CONFORMED COPY
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U.S. $300,000,000
364-DAY MULTICURRENCY CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 23, 1999,
Among
SOLUTIA INC.,
as Borrower
THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN,
as Initial Lenders
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
as Syndication Agent
and
CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms.........................................1
SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods................................. 14
SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms and Determinations......................... 14
SECTION 1.04. Currencies; Currency Equivalents............................ 14
ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
SECTION 2.01. The A Advances.............................................. 15
SECTION 2.02. Making the A Advances....................................... 15
SECTION 2.03. The B Advances.............................................. 16
SECTION 2.04. Fees........................................................ 20
SECTION 2.05. Termination, Reduction and Extension of Commitments......... 20
SECTION 2.06. Repayment of Advances; Evidence of Debt..................... 21
SECTION 2.07. Interest on A Advances...................................... 22
SECTION 2.08. Interest Rate Determination; Changes in Rating Systems...... 22
SECTION 2.09. Optional Conversion of A Advances........................... 23
SECTION 2.10. Prepayments, Etc............................................ 24
SECTION 2.11. Increased Costs............................................. 25
SECTION 2.12. Illegality.................................................. 26
SECTION 2.13. Payments and Computations................................... 27
SECTION 2.14. Notations on the A Notes.................................... 28
SECTION 2.15. Taxes....................................................... 29
SECTION 2.16. Sharing of Payments, Etc.................................... 31
SECTION 2.17. Borrowings by Designated Borrowers.......................... 31
ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING
SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Initial Borrowing................... 31
SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each A Borrowing.................... 32
SECTION 3.03. Conditions Precedent to Each B Borrowing.................... 33
SECTION 3.04. Determinations Under Section 3.01........................... 33
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties of the Company............... 34
SECTION 4.02. Representation and Warranty of the Lenders.................. 36
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants....................................... 36
SECTION 5.02. Negative Covenants.......................................... 39
SECTION 5.03. Financial Covenants......................................... 41
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ARTICLE VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default........................................... 41
ARTICLE VII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
SECTION 7.01. Authorization and Action.................................... 43
SECTION 7.02. Administrative Agent's Reliance, Etc........................ 43
SECTION 7.03. Citibank and Affiliates..................................... 44
SECTION 7.04. Lender Credit Decision...................................... 44
SECTION 7.05. Indemnification............................................. 44
SECTION 7.06. Successor Administrative Agent.............................. 44
SECTION 7.07. The Syndication Agent....................................... 45
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc............................................. 45
SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc................................................ 46
SECTION 8.03. No Waiver, Remedies......................................... 46
SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses.......................................... 47
SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off............................................ 47
SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect.............................................. 48
SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations, Register.................... 48
SECTION 8.08. Governing Law............................................... 51
SECTION 8.09. Execution in Counterparts................................... 51
SECTION 8.10. Jurisdiction, Etc........................................... 51
SECTION 8.11. Judgment Currency........................................... 52
ARTICLE IX
GUARANTEE
SECTION 9.01. The Guarantee............................................... 52
SECTION 9.02. Obligations Unconditional................................... 52
SECTION 9.03. Reinstatement............................................... 53
SECTION 9.04. Subrogation................................................. 53
SECTION 9.05. Remedies.................................................... 53
SECTION 9.06. Instrument for the Payment of Money......................... 54
SECTION 9.07. Continuing Guarantee........................................ 54
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SCHEDULES
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Schedule 1 - Certain Existing Liens
Schedule 2A - Pricing Grid
Schedule 2B - Copy of Pricing Grid from Bank Book
EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A-1 - Form of A Note
Exhibit A-2 - Form of B Note
Exhibit B-1 - Form of Notice of A Borrowing
Exhibit B-2 - Form of Notice of B Borrowing
Exhibit C-1 - Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit C-2 - Form of Assumption and Acceptance
Exhibit D - Form of Opinion of General Counsel for the Company
Exhibit E - Form of Opinion of Special New York Counsel to the Administrative Agent
Exhibit F-1 - Form of Designation Letter
Exhibit F-2 - Form of Termination Letter
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364-DAY MULTICURRENCY CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of November
23, 1999 among SOLUTIA INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
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the banks (each an "Initial Lender" and, collectively, the "Initial
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Lenders") listed on the signature pages hereof, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
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as Syndication Agent (in such capacity, together with its successors in
such capacity, the "Syndication Agent") and CITIBANK, N.A.
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("Citibank"), as administrative agent (in such capacity, together with
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its successors in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent") as herein
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provided.
The Company has requested that the Lenders make loans to the
Borrowers in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $300,000,000 at
any one time outstanding solely to finance the working capital needs and
other general corporate purposes of the Borrowers, including to support
the Borrowers' respective commercial paper programs, and the Lenders are
prepared to make such loans upon the terms and conditions hereof.
Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this
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Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such
meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms
of the terms defined):
"A Advance" means an advance by a Lender to a Borrower as
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part of an A Borrowing and refers to a Base Rate Advance or a
Eurocurrency Rate Advance, each of which shall be a "Type" of A
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Advance.
"A Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous
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A Advances of the same Type made by each of the Lenders pursuant to
Section 2.01.
"A Note" means a promissory note of a Borrower payable to
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the order of any Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1
hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of such Borrower to
such Lender resulting from the A Advances made by such Lender to
such Borrower.
"Acceptance" means an Assignment and Acceptance and/or an
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Assumption and Acceptance.
"Adjusted EBITDA" means, for any period, the sum, for the
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Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (determined on a
Consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP),
of the following: (a) net income (calculated before taxes,
Interest Expense, extraordinary and unusual items and income or
loss attributable to equity in Affiliates (other than Affiliates
that are Specified Joint Ventures or Consolidated Subsidiaries))
for such period plus (b) depreciation and amortization (to the
extent deducted in determining net income) for such period;
provided that charges taken (including cash charges in an
aggregate amount not exceeding $44,000,000) and reserves
established by the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in
connection with (x) the Astaris LLC phosphate joint venture that
Solutia is in the process of establishing with FMC Corporation,
(y) acquisitions and (z) restructuring of existing operations (all
on or prior to December 31, 2000) in an aggregate amount not
exceeding $60,000,000 shall be added back to net income for such
period (to the extent such charges and reserves were deducted in
determining net income for such period).
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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"Administrative Agent" has the meaning specified in the
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recital of parties to this Agreement.
"Administrative Agent's Account" means, for each Currency,
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an account in respect of such Currency designated by the
Administrative Agent in a notice to the Company and the Lenders.
"Administrative Questionnaire" means an administrative
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questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
"Advance" means an A Advance or a B Advance.
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"Affected Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 2.12.
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"Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person that,
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directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under
common control with such Person or is a director or officer of
such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term "control"
(including the terms "controlling", "controlled by" and "under
common control with") of a Person means the possession, direct or
indirect, of the power to vote 5% or more of the Voting Stock of
such Person or to direct or cause the direction of the management
and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of
Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise.
"Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to each
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Lender, such Lender's Domestic Lending Office in the case of a
Base Rate Advance and such Lender's Eurocurrency Lending Office in
the case of a Eurocurrency Rate Advance and, in the case of a B
Advance, the office of such Lender notified by such Lender to the
Administrative Agent as its Applicable Lending Office with respect
to such B Advance.
"Applicable Margin" has the meaning assigned to such term in
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Schedule 2A.
"Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and
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acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and
accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of
Exhibit C-1 hereto.
"Assumption and Acceptance" means an assumption and
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acceptance entered into by an Eligible Assignee, and accepted by
the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-2
hereto.
"B Advance" means an advance by a Lender to a Borrower as
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part of a B Borrowing resulting from the auction bidding procedure
described in Section 2.03.
"B Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous B
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Advances from each of the Lenders whose offer to make one or more
B Advances as part of such borrowing has been accepted by the
Company under the auction bidding procedure described in Section
2.03.
"B Note" means a promissory note of a Borrower payable to
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the order of any Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-2
hereto, evidencing the indebtedness of such Borrower to such
Lender resulting from a B Advance made by such Lender to such
Borrower.
"B Reduction" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
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364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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"Bank of America" means Bank of America, N.A.
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"Base Rate" means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in
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effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times
be equal to the highest of:
(a) the rate of interest announced publicly by Citibank in
New York, New York, from time to time, as Citibank's base rate;
(b) the sum (adjusted to the nearest 1/16 of 1% or,
if there is no nearest 1/16 of 1%, to the next higher 1/16
of 1%) of (i) 1/2 of 1% per annum, plus (ii) the rate
obtained by dividing (A) the latest three-week moving
average of secondary market morning offering rates in the
United States for three-month certificates of deposit of
major United States money market banks, such three-week
moving average (adjusted to the basis of a year of 360 days)
being determined weekly on each Monday (or, if such day is
not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day) for
the three-week period ending on the previous Friday by
Citibank on the basis of such rates reported by certificate
of deposit dealers to and published by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York or, if such publication shall be suspended
or terminated, on the basis of quotations for such rates
received by Citibank from three New York certificate of
deposit dealers of recognized standing selected by Citibank,
by (B) a percentage equal to 100% minus the average of the
daily percentages specified during such three-week period by
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any
successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement
(including, but not limited to, any emergency, supplemental
or other marginal reserve requirement) for Citibank with
respect to liabilities consisting of or including (among
other liabilities) three-month U.S. dollar non-personal time
deposits in the United States, plus (iii) the average during
such three-week period of the annual assessment rates
estimated by Citibank for determining the then current
annual assessment payable by Citibank to the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (or any successor) for insuring U.S.
dollar deposits of Citibank in the United States; and
(c) 1/2 of 1% per annum above the Federal Funds Rate.
"Base Rate Advance" means an A Advance that bears interest
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as provided in Section 2.07(a)(i).
"Borrowers" means, at any time, collectively, the Company
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(both as a Borrower and as guarantor under Article IX of Advances
made to the Designated Borrowers) and each Designated Borrower.
"Borrowing" means an A Borrowing or a B Borrowing.
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"Business Combination" means any reorganization, merger or
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consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company or the acquisition of assets or
stock of another corporation.
"Business Day" means a day of the year on which banks are
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not required or authorized by law to close in New York City and,
if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurocurrency Rate
Advances denominated in any Currency, on which dealings are
carried on in the London interbank market for such Currency.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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"Capitalized Lease Obligation" means, with respect to any
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Person for any period, an obligation of such Person to pay rent or
other amounts under a lease that is required to be capitalized for
financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP; and the
amount of such obligation shall be the capitalized amount shown on
the balance sheet of such Person as determined in accordance with
GAAP.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the
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following events:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group
(within the meanings of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Exchange Act) (a "Person or Group") of beneficial ownership
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(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange
Act) of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of
common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common
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Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding
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voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting
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Securities"); provided that, for purposes of this paragraph (a),
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the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of
Control: (i) any acquisitions directly from the Company, (ii) any
acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (iv) any
acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which
complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (c) below; or
(b) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Incumbent Board") cease
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for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company; provided that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or
nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then
comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such
individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding,
for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election
contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by
or on behalf of a Person other than the Board of Directors; or
(c) consummation by the Company of a Business Combination,
in each case unless following such Business Combination: (i) all
or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common
Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding
shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination (including, without
limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction
owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's
assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries) in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately
prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company
Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the
case may be, (ii) no Person or Group (excluding any corporation
resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation
resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the then
outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting
from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to
the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business
Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of the corporation resulting
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board
at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the
action of the Board of Directors, providing for such Business
Combination; or
(d) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
"Citibank" has the meaning specified in the recital of
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parties to this Agreement.
"Closing Date" means the earliest date as of which the
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conditions precedent to effectiveness set forth in Section 3.01
shall have been satisfied or waived.
"Commitment" means, as to each Lender, the obligation of
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such Lender to make A Advances in an aggregate principal amount at
any one time outstanding up to but not exceeding the amount set
opposite the name of such Lender on the signature pages hereof
under the caption "Commitment" or, in the case of a Person that
becomes a Lender pursuant to an assignment permitted under Section
8.07, or pursuant to an assumption of obligations under Section
2.05, as specified in the Register (as such Commitment may be
reduced from time to time pursuant hereto). The original
aggregate principal amount of the Commitments is $300,000,000.
"Commitment Termination Date" means November 21, 2000 or, in
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the case of any Lender whose Commitment is extended pursuant to
Section 2.05(b), the date to which such Commitment is extended;
provided in each case that if any such date is not a Business Day,
the relevant Commitment Termination Date of such Lender shall be
the immediately preceding Business Day. When the term "Commitment
Termination Date" is used herein without reference to any
particular Lender, such term shall, in such instance, be deemed to
be a reference to the latest Commitment Termination Date of any of
the Lenders then in effect hereunder.
"Consolidated" refers to the consolidation of the accounts
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of the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, including principles of
consolidation, consistent with those applied in the preparation of
the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e)(i).
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, at any time, for
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the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (determined on a
Consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP),
Consolidated Tangible Assets at such time after deducting
therefrom all current liabilities, other than current liabilities
in respect of (a) notes and loans payable, (b) current maturities
of long-term debt and (c) current maturities of the principal
component of Capitalized Lease Obligations.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means, at any time, the sum for the
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Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (determined on a
Consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP),
the amount of capital stock plus the amount of surplus and
retained earnings (or, in the case of a surplus or retained
earnings deficit, minus the amount of such deficit).
"Consolidated Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of the Company,
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the accounts of which in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles are consolidated with those of the Company.
"Consolidated Tangible Assets" means, at any time, for the
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Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (determined on a
Consolidated basis without duplication in accordance
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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with GAAP), the aggregate amount of all assets (less applicable
reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting
therefrom all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents,
unamortized debt discount and expenses (to the extent included in
said aggregate amount of assets) and other like intangibles.
"Convert", "Conversion" and "Converted" each refers to a
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conversion of A Advances of one Type denominated in Dollars into A
Advances of the other Type denominated in Dollars pursuant to
Section 2.08 or 2.09.
"Currency" means Dollars or Euros.
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"Debt" of any Person means, without duplication: (a) indebtedness
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of such Person for borrowed money, (b) obligations of such Person
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
(c) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of
property or services (other than trade accounts payable arising, and
accrued expenses incurred, in the ordinary course of business so long
as such trade accounts payable are payable on customary trade terms or
on other trade terms that are more advantageous to the Company),
(d) Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person and (e) obligations
of such Person under direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and
obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire,
or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of,
indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in
clauses (a) through (d) above.
"Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio" means, at any date, the ratio of:
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(a) Debt of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
on a Consolidated basis as of such date to
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(b) Adjusted EBITDA for the Rolling Period ending on or
most recently ended prior to such date.
"Default" means any Event of Default or any event that would
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constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice
be given or time elapse or both.
"Designated Borrower" means any wholly owned Subsidiary of
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the Company as to which a Designation Letter has been delivered to
the Administrative Agent and as to which a Termination Letter has
not been delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with
Section 2.17.
"Designation Letter" has the meaning specified in
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Section 2.17(a).
"Dollar Equivalent" means with respect to any Borrowing
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denominated in Euros, the amount of Dollars that would be required
to purchase the amount of Euros of such Borrowing on the date two
Business Days prior to the date of such Borrowing (or, in the case
of any determination made under Section 2.10(c) or redenomination
under Section 2.13(e), on the date of determination or
redenomination therein referred to), based upon the spot selling
rate at which the Administrative Agent offers to sell Euros for
Dollars in the London foreign exchange market at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, for delivery two Business Days later.
"Dollars" or "$" refers to lawful money of the United
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States of America.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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"Domestic Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender,
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the office of such Lender specified as its "Domestic Lending
Office" in the Administrative Questionnaire of such Lender or in
the Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other
office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify
to the Company and the Administrative Agent.
"Eligible Assignee" means (i) a Lender; (ii) an Affiliate of
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a Lender; (iii) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the
United States, or any State thereof, and having total assets in
excess of $5,000,000,000; (iv) a savings and loan association or
savings bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any
State thereof, and having total assets in excess of
$3,000,000,000; (v) a commercial bank organized under the laws of
any other country that is a member of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development or has concluded special
lending arrangements with the International Monetary Fund
associated with its General Arrangements to Borrow or of the
Cayman Islands, or a political subdivision of any such country,
and having total assets in excess of $5,000,000,000, so long as
such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the
country in which it is organized or another country that is
described in this clause (v); (vi) a finance company, insurance
company or other financial institution or fund (whether a
corporation, partnership, trust or other entity) that is engaged
in making, purchasing or otherwise investing in commercial loans
in the ordinary course of its business and having total assets in
excess of $3,000,000,000; and (vii) any other Person approved by
the Administrative Agent and the Company, such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided that neither the
Company nor an Affiliate of the Company shall qualify as an
Eligible Assignee.
"Environmental Laws" means any and all applicable laws and
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regulations relating to the protection of the environment,
including laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases, spills
and disposal of material into the environment (e.g., air, surface
water, groundwater and the land).
"Environmental Permit" means any permit, license or other
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governmental approval required under any Environmental Laws.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
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1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated
and rulings issued thereunder.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any Person that for purposes of
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Title IV of ERISA is a member of the Company's controlled group,
or under common control with the Company, within the meaning of
Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
"ERISA Event" means (a) the occurrence of a reportable
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event, within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, that would
have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to any Plan unless the
30-day notice requirement with respect to such event has been
waived by the PBGC; (b) the application for a minimum funding
waiver with respect to a Plan; (c) the provision by the
administrator of any Plan of a notice of intent to terminate such
Plan pursuant to Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (d) the cessation of
operations at a facility of the Company or any of its ERISA
Affiliates in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of
ERISA; (e) the failure by the Company or any of its ERISA
Affiliates to make a payment to a Plan if the conditions for the
imposition of a lien under Section 302(f)(1) of ERISA are
satisfied; (f) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring
the provision of security to such Plan, pursuant to Section 307 of
ERISA; or (g) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to
terminate a Plan, pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA, or the
occurrence of any event or condition described in Section 4042 of
ERISA that could constitute grounds for the termination of, or the
appointment of a trustee to administer, a Plan.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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"Euro Equivalent" means with respect to any amount in
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Dollars, the amount of Euros that could be purchased with such
amount of Dollars using the reciprocal of the foreign exchange
rate(s) specified in the definition of "Dollar Equivalent", as
determined by the Administrative Agent.
"Eurocurrency Lending Office" means, with respect to any
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Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its "Eurocurrency
Lending Office" in the Administrative Questionnaire of such Lender
or in the Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (or, if
no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such
other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time
specify to the Company and the Administrative Agent.
"Eurocurrency Liabilities" has the meaning assigned to that
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term in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.
"Eurocurrency Rate" means:
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(a) For any Interest Period for each Eurocurrency Rate
Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing denominated in
Dollars, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum
obtained by dividing (i) the average (rounded upward to the
nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, if such average is
not such a multiple) of the rate per annum at which deposits in
U.S. dollars are offered by the principal office of each of the
Reference Banks in London, England to prime banks in the London
interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days
before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount
substantially equal to such Reference Bank's Eurocurrency Rate
Advance comprising part of such Borrowing to be outstanding during
such Interest Period and for a period equal to such Interest
Period by (ii) a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurocurrency
Rate Reserve Percentage for such Interest Period. The
Eurocurrency Rate for any Interest Period for each Eurocurrency
Rate Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing denominated in
Dollars shall be determined by the Administrative Agent on the
basis of applicable rates furnished to and received by the
Administrative Agent from the Reference Banks two Business Days
before the first day of such Interest Period, subject, however, to
the provisions of Section 2.08;
(b) For any Interest Period for each Eurocurrency Rate
Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing denominated in
Euros, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum
obtained by dividing (i) the rate appearing on the Screen at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days before
the first day of such Interest Period, as the Eurocurrency Rate
for deposits denominated in Euros with a maturity compatible to
such Interest Period, by (ii) a percentage equal to 100% minus the
Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage for such Interest Period. In
the event that such rate is not available on the Screen at such
time for any reason, then the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest
Period shall be the rate at which deposits in Euros in the amount
of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest
Period are offered by the principal London office of the
Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London
interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two
Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period.
"Eurocurrency Rate Advance" means an A Advance that bears
-------------------------
interest as provided in Section 2.07(a)(ii).
"Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage" for any Interest
------------------------------------
Period for all Eurocurrency Rate Advances comprising part of the
same Borrowing means the reserve percentage applicable
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-9-
two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period
under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for
determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without
limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve
requirement) for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in
New York City with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of
or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or with respect to any
other category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference
to which the interest rate on Eurocurrency Rate Advances is
determined) having a term equal to such Interest Period.
"Euros" means the single currency of participating member
-----
states of the European Union.
"Events of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
-----------------
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
------------
amended.
"Excluded Representations" means the representations and
------------------------
warranties set forth in Section 4.01(e)(ii), Section 4.01(f)
(excluding clause (ii) thereof) and the second sentence of Section
4.01(c).
"Facility Fee" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
------------
"Facility Fee Rate" has the meaning assigned to such term in
-----------------
Schedule 2A.
"Federal Funds Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating
------------------
interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to
the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds
transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged
by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such
day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so
published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the
quotations for such day on such transactions received by the
Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of
recognized standing selected by it.
