sum of the Alternate Base Rate in effect from day to day plus the Applicable
Margin plus two percent (2%).
"Defaulting Lender" means any Lender that in Administrative Agent's
reasonable judgment has defaulted on any of its obligations under this
Agreement.
"Distribution" for any Person means, with respect to any shares of any
capital stock, general or limited partnership interests, or other equity
securities issued by such Person, (a) the retirement, redemption, purchase, or
other acquisition for value of any such securities, (b) the declaration or
payment of any dividend, distribution, income, or other amount, on or with
respect to any such securities or interests, and (c) any other payment by such
Person with respect to such securities or interests.
"Documentation Agent" means BankBoston, N.A., and its permitted
successors and assigns as "Documentation Agent" for Lenders under this
Agreement.
"Dollars" and "$" mean lawful money of the United States of America.
"EBITDA" means, for any Person for any period: (a) Consolidated Net
Income of such Person for such period, determined after deduction of any
minority interests, plus (b) all amounts deducted therefrom during such period,
in conformity with GAAP, for interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
"Eligible Assignee" means (i) a Lender; (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender;
or (iii) any other Person approved by the Administrative Agent (which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed by Administrative Agent) and,
unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time any
assignment is effected in accordance with Section 13.6, Borrower, such approval
not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed by Borrower and such approval to be
deemed given by Borrower if no objection is received by the assigning Lender and
the Administrative Agent from Borrower within two (2) Business Days after notice
of such proposed assignment has been provided by the assigning Lender to
Borrower; provided, however, that neither Borrower nor an Affiliate of Borrower
shall qualify as an Eligible Assignee.
"Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, and local laws,
regulations, and requirements pertaining to health, safety, or the environment,
including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 ▇.▇.▇.▇▇. 9601 et seq., the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, 42 ▇.▇.▇.▇▇. 6901 et seq., the
Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 ▇.▇.▇.▇▇. 651 et seq., the Clean Air Act,
42 U.S.C.ss.7401 et seq., the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C.ss.1251 et seq., and the
Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C.ss.2601 et seq., as such laws,
regulations, and requirements may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Environmental Liabilities" means, as to any Person, all liabilities,
obligations, responsibilities, Remedial Actions, losses, damages, punitive
damages, consequential damages, treble damages, costs, and expenses (including,
without limitation, all reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel,
expert and consulting fees and costs of investigation and feasibility studies),
fines, penalties, sanctions, and interest incurred as a result of any claim or
demand, by any Person, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express
warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, including any
Environmental Law, permit, order or agreement with any Governmental Authority or
other Person, arising from environmental, health or safety conditions or the
Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Material into the environment,
resulting from the past, present, or future operations of such Person or its
Affiliates.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time, and the regulations and published interpretations
thereunder.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any corporation or trade or business which is a
member of the same controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of
Section 414(b) of the Code) as Borrower or is under common control (within the
meaning of Section 414(c) of the Code) with Borrower.
"Eurodollar Advances" means Advances the interest rates on which are
determined on the basis of the rates referred to in the definition of "Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate" in this Section 1.1.
"Eurodollar Rate" means, for any Eurodollar Advance for any Interest
Period therefor, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the
nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor page) as
the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00
a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest
Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period. If for any reason such
rate is not available, the term "Eurodollar Rate" shall mean, for any Eurodollar
Advance for any Interest Period therefor, the rate per annum (rounded upwards,
if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBO Page
as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately
11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such
Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period, provided,
however, if more than one rate is specified on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the
applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of all such rates.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 11.1.
"Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 0.01%) equal to the weighted average of
the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such
day, provided that (a) if the day for which such rate is to be determined is not
a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such
transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next
succeeding Business Day, and (b) if such rate is not so published on such next
succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for any day shall be the average
rate charged to the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as
determined by the Administrative Agent.
"Financial Hedge" means either (a) a swap, collar, floor, cap, or other
contract which is intended to reduce or eliminate the risk of fluctuations in
interest rates, or (b) a foreign exchange, currency hedging, commodity hedging,
or other contract which is intended to reduce or eliminate the market risk of
holding currency or a commodity in either the cash or futures markets, which
Financial Hedge under either clause (a) or clause (b) is entered into by
Borrower with any Lender or an Affiliate of any Lender.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles, applied on a
consistent basis, as set forth in Opinions of the Accounting Principles Board of
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and/or in statements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board and/or their respective successors and
which are applicable in the circumstances as of the date in question. Accounting
principles are applied on a "consistent basis" when the accounting principles
applied in a current period are comparable in all material respects to those
accounting principles applied in a preceding period, except for changes required
by GAAP. In the event of a change in GAAP, Administrative Agent and Borrower
will thereafter negotiate in good faith to revise any covenants of this
Agreement affected thereby in order to make such covenants consistent with GAAP
then in effect.
"Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any state or
political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, regulatory, or administrative functions of or pertaining to
government.
"Governmental Authorization" shall mean any approval, consent, license,
permit, waiver, or other authorization issued, granted, given, or otherwise made
available by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority or pursuant to
any Legal Requirement.
"Guarantee" by any Person means any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other
obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or
payment of) such Debt or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of
partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods,
securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement
conditions or otherwise), or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any
other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof
or to protect the obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part),
provided that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for collection
or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term "Guarantee" used as a
verb has a corresponding meaning.
"Guaranties" means, collectively, (a) the Guaranty Agreements, each
dated as of the date hereof, executed by the Guarantors in favor of the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, and shall also include any
other guaranty agreement heretofore or hereafter from time to time executed by
any Guarantor and delivered to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of
Lenders, as the same may be amended, restated, renewed, and substituted from
time to time. "Guaranty" means any one of the Guaranties.
"Guarantors" means, collectively, Prime Medical, all "Guarantors" under
the Prime Facility, Prime Refractive, LLC, and all Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of
Borrower, now owned or hereafter acquired or formed, and "Guarantor" means any
one of the Guarantors.
"Guarantor Security Agreements" means (a) the Security Agreements, each
dated as of the date hereof, executed by the Guarantors in favor of
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders , (b) the Security Agreement
dated as of the date hereof, executed by LASIK Investors, LLC, in favor of
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, relating to its interest in
Prime Refractive, LLC, and (c) shall also include any other security agreements
heretofore or hereafter from time to time executed by any Guarantor or LASIK
Investors, LLC and delivered to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of
Lenders, as amended, restated, renewed, and substituted from time to time.
"Guarantor Security Agreement" means any one of the Guarantor Security
Agreements.
"Hazardous Material" means any substance, product, waste, pollutant,
material, chemical, contaminant, constituent, or other material which is or
becomes listed, regulated, or addressed under any Environmental Law, including,
without limitation, asbestos, petroleum, and polychlorinated biphenyls.
"Interest Period" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Advance, each
period commencing on the date such Advance is made or Converted from an Advance
of another Type or, in the case of each subsequent, successive Interest Period
applicable to a Eurodollar Advance, the last day of the next preceding Interest
Period with respect to such Advance, and ending on the numerically corresponding
day in the first (1st), second (2nd), third (3rd) or sixth (6th) calendar month
thereafter, as Borrower may select as provided in Section 2.5 or 2.6, except
that each such Interest Period which commences on the last Business Day of a
calendar month (or on any day for which there is no numerically corresponding
day in the appropriate subsequent calendar month) shall end on the last Business
Day of the appropriate subsequent calendar month. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(a) each Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a
Business Day shall end on the next succeeding Business Day (or, if such
succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, on the next
preceding Business Day); (b) any Interest Period which would otherwise extend
beyond the Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date; (c) no more than
four (4) Interest Periods shall be in effect at the same time; and (d) no
Interest Period shall have a duration of less than one (1) month and, if any
Interest Period would otherwise be a shorter period, such Advances shall not be
available hereunder.
"Lead Arranger" means Bank of America Securities LLC.
"Legal Requirement" shall mean any federal, state, local, municipal,
foreign, international, multinational, or other administrative order,
constitution, law, ordinance, principle of common law, regulation, statute, or
treaty as in effect on the date hereof.
"Lenders" mean, on any date of determination, the financial
institutions named on Schedule 2.1 (as the same may be amended from time to time
by Administrative Agent to reflect the assignments made in accordance with
Section 13.6(b) of this Agreement), and subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, and their respective successors and assigns (but not any
Participant who is not otherwise a party to this Agreement); provided that,
solely for purposes of any Collateral Documents and Section 12, "Lenders" shall
also include any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender who is a party to a Financial
Hedge with Borrower and their respective successors and assigns (for purposes
hereof, each Lender shall be deemed to have entered into this Agreement for and
on behalf of any Affiliate now or hereafter party to a Financial Hedge with
Borrower).
"Lien" means any lien, mortgage, security interest, tax lien, financing
statement, pledge, charge, hypothecation, assignment, preference, priority, or
other encumbrance of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without
limitation, any conditional sale or title retention agreement), whether arising
by contract, operation of law, or otherwise.
"Loan" means all Advances with respect to the Commitment, evidenced by
the Notes.
"Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes, the Guaranties, the
Borrower Security Agreement, the Guarantor Security Agreements, the Pledge
Agreements, any Financial Hedge documents, and all other instruments, documents,
and agreements executed and delivered pursuant to or in connection with this
Agreement, as such instruments, documents, and agreements may be amended,
modified, renewed, extended, or supplemented from time to time.
"Maximum Rate" means, at any time and with respect to any Lender, the
maximum rate of interest under applicable law that such Lender may charge
Borrower. The Maximum Rate shall be calculated in a manner that takes into
account any and all fees, payments, and other charges in respect of the Loan
Documents that constitute interest under applicable law. Each change in any
interest rate provided for herein based upon the Maximum Rate resulting from a
change in the Maximum Rate shall take effect without notice to Borrower at the
time of such change in the Maximum Rate.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section
3(37) of ERISA to which contributions have been made by Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate of Borrower and which is covered by Title IV of ERISA.
"Note" means an advancing term loan note executed by Borrower,
substantially in the form of Exhibit C, payable to each Lender in an amount
equal to such Lender's Commitment, as the same may be amended, supplemented,
modified or restated from time to time, evidencing the obligation of Borrower to
repay the Loan, and all renewals, modifications and extensions thereof. "Notes"
means all of the Notes of the Lenders.
"Obligated Party" means any Person who is or becomes party to any
agreement that guarantees or secures payment and performance of the Obligations
or any part thereof.
"Obligations" means all obligations, indebtedness, and liabilities of
Borrower to the Agents and the Lenders, or any of them, arising pursuant to any
of the Loan Documents, now existing or hereafter arising, whether direct,
indirect, related, unrelated, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated,
joint, several, or joint and several, and all interest accruing thereon and all
attorneys' fees and other expenses incurred in the enforcement or collection
thereof; provided that, all references to the "Obligations" in the Collateral
Documents, and in Section 12, shall, in addition to the foregoing, also include
all present and future indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations (and all
renewals and extensions thereof or any part thereof) now or hereafter owed to
any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant
to any Financial Hedge entered into by any Company.
"Partnerships" means the partnerships and limited liability companies
in which Borrower or any Subsidiary now owns or hereafter acquires general
and/or limited partnership interests or membership interests, including, without
limitation, the partnerships and other Persons listed on Schedule 3.
"Partnership" means any one of the Partnerships, and shall also include any non
Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of Borrower.
"Payment Date" means (a) with respect to Alternate Base Rate Advances
and the commitment fees payable pursuant to Section 2.8(a), the last Business
Day of each April, July, October, and January, commencing January 31, 2000, and
(b) with respect to Eurodollar Advances, the last day of the respective Interest
Period therefor, provided that if any Interest Period is greater than three (3)
months, then accrued interest shall also be due and payable on the date that is
three (3) months after the commencement of such Interest Period.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity
succeeding to all or any of its functions under ERISA.
"Permitted Refractive Acquisition" means an acquisition by Borrower,
any Guarantor, or Prime Refractive, L.L.C., with respect to which each of the
following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) the acquisition by Borrower, any Guarantor, or Prime
Refractive, LLC is of a business, assets, or Person (as applicable, the
"Target Company ") which is engaged in the businesses of correcting
refractive error of the eye which are substantially the same as those
which are conducted by Borrower or any Company on the date hereof, or
any other business reasonably related thereto;
(b) as of the closing of such Permitted Refractive
Acquisition, the Permitted Refractive Acquisition has been approved by
the board of directors or other applicable governing body of the Target
Company and the Person from which the Target Company is to be acquired;
(c) prior to the closing of such Permitted Refractive
Acquisition, the Target Company and the Person from which the Target
Company is to be acquired must be Solvent;
(d) as of the closing of such Permitted Refractive
Acquisition, after giving effect to such Permitted Refractive
Acquisition, Borrower, the Guarantor, or Prime Refractive LLC, that is
the acquiring party, as the case may be, must be Solvent and the
Companies, on a consolidated basis, must be Solvent;
(e) as of the closing of such Permitted Refractive
Acquisition, after giving effect to such Permitted Refractive
Acquisition, no Default shall exist or occur as a result of, and after
giving effect to, such Permitted Refractive Acquisition;
(f) the aggregate purchase price with respect to such
Permitted Refractive Acquisition does not exceed six (6) times EBITDA
of the Target Company, subject to adjustments acceptable to the
Administrative Agent, for the four (4) fiscal quarters ending on the
most recently ended fiscal period prior to the date of such Permitted
Refractive Acquisition;
(g) the aggregate nonstock consideration for any Permitted
Refractive Acquisition (including, without limitation, any financing
of interests acquired by LASIK Investors, L.L.C. and Consolidated
Earn-Out Indebtedness reasonably estimated by Administrative Agent and
Borrower) does not exceed $10,000,000.00;
(h) not less than 15 Business Days prior to the closing of any
Permitted Refractive Acquisition, the Administrative Agent shall have
received pro forma financial statements of the Companies (as if the
business, assets or Person acquired had been acquired since the first
(1st) day of the period for which such pro forma financial statements
are delivered and had been managed and conducted in accordance with the
Borrower's standard business practices) for the prior four (4) fiscal
quarters of Borrower and the Companies;
(i) if the Target Company is to be an After-Acquired Subsidiary,
then Borrower shall have complied with the terms and conditions set
forth in Section 8.13;
(j) review by a third party acceptable to the Administrative
Agent of Borrower's due diligence process and procedures as related to
Permitted Refractive Acquisitions, acceptable to Administrative Agent
and Lenders;
(k) with respect to any Permitted Refractive Acquisition where
the aggregate nonstock consideration is $10,000,000 or less (including,
without limitation, any financing of interests acquired by LASIK
Investors, L.L.C. and Consolidated Earn-Out Indebtedness reasonably
estimated by Administrative Agent and Borrower), the Target Company
has, at a minimum, provided company prepared financial statements for
the immediately preceding four fiscal quarters prepared in accordance
with the due diligence procedures approved in (j) above;
(l) the Target Company or other business segment being acquired
must have positive proforma trailing twelve month EBITDA;
(m) the capital and ownership structure of the Target Company
(after giving effect to the Permitted Refractive Acquisition) shall be
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(n) the absence of action, suit, investigation, or proceeding
pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or
governmental authority that affects the Target Company or the proposed
Permitted Refractive Acquisition, which could have reasonably been
expected to have a material adverse effect on the Target Company or the
Borrower;
(o) receipt of all governmental, shareholder, and third party
consents and approvals necessary or desirable in connection with the
acquisition of the Target Company and all transactions contemplated
thereby;
(p) the Administrative Agent has received a certificate dated
on or immediately prior to the date of Permitted Refractive
Acquisition, executed by the President or a Vice President of Borrower
confirming that all representations and warranties set forth in the
Loan Documents continue to be true and correct in all material respects
immediately prior to and after giving effect to the Permitted
Refractive Acquisition and the transactions contemplated thereby, and
setting forth the calculations supporting compliance with the
limitations prescribed herein; and
(q) Borrower or Prime Refractive, L.L.C. must own at least 51% of
the equity or membership interests in and Control the Target Company
upon completion of the Permitted Refractive Acquisition.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, business trust,
association, company, partnership, joint venture, Governmental Authority, or
other entity.
"Plan" means any employee benefit or other plan established or
maintained by Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of Borrower and which is covered
by Title IV of ERISA.
"Pledge Agreements" means (a) the Pledge Agreements, each dated as of
the date hereof, executed by Borrower and each Subsidiary of Borrower that owned
general and/or limited partnership interests in the Partnerships in favor of the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, as the same may be
amended, supplemented or modified from time to time. "Pledge Agreement" means
any one of the Pledge Agreements.