"Fixed Rate Advances" has the meaning specified in Section
-------------------
2.03(a)(i).
"Floating Rate Advances" has the meaning specified in
----------------------
Section 2.03(a)(i).
"GAAP" has the meaning specified in Section 1.03.
----
"Guaranteed Obligations" has the meaning specified in
----------------------
Section 9.01.
"Indemnified Party" has the meaning specified in Section
-----------------
8.04(b).
"Information" has the meaning specified in Section
-----------
4.01(j)(i).
"Interest Coverage Ratio" means, at any date, the ratio of
-----------------------
(a) Adjusted EBITDA for the Rolling Period ending on or most
recently ended prior to such date to (b) Interest Expense for such
Rolling Period.
"Interest Expense" means, for any period, the sum, for the
----------------
Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (determined on a
consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP),
of all interest in respect of Debt (including, without limitation,
the interest component of any
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-10-
payments in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations) accrued or
capitalized during such period (whether or not actually paid
during such period).
"Interest Period" means, for each Eurocurrency Rate Advance
---------------
comprising part of the same A Borrowing, the period commencing on
the date of such Eurocurrency Rate Advance or the date of the
Conversion of any Base Rate Advance into such Eurocurrency Rate
Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the
Company pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, each
subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately
preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period
selected by the Company pursuant to the provisions below. The
duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, two, three or
six months (or, with respect to such portion of any Eurocurrency
Advance denominated in Euros that is scheduled to be repaid on the
Commitment Termination Date, a period of less than one month's
duration) commencing on the date of such Advance and ending on the
Commitment Termination Date, as the Company (on its own behalf and
on behalf of all other Borrowers) may, upon notice received by the
Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City
time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such
Interest Period, select; provided that:
(i) the Company may not select any Interest Period
that ends after the Commitment Termination Date;
(ii) Interest Periods commencing on the same date for
Eurocurrency Rate Advances comprising part of the same A
Borrowing shall be of the same duration;
(iii) whenever the last day of any Interest Period
would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day,
the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to
occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided that, if
such extension would cause the last day of such Interest
Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the
last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next
preceding Business Day; and
(iv) whenever the first day of any Interest Period,
other than an Interest Period pertaining to a Eurocurrency
Borrowing denominated in Euros that ends on the Commitment
Termination Date that is permitted to be of less than one
month's duration as provided in this definition, occurs on a
day of an initial calendar month for which there is no
numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that
succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months
equal to the number of months in such Interest Period, such
Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such
succeeding calendar month.
"Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of
---------------------
1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations
promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
"Lenders" means the Initial Lenders listed on the signature
-------
pages hereof and each institution that shall become a party hereto
pursuant to Section 2.05 or Section 8.07(a), (b) or (d).
"Lien" means any lien, security interest or other charge or
----
encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of preferential
arrangement, including, without limitation, the lien or retained
security title of a conditional vendor and any easement, right of
way or other encumbrance on title to real property.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-11-
"Majority Lenders" means at any time Lenders owed at least
----------------
66-2/3% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the A
Advances owing to Lenders, or, if no such principal amount is then
outstanding, Lenders having at least 66-2/3% of the Commitments.
"Margin Stock" has the meaning specified in Regulation U of
------------
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on
-----------------------
(a) the financial condition or results of operations of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (b) the
legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any Note.
"Material Contract" means any contractual, legal or other
-----------------
obligation binding upon the Company or a Material Subsidiary under
which a default in payment by the Company or such Material
Subsidiary would have a Material Adverse Effect.
"Material Subsidiary" means, at any time, any Consolidated
-------------------
Subsidiary that, on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries, has:
(a) at least 5% (in the case of Solutia UK Ltd. and
Solutia Europe S.A./N.V.) or 10% (in the case of each other
Consolidated Subsidiary) of the total Consolidated assets of
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (determined as
of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter of the
Company); or
(b) at least 5% (in the case of Solutia UK Ltd. and
Solutia Europe S.A./N.V.) or 10% (in the case of each other
Consolidated Subsidiary) of the Consolidated net sales of
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the
twelve-month period ending on the last day of the most
recent fiscal quarter of the Company.
"Moody's" means ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Service, Inc. and its
-------
successors.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan, as defined
------------------
in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Company or any of its
ERISA Affiliates is making or accruing an obligation to make
contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years
made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.
"Multiple Employer Plan" means a single employer plan, as
----------------------
defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained
for employees of the Company (or its predecessor's chemicals
business) or any of its ERISA Affiliates and at least one Person
other than the Company (or its predecessor's chemicals business)
and its ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect
of which the Company (or its predecessor's chemicals business) or
any of its ERISA Affiliates could have liability under Section
4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to
be terminated.
"Note" means an A Note or a B Note.
----
"Notice of A Borrowing" has the meaning specified in Section
---------------------
2.02(a).
"Notice of B Borrowing" has the meaning specified in Section
---------------------
2.03(a)(i).
"Ownership Interest" in (or of) any corporation, partnership,
------------------
joint venture, limited liability company, trust or estate means
(a) issued and outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-12-
in the election of the Board of Directors of such corporation
(irrespective of whether at the time capital stock of any other
class or classes of such corporation shall or might have voting
power upon the occurrence of any contingency), (b) an interest in
the capital or profits of such partnership, joint venture or
limited liability company or (c) a beneficial interest in such
trust or estate.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
----
"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation
------
(including a business trust), joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company or other entity, or a government or any political
subdivision or agency thereof.
"Plan" means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.
----
"Post-Closing Date Information" has the meaning specified in
-----------------------------
Section 4.01(j)(iv).
"Principal Property" means any building, structure or other
------------------
facility, together with the land upon which it is erected and
fixtures comprising a part thereof, used primarily for
manufacturing, the gross book value of which on the date as of
which such determination is being made exceeds 1% of the gross
property, plant and equipment of the Company as shown in its
Consolidated financial statements, provided that any property
which, in the opinion of the Company, is not of material
importance to the business of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall not be deemed to be a
Principal Property.
"Rated Securities" means, at any time, the long-term senior
----------------
unsecured, unguaranteed debt securities of the Company outstanding
at such time.
"Rating Level" means Rating Level 1, Rating Level 2, Rating
------------
Level 3, Rating Level 4, Rating Level 5 or Rating Level 6. For
purposes hereof, Rating Level 1 shall be deemed to be the highest
Rating Level and Rating Level 6 shall be deemed to be the lowest
Rating Level.
"Rating Level 1" means a rating of the Rated Securities better
--------------
than or equal to A2 by Moody's or better than or equal to A by S&P.
"Rating Level 2" means a rating of the Rated Securities equal
--------------
to A3 by Moody's or A- by S&P.
"Rating Level 3" means a rating of the Rated Securities
--------------
equal to Baa1 by Moody's or BBB+ by S&P.
"Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇" means a rating of the Rated Securities
--------------
equal to Baa2 by Moody's or BBB by S&P.
"Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇" means a rating of the Rated Securities
--------------
equal to Baa3 by Moody's or BBB- by S&P.
"Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇" means a rating of the Rated Securities less
--------------
than Baa3 by Moody's and less than BBB- by S&P. If Moody's or S&P
shall not have in effect a rating for the Rated Securities at any
time, then the Rated Securities shall be deemed to be rated by
Moody's or S&P, as the case may be, in Rating Level 6.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-13-
"Rating Level Change" means a change in the rating of the
-------------------
Rated Securities by either or both of Moody's and S&P (other than
as a result of a change in the rating system of such rating
agency) that results in the change from one Rating Level to
another, which Rating Level Change shall be effective on the date
on which the relevant change in the rating of the Rated Securities
is first announced by Moody's or S&P, as the case may be.
"Reference Banks" means Citibank, Bank of America and
---------------
Societe Generale; provided that the Company (on its own behalf and
on behalf of the other Borrowers) may at any time substitute
another Lender as one of the Reference Banks, but such substitution
shall terminate after 30 days if within such period the Majority
Lenders shall have notified the Administrative Agent of their
objection to such substitution.
"Register" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(c).
--------
"Rolling Period" means the period of four consecutive calendar
--------------
quarters ending on or most recently ended prior to such date.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, presently a
---
division of The ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ Companies, Inc., and its successors.
"Screen" means Telerate Page 3750 (or such other page as may
------
replace such Telerate Page 3750 for purposes of displaying the
Eurocurrency Rate for Euros); provided that, if the Administrative
Agent determines that there is no such relevant display page on
the Telerate Service for the Eurocurrency Rate for Euros, "Screen"
shall mean the relevant display page for the Eurocurrency Rate for
Euros (as determined by the Administrative Agent) on the ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Monitor Money Rates Service.
"Single Employer Plan" means a single employer plan, as
--------------------
defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained
for employees of the Company (or its predecessor's chemicals
business) or any of its ERISA Affiliates and no Person other than
the Company (or its predecessor's chemicals business) and its
ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which
the Company (or its predecessor's chemicals business) or any of
its ERISA Affiliates could have liability under Section 4069 of
ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.
"Solvent" means, with respect to any Person on a particular
-------
date, that on such date (a) 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, (b) such Person does not
intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or
liabilities beyond such Person's ability to pay as such debts and
liabilities mature and (c) such Person is not engaged in business
or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a
transaction, for which such Person's property would be unreasonably
small in relation to such business or such transaction.
"Specified Joint Venture" means a joint venture or other
-----------------------
Person (other than a Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company) of
which (or in which) at least 50% of the Ownership Interests
thereof is at the time directly or indirectly owned by the
Company, by the Company and one or more of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries or by one or more of the Company's Consolidated
Subsidiaries, provided that the Company's joint venture partners
in such joint venture or other Person do not, in the aggregate,
control (or possess the ability to control) such joint venture or
other Person. For purposes of this definition, a "joint venture
partner" means a Person that owns any Ownership Interests in the
related joint venture or other Person and that is not the Company
or one of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-14-
"Subsidiary" of any Person means any corporation, partnership,
----------
joint venture, limited liability company, trust or estate of which
(or in which) more than 50% of the Ownership Interests thereof is at
the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person,
by such Person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or by one or
more of such Person's other Subsidiaries.
"Syndication Agent" has the meaning specified in the
-----------------
recital of parties to this Agreement.
"Taxes" has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).
-----
"Threshold Amount" means, at any time: (a) if the
----------------
Company's Consolidated Net Worth at such time is greater than zero,
$50,000,000; and (b) at any other time, $25,000,000.
"Utilization Fee" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(c).
---------------
"Utilization Fee Rate" has the meaning assigned to such term
--------------------
in Schedule 2A.
"Voting Stock" means capital stock issued by a corporation,
------------
or equivalent interests in any other Person, the holders of which
are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote
for the election of directors (or persons performing similar
functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote has been
suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
"Withdrawal Liability" has the meaning specified in Part I
--------------------
of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods. In this Agreement
---------------------------
in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later
specified date, the word "from" means "from and including" and the words
"to" and "until" each mean "to but excluding".
SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms and Determinations. All
-----------------------------------
accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with
those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to
in Section 4.01(e)(i) ("GAAP"). All determinations of Adjusted EBITDA,
----
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, Consolidated Net Worth, Consolidated
Tangible Assets and Interest Expense shall be made on the basis of the
financial statements most recently delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(e)(i)
and Sections 5.01(i)(i) and (ii). In the event that, after the date of this
Agreement, there are any changes in GAAP, the Lenders will consider a
request by the Company to amend this Agreement to take account of such
changes.
SECTION 1.04. Currencies; Currency Equivalents. At any time,
--------------------------------
any reference in the definition of the term "Euros" or in any other
provision of this Agreement to the currency of the participating member
states of the European Union means the lawful currency of such
participating member states at such time whether the name of such
currency is the same as it was on the date hereof. Except as provided
in Section 2.10(c) and Section 2.13(e), for purposes of determining
(i) whether the amount of any Borrowing, together with all other
Borrowings then outstanding or to be borrowed at the same time as such
Borrowing, would exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments,
(ii) the aggregate unutilized amount of the Commitments and (iii) the
outstanding aggregate principal amount of Borrowings, the outstanding
principal amount of any Borrowing that is denominated in Euros shall be
deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of Euros of such
Borrowing determined as of the date of such Borrowing. Wherever in this
Agreement in connection with a Borrowing or Advance an amount, such as a
required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such
Borrowing or Advance
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-15-
is denominated in Euros, such amount shall be the relevant Euro
Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest 1,000 units of
Euros).
ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
SECTION 2.01. The A Advances. Each Lender severally agrees,
--------------
on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make A Advances
to the Company and any Designated Borrower (in Dollars or in Euros, at
the election of the Company on its own behalf or on behalf of the
applicable Borrower) from time to time on any Business Day during
the period from the Closing Date to and including the Commitment
Termination Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time
outstanding the amount of such Lender's Commitment; provided that the
aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be deemed used
from time to time to the extent of the Dollar Equivalent of the
aggregate amount of the B Advances then outstanding and such deemed use
of the aggregate amount of the Commitments shall be allocated among the
Lenders ratably according to their respective Commitments (such deemed
use of the aggregate amount of the Commitments being a "B Reduction").
-----------
Each A Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or an
integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, or the aggregate
amount of the unused portion of the Lenders' Commitments; provided that
any A Borrowing in an aggregate amount less than $10,000,000 shall
consist solely of Base Rate Advances. In addition, each A Borrowing
shall consist of A Advances of the same Type and Currency and having the
same Interest Period made on the same day by the Lenders ratably
according to their respective Commitments. Within the limits of each
Lender's Commitment, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01,
prepay pursuant to Section 2.10 and, on or prior to the Commitment
Termination Date, reborrow under this Section 2.01.
SECTION 2.02. Making the A Advances.
---------------------
(a) Each A Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not
later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day
prior to the date of the proposed A Borrowing (in the case of an A
Borrowing to consist of Eurocurrency Rate Advances), or by 11:00 A.M.
(New York City time) on the day of the proposed A Borrowing (in the case
of an A Borrowing to consist of Base Rate Advances), by the Company (on
its own behalf and on behalf of the other Borrowers) to the
Administrative Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice
thereof by telecopier or by telex. Each such notice of an A Borrowing
(a "Notice of A Borrowing") shall be by telecopier or by telex,
---------------------
confirmed immediately in writing, in substantially the form of Exhibit
B-1 hereto, specifying therein (i) the date of such A Borrowing, (ii)
the Type of A Advances comprising such A Borrowing, (iii) the aggregate
amount of such A Borrowing and the Currency thereof (except that Base
Rate Advances must be denominated in Dollars), (iv) in the case of an A
Borrowing consisting of Eurocurrency Rate Advances, the initial Interest
Period for each such A Advance and (v) the name of the Borrower of such
A Advance (which shall be the Company or a Designated Borrower). Each
Lender shall on the date of such A Borrowing, before 11:00 A.M. (New
York City time), in the case of an A Borrowing to consist of
Eurocurrency Rate Advances, and before 1:00 P.M. (New York City time),
in the case of an A Borrowing to consist of Base Rate Advances, make
available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the
Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 8.02, in the
relevant Currency and in same day funds, such Lender's ratable portion
of such A Borrowing. After the Administrative Agent's receipt of such
funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III, the Administrative Agent will make such funds available to
the Company at the Administrative Agent's aforesaid address (or, in the
case of an A Borrowing by a Designated Borrower, the Administrative
Agent will make such funds available to the relevant Borrower in such
manner as the Administrative Agent and the Company may agree).
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-16-
(b) Anything in subsection (a) above to the contrary
notwithstanding (1) no Borrower may select Eurocurrency Rate Advances
for any A Borrowing if the obligation of the Lenders to make
Eurocurrency Rate Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to
Section 2.08 or 2.12 (except as otherwise provided in Section
2.12(b)(ii)) and (2) Base Rate Advances shall be denominated solely in
Dollars.
(c) Each Notice of A Borrowing shall be binding on the
Company and each Designated Borrower. In the case of any A Borrowing
that the related Notice of A Borrowing specifies is to consist of
Eurocurrency Rate Advances, the Company (and, if a Designated Borrower
is the borrower of the related A Advances, such Designated Borrower)
shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred
by such Lender as a result of any revocation of such Notice of A
Borrowing by the Company (or such Designated Borrower) or any failure to
fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of A Borrowing
for such A Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III,
including, without limitation, any loss, cost or expense incurred by
reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds
acquired by such Lender to fund the A Advance to be made by such Lender
as part of such A Borrowing when such A Advance, as a result of such
revocation or failure, is not made on such date.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
notice from a Lender prior to the date of any A Borrowing (in the case
of an A Borrowing to consist of Eurocurrency Rate Advances) and not
later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the Business Day of the
proposed A Borrowing (in the case of an A Borrowing to consist of Base
Rate Advances) that such Lender will not make available to the
Administrative Agent such Lender's ratable portion of such A Borrowing,
the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such A
Borrowing in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the
Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make
available to the relevant Borrower on such date a corresponding amount;
provided that nothing in this subsection (d) shall be construed to
relieve any Lender from any obligation hereunder to make available to
the Administrative Agent its ratable portion of such A Borrowing in
accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02. If and to the
extent that such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion
available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender and the relevant
Borrower severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith
on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for
each day from the date such amount is made available to the relevant
Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative
Agent, at (i) in the case of such Borrower, the interest rate applicable
at such time to the A Advances comprising such A Borrowing and (ii) in
the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall
repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount
so repaid shall constitute such Lender's A Advance as part of such A
Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.
(e) The failure of any Lender to make the A Advance to be
made by it as part of any A Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender
of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its A Advance on the date
of such A Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure
of any other Lender to make the A Advance to be made by such other
Lender on the date of any A Borrowing.
SECTION 2.03. The B Advances.
--------------
(a) Each Lender severally agrees that the Borrowers may
make B Borrowings in Dollars or in Euros under this Section 2.03 from
time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date
until the date occurring seven days prior to the Commitment Termination
Date in the manner set forth below; provided that, following the making
of each B Borrowing, (X) the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount
of the B Advances of all Lenders then outstanding shall not exceed the
aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders, and (Y) the Dollar
Equivalent of the aggregate amount of all Advances then outstanding
shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-17-
(i) The Company (on its own behalf and on behalf of
the other Borrowers) may request a B Borrowing under this
Section 2.03 by delivering to the Administrative Agent, by
telecopier or telex, confirmed immediately in writing, a notice of
a B Borrowing (a "Notice of B Borrowing"), in substantially the
---------------------
form of Exhibit B-2 hereto, specifying therein:
(1) the date of such proposed B Borrowing;
(2) the aggregate amount of such proposed B Borrowing
and the Currency thereof;
(3) the maturity date for repayment of each B Advance
to be made as part of such B Borrowing (which maturity date
may not be earlier than the date occurring thirty days after
the date of such B Borrowing or later than the Commitment
Termination Date);
(4) the interest payment date or dates relating thereto;
(5) whether such B Borrowing is to consist of Fixed
Rate Advances or Floating Rate Advances;
(6) the name of the applicable Borrower (which shall
be the Company or a Designated Borrower); and
(7) any other terms to be applicable to such B Borrowing,
not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) in the case of B
Advances to be denominated in Dollars, and not later than 10:00
A.M. (London time) in the case of B Advances to be denominated in
Euros, (A) at least one Business Day prior to the date of the
proposed B Borrowing, if the Company shall specify in the Notice
of B Borrowing that the rates of interest to be offered by the
Lenders shall be fixed rates per annum (the B Advances comprising
any such B Borrowing being referred to herein as "Fixed Rate
----------
Advances") and (B) at least four Business Days (in the case of B
--------
Advances to be denominated in Dollars), or five Business Days (in
the case of B Advances to be denominated in Euros) prior to the
date of the proposed B Borrowing, if the Company shall instead
specify in the Notice of B Borrowing the basis to be used by the
Lenders in determining the rates of interest to be offered by them
(the B Advances comprising such B Borrowing being referred to
herein as "Floating Rate Advances"). The Administrative Agent
----------------------
shall in turn promptly notify each Lender of each request for a B
Borrowing received by it from the Company by sending such Lender a
copy of the related Notice of B Borrowing.
(ii) Each Lender may, if, in its sole discretion, it elects
to do so, irrevocably offer to make one or more B Advances to the
applicable Borrower as part of such proposed B Borrowing at
a rate or rates of interest specified by such Lender in its sole
discretion, by notifying the Administrative Agent (which shall
give prompt notice thereof to the Company), before 10:00 A.M. (New
York City time) in the case of B Advances to be denominated in
Dollars, and not later than 10:00 A.M. (London time) in the case
of B Advances to be denominated in Euros, on the date of such
proposed B Borrowing, in the case of a B Borrowing consisting of
Fixed Rate Advances and three Business Days before the date of
such proposed B Borrowing, in the case of a B Borrowing consisting
of Floating Rate Advances, of the minimum amount and maximum
amount of each B Advance which such Lender would be willing to
make as part of such proposed B Borrowing (which amounts may,
subject to the proviso to the first sentence of this Section
2.03(a), exceed such Lender's Commitment, if any), the rate or
rates of interest therefor and such Lender's Applicable Lending
Office with respect to such B Advance; provided that if the
Administrative Agent in its capacity as a Lender shall, in its
sole discretion, elect to make any such offer, it shall notify the
Company of such offer before 9:00
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-18-
A.M. (New York City time or London time, as applicable) on the
date on which notice of such election is to be given to the
Administrative Agent by the other Lenders. If any Lender shall
elect not to make such an offer, such Lender shall so notify the
Administrative Agent, before 10:00 A.M. (New York City time or
London time, as applicable) on the date on which notice of such
election is to be given to the Administrative Agent by the other
Lenders, and such Lender shall not be obligated to, and shall not,
make any B Advance as part of such B Borrowing; provided that the
failure by any Lender to give such notice shall not cause such
Lender to be obligated to make any B Advance as part of such
proposed B Borrowing.