"Pledgors" means each of the pledgors of partnership interests or
Assigned Rights (as defined in the applicable Pledge Agreement) pursuant to a
Pledge Agreement. "Pledgor" means any one of the Pledgors.
"PMOI" means Prime Medical Operating, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and its permitted successors and assigns.
"Prime Agent" means Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative
Agent under the Prime Facility and its permitted successors and
assigns.
"Prime Companies" shall mean the "Companies" under the Prime Facility.
"Prime Facility" means the $86,000,000 Revolving Credit Loan to Prime
Medical pursuant to the Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of
the date hereof among Prime Medical, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative
Agent, BankBoston, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and the lenders named therein,
as amended, modified, renewed, or restated from time to time.
"Prime Medical" is defined in the Recitals, and includes its permitted
successors and assigns.
"Prime RVC" means Prime RVC, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and
its permitted successors and assigns.
"Principal Office" means the office of the Administrative Agent,
presently located at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
"Prohibited Transaction" means any transaction set forth in Section 406
of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
"Regulation D" means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to
time.
"Regulatory Change" means, with respect to any Lender, any change after
the date of this Agreement in United States federal, state, or foreign laws or
regulations (including Regulation D) or the adoption or making after such date
of any interpretations, directives, or requests applying to a class of banks
including such Lender of or under any United States federal, state, or foreign
laws or regulations (whether or not having the force of law) by any court or
governmental or monetary authority charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof.
"Release" means, as to any Person, any release, spill, emission,
leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, disbursement, leaching, or
migration of Hazardous Materials into the indoor or outdoor environment or into
or out of property owned by such Person, including, without limitation, the
movement of Hazardous Materials through or in the air, soil, surface water,
ground water, or property.
"Remedial Action" means all actions required to (a) clean up, remove,
treat, or otherwise address Hazardous Materials in the indoor or outdoor
environment, (b) prevent the Release or threat of Release or minimize the
further Release of Hazardous Materials so that they do not migrate or endanger
or threaten to endanger public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor
environment, or (c) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations and
post-remedial monitoring and care.
"Reportable Event" means any of the events set forth in Section 4043 of
ERISA.
"Required Lenders" means, as of any date, any combination of Lenders
(other than any Defaulting Lenders) who collectively hold sixty percent (60%) of
the sum of the Commitments (other than of any Defaulting Lenders), or if the
Commitments shall have been terminated, then of the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of the Notes (other than of any Defaulting Lenders).
"Reserve Requirement" means, for any Eurodollar Advance for any
Interest Period therefor, the average rate at which reserves (including any
marginal, supplemental or emergency reserves) are required to be maintained
during such Interest Period under Regulation D by each Lender on its portion of
such Advance against "Eurocurrency Liabilities" as such term is used in
Regulation D. Without limiting the effect of the foregoing, the Reserve
Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to be maintained by a
Lender by reason of any Regulatory Change against (i) any category of
liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate is to be determined, or (ii) any category of extensions of
credit or other assets which include Eurodollar Advances.
"RICO" means the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act of
1970, as amended from time to time.
"Senior Debt" means, as of any date, all Total Funded Debt of the
Companies which is not Subordinated Debt.
"Senior Funded Debt" means, as to the Companies, as of any date, Total
Funded Debt of such Persons, minus Subordinated Debt of such Persons.
"Senior Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio" means, as of any date, the ratio
of (a) the aggregate amount of Senior Funded Debt of the Companies (without
deduction for any minority interests), as of such date, to (b) Adjusted EBITDA
of the Companies, for the four (4) fiscal quarter period ending on the date of
determination (including on a pro forma basis any Permitted Refractive
Acquisition).
"Senior Subordinated Indenture" means that certain Trust Indenture
dated as of March 24, 1998 between Prime Medical and State Street Bank and Trust
Company, as Trustee, and any trust indenture entered into in connection with the
Exchange Notes.
"Solvent" means, with respect to any Person, that on the date of
determination (a) the fair market value of its assets is greater than the total
amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities of
such Person which would be required to be included on the balance sheet of such
Person or disclosed in the financial statements of such Person in accordance
with GAAP, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is
not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of
such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person
does not intend to, and does believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities
beyond such Person's ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and
(d) such Person is not engaged in business or transactions, and is not about to
engage in business or transactions, for which its assets would constitute an
unreasonably small capital.
"Subordinated Debt" means Debt due and owing from time to time by
Borrower to Prime Medical, Prime RVC, or PMOI containing terms acceptable to
Administrative Agent and Required Lenders, which is subordinated to the
Obligations in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the
Required Lenders, and which does not exceed $16,000,000 in aggregate original
principal amount.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
partnership, association, or other business entity (a) of which securities or
other ownership interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the
equity or more than fifty percent (50%) of the ordinary voting power or more
than fifty percent (50%) of the general partnership interests or membership
interests are, at the time any determination is made, owned, Controlled or held
by such Person, or (b) that is, at the time any determination is made, otherwise
Controlled by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one
or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
"Target Company" means any Person that has been or may be acquired
pursuant to a Permitted Refractive Acquisition permitted hereunder.
"Termination Date" means 1:00 p.m. Dallas, Texas time on April 21,
2003, or such earlier date and time on which the Commitments terminate as
provided in this Agreement.
"Total Cash Flow" means as to Borrower, for any period, the sum of: (i)
EBITDA, plus (ii) all minority interest expense attributable to LASIK Investors,
L.L.C., minus (iv) the amount of Capital Expenditures.
"Total Funded Debt" means, as of any date, outstanding Debt of the
Companies (without deduction for minority interests).
"Total Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio" means, as of any date, the ratio of
(a) the aggregate amount of Total Funded Debt (without deduction for any
minority interests), as of such date, to (b) Adjusted EBITDA of the Companies,
for the four (4) fiscal quarter period ending on the date of determination
(including on a pro forma basis any Permitted Refractive Acquisition).
"Type" means any type of Advance (i.e., Alternate Base Rate Advance or
Eurodollar Advance).
"UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of
Texas or other applicable jurisdiction, as amended.
"Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries" means, as of any date, all Subsidiaries
that are wholly-owned by Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Borrower.
"Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" means any one of the Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.
Section 1.3 Other Definitional Provisions. All definitions contained in
this Agreement are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined. The words "hereof," "herein," and "hereunder" and words of
similar import referring to this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole
and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. Unless otherwise
specified, all Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references pertain to this
Agreement. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be
construed in accordance with GAAP. All financial covenants and related
definitions relating to the Companies shall, unless otherwise indicated, be
determined after deduction of any minority interests, provided that all
references to "Debt" shall include all Debt without deduction for any minority
interests. Terms used herein that are defined in the UCC, unless otherwise
defined herein, shall have the meanings specified in the UCC.
ARTICLE II -- ADVANCES
Section 2.1 Commitments.
(a) Advancing Term Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, each Lender hereby severally agrees to make one or more Advances
to Borrower from time to time from the date hereof to the Termination Date in an
aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding up to but not exceeding the
amount of such Lender's Commitment as then in effect. Subject to the foregoing
limitations, and the other terms and provisions of this Agreement, Borrower may
borrow, the amount of the Commitments by means of Eurodollar Advances or
Alternate Base Rate Advances. Advances which are repaid may not be reborrowed.
Advances requested hereunder to finance a portion of the purchase price of a
Permitted Refractive Acquisition shall not exceed the lesser of: one-half (1/2)
of the total purchase price of the Permitted Refractive Acquisition, and (ii)
two and one-half (2.5) times the pro forma EBITDA of the Target Company for the
most recently completed four fiscal quarters.
(b) Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments. Borrower shall
have the right to terminate in whole or reduce in part the unused portion of the
Commitments upon at least three (3) Business Days' prior written notice (which
notice shall be irrevocable) to the Administrative Agent specifying the
effective date thereof, whether a termination or reduction is being made, and
the amount of any partial reduction, provided that each partial reduction shall
be in the amount of $1,000,000.00 or a greater integral multiple thereof and
Borrower shall simultaneously prepay the amount by which the unpaid principal
amount of the Notes exceeds the Commitments (after giving effect to such notice)
plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount so prepaid. No portion
of the Commitments may be reinstated after it has been terminated or reduced.
Section 2.2 Notes. The obligation of Borrower to repay each Lender for
Advances made by such Lender pursuant to such Lender's Commitment, and all
interest thereon, shall be evidenced by a Note dated the date hereof, executed
by Borrower and payable to the order of such Lender in the original principal
amount of such Lender's Commitment. Upon receipt of an affidavit of an officer
of any Lender to the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Note, and, in
the case of any such loss, theft, destruction or mutilation, upon cancellation
of such Note, Borrower will issue, in lieu thereof, a replacement note in the
same principal amount thereof and otherwise of like tenor.
Section 2.3 Repayment of Notes. Borrower shall repay the Notes and apply
Total Cash Flow in the following order:
(1) Interest on the Notes shall be due and payable as set forth in Section 2.4
below.
(2) After making the payments when due set forth in Section 2.3(a) above,
Borrower shall be permitted to retain an aggregate amount of Total Cash
Flow not exceeding $150,000 in each fiscal year for working capital.
(c) Prime Refractive, L.L.C. and its Partnerships may make
Distributions to their respective partners not more often than
quarterly, limited to an amount sufficient to pay such partners'
federal and state income tax liability arising from their partnership
interest in the applicable Partnerships.
(d) Outstanding principal of the Notes will be due and payable
quarterly on the last day of each January, April, July, and October,
commencing January 31, 2000 in an amount equal to the sum of the
aggregate amounts which would be required to be paid on each Advance
made hereunder to fully amortize each Advance in sixteen equal
principal payments, but only to the extent Total Cash Flow is available
to pay such amounts, which amounts, if not fully paid on any quarterly
payment date will be due and payable on each succeeding quarterly
interest payment date, to the extent Total Cash Flow is available to
make such payments.
(e) Any remaining Total Cash Flow may be paid as interest
payments on the Subordinated Indebtedness, when due and payable.
(f) All remaining Total Cash Flow, not applied as set forth
above, shall be applied on the last day of each January, April, July,
and October, commencing January 31, 2000 to the unpaid principal amount
of the Loans, pro rata, in the inverse order of maturity.
(g) All outstanding unpaid principal of and accrued interest on
the Notes shall be due and payable on the Termination Date.
Section 2.4 Interest. The unpaid principal amount of all Advances shall
bear interest at a varying rate per annum equal from day to day to the lesser of
(a) the Maximum Rate, or (b) the Applicable Rate. If at any time the Applicable
Rate for any Advance shall exceed the Maximum Rate, thereby causing the interest
accruing on such Advance to be limited to the Maximum Rate, then any subsequent
reduction in the Applicable Rate for such Advance shall not reduce the rate of
interest on such Advance below the Maximum Rate until the aggregate amount of
interest accrued on such Advance equals the aggregate amount of interest which
would have accrued on such Advance if the Applicable Rate had at all times been
in effect. Accrued and unpaid interest on the Advances shall be due and payable
on each Payment Date and on the Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any outstanding principal of any Advance and (to the fullest extent permitted by
law) any other amount payable by Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document that is not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by
acceleration, or otherwise) shall bear interest at the Default Rate for the
period from and including the due date thereof to but excluding the date the
same is paid in full. Interest payable at the Default Rate shall be payable from
time to time on demand.
Section 2.5 Borrowing Procedure.
(a) Loan. Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent notice by means
of an Advance Request Form of each requested Advance under the Commitments
hereunder at least three (3) Business Days before the requested date of each
Eurodollar Advance (and at least one (1) Business Day before the requested date
of each Alternate Base Rate Advance), specifying: (a) the requested date of such
Advance (which shall be a Business Day); (b) the amount of such Advance; and (c)
the duration of the Interest Period for such Advance (if a Eurodollar Advance).
The Administrative Agent at its option may accept telephonic requests for
Advances under the Commitments, provided that such acceptance shall not
constitute a waiver of the Administrative Agent's right to delivery of an
Advance Request Form in connection with subsequent Advances under the
Commitments. Any telephonic request for an Advance under the Commitments by
Borrower shall be promptly confirmed by submission of a properly completed
Advance Request Form to the Administrative Agent. Each Advance under the
Commitments shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000.00 or a greater
integral multiple thereof, provided that if such Advance equals the entire
remaining unfunded portion of the Commitments, it may be for any amount. The
aggregate principal amount of Eurodollar Advances having the same Interest
Period shall be at least equal to $1,000,000.00. All notices under this Section
2.5(a) shall be irrevocable and shall be given not later than 11:00 a.m. Dallas,
Texas time on the day which is not less than the number of Business Days
specified above for such notice.
(b) Generally. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each
Lender of the contents of each Advance Request Form. Not later than 11:00 a.m.
Dallas, Texas time on the date specified for each Advance hereunder, each Lender
will make available to the Administrative Agent at the Principal Office in
immediately available funds, for the account of Borrower, its pro rata share of
each Advance. After the Administrative Agent's receipt of such funds and subject
to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Administrative Agent
will make each Advance available to Borrower by depositing the same, in
immediately available funds, in a deposit account of Borrower maintained at the
Documentation Agent.
Section 2.6 Continuations; Conversions.
(a) Continuations. Borrower shall have the right to Continue Eurodollar
Advances by giving the Administrative Agent written notice specifying: (i) the
Continuation date; (ii) the amount of the Advance to be Continued; and (iii) the
duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto, which notice shall be
irrevocable and must be given by Borrower not later than 11:00 a.m. Dallas,
Texas time at least three (3) Business Days before each such Continuation. The
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the contents of each
such notice. If Borrower shall fail to give the Administrative Agent the notice
as specified above for Continuation of a Eurodollar Advance prior to the end of
the Interest Period applicable thereto, such Eurodollar Advance shall be
automatically Continued for a one (1) month Interest Period.
(b) Conversions. Borrower shall have the right to Convert an Alternate
Base Rate Advance at any time to a Eurodollar Advance by giving the
Administrative Agent written notice specifying: (i) the Conversion Date; (ii)
the amount of the Advance to be Converted; and (iii) the duration of the
Interest Period applicable thereto, which notice shall be irrevocable and must
be given by Borrower not later than 11:00 a.m. Dallas, Texas time at least three
(3) Business Days before each such Conversion. The Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify each Lender of the contents of each such notice.
(c) Default. After the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default,
no outstanding Advances may be Converted into, or Continued as, a Eurodollar
Advance.
Section 2.7 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of Advances under the
Commitments shall be used by Borrower (i) to finance Permitted Refractive
Acquisitions and (ii) to finance capital expenditures.
Section 2.8 Fees.
(a) Commitment Fees. Borrower hereby agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each Lender having a
Commitment, a commitment fee on the daily average unused amount of such Lender's
Commitment for the period from and including the date of this Agreement to but
excluding the Termination Date, at the per annum rate equal to the Applicable
Unused Fee Percentage based on a 360-day year, as the case may be, and the
actual number of days elapsed. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in
arrears on each Payment Date and on the Termination Date.
(b) Agents' Fees. Borrower hereby agrees to pay to the Agents for their own
respective accounts, the fees agreed to by Borrower and the Agents pursuant to a
side letter agreement with each Agent.
ARTICLE III -- PAYMENTS
Section 3.1 Method of Payment. All payments of principal, interest, and
other amounts to be paid by Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents shall be paid to the Administrative Agent at the Principal Office for
the account of each Lender's Applicable Lending Office in Dollars and in
immediately available funds, without setoff, deduction, or counterclaim, not
later than 1:00 p.m. Dallas, Texas time on the date on which such payment shall
become due (each such payment made after such time on such due date to be deemed
to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day). Borrower shall, at the
time of making each such payment, specify to the Administrative Agent the sums
payable by Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which
such payment is to be applied (and in the event that Borrower fails to so
specify, or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Administrative Agent may apply such payment to the Obligations in such order and
manner as it may elect in its sole discretion, subject to Section 3.4). Each
payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other
Loan Document for the account of a Lender shall be paid promptly to such Lender,
in immediately available funds, for the account of such Lender's Applicable
Lending Office. Whenever any payment under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, such
payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of
time shall in such case be included in the computation of the payment of
interest and commitment fee, as the case may be.
Section 3.2 Optional Prepayment. Borrower may, upon at least three (3)
Business Days' prior notice to the Administrative Agent, prepay the Notes in
whole or in part at any time or from time to time without premium or penalty but
with accrued interest to the date of prepayment on the amount so prepaid,
provided that Eurodollar Advances prepaid on a day other than the last day of
the Interest Period for such Advances shall include the additional compensation,
if any, required by Section 4.5. All notices under this Section 3.2 shall be
irrevocable and must be given by Borrower not later than 11:00 a.m. Dallas,
Texas time on the day which is not less than the number of Business Days
specified above for such notice. Optional prepayments shall be applied as set
forth in Section 3.8.
Section 3.3 Pro Rata Treatment. Except to the extent otherwise provided
herein: (a) the making and Continuation of Advances under the Commitment shall
be made pro rata among the Lenders according to the amounts of their respective
Commitments; (b) each termination or reduction of the Commitments under Section
2.1(b) or otherwise shall be applied to the Commitments of the Lenders pro rata,
according to their respective unused Commitments; and (c) each payment and
prepayment of principal of or interest on Advances by Borrower shall be made to
the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders in accordance
with Section 3.9.
Section 3.4 Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent. Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by a Lender or Borrower (the
"Payor") prior to the date on which such Lender is to make payment to the
Administrative Agent of the proceeds of an Advance to be made by it hereunder or
Borrower is to make a payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of one
or more of the Lenders, as the case may be (such payment being herein called the
"Required Payment"), which notice shall be effective upon receipt, that the
Payor does not intend to make the Required Payment to the Administrative Agent,
the Administrative Agent may assume that the Required Payment has been made and
may, in reliance upon such assumption (but shall not be required to), make the
amount thereof available to the intended recipient on such date and, if the
Payor has not in fact made the Required Payment to the Administrative Agent, the
recipient of such payment shall, on demand, return to the Administrative Agent
the amount made available to it together with interest thereon in respect of the
period commencing on the date such amount was so made available by the
Administrative Agent until the date the Administrative Agent recovers such
amount at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate for such period.
Section 3.5 Withholding Taxes. All payments by Borrower of principal of
and interest on the Advances and of all fees and other amounts payable under any
Loan Document are payable without deduction for or on account of any present or
future taxes, duties or other charges levied or imposed by the United States of
America or by the government of any jurisdiction outside the United States of
America or by any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in any of the
foregoing through withholding or deduction with respect to any such payments. If
any such taxes, duties or other charges are so levied or imposed, Borrower will
pay additional interest or will make additional payments in such amounts so that
every net payment of principal of and interest on the Advances and of all other
amounts payable by any of them under any Loan Document, after withholding or
deduction for or on account of any such present or future taxes, duties or other
charges, will not be less than the amount provided for herein or therein,
provided that Borrower shall have no obligation to pay such additional amounts
to any Lender to the extent that such taxes, duties, or other charges are levied
or imposed by reason of the failure of such Lender to comply with the provisions
of Section 3.6. Borrower shall furnish promptly to the Administrative Agent for
distribution to each affected Lender, as the case may be, official receipts
evidencing any such withholding or reduction.
Section 3.6 Withholding Tax Exemption. Each Lender that is not
incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof
agrees that it will deliver to Borrower and the Administrative Agent two (2)
duly completed copies of United States Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or
4224, certifying in either case that such Lender is entitled to receive payments
from Borrower under any Loan Document, without deduction or withholding of any
United States federal income taxes or (b) if such Lender is claiming exemption
from United States withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code
with respect to payments of "portfolio interest," a Form W-8, or any successor
form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, and a certificate representing
that such Lender is not a bank for purposes of Section 881(c) of the Code, is
not a 10-percent shareholder (within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the
Code) of the Borrower and is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the
Borrower (within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Code). Each Lender
which so delivers a W-8, Form 1001 or 4224 further undertakes to deliver to
Borrower and the Administrative Agent two (2) additional copies of such form (or
a successor form) on or before the date such form expires or becomes obsolete or
after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form so
delivered by it, and such amendments thereto or extensions or renewals thereof
as may be reasonably requested by Borrower or the Administrative Agent, in each
case certifying that such Lender is entitled to receive payments from Borrower
under any Loan Document without deduction or withholding of any United States
federal income taxes, unless an event (including without limitation any change
in treaty, law or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on which any such
delivery would otherwise be required which renders all such forms inapplicable
or which would prevent such Lender from duly completing and delivering any such
form with respect to it and such Lender advises Borrower and the Administrative
Agent that it is not capable of receiving such payments without any deduction or
withholding of United States federal income tax.
Section 3.7 Computation of Interest. Interest on all Advances and all
other amounts payable by Borrower hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a
year of 360 days, and actual days elapsed.
Section 3.8 Order of Application.
(a) No Default. Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default any
payment (whether voluntary or mandatory) of the Notes shall be applied to the
Notes on a pro rata basis based upon the outstanding principal balances of the
Notes as of the date of payment. No payment on the Notes may be reborrowed.
(b) After Default. After the occurrence and during the continuance of
an Event of Default, any payment or proceeds of Collateral shall be applied in
the following order: (i) to all fees and expenses for which Agents or Lenders
have not been paid or reimbursed in accordance with the Loan Documents (and if
such payment is less than all unpaid or unreimbursed fees and expenses, then the
payment shall be paid against unpaid and unreimbursed fees and expenses in the
order of incurrence or due date); (ii) to accrued interest on the Notes on a pro
rata basis, based upon the outstanding principal balances of the Notes as of the
date of payment; (iii) to the principal of the Notes and amounts due and owing
under any Financial Hedge on a pro rata basis, based upon the outstanding
principal balances of the Notes or obligation due and owing under any Financial
Hedge as of the date of payment; and (iv) to all other Obligations.
(c) Application to Advances. Subject to the foregoing, and so long as
no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, payments of principal of any
Note shall be applied to such outstanding Alternate Base Rate Advances and
Eurodollar Advances under such Note as Borrower shall select; provided, however,
that Borrower shall select Alternate Base Rate Advances and Eurodollar Advances
to be repaid in a manner designated to minimize the funding loss required to be
paid pursuant to Section 4.5, if any, resulting from such payment; and provided
further that if Borrower shall fail to select the Alternate Base Rate Advances
and Eurodollar Advances to which such payments are to be applied, or if an Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such payment, then the
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to apply the payment to such Advances in
the manner in which it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.
ARTICLE IV -- YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
Section 4.1 Additional Costs.
(a) Borrower hereby agrees to pay directly to each Lender from time to
time such amounts as such Lender may determine to be necessary to compensate it
for any costs incurred by such Lender which such Lender determines are
attributable to its making or maintaining any Eurodollar Advances hereunder or
its obligation to make any of such Advances hereunder, or any reduction in any
amount receivable by such Lender hereunder in respect of any such Advances or
such obligation (such increases in costs and reductions in amounts receivable
being herein called "Additional Costs"), resulting from any Regulatory Change
which:
(i) changes the basis of taxation of any amounts payable to
such Lender under this Agreement or its Notes in respect of any of such
Advances (other than (1) taxes imposed on the overall net income of
such Lender or its Applicable Lending Office for any of such Advances,
(2) franchise or similar taxes of such Lender, and (3) amounts withheld
pursuant to the last sentence of Section 3.7);
(ii) imposes or modifies any reserve, special deposit, minimum
capital, capital ratio, or similar requirement relating to any
extensions of credit or other assets of, or any deposits with or other
liabilities or commitments of, such Lender; or
(iii) imposes any other Additional Cost affecting this
Agreement or the Notes or any of such extensions, of credit or
liabilities or commitments.
Each Lender will notify Borrower of any event occurring after the date of this
Agreement which will entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this
Section 4.1(a) as promptly as practicable after it obtains knowledge thereof and
determines to request such compensation, and will designate a different
Applicable Lending Office for the Advances affected by such event if such
designation will avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation
and will not, in the sole opinion of such Lender, violate any law, rule, or
regulation or be in any way disadvantageous to such Lender, provided that such
Lender shall have no obligation to so designate an Applicable Lending Office
located outside the United States of America. Each Lender will furnish Borrower
with a certificate setting forth the basis and the amount of each request of
such Lender for compensation under this Section 4.1(a). If any Lender requests
compensation from Borrower under this Section 4.1(a), Borrower may, by notice to
such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) suspend the obligation of
such Lender to make or Continue making Eurodollar Advances until the Regulatory
Change giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case such
Lender's Eurodollar Advances shall be Converted to Alternate Base Rate Advances
in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.4).
(b) Without limiting the effect of the foregoing provisions of this
Section 4.1, in the event that, by reason of any Regulatory Change, any Lender
either (i) incurs Additional Costs based on or measured by the excess above a
specified level of the amount of a category of deposits or other liabilities of
such Lender which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on
Eurodollar Advances is determined as provided in this Agreement or a category of
extensions of credit or other assets of such Lender which includes Eurodollar
Advances or (ii) becomes subject to restrictions on the amount of such a
category of liabilities or assets which it may hold, then, if such Lender so
elects by notice to Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the
obligation of such Lender to make or Continue making Eurodollar Advances
hereunder shall be suspended until such Regulatory Change ceases to be in effect
(in which case such Lender's Eurodollar Advances shall be Converted to Alternate
Base Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.4).
(c) Determinations and allocations by any Lender for purposes of this
Section 4.1 of the effect of any Regulatory Change on its costs of maintaining
its obligations to make Advances or of making or maintaining Advances or on
amounts receivable by it in respect of Advances, and of the additional amounts
required to compensate such Lender in respect of any Additional Costs, shall be
conclusive, absent manifest error and provided that such determinations and
allocations are made on a reasonable basis.
Section 4.2 Limitation on Eurodollar Advances. Anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, if with respect to any Eurodollar Advance for any
Interest Period therefor:
(a) The Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be
conclusive absent manifest error) that quotations of interest rates for the
relevant deposits referred to in the definition of "Eurodollar Rate" in Section
1.1 are not being provided in the relative amounts or for the relative
maturities for purposes of determining the rate of interest for such Advances as
provided in this Agreement; or
(b) The Required Lenders determine (which determination shall be
conclusive absent manifest error) and notify the Administrative Agent that the
rate of interest referred to in the definition of "Eurodollar Rate" in Section
1.1 on the basis of which the rate of interest for such Advances for such
Interest Period is to be determined do not accurately reflect the cost to the
Lenders of making or maintaining such Advances for such Interest Period;
then the Administrative Agent shall give Borrower prompt notice thereof
specifying the relevant amounts or periods, and so long as such condition
remains in effect, the Lenders shall be under no obligation to make or Continue
additional Eurodollar Advances and Borrower shall, on the last day(s) of the
then-current Interest Period(s) for the outstanding Eurodollar Advances, prepay
such Eurodollar Advances or Convert them to Alternate Base Rate Advances in
accordance with Section 4.4.
Section 4.3 Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, in the event that it becomes unlawful for any Lender or its
Applicable Lending Office to (a) honor its obligation to make Eurodollar
Advances hereunder, or (b) maintain Eurodollar Advances hereunder, then such
Lender shall promptly notify Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent)
thereof and such Lender's obligation to make or maintain Eurodollar Advances
shall be suspended until such time as such Lender may again make and maintain
Eurodollar Advances (in which case such Lender's Eurodollar Advances shall be
Converted to Alternate Base Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions of
Section 4.4).
Section 4.4 Treatment of Eurodollar Advances. If the Eurodollar
Advances of any Lender are to be Converted pursuant to Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3,
such Lender's Eurodollar Advances shall be automatically Converted into
Alternate Base Rate Advances on the last day(s) of the then current Interest
Period(s) for the Eurodollar Advances (or, in the case of a Conversion required
by Section 4.1(b) or 4.3(b), on such earlier date as such Lender may specify to
Borrower with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and, unless and until such
Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in
Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 which gave rise to such Conversion no longer exist:
(a) To the extent that such Lender's Eurodollar Advances have been so
Converted, all payments and prepayments of principal which would otherwise be
applied to such Lender's Eurodollar Advances shall be applied instead to its
Alternate Base Rate Advances; and
(b) All Advances which would otherwise be made or Continued by such
Lender as Eurodollar Advances shall be made as or Converted into Alternate Base
Rate Advances.
If such Lender gives notice to Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 4.1, 4.2 or Section 4.3 which
gave rise to the Conversion of such Lender's Eurodollar Advances pursuant to
this Section 4.4 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon
such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Advances are outstanding,
such Lender's Alternate Base Rate Advances shall be automatically Converted, on
the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding
Eurodollar Advances to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect
thereto, all Eurodollar Advances held by the Lenders holding the same are held
pro rata (as to principal amounts and Interest Periods) in accordance with their
respective Commitments.
Section 4.5 Compensation. Borrower shall pay to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of each Lender, upon the request of such Lender through
the Administrative Agent, such amount or amounts as shall be sufficient (in the
reasonable opinion of such Lender) to compensate it for any loss, cost, or
expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) Any payment, prepayment or Conversion of a Eurodollar Advance for
any reason (including, without limitation, the acceleration of the outstanding
Advances pursuant to Section 11.2) on a date other than the last day of an
Interest Period for such Advance; or
(b) Any failure by Borrower for any reason (including, without
limitation, the failure of any conditions precedent specified in Article VI to
be satisfied) to borrow or prepay a Eurodollar Advance on the date for such
borrowing or prepayment, specified in the relevant notice of borrowing or
prepayment under this Agreement.
Such compensation shall not exceed the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of
interest which otherwise would have accrued on the principal amount so paid or
not borrowed for the period from the date of such payment or failure to borrow
to the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance (or, in the case of a
failure to borrow, the Interest Period for such Advance which would have
commenced on the date specified for such borrowing) at the applicable rate of
interest for such Advance provided for herein over (ii) the interest component
of the amount such Lender would have bid in the London interbank market for
Dollar deposits of leading banks and amounts comparable to such principal amount
and with maturities comparable to such period.
Section 4.6 Capital Adequacy. If after the date hereof, any Lender
shall have determined that the adoption or implementation of any applicable law,
rule, or regulation regarding capital adequacy (including, without limitation,
any law, rule, or regulation implementing the Basle Accord), or any change
therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any
central bank or other Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof, or compliance by such Lender (or its parent) with any
guideline, request, or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not
having the force of law) of any central bank or other Governmental Authority
(including, without limitation, any guideline or other requirement implementing
the Basle Accord), has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return
on such Lender's (or its parent's) capital as a consequence of its obligations
hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby to a level below that which
such Lender (or its parent) could have achieved but for such adoption,
implementation, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender's
policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to
be material, then from time to time, within ten (10) Business Days after demand
by such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), which demand shall be
delivered by such Lender to Borrower as promptly as practicable after such
Lender obtains knowledge of such reduction in its rate of return, Borrower shall
pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such
Lender (or its parent) for such reduction. A certificate of such Lender claiming
compensation under this Section and setting forth the additional amount or
amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive, absent manifest error
and provided that the determination thereof is made on a reasonable basis. In
determining such amount or amounts, such Lender may use any reasonable averaging
and attribution methods.
ARTICLE V -- SECURITY
Section 5.1 Collateral. To secure the full and complete payment and
performance of the Obligations, Borrower shall execute and deliver or cause to
be executed and delivered the documents described below covering the property
and collateral described therein (which, together with any other property and
collateral which may now or hereafter secure the Obligations or any part
thereof, is sometimes herein called the "Collateral"):
(a) Borrower Security Agreement. Borrower shall execute and deliver to the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, the Borrower Security
Agreement.
(b) Guarantor Security Agreement. The Guarantors shall execute and deliver
to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, Guarantor Security
Agreements.
(c) Pledge Agreement. Pledgors shall execute and deliver to the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, the Pledge Agreements.
(d) Further Assurances. Borrower shall execute and cause to be executed
such further documents and instruments, including without limitation, Uniform
Commercial Code financing statements, as the Administrative Agent and the
Documentation Agent, in their sole discretion, deem necessary or desirable to
evidence and perfect the Administrative Agent's liens and security interests in
the Collateral.
(e) Description of Collateral. Collateral includes, without limitation, the
following assets of Borrower and Guarantors:
(i) All present and future accounts, contract rights, general
intangibles, chattel paper, documents, instruments, investment
property, inventory, equipment, and other goods, wherever located, now
owned or hereafter acquired.
(ii) All present and future issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of, or partnership and membership interests, now owned or
hereafter acquired by Borrower or any Guarantor, including, without
limitation, all capital stock of, or partnership and membership
interests in, the Guarantors.
(iii) To the extent allowed by the respective partnership
agreements, certain partnership interests or economic interests in
partnership interests owned by Borrower and Guarantors.
(iv) All present and future automobiles, trucks, truck
tractors, trailers, semi-trailers, or other motor vehicles or rolling
stock now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower or any Guarantor
(collectively, the "Vehicles").
(v) All present and future rights, awards, and judgments to
which Borrower or any Guarantor is entitled under any litigation now
existing or hereafter arising.
(vi) All present and future rights, titles, and interests of
Borrower or any Guarantor in and to all patents, patent applications,
patent right, service marks, trademarks, tradenames, trade secrets,
intellectual property, registrations, goodwill, copyrights, franchises,
licenses, permits, proprietary information, customer lists, designs,
and inventions.