(iii) The Company (on its own behalf and on behalf of
the other Borrowers) shall, in turn, before 12:00 Noon (New York
City time) in the case of B Advances consisting of Fixed Rate
Advances to be denominated in Dollars, and not later than 12:00
Noon (London time) in the case of B Advances consisting of Fixed
Rate Advances to be denominated in Euros, on the date of such
proposed B Borrowing, and before 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) in
the case of B Advances consisting of Floating Rate Advances to be
denominated in Dollars, and not later than 1:00 P.M. (London time)
in the case of B Advances consisting of Floating Rate Advances to
be denominated in Euros, three Business Days before the date of
such proposed B Borrowing, either:
(x) cancel such B Borrowing by giving the Administrative
Agent notice to that effect, or
(y) accept one or more of the offers made by any Lender
or Lenders pursuant to paragraph (ii) above, in order of the
lowest to highest rates of interest or margins (or, if two or
more Lenders bid at the same rate of interest, and the amount
of accepted offers is less than the aggregate amount of such
offers, the amount to be borrowed from such Lenders as part
of such B Borrowing shall be allocated among such Lenders pro
rata on the basis of the maximum amount offered by such Lenders
at such rates or margin in connection with such B Borrowing),
by giving notice to the Administrative Agent of the amount of
each B Advance (which amount shall be equal to or greater than
the minimum amount, and equal to or less than the maximum
amount, notified to the Company by the Administrative Agent
on behalf of such Lender for such B Advance pursuant to
paragraph (ii) above) to be made by each Lender as part of
such B Borrowing, and reject any remaining offers made by
Lenders pursuant to paragraph (ii) above by giving the
Administrative Agent notice to that effect.
(iv) If the Company notifies the Administrative Agent that
such B Borrowing is canceled pursuant to paragraph (iii)(x) above,
the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the
Lenders and such B Borrowing shall not be made.
(v) If the Company (on its own behalf or on behalf of
another Borrower) accepts one or more of the offers made by any
Lender or Lenders pursuant to paragraph (iii)(y) above, the
Administrative Agent shall in turn promptly notify (A) each Lender
that has made an offer as described in paragraph (ii) above, of
the date and aggregate amount of such B Borrowing and whether or
not any offer or offers made by such Lender pursuant to paragraph
(ii) above have been so accepted by the Company, (B) each Lender
that is to make a B Advance as part of such B Borrowing, of the
amount of each B Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such
B Borrowing, and (C) each Lender that is to make a B Advance as
part of such B Borrowing, upon receipt, that the Administrative
Agent has received forms of documents appearing to fulfill the
applicable conditions set forth in Article III. Each Lender that
is to make a B Advance as part of such B Borrowing shall, before
1:00 P.M. (New York City time) in the case of B Advances to be
denominated in Dollars, and not later than 1:00 P.M. (London time)
in the case of B Advances to be denominated in Euros, on the date
of such B Borrowing specified in the notice received from the
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-19-
Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (A) of the preceding
sentence or any later time when such Lender shall have received
notice from the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (C) of the
preceding sentence, make available for the account of its
Applicable Lending Office to the Administrative Agent at the
Administrative Agent's Account, in the relevant Currency and in
same day funds, such Lender's portion of such B Borrowing. Upon
fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III
and after receipt by the Administrative Agent of such funds, the
Administrative Agent will make such funds available to the Company
at the Administrative Agent's address referred to in Section 8.02
(or, in the case of a B Borrowing by a Designated Borrower, the
Administrative Agent will make such funds available to the
relevant Borrower in such manner as the Administrative Agent and
the Company may agree). Promptly after each B Borrowing the
Administrative Agent will notify each Lender of the amount of the
B Borrowing, the consequent B Reduction and the dates upon which
such B Reduction commenced and will terminate.
(b) Each B Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of
$10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, or
the aggregate amount of the unused portion of the Lenders' Commitments
and, following the making of each B Borrowing, the Company shall be in
compliance with the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first
sentence of subsection (a) above.
(c) Within the limits and on the conditions set forth in
this Section 2.03, the Company may from time to time borrow under this
Section 2.03, repay pursuant to subsection (d) below, and reborrow under
this Section 2.03; provided that a B Borrowing shall not be made within
three Business Days of the date of any other B Borrowing.
(d) Each Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent
for the account of each Lender that has made a B Advance to such
Borrower, on the maturity date of each B Advance made to such Borrower
(such maturity date being that specified by the Company for repayment of
such B Advance in the related Notice of B Borrowing delivered pursuant
to subsection (a)(i) above and provided in the B Note evidencing such B
Advance), the then unpaid principal amount of such B Advance. No
Borrower shall have the right to prepay any B Advance.
(e) Each Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal
amount of each B Advance made to such Borrower from the date of such
B Advance to the date the principal amount of such B Advance is paid in
full, in the applicable Currency and at the rate of interest for such
B Advance specified by the Lender making such B Advance in its notice
with respect thereto delivered pursuant to subsection (a)(ii) above,
payable (i) on the interest payment date or dates specified by the Company
for such B Advance in the related Notice of B Borrowing delivered pursuant
to subsection (a)(i) above, as provided in the B Note evidencing such
B Advance, and (ii) on the date such B Advance shall be paid in full.
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default,
each Borrower shall pay interest on the amount of unpaid principal of each
B Advance made to such Borrower owing to a Lender, payable in arrears on
the date or dates interest is payable thereon, at a rate per annum equal at
all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on
such B Advance under the terms of the B Note evidencing such B Advance
unless otherwise agreed in such B Note.
(f) If requested by a Lender making a B Advance, the indebtedness
of each Borrower resulting from each B Advance made to such Borrower as
part of a B Borrowing shall be evidenced by a separate B Note of such
Borrower payable to the order of the Lender making such B Advance.
(g) The Company (on its own behalf and on behalf of the
other Borrowers) shall pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account
the Competitive Bid Administration Fee described in Section 2.04(b) with
each request for a B Borrowing whether or not any B Borrowing is in fact made.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-20-
SECTION 2.04. Fees.
----
(a) Facility Fee. The Company agrees to pay to the
------------
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee (the
"Facility Fee") in Dollars on the aggregate amount (whether used or
------------
unused) of such Lender's Commitment from the date hereof (in the case of
each Initial Lender) and from the effective date specified in the
Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (in the case of each
other Lender) until the Commitment Termination Date of such Lender at a
rate per annum equal to the Facility Fee Rate in effect from time to
time. The Facility Fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the
last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and, for
each Lender, on the Commitment Termination Date of such Lender.
(b) Competitive Bid Administration Fee. The Company
----------------------------------
shall pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account a fee in
Dollars an amount heretofore agreed between the Company and the
Administrative Agent with each request for a B Borrowing whether or not
any B Borrowing is in fact made.
(c) Utilization Fee. The Company agrees to pay a utilization
---------------
fee (the "Utilization Fee") in Dollars to the Administrative Agent for
---------------
account of each Lender, which shall accrue at the Utilization Fee Rate
on the daily aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Advances of
such Lender for each day on which the aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Advances (including all B Advances) equals or exceeds an
amount equal to 33% of the Commitments. The Utilization Fee shall be
payable monthly in arrears on the last Business Day of month and, for
each Lender, on the Commitment Termination Date of such Lender.
SECTION 2.05. Termination, Reduction and Extension of
---------------------------------------
Commitments.
-----------
(a) Commitment Reductions. The Commitment of each Lender
---------------------
shall be automatically reduced to zero on the Commitment Termination
Date of such Lender. In addition, the Company (on its own behalf and on
behalf of the other Borrowers) shall have the right, upon at least three
Business Days' notice to the Administrative Agent, to terminate in whole
or reduce ratably in part the unused portions of the respective
Commitments of the Lenders, provided that (i) the aggregate amount of
the Commitments of the Lenders shall not be reduced to an amount which
is less than the aggregate principal amount of the Advances then
outstanding; and (ii) each partial reduction shall be in an aggregate
amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof. Once terminated, a Commitment cannot be reinstated.
(b) Commitment Extensions.
---------------------
(i) The Company (on its own behalf and on behalf of the
other Borrowers) may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (which
shall promptly notify the Lenders) not more than 60 days and not
less than 40 days prior to the Commitment Termination Date then in
effect hereunder (the "Existing Commitment Termination Date"),
------------------------------------
request that each Lender extend such Lender's Commitment
Termination Date for an additional 364 days from the Existing
Commitment Termination Date.
(ii) Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion,
shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent given not more than 30
days immediately prior to the Existing Commitment Termination Date
but in any event no later than the date (the "Notice Date") that is
-----------
20 days prior to the Existing Commitment Termination Date, advise the
Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such
extension (and each Lender that determines not to so extend its
Commitment Termination Date (a "Non-Extending Lender") shall notify
--------------------
the Administrative Agent(which shall notify the other Lenders) of
such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later
than the Notice Date) and any Lender that does not so advise the
Administrative Agent on or before
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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the Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending Lender. The
election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall not
obligate any other Lender to so agree.
(iii) The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company of
each Lender's determination under this Section 2.05(b) no later
than the date 15 days prior to the Existing Commitment Termination
Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next
preceding Business Day).
(iv) The Company (on its own behalf and on behalf of the
other Borrowers) shall have the right on or before the Existing
Commitment Termination Date to replace each Non-Extending Lender
with, and add as "Lenders" under this Agreement in place thereof,
one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an "Additional Commitment
---------------------
Lender") with the approval of the Administrative Agent and the
------
Syndication Agent (which approvals shall not be unreasonably
withheld), each of which Additional Commitment Lenders shall have
entered into an Assumption and Acceptance pursuant to which such
Additional Commitment Lender shall, effective as of the Existing
Commitment Termination Date, undertake a Commitment (and, if any
such Additional Commitment Lender is already a Lender, its
Commitment shall be in addition to such Lender's Commitment
hereunder on such date).
(v) If (and only if) the total of the Commitments of the
Lenders that have agreed so to extend their Commitment Termination
Date and the additional Commitments of the Additional Commitment
Lenders shall be more than 51% of the aggregate amount of the
Commitments in effect immediately prior to the Existing Commitment
Termination Date, then, effective as of the Existing Commitment
Termination Date, the Commitment Termination Date of each Extending
Lender and of each Additional Commitment Lender shall be extended
to the date falling 364 days after the Existing Commitment
Termination Date (except that, if such date is not a Business Day,
such Commitment Date as so extended shall be the next preceding
Business Day) and each Additional Commitment Lender shall thereupon
become a "Lender" for all purposes of this Agreement.
(vi) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the extension of the
Commitment Termination Date pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall
not be effective with respect to any Lender unless:
(x) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing on
either of the date of the notice requesting such extension or
the Existing Commitment Termination Date; and
(y) on or before the Commitment Termination Date of
each Non-Extending Lender, (1) each Borrower shall have paid
in full the principal of and interest on all of the Advances
made by such Non-Extending Lender to such Borrower
hereunder; and (2) the Company shall have paid in full all
other amounts owing to such Lender hereunder.
SECTION 2.06. Repayment of Advances; Evidence of Debt.
---------------------------------------
(a) A Advances. Each Borrower shall repay the principal amount
----------
of each A Advance made by each Lender to such Borrower, in the Currency
of such A Advance, and each A Advance made by such Lender shall mature,
on the Commitment Termination Date of such Lender.
(b) B Advances. Each Borrower shall repay the principal
----------
amount of each B Advance made by each Lender to such Borrower as
provided in Section 2.03(e).
(c) Note Option. Any Lender may request that the A Advances
-----------
made or to be made by it to a Borrower to be evidenced by an A Note
payable by such Borrower. In such event, the Company (on its own behalf
and on behalf of the other Borrowers) shall prepare, have executed by
the relevant Borrower and
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-22-
deliver to such Lender an A Note payable to the order of such Lender
(or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered
assigns). If a Lender whose A Advances are so evidenced by an A Note
thereafter assigns such A Advances, such A Advances will be evidenced by
an A Note only if the assignee so requests in accordance with this
Section 2.06(c) and Section 8.07
SECTION 2.07. Interest on A Advances.
----------------------
(a) Scheduled Interest. Each Borrower shall pay interest
------------------
on the unpaid principal amount of each A Advance owing by such Borrower
to each Lender, in the Currency in which such A Advance is denominated,
from the date of such A Advance until such principal amount shall be
paid in full, at the following rates per annum:
(i) Base Rate Advances. During such periods as such A
------------------
Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all
times to the Base Rate in effect from time to time, payable in
arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September
and December during such periods and on the date such Base Rate
Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.
(ii) Eurocurrency Rate Advances. During such periods as
--------------------------
such A Advance is a Eurocurrency Rate Advance, a rate per annum
equal at all times during each Interest Period for such A Advance
to the sum of (x) the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period
for such Advance plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from
time to time, payable in arrears on the last day of such Interest
Period and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than
three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period
every three months from the first day of such Interest Period and
on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Advance shall be Converted or
paid in full.
(b) Default Interest. Upon the occurrence and during the
----------------
continuance of any Event of Default, each Borrower shall pay interest on
the unpaid principal amount of each A Advance owing by such Borrower to
each Lender, in the Currency in which such A Advance is denominated,
payable in arrears on the dates referred to in clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii)
above, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per annum above the
rate per annum required to be paid on such A Advance pursuant to clause
(a)(i) or (a)(ii) above.
SECTION 2.08. Interest Rate Determination; Changes in
---------------------------------------
Rating Systems.
--------------
(a) Each Reference Bank agrees to furnish to the Administrative
Agent timely information for the purpose of determining the Eurocurrency
Rate for Advances denominated in Dollars. If any one or more of the
Reference Banks shall not furnish such timely information to the
Administrative Agent for the purpose of determining any such interest
rate, the Administrative Agent shall determine such interest rate on the
basis of timely information furnished by the remaining Reference Banks.
The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Company and the
Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the Administrative
Agent for purposes of Section 2.07(a)(i) or (ii), and the rate, if any,
furnished by each Reference Bank for the purpose of determining the
interest rate under Section 2.07(a)(ii).
(b) If, with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Advances
denominated in any Currency, the Majority Lenders notify the
Administrative Agent that the Eurocurrency Rate for any Interest Period
for such Advances in such Currency will not adequately reflect the cost
to such Majority Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their
respective Eurocurrency Rate Advances in such Currency for such Interest
Period, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith so notify the Company
and the Lenders, whereupon (i) if such Currency is Euros, the related
Notice of Borrowing shall be ineffective, (ii) if such Currency is
Dollars, such Eurocurrency Rate Advance will automatically, on the last
day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base
Rate Advance, and (iii) regardless of Currency, the obligation of the
Lenders to make, or (in the case of Dollars) to Convert A Advances into,
Eurocurrency Rate Advances shall be suspended until
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-23-
the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders that
the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.
(c) If the Company shall fail to select the duration of any
Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Rate Advances in accordance with
the provisions contained in the definition of "Interest Period" in
Section 1.01, the Administrative Agent will forthwith so notify the
Company and the Lenders and such Advances will automatically, on the
last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into
Base Rate Advances.
(d) On the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of Eurocurrency Rate Advances comprising any Borrowing shall be
reduced, by payment or prepayment or otherwise, to less than
$10,000,000, such Advances shall automatically Convert into Base Rate
Advances and on and after such date the right of the Borrowers to
Convert such A Advances shall terminate.
(e) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of Default, (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Advance denominated in
Dollars will automatically, on the last day of the then existing
Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance and (ii) the
obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert A Advances denominated
in Dollars into, Eurocurrency Rate Advances shall be suspended.
(f) If fewer than two Reference Banks furnish timely
information to the Administrative Agent for determining the Eurocurrency
Rate for any Eurocurrency Rate Advances denominated in Dollars,
(i) the Administrative Agent shall forthwith notify the
Company and the Lenders that the interest rate cannot be determined
for such Eurocurrency Rate Advances,
(ii) each such A Advance will automatically, on the last day of
the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate
Advance (or if such Advance is then a Base Rate Advance, will continue
as a Base Rate Advance), and
(iii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert
A Advances into, Eurocurrency Rate Advances shall be suspended until
the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders that
the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.
(g) If the rating system of either ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ or S&P shall change,
or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of
rating corporate debt obligations, the Company (on its own behalf and on
behalf of the other Borrowers) and the Administrative Agent (on behalf of
the Lenders) shall negotiate in good faith to amend the references to
specific ratings in this Agreement to reflect such changed rating system
or the non-availability of ratings from such rating agency (provided that
any such amendment to such specific ratings shall in no event be effective
without the approval of the Majority Lenders).
SECTION 2.09. Optional Conversion of A Advances. The Company
---------------------------------
(on its own behalf and on behalf of the other Borrowers) may on any
Business Day, upon notice given to the Administrative Agent not
later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day
prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and subject to the
provisions of Sections 2.08 and 2.12, Convert all Dollar-denominated
A Advances of one Type comprising the same Borrowing by a Borrower into
Dollar-denominated A Advances owing by such Borrower of the other Type;
provided that any Conversion of Dollar-denominated Eurocurrency Rate
Advances into Base Rate Advances shall be made only on the last day of
an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Advances. Each such notice
of a Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify
(i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the A Advances to be Converted,
and (iii) if such Conversion is into Eurocurrency Rate Advances, the
duration of the initial Interest Period for each such A
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-24-
Advance. Each notice of Conversion shall be irrevocable and binding on
the Company and each other Borrower.
SECTION 2.10. Prepayments, Etc.
-----------------
(a) Optional Payments of A Advances. Each Borrower may,
-------------------------------
upon notice by the Company to the Administrative Agent stating the
proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, given to
the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time)
on the proposed date in the case of Base Rate Advances and at least two
Business Days prior to the proposed date in the case of Eurocurrency
Rate Advances, and if such notice is given by the Company the applicable
Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the A
Advances owing by such Borrower in whole or ratably in part, together
with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal
amount prepaid; provided that (x) each partial prepayment shall be in an
aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof and (y) in the event of any such prepayment
of a Eurocurrency Rate Advance, the applicable Borrower and the Company
shall be jointly and severally obligated to reimburse the Lenders in
respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(c).
(b) Change of Control. If any Change of Control shall
-----------------
occur, then, upon notice to the Company by the Administrative Agent
(acting at the request, or with the consent, of the Majority Lenders) to
such effect and stating that the same is a "Change of Control Prepayment
Notice", the Commitments shall be automatically reduced to zero and each
Borrower shall prepay the Advances made to such Borrower in full.
(c) Changes in Dollar/Euro Exchange Rate.
------------------------------------
(i) Determination of Amount Outstanding. On the last
-----------------------------------
Business Day of each March, June, September and December and
promptly upon the receipt by the Administrative Agent of a
Currency Valuation Notice (as defined below), the Administrative
Agent shall determine the aggregate outstanding principal amount
of the Advances. For the purpose of this determination, the
outstanding principal amount of any Advance that is denominated in
Euros shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the amount in
Euros of such Advance, determined as of such date or, in the case
of a Currency Valuation Notice received by the Administrative
Agent prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on a Business Day,
on such Business Day or, in the case of a Currency Valuation
Notice otherwise received, on the first Business Day after such
Currency Valuation Notice is received. Upon making such
determination, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the
Lenders and the Company thereof.
(ii) Prepayment. If, on the date of such determination the
----------
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Advances exceeds
105% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments as then in effect,
the Company shall, if requested by the Majority Lenders (through
the Administrative Agent), cause the Borrowers to prepay the
Advances in such amount as shall be necessary so that after giving
effect thereto the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Advances does not exceed the Commitments.
For purposes hereof, "Currency Valuation Notice" means a notice given
-------------------------
by the Majority Lenders to the Administrative Agent stating that such
notice is a "Currency Valuation Notice" and requesting that the
Administrative Agent determine the aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Advances. The Administrative Agent shall not be required
to make more than one valuation determination pursuant to Currency
Valuation Notices within any rolling three month period.
(d) If (i) the obligations of the Company under Article IX
with respect to any outstanding Guaranteed Obligations owing by any
Designated Borrower (herein, the "Affected Borrower") shall for
-----------------
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-25-
any reason (x) be terminated, (y) cease to be in full force and effect
or (z) not be the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, and (ii)
such condition continues unremedied for 15 days after written notice
thereof shall have been given to the Company by the Administrative Agent
or any Lender, then the Affected Borrower shall, no later than the 15th
day after the date of such notice, prepay (and the Company shall cause
to be prepaid) the full principal of and interest on the Advances owing
by, and the Notes payable by, such Affected Borrower and all other
amounts whatsoever payable hereunder by such Affected Borrower
(including, without limitation, all amounts payable under
Section 8.04(c) as a result of such prepayment).