(vii) All present and future books, records, data, plans,
manuals, computer software and computer programs of Borrower and
Guarantors.
(viii) All proceeds and products of the Collateral heretofore
described.
Provided that the Collateral owned by the Guarantor under the Prime
Facility shall be subject to a first lien in favor of the agents and lenders
under the Prime Facility.
Collateral shall also include LASIK Investors, LLC's interests in Prime
Refractive, LLC,, now owned or hereafter acquired and all assets financed by
Prime Refractive, LLC.
Section 5.2 Future Liens. Promptly, and in any event within twenty-one
(21) days after (a) the acquisition of any assets (real, personal, tangible, or
intangible) by Borrower or any Guarantor or (b) the removal, termination, or
expiration of any prohibition upon the granting of a lien in any asset (real,
personal, tangible, or intangible) of any Borrower or any Guarantor (including,
without limitation, the granting of liens in all general and limited partnership
interests in which Borrower and Guarantors own 100% of the partnership
interests) (the "Additional Assets"), Borrower shall (or shall cause such other
Guarantor to) execute and deliver to Administrative Agent all further
instruments and documents (including, without limitation, certificates and
instruments representing shares of stock or evidencing Debt and any realty
appraisals as Administrative Agent may require with respect to any such
Additional Assets), and shall take all such further action that may be necessary
or desirable, or that Administrative Agent may reasonably request, to grant,
perfect, and protect liens in favor of Administrative Agent for the benefit of
Lenders in such Additional Assets, as security for the Obligations; it being
expressly understood that the granting of such additional security for the
Obligations is a material inducement to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by each Lender. Upon satisfying the terms and conditions hereof, such
Additional Assets shall be included in the "Collateral" for all purposes under
the Loan Documents, and all references to the "Collateral" in the Loan Documents
shall include the Additional Assets.
Section 5.3 Release of Collateral. Upon any sale, transfer, or
disposition of Collateral which is expressly permitted pursuant to the Loan
Documents (or is otherwise authorized by Required Lenders or Lenders, as the
case may be), and upon ten (10) Business Days' prior written request by Borrower
(which request must be accompanied by true and correct copies of (a) all
documents of transfer or disposition, including any contract of sale, (b) a
preliminary closing statement and instructions to the title company, if any, and
(c) all requested release instruments, Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby
irrevocably authorized by the Lenders to) execute such documents as may be
necessary to evidence the release of liens granted to Administrative Agent for
the benefit of lenders pursuant hereto in such Collateral; provided that, (x) no
such release of Lien shall be granted if any Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, including, without limitation, the failure to make
certain mandatory prepayments in accordance with Section 2.3 in conjunction with
the sale and transfer of such Collateral; (y) Administrative Agent shall not be
required to execute any such document on terms which, in Administrative Agent's
opinion, would expose Administrative Agent to liability or create any obligation
or entail any consequence, other than the release of such Liens without recourse
or warranty; and (z) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or
impair the Obligations, or liens upon or obligations of Borrower or any
Guarantor in respect of all interests retained by the Borrower and Guarantors,
including, without limitation, the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall
continue to constitute Collateral.
Section 5.4 Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and is
continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time,
without notice to Borrower (any such notice being hereby expressly waived by
Borrower), to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time
or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any
time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of Borrower
against any and all of the obligations of Borrower now or hereafter existing
under this Agreement, such Lender's Notes, or any other Loan Document,
irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall
have made any demand under this Agreement or such Lender's Notes or such other
Loan Document and although such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees
promptly to notify Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) after any
such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall
not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights and remedies
of each Lender hereunder are in addition to other rights and remedies
(including, without limitation, other rights of setoff) which such Lender may
have.
ARTICLE VI -- CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Section 6.1 Initial Advance. The obligation of each Lender to make its
initial Advance is subject to the condition precedent that the Administrative
Agent shall have received on or before the day of such Advance all of the
following, each dated (unless otherwise indicated) the date hereof, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(a) Resolutions. Resolutions of the Boards of Directors of Borrower and
each Guarantor certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each of
them which authorize the execution, delivery, and performance by such Company of
this Agreement and/or the other Loan Documents to which such Company is or is to
be a party;
(b) Incumbency Certificate. A certificate of incumbency certified by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of Borrower and each Guarantor
certifying the names of the officers of each such Company, authorized to sign
this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which each such Company
is or is to be a party (including the certificates contemplated herein) together
with specimen signatures of such officers;
(c) Articles of Incorporation. The articles of incorporation of Borrower
and each Guarantor certified by the appropriate governmental office;
(d) Bylaws. The bylaws of Borrower and each Guarantor certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of each such Company;
(e) Governmental Certificates. Certificates of the appropriate government
officials of the state of incorporation of Borrower and Litho as to the
existence and good standing of each of them;
(f) Notes. The Notes executed by Borrower;
(g) Borrower Security Agreement. Borrower Security Agreement executed by
Borrower;
(h) Guaranties. The Guaranty Agreements executed by Guarantors;
(i) Guarantor Security Agreement. The Guarantor Security Agreements
executed by the Guarantors;
(j) Pledge Agreements. The Pledge and Security Agreements executed by the
Pledgors;
(k) Financing Statements. Uniform Commercial Code financing statements
executed by Borrower and each Guarantor and covering the Collateral, as
requested by Administrative Agent;
(l) Stock Certificates. Stock certificates evidencing all stock pledged
pursuant to the Borrower Security Agreement and each Guarantor Security
Agreement, as applicable, together with stock powers duly executed in blank, and
acknowledgements by the Prime Agent, of the second liens in stock created
thereunder;
(m) Certificates of Title. Original certificates of title, together with
executed applications for title, for all vehicles used in connection with the
transportation of lithotripters pledged pursuant to the Borrower Security
Agreement and the Guarantor Security Agreements;
(n) Insurance Policies. Copies of all insurance policies required by
Section 8.5, together with loss payee endorsements in favor of the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, with respect to all
insurance policies covering Collateral;
(o) UCC and Tax and Judgment Lien Searches. The results of Uniform
Commercial Code searches showing all financing statements and other documents or
instruments, and tax and judgment lien searches showing all tax and judgment
liens, on file against Borrower and Guarantors in such jurisdictions as the
Administrative Agent shall require, such searches to be as of a date no more
than twenty (20) days prior to the date of the initial Advance;
(p) Perfection Certificate. A Perfection Certificate, in substantially the
form of Exhibit D hereto, properly completed and signed by the Chief Executive
or Chief Financial Officer or Vice President-Finance of Borrower and the
Guarantors;
(q) Opinion of Counsel. Favorable opinions as to the matters set forth in
Exhibit E hereto of Akin, Gump, Strauss, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇, L.L.P., Texas legal
counsel to Borrower and the Guarantors.
(r) Closing of Prime Facility. Evidence that the closing of the Prime
Facility has occurred and contains terms and conditions acceptable to
Administrative Agent.
(s) Attorneys' Fees and Expenses. Evidence that the costs and expenses
(including attorneys' fees) referred to in Section 13.1, to the extent incurred,
shall have been paid in full by Borrower;
(t) Fees. Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent,
Lenders, and Lead Arranger the fees owed by Borrower to the Administrative
Agent, Lenders, and Lead Arranger pursuant to the letter agreements between
Borrower and Administrative Agent;
(t) Federal Reserve Board Form U-1. For the Administrative Agent a properly
completed Federal Reserve Board Form U-1 duly executed by each Company pledging
stock of another Company; and
(u) No Material Adverse Change. No material adverse change shall have
occurred since September 30, 1999 in the business, assets, operations,
conditions (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Prime Medical and its
Subsidiaries or of the Companies or in the facts and information delivered to
Lenders on or prior to the date of the initial Advance.
Section 6.2 All Advances. The obligation of each Lender to make any Advance
(including the initial Advance) is subject to the following additional
conditions precedent:
(a) Advance Request Form. The Administrative Agent shall have received, in
accordance with Section 2.5, an Advance Request Form executed by an authorized
officer of Borrower;
(b) No Default. No Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or would
result from such Advance;
(c) Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and
warranties contained in Article VII hereof and in each of the other Loan
Documents shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Advance with
the same force and effect as if such representations and warranties had been
made on and as of such date, except to the extent that such representations and
warranties speak to a specific date or the facts on which such representations
and warranties are based have been changed by transactions contemplated by the
Loan Documents;
(d) Permitted Refractive Acquisitions. The amount of any Advance hereunder
to finance a portion of the purchase price of any Permitted Refractive
Acquisition shall not exceed the lesser of: (a) one-half of the total purchase
price, or (b) 2.5 times the pro forma EBITDA of the Target Company for the most
recently completed four fiscal quarters; and
(e) Additional Documentation. The Administrative Agent shall have received
such additional approvals, opinions, or documents as are required by the terms
and provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
ARTICLE VII -- REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To induce the Agents and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement,
Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Agents and the Lenders that:
Section 7.1 Existence.
(a) Corporate Existence. Each of the Companies (other than the
Partnerships and the Guarantors): (a) is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation; (b) has all requisite corporate power and authority to own its
assets and carry on its business as now being or as proposed to be conducted;
and (c) is qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which the nature of
its business makes such qualification necessary and where failure to so qualify
would have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or
otherwise), operations, or properties of the Companies taken as a whole,
Borrower, or any Guarantor. Each Company has the corporate power and authority
to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents to which it is or may become a party.
(b) Partnership Existence. Each of the Partnerships (and each of the
Partnerships as defined in the Prime Facility): (a) is a general partnership,
limited partnership or limited liability company, as appropriate, duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its formation; (b) has all requisite partnership power and
authority or company power and authority, as appropriate, to own its assets and
carry on its business as now being or as proposed to be conducted; and (c) is
qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which the nature of its
business makes such qualification necessary and where failure to so qualify
would have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or
otherwise), operations, or properties of the Companies taken as a whole,
Borrower, or any Guarantor.
Section 7.2 Financial Statements. Borrower has delivered to the
Administrative Agent audited consolidated financial statements of Prime Medical
as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, and unaudited
consolidated financial statements of Prime Medical for the nine (9) month period
ended September 30, 1999. Such financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP, and fairly present, on a consolidated basis, the financial
condition of Prime Medical and its Subsidiaries, as of the respective dates
indicated therein and the results of operations for the respective periods
indicated therein. There has been no material adverse change in the business,
condition (financial or otherwise), operations, or properties of the Companies
(as defined in the Prime Facility) taken as a whole or Prime Medical since the
effective date of the most recent financial statements referred to in this
Section.
Section 7.3 Corporate Action: No Breach. The execution, delivery, and
performance by each Company and each Guarantor of this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents to which such Company or Guarantor is or may become a party and
compliance with the terms and provisions hereof and thereof have been duly
authorized by all requisite corporate action (or, if such Company or Guarantor
is a partnership, then partnership action) on the part of such Company or
Guarantor and do not and will not (a) violate or conflict with, or result in a
breach of, or require any consent under (i) the articles of incorporation or
bylaws of such Company or Guarantor (or, if such Company or Guarantor is a
partnership, then the partnership agreement of such Company or Guarantor), (ii)
any material applicable law, rule, or regulation or any material order, writ,
injunction, or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator, or (iii) any
material agreement or instrument to which such Company or Guarantor is a party
or by which such Company or Guarantor or any of its property is bound or subject
(other than agreements and instruments relating to Debt which will be paid off
with the proceeds of the initial Advance), or (b) constitute a material default
under any such agreement or instrument (other than agreements and instruments
relating to Debt which will be paid off with the proceeds of the initial
Advance), or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (except as
provided in Article V) upon any of the revenues or assets of any of the
Companies or any Guarantor.
Section 7.4 Operation of Business. Each of the Companies and each
Guarantor possesses all licenses, permits, franchises, patents, copyrights,
trademarks, and tradenames, or rights thereto, necessary to conduct their
respective businesses substantially as now conducted and as presently proposed
to be conducted. None of the Companies or Guarantors is in violation of any
valid rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing (except where the
failure to do so would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
condition (financial or otherwise), operations or properties of the Companies
taken as a whole, Borrower, or any Guarantor.)
Section 7.5 Litigation and Judgments. As of the date hereof, except as
disclosed on Schedule 7.5 hereto, there is no action, suit, investigation, or
proceeding before or by any Governmental Authority or arbitrator pending, or to
the knowledge of Borrower, threatened against or affecting any of the Companies
or any Guarantor, that would, if adversely determined, have a material adverse
effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or
properties of the Companies taken as a whole or Borrower, or any Guarantor, or
the ability of Borrower to pay and perform the Obligations. There are no
outstanding judgments against any Company.
Section 7.6 Rights in Properties; Liens. Each of the Companies and each
Guarantor has good and indefeasible title to or valid leasehold interests in
their respective material properties and assets, real and personal, including
the properties, assets, and leasehold interests reflected in the financial
statements described in Section 7.2, and none of the properties, assets, or
leasehold interests of any Company is subject to any Lien, except as permitted
by Section 9.2.
Section 7.7 Enforceability. This Agreement constitutes, and the other
Loan Documents to which Borrower is a party, when delivered, shall constitute
the legal, valid, and binding obligations of Borrower, enforceable against
Borrower in accordance with their respective terms, except as limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, or other laws of general application relating to the
enforcement of creditors' rights. The Loan Documents to which each Guarantor is
a party, when delivered, shall constitute the legal, valid, and binding
obligations of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance
with their respective terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or
other laws of general application relating to the enforcement of creditors'
rights.
Section 7.8 Approvals. No authorization, approval, or consent of, and
no filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority or third party is or
will be necessary for the execution, delivery, or performance by Borrower or any
Guarantor of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Borrower or
any Guarantor is or may become a party or for the validity or enforceability
thereof.
Section 7.9 Debt. As of the date hereof, the Companies and the Guarantors
have no Debt, except as disclosed on Schedule 7.9.
Section 7.10 Taxes. The Companies and the Guarantors have filed or
extended all tax returns (federal, state, and local) required to be filed,
including all income, franchise, employment, property, and sales tax returns,
and have paid all of their respective liabilities for taxes, assessments,
governmental charges, and other levies that are due and payable other than
certain state tax returns required to be filed on or before the date hereof.
Except as previously disclosed to the Administrative Agent in writing, no
Company nor any Guarantor knows of any pending investigation of any of them by
any taxing authority or of any pending but unassessed tax liability of any of
them.
Section 7.11 Use of Proceeds; Margin Securities. No Company nor any
Guarantor is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the
business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin
stock (within the meaning of Regulations T, U, or X of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System), and no part of the proceeds of any Advance will be
used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the
purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, except for purchases of
Borrower's capital stock permitted by Section 9.4 hereof.
Section 7.12 ERISA. The Companies and the Guarantors are in compliance
in all material respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA. Neither a
Reportable Event nor a Prohibited Transaction has occurred and is continuing
with respect to any Plan. No notice of intent to terminate a Plan has been
filed, nor has any Plan been terminated. No circumstances exist which constitute
grounds entitling the PBGC to institute proceedings to terminate, or appoint a
trustee to administer, a Plan, nor has the PBGC instituted any such proceedings.
None of the Companies, Guarantors nor any ERISA Affiliate has completely or
partially withdrawn from a Multi-employer Plan. The Companies, Guarantors and
each ERISA Affiliate have met their minimum funding requirements under ERISA
with respect to all of their Plans, and the present value of all vested benefits
under each Plan does not exceed the fair market value of all Plan assets
allocable to such benefits, as determined on the most recent valuation, date of
the Plan and in accordance with ERISA. None of the Companies, nor any
Guarantors, nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC under
ERISA.
Section 7.13 Disclosure. All factual information (taken as a whole)
furnished by or on behalf of Borrower or any Guarantor in writing to any Agent
or any Lender (including, without limitation, all factual information contained
in the Loan Documents) for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement, the
other Loan Documents or any transaction contemplated herein or therein is, and
all other such factual information (taken as a whole) hereafter furnished by or
on behalf of Borrower or any Guarantor in writing will be, true and accurate in
all material respects on the date as of which such factual information is dated
or certified and is not (and such factual information (taken as a whole)
hereafter furnished will not be) incomplete by omitting to state any facts
necessary to make such factual information (taken as a whole) not misleading in
any material respect at such time in light of the circumstances under which such
factual information was provided.