SECTION 2.11. Increased Costs.
---------------
(a) If due to either (i) the introduction of or any change
in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the
compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other
governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law), in each
case, after the date hereof, there shall be any increase in the cost to
any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining
Eurocurrency Rate Advances or Floating Rate Advances, then such Lender
may from time to time give notice of such circumstances to the Company
(with a copy to the Administrative Agent); provided that each Lender
agrees, before giving any such notice, to use its best efforts
(consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory
restrictions) to designate a different Applicable Lending Office if the
making of such a designation would avoid the need for, or reduce the
amount of, such increased costs and would not be disadvantageous to such
Lender. The amount sufficient to compensate such Lender in light of
such increase in costs to such Lender or any corporation controlling
such Lender shall be determined by such Lender in good faith on a basis
that allocates the amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender in light
of such increase ratably among all applicable Advances. A certificate
specifying the event referred to in this Section 2.11(a), the amount
sufficient to compensate such Lender and the basis of its computation
(which shall be reasonable), submitted in good faith to the Company and
the Administrative Agent by such Lender, shall be conclusive and binding
for all purposes absent manifest error. Each Lender agrees to provide
reasonably prompt notice to the Company of the occurrence of any event
referred to in the first sentence of this Section 2.11(a).
(b) If any Lender determines that compliance with any law
or regulation or any guideline or request from any central bank or other
governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law) after
the date hereof affects or would affect the amount of capital required
or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any corporation
controlling such Lender and that the amount of such capital is increased
by or based upon the existence of such Lender's commitment to lend
hereunder and other commitments of this type, then, such Lender may from
time to time give notice of such circumstances to the Company (with a
copy to the Administrative Agent); provided that each Lender agrees,
before giving any such notice, to use its best efforts (consistent with
its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate
a different Applicable Lending Office if the making of such a
designation would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, the cost
to the Lender of such increase in the amount of capital maintained by
such Lender and would not be disadvantageous to such Lender. The amount
sufficient to compensate such Lender in light of such increase in the
amount of capital maintained by such Lender or any corporation
controlling such Lender shall be determined by such Lender in good faith
to the extent that such Lender reasonably determines such increase in
capital to be allocable to the existence of such Lender's commitment to
lend hereunder. A certificate specifying the event referred to in this
Section 2.11(b), the amount sufficient to compensate such Lender and the
basis of its computation (which shall be reasonable), submitted in good
faith to the Company and the Administrative Agent by such Lender, shall
be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. Each
Lender agrees to provide reasonably prompt notice to the Company of the
occurrence of any event referred to in the first sentence of this
Section 2.11(b).
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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(c) The Company shall, within five days of receiving a
notice from any Lender pursuant to clause (a) or (b) of this Section
2.11, elect (and shall notify such Lender and the Administrative Agent
of such election) to:
(i) pay to the Administrative Agent in Dollars for the
account of such Lender, from time to time commencing on the date
of notice by such Lender and as specified by such Lender, (A) the
amount such Lender has set forth in the certificate which such
Lender has delivered to the Company pursuant to clause (a) of this
Section 2.11 or (B) the amount such Lender has set forth in the
certificate which such Lender has delivered to the Company
pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 2.11; or
(ii) if no Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
require that such Lender assign to the Company's designated
assignee or assignees, in accordance with the terms of Section
8.07, all Advances then owing to such Lender and all rights and
obligations of such Lender hereunder; provided that (A) each such
assignment shall be either an assignment of all of the rights and
obligations of the assigning Lender under this Agreement or an
assignment of a portion of such rights and obligations made
concurrently with another such assignment or assignments which
together cover all of the rights and obligations of the assigning
Lender under this Agreement, (B) no Lender shall be obligated to
make any such assignment as a result of a demand by the Company
pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) unless and until such Lender
shall have received one or more payments from either the Company
or one or more assignees in an aggregate amount at least equal to
the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the A Advances owing
to such Lender, together with accrued interest thereon to the date
of payment of such principal amount, all Facility Fees,
Utilization Fees and other fees payable to such Lender and all
other amounts payable to such Lender under this Agreement
(including, but not limited to, any increased costs or other
additional amounts (computed in accordance with this Section
2.11), and any Taxes, incurred by such Lender prior to the
effective date of such assignment and amounts payable under
Section 8.04(a)) and (C) each such assignment shall be made
pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance; provided that such
assignment shall not be effective if, after giving effect to such
assignment, the aggregate amount of the Commitments so assigned or
terminated under this Section 2.11, Section 2.12(b) and Section
2.15(g) during the term of this Agreement would exceed 25% of the
aggregate amount of the Commitments as of the Closing Date. Upon
such payments and prepayments, the obligations of such Lender
hereunder, by the provisions hereof, shall be released and
discharged; provided that such Lender's rights under Sections
2.11, 2.15 and 8.04(b), and its obligations under Section 7.05,
shall survive such release and discharge as to matters occurring
prior to the date of termination of such Lender's Commitment.
SECTION 2.12. Illegality.
----------
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
if any Lender (any such Lender being referred to herein as an "Affected
--------
Lender") shall notify the Administrative Agent that the introduction of
------
or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation makes
it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts
that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Eurocurrency Lending Office
to perform its obligations hereunder to make Eurocurrency Rate Advances
or Floating Rate Advances in any Currency or to fund or maintain
Eurocurrency Rate Advances or Floating Rate Advances in any Currency
hereunder, the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert A
Advances into, Eurocurrency Rate Advances in such Currency shall be
suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and
the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer
exist; provided that such suspension shall not become effective in the
event the Company requires the assignment of the Affected Lender's
Advances owing to it and its other rights and obligations hereunder
pursuant to clause (b)(ii) below. The Company's right to require an
assignment in accordance with clause (b)(ii) below shall not be
effective to the
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-27-
extent that Lenders representing a majority of the Commitments then
outstanding shall be "Affected Lenders".
(b) The Company shall, within five days of receiving a
notice from any Affected Lender pursuant to clause (a) of this Section
2.12, elect (and shall notify such Affected Lender and the
Administrative Agent of such election) to:
(i) prepay in full all Eurocurrency Rate Advances or
Floating Rate Advances in such Currency then outstanding, together
with interest thereon, unless the Company, within five Business
Days of notice from the Administrative Agent Converts all
Eurocurrency Rate Advances or Floating Rate Advances of all
Lenders then outstanding into Base Rate Advances in accordance
with Section 2.09; or
(ii) if no Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
require that such Affected Lender assign to the Company's
designated assignee or assignees, in accordance with the terms of
Section 8.07, all Advances then owing to such Affected Lender and
all rights and obligations of such Affected Lender hereunder;
provided that (A) each such assignment shall be either an
assignment of all of the rights and obligations of the assigning
Affected Lender under this Agreement or an assignment of a portion
of such rights and obligations made concurrently with another such
assignment or assignments which together cover all of the rights
and obligations of the assigning Affected Lender under this
Agreement, (B) no Affected Lender shall be obligated to make any
such assignment as a result of a demand by the Company pursuant to
this Section 2.12(b) unless and until such Affected Lender shall
have received one or more payments from either the Borrowers or
one or more assignees in an aggregate amount at least equal to the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the A Advances owing to
such Affected Lender, together with accrued interest thereon to
the date of payment of such principal amount, all Facility Fees,
Utilization Fees and other fees payable to such Affected Lender
and all other amounts payable to such Affected Lender under this
Agreement (including, but not limited to, any increased costs or
other additional amounts (computed in accordance with Section
2.11), and any Taxes, incurred by such Affected Lender prior to
the effective date of such assignment and amounts payable under
Section 8.04(a)) and (C) each such assignment shall be made
pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance; provided that such
assignment shall not be effective if, after giving effect to such
assignment, the aggregate amount of the Commitments so assigned or
terminated under this Section 2.12(b), Section 2.11 and Section
2.15(g) during the term of this Agreement would exceed 25% of the
aggregate amount of the Commitments as of the Closing Date. Upon
such payments and prepayments, the obligations of such Affected
Lender hereunder, by the provisions hereof, shall be released and
discharged; provided that such Affected Lender's rights under
Sections 2.11, 2.15 and 8.04(b), and its obligations under Section
7.05, shall survive such release and discharge as to matters
occurring prior to the date of termination of such Affected
Lender's Commitment.
SECTION 2.13. Payments and Computations.
-------------------------
(a) The Borrowers shall make each payment hereunder and
under the Notes not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the
day when due in the relevant Currency to the Administrative Agent at the
Administrative Agent's Account for such Currency in same day funds. The
Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed
like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest, Facility
Fees or Utilization Fees ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to
Sections 2.03, 2.04(b), 2.05(b), 2.11, 2.12, 2.15 or 8.04(c)) to the
Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices,
and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to
any Lender to such Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending
Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Acceptance and
recording of the information contained therein in the
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-28-
Register pursuant to Section 8.07(c) from and after the effective date
specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, the Administrative Agent
shall make all payments hereunder and under the Notes in respect of the
interest assigned thereby to the Lender assignee thereunder, and the
parties to such Assignment and Acceptance shall make all appropriate
adjustments in such payments for periods prior to such effective date
directly between themselves.
(b) All computations of interest based on the Base Rate
shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 365
or 366 days, as the case may be, and all computations of interest based
on the Eurocurrency Rate or the Federal Funds Rate and of Facility Fees
and Utilization Fees shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the
basis of a year of 360 days, in each case for the actual number of days
(including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the
period for which such interest or Facility Fees or Utilization Fees are
payable. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest
rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error.
(c) Whenever any payment hereunder or under the Notes shall
be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment
shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of
time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of
interest, Facility Fee or Utilization Fee, as the case may be; provided
that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal
of Eurocurrency Rate Advances or Floating Rate Advances to be made in
the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the
next preceding Business Day.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
notice from the Company prior to the date on which any payment is due to
the Lenders hereunder that a Borrower will not make such payment in
full, the Administrative Agent may assume that each Borrower has made
such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the
Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be
distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the
amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent a Borrower shall not
have so made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent, each
Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such
amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for
each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until
the date such Lender repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at
the Federal Funds Rate.
(e) All amounts owing under this Agreement (including
payments required under Section 2.11, and payments required under
Section 8.04(c) relating to any Advance denominated in Dollars, but not
including principal of, and interest on, any Advance denominated in
Euros or payments relating to any such Advance required under
Section 8.04(c), which are payable in Euros) are payable in Dollars.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Borrower shall fail to pay any
principal of any Advance when due (whether at stated maturity, by
acceleration, by mandatory prepayment or otherwise), the unpaid portion
of such Advance shall, if such Advance is not denominated in Dollars,
automatically be redenominated in Dollars on the due date thereof (or,
if such due date is a day other than the last day of the Interest Period
therefor, on the last day of such Interest Period) in an amount equal to
the Dollar Equivalent thereof on the date of such redenomination and
such principal shall be payable on demand; and if a Borrower shall fail
to pay any interest on any Advance that is not denominated in Dollars,
such interest shall automatically be redenominated in Dollars on the due
date therefor (or, if such due date is a day other than the last day of
the Interest Period therefor, on the last day of such Interest Period)
in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent thereof on the date of such
redenomination and such interest shall be payable on demand.
SECTION 2.14. Notations on the A Notes. Each Borrower and each
------------------------
Lender whose A Advances are evidenced by an A Note agree that (a) all
A Advances made by such Lender to such Borrower pursuant to this Agreement
and all payments made on account of principal thereof shall be recorded
by such Lender and, prior to any assignment by such Lender of the A Note
issued to it, all unpaid A Advances shall
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-29-
be endorsed on the grid attached to such A Note; provided that the
failure of such Lender to make any such notations shall not limit or
otherwise affect such Borrower's obligations to such Lender with respect
to such A Advances and (b) upon the payment in full of any Lender's A
Advances then outstanding and the termination in full of such Lender's
Commitment, such Lender shall cancel and return such Lender's A Note to
the Company (on its own behalf and on behalf of the other Borrowers) and
be fully responsible for any claims or liabilities arising in connection
with or resulting from any sale of participations therein.
SECTION 2.15. Taxes.
-----
(a) Any and all payments by the Borrowers hereunder or
under the Notes shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.13, free and
clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes,
levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all
liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender
and the Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise
taxes imposed on it in lieu of income taxes, by the jurisdiction under
the laws of which such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case
may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof and, in the
case of each Lender, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise taxes
imposed on it in lieu of income taxes, by the jurisdiction of such
Lender's Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof
(all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges,
withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as
"Taxes"). If any Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any
-----
Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any Note
to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be
increased as may be necessary so that after making all required
deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable
under this Section 2.15) such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the
case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received
had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Borrower shall make such
deductions and (iii) such Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to
the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with
applicable law.
(b) In addition, the Company (on its own behalf and on
behalf of the other Borrowers) agrees to pay any present or future stamp
or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or
similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or under the
Notes or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise
with respect to, this Agreement or the Notes (hereinafter referred to as
"Other Taxes").
-----------
(c) The Borrowers will indemnify each Lender and the
Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes
(including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any
jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.15) paid by such
Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) and any
liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom
or with respect thereto. This indemnification shall be made within 30
days from the date such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case
may be) makes written demand therefor.
(d) Within 30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes,
the Company (on its own behalf and on behalf of the other Borrowers)
will furnish to the Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in
Section 8.02, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing
payment thereof. In the case of any payment hereunder or under the
Notes by or on behalf of a Borrower through an account or branch outside
the United States or on behalf of a Borrower by a payor that is not a
United States person, if the Company determines that no Taxes are
payable in respect thereof, the Company shall furnish, or shall cause
such payor to furnish, to the Administrative Agent, at such address, an
opinion of counsel acceptable to the Administrative Agent stating that
such payment is exempt from Taxes. For purposes of this subsection (d)
and subsection (e), the terms "United States" and "United States
------------- --------------
person" shall have the meanings specified in Section 7701 of the
------
Internal Revenue Code.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-30-
(e) Each Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
outside the United States, on or prior to the date of its execution and
delivery of this Agreement (in the case of each Initial Lender) and on
the date of the Acceptance pursuant to which it becomes a Lender (in the
case of each other Lender), and from time to time thereafter if
requested in writing by the Company (but only so long as such Lender
remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide the Company with Internal
Revenue Service form 1001 or 4224, as appropriate, or any successor or
other form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying that
such Lender is exempt from or entitled to a reduced rate of United
States withholding tax on payments of interest pursuant to this
Agreement or the Notes. If the form provided by a Lender at the time
such Lender first becomes a party to this Agreement indicates a United
States interest withholding tax rate in excess of zero, withholding tax
at such rate shall be considered excluded from "Taxes" as defined in
Section 2.15(a). If any form or document referred to in this subsection
(e) requires the disclosure of information, other than information
necessary to compute the tax payable and information required by the
versions of Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or 4224 in effect on the
date hereof, that the Lender reasonably considers to be confidential,
the Lender shall give notice thereof to the Company and shall not be
obligated to include in such form or document such confidential
information.
(f) For any period with respect to which a Lender has
failed to provide the Company with the appropriate form described in
Section 2.15(e) (other than if such failure is due to a change in law
occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required
to be provided, or if such form otherwise is not required under the
first sentence of subsection (e) above), such Lender shall not be
entitled to indemnification under Section 2.15(a) with respect to Taxes
imposed by the United States; provided that should a Lender become
subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required
hereunder, the Company shall take such steps as the Lender shall
reasonably request to assist the Lender to recover such Taxes.
(g) So long as no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, if a Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes
from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any Note to any
Lender or shall be required to indemnify any Lender for any Taxes under
Section 2.15(c) (each such Lender, a "Specified Lender"), the Company
----------------
may, within five days of receiving a notice from any Specified Lender
pursuant to clause (a) of this Section 2.15, elect (and shall notify
such Specified Lender and the Administrative Agent of such election) to
require that such Specified Lender assign to the Company's designated
assignee or assignees, in accordance with the terms of Section 8.07, all
Advances then owing to such Specified Lender and all rights and
obligations of such Specified Lender hereunder; provided that (A) each
such assignment shall be either an assignment of all of the rights and
obligations of the assigning Specified Lender under this Agreement or an
assignment of a portion of such rights and obligations made concurrently
with another such assignment or assignments which together cover all of
the rights and obligations of the assigning Specified Lender under this
Agreement, (B) no Specified Lender shall be obligated to make any such
assignment as a result of a demand by the Company pursuant to this
Section 2.15(g) unless and until such Specified Lender shall have
received one or more payments from either the Borrowers or one or more
assignees in an aggregate amount at least equal to the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the A Advances owing to such Specified
Lender, together with accrued interest thereon to the date of payment of
such principal amount, all Facility Fees, Utilization Fees and other
fees payable to such Specified Lender and all other amounts payable to
such Specified Lender under this Agreement (including, but not limited
to, any increased costs or other additional amounts (computed in
accordance with Section 2.11), and any Taxes, incurred by such Specified
Lender prior to the effective date of such assignment and amounts
payable under Section 8.04(a)) and (C) each such assignment shall be
made pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance; provided that such
assignment shall not be effective if, after giving effect to such
assignment, the aggregate amount of the Commitments so assigned or
terminated under this Section 2.15(g), Section 2.11 and Section 2.12
during the term of this Agreement would exceed 25% of the aggregate
amount of the Commitments as of the Closing Date. Upon such payments
and prepayments, the obligations of such Specified Lender hereunder, by
the provisions hereof, shall be released and
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-31-
discharged; provided that such Specified Lender's rights under Sections
2.11, 2.12, 2.15 and 8.04(b), and its obligations under Section 7.05,
shall survive such release and discharge as to matters occurring prior
to the date of termination of such Specified Lender's Commitment.
SECTION 2.16. Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender
-------------------------
shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the
exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the A
Advances owing to it (other than pursuant to Sections 2.05(b), 2.11,
2.12, 2.15 or 8.04(c)) in excess of its ratable share of payments on
account of the A Advances obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall
forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participation in the A
Advances owing to them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing
Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided
that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter
recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender
shall be rescinded and each such Lender shall repay to the purchasing
Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with
an amount equal to such Lender's ratable share (according to the
proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender's required repayment to (ii)
the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any
interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in
respect of the total amount so recovered. Each Borrower agrees that any
Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to
this Section 2.16 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise
all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect
to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct
creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.
SECTION 2.17. Borrowings by Designated Borrowers.
----------------------------------
(a) The Company may, at any time or from time to time,
designate one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company as
"Borrowers" hereunder by furnishing to the Administrative Agent a
letter (a "Designation Letter") in duplicate, in substantially
------------------
the form of Exhibit F-1, duly completed and executed by the
Company and such Subsidiary. Upon any such designation of a
Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall be a Designated Borrower and a
Designated Borrower entitled to borrow A Advances and B Advances
on and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(b) So long as all principal of and interest on all
Advances made to any Designated Borrower have been paid in full,
the Company may terminate the status of such Designated Borrower
as a Designated Borrower hereunder by furnishing to the
Administrative Agent a letter (a "Termination Letter") in
------------------
substantially the form of Exhibit F-2, duly completed and executed
by the Company. Any Termination Letter furnished hereunder shall
be effective upon receipt by the Administrative Agent, which shall
promptly notify the Lenders, whereupon the Lenders shall promptly
deliver to the Company (through the Administrative Agent) the Notes,
if any, of such former Designated Borrower. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the delivery of a Termination Letter with respect to any
Designated Borrower shall not terminate (i) any obligation of such
Designated Borrower that remains unpaid at the time of such delivery
(including without limitation any obligation arising thereafter in
respect of such Designated Borrower under Section 2.15 or 2.11) or
(ii) the obligations of the Company under Article IX with respect
to any such unpaid obligations.
ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING
SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Initial Borrowing.
-----------------------------------------
The obligation of each Lender to make an Advance on the occasion of the
initial Borrowing is subject to the condition precedent that
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-32-
the Administrative Agent shall have received the following, each (unless
otherwise specified below) dated the Closing Date, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and, to the extent specified
below, each Lender) and (except for the Notes) in sufficient copies for
each Lender:
(a) Charter Documents, Etc.
-----------------------
(1) Certified copies of (x) the charter and by-laws
of the Company, (y) the resolutions of the Board of Directors
of the Company authorizing and approving this Agreement and
the Notes, and (z) all documents evidencing other necessary
corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with
respect to this Agreement and the Notes.
(2) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company certifying the names and true
signatures of the officers of the Company authorized to sign
this Agreement and the Notes and the other documents to be
delivered hereunder.
(3) A certificate from the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware dated a date reasonably close to the
Closing Date as to the good standing of and charter documents
filed by the Company.
(b) Opinions.
--------
(1) A favorable opinion of the General Counsel of the
Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit D.
(2) A favorable opinion of Milbank, Tweed, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, special New York counsel for the Administrative
Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit E.
(c) Solvency. A certificate of a senior financial officer
--------
of the Company to the effect that the Company (both individually
and collectively with its Consolidated Subsidiaries) is Solvent.
(d) Representations, Etc. A certificate signed by a duly
---------------------
authorized officer of the Company stating that:
(1) the representations and warranties contained in
Section 4.01 are correct on and as of the Closing Date, and
(2) no event has occurred and is continuing that
constitutes a Default.
(e) Other. Such other approvals, opinions and documents
-----
relating to material ERISA and, environmental matters as the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may, through the Administrative
Agent, reasonably request.
SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each A Borrowing.
----------------------------------------
The obligation of each Lender to make an A Advance on the occasion of
each A Borrowing shall be subject to the conditions precedent that the
Closing Date shall have occurred and on the date of such A Borrowing:
(a) the following statements shall be true (and each of the
giving of the applicable Notice of A Borrowing and the acceptance
by the relevant Borrower of the proceeds of such A Borrowing shall
constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that on
the date of such A Borrowing such statements are true):
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
-33-
(i) the representations and warranties contained in
Section 4.01 (except the Excluded Representations) are
correct on and as of the date of such A Borrowing, before
and after giving effect to such A Borrowing and to the
application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and
as of such date; and
(ii) no event has occurred and is continuing, or
would result from such A Borrowing or from the application
of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default;
(b) the Administrative Agent shall have received such other
approvals, opinions or documents as any Lender through the
Administrative Agent may reasonably request; and
(c) in the case of the first Borrowing by a Designated
Borrower, such Borrower shall have furnished to the Administrative
Agent such corporate documents, resolutions and legal opinions
relating to such Designated Borrower as the Administrative Agent
may reasonably require.
SECTION 3.03. Conditions Precedent to Each B Borrowing.
----------------------------------------
The obligation of each Lender that is to make a B Advance on the
occasion of each B Borrowing to make such B Advance as part of such B
Borrowing is subject to the conditions precedent that the Closing Date
shall have occurred and (a) the Administrative Agent shall have received
the Notice of B Borrowing with respect thereto, (b) if (and only if)
requested by such Lender, on or before the date of such B Borrowing, but
prior to such B Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall have received
a B Note payable to the order of such Lender for each of the one or more
B Advances to be made by such Lender as part of such B Borrowing, in a
principal amount equal to the principal amount of the B Advance to be
evidenced thereby and otherwise on such terms as were agreed to for such
B Advance in accordance with Section 2.03, and (c) on the date of such B
Borrowing the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving
of the applicable Notice of B Borrowing and the acceptance by the
relevant Borrower of the proceeds of such B Borrowing shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the Company that on the date of such B
Borrowing such statements are true):
(i) the representations and warranties contained in Section
4.01 (except the Excluded Representations) are correct on and as
of the date of such B Borrowing, before and after giving effect to
such B Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom,
as though made on and as of such date; and
(ii) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result
from such B Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds
therefrom, that constitutes a Default.
SECTION 3.04. Determinations Under Section 3.01. For purposes
---------------------------------
of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 3.01,
each Lender shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted
or to be satisfied with each document or other matter required thereunder
to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the
Lenders unless an officer of the Administrative Agent responsible for the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have received notice
from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date (as notified by the
Company or the Administrative Agent to the Lenders) specifying its
objection thereto. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the
Lenders of the occurrence of the Closing Date.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 34 -
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties of the
-------------------------------------
Company. The Company represents and warrants as follows:
-------
(a) Incorporation; Good Standing. The Company is a
----------------------------
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) Corporate Authority; No Breach. The execution,
------------------------------
delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the
Notes, and the other transactions contemplated hereby, are within
the Company's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action, and do not contravene (i) the
Company's charter or bylaws or (ii) law or any contractual
restriction binding on or affecting the Company.
(c) No Consents or Approvals. No authorization or approval
------------------------
or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any
governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third party
is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of this Agreement or the Notes, other than those
authorizations, approvals, notices, filings and actions that have
been obtained, filed or taken on or before the Closing Date by the
Company. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no
notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory
body or any other third party is required for the transactions
contemplated thereby, except for the authorizations, approvals,
actions, notices and filings (i) the failure to obtain would not
have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) which have been (or, prior
to the Closing Date, will be) duly obtained, taken, given or made
and are in full force and effect.
(d) Enforceable Obligations, Etc. This Agreement has been,
-----------------------------
and each of the Notes when delivered hereunder will have been,
duly executed and delivered by the Company. This Agreement is,
and each of the Notes when delivered hereunder will be, the legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against
the Company in accordance with their respective terms.
(e) Financial Statements, Etc.
--------------------------
(i) The statement of financial position of the Company as
at December 31, 1998 and the related statements of income and cash
flows of the Company for the twelve months then ended, accompanied
by an opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public
accountants, and the balance sheet of the Company as at June 30,
1999 and the related statements of income and cash flows of the
Company for the six months then ended, copies of which have been
made available to each Lender, present fairly, in all material
respects (subject, in the case of said balance sheet as at June
30, 1999, and said statements of income and cash flows for the six
months then ended, to year-end audit adjustments) the financial
condition of the Company as at such dates and the results of the
operations of the Company for the periods ended on such dates, all
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis.
(ii) Since December 31, 1998, there has been no material
adverse change in the financial condition or results of operations
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(f) No Litigation, Etc. Except as described in the
-------------------
Company's Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1998 or in the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarter
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
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ended September 30, 1999, there is no pending or, to the best of
the Company's knowledge, threatened action or proceeding affecting
the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries before any
court, or governmental agency or arbitrator which (i) would have a
Material Adverse Effect or (ii) purports to affect, or would
affect, the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement
or any Note.
(g) ERISA. No ERISA Event that would have a Material
-----
Adverse Effect has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur
with respect to any Plan. As of the Closing Date, neither the
Company nor any ERISA Affiliate participates in any Multiple
Employer Plan or in any Multiemployer Plan with respect to which
the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has any Withdrawal Liability or
other liability (other than the ordinary liability of a sponsor
for contributions to or benefits under such Plan) that, in either
case, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Environmental Laws. The Company (i) is in substantial
------------------
compliance with any and all applicable Environmental Laws, (ii)
has (to the best of its knowledge) received, applied for or been
assigned all required Environmental Permits and (iii) is in
substantial compliance with all terms and conditions of any such
Environmental Permits, except where any such noncompliance with
Environmental Laws, failure to receive, apply for or be assigned
an Environmental Permit, or failure to comply with the terms and
conditions of an Environmental Permit, would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(i) Investment Company; Public Utility. Neither the
----------------------------------
Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is an "investment
company", or an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or
"principal underwriter" for, an "investment company," as such
terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended. Neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries
is a "holding company", or an "affiliate" of a "holding company"
or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company", within the
meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
amended.
(j) Accuracy of Information.
-----------------------
(i) All written information, reports, financial statements,
exhibits and schedules (except as to assumptions, statements,
estimates and projections with respect to anticipated future
performance or events) concerning the operations, business,
financial condition, properties and prospects of the Company and
its Subsidiaries ("Information") furnished by or on behalf of the
-----------
Company to the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent or any
Lender on or prior to the Closing Date in connection with the
negotiation, preparation or delivery of this Agreement or included
herein or delivered pursuant to Article III, when taken as a
whole, as of the date of such Information, does not contain any
untrue statement of material fact or, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they
were made, not misleading.
(ii) All Post-Closing Date Information furnished by or on
behalf of the Company to the Administrative Agent or any Lender
after the Closing Date, when taken as a whole, as of the date of
such Post-Closing Date Information, will not contain any untrue
statement of material fact or, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they
were made, not misleading.
(iii) Financial projections and pro forma adjustments
contained in the Information may be based on estimates and
assumptions about circumstances and events that have not taken
place at the time of delivery thereof; although such information
reflects the Company's good faith projections and estimates as of
the date thereof, based upon methods and data the Company believes
to be reasonable
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 36 -
and accurate, actual results during the period covered by such
projections and pro forma adjustments may differ materially from
the projections and pro forma adjustments.
(iv) For purposes of this Section 4.01(j), "Post-Closing
------------
Date Information" means:
----------------
(x) all Information furnished by the Company and its
Subsidiaries after the date hereof under Sections 5.01(i)(i)
through (vii), inclusive; and
(y) all Information furnished by the Company and its
Subsidiaries after the date hereof under Section 5.01(i)(viii),
provided that the request for such information is made in
writing and delivered to the Company, at the address specified
in Section 8.02, to the attention of the Company's Treasurer
and stating that such request is being made in connection with
this Agreement.
(k) Margin Stock. The Company is not principally engaged
------------
in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing
or carrying Margin Stock, and no proceeds of any Advance will be
used for any purpose which violates the provisions of the
regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System. After applying the proceeds of each Advance, not more
than 25% of the value of the assets of the Company and the
Company's Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the
Company) that are subject to Section 5.02(a) will consist of or be
represented by Margin Stock. If requested by any Lender or the
Administrative Agent, the Company will furnish to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement in conformity
with the requirements of Federal Reserve Form U-1 referred to in
Regulation U, the statements made in which shall be such, in the
opinion of each Lender, as to permit the transactions contemplated
hereby in accordance with Regulation U.
SECTION 4.02. Representation and Warranty of the Lenders.
------------------------------------------
Each Lender represents and warrants that in good faith it has not
relied, and will not rely, upon any Margin Stock as collateral in the
making and maintaining of its Advances hereunder.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants. So long as any
---------------------
Advance shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment
hereunder, the Company will:
(a) Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc. Do or cause
-----------------------------------------
to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force
and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory)
and franchises, provided that the Company shall not be required to
preserve any such right or franchise if it shall determine that
the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of
its business. Cause each Material Subsidiary of the Company to do
or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in
full force and effect the corporate existence, rights (charter and
statutory) and franchises of such Material Subsidiary, except in
each case if the Company shall determine that the preservation
thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b) Compliance with Laws, Etc. Comply, and cause each of
--------------------------
its Consolidated Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects,
with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, such
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 37 -
compliance to include, without limitation, compliance with ERISA and all
applicable Environmental Laws, except such noncompliance as would not
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Payment of Taxes. Duly pay and discharge, and cause
----------------
each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all
taxes, assessments and governmental charges whatsoever and by
whomsoever imposed upon it or against its properties prior to the
date on which penalties are attached thereto, unless and to the
extent only that the same (i) shall be contested in good faith and
by appropriate proceedings by the Company or (ii) are not of
material importance to the business, financial condition or
operating results of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries.
(d) Payment of Material Obligations, Etc. Pay, and cause
-------------------------------------
each of its Material Subsidiaries to pay, all obligations under
Material Contracts. Perform, and cause each of its Material
Subsidiaries to perform, each other obligation (other than
obligations that the Company determines, in good faith and upon
the advice of its counsel, not to be binding on it) of the Company
or such Material Subsidiary, as the case may be, under the
Material Contracts except where the failure to do so would not
(either individually or in the aggregate) have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(e) Visitation. Permit, and cause each of its Material
----------
Subsidiaries to permit, the Administrative Agent or any of the
Lenders or any agents or representatives thereof (at any
reasonable time and as may be reasonably requested from time to
time and, so long as no Default shall have occurred and is
continuing, upon reasonable advance notice):
(i) to visit the properties of the Company and any of
its Material Subsidiaries in the presence of an appropriate
officer or representative of the Company;
(ii) if any Default shall have occurred and then be
continuing, to examine and make copies of and abstracts from
the records and books of account of the Company and any of
its Material Subsidiaries (other than trade secrets and
information and materials subject to confidentiality
agreements with third parties) in the presence of an
appropriate officer or representative of the Company); and
(iii) to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts
of the Company and any of its Material Subsidiaries with any
of their officers or directors and with their independent
certified public accountants.
(f) Keeping of Books. Keep, and cause each of its
----------------
Consolidated Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and
account, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all
financial transactions and the assets and business of the Company
and each such Consolidated Subsidiary in accordance with generally
accepted accounting standards in effect from time to time.
(g) Properties. Cause all Principal Properties to be
----------
maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order,
and cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals,
replacements, betterments and improvements thereto, in each case
as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the
business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and
advantageously conducted at all times, provided that nothing in
this paragraph (g) shall prevent the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of
any such Principal Properties or from omitting to make any
repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments or improvements if
such discontinuance or omission is, in the judgment of the
Company, desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 38 -
(h) Maintenance of Insurance. From and after the Closing
------------------------
Date, maintain insurance, and cause each of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries to maintain insurance, with financially sound and
reputable insurers, with respect to such of its properties,
against such risks, casualties and contingencies and in such types
and amounts as are consistent with sound business practice, it
being understood that this paragraph (h) shall not prevent the use
of deductible or excess loss insurance and shall not prevent (i)
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from acting as a self-
insurer or maintaining insurance with another Subsidiary or
Subsidiaries of the Company so long as such action is consistent
with sound business practice or (ii) the Company from obtaining
and owning insurance policies covering activities of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries.
(i) Reporting Requirements. Furnish to the Lenders:
----------------------
(i) as soon as available and in any event within 60
days after the end of each of the first three quarters of
each fiscal year of the Company, Consolidated balance sheets
of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such
quarter and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows
of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period
commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending
with the end of such quarter, duly certified (subject to
year-end audit adjustments) by the Controller, Assistant
Controller or other authorized financial officer of the
Company as having been prepared in accordance with GAAP,
together with (A) a certificate of said officer stating that
no Default has occurred and is continuing or, if a Default
has occurred and is continuing, a statement as to the nature
thereof, and (B) a schedule in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of the computations
used by the Company in determining compliance with the
covenants contained in Section 5.03;
(ii) as soon as available and in any event within 120
days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a
copy of the annual audit report for such year for the
Company and its Subsidiaries, containing Consolidated
balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the
end of such fiscal year and Consolidated statements of
income, shareowners' equity and cash flows of the Company
and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, in each case
accompanied by an opinion acceptable to the Majority Lenders
by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public
accountants of recognized national standing, together with
(a) a certificate of the Controller, Assistant Controller or
other authorized financial officer of the Company stating
that no Default has occurred and is continuing or, if a
Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement as to
the nature thereof, and (B) a schedule in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of the computations
used by the Company in determining compliance with the
covenants contained in Section 5.03;
(iii) as soon as possible and in any event within
five Business Days after the determination by the Company
that a Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of
such statement, a statement of either the Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer, Controller, Assistant Controller or
other authorized financial officer of the Company setting
forth details of such Default and the action that the
Company has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
(iv) promptly and in any event within 30 days after
the Company knows or has reason to know that any ERISA Event
that would have a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, a
statement of an authorized financial officer of the Company
describing such ERISA Event and the action, if any, that the
Company or such ERISA Affiliate has taken and proposes to
take with respect thereto;
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 39 -
(v) promptly and in any event within ten Business
Days after receipt thereof by the Company or any of its
ERISA Affiliates, copies of each notice from the PBGC
stating its intention to terminate any Plan or to have a
trustee appointed to administer any such Plan;
(vi) promptly and in any event within 45 days after
the receipt thereof by the Company or any of its ERISA
Affiliates, a copy of the latest annual actuarial report for
each Plan if the ratio of the fair market value of the
assets of such Plan to its current liability (as defined in
Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code) is less than 80%;
(vii) as soon as possible and in any event within
five days after the determination by the Company that a
Change of Control has occurred, the Company shall deliver to
the Administrative Agent (which shall forward a copy thereof
to each Lender promptly) notice thereof, together with such
other information as the Administrative Agent or any Lender
(through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request;
and
(viii) such other information (excluding trade
secrets) respecting the financial condition and operations
of the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Administrative
Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request
(which information shall constitute "Post-Closing Date
Information" only to the extent provided in Section
4.01(j)).
(j) Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Advances
---------------
hereunder solely to finance the working capital needs and other
general corporate purposes of the Borrowers (including to support
the commercial paper programs of the respective Borrowers, to
finance acquisitions, treasury stock purchases and capital
investments), in each case in compliance with all applicable legal
and regulatory requirements; provided that neither the
Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any responsibility
as to the use of any such proceeds.
SECTION 5.02. Negative Covenants. So long as any Advance
------------------
shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder,
the Company will not:
(a) Liens, Etc. Create or suffer to exist, or permit any
-----------
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Lien
on or with respect to any of its properties (other than, in the case of
the Company, the Company's treasury stock), whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, or assign, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to
assign, any right to receive income in order to secure Debt, other than:
(i) (A) Liens for taxes, assessments, governmental charges
or levies or other amounts owed to governmental entities other
than for borrowed money; (B) Liens imposed by law, such as
materialmen's, mechanics', carriers', workmen's and repairmen's
Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of
business securing obligations that are not overdue for a period of
more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith;
(C) pledges or deposits to secure obligations under workers'
compensation laws or similar legislation or to secure public or
statutory obligations; (D) easements, rights of way and other
encumbrances on title to real property that do not render title to
the property encumbered thereby unmarketable or materially
adversely affect the use of such property for its present
purposes; and (E) Liens in favor of a landlord arising in the
ordinary course of business,
(ii) purchase money Liens upon or in any property, assets
or stock acquired or held by the Company or any Subsidiary in the
ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price or
construction cost of such property or to secure Debt incurred
solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 40 -
or construction of such property whether incurred prior or
subsequent to such acquisition or construction, or Liens existing
on such property at the time of its acquisition (other than any
such Lien created in contemplation of such acquisition) or
extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing for
the same or a lesser amount, provided that no such Lien shall
extend to or cover any property other than the property being
acquired, and no such extension, renewal or replacement shall
extend to or cover any property not theretofore subject to the
Lien being extended, renewed or replaced,
(iii) Liens securing Debt, judgments and ERISA claims
existing on the date hereof and identified on Schedule 1, and
other Liens existing on the date hereof,
(iv) other Liens or assignments in an aggregate principal
amount at any time outstanding not to exceed 10% of Consolidated
Net Tangible Assets,
(v) the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien
permitted by clauses (ii) and (iii) above upon or in the same
property theretofore subject thereto or the replacement, extension
or renewal (without increase in the amount or change in any direct
or contingent obligor) of the amount secured thereby, and
(vi) intercompany Liens.
(b) Mergers, Etc. Merge or consolidate with or into (or
-------------
permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to merge or consolidate with or
into), or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (or permit any
of its Material Subsidiaries to convey, transfer, lease or otherwise
dispose of), whether in one transaction or in a series of related
transactions, all or substantially all of the assets (whether now owned
or hereafter acquired) of the Company or such Material Subsidiary to,
any Person, except that:
(i) any Material Subsidiary of the Company may merge or
consolidate with or into (or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise
dispose of any or all the assets of such Material Subsidiary to)
the Company or any wholly owned Material Subsidiary of the
Company; provided that the Company or a wholly owned Material
Subsidiary is the survivor of any such merger or consolidation;
and
(ii) the Company may merge or consolidate with or into any
other Person so long as (x) immediately after giving effect to
such transaction, no Default would exist and (y) the Company is
the surviving corporation.
(c) Accounting Changes. Make or permit, or permit any of
------------------
its Subsidiaries to make or permit, any change in accounting policies or
reporting practices, except as required or permitted by generally
accepted accounting principles.
(d) Change in Nature of Business. Change the nature of the
----------------------------
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, such
that such business differs materially from the lines of business engaged
in on the Closing Date and lines of business related thereto; provided
that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Company and its Subsidiaries
from engaging in other lines of business (or investing in joint ventures
engaged in other lines of business) so long as the aggregate book value
of assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries directly relating to such
other lines of business does not exceed 20% of the aggregate book value
of the Consolidated assets of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as at the last day of the fiscal quarter most recently
ended prior to the date of determination.
(e) Margin Stock. Permit more than 25%, after the making
------------
of each Advance and giving effect to the use of the proceeds thereof, of
the value of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 41 -
determined in good faith by the Company) that are subject to
Section 5.02(a) to consist of or be represented by Margin Stock.
(f) Transactions with Affiliates. Other than transactions
----------------------------
with Specified Joint Ventures, enter into, or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to enter into, any transaction with an Affiliate of the
Company (other than the Company's Subsidiaries) that would be material
in relation to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, even
if otherwise permitted under this Agreement, except on terms determined
by the Company to be fair and reasonable to the Company and its
Subsidiaries and in the best interests of the Company (considered as a
whole in conjunction with all other existing arrangements and
relationships with such Affiliate).
SECTION 5.03. Financial Covenants. So long as any Advance
-------------------
shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder,
the Company shall not:
(a) Debt to Adjusted EBITDA. Permit the Debt to Adjusted
-----------------------
EBITDA Ratio at any time to exceed 3.50 to 1.00.
(b) Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the Interest Coverage
-----------------------
Ratio at any time to be less than 4.50 to 1.00.