Section 7.14 Subsidiaries; Partnerships. The Partnerships listed on
Schedule 3, constitute all of the Subsidiaries of Prime Medical or Borrower, as
the case may be. Schedule 7.14.1, as the same may be amended from time to time
to reflect transactions permitted by this Agreement, sets forth the outstanding
shares of capital stock (or other ownership interests) and the name of each
shareholder of each of the Subsidiaries of Prime Medical or Borrower, as the
case may be. All of the outstanding capital stock of Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries and Prime Medical and each of its Subsidiaries has been validly
issued, is fully paid, and is nonassessable. Schedule 7.14.2, as the same may be
amended from time to time to reflect transactions permitted by this Agreement,
sets forth the outstanding partnership interests of the Partnerships owned by
each of the Companies and Guarantors.
Section 7.15 Agreements. None of the Companies or Guarantors is a party
to any indenture, loan, or credit agreement, or to any lease or other agreement
or instrument, or subject to any charter or corporate restriction which could
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business,
condition (financial or otherwise), operations or properties of the Companies
taken as a whole, Borrower or any Guarantor or the ability of Borrower or any
Guarantor to pay and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which
it is a party. None of the Companies or Guarantors is in default in any material
respect in the performance, observance, or fulfillment of any of the
obligations, covenants, or conditions contained in any agreement or instrument
to which it is a party, which default, in the aggregate with all such other
defaults, would have a material adverse affect on the business, condition
(financial or otherwise), operations or properties of the Companies taken as a
whole, Borrower, or any Guarantor.
Section 7.16 Compliance with Legal Requirements; Governmental
Authorizations.
(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 7.16.1: (i) each Company and
Guarantor is in compliance in all material respects with each Legal Requirement
that is or was applicable to it or to the conduct or operation of its business
or the ownership or use of any of its assets; and (ii) no Company or Guarantor
has received any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority
or other Person of any event or circumstance which could constitute a violation
of, or failure to comply with, any Legal Requirement.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 7.16: (i) each Company and
Guarantor is in material compliance with all of the terms and requirements of
each Governmental Authorization held by such Company or Guarantor; (ii) no
Company or Guarantor has received any notice or other communication from any
Governmental Authority or other Person of, any event or circumstance which could
constitute a violation of, or failure to comply with, any term or requirement of
any Governmental Authorization, or of any actual or potential revocation,
withdrawal, cancellation or termination of, or material modification to, any
Governmental Authorization; (iii) all applications required to have been filed
for the renewal of any required Governmental Authorizations have been duly filed
on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Authorities, and all other
filings required to have been made with respect to such Governmental
Authorizations have been duly made on a timely basis with the appropriate
Governmental Authorities; (iv) all Governmental Authorizations of the Companies
and Guarantors are transferable to the Companies and Guarantors; (v) upon
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Companies and
Guarantors will lawfully hold all such Governmental Authorizations; and (vi)
none of such Governmental Authorizations will terminate upon consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. Except as set forth on Schedule 7.16, each of
the Companies and Guarantors possesses the necessary Governmental Authorizations
(i) necessary to permit each Company and Guarantor to lawfully conduct and
operate its respective business in the manner it currently conducts and operates
such business and to permit such Company or Guarantor to own and use its assets
in the manner in which it currently owns and uses such assets, and (ii)
necessary to permit each Company and Guarantor, upon the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, to lawfully conduct and operate its business
and to permit each Company and Guarantor to own and use its assets, where the
failure to have such Governmental Authorization would have a material adverse
effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or
properties of the Companies taken as a whole, Borrower, or any Guarantor.
Section 7.17 Investment Company Act. No Company or Guarantor is an
"investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.
Section 7.18 Public Utility Holding Company Act. No Company or
Guarantor is a "holding company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding
company" or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or a "public utility" within
the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
Section 7.19 Environmental Matters. Except as disclosed on Schedule 7.19,
as the same may be amended from time to time, hereto:
(a) Each of the Companies and each Guarantor and all of their
respective properties, assets, and operations are in compliance in all material
respects with all Environmental Laws. No Company or Guarantor is aware of, nor
have any of them received notice of, any past, present, or future conditions,
events, activities, practices, or incidents which may interfere with or prevent
the material compliance or continued material compliance of any Company or
Guarantor with all material Environmental Laws; and
(b) The Companies and Guarantors have obtained all material permits,
licenses and authorizations that are required under applicable Environmental
Laws, and all such permits are in good standing and each Company and each
Guarantor is in compliance is all material respects with all of the terms and
conditions of such permits.
Section 7.20 Year 2000 Compliance. Borrower represents that it is aware
of the possible impact of the year 2000 problem (that is, the risk that computer
applications may not be able to properly perform date-sensitive functions after
December 31, 1999) upon its computer applications and on-going business.
Borrower represents that any corrective action necessary will be taken and that
the year 2000 problem will not result in a material adverse change in the
Companies' and Guarantors' business condition (financial or otherwise),
operations, properties or prospects, or ability to repay the Obligations.
ARTICLE VIII -- POSITIVE COVENANTS
Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that, as long as the Obligations
or any part thereof are outstanding or any Lender has any Commitment hereunder,
Borrower will perform and observe each of the following positive covenants:
Section 8.1 Reporting Requirements. Borrower will furnish to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available, and in any event
within ninety-five (95) days after the end of each fiscal year of Prime Medical,
beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999, a copy of the annual
audit report of the Prime Companies for such fiscal year containing, on a
consolidated basis, balance sheets and statements of income, retained earnings,
and cash flow as at the end of such fiscal year and for the twelve (12)-month
period then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form the figures
for the preceding fiscal year, audited by independent certified public
accountants of recognized standing, and accompanied by an opinion of such
independent certified public accountants stating that such report has been
prepared in accordance with GAAP;
(b) Monthly Financial Statements. As soon as available, and in any
event within forty (40) days after the end of each month of each fiscal year of
Borrower, a copy of an unaudited financial report of the Companies and the Prime
Companies as of the end of such month and for the portion of the fiscal year
then ended, containing, on a consolidated basis, balance sheets and statements
of income and retained earnings, in each case setting forth in comparative form
the figures for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year, certified
by the chief financial officer of Borrower to have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP and to fairly and accurately present (subject to year-end audit
adjustments) the financial condition and results of operations of the Companies,
on a consolidated basis, at the date and for the periods indicated therein;
(c) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available, and in any
event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each quarter of each fiscal
year of Borrower, a copy of an unaudited financial report of the Companies and
the Prime Companies and of Prime RVC as of the end of such quarter and for the
portion of the fiscal year then ended, containing, on a consolidated basis,
balance sheets and statements of income, retained earnings, and cash flow, in
each case setting forth in comparative form the figures for the corresponding
period of the preceding fiscal year, certified by the chief financial officer or
treasurer of Borrower to have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and to
fairly and accurately present (subject to year-end audit adjustments) the
financial condition and results of operations of the Companies and the Prime
Companies and Prime RVC and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, on a
consolidated basis, at the date and for the periods indicated therein, and a
copy of an unaudited financial report of the Companies as of the end of such
quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2000 and for the
portion of the fiscal year then ended, containing, on a consolidated and
consolidating basis, balance sheets and statements of income, retained earnings,
and cash flow, in each case setting forth in comparative form the figures for
the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year, certified by the chief
financial officer of Borrower to have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and
to fairly and accurately present (subject to year-end audit adjustments) the
financial condition and results of operations of the Companies, as the case may
be, on a consolidated and consolidating basis, at the date and for the periods
indicated therein;
(d) Compliance Certificate. Concurrently with the delivery of each of
the financial statements referred to in Section 8.1(a) and within forty-five
(45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each
fiscal year of Borrower, a certificate of the chief executive or chief financial
officer or treasurer of Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit F, (i)
stating that to such officer's knowledge, no Default has occurred and is
continuing, or if a Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement as to
the nature thereof and the action that is proposed to be taken with respect
thereto, and (ii) showing in reasonable detail the calculations demonstrating
compliance with Article X;
(e) Accounts Receivable Aging Report. As soon as available and in any
event within forty (40) days after the end of each month, an aged listing of the
accounts receivable of each of Borrower and its Subsidiaries and of Prime
Medical and each of its Subsidiaries as of the end of such month in a form
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(f) Business Plan and Budget. As soon as available and in any event by
January 15 of the then current year, a copy of the annual budget and business
plan of Borrower and its Subsidiaries and of Prime Medical and each of its
Subsidiaries for the upcoming fiscal year, together with details of the
assumptions, if any, underlying such budget and business plan;
(g) Management Letters. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of any
management letter or written report submitted to any Company or any Guarantor by
independent certified public accountants with respect to the business, condition
(financial or otherwise), operations, or properties of any Company;
(h) Notice of Litigation. Promptly after the commencement thereof,
notice of all actions, suits, and proceedings before any Governmental Authority
or arbitrator affecting Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Prime
Companies which, if determined adversely to Borrower, Guarantor or any such
Subsidiary, could have a material adverse effect on the business, condition
(financial or otherwise), options, or properties of Borrower, any Subsidiary,
the Companies, or the Prime Companies (taken as a whole);
(i) Notice of Default. As soon as possible and in any event within five
(5) days after Borrower knows of the occurrence of each Default, a written
notice setting forth the details of such Default and the action that Borrower
has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
(j) ERISA Reports. Promptly after the filing or receipt thereof, copies
of all reports, including annual reports, and notices which any Company or Prime
Company files with or receives from the PBGC or the U.S. Department of Labor
under ERISA; and as soon as possible and in any event within five (5) days after
any Company or Prime Company knows or has reason to know that any Reportable
Event or Prohibited Transaction has occurred with respect to any Plan or that
the PBGC, or any Company or Prime Company has instituted or will institute
proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Plan, a certificate of the
chief financial officer of Borrower setting forth the details as to such
Reportable Event or Prohibited Transaction or Plan termination and the action
that Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto;
(k) Reports to Other Creditors. Promptly after the furnishing thereof,
copies of any statement or report furnished by Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or any Guarantor to any other creditor to which any Company or any
Guarantor owes $250,000.00 or more or to the trustee under the Senior
Subordinated Indenture (as defined in the Prime Facility), pursuant to the terms
of any indenture, loan, or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise
required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to
any other clause of this Section;
(l) Proxy Statements, Etc. As soon as available, one (1) copy of each
financial statement, report, notice or proxy statement sent by Prime Medical to
its stockholders generally and one (1) copy of each regular, periodic or special
report, registration statement, or prospectus filed by Prime Medical with any
securities exchange or the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
agency including, without limitation, all Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and all other
periodic reports required to be filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(m) Partnership Lists. As soon as available, and in any event (a)
within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent requests such information
from Borrower, a list of the names and addresses of each partner or member of
each of the Partnerships and percentage ownership by each Company of each
Partnership;
(n) Governmental Authorizations. Upon the request of the Administrative
Agent, but not more often than one (1) time during each fiscal year of Borrower,
a complete and accurate list of each Governmental Authorization held by each of
Companies or Prime Companies or that otherwise relate to the business of, or to
any of the assets owned or used by, each of the Companies and each of the Prime
Companies;
(o) Dilution Reports. Promptly upon the occurrence of any Restricted
Transfer (as hereinafter defined), a report setting forth the occurrence of
Restricted Transfer, including the name of the Partnership, purchasers, purchase
price, and EBITDA for the immediately preceding four fiscal quarters
attributable thereto, and also of the contribution of any Partnership assets to
any other Partnership, including the names of the Partnerships, assets
transferred, value thereof and consideration received;
(p) Partnership Actions. Promptly after the incurrence thereof, notice
of any Partnership's (i) incurrence of Debt, (ii) change in accounting treatment
or reporting practices (which change shall not affect any reporting requirements
set forth herein or the Loan Documents), except as permitted by GAAP and
disclosed to the Administrative Agent, (iii) change in tax reporting treatment,
except as permitted by law, (iv) amendment of any partnership agreement,
regulations, or management agreement between such Partnership and any Company
and copies of any such amendment certified by an officer of Borrower as being
true and correct, and (v) change in its insurance; and
(q) General Information. Promptly, such other information concerning
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent or any Lender
may from time to time reasonably request.
Section 8.2 Maintenance of Existence; Conduct of Business. Borrower
will preserve and maintain its corporate existence and all of its leases,
privileges, licenses, permits, franchises, qualifications, and rights that are
necessary or desirable in the ordinary conduct of its business. Borrower will
cause each of its Subsidiaries, to preserve and maintain its corporate,
partnership or other similar existence and all of its leases, privileges,
licenses, permits, franchises, qualifications and rights that are necessary or
desirable in the ordinary conduct of its business, except, in each case, where
failure to do so would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
condition (financial or otherwise), operations or properties of the Companies
taken as a whole, Borrower, or any Guarantor. Borrower will conduct, and will
cause each of its Subsidiaries to conduct, its business in an orderly and
efficient manner in accordance with good business practices.
Section 8.3 Maintenance of Properties. Borrower will maintain, keep,
and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, keep, and
preserve, all of its properties (tangible and intangible) necessary or useful in
the proper conduct of its business in good working order and condition, except,
in each case, as permitted by Section 9.8 or 9.9 or where the failure to do so
would not have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial
or otherwise), operations or properties of the Companies taken as a whole,
Borrower, or any Guarantor.
Section 8.4 Taxes and Claims. Borrower will pay or discharge, and will
cause each of its Subsidiaries other than the Excepted Subsidiaries, to pay or
discharge, at or before maturity or before becoming delinquent (a) all material
taxes, levies, assessments, and governmental charges imposed on it or its income
or profits or any of its material property, and (b) all material lawful claims
for labor, material, and supplies, which, if unpaid, might become a Lien upon
any of its property; provided, however, that no Company shall be required to pay
or discharge any tax, levy, assessment, or governmental charge which is being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued, and for
which adequate reserves have been established.
Section 8.5 Insurance. Borrower will maintain, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries to maintain (except in the case of the Partnerships, in which
case Borrower shall maintain for the Partnerships), insurance with financially
sound and reputable insurance companies in such amounts and covering such risks
as is usually carried by corporations engaged in similar businesses and owning
similar properties in the same general areas in which the Companies operate,
consistent with past practices of the Companies and to the extent available on
commercially reasonable terms, provided that in any event Borrower will maintain
and cause each of its Subsidiaries (except in the case of the Partnerships, in
which case Borrower shall maintain for the Partnerships) to maintain workmen's
compensation insurance, property insurance, comprehensive general liability
insurance, professional liability insurance, and business interruption insurance
reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders. Each insurance policy covering
Collateral shall name the Administrative Agent as loss payee, for the benefit of
the Lenders, as its interests may appear and shall provide that such policy will
not be canceled or reduced without thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the
Administrative Agent. Borrower will annually provide the Administrative Agent
with all certificates of insurance evidencing all policies of insurance of
Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
Section 8.6 Inspection Rights. At any reasonable time and from time to
time after reasonable notice to Borrower, Borrower will permit, and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries to permit, representatives of the Administrative Agent
and each Lender to examine, copy, and make extracts from its books and records,
to visit and inspect its properties, and to discuss its business, operations,
and financial condition with its officers, and independent certified public
accountants. Prior to removing any such copies or extracts from a Company's
premises, such Company's representatives shall be provided a reasonable
opportunity to review such information and ▇▇▇▇ or identify it as "confidential"
or "confidential information" as reasonably deemed appropriate by such Company.
Section 8.7 Keeping Books and Records. Borrower will maintain, and will
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 dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities.
Section 8.8 Compliance with Laws. Borrower will comply, and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects with all material
applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, and decrees of any Governmental
Authority or arbitrator.
Section 8.9 Compliance with Agreements. Borrower will comply, and will
cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects with all
agreements, contracts, and instruments binding on it or affecting its properties
or business, except where the failure to do so would not have a material adverse
effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or
properties of the Companies taken as a whole, Borrower, or any Guarantor.
Section 8.10 Further Assurances. Borrower will (a), and will cause each
of its Subsidiaries (other than the Partnerships) to, execute and deliver such
further agreements and instruments and take such further action as may be
reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to carry out the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, (b) and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries (including the Partnerships) to, create, preserve, and
perfect the Liens of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,
in the Collateral.
Section 8.11 ERISA. Borrower will comply, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to comply, with all minimum funding requirements, and all other
material requirements, of ERISA, if applicable, so as not to give rise to any
liability thereunder.
Section 8.12 Information Relating to Proposed Acquisitions. Borrower
will use its best efforts to keep the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
informed of the relevant information and status of and will share with the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders and provide copies to the extent possible,
of all material due diligence information relating to any proposed Acquisition
with respect to which Borrower or any Subsidiary enters into a letter of intent
or acquisition agreement, during the term of this Agreement.