ARTICLE VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. If any of the following
-----------------
events ("Events of Default") shall occur and be continuing:
-----------------
(a) Any Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any
Advance owing by such Borrower when the same becomes due and
payable; or any Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any
Advance owing by such Borrower or make any other payment under
this Agreement or any Note within five Business Days after the
same becomes due and payable; or
(b) Any representation or warranty made or deemed to have
been made by the Company herein or in connection with this
Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material
respect when made; or
(c) (i) The Company shall fail to perform or observe any
term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 5.01(a),
5.01(i)(iii), 5.01(j), 5.02 or 5.03; or (ii) the Company shall
fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement
contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or
observed if such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 days after
written notice thereof shall have been given to the Company by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender (other than any failure by the
Company to comply with the terms of Section 5.01(i)(iv), (v) or
(vi)); or
(d) the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall
fail to pay any principal of, premium or interest on or any other
amount payable in respect of any Debt that is outstanding in a
principal or notional amount of at least the Threshold Amount (or
such lower amount as provided for in the proviso to this clause
(d)) in the aggregate (but excluding Debt outstanding hereunder)
of the Company or such Material Subsidiary (as the case may be),
when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled
maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise)
and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period,
if any, specified in the applicable agreement;
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 42 -
or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any
agreement or instrument relating to any such Debt and shall
continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in
such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or
condition is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the
maturity of such Debt or otherwise to cause, or to permit the
holder or holders (or an agent or trustee on its or their behalf)
thereof to cause, such Debt to mature; or any such Debt shall be
declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid or
redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment
or redemption), purchased or defeased, or an offer to prepay,
redeem, purchase or defease such Debt shall be required to be
made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; provided
that if the Company in any agreement or instrument relating to any
such Debt, shall have agreed to, or shall agree to, a lesser
threshold of the kind specified this clause (d) with respect to
itself or any of its Material Subsidiaries, then, in such event,
the amount provided for above shall be reduced to such lesser
amount(s) with respect to such entity; or
(e) Any judgment or order for the payment of money in
excess of the Threshold Amount shall be rendered against the
Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries and not timely
satisfied or discharged, and either (i) proceedings to attach or
levy upon any assets of the Company or such Material Subsidiary
shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or
order or (ii) there shall be any period of 30 consecutive days
during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by
reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect;
or
(f) The Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall
generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall
admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or
shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Company or
any of its Material Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a
bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or
composition of it or its debts under any law relating to
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or
seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a
receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or
for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of any
such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it),
either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a
period of 60 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding
(including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief
against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or
other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its
property) shall occur; or the Company or any of its Material
Subsidiaries shall take any corporate action to authorize any of
the actions set forth above in this subsection (e);
(g) Any ERISA Event that would result in a Lien in an
amount in excess of $30,000,000 on the properties or assets of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall have occurred and shall
not have been remedied within 90 days;
then, and in any such event, the Administrative Agent (i) shall at the
request, or may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to
the Company (on its own behalf and on behalf of the other Borrowers),
declare the obligation of each Lender to make Advances to be terminated,
whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the
request, or may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to
the Company, declare the Advances, the Notes, all interest thereon and
all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and
payable, whereupon the Advances, the Notes, all such interest and all
such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby expressly waived by the Company and the other Borrowers;
provided that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for
relief with respect to the Company under the Federal Bankruptcy Code,
(A) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances shall automatically
be terminated and (B) the Advances, the Notes, all such interest and all
such amounts shall
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 43 -
automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment,
demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby
expressly waived by the Company and the other Borrowers.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement, in the event of an entry of an order for relief with respect
to a Designated Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code (or under any
analogous law applicable to such Designated Borrower, if such Designated
Borrower is not organized under the laws of the United States or any
state thereof), (A) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances to
such Designated Borrower shall automatically be terminated, (B) on the
date that is three Business Days after the Company becomes aware of the
entry of such order for relief, the Advances, the Notes, all interest
and all other amounts owing by such Designated Borrower shall
automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment,
demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby
expressly waived by the Company and such Designated Borrower and (C)
such Designated Borrower shall cease to be a Designated Borrower
hereunder.
ARTICLE VII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
SECTION 7.01. Authorization and Action. Each Lender hereby
------------------------
appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as
agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under
this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms
hereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably
incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by
this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection
of the Notes), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to
exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act
or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or
refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Majority Lenders,
and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders and all holders
of Notes; provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required
to take any action that exposes the Administrative Agent to personal
liability or that is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law. The
Administrative Agent agrees to give to each Lender prompt notice of each
notice given to it by the Company pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.
SECTION 7.02. Administrative Agent's Reliance, Etc.
-------------------------------------
Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers,
agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to
be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement,
except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the
Administrative Agent: (i) may treat the payee of any Note as the holder
thereof until the Administrative Agent receives and accepts an
Assignment and Acceptance entered into by the Lender that is the payee
of such Note, as assignor, and an Eligible Assignee, as assignee, as
provided in Section 8.07; (ii) may consult with legal counsel (including
counsel for the Company), 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; (iii) makes no warranty or
representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender
for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written or
oral) made in or in connection with this Agreement; (iv) shall not have
any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance
of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement on the
part of the Borrowers or to inspect the property (including the books
and records) of the Borrowers; (v) shall not be responsible to any
Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability,
genuineness, sufficiency or value of, or the perfection or priority of
any lien or security interest created or purported to be created under
or in connection with, this Agreement or any other instrument or
document furnished pursuant hereto; and (vi) shall incur no liability
under or in respect of this Agreement by acting upon any notice,
consent,
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 44 -
certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopier,
telegram or telex) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by
the proper party or parties.
SECTION 7.03. Citibank and Affiliates. With respect to its
-----------------------
Commitment, the Advances made by it and the Notes issued to it, Citibank
shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other
Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the
Administrative Agent; and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless
otherwise expressly indicated, include Citibank in its individual
capacity. Citibank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend
money to, act as trustee under indentures of, accept investment banking
engagements from and generally engage in any kind of business with, the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries and any Person who may do business with
or own securities of the Company or any such Subsidiary, all as if
Citibank were not the Administrative Agent and without any duty to
account therefor to the Lenders.
SECTION 7.04. Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender
----------------------
acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial
statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis
and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also
acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make
its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this
Agreement.
SECTION 7.05. Indemnification. The Lenders agree to
---------------
indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent (each, an
"Agent") (in each case to the extent not reimbursed by the Company),
-----
ratably according to the respective principal amounts of the Notes then
held by each of them (or if no Notes are at the time outstanding or if
any Notes are held by Persons that are not Lenders, ratably according to
the respective amounts of their Commitments), from and against any and
all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature
whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such
Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any
action taken or omitted by such Agent under this Agreement, provided
that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities,
obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Agent's gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing,
each Lender agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly upon
demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including
counsel fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with
the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification,
amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal
proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or
responsibilities under, this Agreement, to the extent that the
Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Company.
SECTION 7.06. Successor Administrative Agent. The
------------------------------
Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving five Business
Days' written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Company and may be
removed at any time with or without cause (i) by the Majority Lenders
with the Company's approval, which approval shall not unreasonably be
withheld, or (ii) by the Company, subject to the approval of the
Majority Lenders, which approval shall not unreasonably be withheld.
Upon any such resignation or removal, the Company shall have the right
to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, subject to the Majority
Lenders' approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld;
provided that upon and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
the Majority Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor
Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have
been so appointed by the Majority Lenders, and shall have accepted such
appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent's
giving of notice of resignation or the Majority 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 or licensed under the laws of
the United States of America or of any State
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 45 -
thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$500,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative
Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor
Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with
all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges and duties of the
retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent
shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this
Agreement. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation or
removal hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this
Article VII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or
omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this
Agreement.
SECTION 7.07. The Syndication Agent. Except as expressly
---------------------
provided herein, the Syndication Agent shall not have any right, power,
obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other
than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the
foregoing, the Syndication Agent shall not have or be deemed to have any
fiduciary relationship with any other Lender in connection herewith.
Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on
the Syndication Agent in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in
taking or not taking action hereunder.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of
----------------
any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, nor consent to any
departure by the Company therefrom, shall in any event be effective
unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Majority Lenders,
and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that:
(a) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing and signed by all the Lenders, do any of the following:
(1) waive any of the conditions specified in Section
3.01 or 3.02;
(2) increase the Commitments of the Lenders or
subject the Lenders to any additional obligations (other
than as permitted by Sections 2.05(b) and 2.05(d) to the
extent any Lender consents thereunder);
(3) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the A
Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder;
(4) postpone any date fixed for any payment of
principal of, or interest on, the A Notes or any fees or
other amounts payable hereunder (excluding any amounts
payable in connection with the B Notes);
(5) change the percentage of the Commitments or of
the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the A Notes, or the
number of Lenders, that shall be required for the Lenders or
any of them to take any action hereunder;
(6) amend this Section 8.01; or
(7) release the Company from any of its obligations
under Article IX;
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 46 -
(b) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the
Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or
duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any
Note;
(c) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing and signed by the Syndication Agent in addition to the
Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or
duties of the Syndication Agent under this Agreement or any Note;
and
(d) this Section 8.01 shall not apply to changes in
Commitments pursuant to Section 2.05, 2.11 or any other Section of
this Agreement.
SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc. All notices and other
-------------
communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including
telecopier) and mailed, telecopied or delivered by hand:
(a) If to the Company or any other Borrower:
Solutia Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Treasurer
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(b) If to the Administrative Agent:
Citibank, N.A.
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(c) If to any Lender, at the Domestic Lending Office
specified in the Administrative Questionnaire of such Lender,
or, as to the Company (or any other Borrower) or the Administrative
Agent, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a
written notice to the other parties and, as to each other party, at such
other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice
to the Company and the Administrative Agent. All such notices and
communications shall be deemed to have been duly given or made (i) in
the case of hand deliveries, when delivered by hand, (ii) in the case of
mailed notices, when received, and (iii) in the case of telecopier
notice, when transmitted and confirmed during normal business hours (or,
if delivered after the close of normal business hours, at the beginning
of business hours on the next Business Day), except that notices and
communications to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Article II or VII
shall not be effective until received by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 8.03. No Waiver, Remedies. No failure on the part
-------------------
of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay in
exercising, any right hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a
waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such
right preclude any other or
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 47 -
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The
remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any
remedies provided by law.
SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses.
------------------
(a) The Company agrees to pay on demand all out-of-pocket
costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with the
preparation, execution, delivery, modification and amendment of this
Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder,
including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel for the Administrative Agent with respect thereto and with
respect to advising the Administrative Agent as to its rights and
responsibilities under this Agreement. The Company further agrees to
pay on demand all costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders, if any (including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees
and expenses), in connection with the enforcement (whether through
negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of this Agreement, the
Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including,
without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the
Administrative Agent and each Lender in connection with the enforcement
of rights under this Section 8.04(a).
(b) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent and each Lender and each of
their Affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents and
advisors (each, an "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all
-----------------
claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including, without
limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that may be
incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in
each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of, or in
connection with the preparation for a defense of, any investigation,
litigation or proceeding arising out of, related to or in connection
with the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances, in each
case whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is
brought by the Company, its directors, shareholders or creditors or an
Indemnified Party or any other Person or any Indemnified Party is
otherwise a party thereto and whether or not the transactions
contemplated hereby are consummated, except to the extent such claim,
damage, loss, liability or expense is found by a court of competent
jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party's gross
negligence or willful misconduct.
(c) If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any
Eurocurrency Rate Advance is made by any Borrower to or for the account
of a Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such
Advance, or if any payment of principal of any B Advance consisting of a
Fixed Rate Advance is made by any Borrower to or for the account of a
Lender other than on the maturity date of such Advance, as a result of a
prepayment or Conversion pursuant to Sections 2.05(b), 2.08(d) or (e),
2.10 or 2.12, acceleration of the maturity of the Notes pursuant to
Section 6.01 or for any other reason, the Company and such Borrower
jointly and severally agree, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of
such demand to the Administrative Agent), to pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate
such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that it may
reasonably incur as a result of such payment or Conversion, including,
without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits),
cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of
deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such
Advance.
(d) Without prejudice to the survival of any other
agreement of the Company or the other Borrowers hereunder, the
agreements and obligations of the Company and the other Borrowers
contained in Sections 2.11, 2.15 and 8.04 shall survive the payment in
full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and
under the Notes.
SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off. Nothing herein shall
----------------
derogate any Lender's right, if any, if and to the extent payment owed
to such Lender is not made when due hereunder or under any A Note or B
Note held by such Lender, to set off from time to time against any or
all of the Company's or the relevant
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 48 -
Borrowers' respective deposit (general or special, time or demand,
provisional or final) accounts with such Lender any amount so due. Each
Lender agrees promptly to notify the Company (on its own behalf and on
behalf of the relevant Borrower, if applicable) after any such set-off
and application made by such Lender, provided that the failure to give
such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and
application. The rights of each Lender under this Section 8.05 are in
addition to other rights and remedies which such Lender may have.
SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become
--------------
effective when it shall have been executed by the Company and the
Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have been
notified by each Initial Lender that such Initial Lender has executed it
and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Company, the Administrative Agent and each Lender and their respective
successors and assigns, except that no Borrower shall have the right to
assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior
written consent of the Lenders.
SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations, Register.
----------------------------------------
(a) Each Lender may (and shall if requested to do so by the
Company pursuant to Section 2.11, Section 2.12 or 2.15) assign to one or
more Persons all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this
Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its
Commitment, the A Advances owing to it and the A Note held by it, but
excluding the B Advances owing to it and the B Note or B Notes held by
it (other than with respect to an assignment pursuant to Section 2.11,
2.12 or 2.15)); provided that:
(i) other than in the case of an assignment to an Affiliate
of such Lender or assignments of the type described in subsection
(g) below, such Lender shall have obtained the prior written
consent of the Company, the Syndication Agent and the
Administrative Agent, no such consent to be unreasonably withheld;
(ii) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a
varying, percentage of all rights and obligations under this
Agreement;
(iii) except in the case of an assignment to a Person that,
immediately prior to such assignment, was a Lender, or an
assignment by a Lender to an Affiliate of such Lender or an
assignment of all of a Lender's rights and obligations under this
Agreement, the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender
being assigned pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of
the date of the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such
assignment) shall in no event be less than $10,000,000 or an
integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof;
(iv) each such assignment shall be to an Eligible Assignee;
and
(v) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent, for its acceptance and
recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance, together
with any A Note subject to such assignment and a processing and
recordation fee of $3,500.
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 Business Days after the execution
and delivery thereof to the Administrative Agent, (x) the assignee
thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such
Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender
hereunder and (y) the Lender 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
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 49 -
(and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the
remaining portion of an assigning Lender's rights and obligations under
this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto).
(b) By executing and delivering an Assignment and
Acceptance, the Lender assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder
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 this Agreement or the
execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency
or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished
pursuant hereto; (ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial
condition of the Company or the other Borrowers or the performance or
observance by the Company or the other Borrowers of any of their
respective obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or
document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it
has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the
financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and
Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance
upon the Administrative Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender
and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate
at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not
taking action under this Agreement; (v) such assignee confirms that it
is an Eligible Assignee; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the
Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to
exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement as are
delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with
such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and
(vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their
terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are
required to be performed by it as a Lender.
By executing and delivering an Assumption and Acceptance,
the Person assuming a Commitment hereunder confirms to and agrees with
the parties hereto as follows: (i) neither the Administrative Agent,
the Syndication Agent nor any other Lender makes any representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial
condition of the Company or the other Borrowers or the performance or
observance by the Company or the other Borrowers of any of its
obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or document
furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such Person confirms that it has
received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial
statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis
and decision to enter into such Assumption and Acceptance; (iii) such
Person will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative
Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as
it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit
decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (iv) such
Person confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (v) such assignee
appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as
agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under
this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms
hereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably
incidental thereto; and (vi) such Person agrees that it will perform in
accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of
this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain at its address
referred to in Section 8.02 a copy of each 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 A Advances owing to each such Lender from time to time (the
"Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and
--------
binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and each 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 of this
Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the
Company or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 50 -
(d) Upon the Administrative Agent's receipt of an
Acceptance (executed, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance, by an
assigning Lender and an assignee representing that it is an Eligible
Assignee and accompanied by any A Note subject to such assignment, and
executed, in the case of an Assumption and Acceptance, by the Person
assuming a Commitment hereunder), the Administrative Agent shall, if
such Acceptance has been completed and is in substantially the form of
Exhibit C-1 or C-2, as applicable, (i) accept such Acceptance,
(ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and
(iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Company.
Within five Business Days after its receipt of such notice,
each Borrower, at its own expense, shall execute and deliver to the
Administrative Agent:
(x) In the case of an assignment where (1) A Advances of
the assigning Lender are evidenced by an A Note and (2) the
assigning Lender has retained a Commitment hereunder, in exchange
for the surrendered A Note a new A Note payable to the order of
the assigning Lender in an amount equal to the Commitment retained
by it hereunder;
(y) In the case of an assignment to an Eligible Assignee
where such Eligible Assignee has requested that its A Advances be
evidenced by an A Note in accordance with Section 2.06(c), an A
Note payable to the order of such Eligible Assignee in an amount
equal to the Commitment assumed by it pursuant to such Acceptance.
(z) In the case of an assumption of a Commitment hereunder,
where the Person assuming the relevant Commitment hereunder has
requested that its A Advances be evidenced by an A Note in
accordance with Section 2.06(c), a new A Note payable to the order
of such Person in an amount equal to the Commitment assumed by it
pursuant to such Acceptance.
The new A Notes to be executed and delivered by a Borrower
under clauses (x) and (y) above shall be in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the A Note
surrendered in connection with the related assignment, shall be
dated the effective date of such Assignment and Acceptance and
shall otherwise be in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1
hereto. The new A Note to be executed and delivered under clause
(z) above shall be dated the effective date of such Acceptance and
shall otherwise be in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1
hereto.
(e) Each Lender may sell participations to one or more
banks or other entities in or to all or a portion of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or
a portion of its Commitment, the Advances owing to it and/or the Note or
Notes held by it); provided that (i) such Lender's obligations under
this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment hereunder)
shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible
to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations,
(iii) such Lender shall remain the holder of any such Note for all
purposes of this Agreement, (iv) the Company, each other Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely
and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights
and obligations under this Agreement, and (v) no participant under any
such participation shall have any right to approve any amendment or
waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any Note, or any consent to
any departure by the Company or any other Borrower therefrom, except to
the extent that such amendment, waiver or consent would reduce the
principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts
payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such
participation, or postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal
of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable
hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such participation.
Upon the sale of a participation pursuant to this Section 8.07(e), such
Lender shall promptly provide notice to the Company of the sale of a
participation (other than a
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 51 -
sale of a participation pursuant to Section 2.16); provided that the
failure by such Lender to provide such notice shall not invalidate the
sale of such participation.
(f) Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or
participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this
Section 8.07, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed
assignee or participant, any information relating to the Company or any
other Borrower furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Company
or such Borrower; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, the
assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant shall agree
to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating
to the Company and the other Borrowers received by it from such Lender;
provided further that the Company (on its own behalf and on behalf of
the other Borrowers) shall have consented in advance to the disclosure
of any non-public information.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this
Agreement, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in all
or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including, without
limitation, the Advances owing to it and the Notes held by it) in favor
of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
(h) Each Lender agrees that it will not assign any Note or
Notes or sell any participation in any manner or under any circumstances
that would require registration, qualification or filings under the
securities laws of the United States of America, of any state or of any
country.
SECTION 8.08. Governing Law. This Agreement and the Notes
-------------
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
State of New York.
SECTION 8.09. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement
-------------------------
may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be
deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed
counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier shall be
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this
Agreement.
SECTION 8.10. Jurisdiction, Etc.
------------------
(a) Each of the parties hereto (and each Designated
Borrower, by its acceptance of the proceeds of Advances made to it)
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its
property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court
or federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York
City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Notes, or
for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties
hereto and each Designated Borrower hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined in any such New York State or, to
the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties
hereto and each Designated Borrower agrees that a final judgment in any
such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in
other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner
provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that
any party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating
to this Agreement or the Notes in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(b) Each of the parties hereto and each Designated Borrower
irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may
legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Notes in any New
York State or federal court. Each of the parties hereto hereby and each
Designated Borrower irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such
action or proceeding in any such court.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 52 -
SECTION 8.11. Judgment Currency. This is an international
-----------------
loan transaction in which the specification of Dollars or Euros, as the
case may be (the "Specified Currency"), and payment in New York City or
------------------
the country of the Specified Currency, as the case may be (the
"Specified Place"), is of the essence, and the Specified Currency shall
---------------
be the currency of account in all events relating to Advances
denominated in the Specified Currency. The payment obligations of the
Company and the other Borrowers under this Agreement shall not be
discharged or satisfied by an amount paid in another currency or in
another place, whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise, to the
extent that the amount so paid on conversion to the Specified Currency
and transfer to the Specified Place under normal banking procedures does
not yield the amount of the Specified Currency at the Specified Place
due hereunder. If for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it
is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder in the Specified Currency
into another currency (the "Second Currency"), the rate of exchange that
---------------
shall be applied shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal
banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the Specified
Currency with the Second Currency on the Business Day next preceding the
day on which such judgment is rendered. The obligation of the Company
and the other Borrowers in respect of any such sum due from it to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (in this Section called an
"Entitled Person") shall, notwithstanding the rate of exchange actually
---------------
applied in rendering such judgment, be discharged only to the extent
that on the Business Day following receipt by such Entitled Person of
any sum adjudged to be due hereunder in the Second Currency such
Entitled Person may in accordance with normal banking procedures
purchase and transfer to the Specified Place the Specified Currency with
the amount of the Second Currency so adjudged to be due; and the Company
and the applicable Borrower hereby, as a separate obligation and
notwithstanding any such judgment, jointly and severally agree to
indemnify such Entitled Person against, and to pay such Entitled Person
on demand, in the Specified Currency, the amount (if any) by which the
sum originally due to such Entitled Person in the Specified Currency
hereunder exceeds the amount of the Specified Currency so purchased and
transferred.