Section 8.13 After-Acquired Subsidiaries. Concurrently upon the
formation or Acquisition by Borrower or any Guarantor of any Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary after the date hereof (pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or
otherwise) (an "After-Acquired Subsidiary"), Borrower shall cause the
After-Acquired Subsidiary to deliver articles of incorporation, bylaws, and
resolutions (or other corresponding constituent documents) and such opinions as
the Administrative Agent shall require and to execute a Guaranty, Guarantor
Security Agreement, and Pledge Agreement (if applicable), as shall be required
by the Administrative Agent to create first priority Liens in favor of the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, in such After-Acquired
Subsidiary's assets, to secure the Obligations.
Section 8.14 Syndication Cooperation. Borrower acknowledges that the
Agents intend promptly to commence to syndicate the Commitments of the Lenders
in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.6. Borrower agrees to actively
assist Agents and their Affiliates in achieving a syndication that is
satisfactory to Agents and Borrower and in preparing information requested by
Agents in connection with arranging and syndication of the Commitments of the
Lenders and to take such other action deemed necessary by Agents or their
Affiliates, including the holding of a formal presentation to prospective
Lenders to achieve a successful syndication of the Commitments by Agents. The
syndication efforts will be accomplished by a variety of means, including the
preparation of a confidential information memorandum and other marketing
materials, direct contact during the syndication between senior management
(including, but not limited to, the chief executive officer, the chief financial
officer and treasurer of Borrower) and advisors and Affiliates of Borrower and
the proposed syndicate Lenders.
ARTICLE IX -- NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that, as long as the Obligations
or any part thereof are outstanding or any Lender has any Commitment hereunder,
Borrower will perform and observe the following negative covenants:
Section 9.1 Debt. Borrower will not incur, create, assume, or permit to
exist, nor permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Partnerships) to
incur, create, assume, or permit to exist, any Debt, except:
(a) Debt owed to the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to the Loan Documents;
(b) Existing Debt described on Schedule 7.9 hereto;
(c) Debt owed to Borrower or to any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;
(d) Debt in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $4,000,000.00 at
any time outstanding the proceeds of which are used by the Companies to purchase
equipment;
(e) Any Company's obligations as general partner of a Partnership for the
Debt of such Partnership;
(f) Any Company's Guarantee of Debt of any Partnership, if such Company is
a general partner of such Partnership;
(g) Subordinated Debt; and
(h) Any Financial Hedge.
Section 9.2 Limitation on Liens. Borrower will not incur, create,
assume, or permit to exist, nor permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than the
Partnerships) to incur, create, assume, or permit to exist, any Lien upon any of
their respective properties, assets, or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, except:
(a) Liens disclosed on Schedule 9.2;
(b) Liens securing Debt permitted by Section 9.1(d);
(c) Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the
Lenders or the counter-party under any Financial Hedge;
(d) Liens securing Debt permitted by Section 9.1(g), which are subordinated
to the Liens described in Section 9.2(c);
(e) Liens securing the Prime Facility, which are subordinated to the Liens
described in Section 9.2(c);
(f) Encumbrances consisting of minor easements, zoning restrictions, or
other restrictions on the use of real property that do not (individually or in
the aggregate) materially affect the value of the assets encumbered thereby or
materially impair the ability of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to use such
assets in their respective businesses, and none of which is violated in any
material respect by existing or proposed structures or land use;
(g) Liens for taxes, assessments, or other governmental charges which
are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith and for which
adequate reserves have been established;
(h) Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other
similar statutory Liens securing obligations that are not yet due and are
incurred in the ordinary course of business; and
(i) Liens resulting from good faith deposits to secure payments of
workmen's compensation or other social security programs or to secure the
performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids,
contracts (other than for payment of Debt), or leases made in the ordinary
course of business.
Section 9.3 Mergers, Etc. Except upon the prior written consent of the
Required Lenders, neither Borrower nor any Guarantor will become a party to a
merger or consolidation, except in connection with any Permitted Refractive
Acquisition so long as Borrower or a Guarantor is the surviving entity. Borrower
will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than the
Partnerships) to, wind-up, dissolve or liquidate itself, except as permitted
above. Except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, Borrower will not, and
will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, form, incorporate, acquire or make
any investment in any Subsidiary, except (a) the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule
7.14.1, (b) Subsidiaries acquired or formed through a Permitted Refractive
Acquisition, and (c) Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries formed in accordance with Section
8.13.
Section 9.4 Restricted Payments. Borrower will not declare or pay any
dividends or make any other payment or distribution (whether in cash, property,
or obligations) on account of its capital stock, or redeem, purchase, retire, or
otherwise acquire any of its capital stock, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to
purchase or otherwise acquire any capital stock of Borrower, or set apart any
money for a sinking or other analogous fund for any dividend or other
distribution on its capital stock or for any redemption, purchase, retirement,
or other acquisition of any of its capital stock. Borrower shall not permit to
exist any arrangement, agreement, or corporate governance agreement, which
directly or indirectly prohibits or restricts any Subsidiary from declaring or
paying any dividend or distribution, on account of its capital stock,
partnership, limited liability company, or other ownership interests; provided
that to the extent permitted by Section 2.3(c), the Partnerships may make
Distributions to their respective partners not more often than quarterly limited
to an amount sufficient to pay such partners' federal and state income tax
liability arising from their partnership interests in the applicable
Partnerships.
Section 9.5 Investments. Borrower will not make, nor permit any of its
Subsidiaries to make, any advance, loan, extension of credit, or capital
contribution to or investment in, or purchase or own, or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to purchase or own, any stock, bonds, notes, debentures, or other
securities of, any Person, except:
(a) The Companies, or any of them, may purchase (i) readily marketable
direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency thereof with
maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, (ii) fully insured
certificates of deposit with maturities of one year or less from the date of
acquisition issued by any commercial bank operating in the United States of
America having capital and surplus in excess of $1,000,000,000, and (iii)
commercial paper of a domestic issuer if at the time of purchase such paper is
rated in one (1) of the two (2) highest rating categories of Standard and Poor's
Rating Group, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc., a New York corporation, or
▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Service, Inc.;
(b) The Borrower and Guarantors may create new Subsidiaries, hold stock
in Subsidiaries and themselves, and engage in the transactions permitted by
Section 9.3 hereof, provided that Borrower complies with Section 8.13;
(c) Permitted Refractive Acquisitions;
(d) Any Financial Hedge; and
(e) Loans from Borrower to Prime Refractive, L.L.C. in connection with any
Permitted Refractive Acquisition, so long as such loans secure payment of the
Obligations and the "Obligations" under the Prime Facility.
Section 9.6 Limitation on Issuance of Capital Stock. Borrower will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to at any time issue, sell, assign, or otherwise
dispose of (a) any of its capital stock or other ownership interests, (b) any
securities exchangeable for or convertible into or carrying any rights to
acquire any of its capital stock or other ownership interests, or (c) any
option, warrant, or other right to acquire any of its capital stock or other
ownership interests; provided, however, that any Subsidiary of Borrower may
issue, sell, assign or otherwise dispose of its capital stock or other ownership
interests, or securities exchangeable for its capital stock or other ownership
interests, to Borrower or any other Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.
Section 9.7 Transactions With Affiliates. Borrower will not enter into,
and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into, any transaction,
including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, or exchange of property or
the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate of Borrower or any Subsidiary
of Borrower, except in the ordinary course of Borrower's or such Subsidiary's
business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to Borrower or
such Subsidiary than would be obtained in a comparable arm's-length transaction
with a Person not an Affiliate of Borrower or such Subsidiary. No Company shall
make any loan, advance, investment, or transfer any assets to any Excepted
Subsidiary, so long as such Excepted Subsidiary is not in good standing where
incorporated.
Section 9.8 Disposition of Assets. Borrower will not sell, lease,
assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of its assets, nor permit any of
its Subsidiaries (other than the Partnerships) to do so with any of their
respective assets, except (subject to the mandatory prepayments required by
Section 2.3) (a) inter-Company transfers between Borrower and a Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary or between Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, (b) dispositions of any
tangible assets that are worn or obsolete, provided that such tangible assets
are replaced by assets of similar character where the replacement of such asset
is necessary or appropriate for the continued conduct of such Company's business
as presently conducted, and (g) transfers by Borrower or by any Subsidiary of
interests in Partnerships, so long as the aggregate EBITDA Transfer for all
Restricted Transfers does not exceed the lesser of : (a) ten percent (10%) of
Borrower's EBITDA for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters, and (b)
$2,000,000. "EBITDA Transfer" with respect to any Partnership interests in any
Partnership transferred by Borrower or by any Subsidiary shall equal the EBITDA
generated by such Partnership interests for the last four fiscal quarters prior
to the date of such transfer of each such Partnership interest. A Restricted
Transfer shall be any transfer or series of related transfers of Partnership
interests in any one Partnership by Borrower or any Subsidiary in any 90 day
period, in which the EBITDA Transfer equals or exceeds $250,000. In the case of
any transfers pursuant to paragraph (g), after giving effect to such transfers,
a Company must own at least 51% of the equity interests in such Partnership and
Control such Partnership. Administrative Agent is authorized to release any
liens on such Partnership interests transferred pursuant to this Section 9.8, as
further set forth in Section 5.3.
Section 9.9 Sale and Leaseback. Borrower will not enter into, nor
permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Partnerships) to enter into, any
arrangement with any Person (other than another Company) pursuant to which it
leases from such Person equipment used in refractive vision operations that has
been or is to be sold or transferred, directly or indirectly, by it to such
Person.
Section 9.10 Prepayment of Debt. Borrower will not prepay, nor permit any
of its Subsidiaries to prepay, any Debt except the Obligations.
Section 9.11 Nature of Business. Borrower will not, and will not permit
any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Partnerships) to, engage in any business
other than correcting refractive error of the eye or businesses which are
reasonably related thereto.
Section 9.12 Environmental Protection. Borrower will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, conduct any activity or use any of their
respective properties or assets in any manner that could reasonably be expected
to violate any Environmental Law or create any Environmental Liabilities for
which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries would be responsible.
Section 9.13 Accounting. Borrower will not, and will not permit any of
its Subsidiaries (other than the Partnerships) to, change its fiscal year or
make any change (a) in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as
permitted by GAAP and disclosed to the Administrative Agent, or (b) in tax
reporting treatment, except as permitted by law.
Section 9.14 Amendment of Partnership and Management Agreements.
Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, amend any
partnership agreements, regulations, or articles of any of the Partnerships or
any management agreements between any Company and any of the Partnerships, if
such amendment could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, or properties of
the Companies taken as a whole, Borrower, or any Guarantor.
Section 9.15 Financial ▇▇▇▇▇▇.
(a) To the extent any Lender or its Affiliate issues a Financial Hedge
to any Company, such Lender or its Affiliate is afforded the benefits of (and
Borrower [or any Company by execution of Collateral Documents] hereby confirms a
grant of) Liens in and to the Collateral as evidenced by the Collateral
Documents to the extent of such Lender's (or Affiliate thereof's) credit
exposure under such Financial Hedge; such Lien is pari passu with that of
Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders.
(b) Financial ▇▇▇▇▇▇ held by any Company permitted by the Loan
Documents, shall be subject to the following: (i) each such Lender or other
institution issuing a Financial Hedge shall calculate its credit exposure in a
reasonable and customary manner; (ii) all documentation for such Financial Hedge
shall conform to ISDA standards and must be acceptable to Administrative Agent
with respect to intercreditor issues; (iii) if issued by any Lender or any
Affiliate of a Lender to Borrower, the credit exposure under such Financial
Hedge shall be secured by Liens in and to the Collateral as evidenced by the
Collateral Documents on a pari passu basis with the Liens of Administrative
Agent (held for the benefit of Lenders), and such Lender or Affiliate issuing a
Financial Hedge shall, by acceptance of the benefits of such Liens in the
Collateral agree to the provisions of Section 12.6; and (iv) such Financial
Hedge shall be incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
prior business practices of the Companies and not for speculative purposes.
Section 9.16 Capital Expenditures. Borrower shall not make Capital
Expenditures in any fiscal year exceeding $500,000. Such limitation set forth in
this Section shall not apply to any of Borrower's Subsidiaries or Partnerships.
Section 9.17 Operating Expenses. Borrower shall not incur or pay
operating expenses in any fiscal year in excess of $200,000. Such limitation set
forth in this Section shall not apply to any of Borrower's Subsidiaries or
Partnerships.
Section 9.18 Control of Prime Refractive, L.L.C. Borrower shall own 51% of
the membership interests in and Control Prime Refractive, L.L.C.
ARTICLE X -- FINANCIAL COVENANTS
Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that, as long as the Obligations
or any part thereof are outstanding or any Lender has any Commitment hereunder,
Borrower will perform and observe the following financial covenants:
Section 10.1 Senior Funded Debt To EBITDA Ratio. Borrower will not
permit the Senior Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio as of the last day of each fiscal
quarter of Borrower to exceed the ratio set forth opposite such dates below:
Period Ratio
Date hereof through December 31, 2000 2.50 to 1.0
January 1, 2002 and thereafter 2.00 to 1.0
Section 10.2 Debt Service Coverage Ratio. Borrower will not permit the
Debt Service Coverage Ratio as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of
Borrower to be less than the ratio set forth opposite such dates below:
Period Ratio
Date hereof through December 31, 2000 1.50 to 1.0
January 1, 2002 and thereafter 1.75 to 1.0
ARTICLE XI -- DEFAULT
Section 11.1 Events of Default. Each of the following shall be deemed an "Event
of Default":
(a) Borrower shall fail to pay when due any amount of principal under any
Note.
(b) Borrower shall fail to pay to the Administrative Agent or any
Lender (through the Administrative Agent), any interest on the Advances, any
fees due hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or any other part of the
Obligations which does not constitute principal under the Notes, and such
failure shall continue for three (3) Business Days after such payment became
due.
(c) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by Borrower or
any Obligated Party (or any of their respective officers) in any Loan Document
or in any certificate, report, notice, or financial statement furnished at any
time in connection with this Agreement shall be false, misleading, or erroneous
in any material respect when made or deemed to have been made and the effect
thereof shall not have been cured within ten (10) Business Days after notice
thereof to Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the
Administrative Agent).
(d) Borrower shall fail to perform, observe, or comply with any
covenant, agreement, or term contained in Article X; or Borrower or any
Obligated Party shall fail to perform, observe, or comply with any covenant,
agreement or term contained in Section 8.1 (a), (b), (c) or (d), or Article IX
and such failure shall continue for a period of three (3) Business Days after
notice thereof to Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through
the Administrative Agent); or Borrower or any Obligated Party shall fail to
perform, observe or comply with any other covenant, agreement, or term contained
in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than covenants to pay the
Obligations) and such failure shall continue for a period of ten (10) Business
Days after notice thereof to Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender
(through the Administrative Agent).
(e) Any Company shall commence a voluntary proceeding seeking
liquidation, reorganization, or other relief with respect to itself or its debts
under any bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian,
or other similar official of it or a substantial part of its property or shall
consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any
such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it or
shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or shall generally
fail to pay its debts as they become due or shall take any corporate action to
authorize any of the foregoing.
(f) An involuntary proceeding shall be commenced against any Company
seeking liquidation, reorganization, or other relief with respect to it or its
debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian
or other similar official for it or a substantial part of its property, and
either such involuntary proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a
period of forty-five (45) days or an order for relief is entered.
(g) Any Company shall fail to discharge within a period of forty-five
(45) days after the commencement thereof any attachment, sequestration, or
similar proceeding or proceedings, including without limitation any order of
forfeiture, seizure or divestiture (whether under RICO or otherwise) involving
an aggregate amount in excess of Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars
($500,000.00) against any of its assets or properties.
(h) A final judgment or judgments for the payment of money in excess of
Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate shall be
rendered by a court or courts against any Company and the same shall not be
discharged (or provision shall not be made for such discharge), or a stay of
execution thereof shall not be procured, within forty-five (45) days from the
date of entry thereof and such Company shall not, within said period of
forty-five (45) days, or such longer period during which execution of the same
shall have been stayed, appeal therefrom and cause the execution thereof to be
stayed during such appeal.
(i) Any Company shall fail to pay when due any principal of or interest
on the Subordinated Debt or on any other Debt in an aggregate principal amount
of Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) or more (other than
the Obligations and the Prime Facility), or the maturity of the Subordinated
Debt or any such Debt (other than the Prime Facility) shall have been
accelerated, or the Subordinated Debt or any such Debt (other than the Prime
Facility) shall have been required to be prepaid prior to the stated maturity
thereof, or any event shall have occurred that permits (or, with the giving of
notice or the lapse of time or both, would permit) any holder or holders of the
Subordinated Debt or such Debt (other than the Prime Facility) or any Person
acting on behalf of such holder or holders to accelerate the maturity thereof or
require any such prepayment.
(j) This Agreement or any other Loan Document shall cease to be in full
force and effect or shall be declared null and void or the validity or
enforceability thereof shall be contested or challenged by Borrower, any
Subsidiary of Borrower, any Obligated Party or any of their respective
shareholders, or Borrower or any Obligated Party shall deny that it has any
further liability or obligation under any of the Loan Documents, or any Lien or
security interest created by the Loan Documents shall for any reason cease to be
a valid, first priority perfected security interest in and Lien upon any of the
Collateral purported to be covered thereby.
(k) Any of the following events shall occur or exist with respect to
Borrower, any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate: (i) any Prohibited Transaction
involving any Plan; (ii) any Reportable Event with respect to any Plan; (iii)
the filing under Section 4041 of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate any
Plan or the termination of any Plan; (iv) any event or circumstance that might
constitute grounds entitling the PBGC to institute proceedings under Section
4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or for the appointment of a trustee to
administer, any Plan, or the institution by the PBGC of any such proceedings; or
(v) complete or partial withdrawal under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA from a
Multi-employer Plan or the reorganization, insolvency, or termination of any
Multi-employer Plan; and in each case above, such event or condition, together
with all other events or conditions, if any, have subjected or could in the
reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders subject Borrower, or any of its
Subsidiaries, or any Guarantor, to any tax, penalty, or other liability to a
Plan, a Multi-employer Plan, the PBGC, or otherwise (or any combination thereof)
which in the aggregate exceed or could reasonably be expected to exceed Five
Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($500,000.00).
(l) Any Change in Control shall occur.
Section 11.2 Remedies. If any Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing, the Administrative Agent may (and if directed by the Required
Lenders, shall) do any one or more of the following:
(a) Acceleration. Declare all outstanding principal of and
accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes and all other obligations of
Borrower under the Loan Documents immediately due and payable, and the
same shall thereupon become immediately due and payable, without
notice, demand, presentment, notice of dishonor, notice of
acceleration, notice of intent to accelerate, protest, or other
formalities of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by
Borrower;
(b) Termination of Commitments. Terminate the Commitments without notice to
Borrower;
(c) Judgment. Reduce any claim to judgment;
(d) Foreclosure. Foreclose or otherwise enforce any Lien granted to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders to secure payment
and performance of the Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Loan
Documents; and
(e) Rights. Exercise any and all rights and remedies afforded by the laws
of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction, by any of the Loan Documents,
by equity, or otherwise;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under
subsection (e) or (f) of Section 11.1, the Commitments of all of the Lenders
shall automatically terminate, and the outstanding principal of and accrued and
unpaid interest on the Notes and all other obligations of Borrower under the
Loan Documents shall thereupon become immediately due and payable without
notice, demand, presentment, notice of dishonor, notice of acceleration, notice
of intent to accelerate, protest, or other formalities of any kind, all of which
are hereby expressly waived by Borrower.
Section 11.3 Performance by the Administrative Agent. If Borrower shall
fail to perform any covenant or agreement in accordance with the terms of the
Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent may, at the direction of the Required
Lenders, perform or attempt to perform such covenant or agreement on behalf of
Borrower. In such event, Borrower shall, at the request of the Administrative
Agent, promptly pay any amount expended by the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders in connection with such performance or attempted performance to the
Administrative Agent at the Principal Office, together with interest thereon at
the Default Rate from and including the date of such expenditure to but
excluding the date such expenditure is paid in full. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, it is expressly agreed that neither the Administrative Agent nor any
Lender shall have any liability or responsibility for the performance of any
obligation of Borrower under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.
ARTICLE XII -- THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Section 12.1 Appointment, Powers and Immunities. In order to expedite
the various transactions contemplated by this agreement, the Lenders hereby
irrevocably appoint and authorize Bank of America to act as their Administrative
Agent hereunder and under each of the other Loan Documents. Bank of America
consents to such appointment and agrees to perform the duties of the
Administrative Agent as specified herein. The Lenders authorize and direct the
Administrative Agent to take such action in their name and on their behalf under
the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents and to exercise such rights and
powers thereunder as are specifically delegated to or required of the
Administrative Agent for the Lenders, together with such rights and powers as
are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent is hereby expressly
authorized to act as the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself and the other
Lenders:
(a) To receive on behalf of each of the Lenders any payment of
principal, interest, fees or other amounts paid pursuant to this
Agreement and the Notes and to distribute to each Lender its pro rata
share of all payments so received as provided in this Agreement;
(b) To receive all documents and items to be furnished under the
Loan Documents; (c) To act as nominee for and on behalf of the Lenders
in and under the Loan Documents;
(d) To arrange for the means whereby the funds of the Lenders are
to be made available to Borrower;
(e) To distribute to the Lenders information, requests,
notices, payments, prepayments, documents and other items received from
Borrower, the other Obligated Parties, and other Persons;
(f) To execute and deliver to Borrower, the other Obligated
Parties, and other Persons, all requests, demands, approvals, notices,
and consents received from the Lenders;
(g) To the extent permitted by the Loan Documents, to exercise on
behalf of each Lender all rights and remedies of the Lenders upon the
occurrence of any Event of Default;
(h) To accept, execute, and deliver the Borrower Security
Agreement, the Guarantor Security Agreements, the Pledge Agreements,
and any other security documents as the secured party; and
(i) To take such other actions as may be requested by the
Required Lenders.
Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Affiliates, officers,
directors, employees, attorneys, or agents shall be liable to any Lender for any
action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them hereunder or otherwise in
connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (INCLUDING ANY
ACTION TAKEN OR OMITTED TO BE TAKEN BY SUCH PARTIES NEGLIGENTLY), but excluding
such actions or omissions arising from such parties' own gross negligence or
willful misconduct. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence,
the Administrative Agent: (i) may treat the payee of any Note as the holder
thereof until the Administrative Agent receives written notice of the assignment
or transfer thereof signed by such payee and in form satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent; (ii) shall have no duties or responsibilities except those
expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall
not by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Document be a trustee or
fiduciary for any Lender; (iii) shall not be required to initiate any litigation
or collection proceedings hereunder or under any other Loan Document except to
the extent requested by the Required Lenders; (iv) shall not be responsible to
the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties
contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any certificate or
other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any of them under,
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the value, validity,
effectiveness, enforceability, or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other
Loan Document or any other document referred to or provided for herein or
therein or for any failure by any Person to perform any of its obligations
hereunder or thereunder; (v) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel
for Borrower), independent public accountants, and other experts selected by it
and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good
faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants, or
experts; and (vi) shall incur no liability under or in respect of any Loan
Document by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate, or other instrument or
writing believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or
parties. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement, the
Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in
refraining from acting, here under in accordance with instructions signed by the
Required Lenders, and such instructions of the Required Lenders and any action
taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the Lenders;
provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take
any action which exposes the Administrative Agent to personal liability or which
is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law.
Section 12.2 Rights of Administrative Agent as a Lender. With respect
to its Commitment, the Advances made by it and the Note issued to it, Bank of
America in its capacity as a Lender hereunder shall have the same rights and
powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were
not acting as the Administrative Agent, and the term "Lender" or "Lenders"
shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent
in its individual capacity. The Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may
(without having to account therefor to any Lender) accept deposits from, lend
money to, act as trustee under indentures of, provide merchant banking services
to, and generally engage in any kind of business with Borrower, any Subsidiary
of Borrower, any other Obligated Party, and any other Person who may do business
with or own securities of Borrower or any other Obligated Party, all as if it
were not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account
therefor to the Lenders.
Section 12.3 Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender shall obtain any
payment of any principal of or interest on any Advance made by it under this
Agreement or payment of any other obligation under the Loan Documents then owed
by Borrower or any other Obligated Party to such Lender, whether voluntary,
involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff, lender's lien,
counterclaim or similar right, or otherwise, in excess of its pro rata share,
such Lender shall promptly purchase from the other Lenders participations in the
Advances held by them hereunder in such amounts, and make such other adjustments
from time to time as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share
the excess payment ratably with each of the other Lenders in accordance with its
pro rata portion thereof. To such end, all of the Lenders shall make appropriate
adjustments among themselves (by the resale of participations sold or otherwise)
if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter rescinded or must
otherwise be restored. Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent it may effectively
do so under applicable law, that any Lender so purchasing a participation in the
Advances made by the other Lenders may exercise all rights of setoff, lender's
lien, counterclaim, or similar rights with respect to such participation as
fully as if such Lender were a direct holder of Advances to Borrower in the
amount of such participation. Nothing contained herein shall require any Lender
to exercise any such right or shall affect the right of any Lender to exercise,
and retain the benefits of exercising, any such right with respect to any other
indebtedness or obligation of Borrower.
Section 12.4 Indemnification. THE LENDERS HEREBY AGREE TO INDEMNIFY THE
AGENTS FROM AND HOLD THE AGENTS HARMLESS AGAINST (TO THE EXTENT NOT REIMBURSED
UNDER SECTIONS 13.1 AND 13.2, BUT WITHOUT LIMITING THE OBLIGATIONS OF BORROWER
UNDER SECTIONS 13.1 AND 13.2), RATABLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE
COMMITMENTS, ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, PENALTIES,
ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, DEFICIENCIES, SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS'
FEES), AND DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER WHICH MAY BE IMPOSED
ON, INCURRED BY, OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY AGENT IN ANY WAY RELATING TO OR ARISING
OUT OF ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY ACTION TAKEN OR OMITTED TO BE TAKEN BY
ANY AGENT UNDER OR IN RESPECT OF ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS INCLUDING ANY PORTION
OF THE FOREGOING TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY THE ANY AGENT'S SOLE OR CONTRIBUTORY
NEGLIGENCE; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT NO LENDER SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY PORTION OF
THE FOREGOING TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY ANY AGENT'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL
MISCONDUCT. WITHOUT LIMITATION OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS THE EXPRESS INTENTION OF
THE LENDERS THAT THE AGENTS SHALL BE INDEMNIFIED HEREUNDER FROM AND HELD
HARMLESS AGAINST ALL OF SUCH LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES,
PENALTIES, ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, DEFICIENCIES, SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES (INCLUDING
ATTORNEYS' FEES), AND DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY KIND OR NATURE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY
ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM THE SOLE OR CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE OF THE
AGENTS. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS SECTION, EACH LENDER AGREES
TO REIMBURSE EACH AGENT PROMPTLY UPON DEMAND FOR ITS PRO RATA SHARE (CALCULATED
ON THE BASIS OF THE COMMITMENTS) OF ANY AND ALL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
(INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES) INCURRED BY THE AGENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE
PREPARATION, EXECUTION, DELIVERY, ADMINISTRATION, MODIFICATION, AMENDMENT OR
ENFORCEMENT (WHETHER THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS, LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, OR OTHERWISE) OF,
OR LEGAL ADVICE IN RESPECT OF RIGHTS OR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER, THE LOAN
DOCUMENTS, TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH AGENT IS NOT REIMBURSED FOR SUCH EXPENSES BY
BORROWER.
Section 12.5 Independent Credit Decisions. Each Lender agrees that it
has independently and without reliance on any Agent or any other Lender, and
based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its
own credit analysis of Borrower and decision to enter into this Agreement and
that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other
Lender, and based upon such documents and information as it shall deem
appropriate at the time, continue to make its own analysis and decisions in
taking or not taking action under this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents. The Administrative Agent shall not be required to keep itself
informed as to the performance or observance by Borrower or any Obligated Party
of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or to inspect the properties or
books of Borrower or any Obligated Party. Except for notices, reports and other
documents and information expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by
the Administrative Agent hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, the
Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any
Lender with any credit or other financial information concerning the affairs,
financial condition or business of Borrower or any Obligated Party (or any of
their Affiliates) which may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent
or any of its Affiliates.
Section 12.6 Several Commitments. The Commitments and other obligations
of the Lenders under this Agreement are several. The default by any Lender in
making an Advance in accordance with its Commitment shall not relieve the other
Lenders of their obligations under this Agreement. In the event of any default
by any Lender in making any Advance, each nondefaulting Lender shall be
obligated to make its Advance but shall not be obligated to advance the amount
which the defaulting Lender was required to advance hereunder. In no event shall
any Lender be required to advance an amount or amounts which shall in the
aggregate exceed such Lender's Commitment. No Lender shall be responsible for
any act or omission of any other Lender.
Section 12.7 Successor Administrative Agent. Subject to the appointment
and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided below, the
Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the
Lenders and Borrower and the Administrative Agent may be removed at any time
with or without cause by the Required Lenders. Upon any such resignation or
removal, the Required Lenders will have the right to appoint a successor
Administrative Agent from among the remaining Lenders. If no successor
Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and
shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring
Administrative Agent's giving of notice of resignation or the Required Lenders'
removal of the retiring Administrative Agent, then the retiring Administrative
Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent,
which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States
of America or any State thereof and having combined capital and surplus of at
least One Billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000). Upon the acceptance of its
appointment as successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative
Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all rights, powers,
privileges, immunities, and duties of the resigning or removed Administrative
Agent, and the resigning or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged
from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents. After any Administrative Agent's resignation or removal as
Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article XII shall continue in
effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by
it while it was the Administrative Agent.
Section 12.8 Independent Contractor.
(a) The relationship between each Agent and each of the Lenders is that
of an independent contractor. The use of the term "Agent" is for convenience
only and is used to describe, as a form of convention, the independent
contractual relationship between each Agent and each of the Lenders. Nothing
contained in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be construed to
create an agency, trust or other fiduciary relationship between any Agent and
any of the Lenders.
(b) As an independent contractor empowered by the Lenders to exercise
certain rights and perform certain duties and responsibilities hereunder and
under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is nevertheless a
"representative" of the Lenders, as that term is defined in Article 1 of the
Uniform Commercial Code, for purposes of actions for the benefit of the Lenders
and the Administrative Agent with respect to all collateral security and
guaranties contemplated by the Loan Documents. Such actions include the
designation of the Administration Agent as "secured party," "mortgagee" or the
like on all financing statements and other documents and instruments, whether
recorded or otherwise, relating to the attachment, perfection, priority or
enforcement of any security interests, mortgages or deeds of trust in collateral
security intended to secure the payment or performance of any of the
Obligations, all for the benefit of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE XIII -- MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.1 Expenses. Borrower hereby agrees to pay on demand: (a) all
reasonable costs and expenses of the Agents in connection with the preparation,
negotiation, syndication, execution, and delivery of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents including, without limitation, the legal fees and
reasonable expenses of legal counsel for the Agents; (b) all reasonable costs
and expenses of the Agents in connection with any and all amendments,
modifications, renewals, extensions and supplements of any of the Loan
Documents; (c) all reasonable costs and expenses of the Agents and the Lenders
in connection with any Default, including any work-outs, amendments to any Loan
Documents, or negotiations related thereto, and the enforcement of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, the fees
and expenses of legal counsel and professional advisors for the Agents and the
Lenders; (d) all transfer, stamp, documentary, or other similar taxes,
assessments, or charges levied by any Governmental Authority in respect of this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents; (e) all costs, expenses,
assessments, and other charges incurred in connection with any filing,
registration, recording, or perfection of any security interest or Lien
contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (f) all other
reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Agents in connection with this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, all costs,
expenses, and other charges incurred in connection with obtaining any mortgagee
title insurance policy, survey, audit, appraisal in respect of the Collateral,
and other out-of-pocket costs and expenses.
Section 13.2 Indemnification. BORROWER SHALL INDEMNIFY THE AGENTS AND
EACH LENDER AND EACH AFFILIATE THEREOF AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS,
EMPLOYEES, ATTORNEYS, AND AGENTS FROM, AND HOLD EACH OF THEM HARMLESS AGAINST,
ANY AND ALL LOSSES, LIABILITIES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, JUDGMENTS,
DISBURSEMENTS, COSTS, AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES) TO
WHICH ANY OF THEM MAY BECOME SUBJECT WHICH DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISE FROM OR
RELATE TO (A) THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION, DELIVERY, PERFORMANCE, ADMINISTRATION,
OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, (B) ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED BY THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, (C) ANY BREACH BY BORROWER OF ANY
REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY, COVENANT, OR OTHER AGREEMENT CONTAINED IN ANY OF THE
LOAN DOCUMENTS, (D) THE PRESENCE, RELEASE, THREATENED RELEASE, DISPOSAL,
REMOVAL, OR CLEANUP OF ANY HAZARDOUS MATERIAL LOCATED ON, ABOUT, WITHIN, OR
AFFECTING ANY OF THE PROPERTIES OR ASSETS OF BORROWER OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OF
BORROWER, OR (E) ANY INVESTIGATION, LITIGATION, OR OTHER PROCEEDING, INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY THREATENED INVESTIGATION, LITIGATION, OR OTHER
PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING,
THIS INDEMNITY SHALL APPLY TO ANY LOSS, LIABILITY, OBLIGATION, DAMAGE, PENALTY,
JUDGMENT, CLAIM, DEFICIENCY OR EXPENSE ARISING OUT OF THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT
NEGLIGENCE OF ANY AGENT OR ANY LENDER, BUT AS TO ANY AGENT OR LENDER SHALL
EXCLUDE ANY LOSS, LIABILITY, OBLIGATION, DAMAGE, PENALTY, JUDGMENT, CLAIM,
DEFICIENCY OR EXPENSE ARISING BY REASON OF THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL
MISCONDUCT OF SUCH AGENT OR LENDER.
Section 13.3 No Duty. All attorneys, accountants, appraisers, and other
professional Persons and consultants retained by the Agents and the Lenders
shall have the right to act exclusively in the interest of the Agents and the
Lenders and shall have no duty of disclosure, duty of loyalty, duty of care, or
other duty or obligation of any type or nature whatsoever to Borrower, any
shareholder or Subsidiary of Borrower or any other Person.
Section 13.4 No Fiduciary Relationship. The relationship between
Borrower and each Lender is solely that of debtor and creditor, and none of the
Agents nor any of the Lenders has any fiduciary or other special relationship
with Borrower, and no term or condition of any of the Loan Documents shall be
construed so as to deem the relationship between Borrower and any Lender to be
other than that of debtor and creditor.
Section 13.5 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure on the part of
the Agents or any Lender to exercise and no delay in exercising, and no course
of dealing with respect to, any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or
privilege. The rights and remedies provided for in this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights and remedies
provided by law.
Section 13.6 Successors and Assigns.
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Borrower may not
assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior
written consent of the Administrative Agent and all of the Lenders. Any Lender
may sell participations to one or more banks or other institutions in or to all
or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its
Commitments and the Advances owing to it); provided, however, that (i) such
Lender's obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
(including, without limitation, its Commitments) shall remain unchanged, (ii)
such Lender shall remain solely responsible to Borrower for the performance of
such obligations, (iii) such Lender shall remain the holder of its Notes for all
purposes of this Agreement, (iv) Borrower shall continue to deal solely and
directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (v) such
Lender shall not sell a participation that conveys to the participant the right
to vote or give or withhold consents under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, other than the right to vote upon or consent to (A) any increase of
such Lender's Commitments, (B) any reduction of the principal amount of, or
interest to be paid on, the Advances of such Lender, (C) any reduction of any
commitment fee or other amount payable to such Lender under any Loan Document,
or (D) any postponement of any date for the payment of any amount payable in
respect of the Advances of such Lender.
(b) Borrower and each of the Lenders agree that any Lender (an
"Assigning Lender") may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees
all, or a portion of all, of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, its Commitment and
Advances) (each an "Assignee"); provided, however, that (i) except in the case
of an assignment of all of a Lender's rights and obligations under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or as otherwise acceptable to Borrower
and the Administrative Agent the amount of the Commitments of the assigning
Lender being assigned pursuant to each assignment (determined as of the date of
the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment) shall in no event
be less than $____________, and (ii) the parties to each such assignment shall
execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent for its acceptance and recording
in the Register (as defined below), an Assignment and Acceptance, together with
the Note subject to such assignment, and a processing and recordation fee of
$3,500.00. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance, and recording, from and
after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, which
effective date shall be at least five (5) Business Days after the execution
thereof, or, if so specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, the date of
acceptance thereof by the Administrative Agent, (x) the assignee thereunder
shall be a party hereto as a "Lender" and, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and
Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and under the
Loan Documents and (y) the Lender that is an assignor thereunder shall, to the
extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant
to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from
its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (and, in the
case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of a
Lender's rights and obligations under the Loan Documents, such Lender shall
cease to be a party thereto). The provisions of Article IV and Section 13.2
shall continue with respect to such Assigning Lender.
(c) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the
Assigning Lender and its Assignee confirm to and agree with each other and the
other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment
and Acceptance, such Assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and
assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties, or
representations made in or in connection with the Loan Documents or the
execution, legality, validity, and enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency, or
value of the Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished
pursuant thereto; (ii) such Assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty
and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of
Borrower or any Obligated Party or the performance or observance by Borrower or
any Obligated Party of its obligations under the Loan Documents; (iii) the
Assignee confirms that it has received copies of the Loan Documents, together
with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 7.2 and such
other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv)
the Assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative
Agent or such assignor and based on such documents and information as it shall
deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in
taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(v) the Assignee confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (vi) the Assignee
appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as
Administrative Agent on its behalf and exercise such powers under the Loan
Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof,
together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) the
Assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the
obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be
performed by it as a Lender.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall maintain at its Principal Office a
copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a
register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the
Commitment of, and principal amount of the Advances owing to, each Lender from
time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive
and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and Borrower, the
Administrative Agent, and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is
recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes under the Loan
Documents. The Register shall be available for inspection by Borrower or any
Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior
notice.
(e) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an
assigning Lender and Assignee representing that it is an Eligible Assignee (or
other assignee permitted hereunder), together with any Note subject to such
assignment, the Administrative Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance
has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit B, (i) accept
such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in
the Register, and (iii) give prompt written notice thereof to Borrower. Within
five (5) Business Days after its receipt of such notice, Borrower, at its
expense, shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent in exchange for
the surrendered Note a new Note to the order of such Eligible Assignee (or other
assignee permitted hereunder) in an amount equal to the portion of the
Commitments assumed by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance and, if the
Assigning Lender has retained a portion of the Commitments, a new Note to the
order of the Assigning Lender in an amount equal to the portion of the
Commitments retained by it hereunder (each such promissory note shall constitute
a "Note" for purposes of the Loan Documents). Such new Notes shall be in an
aggregate principal amount of the surrendered Note, shall be dated the effective
date of such Assignment and Acceptance, and shall otherwise be in substantially
the form of Exhibit C.
(f) Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or participation
or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section, disclose to
the Assignee or participant or proposed Assignee or participant, any information
relating to Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower furnished to such, Lender by
or on behalf of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
(g) Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement to the contrary,
any Lender may (without requesting the consent of either the Administrative
Agent or Borrower) pledge its Notes to a Federal Reserve Bank in support of
borrowings made by such Lender from such Federal Reserve Bank.
(h) Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement to the contrary,
any Lender may assign all, or a portion of all, of its rights and obligations
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without
limitation, its Commitment and Advances) to an Affiliate of such Lender or any
other Lender provided that:
(i) such assignor Lender has obtained the written consent of
the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably
delayed or withheld) if the effect of such assignment or delegation
shall entitle such Affiliate or other Lender to claim compensation from
Borrower pursuant to Article IV; and
(ii) in every other case, such assignor Lender has furnished
notice to, but not obtained the consent of, the Administrative Agent.
Section 13.7 Survival. All representations and warranties made in this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any document, statement, or
certificate furnished in connection with this Agreement shall survive the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents until the
Obligations have been paid and performed in full, and no investigation by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender or any closing shall affect the
representations and warranties or the right of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender to rely upon them. Without prejudice to the survival of any other
obligation of Borrower hereunder, the obligations of Borrower under Article IV
and Sections 13.1 and 13.2 shall survive repayment of the Notes and termination
of the Commitments. The obligations of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
under Section 13.18 shall survive repayment of the Notes and termination of the
Commitments.
Section 13.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES, AND THE OTHER
LOAN DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO HEREIN EMBODY THE FINAL, ENTIRE AGREEMENT AMONG THE
PARTIES HERETO AND SUPERSEDE ANY AND ALL PRIOR COMMITMENTS, AGREEMENTS,
REPRESENTATIONS, AND UNDERSTANDINGS, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, RELATING TO THE
SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED OR VARIED BY EVIDENCE OF
PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OR DISCUSSIONS OF THE
PARTIES HERETO. THERE ARE NO ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO.
Section 13.9 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision
of this Agreement, the Notes, or any other Loan Document to which Borrower is a
party, nor any consent to any departure by Borrower therefrom, shall in any
event be effective unless the same shall be agreed or consented to by the
Required Lenders and Borrower, and each such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which
given; provided, that no amendment, waiver, or consent shall, unless in writing
and signed by all of the Lenders and Borrower, do any of the following: (a)
increase Commitments of the Lenders or subject the Lenders to any additional
obligations; (b) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees
or other amounts payable to the Lenders, (but not the Administrative Agent)
hereunder; (c) alter the allocation among Lenders of, or postpone any date fixed
for any payment or prepayment (whether or not mandatory) of principal of, or
interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable to the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder; (d) change the percentage of the
Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Notes or the
number of Lenders which shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take
any action under this Agreement; (e) change any provision contained in this
Section 13.9; or (f) release any material Guarantor or any material portion of
the Collateral, except in accordance with the relevant Loan Document.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section, no
amendment, waiver, or consent shall be made with respect to Article XII without
the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.
Section 13.10 Maximum Interest Rate. Regardless of any provision
contained in any Loan Document, neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender
shall ever be entitled to contract for, charge, take, reserve, receive, or
apply, as interest on all or any part of the Obligations, any amount in excess
of the Maximum Rate, and, if Lenders ever do so, then such excess shall be
deemed a partial prepayment of principal and treated hereunder as such and any
remaining excess shall be refunded to Borrower. In determining if the interest
paid or payable exceeds the Maximum Rate, Borrower and Lenders shall, to the
maximum extent permitted under applicable Law, (a) treat all Advances as but a
single extension of credit (and Lenders and Borrower agree that such is the case
and that provision herein for multiple Advances is for convenience only), (b)
characterize any nonprincipal payment as an expense, fee, or premium rather than
as interest, (c) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (d)
amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread the total amount of interest throughout
the entire contemplated term of the Obligations. However, if the Obligations are
paid and performed in full prior to the end of the full contemplated term
thereof, and if the interest received for the actual period of existence thereof
exceeds the Maximum Amount, Lenders shall refund such excess, and, in such
event, Lenders shall not, to the extent permitted by Law, be subject to any
penalties provided by any laws for contracting for, charging, taking, reserving,
or receiving interest in excess of the Maximum Amount. The "Maximum Rate" or the
"Maximum Amount," mean the "weekly ceiling" from time to time in effect under
Texas Finance Code ss. 303.305, as amended.
Section 13.11 Notices. All notices and other communications provided
for in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Borrower is a party
shall be given or made by telecopy or in writing and telecopied, mailed by
certified mail return receipt requested, or delivered to the intended recipient
at the "Address for Notices" specified below its name on the signature pages
hereof, or, as to any party at such other address as shall be designated by such
party in a notice to each other party given in accordance with this Section.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all such communications shall be
deemed to have been duly given when transmitted by telecopy, subject to
telephone confirmation of receipt, or when personally delivered or, in the case
of a mailed notice, when duly deposited in the mails, in each case given or
addressed as aforesaid; provided, however, notices to the Administrative Agent
pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until received by the
Administrative Agent.
Section 13.12 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE APPLICABLE
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Section 13.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 13.14 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable shall not impair
or invalidate the remainder of this Agreement and the effect thereof shall be
confined to the provision held to be invalid or illegal.
Section 13.15 Headings. The headings, captions, and arrangements used in
this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation
of this Agreement.
Section 13.16 Construction. Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and
each Lender acknowledges that each of them has had the benefit of legal counsel
of its own choice and has been afforded an opportunity to review this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents with its legal counsel.
Section 13.17 Independence of Covenants. All covenants hereunder shall
be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not
permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an
exception to, or be otherwise within the limitations of, another covenant shall
not avoid the occurrence of a Default if such action is taken or such condition
exists.
Section 13.18 Confidentiality.
(a) The Agents and each Lender (each, a "Lending Party") agrees to keep
confidential any Confidential Information; provided that nothing herein shall
prevent any Lending Party from disclosing such information (a) to any other
Lending Party or any Affiliate of any Lending Party, or any officer, director,
employee, agent, or advisor of any Lending Party or any Affiliate of any Lending
Party, (b) to any other Person if reasonably incidental to the administration of
the credit facility provided herein, (c) as required by any law, rule, or
regulation, (d) upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (e) upon
the request or demand of any regulatory agency or authority, (f) in connection
with any litigation to which such Lending Party may be a party, (g) to the
extent necessary in connection with the exercise of any remedy under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, and (h) subject to provisions
substantially similar to those contained in this Section, to any actual or
proposed participant or Assignee. Furthermore, and notwithstanding the
foregoing, no Lending Party shall provide any Confidential Information to any
officer, director, employee, agent or advisor of any Affiliate of a Lending
Party if such officer, director, employee, agent or advisor's position involves
the ability to transact trades in, or solicit or accept orders for the purchase
or sale of, the common stock of Borrower.
(b) The Lending Parties are aware that the United States securities
laws prohibit any Person who has received material, non-public information such
as is the subject of this Section 13.18 from an issuer from purchasing or
selling the securities of such issuer or from communicating such information to
any other Person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that
such Person is likely to purchase or sell such securities.
(c) The Companies and the Lending Parties agree that monetary damages
would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Section 13.18 by the
Lending Parties and that, in addition to all other remedies, the Companies shall
be entitled to specific performance and injunction or other equitable relief as
a remedy for any such breach.
(d) The restrictions and obligations of this Section 13.18 shall
survive the repayment of the Obligations and shall continue to bind the Lending
Parties.
Section 13.19 Waiver of Jury Trial. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON
CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY OF THE LOAN
DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF ANY AGENT
OR ANY LENDER IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.
Section 13.20 Choice of Forum; Consent to Service of Process and
Jurisdiction. Any suit, action or proceeding against Borrower with respect to
this Agreement or the Loan Documents, or any judgment entered by any court in
respect thereof, may be brought in the courts of the State of Texas, ▇▇▇▇▇▇
County, or in the United States courts located in the State of Texas, as the
Administrative Agent shall, at the direction of the Required Lenders elect in
their sole discretion, and Borrower irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any suit, action or proceeding.
Borrower irrevocably consents to the service of process in any suit, action or
proceeding in said court by the mailing thereof by the Administrative Agent by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid to Borrower's address shown
opposite its name on the signature pages hereof. Nothing herein or in any of the
other Loan Documents shall affect the right of the Administrative Agent to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of the
Administrative Agent to bring any action or proceeding against Borrower or with
respect to any of its property in courts in other jurisdictions. Borrower
irrevocably waives any objections which it may now or hereafter have to laying
of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents brought in the courts located in the State
of Texas, Dallas County, and hereby further irrevocably waives any claim that
any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought
in any inconvenient forum. Any action or proceeding by Borrower against the
Administrative Agent or any Lender shall be brought only in a court located in
▇▇▇▇▇▇ County, Texas.
Section 13.21 Chapter 346. Borrower agrees that Chapter 346, of the
Texas Finance Code, as amended (which regulates certain revolving credit loan
documents and revolving tri-party accounts) does not apply to the Obligations.
REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK.
SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW.
Loan Agreement
Signature Page
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
BORROWER:
PRIME REFRACTIVE MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President-Treasurer
Address for Notices:
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇-▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Treasurer
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
BANK OF AMERICA:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
as Administrative Agent and a Lender
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President
Address for Notices:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Post ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Base Rate Advances:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Post ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Eurodollar Advances:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
BANKBOSTON:
BANKBOSTON, N.A.,
as Documentation Agent, and a Lender
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
Address for Notices:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇-▇▇-▇▇
▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Base Rate Advances:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
P. 0. Box 2016
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Eurodollar Advances:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A.,
as Lender
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Lick, Jr.
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Lick, Jr.
Title: Vice President
Address for Notices:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Ed Lick
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Base Rate Advances:
Bank One, Austin
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Eurodollar Advances:
Bank One, Austin
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
as Lender
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
Address for Notices:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇-▇▇-▇▇
▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Base Rate Advances:
Fleet National Bank
One Federal Street
Mail Stop: MA ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Eurodollar Advances:
Fleet National Bank
One Federal Street
Mail Stop: MA ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
LASALLE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Lender
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Lending Officer
Address for Notices:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Base Rate Advances:
LaSalle Bank, National Association
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Eurodollar Advances:
LaSalle Bank, National Association
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
GUARANTY FEDERAL BANK, F.S.B.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
Addresses for Notices:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Base Rate Advances:
Guaranty Federal Bank, F.S.B.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Lending Office for Eurodollar Advances:
Guaranty Federal Bank, F.S.B.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