ARTICLE IX
GUARANTEE
SECTION 9.01. The Guarantee. The Company hereby guarantees
-------------
to each Lender and the Administrative Agent and their respective
successors and assigns the prompt payment in full when due (whether at
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of and
interest on the Advances made by the Lenders to each Designated Borrower
and all other amounts from time to time owing to the Lenders or the
Administrative Agent by any Designated Borrower under this Agreement and
by the Company under any of the other Notes, in each case strictly in
accordance with the terms thereof (such obligations being herein
collectively called the "Guaranteed Obligations"). The Company hereby
----------------------
further agrees that if any Designated Borrower shall fail to pay in full
when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any
of the Guaranteed Obligations owing by such Designated Borrower, the
Company will promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice
whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or
renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly
paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.
SECTION 9.02. Obligations Unconditional. The obligations
-------------------------
of the Company under Section 9.01 are irrevocable, absolute and
unconditional irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity,
regularity or enforceability of the obligations of any of the Designated
Borrowers under this Agreement or any other agreement or instrument
referred to herein, or any substitution, release or exchange of any
other guarantee of or security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations,
and, to the fullest extent permitted
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 53 -
by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever
that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or
defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this Article IX
that the obligations of the Company hereunder shall be absolute and
unconditional under any and all circumstances. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one
or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of the
Company hereunder, which shall remain absolute and unconditional as
described above:
(i) at any time or from time to time, without notice to the
Company, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of
the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance
or compliance shall be waived;
(ii) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of
this Agreement or any other agreement or instrument referred to
herein shall be done or omitted;
(iii) the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations
shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall
be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right
under this Agreement or any other agreement or instrument referred
to herein shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the
Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor shall be released
or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with; or
(iv) any lien or security interest granted to, or in favor
of, the Administrative Agent or any Lender or Lenders as security
for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to be perfected.
The Company hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of
payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that
the Administrative Agent or any Lender exhaust any right, power or
remedy or proceed against any of the Designated Borrowers under this
Agreement or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein, or
against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for,
any of the Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 9.03. Reinstatement. The obligations of the
-------------
Company under this Article IX shall be automatically reinstated if and
to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of any of
the Designated Borrowers in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is
rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the
Guaranteed Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in
bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, and the Company agrees that
it will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender on demand for
all reasonable costs and expenses (including fees of counsel) incurred
by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in connection with such
rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses
incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment
constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under
any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.
SECTION 9.04. Subrogation. The Company hereby agrees that
-----------
until the payment and satisfaction in full of all Guaranteed Obligations
and the expiration and termination of the Commitments of the Lenders
under this Agreement it shall not exercise any right or remedy arising
by reason of any performance by it of its guarantee in Section 9.01,
whether by subrogation or otherwise, against any Designated Borrower or
any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security
for any of the Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 9.05. Remedies. The Company agrees that, as
--------
between the Company and the Lenders, the obligations of the Designated
Borrowers under this Agreement may be declared to be forthwith due and
payable as provided in Article VI (and shall be deemed to have become
automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in
Article VI) for purposes of Section 9.01
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 54 -
notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing
such declaration (or such obligations from becoming automatically due
and payable) as against any of the Designated Borrowers and that, in the
event of such declaration (or such obligations being deemed to have
become automatically due and payable), such obligations (whether or not
due and payable by such Designated Borrower) shall forthwith become due
and payable by the Company for purposes of Section 9.01.
SECTION 9.06. Instrument for the Payment of Money. The
-----------------------------------
Company hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Article IX
constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and
agrees that any Lender or the Administrative Agent, at its sole option,
in the event of a dispute by the Company in the payment of any moneys
due hereunder, shall have the right to bring motion-action under New
York CPLR Section 3213.
SECTION 9.07. Continuing Guarantee. The guarantee in this
--------------------
Article IX is a continuing guarantee of payment (and not of collection),
and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever arising.
[remainder of page intentionally blank]
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 55 -
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized, as of the date first above written.
SOLUTIA INC.
By /s/ ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name: ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Attorney-in-Fact
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Syndication Agent
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 56 -
Commitment INITIAL LENDERS
---------- ---------------
$25,000,000.00 CITIBANK, N.A.
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Attorney-in-Fact
$25,000,000.00 BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
$20,000,000.00 ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Assistant Vice President
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Group Vice President
$20,000,000.00 THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, LTD.,
CHICAGO BRANCH
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Deputy General Manager
$20,000,000.00 BANK ONE, N.A.
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 57 -
$20,000,000.00 THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Vice President
$20,000,000.00 DEUTSCHE BANK A.G.,
NEW YORK BRANCH
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Assistant Vice President
$20,000,000.00 HSBC BANK, USA
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President - Officer
#9426
$20,000,000.00 KBC BANK N.V.
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: First Vice President
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: First Vice President
$20,000,000.00 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
OF NEW YORK
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Associate
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 58 -
$20,000,000.00 THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Second Vice President
$20,000,000.00 WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President
$12,500,000.00 MELLON BANK, N.A.
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
$12,500,000.00 MERCANTILE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
$12,500,000.00 SOCIETE GENERALE
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Director
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
- 59 -
$12,500,000.00 THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President
$300,000,000.00 Total of Commitments
===============
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE 1
Existing Liens
--------------
By a Deed of Trust and Security Agreement dated as of
August 26, 1999 and a Funding, Mortgage and Lease Agreement of the same
date, made by Solutia Inc., Solutia granted a lien upon and security
interest in Solutia rights as lessee in and against an office building
(which is Solutia's new headquarters) consisting of approximately
270,000 square feet and other fixtures and improvements located on the
site at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. This is a
synthetic lease with State Street Bank and Trust of Missouri NA as
lessor and Solutia as Lessee.
SCHEDULE 2A
Pricing Grid
------------
"Applicable Margin" means, for any A Advance (whether
-----------------
denominated in Dollars or Euros) that is a Eurocurrency Rate Advance for
any period during which the Rated Securities are within any Rating Level
set forth below, the rate set forth below opposite the reference to such
Rating Level:
Rating Level Applicable Margin (p.a.)
------------ ------------------------
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.205%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.290%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.450%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.625%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.850%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 1.000%;
provided that, if the ratings of the Rated Securities established by S&P
and ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ shall fall within different Rating Levels, the Applicable
Margin shall be determined by reference to the higher of the two Rating
Levels (except that, if the lower such Rating Level is more than one
Rating Level below the higher such Rating Level, the Applicable Margin
shall be determined by reference to the Rating Level that is one Rating
Level higher than the lower such Rating Level). Each change in the
Applicable Margin resulting from a Rating Level Change shall be
effective on the effective date of such Rating Level Change.
"Facility Fee Rate" means, for any period during which the
-----------------
Rated Securities are within any Rating Level set forth below, the rate
set forth below opposite the reference to such Rating Level:
Rating Level Facility Fee Rate (p.a.)
------------ ------------------------
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.070%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.085%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.100%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.125%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.150%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.250%;
provided that, if the ratings of the Rated Securities established by S&P
and ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ shall fall within different Rating Levels, the Facility Fee
Rate shall be determined by reference to the higher of the two Rating
Levels (except that, if the lower such Rating Level is more than one
Rating Level below the higher such Rating Level, the Facility Fee Rate
shall be determined by reference to the Rating Level that is one Rating
Level higher than the lower such Rating Level). Each change in the
Facility Fee Rate resulting from a Rating Level Change shall be
effective on the effective date of such Rating Level Change.
- 2 -
"Utilization Fee Rate" means, for any period during which
--------------------
the Rated Securities are within any Rating Level set forth below, the
rate set forth below opposite the reference to such Rating Level:
Rating Level Utilization Fee Rate (p.a.)
------------ ---------------------------
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.125%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.125%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.125%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.125%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.125%
Rating ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ 0.250%;
provided that, if the ratings of the Rated Securities established by S&P
and ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ shall fall within different Rating Levels, the Utilization
Fee Rate shall be determined by reference to the higher of the two
Rating Levels (except that, if the lower such Rating Level is more than
one Rating Level below the higher such Rating Level, the Utilization Fee
Rate shall be determined by reference to the Rating Level that is one
Rating Level higher than the lower such Rating Level). Each change in
the Utilization Fee Rate resulting from a Rating Level Change shall be
effective on the effective date of such Rating Level Change.
SCHEDULE 2B
SOLUTIA INC.
$300MM 364-DAY REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
PRICING GRID
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ 5 LEVEL 6
BASIS FOR Long Term Senior Long Term Senior Long Term Senior Long Term Senior Long Term Senior Long Term Senior
PRICING Unsecured Debt Unsecured Debt Unsecured Debt Unsecured Debt Unsecured Debt Unsecured Debt
Rated At Least A Rated Less Than Rated Less Than Rated Less Than Rated Less Than Rated Lower Than
By Standard & Level 1 But At Level 2 But At Level 3 But At Level 4 But At Level 5 Or Not
Poor's or A2 Least A- By Least BBB+ By Least BBB By Least BBB- By Rated.
-- Standard & Poor's Standard & Poor's Standard & Poor's Standard & Poor's
By ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ or A3 By or Baa1 By or Baa2 By or Baa3 By
-- -- -- --
▇▇▇▇▇'▇ ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ ▇▇▇▇▇'▇
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FACILITY FEE 7.0 bps 8.5 bps 10.0 bps 12.5 bps 15.0 bps 25.0 bps
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APPLICABLE 20.5 bps 29.0 bps 45.0 bps 62.5 bps 85.0 bps 100.0 bps
MARGIN
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DRAWN COST LIBOR + 27.5 bps LIBOR + 37.5 bps LIBOR + 55.0 bps LIBOR + 75.0 bps LIBOR + 100.0 bps LIBOR + 125.0 bps
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UTILIZATION FEE 12.5 bps 12.5 bps 12.5 bps 12.5 bps 12.5 bps 25.0 bps
USAGE > 33%
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FULLY DRAWN LIBOR + 40.0 bps LIBOR + 50.0 bps LIBOR + 67.5 bps LIBOR + 87.5 bps LIBOR + 112.5 bps LIBOR + 150.0 bps
COST
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This pricing grid is intended to be a summary of the Applicable Margin, Facility Fee Rate and Rating Level definitions in the
Credit Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between this pricing grid and the actual terms of the Credit Agreement
(including the definitions set forth on Schedule 2A), the terms of the Credit Agreement shall control and govern.
If Solutia Inc. is split-rated and the ratings fall in different Rating Levels, the higher of the two Rating Levels will apply
(except that, if the lower such Rating Level is more than one Rating Level below the higher such Rating Level, the Rating
Level that is one Rating Level higher than the lower such Rating Level will apply).
Facility Fee plus Applicable Margin.
Drawn Cost plus Utilization Fee.
EXHIBIT A-1
[Form of A Note]
U.S. $ Dated:
----------- ----------
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, [insert name of
Borrower], a [insert type of entity] organized under the laws of [insert
jurisdiction] (the "Borrower"), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the
--------
order of (the "Lender") for the account of its Applicable
---------- ------
Lending Office the principal sum of [INSERT DOLLARS AND CENTS IN WORDS]
(or, to the extent of any A Advances that are denominated in Euros, the
aggregate principal amount thereof in such Currency) or such lesser
amount as shall equal the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the A
Advances made by the Lender to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement,
in immediately available funds, on the dates, in such Currency and in
the principal amounts provided in the Credit Agreement referred to
below. Terms used in this Note and not otherwise defined have the
meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement referred to below.
The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid
principal amount of each A Advance made to the Borrower from the date of
such A Advance until such principal amount is paid in full, at such
interest rates, in such Currency, and payable at such times, as are
specified in the Credit Agreement.
Both principal and interest of each A Advance are payable in
the Currency in which such A Advance is denominated to Citibank, N.A.
("Citibank"), as Administrative Agent, at the Administrative Agent's
--------
Account, in same day funds. Each A Advance made by the Lender to the
Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and all payments made on
account of principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender and, prior
to any transfer hereof, endorsed on the grid attached hereto which is
part of this Note; provided that the failure of the Lender to make any
such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the
Borrower hereunder or under the Credit Agreement.
This Note is one of the A Notes referred to in, and is
entitled to the benefits of, the 364-Day Multicurrency Credit Agreement
dated as of November 23, 1999 (as from time to time amended, the
"Credit Agreement") among Solutia Inc. (the "Company"), the Lender
---------------- -------
and certain other lenders parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as
Syndication Agent, and Citibank, as Administrative Agent for the Lender
and such other lenders. The Credit Agreement, among other things,
(i) provides for the making of advances (the "A Advances") by the
----------
Lender to the Borrower from time to time in Dollars and Euros in an
aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the U.S. dollar
amount (or Dollar Equivalent) first above mentioned, the indebtedness of
the Borrower resulting from each such A Advance being evidenced by this
Note, and (ii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity
hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for
prepayments on account of principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof
upon the terms and conditions therein specified.
[Pursuant to Article IX of the Credit Agreement, this Note
is absolutely and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company.]
The Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, protest and
notice of any kind. No failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising,
any rights hereunder on the part of the holder hereof shall operate as a
waiver of such rights.
[FN]
---------------
For A Notes for the Company as Borrower, insert "SOLUTIA INC., a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware".
For A Notes for a Designated Borrower as Borrower, insert
analogous information.
Include in Notes of Designated Borrowers.
- 2 -
This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the law of the State of New York, United States.
[NAME OF BORROWER]
By
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
ADVANCES AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL
===================================================================================================================================
AMOUNT OF
PRINCIPAL UNPAID
AMOUNT OF CURRENCY OF MATURITY OF PAID OR PRINCIPAL NOTATION
DATE A ADVANCE A ADVANCE A ADVANCE PREPAID BALANCE MADE BY
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===================================================================================================================================
EXHIBIT A-2
[Form of B Note]
[U.S.$] [EUROS] Dated:
----------- ----------
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, [insert name of
Borrower], a [insert type of entity] organized under the laws of [insert
jurisdiction] (the "Borrower"), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the
--------
order of (the "Lender") for the account of its Applicable
---------- ------
Lending Office the principal sum of [INSERT DOLLARS AND CENTS (OR EUROS)
IN WORDS] on [ , ]. Terms used in this Note and not
-------- -- ----
otherwise defined have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit
Agreement referred to below.
The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid
principal amount hereof from the date hereof until such principal amount
is paid in full, in the Currency, at the interest rate and payable on
the interest payment date or dates provided below:
Currency: [Dollars][Euros]
Interest Rate: % per annum (calculated on
-----
the basis of a year of days
-----
for the actual number of days
elapsed).
Interest Payment Date or Dates:
--------------------------------
Both principal and interest are payable in [Dollars] [Euros]
to Citibank, N.A. ("Citibank"), as Administrative Agent, at the
--------
Administrative Agent's Account, in same day funds, free and clear of and
without any deduction, with respect to the payee named above, for any
and all present and future taxes, deductions, charges or withholdings,
and all liabilities with respect thereto, as set forth in the Credit
Agreement.
This Note is one of the B Notes referred to in, and is
entitled to the benefits of, the 364-Day Multicurrency Credit Agreement
dated as of November 23, 1999 (as from time to time amended, the
"Credit Agreement") among Solutia Inc. (the "Company"), the Lender
---------------- -------
and certain other lenders parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as
Syndication Agent, and Citibank, as Administrative Agent for the Lender
and such other lenders. The Credit Agreement, among other things,
contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the
happening of certain stated events.
[Pursuant to Article IX of the Credit Agreement, this Note
is absolutely and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company.]
The Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, protest and
notice of any kind. No failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising,
any rights hereunder on the part of the holder hereof shall operate as a
waiver of such rights.
[FN]
----------------
For A Notes for the Company as Borrower, insert "SOLUTIA INC., a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware".
For A Notes for a Designated Borrower as Borrower, insert
analogous information.
Include in Notes of Designated Borrowers.
- 2 -
This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the law of the State of New York, United States.
[NAME OF BORROWER]
By
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT B-1
[Form of Notice of A Borrowing]
[Date]
Citibank, N.A., as Administrative
Agent for the Lenders parties
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Solutia Inc., refers to the 364-Day
Multicurrency Credit Agreement dated as of November 23, 1999 (as amended
from time to time, the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein
----------------
being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain
Lenders parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent,
and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for said Lenders, and hereby
gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Credit
Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests an A Borrowing (the
"Proposed A Borrowing") under the Credit Agreement, and in that
--------------------
connection sets forth below the information relating to the Proposed A
Borrowing as required by Section 2.02(a) of the Credit Agreement:
(1) The Business Day of the Proposed A Borrowing is
, .
-------- ----
(2) The Type of Advances comprising the Proposed A
Borrowing is [Base Rate Advances] [Eurocurrency Rate
Advances].
(3) The Currency of the Proposed A Borrowing is
[Dollars][Euros].
(4) The aggregate amount of the Proposed A Borrowing is
[U.S. $] [Euros] .
---------
(5) The initial Interest Period for each Eurocurrency Rate
Advance made as part of the Proposed A Borrowing is
[ ] month[s].
--
(6) the Borrower of the A Advances to be made as part of
the Proposed A Borrowing is [the Company][the
following Designated Borrower: ].
-----------------
The undersigned hereby certifies that the following
statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of
the Proposed A Borrowing:
(A) the representations and warranties contained in Section
4.01 of the Credit Agreement (except the Excluded Representations)
are correct, before and after giving effect to the Proposed A
Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as
though made on and as of such date; and
[FN]
-------------
Include in borrowing notices relating to Eurocurrency Rate
Advances.
- 2 -
(B) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would
result from such Proposed A Borrowing or from the application of
the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default.
Very truly yours,
SOLUTIA INC. [on behalf of the Designated
Borrower referred to above]
By
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[FN]
-------------
Insert if applicable.
EXHIBIT B-2
[Form of Notice of B Borrowing]
[Date]
Citibank, N.A., as Administrative
Agent for the Lenders parties
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Solutia Inc., refers to the 364-Day
Multicurrency Credit Agreement dated as of November 23, 1999 (as amended
from time to time, the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein
----------------
being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain
Lenders parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent,
and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for said Lenders, and hereby
gives you notice, irrevocably pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit
Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a B Borrowing (the
"Proposed B Borrowing") under the Credit Agreement, and in that
--------------------
connection sets forth the terms on which the Proposed B Borrowing is
requested to be made:
(1) Date of B Borrowing:
--------------------
(2) Amount of B Borrowing:
--------------------
(3) Currency of B Borrowing: [Dollars][Euros]
(4) Maturity Date of B Borrowing:
--------------------
(5) Interest Rate Basis:
--------------------
(6) Interest Payment Date(s)
--------------------
(7) Type of B Borrowing: [Fixed Rate Advance]
[Floating Rate Advance]
(8) Name of Borrower: [the Company][The
following Designated
Borrower: ]
----------
(9) Other Terms:
-----------------------
-----------------------
The undersigned hereby certifies that the following
statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of
the Proposed B Borrowing:
[FN]
-------------
Maturity date may not be earlier than the date occurring thirty
days after the date of the Proposed B Borrowing or later than the
Commitment Termination Date.
- 2 -
(a) the representations and warranties contained in
Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement (except the Excluded
Representations) are correct, before and after giving effect to
the Proposed B Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds
therefrom, as though made on and as of such date;
(b) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would
result from the Proposed B Borrowing or from the application of
the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default; and
(c) in compliance with Section 2.03(a) of the Credit
Agreement, the aggregate amount of the Proposed B Borrowing in
Dollars or in Euros and all other Borrowings to be made on the
same day under the Credit Agreement is within the aggregate amount
of the unused Commitments of the Lenders.
The undersigned hereby confirms that the Proposed B
Borrowing is to be made available to it in accordance with Section
2.03(a)(v) of the Credit Agreement.
Very truly yours,
SOLUTIA INC. [on behalf of the Designated
Borrower referred to above]
By
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[FN]
------------
Insert if applicable.
EXHIBIT C-1
[Form of Assignment and Acceptance]
Reference is made to the 364-Day Multicurrency Credit
Agreement dated as of November 23, 1999 (as amended from time to time,
the "Credit Agreement") among Solutia Inc., a Delaware corporation
----------------
(the "Company"), the Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement),
-------
Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and Citibank, N.A., as
administrative agent for the Lenders (the "Administrative Agent").
--------------------
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same
meaning unless otherwise defined herein.
The "Assignor" and the "Assignee" referred to on Schedule 1
hereto agree as follows:
1. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee,
and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor,
an interest in and to the Assignor's rights and obligations under
the Credit Agreement as of the date hereof (other than in respect
of B Advances and B Notes) equal to the percentage interest
specified on Schedule 1 hereto of all outstanding rights and
obligations of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement (other than
in respect of B Advances and B Notes) including, without
limitation, such interest in the Assignor's Commitment, the A
Advances owing to the Assignor and any A Notes held by the
Assignor. After giving effect to such sale and assignment, the
Assignee's Commitment and the amount of the A Advances owing to
the Assignee will be as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.
2. The Assignor (i) represents and warrants that it is the
legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it
hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any adverse
claim; (ii) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no
responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or
representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement
or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (iii) makes no
representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with
respect to the financial condition of the Company (or any other
Borrower) or the performance or observance by the Company (or any
other Borrower) of any of its obligations under the Credit
Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant
thereto; [and] (iv) represents and warrants that the assignment
being made hereby shall not require registration, qualification or
any filings to be made under the securities laws of the United
States of America, of any state or of any country; [and (v)
attaches the A Note of each Borrower held by the Assignor and
requests that the Administrative Agent exchange such A Notes for
new A Notes payable by the respective Borrowers to the order of
the Assignor in an amount equal to the Commitment retained by the
Assignor under the Credit Agreement, as specified on Schedule 1
hereto].
3. The Assignee (i) confirms that it has received a copy of
the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial
statements referred to in Section 4.01 thereof and such other
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its
own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and
Acceptance; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without
reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, the
Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to
make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under
the Credit Agreement; (iii) confirms that it is an Eligible
Assignee; (iv) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to
take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such
powers and
[FN]
-------------
Include bracketed text if the Assignor is retaining a Commitment
under the Credit Agreement and holds A Notes executed pursuant to
a request made by such Assignor under Section 2.06(c) of the
Credit Agreement.
- 2 -
discretion under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to the
Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such
powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; (v)
agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of
the obligations that by the terms of the Credit Agreement are
required to be performed by it as a Lender; [and] (vi) attaches
any U.S. Internal Revenue Service forms required under Section
2.15 of the Credit Agreement; [and (vi) requests, in accordance
with Section 2.06(c) of the Credit Agreement, that its A Advances
to each Borrower be evidenced by an A Note payable by such
Borrower to the order of the Assignee in an amount equal to the
Commitment assumed by it, as specified on Schedule 1 hereto].
4. Following the execution of this Assignment and
Acceptance, it will be delivered to the Administrative Agent for
acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent. The
effective date for this Assignment and Acceptance (the "Effective
---------
Date") shall be the date of acceptance hereof by the
----
Administrative Agent, unless otherwise specified on Schedule 1
hereto.
5. Upon such acceptance and recording by the Administrative
Agent, as of the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall be a party
to the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this
Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a
Lender thereunder and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent
provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights
and be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.
6. Upon such acceptance and recording by the Administrative
Agent, from and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent
shall make all payments under the Credit Agreement and the A Notes
in respect of the interest assigned hereby (including, without
limitation, all payments of principal, interest, Facility Fees and
Utilization Fees with respect thereto) to the Assignee. The
Assignor and Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in
payments under the Credit Agreement and the A Notes for periods
prior to the Effective Date directly between themselves.
7. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
8. This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be
an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one
and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of
Schedule 1 to this Assignment and Acceptance by telecopier shall
be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of
this Assignment and Acceptance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Assignor and the Assignee have
caused Schedule 1 to this Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by
their officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date specified
thereon.
[FN]
------------
Include bracketed text if the Assignee requests that its A
Advances be evidenced by promissory notes in accordance with
Section 2.06(c) of the Credit Agreement.
Schedule 1
to
Assignment and Acceptance
Percentage interest assigned: %
-------
Assignee's Commitment: $
------------
Aggregate outstanding principal
amount of A Advances assigned: $
------------
and Euros
-------------
Principal amount of A Note of each
Borrower payable to Assignee: $
------------
Principal amount of A Note of each
Borrower payable to Assignor: $
------------
Effective Date (if other than date of
acceptance by the Administrative Agent): ,
------------ ----
Dated: , [NAME OF ASSIGNOR], as Assignor
-------------- ----
By
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Dated: , [NAME OF ASSIGNEE], as Assignee
-------------- ----
By
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Domestic Lending Office: [Address]
Eurocurrency Lending Office: [Address]
[FN]
----------------
This date should be no earlier than five Business Days after the
delivery of this Assignment and Acceptance to the Administrative
Agent.
- 2 -
Accepted [and consented to] this
day of , 19
-- ------ --
CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent
By
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Consented to:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Syndication Agent
By
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:]
[Consented to this day
--
of ,
---------- ----
SOLUTIA INC., on its own behalf and on
behalf of each of the Designated Borrowers
By
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:]
[FN]
---------------
Required if the assignment is other than to an Affiliate of the
Assignor or pursuant to the terms of Section 8.07(g) of the Credit
Agreement.
EXHIBIT C-2
[Form of Assumption and Acceptance]
Dated ,
-------------- ----
Solutia Inc.
Citibank, N.A., as
Administrative Agent for
the Lenders parties
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the 364-Day Multicurrency Credit
Agreement dated as of November 23, 1999 (as amended from time to time,
the "Credit Agreement") among Solutia Inc., a Delaware corporation
----------------
(the "Company"), the Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement),
-------
Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and Citibank, N.A., as
administrative agent for the Lenders (the "Administrative Agent").
--------------------
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same
meaning unless otherwise defined herein.
1. [INSERT NAME OF ADDITIONAL COMMITMENT LENDER] (the
"Additional Commitment Lender") agrees to become a party to the
----------------------------
Credit Agreement and to have the rights and perform the
obligations of a Lender under the Credit Agreement, and to be
bound in all respects by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
2. The Additional Commitment Lender hereby agrees to a
Commitment of [INSERT AMOUNT OF PROPOSED COMMITMENT] (the
"Proposed Commitment").
-------------------
3. The Additional Commitment Lender (i) agrees that no
Lender has made any representation or warranty, or assumes any
responsibility with respect to, (x) any statements, warranties or
representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement
or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto or (y) the
financial condition of the Company (or any other Borrower) or the
performance or observance by the Company (or any other Borrower)
of any of its obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (ii) confirms
that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with
copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01
thereof and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter
into this Assumption and Acceptance; (iii) agrees that it will,
independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent,
the Syndication Agent or any other Lender and based on such
documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not
taking action under the Credit Agreement; (iv) confirms that it is
an Eligible Assignee; (v) appoints and authorizes the
Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf
and to exercise such powers and
- 2 -
discretion under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to the
Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such
powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; (vi)
agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of
the obligations that by the terms of the Credit Agreement are
required to be performed by it as a Lender; and (vii) attaches any
U.S. Internal Revenue Service forms required under Section 2.15 of
the Credit Agreement.
4. The effective date for this Acceptance shall be
[ , ] (the "Assumption Date"); provided that
-------------- ---- ---------------
this Acceptance has been fully executed and delivered to the
Administrative Agent for acceptance and recording by the
Administrative Agent on or prior to such Assumption Date.
5. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording
and as of the Assumption Date, the Additional Commitment Lender
shall be a party to the Credit Agreement with a Commitment equal
to the Proposed Commitment and, to the extent provided in this
Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender
thereunder.
6. Upon such acceptance and recording, from and after the
Assumption Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments
under the Credit Agreement in respect of the Proposed Commitment
provided for in this Acceptance (including, without limitation,
all payments of principal, interest, Facility Fees and Utilization
Fees with respect thereto) to the Additional Commitment Lender.
7. This Acceptance shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the law of the State of New York.
8. This Acceptance may be signed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same as
if the signatures were upon the same instrument.
[remainder of page intentionally blank]
- 3 -
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Additional Commitment Lender has
caused Acceptance to be executed by its officers thereunto duly
authorized as of the date specified above.
[NAME OF ADDITIONAL COMMITMENT
LENDER]
By
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Domestic Lending Office: [Address]
Eurocurrency Lending Office: [Address]
This Assumption and Acceptance is
hereby acknowledged and agreed on
as of the date set forth above.
SOLUTIA INC.
By
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent
By
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Syndication Agent
By
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT D
[Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Company]
November 23, 1999
To the Lenders party to the
Credit Agreement referred to
below
Citibank, N.A., as Administrative
Agent
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to Section 3.01(b)(1)
of the 364-Day Multicurrency Credit Agreement dated as of November 23,
1999 (the "Credit Agreement"), among Solutia Inc., a Delaware corporation
----------------
(the "Company"), the Lenders parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as
-------
Syndication Agent, and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for said
Lenders. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein
defined.
I am General Counsel of the Company and am familiar with the
preparation, execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement.
In that connection, I or persons under my supervision have
examined or are familiar with: (1) the Credit Agreement, the A Notes
and the form of the B Note; (2) the documents furnished by the Company
pursuant to Article III of the Credit Agreement; (3) the certificate of
incorporation of the Company and all amendments thereto (the "Charter");
-------
(4) the by-laws of the Company and all amendments thereto (the
"By-laws"); and (5) a certificate of the Secretary of State of
-------
Delaware, dated November 23, 1999, certifying as to the continued
corporate existence and good standing of the Company in that State.
In addition, I or persons under my supervision have examined
or are familiar with the originals, or copies certified to my
satisfaction, of such other corporate records of the Company,
certificates of public officials and of officers of the Company, and
agreements, instruments and other documents, and made such other
investigations and review of relevant documents as I have deemed
necessary as a basis of the opinions expressed below. I have assumed
the due execution and delivery, pursuant to due authorization, of the
Credit Agreement by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.
I am qualified to practice law in the State of Missouri. My
opinions expressed below are limited to the law of the State of
Missouri, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the
Federal law of the United States.
Based upon the foregoing and upon such investigation as I
have deemed necessary, I am of the following opinion:
1. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware.
2. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company
of the Credit Agreement and the Notes, and the other transactions
contemplated by the Credit Agreement, are within the
- 2 -
Company's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action, and do not contravene (i) the Charter
or the By-laws, (ii) any law, rule or regulation applicable to the
Company (including, without limitation, Regulation X of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) or (iii) to the best
of my knowledge, any contractual or legal restriction contained in
any indenture or other agreement or instrument to which the
Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party or is
bound. The Credit Agreement, and the Notes delivered today, have
been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company.
3. No authorization, approval or other action by, and no
notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory
body or any other third party is required for the due execution,
delivery and performance by the Company of the Credit Agreement
and the Notes.
4. The Credit Agreement is, and each Note of the Company
when delivered under the Credit Agreement will be, legal, valid
and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their respective terms.
5. In any action or proceeding arising out of or relating
to the Credit Agreement or the Notes in any court of the State of
Missouri or in any Federal court sitting in the State of Missouri,
such court would recognize and give effect to the provisions of
Section 8.08 of the Credit Agreement wherein the parties thereto
agree that the Credit Agreement and the Notes shall be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New
York. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a court
of the State of Missouri or a Federal court sitting in the State
of Missouri would apply the usury law of the State of New York to
the Credit Agreement and the Notes. However, if a court were to
hold that the Credit Agreement and the Notes are governed by, and
to be construed in accordance with, the law of the State of
Missouri, the Credit Agreement and the Notes of the Company would
be, under the laws of the State of Missouri, legal, valid and
binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company
in accordance with their respective terms.
6. Except as described in the Company's Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 or in the Company's
Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30,
1999, there is no pending or overtly threatened action or
proceeding affecting the Company or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator
which (i) would have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) purports to
affect, or would affect, the legality, validity or enforceability
of the Credit Agreement or any Note.
7. Neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries
is an "investment company", or an "affiliated person" of, or
"promoter" or "principal underwriter" for, an "investment
company," as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended. Neither the Company nor any of its Material
Subsidiaries is a "holding company", or an "affiliate" of a
"holding company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding
company", within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935, as amended.
References herein to the Credit Agreement include the
guarantee by the Company of obligations of Designated Borrowers set
forth in Article IX of the Credit Agreement.
The foregoing opinions are subject to the following comments
and qualifications:
(A) The enforceability of Section 8.04(b) of the Credit
Agreement (and any other similar provisions therein) may be
limited by laws limiting the enforceability of provisions
exculpating or exempting a party from, or requiring
indemnification of a party for, its own action or inaction, to the
extent such action or inaction involves gross negligence,
recklessness or willful or unlawful conduct.
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(B) Clause (iii) of the second sentence of Section 9.02 of
the Credit Agreement may not be enforceable to the extent that the
Guaranteed Obligations are materially modified.
(C) The enforceability of provisions in the Credit
Agreement and the Notes to the effect that terms may not be waived
or modified except in writing may be limited under certain
circumstances.
(D) I express no opinion as to (i) the effect of the laws
of any jurisdiction in which any Lender is located (other than the
State of Missouri) that limit the interest, fees or other charges
such Lender may impose, (ii) the second sentence of Section 2.16
of the Credit Agreement, (iii) the first sentence of Section 8.10(a)
of the Credit Agreement, insofar as such sentence relates to the
subject matter jurisdiction of any federal court sitting in New York
City to adjudicate any controversy related to the Credit Agreement
and the Notes, (iv) the second sentence of Section 8.10(a), (v) the
waiver of inconvenient forum set forth in Section 8.10(b) of the
Credit Agreement with respect to proceedings in any federal court
sitting in New York City, (vi) Section 8.11 of the Credit Agreement
and (vii) Section 9.06 of the Credit Agreement.
(E) My opinion in paragraph 4 above as to the enforceability
of the Credit Agreement and the Notes is subject to the effect of
(a) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without
limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfer or preferential
transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar law affecting
creditors' rights generally and (b) general principles of equity,
including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness,
good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
Very truly yours,
EXHIBIT E
[Form of Opinion of Special New York Counsel
to the Administrative Agent]
November 23, 1999
To the Lenders party to the
Credit Agreement referred to
below
Citibank, N.A., as Administrative
Agent
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special New York counsel to the Administrative
Agent in connection with the 364-Day Multicurrency Credit Agreement
dated as of November 23, 1999 (the "Credit Agreement") among Solutia Inc.
----------------
(the "Company"), the Lenders parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A.,
-------
as Syndication Agent, and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent,
providing for loans to be made by said Lenders to the Company and the
Designated Borrowers in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding
$300,000,000. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein
as defined therein. This opinion is being delivered pursuant to
Section 3.01(b)(2) of the Credit Agreement.
In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have examined
the Credit Agreement and the Notes being executed and delivered on the
date hereof (the "Notes" and collectively with the Credit Agreement,
-----
the "Loan Documents").
--------------
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals and the conformity with authentic original documents of all
documents submitted to us as copies.
In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed,
with respect to the Loan Documents, that:
(i) the Loan Documents have been duly authorized by, have
been duly executed and delivered by, and (except to the extent set
forth in the opinions below as to the Company) constitute legal,
valid, binding and enforceable obligations of, all of the parties
thereto;
(ii) all signatories to the Loan Documents have been duly
authorized; and
(iii) all of the parties to the Loan Documents are duly
organized and validly existing and have the power and authority
(corporate or other) to execute, deliver and perform the Loan
Documents.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject also to
the comments and qualifications set forth below, and having considered
such questions of law as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the
opinions expressed below, we are of the opinion that each Loan Document
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
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fraudulent conveyance or transfer or other similar laws relating
to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and except as
the enforceability of such Loan Document is subject to the
application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including,
without limitation, (a) the possible unavailability of specific
performance, injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy and
(b) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing.
The foregoing opinions are subject to the following comments
and qualifications:
(A) The enforceability of Section 8.04(b) of the Credit
Agreement (and any other similar provisions therein) may be
limited by laws limiting the enforceability of provisions
exculpating or exempting a party from, or requiring
indemnification of a party for, its own action or inaction, to the
extent such action or inaction involves gross negligence,
recklessness or willful or unlawful conduct.
(B) Clause (iii) of the second sentence of Section 9.02 of
the Credit Agreement may not be enforceable to the extent that the
Guaranteed Obligations are materially modified.
(C) The enforceability of provisions in the Loan Documents
to the effect that terms may not be waived or modified except in
writing may be limited under certain circumstances.
(D) We express no opinion as to (i) the effect of the laws
of any jurisdiction in which any Lender is located (other than the
State of New York) that limit the interest, fees or other charges
such Lender may impose, (ii) the second sentence of Section 2.16
of the Credit Agreement, (iii) the first sentence of Section 8.10(a)
of the Credit Agreement, insofar as such sentence relates to the
subject matter jurisdiction of any federal court sitting in New York
City to adjudicate any controversy related to the Loan Documents,
(iv) the second sentence of Section 8.10(a), (v) the waiver of
inconvenient forum set forth in Section 8.10(b) of the Credit Agreement
with respect to proceedings in any federal court sitting in New York
City, (vi) Section 8.11 of the Credit Agreement and (vii) Section 9.06
of the Credit Agreement.
(E) We point out with reference to obligations stated to be
payable in a currency other than Dollars that (i) a New York
statute provides that a judgment rendered by a court of the State
of New York in respect of an obligation denominated in any such
other currency would be rendered in such other currency and would
be converted into Dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing on
the date of entry of the judgment and (ii) a judgment rendered by
a Federal court sitting in the State of New York in respect of an
obligation denominated in any such other currency may be expressed
in Dollars, but we express no opinion as to the rate of exchange
such Federal court would apply.
The foregoing opinions are limited to matters involving the
Federal laws of the United States and the law of the State of New York,
and we do not express any opinion as to the laws of any other
jurisdiction.
This opinion letter is, pursuant to Section 3.01(b)(2) of
the Credit Agreement, provided to you by us in our capacity as special
New York counsel to the Administrative Agent and may not be relied upon
by any Person for any purpose other than in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement without, in each
instance, our prior written consent.
Very truly yours,
EKM/RJW
EXHIBIT F-1
FORM OF DESIGNATION LETTER
,
------------ -- ----
Citibank, N.A., as Administrative
Agent for the Lenders parties
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We refer to the Credit Agreement (as amended, supplemented
and otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the "Credit
------
Agreement") dated as of November 23, 1999 among Solutia Inc. (the
---------
"Company"), the Lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as
-------
Syndication Agent, and Citibank, as Administrative Agent for the
Lenders. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as
defined therein.
The Company hereby designates [ ] (the "Designated
------------ ----------
Borrower"), a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company and a
--------
[corporation duly incorporated under the laws of [ ]], as a
-------------
Borrower in accordance with Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement until
such designation is terminated in accordance with said Section 2.17.
The Designated Borrower hereby accepts the above designation
and hereby expressly and unconditionally accepts the obligations of a
Borrower under the Credit Agreement, adheres to the Credit Agreement and
agrees and confirms that, upon your execution and return to the Company
of the enclosed copy of this letter, it shall be a Borrower for purposes
of the Credit Agreement and agrees to be bound by and perform and comply
with the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement applicable to it
as if it had originally executed the Credit Agreement as a Borrower.
The Designated Borrower hereby authorizes and empowers the Company to
act as its representative and attorney-in-fact for the purposes of
signing documents and giving and receiving notices (including notices of
Borrowing under the Credit Agreement) and other communications in
connection with the Credit Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby and for the purposes of modifying or amending any provision of
the Credit Agreement and further agrees that the Administrative Agent,
the Syndication Agent and each Lender may conclusively rely on the
foregoing authorization.
The Company hereby represents and warrants to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender that, before and after giving
effect to this Designation Letter, (i) the representations and
warranties set forth in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement (except the
Excluded Representations) are true and correct on the date hereof as if
made on and as of the date hereof and (ii) no Default has occurred and
is continuing. The Designated Borrower represents and warrants that
each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.01
(a), (b), (c) and (d) of the Credit Agreement are true as if each
reference therein to the Company were a reference to the Designated
Borrower and as if each reference therein to the Credit Agreement and
the Notes were a reference to this Designation Letter and the Notes
executed by the Designated Borrower in connection herewith.
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The Designated Borrower hereby agrees that this Designation
Letter, the Credit Agreement and the Notes shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York. The
Designated Borrower hereby submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of
the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
and of any New York state court sitting in New York City for the
purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this
Designation Letter, the Credit Agreement or the transactions
contemplated thereby. The Designated Borrower irrevocably waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought
in such a court and any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Designated
Borrower further agrees that service of process in any such action or
proceeding brought in New York may be made upon it by service upon the
Company at the "Address for Notices" specified below its name on the
signature pages to the Credit Agreement.
THE DESIGNATED BORROWER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS DESIGNATION LETTER, THE
CREDIT AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.
Very truly yours,
SOLUTIA INC.
By
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[NAME OF DESIGNATED BORROWER]
By
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
ACCEPTED:
CITIBANK, N.A,
as Administrative Agent
By
------------------------
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT F-2
FORM OF TERMINATION LETTER
,
---------- -- ----
To Citibank, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We refer to the Credit Agreement (as amended, supplemented
and otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the "Credit
------
Agreement") dated as of November 23 , 1999 among Solutia Inc., the
---------
Lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and
Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. Terms defined in the Credit
Agreement are used herein as defined therein.
The Company hereby terminates the status as a Designated
Borrower of [ ], a [corporation incorporated under the
-----------------
laws of [ ]], in accordance with Section 2.17 of the
---------------
Credit Agreement, effective as of the date of receipt of this notice by
the Administrative Agent. The undersigned hereby represent and warrant
that all principal of and interest on all Advances of the above-
referenced Designated Borrower and all other amounts payable by such
Designated Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement have been paid in
full on or prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
this Termination Letter shall not affect any obligation which by the
terms of the Credit Agreement survives termination thereof.
Very truly yours,
SOLUTIA INC.
By
------------------------------
Name:
Title: