Exhibit 2.1
REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of February 25, 1998,
by and among
WLR FOODS, INC.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FOODS, INC.,
CASSCO ICE & COLD STORAGE, INC.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SUPPLY COMPANY, INC.,
VALLEY RAIL SERVICE, INC.,
as Borrowers,
the Revolving Credit Lenders referred to herein,
and
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Agent.
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
SECTION 1.1 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
SECTION 1.2 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
SECTION 1.3 Other Definitions and Provisions . . 21
ARTICLE II
CREDIT FACILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
SECTION 2.1 Revolving Credit Loans . . . . . . 22
SECTION 2.2 Procedure for Advances of Revolving
Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
SECTION 2.3 Repayment of Loans . . . . . . . . . 23
SECTION 2.4 Revolving Credit Notes . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 2.5 Permanent Reduction of the Aggregate
Revolving Commitment . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 2.6 Termination of Credit Facility . . . 24
SECTION 2.7 Use of Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . 25
SECTION 2.8 Lockbox/Cash Collateral Account . . . 25
SECTION 2.9 Division of Revolving Credit Loans . 25
SECTION 2.10 Interim Borrowing Base Reporting
Standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
ARTICLE III
LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
SECTION 3.1 L/C Commitment
SECTION 3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of
Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
SECTION 3.3 Commissions and Other Charges . . . . 27
SECTION 3.4 L/C Participation . . . . . . . . . . 28
SECTION 3.5 Reimbursement Obligation of the
Borrower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SECTION 3.6 Obligations Absolute . . . . . . . . 29
SECTION 3.7 Effect of Application . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 3.8 Existing Letters of Credit . . . . . 30
ARTICLE IV
GENERAL REVOLVING LOAN PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 4.1 Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 4.2 Notice and Manner of Conversion or
Continuation of Revolving Loans . . . 33
SECTION 4.3 Facility, Commitment and Agency Fees 34
SECTION 4.4 Manner of Payment . . . . . . . . . . 35
2
SECTION 4.5 Crediting of Payments and Proceeds . 35
SECTION 4.6 Nature of Obligations of Revolving
Credit Lenders Regarding Extensions of
Credit; Assumption by the Agent . . . 36
SECTION 4.7 Changed Circumstances . . . . . . . . 36
SECTION 4.8 Indemnity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
SECTION 4.9 Capital Requirements . . . . . . . . 39
SECTION 4.10 Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
SECTION 4.11 Mandatory Prepayments . . . . . . . . 41
SECTION 4.12 Approved Miscellaneous Asset Sales . 42
ARTICLE V
CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING . . . . . . 42
SECTION 5.1 Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
SECTION 5.2 Conditions to Closing and Initial
Extensions of Credit . . . . . . . . 42
SECTION 5.3. Conditions to All Revolving Loans and
Letters of Credit . . . . . . . . . . 45
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER . . . . . 46
SECTION 6.1 Representations and Warranties . . . 46
SECTION 6.2 Survival of Representations and
Warranties Etc . . . . . . . . . . . 53
ARTICLE VII
FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND NOTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
SECTION 7.1 Financial Statements and Projections 53
SECTION 7.2 Officer's Compliance Certificate . . 55
SECTION 7.3 Accountants' Certificate . . . . . . 55
SECTION 7.4 Other Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
SECTION 7.5 Notice of Litigation and Other Matters56
SECTION 7.6 Accuracy of Information . . . . . . . 57
ARTICLE VIII
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
SECTION 8.1 Preservation of Corporate Existence and
Related Matters . . . . . . . . . . . 58
SECTION 8.2 Maintenance of Property . . . . . . . 58
SECTION 8.3 Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
SECTION 8.4 Accounting Methods and Financial
Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
SECTION 8.5 Payment and Performance of Obligations59
SECTION 8.6 Compliance With Laws and Approvals . 59
SECTION 8.7 Environmental Laws . . . . . . . . . 59
SECTION 8.8 Compliance with ERISA . . . . . . . . 60
SECTION 8.9 Compliance With Agreements . . . . . 60
3
SECTION 8.10 Conduct of Business . . . . . . . . . 60
SECTION 8.11 Visits and Inspections . . . . . . . 60
SECTION 8.12 Further Assurances . . . . . . . . . 60
SECTION 8.13 Meeting with Revolving Credit Lender 61
SECTION 8.14 Year 2000 Issues . . . . . . . . . . 61
SECTION 8.15 Employment of Outside Accountants and
Financial Consultants . . . . . . . . 61
SECTION 8.16 Maintenance of Bank Accounts . . . . 61
SECTION 8.17 Interest Rate Protection . . . . . . 61
ARTICLE IX
FINANCIAL COVENANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
SECTION 9.1 Minimum Monthly EBITDA . . . . . . . 62
SECTION 9.2 Minimum Quarterly EBITDA . . . . . . 62
SECTION 9.3 Limitation on Capital Expenditures . 63
ARTICLE X
NEGATIVE COVENANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
SECTION 10.1 Limitations on Debt . . . . . . . . . 63
SECTION 10.2 Limitations on Contingent Obligations 64
SECTION 10.3 Limitations on Liens . . . . . . . . 64
SECTION 10.4 Limitations on Acquisitions . . . . . 65
SECTION 10.5 Limitations on Mergers and Liquidation65
SECTION 10.6 Limitations on Sale of Assets . . . . 65
SECTION 10.7 Transactions with Affiliates . . . . 66
SECTION 10.8 Certain Accounting Changes . . . . . 66
SECTION 10.9 Compliance with ERISA . . . . . . . . 66
SECTION 10.10 Limitations on New Equity, Dividends
and Distributions . . . . . . . . . . 67
SECTION 10.11 Transfers to Subsidiaries . . . . . . 67
SECTION 10.12 Limitations on Investments . . . . . 67
SECTION 10.13 Limitations on Certain Agreements . . 67
ARTICLE XI
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
SECTION 11.1 Events of Default . . . . . . . . . . 68
SECTION 11.2 Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
SECTION 11.3 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-
Waiver; etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
ARTICLE XII
THE AGENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
SECTION 12.1 Appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
SECTION 12.2 Delegation of Duties . . . . . . . . 72
SECTION 12.3 Exculpatory Provisions . . . . . . . 72
SECTION 12.4 Reliance by the Agent . . . . . . . . 73
SECTION 12.5 Notice of Default . . . . . . . . . . 73
4
SECTION 12.6 Non-Reliance on the Agent and other
Revolving Credit Lenders . . . . . . 73
SECTION 12.7 Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . 74
SECTION 12.8 The Agent in Its Individual Capacity 74
SECTION 12.9 Resignation of the Agent; Successor
Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
SECTION 12.10 Settlement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
SECTION 13.1 Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
SECTION 13.2 Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
SECTION 13.3 Set-off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
SECTION 13.4 Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
SECTION 13.5 Consent to Jurisdiction . . . . . . . 79
SECTION 13.6 Waiver of Jury Trial; Waiver of
Punitive Damages . . . . . . . . . . 80
SECTION 13.7 Reversal of Payments . . . . . . . . 80
SECTION 13.8 Injunctive Relief . . . . . . . . . . 80
SECTION 13.9 Accounting Matters . . . . . . . . . 80
SECTION 13.10 Successors and Assigns; Participations81
SECTION 13.11 Amendments, Waivers and Consents;
Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
SECTION 13.12 Performance of Duties . . . . . . . . 85
SECTION 13.13 Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . 85
SECTION 13.14 All Powers Coupled with Interest . . 85
SECTION 13.15 Survival of Indemnities . . . . . . . 85
SECTION 13.16 Titles and Captions . . . . . . . . . 86
SECTION 13.17 Severability of Provisions . . . . . 86
SECTION 13.18 Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
SECTION 13.19 Term of Agreement . . . . . . . . . . 86
SECTION 13.20 Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
5
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A - Form of Revolving Credit Note
Exhibit B - Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit C - Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit D - Form of Repayment Notice
Exhibit E - Form of Letter of Credit Application
Exhibit F - Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit G - Form of Quarterly Unaudited Consolidated and Consolidating
Balance Sheet
Exhibit H - Form of Officer's Compliance Certificate
Exhibit I - Form of Assignment and Acceptance
SCHEDULES
Schedule 4.11(b) - Existing Stock Incentive Programs
Schedule 6.1(a) - Jurisdictions of Organization and Qualification
to Do Business as Foreign Corporation
Schedule 6.1(b) - Subsidiaries, Capitalization and Shareholders
Schedule 6.1(h) - Franchise, Licenses, Patents and Tradenames
Schedule 6.1(j) - ERISA Plans
Schedule 6.1(n) - Collective Bargaining Agreements
Schedule 6.1(s) - Schedule of Leased Real Property
Schedule 6.1(v) - Litigation
Schedule 6.1(z) - Outstanding Options, Warrants or Other Rights
Schedule 8.15 - Work Plan
Schedule 10.1(c) - Existing Debt
Schedule 10.2(b) - Existing Contingent Obligations
Schedule 10.3(f) - Existing Liens
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This REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of
February 25, 1998, is made and entered into by and among WLR FOODS,
INC., ("WLR"), ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FOODS, INC. ("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇"), CASSCO ICE & COLD
STORAGE, INC. ("Cassco"), ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SUPPLY COMPANY, INC. ("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Supply"), and VALLEY RAIL SERVICE, INC. ("Valley Rail"), all
corporations organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia,
the Revolving Credit Lenders who are or may become a party to this
Agreement, and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, for itself and as Agent for
the Revolving Credit Lenders. WLR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Cassco, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Supply
and Valley Rail are referred to herein jointly and severally as the
"Borrower." The liabilities and obligations of WLR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Cassco,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Supply and Valley Rail hereunder are joint and several, and
the word "Borrower," as used herein, means each of them, any of them
and/or all of them as the context may require.
BACKGROUND
A. WLR, as borrower, and Cassco and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, as guarantors, are
parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated January 1, 1997,
pursuant to which the Revolving Credit Lenders extended a revolving
credit facility (the "Existing Revolving Credit Facility") to WLR in
an amount not to exceed One Hundred Sixty Million Dollars
($160,000,000).
B. WLR, as borrower, and Cassco and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, as guarantors, and
First Union are parties to a certain Loan Agreement dated as of
January 1, 1997 (the "Time Loan Agreement") which has terminated
undrawn by mutual consent of the parties.
C. WLR, Cassco, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Supply and Valley Rail are
part of an integrated financial enterprise and have requested the
Lenders to: (i) provide a new revolving credit facility in the maximum
amount of $105,000,000; (ii) restructure a portion of the Existing
Revolving Credit Facility, after the principal amount outstanding
(including the aggregate face amount of all outstanding letters of
credit) has been reduced to $110,000,000, into a term loan; (iii)
provide the new revolving credit facility pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement; and (iv) restructure the Existing Revolving Credit
Facility as provided in the other Loan Documents executed as of the
date hereof.
D. The Revolving Credit Lenders have agreed to this request
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents.
E. The Borrower will materially benefit from the restructure of
the Existing Revolving Credit Facility and the new revolving credit to
be provided as set forth in the Loan Documents.
7
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and legal sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties
hereto, such parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions. The following terms when used in this
Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them below:
"Account" shall have the meaning given to that term in the
Uniform Commercial Code and, in addition, shall include any right to
payment for goods sold or leased or services rendered which is
evidenced by an instrument or chattel paper.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person (the "First
Person"), any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the First
Person) which directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common
control with, the First Person or any of its Subsidiaries. The term
"control" means (a) the power to vote five percent (5%) or more of the
securities or other equity interests of a Person having ordinary
voting power, or (b) the possession, directly or indirectly, of any
other power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities,
by contract or otherwise. The term Affiliate shall not include, in
the case of the Borrower, Pioneering Management Corporation.
"Agent" means First Union in its capacity as Agent hereunder, and
any successor thereto appointed pursuant to Section 12.9.
"Agent's Office" means the office of the Agent specified in or
determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1.
"Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment" means the aggregate
amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders' Commitments hereunder, as such
amount may be reduced at any time or from time to time pursuant to
Section 2.5. On the Closing Date, the Aggregate Revolving Credit
Commitment shall be One Hundred and Five Million Dollars
($105,000,000).
"Agreement" means this Revolving Credit Agreement, as amended or
modified from time to time.
"Amendment Fee" shall have the meaning ascribed in Section
4.3(b).
8
"Applicable Law" means all applicable provisions of
constitutions, statutes, rules, regulations and orders of all
Governmental Authorities and all orders and decrees of all courts and
arbitrators.
"Applicable Margin" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 4.1(c).
"Application" means an application, in the form specified by the
Issuing Lender from time to time, requesting the Issuing Lender to
issue a Letter of Credit.
"Approved Contract Growers" shall mean those Persons who, from
time to time, hold live chicken and turkey inventory owned by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
under and subject to grower contracts which preserve and in every way
maintain the title of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ in and to such inventory to the
satisfaction of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and its counsel.
"Approved Miscellaneous Asset Sale" shall mean any sale or sales
by the Borrower of any real or personal property which (i) for the
first year following the Closing Date do(es) not generate Net Proceeds
of more than $7,500,000 in the aggregate, or more than $2,500,000 for
any individual sale; and (ii) for each one-year period thereafter
do(es) not generate Net Proceeds of more than $1,000,000 in the
aggregate for such twelve-month period.
"Asset Sale" means any sale, sale-leaseback, mortgage of real
property or any other disposition (including the grant of any option,
warrant or other right to purchase such property) by any Person of any
of its real or tangible personal property or assets (other than sales
permitted by subsections (a), (b), and (c) of Section 10.6 and the
sale of Equipment, the proceeds of which are applied to the prepayment
of any Purchase Money Debt secured by a Lien on such Equipment).
"Assignment and Acceptance" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 13.10.
"Available Commitment" means, as to any Revolving Credit Lender
at any time, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such
Revolving Credit Lender's Commitment over (b) such Revolving Credit
Lender's Extensions of Credit.
"Base Rate" means, at any time, the higher of (a) the Prime Rate
or (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%; each change in the Base
Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or
changes in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate.
"Base Rate Loan" means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based
upon the Base Rate as provided in Section 4.1(a).
9
"Borrower" means WLR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Cassco, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Supply, and Valley
Rail, in their capacities as joint and several borrowers hereunder,
and each of them, any of them and/or all of them as the context may
require.
"Borrowing Base" means, at any time, a dollar amount equal to the
sum of the following amounts as they exist at that time:
(a) eighty five percent (85%) of all Eligible Accounts; plus
(b) the sum of (A) sixty percent (60%) of Eligible Processed
Inventory; plus (B) sixty percent (60%) of Eligible Packaging Supplies
Inventory; plus (C) sixty percent (60%) of Eligible Feed, Grain and
Eggs Inventory; plus (D) forty-five percent (45%) of Eligible Live
Poultry Inventory; minus
(c) the amount of any Borrowing Base Reserve.
"Borrowing Base Reserve" means a dollar reserve established from
time to time by the Agent in the exercise of its reasonable discretion
following written notice to the Borrower describing in reasonable
detail the reason for the establishment of such reserve.
"Business Day" means (a) for all purposes other than as set forth
in clause (b) below, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal
holiday on which banks in Charlotte, North Carolina and London,
England, are open for the conduct of their commercial banking
business, and (b) with respect to all notices and determinations in
connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, any LIBOR
Rate Loan, any day that is a Business Day described in clause (a) and
that is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits
in the London interbank market.
"Capital Asset" means, with respect to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, any asset that would, in accordance with GAAP, be
required to be classified and accounted for as a capital asset on a
Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
"Capital Expenditures" means, with respect to the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries for any period, the aggregate cost of all capital
assets acquired by any such Person during such period, determined
without duplication on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
"Capital Lease" means, with respect to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, any lease of any property that would, in accordance with
GAAP, be required to be classified and accounted for as a capital
lease on a Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.
10
"Change in Control" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 11.1(m).
"Closing Date" means the date of this Agreement or such later
Business Day upon which the Notes are originally executed and
delivered to the Revolving Credit Lenders.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, each as amended or supplemented from time to
time.
"Collateral" means all of the assets, property and interests in
property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, that shall, from time to time, secure the
Obligations, including without limitation the Collateral described in
the Security Documents and any property or interests provided in
addition to or in substitution for any of the foregoing.
"Collateral Agent" means First Union in its capacity as
Collateral Agent under the Security Documents.
"Commitment" means, as to any Revolving Credit Lender at any
time, the obligation of such Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving
Loans to and issue or participate in Letters of Credit issued for the
account of the Borrower hereunder in an aggregate principal or face
amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount so identified
beneath such Revolving Credit Lender's name on the signature pages
hereof, as the same may be reduced or modified at any time or from
time to time pursuant to Sections 2.5 and 13.10.
"Commitment Percentage" means, as to any Revolving Credit Lender
at any time, the ratio of (a) the amount of the Commitment of such
Revolving Credit Lender to (b) the Aggregate Revolving Credit
Commitment of all of the Revolving Credit Lenders, expressed as a
percentage.
"Consolidated" means, when used with reference to financial
statements or financial statement items of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, such statements or items on a consolidated basis in
accordance with applicable principles of consolidation under GAAP.
"Contingent Obligation" means, with respect to the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries, without duplication, any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of any such Person pursuant to which such Person has
directly or indirectly guaranteed any Debt or other obligation of any
other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of any
such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the
11
purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation (whether arising
by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to
purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to
maintain financial statement condition or otherwise) or (b) entered
into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of
such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect
such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part);
provided that the term Contingent Obligation shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business or executory contracts.
"Coverage Ratio" means, as of the close of any Fiscal Quarter,
the Borrower's Consolidated cumulative four quarter EBITDA ending with
the close of such Fiscal Quarter divided by the Borrower's
Consolidated cumulative four quarter Interest Expense ending with the
close of such Fiscal Quarter.
"Credit Facility" means the collective reference to the Revolving
Credit Facility and the L/C Facility.
"Debt" means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
at any date and without duplication, Capital Leases and debt incurred,
guaranteed (whether directly or indirectly) or assumed for money
borrowed or for the deferred (for sixty days or more) purchase price
of property or services purchased, excluding accounts payable (other
than for borrowed money), deferred compensation payable to current or
former employees and other accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary
course of business if the same are not overdue in a material amount or
are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings.
Debt shall include all obligations of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries pursuant to Derivative Agreements entered into in the
ordinary course of business for the purpose of mitigating risk.
"Default" means any of the events specified in Section 11.1 which
with the passage of time, the giving of notice or any other condition,
would constitute an Event of Default.
"Derivative Agreement" means any agreement with respect to any
exchange-traded or over-the-counter transaction, contract, instrument,
security, obligation or undertaking of whatever nature that
constitutes (in whole or in part) a forward, future, option, swap,
cap, collar, floor or combination thereof, or anything similar to any
of the foregoing, whether for physical delivery or cash settlement,
which is entered into for the purpose of mitigating risk in connection
with a commodity price or index.
12
"Dollars" or "$" means, unless otherwise qualified, dollars in
lawful currency of the United States.
"EBITDA" means, for any period, (a) Net Income of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for such period, plus (b)
the sum of the following for such period to the extent deducted in the
determination of Net Income: (i) Interest Expense, (ii) income and
franchise taxes, and (iii) amortization, depreciation and other non-
cash charges (including amortization of good will and other intangible
assets).
"Eligible Accounts" means the aggregate face amount of all of the
Borrower's Accounts to the extent each individual Account meets all of
the following criteria:
(a) The Account arose from a bona fide outright sale of
goods by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and/or Cassco, under an enforceable contract, within
the United States, to a Person located within the United States (or
elsewhere if accompanied by an irrevocable letter of credit reasonably
acceptable to the Agent issued in favor of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and/or Cassco at
the request of such Person), and such goods have been shipped to the
appropriate account debtor, or the sale has otherwise been
consummated, in accordance with such contract;
(b) The Account is at all times subject to a valid,
enforceable and first priority perfected Lien in favor of the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders except to the extent
such Lien may be subject to Limited Grower Payable Liens;
(c) The title of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and/or Cassco to the Account, and,
except as to the account debtor, to any goods to be sold or leased in
connection with the Account, is absolute and is not subject to any
prior assignment or Lien except to the extent such Lien may be subject
to Limited Grower Payable Liens;
(d) The amount of the Account shown on the books of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
and/or Cassco and on any invoice or statement delivered to the Agent
is owing to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and/or Cassco and net of any partial payment that
has been made thereon by any Person;
(e) The Account is not a contra account and the amount of
the Account stated on the Borrowing Base is net of: any claim of
reduction, counterclaim, set-off, recoupment, or any claim for
credits, allowances or adjustments by the account debtor because of
returned, inferior or damaged goods or unsatisfactory services and any
customary discounts allowed for prompt payment;
(f) The account debtor has not returned or refused to
accept or retain any of the goods from the sale or furnishing of which
the Account arose;
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(g) The Account does not when aggregated with all other
Accounts of such account debtor, exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the
face value of all Accounts of either ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or Cassco in the
aggregate then outstanding;
(h) The Account is due and payable not more than thirty
(30) days from the date of the invoice therefor;
(i) The age of the Account, calculated from the due date
therefor, is not more than twenty eight (28) days in the case of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or thirty (30) days in the case of Cassco;
(j) Not more than fifty percent (50%) of all Accounts
payable by the account debtor (or any affiliate of such account
debtor) are older than twenty eight (28) days from the invoice due
date, in the case of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, and thirty (30) days from the invoice
due date, in the case of Cassco;
(k) The Account does not arise out of a contract with, or
order from, an account debtor that, by its terms, forbids or makes the
assignment of that Account to the Agent void or unenforceable;
(l) The Borrower has not received any note, trade
acceptance, draft or other instrument or chattel paper with respect to
or in payment of the Account, and, if any such instrument is received,
the Borrower will immediately notify the Agent and at the latter's
request, endorse or assign and deliver the same to the Agent;
provided, however, that upon such endorsement or assignment and
delivery to the Agent, if the Account is otherwise eligible, the
Account shall be deemed to be an Eligible Account;
(m) The account debtor is not insolvent nor the subject of
any dissolution, termination of existence, insolvency, business
failure, appointment of a receiver for any part of its property,
assignment for the benefit of creditors by, or the filing of any
petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any proceeding under any
bankruptcy or insolvency laws by or against such account debtor;
(n) The account debtor is not the United States of America,
or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, unless the
Borrower has complied in all respects with the Federal Assignment of
Claims Act of 1940;
(o) The account debtor is not an Affiliate of the Borrower;
and
(p) The Account is not one which the Agent, in its
reasonable discretion, has determined to be disputed, compromised or
14
otherwise uncollectible for the full face amount of such Account.
"Eligible Assignee" means, with respect to any assignment of the
rights, interest and obligations of a Revolving Credit Lender
hereunder, a Person that is at the time of such assignment (a) a bank
having combined capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 and
whose senior debt is rated BBB or higher by Standard & Poor's Ratings
Group (or has a comparable rating from another rating agency), (b) a
finance company, insurance company or other financial entity which
does or can extend credit of the type extended hereunder, that has
total assets in excess of $500,000,000 and whose senior debt is rated
BBB or higher by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group (or has a comparable
rating from another rating agency), (c) already a Revolving Credit
Lender hereunder (whether as an original party to this Agreement or as
the assignee of another Revolving Credit Lender), (d) the successor
(whether by transfer of assets, merger or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the commercial lending business of the assigning
Revolving Credit Lender, or (e) any other Person that has been
approved in writing as an Eligible Assignee by the Agent, which
approval shall not unreasonably be withheld, provided, that for
purposes of this clause (e), if such Person is a direct competitor of
the Borrower, such Person must also be approved in writing as an
Eligible Assignee by the Borrower.
"Eligible Feed, Grain and Eggs Inventory" means that portion of
Eligible Inventory consisting of feed, grain, and turkey and chicken
eggs ready for use in the ordinary course of the Borrower's business.
"Eligible Inventory" means the gross amount of the Borrower's
Inventory valued at the lower of cost (on a first in, first out basis)
or market which meets all of the following criteria:
(a) The Inventory is owned solely by the Borrower and the
Borrower holds good, valid and marketable title to such Inventory;
(b) Except for Permitted Liens, the Inventory is at all
times subject to a valid, enforceable and first priority perfected
Lien in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders;
(c) The Inventory is readily saleable in a bona fide arm's
length transaction, or is usable, in the ordinary course of business
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and/or Cassco;
(d) Except for Permitted Liens, the title of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and/or
Cassco to the inventory is absolute and is not subject to any prior
15
assignment or Lien, except the security interests of the Lenders;
(e) The Inventory is in a facility located in the United
States and within a jurisdiction in which the Lenders' security
interests have attached and are perfected by the filing of financing
statements under Applicable Law;
(f) If the Inventory is located on leased premises or in a
warehouse not owned by the Borrower, a landlord's or warehouseman's
waiver satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent shall have been
delivered to the Agent for such premises;
(g) If the Inventory consists of eggs, live chicken or
turkeys, other livestock or other Farm Products (as defined in the
Security Agreement), such Farm Products Inventory is not: (i) deemed
to be diseased, out-of-condition and unmerchantable according to
standards promulgated by the United States Department of Agriculture
or any other federal, state or local governmental agency or any
department or division thereof having regulatory authority over the
Borrower or any of Borrower's assets or activities; (ii) except for
Approved Contract Growers, in the possession of third parties not
covered by negotiable warehouse receipts or negotiable ocean bills of
lading issued by either (a) warehouseman licensed and bonded by the
United States Department of Agriculture or (b) a recognized ocean
carrier having an office in the United States and a financial
condition reasonably acceptable to the Revolving Credit Lenders, which
receipts or bills designate the Revolving Credit Lender directly or by
endorsement as the only person to whom or to whose order the
warehouseman or carrier is legally obligated to deliver such goods;
and
(h) If the Inventory is located with an Approved Contract
Grower, no account payable owed by the Borrower to such Approved
Contract Grower shall be past due for more than fifteen days.
"Eligible Live Poultry Inventory" means that portion of Eligible
Inventory consisting of live chickens and turkeys ready for sale or
use in the ordinary course of the Borrower's business.
"Eligible Processed Inventory" means that portion of Eligible
Inventory consisting of finished chicken, turkey, and other meat
products which are ready for sale in the ordinary course of the
Borrower's business.
"Eligible Packaging Supplies Inventory" means that portion of
Eligible Inventory consisting of packaging supplies ready for use in
the ordinary course of the Borrower's business.
16
"Employee Benefit Plan" means any employee benefit plan within
the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which (a) is maintained for
employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) has at any
time within the preceding six years been maintained for the employees
of the Borrower or any current or former ERISA Affiliate.
"Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state and local
laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, licenses,
approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental
Authorities, relating to the protection of the environment, including,
but not limited to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transportation, handling, reporting, licensing, permitting,
investigation or remediation of Hazardous Materials. Environmental
Laws include, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et.
seq.) , the Hazardous Material Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. Section
331 et. seq.) , the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C.
Section 6901 et. seq.) , the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33
U.S.C. Section 1251 et. seq.) , the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Section
7401 et. seq.) , the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. Section
2601 et. seq.), the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. Section 300,
et. seq.), and the Environmental Protection Agency's regulations
relating to underground storage tanks (40 C.F.R. Parts 280 and 281),
and the rules and regulations promulgated under each of these
statutes, each as amended or modified from time to time.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, and the rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended or
modified from time to time.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any Person who, together with the
Borrower, is treated as a single employer within the meaning of
Section 414 (b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of
ERISA.
"Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means, for any day, the
percentage (expressed as a decimal and rounded upwards, if necessary,
to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) which is in effect for such day as
prescribed by the Federal Reserve Board (or any successor) for
determining the maximum reserve requirement (including without
limitation any basic, supplemental or emergency reserves) in respect
of Eurocurrency liabilities or any similar category of liabilities for
a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City.
17
"Event of Default" means any of the events specified in Section
11.1, provided that any requirement for passage of time, giving of
notice, or any other condition, has been satisfied.
"Extension Criteria" means that at the time of any request by the
Borrower to extend the Non-Default Maturity Date of the Revolving
Credit Loans in accordance with Section 2.1(b) of this Agreement and
as of the Extension Date that: (i) there exists no Default or Event
of Default under the Agreement; (ii) at all times prior to the
Extension Date there has not occurred any Default or Event of Default
which has not been cured or been waived in writing by the Agent, on
behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders during the applicable cure
period, if any; (iii) the Borrower shall have simultaneously extended
the maturity date of the Note Obligations as provided in the Note
Agreement; and (iv) the Borrower shall have paid the Extension Fee.
"Extensions of Credit" means, as to any Revolving Credit Lender
at any time, an amount equal to the sum of: (a) the aggregate
principal amount of all Revolving Loans made by such Revolving Credit
Lender then outstanding; and (b) such Revolving Credit Lender's
Commitment Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding.
"Extension Fee" means, in the event that the Borrower elects to
exercise the Revolving Credit Extension Option, a fee payable to the
Agent for the ratable benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders on or
prior to the Extension Date equal to one percent (1%) of the Aggregate
Revolving Credit Commitment as of the Extension Date.
"FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or any
successor thereto.
"Federal Funds Rate" means, the rate per annum (rounded upwards,
if necessary, to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) representing the daily
effective federal funds rate as quoted by the Agent and confirmed in
Federal Reserve Board Statistical Release H.15 (519) or any successor
or substitute publication selected by the Agent. If, for any reason,
such rate is not available, then "Federal Funds Rate" shall mean a
daily rate which is determined, in the opinion of the Agent, to be the
rate at which federal funds are being offered for sale in the national
federal funds market at 9:00 a.m. (Charlotte time). Rates for
weekends or holidays shall be the same as the rate for the most
immediate preceding Business Day.
"First Union" means First Union National Bank, a national banking
association, and its successors.
18
"Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries ending on the Saturday closest to June 30. For purposes
of determining any fiscal quarter hereunder (a "Fiscal Quarter"): (a)
the first fiscal quarter ("First Fiscal Quarter") of any Fiscal Year
(the "Current Year") shall end thirteen (13) weeks after the end of
the preceding Fiscal Year (the "Prior Year"); (b) the second fiscal
quarter ("Second Fiscal Quarter") of the Current Year shall end
twenty-six (26) weeks after the end of the Prior Year; (c) the third
fiscal quarter ("Third Fiscal Quarter") of the Current Year shall end
thirty-nine (39) weeks after the end of the Prior Year; and (d) the
fourth fiscal quarter ("Fourth Fiscal Quarter") of the Current Year
shall end on the last day of the Current Year. For purposes of
determining any fiscal month-end hereunder (a "Fiscal Month"), any
Fiscal Month shall end on the Saturday closest to the last day of such
month.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles, as
recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
and the Financial Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied and
maintained on a consistent basis for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
throughout the period indicated and consistent with the prior
financial practice of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
"Governmental Approvals" means all authorizations, consents,
approvals, licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with,
and reports to, all Governmental Authorities.
"Governmental Authority" means any nation, province, state or
political subdivision thereof, and any government or any Person
exercising executive, legislative, regulatory or administrative
functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other
entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or
otherwise, by any of the foregoing.
"Hazardous Materials" means any substances or materials: (a)
defined as hazardous substances in the Comprehensive Environmental
Response Compensation Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
Section 9601, et seq. or in regulations issued thereunder; (b) defined
as hazardous wastes in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
1976, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901, et seq. or in regulations
issued thereunder; (c) defined as toxic substances in the Toxic
Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 2601, et seq., or in
regulations issued thereunder; or (d) animal wastes.
"Intercreditor Agreement" means that certain Collateral Agency
and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the Closing Date by and among
the Revolving Credit Lenders and the other parties thereto.
19
"Interest Expense" means, with respect to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for any period, the gross interest expense (including
without limitation interest expense attributable to Capital Leases) of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all determined for such period on a
Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
"Interest Period" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 4.1(b).
"Interest Rate Protection Agreements" means any interest rate or
currency hedging agreement or arrangement approved by the Agent (such
approval not to be unreasonably withheld) entered into by the Borrower
and designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates.
"Inventory" shall have the meaning given to that term in the
Uniform Commercial Code.
"Issuing Lender" means First Union, in its capacity as issuer of
any Letter of Credit, or any successor thereto.
"Leased Real Property" shall mean real property owned by the
Borrower and leased to one or more Persons as more fully set forth on
Schedule 6.1(s).
"Lenders" means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit
Lenders, the Term Lenders, and the Note Lenders.
"L/C Commitment" means Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000).
"L/C Facility" means the letter of credit facility established
pursuant to Article III hereof.
"L/C Obligations" means at any time, an amount equal to the sum
of: (a) the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of the then
outstanding Letters of Credit; and (b) the aggregate amount of
drawings under Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed
pursuant to Section 3.5.
"L/C Participants" means the collective reference to all the
Revolving Credit Lenders other than the Issuing Lender.
"Lending Office" means, with respect to any Revolving Credit
Lender, the office of such Revolving Credit Lender maintaining such
Revolving Credit Lender's Commitment Percentage of the Loans.
"Letters of Credit" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 3.1.
20
"Leverage Ratio" shall mean, as of the close of any Fiscal
Quarter, Total Debt divided by the Borrower's Consolidated cumulative
four quarter EBITDA ending with the close of such Fiscal Quarter.
"LIBOR" means the rate for deposits in Dollars for a period equal
to the Interest Period selected which appears on the Telerate Page
3750 at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time, two (2) Business Days
prior to the commencement of the applicable Interest Period. If, for
any reason, such rate is not available, then "LIBOR" shall mean the
rate per annum at which, as determined by the Agent, Dollars in the
amount of $3,000,000 are being offered to lending banks at
approximately 11:00 a.m. London time, two (2) Business Days prior to
the commencement of the applicable Interest Period for settlement in
immediately available funds by lending banks in the London interbank
market for a period equal to the Interest Period selected.
"LIBOR Rate" means a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the next higher 1/l00th of l%) determined by the Agent
pursuant to the following formula:
LIBOR Rate = LIBOR
---------------
1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage
"LIBOR Rate Loan" means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based
upon the LIBOR Rate as provided in Section 4.1(a).
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien,
pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in
respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person
shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has
acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under
any conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease or other title retention
agreement relating to such asset, other than an asset which the
Borrower holds as the lessee under a lease which is not a Capital
Lease.
"Limited Grower Payable Liens" means any lien arising in favor
of any Approved Contract Grower with respect to any inventory or other
property owned by the Borrower under the Packers and Stockyards Act,
Va. Code section 43-32, and/or other comparable state statutes, unless
such liens arise in connection with accounts payable over 15 days past
due and have an aggregate value in excess of $1,500,000.
"Loan" means any Revolving Loan, the Term Loan, and all Revolving
Loans and the Term Loan collectively as the context requires.
21
"Loan Documents" means, collectively, this Agreement, the Term
Loan Agreement, the Notes, the Applications, the Security Documents,
the Lockbox Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Intercreditor
Agreement, any Derivative Agreement executed by any Revolving Credit
Lender, and each other document, instrument and agreement executed and
delivered by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their counsel in
connection with this Agreement or otherwise referred to herein or
contemplated hereby, all as may be amended or modified from time to
time.
"Lock Box Agreement" shall mean an agreement or agreements
between the Borrower and any one or more of the Revolving Credit
Lenders, as required under Section 2.8 of this Agreement, together
with all amendments, modifications, exhibits and schedules thereto as
may be in effect from time to time.
"Material Adverse Effect" means, with respect to the Borrower, a
material adverse effect on the properties, business, operations or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, taken as a whole,
or the ability of the Borrower, taken as a whole, to perform its
obligations under the Loan Documents or Material Contracts to which it
is a party.
"Material Contract" means: (a) any contract or other agreement,
instrument, lease, or other evidence of understanding, written or
oral, of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries involving monetary
liability of or to any such Person in an amount per annum in excess of
$2,000,000; or (b) any other contract or other agreement, instrument,
lease, or other evidence of understanding, written or oral, of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the failure to comply with which
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
"Mortgages" mean, collectively, those Mortgages and Deeds of
Trust executed and delivered to or for the benefit of the Lenders as
of the Closing Date.
"Multiemployer Plan", means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in
Section 4001(a) (3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate is making, or is accruing an obligation to make,
contributions within the preceding six years.
"Net Income" means, with respect to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for any period, the Consolidated net income (or loss) of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period determined in
accordance with GAAP; provided, that there shall be excluded from
Consolidated net income (or loss): (a) the income (or loss) of any
Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower) in which the Borrower
has an ownership interest unless received by the Borrower in a cash
distribution; (b) the income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to
the date it became a Subsidiary of the Borrower or is merged into or
22
consolidated with the Borrower; and (c) extraordinary items.
"Net Proceeds" means, with respect to any sale, lease, transfer
or other disposition of assets by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, or any issuance by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries of any capital stock or other debt or equity securities
permitted hereunder, the aggregate amount of cash received for such
assets or securities (including, without limitation, any payments
received for non-competition covenants, consulting or management fees,
and any portion of the amount received evidenced by a seller
promissory note or other evidence of Debt), net of (i) amounts
reserved, if any, for taxes payable with respect to any such sale
(after application of any available losses, credits or other offsets),
(ii) reasonable. and customary transaction costs properly attributable
to such transaction and payable by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries (other than to an Affiliate) in connection with such
sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of assets or issuance of
any capital stock or other securities, including, without limitation,
commissions and underwriting discounts, and (iii) until actually
received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, any portion of
the amount received held in escrow or evidenced by a seller promissory
note or non-compete agreement or covenant for which compensation is
paid over time. Upon receipt by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries of amounts referred to in item (iii) of the preceding
sentence, such amounts shall then be deemed to be "Net Proceeds."
"Net Revenue" means, with respect to the Borrower and its
subsidiaries for any period, net revenue for such period determined on
a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
"1997 Agreement" means the Credit Agreement dated as of January
1, 1997, among WLR, as Borrower, Cassco and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, as guarantors,
the Revolving Credit Lenders and the Agent.
"Non-Default Maturity Date" shall have the meaning set forth
below in the definition of "Revolving Loan Termination Date."
"Notes" means, collectively, the Revolving Credit Notes and the
Term Notes.
"Note Agreement" means that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated
as of the date hereof by and between WLR and various note lenders
thereunder.
"Note Lenders" means, collectively, each Person executing the
Note Agreement as a lender, together with the successors and assigns
of each Note Lender.
23
"Notice of Borrowing" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2.2 (a).
"Notice of Conversion/Continuation" shall have the meaning
assigned thereto in Section 4.2.
"Obligations" means, collectively, the Term Loan Obligations, the
Revolving Credit Obligations.
"Officer's Compliance Certificate" shall have the meaning
assigned thereto in Section 7.2.
"Other Taxes" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
4.10 (b).
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any
successor agency.
"Pension Plan" means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a
Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of
ERISA or Section 412 of the Code and which: (a) is maintained for
employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliates; or (b) has at any
time within the preceding six years been maintained for the employees
of the Borrower or any of their current or former ERISA Affiliates.
"Permitted Liens" shall mean those liens and encumbrances (other
than those in favor of the Collateral Agent) permitted pursuant to
Section 10.3.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership,
association, trust, business trust, joint venture, joint stock
company, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated
organization, Governmental Authority or other entity.
"Pledge Agreements" means, collectively, the WLR Pledge Agreement
and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Pledge Agreement.
"Prime Rate" means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum
publicly announced from time to time by the Agent as its prime rate.
Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of
business on the day such change in the Prime Rate occurs. The parties
hereto acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Agent as
its Prime Rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be
its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.
"Purchase Money Debt" means any Debt incurred by the Borrower in
the ordinary course of business for the purpose of and actually used
in acquiring any Capital Asset and such Debt is either (i) held by a
seller of such Capital Asset to the Borrower to secure all or part of
the purchase price thereof, or (ii) held by a Person who, by making
24
advances to, or incurring an obligation on behalf of, the Borrower
gives value to the Borrower to enable the Borrower to acquire rights
in or the use of such Capital Asset.
"Ratable Share" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Intercreditor Agreement.
"Register" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
13.10(d).
"Reimbursement Obligation" means the obligation of the Borrower
to reimburse the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts
drawn under Letters of Credit.
"Required Revolving Credit Lenders" means, at any date, any
combination of holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Credit Notes, or if
no amounts are outstanding under the Revolving Credit Notes, any
combination of Lenders whose Commitment Percentages aggregate at least
seventy-five percent (75%).
"Revolving Credit Extension Option" means the option of the
Borrower as set forth in Section 2.1(b) hereof to extend the Non-
Default Maturity Date for a one year period.
"Revolving Credit Facility" means the revolving credit facility
established pursuant to Article II hereof.
"Revolving Credit Lender" means each Person executing this
Agreement as a Revolving Credit Lender set forth on the signature
pages hereto and each Person that hereafter becomes a party to this
Agreement as a Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to Section 13.10.
"Revolving Credit Notes" means the separate Revolving Credit
Notes made by the Borrower payable to the order of each Revolving
Credit Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit "A" hereto,
evidencing the Revolving Credit Facility, and any amendments and
modifications thereto, any substitutes therefor, and any replacements,
restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.
"Revolving Credit Obligations" means, in each case, whether now
in existence or hereafter arising: (a) the principal of and interest
(including interest accruing after the filing of any bankruptcy or
similar petition) on the Revolving Loans; (b) the L/C Obligations; (c)
all payment and other obligations owing by the Borrower to any
Revolving Credit Lender or the Agent under any Derivative Agreement as
permitted pursuant to Section 10.3(h); and (d) all other fees and
commissions (including attorney's fees), charges, indebtedness, loans,
25
liabilities, financial accommodations, obligations, covenants and
duties owing by the Borrower to the Revolving Credit Lenders or the
Agent, of every kind, nature and description, direct or indirect,
absolute or contingent, due or to become due under the Loan Documents,
except to the extent such Obligations arise solely under the Term Loan
Agreement and the Term Notes.
"Revolving Loan" means any Loan made to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.1, and all such Loans collectively as the context requires.
"Revolving Loan Termination Date" means the earlier of: (a)
January 1, 2000, or, if the Borrower exercises the Revolving Credit
Extension Option, January 1, 2001 (as the case may be, the "Non-
Default Maturity Date"); (b) the date of the reduction of the
Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment to zero by the Borrower pursuant
to Section 2.5(a); or (c) the date upon which any one or more Events
of Default shall have occurred.
"Security" means any funds, agreements, property, rights or
interests of any nature whatsoever, guaranties of and any
subordination and/or standby agreements related to the obligations
which have been or hereafter are mortgaged, pledged, assigned,
transferred, executed or delivered, directly or indirectly, to the
Agent or any Lender as security for or guaranty of the payment or
performance of any Obligation.
"Security Agreement" means the Security Agreement by the Borrower
in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, as
amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented.
"Security Documents" means the collective reference to the
Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreements, the Mortgages, the
Trademark Assignment, the Valley Rail Assignment, the Intercreditor
Agreement and each other agreement or writing, if any, pursuant to
which the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof pledges or grants a
security interest, lien, mortgage, encumbrance or charge in any
property or assets securing the Obligations.
"Solvent" means, as to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
particular date, that any such Person (a) has capital sufficient to
carry on its business and transactions and all business and
transactions in which it is about to engage and is able to pay its
debts as they mature, (b) owns property having a value, both at fair
valuation and at present fair saleable value, greater than the amount
required to pay its probable liabilities (including contingencies),
26
and (c) does not reasonably believe that it will incur debts or
liabilities beyond its ability to pay such debts or liabilities as
they mature.
"Subsidiary" means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership
or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the
outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests having ordinary
voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other
managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity is at the
time, directly or indirectly, owned by or the management is otherwise
controlled by such Person (irrespective of whether, at the time,
capital stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall
have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any
contingency). Unless otherwise qualified, references to "Subsidiary"
or "Subsidiaries" herein shall refer to those of the Borrower.
"Tangible Net Worth" means the Consolidated net worth of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined without taking into account
goodwill, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, franchise rights and
other assets of a similar nature (with the exception of loan closing
or similar costs required to be capitalized).
"Taxes" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
4.10(a).
"Term Lenders" means, collectively, each Person executing the
Term Loan Agreement as a Term Lender.
"Term Loan" means the term loan facility established pursuant to
the Term Loan Agreement.
"Term Loan Agreement" means the Term Loan Agreement dated as of
the Closing Date by and among the Agent, the Term Lenders, and the
Borrower.
"Term Loan Notes" means the separate Notes made by the Borrower
payable to the order of each Term Lender, substantially in the form of
Exhibit "B" to the Term Loan Agreement, evidencing the Term Loan, and
any amendments and modifications thereto, any substitutes therefor,
and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in
whole or in part.
"Term Loan Obligations" means, in each case, whether now in
existence or hereafter arising, the principal of and interest on the
Term Loan and all other fees and commissions (including attorney's
fees), charges, indebtedness, loans, liabilities, financial
accommodations (including all payments and other obligations owing by
the Borrower to any Term Lender or the Agent under any Derivative
Agreement), obligations, covenants and duties owing by the Borrower to
27
the Term Lenders or the Agent, of every kind, nature and description,
direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due under
the Loan Documents, except to the extent such Obligations arise solely
under the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Notes.
"Termination Event" means: (a) a "Reportable Event" described in
Section 4043 of ERISA; or (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate from a defined benefit Pension Plan during a plan year
in which it was a "substantial employer" as defined in Section
4001(a)(2) of ERISA; or (c) the termination of a defined benefit
Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a defined
benefit Pension Plan or the treatment of a defined benefit Pension
Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA; or (d)
the institution of proceedings to terminate, or the appointment of a
trustee with respect to, any Pension Plan by the PBGC; or (e) any
other event or condition which would constitute grounds under Section
4042(a) of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a
trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; or (f) the partial or
complete withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a
Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to
Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA; or (h) any event or
condition which results in the reorganization or insolvency of a
Multiemployer Plan under Sections 4241 or 4245 of ERISA; or (i) any
event or condition which results in the termination of a Multiemployer
Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the institution by PBGC of
proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of
ERISA.
"Total Debt" means, with respect to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries at any date of determination and without duplication, all
Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis.
Total Debt shall not include any Debt under a Derivative Agreement.
"Trademark Assignment" means the Assignment of Trademarks by the
Borrower in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Lenders, as amended, restated, modified, or otherwise supplemented.
"Uniform Customs" means the Uniform Customs and Practice for
Documentary Credits (1993 Revision), International Chamber of Commerce
Publication No. 500.
"UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State
of New York.
"United States" means the United States of America.
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"Valley Rail Assignment" means that Assignment of Partnership
Interest executed by Valley Rail in favor of the Collateral Agent for
the ratable benefit of the Lenders.
"▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Pledge Agreement" means the Pledge Agreement executed by
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, as pledgor, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable
benefit of the Lenders, as amended, restated, modified, or otherwise
supplemented.
"Warrant Agreement" means collectively, the Warrant Holders
Agreement and the Warrant each dated as of the Closing Date executed
by WLR, in favor of the Collateral Agent for ratable benefit of the
Lenders, as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented.
"Wholly-Owned" means, with respect to a Subsidiary, a Subsidiary
all of the shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of
which are, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by the Borrower
and/or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.
"WLR Pledge Agreement" means the Pledge Agreement executed by
WLR, as Pledgor, in favor of the Collateral Agent for ratable benefit
of the Lenders, as amended, restated, modified or otherwise
supplemented.
SECTION 1.2 General. All terms of an accounting nature not
specifically defined herein shall have the meaning assigned thereto by
GAAP. Unless otherwise specified, a reference in this Agreement to a
particular section, subsection, Schedule or Exhibit is a reference to
that section, subsection, Schedule or Exhibit of this Agreement.
Wherever from the context it appears appropriate, each term stated in
either the singular or plural shall include the singular and plural,
and pronouns stated in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall
include the masculine, the feminine and the neuter. Any reference
herein to "Charlotte time" shall refer to the applicable time of day
in Charlotte, North Carolina.
SECTION 1.3 Other Definitions and Provisions.
(a) Use of Capitalized Terms. Unless otherwise defined therein,
all capitalized terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined
meanings when used in this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan
Documents or any certificate, report or other document made or
delivered pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) Miscellaneous. The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder"
and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to
this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement.
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ARTICLE II
CREDIT FACILITY
SECTION 2.1 Revolving Credit Loans.
(a) General Provisions. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Loans
to the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date through the
Revolving Loan Termination Date as requested by the Borrower in
accordance with the terms of Section 2.2; provided that the aggregate
principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans (after giving
effect to any amount requested) shall not exceed the lesser of: (i)
the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment less the L/C Obligations; or
(ii) the Borrowing Base less the L/C Obligations; and provided further
that the principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans from any
Revolving Credit Lender to the Borrower shall not at any time exceed
such Revolving Credit Lender's Commitment less the L/C Obligations
attributable to such Revolving Credit Lender. Each Revolving Loan by
a Revolving Credit Lender shall be in a principal amount equal to such
Revolving Credit Lender's Commitment Percentage of the aggregate
principal amount of Revolving Loans requested on such occasion.
Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow,
repay and reborrow Revolving Loans hereunder until the Revolving Loan
Termination Date.
(b) Extension Option. As of June 30, 1999 (the "Extension
Date"), the Borrower may elect to extend the Non-Default Maturity date
of the Revolving Credit Facility from January 1, 2000 to January 1,
2001 (the "Extension Option"); provided that on and at all times prior
to the Extension Date, the Borrower is in compliance with the
Extension Criteria. The Borrower shall provide the Revolving Credit
Lenders with written notification of its intention to exercise the
Extension Option prior to the Extension Date.
SECTION 2.2 Procedure for Advances of Revolving Loans.
(a) Requests for Borrowing. In order to obtain a Revolving
Loan, the Borrower shall give the Agent irrevocable prior written
notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "B" (a "Notice of
Borrowing") not later than 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte time) (i) on the same
Business Day as each Base Rate Loan, and (ii) at least three (3)
Business Days before each LIBOR Rate Loan, of its intention to borrow,
specifying: (A) the date of such borrowing, which shall be a Business
Day; (B) the amount of such borrowing, which shall be (i) with respect
to Base Rate Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or a
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whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) with respect to
LIBOR Rate Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000 or a
whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; (C) whether the
Revolving Loans are to be LIBOR Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans; (D) in
the case of a LIBOR Rate Loan, the duration of the Interest Period
applicable thereto; and (E) a Borrowing Base Certificate in the form
attached as Exhibit "C." Notices received after 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte
time) shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. The Agent
shall promptly notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of each Notice of
Borrowing.
(b) Disbursement of Revolving Loans. Not later than 2:00 p.m.
(Charlotte time) on the proposed borrowing date for a Revolving Loan,
each Revolving Credit Lender will make available to the Agent, for the
account of the Borrower, at the office of the Agent in funds
immediately available to the Agent, such Revolving Credit Lender's
Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Loans to be made on such
borrowing date. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Agent
to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing requested pursuant to this
Section 2.2 in immediately available funds by crediting such proceeds
to such deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Agent, or
by wire transfer to such other account, as may be specified in the
most recent Account Designation Direction delivered by the Borrower to
the Agent. Subject to Section 4.6 hereof, the Agent shall not be
obligated to disburse the proceeds of any Revolving Loan requested
pursuant to this Section 2.2 until each Revolving Credit Lender shall
have made available to the Agent its Commitment Percentage of such
Revolving Loan.
SECTION 2.3 Repayment of Loans.
(a) Repayment on Revolving Loan Termination Date. The Borrower
shall repay the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans in
full, together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon, on the
Revolving Loan Termination Date.
(b) Mandatory Repayment of Excess Revolving Loans. If at any
time the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans exceeds
the lesser of (i) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment less the
L/C Obligations, or (ii) the Borrowing Base less the L/C Obligations,
the Borrower shall repay immediately upon notice from the Agent, by
payment to the Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders,
the Revolving Loans in an amount equal to such excess. Each such
repayment shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount
repaid and any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 4.8
hereof.
(c) Optional Repayments. The Borrower may at any time and from
time to time repay the Revolving Loans, in whole or in part, upon at
least three (3) Business Days' irrevocable notice to the Agent with
31
respect to LIBOR Rate Loans and contemporaneous irrevocable notice
with respect to Base Rate Loans, specifying the date and amount of
repayment and whether the repayment is of LIBOR Rate Loans, Base Rate
Loans, or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the
amount allocable to each and the amount of the repayment allocable to
each LIBOR Rate Loan being repaid. Upon receipt of such notice, which
shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "D," the Agent shall
promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender. If any such notice is
given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on
the date set forth in such notice. Partial repayments shall be in an
aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $250,000 in
excess thereof with respect to Base Rate Loans, and $3,000,000 or a
whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof with respect to any
LIBOR Rate Loan.
(d) Limitation on Repayment of LIBOR Rate Loans. The Borrower
may not repay any LIBOR Rate Loan on any day other than on the last
day of the Interest Period applicable thereto unless such repayment is
accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 4.8
hereof.
SECTION 2.4 Revolving Credit Notes. Each Revolving Credit
Lender's Revolving Loans and the obligation of the Borrower to repay
such Revolving Loans shall be evidenced by a Revolving Credit Note
executed by the Borrower payable to the order of such Revolving Credit
Lender representing the Borrower's obligation to pay such Revolving
Credit Lender's Commitment or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of all Revolving Loans made and to be made by such Revolving
Credit Lender to the Borrower hereunder, plus interest and all other
fees, charges and other amounts due thereon. Each Revolving Credit
Note shall be dated as of the date hereof and shall bear interest on
the unpaid principal amount thereof at the applicable interest rate
per annum specified in Section 4.1.
SECTION 2.5 Permanent Reduction of the Aggregate Revolving
Commitment.
(a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time
to time, upon at least three (3) Business Days prior written notice to
the Agent, to permanently reduce, in whole at any time or in part from
time to time, without premium or penalty, the Aggregate Revolving
Credit Commitment in an aggregate principal amount not less than
$3,000,000 or any whole multiple of $3,000,000 in excess thereof.
(b) Each permanent reduction permitted pursuant to this Section
2.5 shall be accompanied by a payment of principal sufficient to
reduce the aggregate outstanding Extensions of Credit of the Revolving
Credit Lenders after such reduction to the Aggregate Revolving Credit
32
Commitment as so reduced and by payment of accrued interest on the
amount of such repaid principal. Any reduction of the Aggregate
Revolving Credit Commitment to zero shall be accompanied by payment of
all outstanding Obligations and furnishing of cash collateral
satisfactory to the Agent for all L/C Obligations. Such cash
collateral shall be applied in accordance with Section 11.2(b). If the
reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment requires the
repayment of any LIBOR Rate Loan, such reduction may be made only on
the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto
unless such repayment is accompanied by any amount required to be paid
pursuant to Section 4.8 hereof.
SECTION 2.6 Termination of Credit Facility. The Credit
Facility shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the Revolving Loan
Termination Date; (ii) the date of termination, whether automatically
or by the Agent on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders, pursuant to
Section 11.2 (a); or (iii) on such prior date as the Borrower, by
notice to the Agent, shall have repaid the Obligations in full.
SECTION 2.7 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall, on the
Closing Date, pay: (i) the amount of $50,000,000 less the face amount
of all Existing 1997 Letters of Credit (as hereafter defined) to the
Revolving Credit Lenders on account of Obligations as defined in the
1997 Agreement with the remaining principal balance under the 1997
Agreement becoming the Term Loan; and (ii) the balance, if any, due to
First Union under the Time Loan Facility shall be paid and thereupon
be terminated. The Borrower shall use the balance of proceeds under
the Revolving Loans for working capital and general corporate
requirements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the
payment of certain fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
transactions provided for herein and the payment of Debt. The
Borrower shall not be required to pay any Revolving Credit Lender any
amount pursuant to Section 4.8 of the 1997 Agreement by reason of the
payment or prepayment of a LIBOR Rate Loan (as defined in the 1997
Agreement) on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period (as
defined in the 1997 Agreement) so long as such payment or prepayment
is made under the preceding sentence.
SECTION 2.8 Lockbox/Cash Collateral Account. The Borrower
shall establish a lockbox with one or more of the Revolving Credit
Lenders for the receipt of all remittances from its account debtors,
and shall immediately direct all of its account debtors to remit
payments directly to such lockbox; and shall sign all agreements
reasonably necessary to establish a lockbox and pay all reasonable
charges of the Revolving Credit Lenders associated therewith. The
Borrower shall not have any right of access to, or withdrawal from
such lockbox or the cash collateral account described below. All
33
collections of Accounts or remittances representing proceeds of other
Collateral received at any time by the Borrower shall be held in trust
for the Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders and shall be promptly
delivered, in specie, to the Agent, for the benefit of the Revolving
Credit Lenders. All collections delivered to any Revolving Credit
Lender shall be deposited on the same Business Day as delivered to
such Revolving Credit Lender, and thereafter promptly transferred by
such Revolving Credit Lender to the Borrower's cash collateral account
with the Agent. Provided no Event of Default shall have occurred
under this Agreement, the Agent shall apply such collections to reduce
the outstanding balance of the Revolving Loans on the Business Day
when such collections are deemed to be treated as collected funds.
The Agent is not, however, required to credit the Borrower's cash
collateral account for the amount of any item of payment which is
unsatisfactory to the Agent and the Agent may charge the Borrower's
account for the amount of any payment which is returned to the Agent
unpaid.
SECTION 2.9 Division of Revolving Credit Loans. The Revolving
Credit Lenders and the Borrower acknowledge and agree that the
Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment consists of two distinct
Tranches including a principal commitment of $50,000,000 attributable
to principal amounts advanced by the Revolving Credit Lenders under
the 1997 Agreement (the "Tranche I Portion") and a principal
commitment of $55,000,000 attributable to the new revolving credit
provided by the Revolving Credit Lenders as of the Closing Date (the
"Tranche II Portion"). Except as otherwise explicitly set forth in
this Agreement, the Tranche I Portion and the Tranche II Portion will
be treated as one and the same Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment;
provided however, that: (i) the aggregate of all Revolving Loans
outstanding from time to time shall be deemed drawn first from the
Tranche I Portion and drawn second from the Tranche II Portion only to
the extent the Tranche I Portion is fully drawn; and (ii) ordinary
course repayments and reductions received from time to time on account
of the Revolving Loans shall be applied first to the Tranche II
Portion and second to the Tranche I Portion.
SECTION 2.10 Interim Borrowing Base Reporting Standard.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement,
at any time prior to March 31, 1998, the Borrower may supply Borrowing
Base information based upon previous month-end balances updated
pursuant to a roll-forward calculation in form satisfactory to the
Agent.
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ARTICLE III
LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY
SECTION 3.1 L/C Commitment. Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Issuing Lender, in reliance on the agreements
of the other Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in Section 3.4(a),
agrees to issue standby and commercial letters of credit ("Letters of
Credit") for the account of the Borrower on any Business Day from the
Closing Date through but not including the Revolving Loan Termination
Date in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing
Lender; provided that the Issuing Lender shall have no obligation to
issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance,
(i) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Commitment or (ii) the
Available Commitment of any Revolving Credit Lender would be less than
zero. Each Letter of Credit shall (A) be denominated in Dollars in a
minimum amount of $1,000,000 for standby Letters of Credit and $25,000
for commercial Letters of Credit, (B) be a standby or commercial
letter of credit issued to support obligations of the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries, contingent or otherwise, incurred in the ordinary
course of business, (C) expire on a date satisfactory to the Issuing
Lender, which date shall be no later than the Non-Default Maturity
Date and (D) be subject to the Uniform Customs and, to the extent not
inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of New York. The
Issuing Lender shall not at any time be obligated to issue any Letter
of Credit hereunder if such issuance would conflict with, or cause the
Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to exceed any limits imposed by,
any Applicable Law. References herein to "issue" and derivations
thereof with respect to Letters of Credit shall also include
extensions or modifications of any existing Letters of Credit, unless
the context otherwise requires.
SECTION 3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit. The
Borrower may from time to time request that the Issuing Lender issue a
Letter of Credit by delivering to the Issuing Lender an application
therefor, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "E," completed to the
satisfaction of the Issuing Lender, and such other certificates,
documents and other papers and information as the Issuing Lender may
request. Upon receipt of any Application, the Issuing Lender shall
process such Application and the certificates, documents and other
papers and information delivered to it in connection therewith in
accordance with its customary procedures and shall, subject to Section
3.1 and Article V hereof, promptly issue the Letter of Credit
requested thereby (but in no event shall the Issuing Lender be
required to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than three Business
Days after its receipt of the Application therefor and all such other
certificates, documents and other papers and information relating
thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the
beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed by the Issuing
Lender and the Borrower. The Issuing Lender shall furnish to the
Borrower a copy of such Letter of Credit and furnish to each Revolving
35
Credit Lender a copy of such Letter of Credit and the amount of each
Revolving Credit Lender's participation therein, all promptly
following the issuance of such Letter of Credit.
SECTION 3.3 Commissions and Other Charges.
(a) With regard to standby Letters of Credit, the Borrower shall
pay to the Agent, for the account of the Issuing Lender and the L/C
Participants, a letter of credit commission with respect to each
standby Letter of Credit in an amount equal to a rate per annum, as
specified below, on the face amount of such standby Letter of Credit.
Such standby Letter of Credit commission shall be payable quarterly in
advance. In the case of commercial Letters of Credit, the Borrower
shall pay to the Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender and the
L/C Participants, a commercial Letter of Credit commission with
respect to each commercial Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the
rate specified below multiplied by the face amount of such commercial
Letter of Credit. Such commercial Letter of Credit commission shall
be payable in full upon negotiation. In each case, such rate shall be
the Applicable Margin for Tranche I LIBOR Rate Loans as in effect from
time to time.
(b) In addition to the foregoing commission, the Borrower shall
pay the Issuing Lender an issuance fee in accordance with the Issuing
Lender's normal and customary practices, and such other customary
ancillary fees as the Issuing Lender might charge with respect to each
Letter of Credit, including cable fees and amendment fees.
(c) The Agent shall, promptly following its receipt thereof,
distribute to the Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants all
commissions received by the Agent pursuant to subsection (a) in
accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages.
SECTION 3.4 L/C Participation.
(a) The Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby
grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce the Issuing Lender to
issue Letters of Credit hereunder, each L/C Participant irrevocably
agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from
the Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated,
for such L/C Participant's own account and right an undivided interest
equal to such L/C Participant's Commitment Percentage in the Issuing
Lender's obligations and rights under each Letter of Credit issued
hereunder and the amount of each draft paid by the Issuing Lender
thereunder. Each L/C Participant unconditionally and irrevocably
agrees with the Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under any
Letter of Credit for which the Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in
36
full by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender upon demand at
the Issuing Lender's address for notices specified herein an amount
equal to such L/C Participant's Commitment Percentage of the amount of
such draft, or any part thereof, which is not so reimbursed.
(b) Upon becoming aware of any amount required to be paid by any
L/C Participant to the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in
respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by the Issuing
Lender under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall notify
each L/C Participant of the amount and due date of such required
payment and such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender the
amount specified on the applicable due date; provided that such L/C
Participant shall not be required to make such payment earlier than
four (4) hours after its receipt of such notification. If any such
amount is paid to the Issuing Lender after the date such payment is
due, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender on demand,
in addition to such amount, the product of (i) such amount, times (ii)
the daily average Federal Funds Rate as determined by the Agent during
the period from and including the date such payment is due to the date
on which such payment is immediately available to the Issuing Lender,
times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days
that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 360. A
certificate of the Issuing Lender with respect to any amounts owing
under this Section shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest
error. With respect to payment to the Issuing Lender of the
unreimbursed amounts described in this Section 3.4(b), if the L/C
Participants receive notice that any such payment is due (A) prior to
or at 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on any Business Day, such payment
shall be due that Business Day, and (B) after 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte
time) on any Business Day, such payment shall be due on the following
Business Day.
(c) Whenever, at any time after the Issuing Lender has made
payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any L/C
Participant its Commitment Percentage of such payment in accordance
with this Section 3.4, the Issuing Lender receives any payment related
to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Borrower or
otherwise), or any payment of interest on account thereof, the Issuing
Lender will distribute to such L/C Participant its pro rata share
thereof; provided that in the event that any such payment received by
the Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by the Issuing
Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to the Issuing Lender the
portion thereof previously distributed by the Issuing Lender to it.
SECTION 3.5 Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower. The
Borrower agrees to reimburse the Issuing Lender on each date on which
37
the Issuing Lender notifies the Borrower of the date and amount of a
draft paid under any Letter of Credit for the amount of (a) such draft
so paid and (b) any taxes, fees, charges or other costs or expenses
incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with such payment. Each
such payment shall be made to the Issuing Lender at its address for
notices specified herein in lawful money of the United States and in
immediately available funds. Interest shall be payable on any and all
amounts remaining unpaid by the Borrower under this Article III from
the date such amounts become payable (whether at stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise) until payment in full at the rate which
would be payable on any outstanding Base Rate Loans which were then
overdue. If the Borrower fails to timely reimburse the Issuing Lender
on the date the Borrower receives the notice referred to in this
Section 3.5, the Borrower shall be deemed to have timely given a
Notice of Borrowing hereunder to the Agent requesting the Revolving
Credit Lenders to make a Base Rate Loan on such date in an amount
equal to the amount of such drawing and, subject to the satisfaction
or waiver of the conditions precedent specified in Article V, the
Revolving Credit Lenders shall make Base Rate Loans in such amount,
the proceeds of which shall be applied to reimburse the Issuing Lender
for the amount of the related drawing and costs and expenses.
SECTION 3.6 Obligations Absolute. The Borrower's obligations
under this Article III (including without limitation the Reimbursement
Obligation) shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all
circumstances and irrespective of any set-off, counterclaim or defense
to payment which the Borrower may have or have had against the Issuing
Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit. The Borrower also
agrees with the Issuing Lender that the Issuing Lender shall not be
responsible for, and the Borrower's Reimbursement Obligation under
Section 3.5 shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity
or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even
though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent or
forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower and any
beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such
Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the
Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such
transferee. The Issuing Lender shall not be liable for any error,
omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery
of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any
Letter of Credit, except for errors or omissions caused by the Issuing
Lender's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Borrower agrees
that any action taken or omitted by the Issuing Lender under or in
connection with any Letter of Credit or the related drafts or
documents, if done in the absence of gross negligence or willful
misconduct and in accordance with the standards of care specified in
the Uniform Customs and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the
38
UCC shall be binding on the Borrower and shall not result in any
liability of the Issuing Lender to the Borrower. The responsibility
of the Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft
presented for payment under any Letter of Credit shall, in addition to
any payment obligation expressly provided for in such Letter of
Credit, be limited to determining that the documents (including each
draft) delivered under such Letter of Credit in connection with such
presentment are in conformity with such Letter of Credit.
SECTION 3.7 Effect of Application. To the extent that any
provision of any Application related to any Letter of Credit is
inconsistent with the provisions of this Article III, the provisions
of this Article III shall apply.
SECTION 3.8 Existing Letters of Credit. If, on the Closing
Date, there are any letters of credit outstanding under the 1997
Agreement (as the case may be, the "Existing 1997 Letters of Credit"),
such Existing 1997 Letters of Credit shall be deemed to be Letters of
Credit outstanding under this Agreement within the limitations of the
L/C Commitment set forth in this Agreement, provided that the fees
payable with respect to any Existing 1997 Letter of Credit, until such
time as such Existing 1997 Letter of Credit expires or is renewed,
will be subject to the fee structure in effect on the Closing date
under the 1997 Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
GENERAL REVOLVING LOAN PROVISIONS
SECTION 4.1 Interest.
(a) Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this
Section 4.1, at the election of the Borrower, the aggregate principal
balance of the Revolving Credit Notes or any portion thereof shall
earn interest at the Base Rate or the LIBOR Rate plus, in each case,
the Applicable Margin as set forth below. The Borrower shall select
the rate of interest and Interest Period, if any, applicable to any
Revolving Loan at the time a Notice of Borrowing is given pursuant to
Section 2.2 or at the time a Notice of Conversion/Continuation is
given pursuant to Section 4.2. Each Revolving Loan or portion thereof
bearing interest based on the Base Rate shall be a "Base Rate Loan,"
and each Revolving Loan or portion thereof bearing interest based on
the LIBOR Rate shall be a "LIBOR Rate Loan." Any Revolving Loan or
any portion thereof as to which the Borrower has not duly specified an
interest rate as provided herein shall be deemed a Base Rate Loan.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement
39
or in any of the other Loan Documents, except for LIBOR Rate Loans in
effect as of the Closing Date, the Borrower may not elect the LIBOR
Rate for any Tranche I Revolving Loan hereunder unless and until the
Borrower shall have delivered its quarterly Financial Statements as of
September 26, 1998 to the Agent demonstrating that the Borrower is in
full compliance with the Loan Documents.
(b) Interest Periods. In connection with each LIBOR Rate Loan,
the Borrower, by giving notice at the times described in Section
4.1(a), shall elect an interest period (each, an "Interest Period") to
be applicable to such Revolving Loan, which Interest Period shall be a
period of one (1), two (2) or three (3) months with respect to each
LIBOR Rate Loan; provided that:
(i) the Interest Period shall commence on the date of
advance of or conversion to any LIBOR Rate Loan and, in the case of
immediately successive Interest Periods, each successive Interest
Period shall commence on the date on which the next preceding Interest
Period expires;
(ii) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a
day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on
the next succeeding Business Day; provided that if any Interest Period
with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan would otherwise expire on a day that
is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further
Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire
on the next preceding Business Day;
(iii) any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate
Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a
day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the
calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the
last Business Day of the relevant calendar month at the end of such
Interest Period;
(iv) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the
Revolving Loan Termination Date;
(v) there shall be no more than six (6) Interest
Periods outstanding at any time; provided, that if the Borrower is in
compliance with and permitted to choose the LIBOR Rate for new
Revolving Loans under Section 4.1(a), there shall be no more than ten
(10) Interest Periods outstanding at any time; and
(vi) for any LIBOR Rate Loan made on or within five
Business Days after the Closing Date, the Interest Period may be a
period of (A) not less than 15 days or more than 40 days or (B) one,
two or three months.
(c) Applicable Margin.
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Subject in every way to the restriction on availability of
Tranche I LIBOR Rate Loans in Section 4.1(a), the Applicable Margin
provided for in Section 4.1 with respect to the Revolving Loans (the
"Applicable Margin") shall be as follows:
(i) Tranche I Applicable Margin. With respect to the
Tranche I Portion of the Revolving Credit Obligations:
(A) as of and at all times following the Closing Date
unless modified pursuant to subparagraph (B) hereof:
Base Rate Loans: two and one-fourths
percent (2 1/4%)
LIBOR Rate Loans: three and one-half
percent (3 1/2%)
(B) for each Fiscal Quarter thereafter beginning with
the First Fiscal Quarter of 1999, determined by reference to the
Leverage Ratio and the Coverage Ratio as of the end of the Fiscal
Quarter immediately preceding the delivery of the Applicable Officer's
compliance certificate, in accordance with the following pricing
matrix:
Leverage Ratio Coverage Ratio Base Rate + LIBOR Rate +
greater than or less than or 2.25% 3.50%
equal to 5.0 to equal to 2.25 to
1.00 1.00
less than 5.00 greater than 2.25 1.50% 2.50%
to 1.00 but equal to 1.00 but less
to or greater than than or equal to
4.00 to 1.00 3.00 to 1.00
less than 4.0 to greater than 3.00 0.75% 1.75%
1.00 to 1.00
Adjustments, if any, in the Applicable Margin shall be made
by the Agent on the tenth (10th) Business Day after receipt
by the Agent of quarterly financial statements for the
Borrower and the accompanying Officer's Compliance
Certificate setting forth the Leverage Ratio and Coverage Ratio
of the Borrower as of the most recent Fiscal Quarter end. Subject
to Section 4.1(d), in the event the Borrower fails to deliver
41
such financial statements and certificate within the time required
by Section 7.1(a) hereof, the Applicable Margin shall be the
highest Applicable Margin set forth above until the delivery of
such financial statements and certificate.
(ii) Tranche II Applicable Margin. With respect to the
Tranche II Portion of the Revolving Credit Obligations at all times:
Base Rate Loans: one and three-
fourths percent (1 3/4%)
LIBOR Rate Loans: three percent (3%)
(d) Default Rate. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, (i) the Borrower shall no longer
have the option to request LIBOR Rate Loans, (ii) all outstanding
LIBOR Rate Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum two percent
(2%) in excess of the rate then applicable to LIBOR Rate Loans until
the end of the applicable Interest Period and thereafter at a rate
equal to two percent (2.0%) in excess of the rate then applicable to
Base Rate Loans, and (iii) all outstanding Base Rate Loans shall bear
interest at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2.0%) in excess of
the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans. Interest shall continue
to accrue on the Revolving Credit Notes after the filing by or against
the Borrower of any petition seeking any relief in bankruptcy or under
any act or law pertaining to insolvency or debtor relief, whether
state, federal or foreign.
(e) Interest Payment and Computation. Interest on each Base
Rate Loan shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each
calendar quarter commencing on the last Business Day of the calendar
quarter in which the Closing Date occurs. Interest on each LIBOR Rate
Loan shall be payable on the last day of each Interest Period
applicable thereto. All interest, fees and commissions provided
hereunder shall be computed (i) in the case of a LIBOR Rate Loan, on
the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed, and
(ii) in the case of a Base Rate Loan, on the basis of a 365/366-day
year and the actual number of days elapsed.
(f) Maximum Rate. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall
the aggregate of all amounts deemed interest hereunder or under any of
the Revolving Credit Notes charged or collected pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement or pursuant to any of the Revolving Credit Notes
exceed the highest rate permissible under any Applicable Law which a
court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem
applicable hereto. In the event that such a court determines that the
Revolving Credit Lenders have charged or received interest hereunder
42
in excess of the highest applicable rate, the rate in effect hereunder
shall automatically be reduced to the maximum rate permitted by
Applicable Law and the Revolving Credit Lenders shall at the Agent's
option promptly refund to the Borrower any interest received by
Revolving Credit Lenders in excess of the maximum lawful rate or shall
apply such excess to the principal balance of the Obligations. It is
the intent hereof that the Borrower not pay or contract to pay, and
that neither the Agent nor any Revolving Credit Lender receive or
contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever,
interest in excess of that which may be paid by the Borrower under
Applicable Law.
SECTION 4.2 Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of
Revolving Loans. Provided that no Event of Default has occurred and
is then continuing, the Borrower shall have the option to (a) convert
at any time all or any portion of its outstanding Base Rate Loans in a
principal amount equal to $3,000,000 or any whole multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof into one or more LIBOR Rate Loans, or (b)
upon the expiration of any Interest Period, (i) convert all or any
part of its outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans in a principal amount equal
to $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof into
Base Rate Loans, or (ii) continue such LIBOR Rate Loans as LIBOR Rate
Loans. Whenever the Borrower desires to convert or continue Revolving
Loans as provided above, the Borrower shall give the Agent irrevocable
prior written notice in the form attached as Exhibit "F" (a "Notice of
Conversion/Continuation") not later than 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte time)
three (3) Business Days before the day on which a proposed conversion
or continuation of such Revolving Loan is to be effective specifying
(i) the Revolving Loans to be converted or continued, and, in the case
of any LIBOR Rate Loan resulting from a conversion or to be continued,
the last day of the Interest Period therefor, (ii) the effective date
of such conversion or continuation (which shall be a Business Day),
and (iii) the principal amount of such Revolving Loans to be converted
or continued. The Agent shall promptly notify the Revolving Credit
Lenders of such Notice of Conversion/Continuation.
SECTION 4.3 Facility, Commitment and Agency Fees.
(a) Facility Fee. Commencing on the Closing Date, the Borrower
shall pay to the Agent, for the account of the Revolving Credit
Lenders, a nonrefundable facility fee at a rate per annum equal to the
average daily Facility Fee Rate (as defined in Section 4.3(d)), as in
effect during the applicable calendar quarter (or portion thereof
ending on the Revolving Loan Termination Date) referred to in the
following sentence, on the average unused daily amount of the
Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment. The facility fee shall be
payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter
43
during the term of this Agreement commencing on the last Business Day
of the calendar quarter in which the Closing Date occurs, and on the
Revolving Loan Termination Date. Such facility fee shall be
distributed by the Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders pro rata in
accordance with the Revolving Credit Lenders, respective Commitment
Percentages.
(b) Amendment Fee. In order to compensate the Agent and the
Revolving Credit Lenders for restructuring and syndicating the
Revolving Loans and for its obligations hereunder, the Borrower agrees
to pay to the Agent, for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders,
a non-refundable amendment fee (the "Amendment Fee") in an amount
equal to one percent (1%) of each Revolving Credit Lender's Revolving
Credit Commitment in full on the Closing Date.
(c) Agent's and Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the
Agent, for its account, the fees set forth in the separate fee letter
agreement executed by the Borrower and the Agent pertaining to the
Loan Documents.
(d) Facility Fee Rate.
The Facility Fee Rate to be used in calculating the facility
fee provided for in Section 4.3(a) (the "Facility Fee Rate") shall be
one-half of one percent (1/2%).
SECTION 4.4 Manner of Payment. Each payment (including
repayments described in Article II) by the Borrower on account of the
principal of or interest on the Revolving Loans or of any fee,
commission or other amounts (including the Reimbursement Obligation)
payable to the Revolving Credit Lenders under this Agreement or any
Revolving Credit Note shall be made not later than 1:00 p.m.
(Charlotte time) on the date specified for payment under this
Agreement to the Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders
pro rata in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages
(except as otherwise explicitly provided herein with respect to fees)
at the Agent's Office, in Dollars, in immediately available funds and
shall be made without any set-off, counterclaim or deduction
whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 2:00 p.m.
(Charlotte time) on such day shall be deemed a payment on such date
for the purposes of Section 11.1, but for all other purposes shall be
deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any
payment received after 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) shall be deemed to
have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes.
Upon receipt by the Agent of each such payment, the Agent shall credit
each Revolving Credit Lender's account with its pro rata share of such
payment in accordance with such Revolving Credit Lender's Commitment
Percentage (except as otherwise explicitly provided herein with
44
respect to fees) and shall wire advice of the amount of such credit to
each Revolving Credit Lender. Each payment to the Agent of the
Issuing Lender's fees or L/C Participants' commissions shall be made
in like manner, but for the account of the Issuing Lender or the L/C
Participants, as the case may be. Subject to Section 4.1(b) (ii), if
any payment under this Agreement or any Revolving Credit Note shall be
specified to be made upon a day which is not a Business Day, it shall
be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and such
extension of time shall in such case be included in computing any
interest if payable along with such payment.
SECTION 4.5 Crediting of Payments and Proceeds. In the event
that the Borrower shall fail to pay any of the obligations when due
and the Obligations have been accelerated pursuant to Section 11.2,
all payments received by the Revolving Credit Lenders upon the
Revolving Credit Notes and the other Obligations and all net proceeds
from the enforcement of the obligations shall be applied first to all
expenses then due and payable by the Borrower hereunder, then to all
indemnity obligations then due and payable by the Borrower hereunder,
then to all Agent's and Issuing Lender's fees then due and payable,
then to all commitment and other fees and commissions then due and
payable, then to accrued and unpaid interest on the Revolving Credit
Notes, the Reimbursement Obligation and any termination payments due
in respect of a Derivative Agreement with any Revolving Credit Lender
pro rata in accordance with all such amounts due, then to the
principal amount of the Revolving Credit Notes and Reimbursement
Obligation and then to the cash collateral account described in
Section 11.2(b) hereof to the extent of any L/C Obligations then
outstanding, in that order.
SECTION 4.6 Nature of Obligations of Revolving Credit Lenders
Regarding Extensions of Credit; Assumption by the Agent. The
obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders under this Agreement to
make the Revolving Loans and issue or participate in Letters of Credit
are several and are not joint or joint and several. Unless the Agent
shall have received notice from a Revolving Credit Lender prior to a
proposed borrowing date with respect to a Revolving Loan that such
Revolving Credit Lender will not make available to the Agent such
Revolving Credit Lender's ratable portion of the amount to be borrowed
on such date (which notice shall not release such Revolving Credit
Lender of its obligations hereunder), the Agent may assume that such
Revolving Credit Lender has made such portion available to the Agent
on the proposed borrowing date in accordance with Section 2.2(b) and
the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the
Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If such amount is made
available to the Agent on a date after such borrowing date, such
Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Agent on demand an amount,
45
until paid, equal to the product of (a) the amount of such Revolving
Credit Lender's Commitment Percentage of such borrowing, times (b) the
daily average Federal Funds Rate during such period as determined by
the Agent, times (c) a fraction the numerator of which is the number
of days that elapse from and including such borrowing date to the date
on which such Revolving Credit Lender's Commitment Percentage of such
borrowing shall have become immediately available to the Agent and the
denominator of which is 360. A certificate of the Agent with respect
to any amounts owing under this Section shall be conclusive, absent
manifest error. If such Revolving Credit Lender's Commitment
Percentage of such borrowing is not made available to the Agent by
such Revolving Credit Lender within three (3) Business Days of such
borrowing date, the Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount
made available by the Agent with interest thereon at the rate per
annum applicable to Base Rate Loans hereunder, on demand, from the
Borrower. The failure of any Revolving Credit Lender to make its
Commitment Percentage of any Revolving Loan available shall not
relieve it or any other Revolving Credit Lender of its obligation, if
any, hereunder to make its Commitment Percentage of such Revolving
Loan available on such borrowing date, but no Revolving Credit Lender
shall be responsible for the failure of any other Revolving Credit
Lender to, make its Commitment Percentage of such Revolving Loan
available on the borrowing date.
SECTION 4.7 Changed Circumstances.
(a) Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. If with
respect to any Interest Period the Agent or any Revolving Credit
Lender (after consultation with Agent) shall determine that, by reason
of circumstances affecting the foreign exchange and interbank markets
generally, deposits in Eurodollars, in the applicable amounts, are not
being quoted via Telerate Page 3750 or offered to the Agent or such
Revolving Credit Lender for such Interest Period, then the Agent shall
forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower. Thereafter, until the
Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist,
the obligation of the Revolving Credit Lenders to make LIBOR Rate
Loans, and the right of the Borrower to convert any Revolving Loan to
or continue any Revolving Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be
suspended, and the Borrower shall repay in full (or cause to be repaid
in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate
Loans together with accrued interest thereon, on the last day of the
then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan or
convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate
Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.
(b) Laws Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. If, after the date
hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or
any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any
46
Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with
the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of
the Revolving Credit Lenders (or any of their respective Lending
Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the
force of law) of any such Authority, central bank or comparable
agency, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Revolving
Credit Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) to honor
its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any LIBOR Rate Loan,
such Revolving Credit Lender shall promptly give notice thereof to the
Agent and the Agent shall promptly give notice to the Borrower and the
other Revolving Credit Lenders. Thereafter, until the Agent notifies
the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, (i) the
obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders to make LIBOR Rate Loans
and the right of the Borrower to convert any Revolving Loan or
continue any Revolving Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended
and thereafter the Borrower may select only Base Rate Loans hereunder,
and (ii) if any of the Revolving Credit Lenders may not lawfully
continue to maintain a LIBOR Rate Loan to the end of the then current
Interest Period applicable thereto as a LIBOR Rate Loan, the
applicable LIBOR Rate Loan shall immediately be converted to a Base
Rate Loan for the remainder of such Interest Period.
(c) Increased Costs. If, after the date hereof, the
introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law, or in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental
Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of the
Revolving Credit Lenders (or any of their respective Lending offices)
with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law)
of such Authority, central bank or comparable agency:
(i) shall subject any of the Revolving Credit Lenders (or
any of their respective Lending Offices) to any tax, duty or other
charge with respect to any Revolving Credit Note, Letter of Credit or
Application or shall change the basis of taxation of payments to any
of the Revolving Credit Lenders (or any of their respective Lending
Offices) of the principal of or interest on any Revolving Credit Note,
Letter of Credit or Application or any other amounts due under this
Agreement in respect thereof (except for changes in the rate of tax on
the overall net income of any of the Revolving Credit Lenders or any
of their respective Lending Offices imposed by the jurisdiction in
which such Revolving Credit Lender is organized or is or should be
qualified to do business or such Lending Office is located); or
(ii) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve
(including, without limitation, any imposed by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System), special deposit, insurance or capital
47
or similar requirement against assets of, deposit with or for the
account of, or credit extended by any of the Revolving Credit Lenders
(or any of their respective Lending Offices) or shall impose on any of
the Revolving Credit Lenders (or any of their respective Lending
Offices) or the foreign exchange and interbank markets any other
condition affecting any Revolving Credit Note;
and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase
the costs to any of the Revolving Credit Lenders of maintaining any
LIBOR Rate Loan or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit or to
reduce the yield or amount of any sum received or receivable by any of
the Revolving Credit Lenders under this Agreement or under the
Revolving Credit Notes in respect of a LIBOR Rate Loan or Letter of
Credit or Application, then such Revolving Credit Lender shall
promptly notify the Agent, and the Agent shall promptly notify the
Borrower of such fact and demand compensation therefor and, within
fifteen (15) days after such notice by the Agent, the Borrower shall
pay to such Revolving Credit Lender such additional amount or amounts
as will compensate such Revolving Credit Lender for such increased
cost or reduction. The Agent will promptly notify the Borrower of any
event of which it has knowledge which will entitle such Revolving
Credit Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 4.7(c);
provided that the Agent shall incur no liability whatsoever to the
Revolving Credit Lenders or the Borrower in the event it fails to do
so. The amount of such compensation shall be determined, in the
applicable Revolving Credit Lender's sole discretion, based upon the
assumption that such Revolving Credit Lender funded its Commitment
Percentage of the LIBOR Rate Loans in the London interbank market, and
using any reasonable attribution or averaging methods which such
Revolving Credit Lender deems appropriate and practical. A
certificate of such Revolving Credit Lender setting forth the basis
for determining such amount or amounts necessary to compensate such
Revolving Credit Lender shall be forwarded to the Borrower through the
Agent and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for
manifest error.
SECTION 4.8 Indemnity. The Borrower hereby indemnifies each
of the Revolving Credit Lenders against any loss or expense which may
arise or be attributable to each Revolving Credit Lender's obtaining,
liquidating or employing deposits or other funds acquired to effect,
fund or maintain any Revolving Loan (a) as a consequence of any
failure by the Borrower to make any payment when due of any amount due
hereunder in connection with a LIBOR Rate Loan, (b) due to any failure
of the Borrower to borrow on a date specified therefor in a Notice of
Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation or (c) due to any
payment, prepayment or conversion of any LIBOR Rate Loan on a date
other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor. The amount
48
of such loss or expense shall be determined, in the applicable
Revolving Credit Lender's sole discretion, based upon the assumption
that such Revolving Credit Lender funded its Commitment Percentage of
the LIBOR Rate Loans in the London interbank market, and using any
reasonable attribution or averaging methods which such Revolving
Credit Lender deems appropriate and practical. A certificate of such
Revolving Credit Lender setting forth the basis for determining such
amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Revolving Credit Lender
shall be forwarded to the Borrower through the Agent and shall be
conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error.
SECTION 4.9 Capital Requirements. If either (a) the
introduction of, or any change in, or in the interpretation of, any
Applicable Law or (b) compliance with any guideline or request from
any central bank or comparable agency or other Governmental Authority
(whether or not having the force of law), has or would have the effect
of reducing the rate of return on the capital of, or has affected or
would affect the amount of capital required to be maintained by, any
Revolving Credit Lender or any corporation controlling such Revolving
Credit Lender as a consequence of, or with reference to the
Commitments and other commitments of this type, below the rate which
the Revolving Credit Lender or such other corporation could have
achieved but for such introduction, change or compliance, then within
fifteen (15) Business Days after written demand by any such Revolving
Credit Lender, the Borrower shall pay to such Revolving Credit Lender
from time to time as specified by such Revolving Credit Lender
additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Revolving Credit
Lender or other corporation for such reduction. A certificate as to
such amounts submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Revolving
Credit Lender, shall, in the absence of manifest error, be presumed to
be correct and binding for all purposes.
SECTION 4.10 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free and Clear. Any and all payments by the
Borrower hereunder or under the Revolving Credit Notes or the Letters
of Credit shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for
any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions,
charges or withholding, and all liabilities with respect thereto
excluding, (i) in the case of each Revolving Credit Lender and the
Agent, income and franchise taxes imposed by the jurisdiction under
the laws of which such Revolving Credit Lender or the Agent (as the
case may be) is organized or is or should be qualified to do business
or any political subdivision thereof and (ii) in the case of each
Revolving Credit Lender, income and franchise taxes imposed by the
49
jurisdiction of such Revolving Credit Lender's 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 the Borrower shall be
required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum
payable hereunder or under any Revolving Credit Note or Letter of
Credit to any Revolving Credit Lender or the Agent, (A) 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 4.10) such Revolving Credit Lender or
the Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the amount
such party would have received had no such deductions been made, (B)
the Borrower shall make such deductions, (C) the Borrower shall pay
the full amount deducted to the relevant taxing authority or other
authority in accordance with Applicable Law, and (D) the Borrower
shall deliver to the Agent evidence of such payment to the relevant
taxing authority or other authority in the manner provided in Section
4.10(d).
(b) Stamp and Other Taxes. In addition, the Borrower shall pay
any present or future stamp, registration, recordation or documentary
taxes or any other similar fees or charges or excise or property
taxes, levies of the United States or any state or political
subdivision thereof or any applicable foreign jurisdiction which arise
from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or
registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, the
Revolving Loans, the Letters of Credit, the other Loan Documents, or
the perfection of any rights or security interest in respect thereto
(hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes").
(c) Indemnity. The Borrower shall indemnify each Revolving
Credit Lender and the Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other
Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes and Other Taxes
imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section
4.10) paid by such Revolving Credit Lender or the Agent (as the case
may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses)
arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes
or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. Such
indemnification shall be made within thirty (30) days from the date
such Revolving Credit Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) makes
written demand therefor.
(d) Evidence of Payment. Within thirty (30) days after the date
of any payment of Taxes or Other Taxes, the Borrower shall furnish to
the Agent, at its address referred to in Section 13.1, the original or
a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or other
evidence of payment satisfactory to the Agent.
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(e) Delivery of Tax Forms. Each Revolving Credit Lender
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United
States or any state thereof shall deliver to the Borrower, with a copy
to the Agent, on the Closing Date or concurrently with the delivery of
the relevant Assignment and Acceptance, as applicable, (i) two United
States Internal Revenue Service Forms 4224 or Forms 1001, as
applicable (or successor forms) properly completed and certifying in
each case that such Revolving Credit Lender is entitled to a complete
exemption from withholding or deduction for or on account of any
United States federal income taxes, and (ii) an Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8 or W-9 or successor applicable form, as the case may
be, to establish an exemption from United States backup withholding
taxes. Each such Revolving Credit Lender further agrees to deliver to
the Borrower, with a copy to the Agent, a Form 1001 or 4224 and Form
W-8 or W-9, or successor applicable forms or manner of certification,
as the case may be, on or before the date that any such form expires
or becomes obsolete or after the occurrence of any event requiring a
change in the most recent form previously delivered by it to the
Borrower, certifying in the case of a Form 1001 or 4224 that such
Revolving Credit Lender is entitled to receive payments under this
Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States
federal income taxes (unless in any such case an event (including
without limitation any change in treaty law or regulation) has
occurred prior to the date on which any such delivery would otherwise
be required which renders such forms inapplicable or the exemption to
which such forms relate unavailable and such Revolving Credit Lender
notifies the Borrower and the Agent that it is not entitled to receive
payments without deduction or withholding of United States federal
income taxes) and, in the case of a Form W-8 or W-9, establishing an
exemption from United States backup withholding tax.
(f) Survival. Without prejudice to the survival of any other
agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of
the Borrower contained in this Section 4.10 shall survive the payment
in full of the Obligations and the termination of the Commitments.
SECTION 4.11 Mandatory Prepayments.
(a) Asset Sales. Within two (2) Business Days after the
consummation by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Asset Sale, the
Borrower shall apply ninety percent (90%) of the Net Proceeds realized
from such Asset Sale to permanently reduce the Term Loan Obligations,
the Note Obligations, and the Revolving Credit Obligations by
forwarding such Net Proceeds (the "Asset Sale Net Proceeds") to the
Agent and the Note Lenders in the respective percentages as set forth
in Section 7(e) of the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that if no
Event of Default has occurred under this Agreement as of the date such
51
Net Proceeds are made available, the Borrower may apply the first
twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) in Net Proceeds generated from
Asset Sales, reduced by the Net Proceeds applied from Miscellaneous
Asset Sales, to either: (i) its bona fide costs and expenses actually
incurred in connection with the conversion of its Marshville Facility
(collectively, "Marshville Conversion Expenses"); or (ii) if at any
time on or before November 30, 1998, no such expenses have been
incurred or are outstanding and no Event of Default has occurred, then
to the projected Marshville Conversion Expenses pursuant to the
financial projections supplied to the Agent by the Borrower on
February 4, 1998, provided that if on November 30, 1998, any funds are
held in reserve pursuant to this subsection (ii) such funds will be
released to the Agent and the Note Lenders for distribution in
accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement. The Borrower shall
provide to the Agent an accounting of the Marshville Conversion
Expenses at the time of such application certified as true and correct
by the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower.
(b) New Equity. Within two (2) Business Days after the
consummation of any issuance by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries of any capital stock or other equity securities (as the
case may be, a "New Equity Issue"), the Borrower shall apply an amount
equal to fifty percent (50%) of the Net Proceeds of such New Equity
Issue to permanently reduce the Term Loan Obligations, the Note
Obligations, and the Revolving Credit Obligations by forwarding such
Net Proceeds (the "New Equity Net Proceeds") to the Agent and the Note
Lenders in the respective percentages as set forth in Section 7 (e) of
the Intercreditor Agreement, provided that the Borrower's existing
stock incentive programs, as more fully described in Schedule 4.11(b)
hereof, to the extent limited to aggregate equity values of $2,000,000
or less on an annual basis, shall not constitute a New Equity Issue
for purposes hereof.
(c) New Subordinated Debt. Within two (2) Business Days after
the consummation of any transaction pursuant to which the Borrower or
any subsidiary obtains unsecured Debt subordinated to the prior
payment and performance of the Borrower's Obligations to the Revolving
Credit Lenders, the Term Lenders, and the Note Lenders and on terms
satisfactory to the Agent (as the case may be, an "Approved
Subordinated Debt Transaction"), the Borrower shall apply an amount
equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Net Proceeds of such
Approved Subordinated Debt Transaction to permanently reduce the Term
Loan Obligations, the Revolving Credit Obligations, and the Note
Obligations by forwarding such Net Proceeds (the "Subordinated Debt
Net Proceeds") to the Agent and the Note Lenders in the respective
percentages as set forth in Section 7 (e) of the Intercreditor
Agreement.
52
SECTION 4.12 Approved Miscellaneous Asset Sales. From and
after the Closing Date, the Borrower may, without the prior consent of
the Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender, consummate any Approved
Miscellaneous Asset Sale, provided that the full amount of all
Approved Miscellaneous Asset Sales shall be applied to reduce dollar
for dollar the $12,000,000 allowance for the Marshville Conversion
Expenses and further provided that if on the date any Net Proceeds
from Miscellaneous Asset Sales are made available, the Marshville
Conversion Expenses have been fully credited, the Borrower shall apply
ninety percent (90%) of the balance of such Miscellaneous Asset Sale
Net Proceeds to permanently reduce the Term Loan Obligations, the
Revolving Credit Obligations and the Note Obligations, by forwarding
such Net Proceeds (the "Miscellaneous Asset Sale Net Proceeds") to the
Agent and the Note Lenders in the respective percentages as set forth
in Section 7 (e) of the Intercreditor Agreement.
ARTICLE V
CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING
SECTION 5.1 Closing. The closing shall take place at the
offices of Duane, Morris & Heckscher LLP at 2:00 p.m. on February 25,
1998, or on such other date as the parties hereto shall mutually
agree.
SECTION 5.2 Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of
Credit. The obligation of the Revolving Credit Lenders to close this
Agreement and to make the initial Revolving Loan or issue the initial
Letter of Credit is subject to the satisfaction of each of the
following conditions:
(a) Executed Loan Documents. This Agreement, the Revolving
Credit Notes and each of the other Loan Documents shall have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered to the Agent by the parties
thereto, shall be in full force and effect and no default shall exist
thereunder, and the Borrower shall have delivered original
counterparts thereof to the Agent.
(b) Closing Certificates; etc.
(i) Officers's Certificate of Borrower. The Agent shall
have received a certificate from the chief executive officer or chief
financial officer of the Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory
to the Agent, to the effect that all representations and warranties of
the Borrower contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
are true, correct and complete; that the Borrower is not in violation
of any of the covenants contained in this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents; that, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
53
by this Agreement, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing; and that the Borrower has satisfied each of the closing
conditions.
(ii) Certificate of Secretary of the Borrower. The Agent
shall have received a certificate of the secretary or assistant
secretary of the Borrower certifying that attached thereto is a true
and complete copy of the articles of incorporation of the Borrower and
all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date by the
appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction of
incorporation; that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of
the bylaws of the Borrower as in Effect on the date of such certification;
that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Borrower authorizing the bor-
rowings contemplated hereunder and the execution, delivery and perform-
ance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party;
and as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer
of the Borrower executing Loan Documents to which it is a party.
(iii) Certificates of Good Standing. The Agent shall
have received long form certificates as of a recent date of the good
standing of the Borrower under the laws of its jurisdiction of
organization and each other jurisdiction where the Borrower is
qualified to do business.
(iv) Opinions of Counsel. The Agent shall have received
favorable opinions of counsel to the Borrower addressed to the Agent
and the Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to the Borrower, the
Loan Documents and such other matters as the Revolving Credit Lenders
shall request.
(v) Tax Forms. The Agent shall have received copies of the
United States Internal Revenue Service forms required by Section
4.10(e) hereof.
(c) Consents; No Adverse Change.
(i) Governmental and Third Party Approvals. All necessary
material approvals, authorizations and consents, if any be required,
of any Person and of all Governmental Authorities and courts having
jurisdiction with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall have been obtained.
(ii) Permits and Licenses. All material permits and
licenses, including permits and licenses required under Applicable
Laws, necessary to the conduct of business by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries shall have been obtained.
54
(iii) No Injunction, Etc. No action, proceeding,
investigation, regulation or legislation shall have been instituted,
threatened or proposed before any Governmental Authority to enjoin,
restrain, or prohibit, or to obtain substantial damages in respect of,
or which is related to or arises out of this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, or which, in the Agent's discretion, would make it
inadvisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and such other Loan Documents.
(iv) No Material Adverse Change. There shall not have
occurred any material adverse change in the business, condition
(financial or otherwise), operations, or properties of the Borrower
taken as a whole, or any event, condition or state of facts that will
or could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
since June 28, 1997, except as disclosed in the Borrower's unaudited
quarterly financial statements dated as of December 27, 1997.
(v) No Event of Default. No Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing.
(d) Financial Matters.
(i) Financial Statements. The Agent shall have received
the most recent audited consolidated and consolidating financial
statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the quarterly
unaudited financial statements of the Borrower as of December 27,
1997, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
(ii) Financial Condition Certificate. The Borrower shall
have delivered to the Agent a certificate, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent, and certified as accurate in all respects
by the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the
Borrower, that the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries are each
Solvent.
(iii) Payment at Closing; Fee Letters. There shall have
been paid by the Borrower to the Agent and the Revolving Credit
Lenders the fees set forth or referenced in Section 4.3 and any other
accrued and unpaid fees or commissions due hereunder (including,
without limitation, legal fees and expenses), and to any other Person
such amount as may be due thereto in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, including all taxes, fees and other charges in
connection with the execution, delivery, recording, filing and
registration of any of the Loan Documents. The Agent shall have
received duly authorized and executed copies of the fee letter
agreement referred to in Section 4.3(c).
55
(e) Miscellaneous.
(i) Notice of Borrowing. The Agent shall have received
written instructions from the Borrower to the Agent directing the
payment of any proceeds of Revolving Loans made under this Agreement
that are to be paid on the Closing Date.
(ii) Proceedings and Documents. All opinions, certificates
and other instruments and all proceedings in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in
form and substance to the Revolving Credit Lenders. The Revolving
Credit Lenders shall have received copies of all other instruments and
other evidence as the Revolving Credit Lenders may reasonably request
in form and substance satisfactory to the Revolving Credit Lenders,
with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the taking of all actions in connection therewith.
(iii) Due Diligence and Other Documents. The Borrower shall
have delivered to the Agent such other documents, certificates and
opinions as the Agent reasonably requests, certified by a secretary or
assistant secretary of the Borrower as a true and correct copy
thereof.
(iv) Insurance Company Documents. The Borrower shall have
delivered to the Agent fully-executed copies of the Note Agreement (as
defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) and all other documents
executed in connection therewith.
SECTION 5.3 Conditions to All Revolving Loans and Letters of
Credit. The obligations of the Revolving Credit Lenders to make,
continue or convert any Revolving Loan or issue any Letter of Credit
is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent
on the relevant borrowing or issue date, as applicable:
(i) Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties contained in Article VI shall be true
and correct on and as of such borrowing or issuance date with the same
effect as if made on and as of such date, except that the foregoing
shall not apply to the representations and warranties set forth with
respect to Section 6.1(o) hereof, nor with respect to Section 6.1(p)
hereof except as Section 6.1(p) relates to the most recent Financial
Statements delivered by the Borrower to the Agent.
(ii) No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing hereunder (A) on the borrowing
date with respect to such Revolving Loan or after giving effect to the
Revolving Loans to be made on such date or (B) on the issue date with
56
respect to such Letter of Credit or after giving effect to such
Letters of Credit on such date.
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER
SECTION 6.1 Representations and Warranties. To induce the
Agent to enter into this Agreement and the Revolving Credit Lenders to
make the Revolving Loans or issue or participate in the Letters of
Credit, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Agent and
Revolving Credit Lenders that:
(a) Organization; Power; Qualification. Each of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
formation, has the power and authority to own its properties and to
carry on its business as now being and hereafter proposed to be
conducted and is duly qualified and authorized to do business in each
jurisdiction (other than a jurisdiction in which the failure to so
qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect) in which the
character of its properties or the nature of its business requires
such qualification and authorization. The jurisdictions in which the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries are organized and qualified to do
business are described on Schedule 6.1(a).
(b) Ownership. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower is listed on
Schedule 6.1(b). The capitalization of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries consists of the number of shares, authorized, issued and
outstanding, of such classes and series, with or without par value,
described on Schedule 6.1(b). All outstanding shares have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.
The shareholders of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower and the number of
shares owned by each are described on Schedule 6.1(b). There are no
outstanding stock purchase warrants, subscriptions, options,
securities, instruments or other rights of any type or nature
whatsoever, which are convertible into, exchangeable for or otherwise
provide for or permit the issuance of capital stock of the Borrower or
its Subsidiaries, except as described on Schedule 6.1(b).
(c) Authorization of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing.
Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has the right, power and
authority and has taken all necessary corporate and other action to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party in
accordance with their respective terms. This Agreement and each of
the other Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the
57
duly authorized officers of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries
party thereto, and each such document constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Borrower or its Subsidiary party thereto,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or similar state or federal debt or relief laws from time to time in
effect which affect the enforcement of creditors' rights in general
and the availability of equitable remedies.
(d) Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing with
Laws, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries of the Loan Documents to which each such Person
is a party, in accordance with their respective terms, the borrowings
hereunder and the transactions contemplated hereby, do not and will
not, by the passage of time, the giving of notice or otherwise, (i)
require any Governmental Approval or violate any Applicable Law
relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) conflict
with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under the articles
of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any indenture, agreement or
other instrument to which such Person is a party or by which any of
its properties may be bound or any Governmental Approval relating to
such Person; or (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition
of any Lien upon or with respect to any property now owned or
hereafter acquired by such Person other than Liens arising under the
Loan Documents.
(e) Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals. Each of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries (i) has all material Governmental
Approvals required by any Applicable Law for it to conduct its
business, each of which is in full force and effect, is final and not
subject to review on appeal and is not the subject of any pending or,
to the best of its knowledge, threatened attack by direct or
collateral proceeding; and (ii) is in compliance in all material
respects with each Governmental Approval applicable to it and in
compliance in all material respects with all other Applicable Laws
relating to it or any of its respective properties.
(f) Tax Returns and Payments. Each of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries has duly filed or caused to be filed all federal, state,
local and other tax returns required by Applicable Law to be filed
(other than returns the failure of which to be filed would not result
in a Material Adverse Effect), and has paid, or made adequate
provision for the payment of, all federal, state, local and other
taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it and its
property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable (other
than taxes, assessments, charges and levies the failure of which to be
paid would not result in a Material Adverse Effect). Except as set
58
forth on Schedule 6.1(f), no Governmental Authority has asserted any
Lien or other claim against the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof
with respect to unpaid taxes which has not been discharged or
resolved. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the
Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries in respect of federal, state,
local and other taxes for all Fiscal Years and portions thereof since
the organization of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries are in
the judgment of the Borrower adequate, and the Borrower does not
anticipate any additional taxes or assessments for any of such years.
(g) Copyright Matters. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have
recorded or deposited with and paid to the United States Copyright
Offices, and the Register of Copyrights all notices, statements of
account, royalty fees and other documents and instruments required
under the United States Copyright Act, and neither the Borrower nor
any Subsidiary thereof is liable to any Person for copyright
infringement under the United States Copyright Act as a result of its
business operations.
(h) Franchises, Licenses, Patents and Trademarks. Each of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns or possesses rights to use all
franchises, licenses, patents, patent rights or licenses, patent
applications, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade name
rights, copyrights and rights with respect to the foregoing which are
required to conduct its business, and all such franchises, licenses,
patents, patent rights or licenses, patent applications, trademarks,
trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights, copyrights and
rights are described on Schedule 6.1(h). No event has occurred which
permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, the
revocation or termination of any such rights.
(i) Environmental Matters.
(i) The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, to
their knowledge, do not contain and have not previously contained, any
Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations which (A) constitute
or constituted a material violation of, or (B) could give rise to
material liability under, applicable Environmental Laws;
(ii) To the knowledge of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
(A) such properties and all operations conducted in connection
therewith are in compliance in all material respects, and have been in
compliance in all material respects, with all applicable Environmental
Laws, and (B) there is no contamination at, under or about such
properties or such operations which could interfere with the continued
operation of such properties or impair in a material amount the fair
59
saleable value of any property which would have a material saleable
value in the absence of such contamination;
(iii) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof
has received any notice of any material violation, alleged material
violation, material noncompliance, material liability or potential
material liability regarding environmental matters or compliance with
Environmental Laws with regard to any of their properties or the
operations conducted in connection therewith, nor does the Borrower or
any Subsidiary thereof have knowledge or reason to believe that any
such notice will be received or is being threatened;
(iv) To the knowledge of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
(A) Hazardous Materials have not been transported or disposed of from
the properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in violation of,
or in a manner or to a location which could give rise to material
liability under, Environmental Laws, and (B) no Hazardous Materials
have been generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under
any of such properties in violation of, or in a manner that could give
rise to material liability under, any applicable Environmental Laws;
(v) No judicial proceedings or governmental or
administrative action is pending, or, to the knowledge of the
Borrower, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which the
Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof is or will be named as a party with
respect to such properties or operations conducted in connection
therewith which, if decided adversely to the Borrower or a Subsidiary,
might have a material adverse effect upon the Borrower or a
Subsidiary, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees,
consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other
administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any
Environmental Law with respect to such properties or such operations
which involve a material liability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
and
(vi) To the Borrower's knowledge, there has been no release,
or the threat of release, of Hazardous Materials at or from such
properties, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that could
give rise to material liability under Environmental Laws.
(j) ERISA.
(i) Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains
or contributes to, or has any obligation under, any Employee Benefit
Plans which are defined benefit plans or welfare plans providing post-
retirement medical benefits, other than those identified on Schedule
6.1(j);
60
(ii) the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate is in compliance
in all material respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA and
the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect
to all Employee Benefit Plans except for any required amendments for
which the remedial amendment period as defined in Section 401(b) of
the Code has not yet expired. Each Employee Benefit Plan that is
intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been
determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be so qualified, and
each trust related to such plan has been determined to be exempt under
Section 501(a) of the Code. No liability has been incurred by the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate which remains unsatisfied for any
taxes or penalties with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan or any
Multiemployer Plan;
(iii) No Pension Plan has been terminated, nor has any
accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412 of the Code)
been incurred (without regard to any waiver granted under Section 412
of the Code), nor has any funding waiver from the Internal Revenue
Service been received or requested with respect to any Pension Plan,
nor has the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate failed to make any
contributions or to pay any amounts due and owing as required by
Section 412 of the Code, Section 302 of ERISA or the terms of any
Pension Plan prior to the due dates of such contributions under
Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, nor has there been
any event requiring any disclosure under election 4041(c)(3)(C) or
4063(a) of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan;
(iv) Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has: (A)
engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described in Section 406
of the ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code; (B) incurred any liability
to the PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of
premiums and there are no premium payments which are due and unpaid;
(C) failed to make a required contribution or payment to a
Multiemployer Plan; or (D) failed to make a required installment or
other required payment under Section 412 of the Code;
(v) No Termination Event has occurred or is reasonably
expected to occur; and
(vi) No proceeding, claim, lawsuit and/or investigation is
existing or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower after due inquiry,
threatened concerning or involving any (A) employee welfare benefit
plan (as defined in Section 3(i) of ERISA) currently maintained or
contributed to by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, (B) Pension
Plan or (C) Multiemployer Plan.
(k) Margin Stock. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary
thereof is engaged principally or as one of its activities in the
61
business of extending credit for the purpose of "purchasing" or
"carrying" any "margin stock" (as each such term is defined or used in
Regulations G and U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System). No part of the proceeds of any of the Revolving Loans or
Letters of Credit will be used for purchasing or carrying margin stock
or for any purpose which violates, or which would be, inconsistent
with, the provisions of Regulation G, T, U or X of such Board of
Governors.
(l) Government Regulation. Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary thereof is an "investment company" or a company
"controlled" by an "investment company" (as each such term is defined
or used in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), and
neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is, or after giving
effect to any Extension of Credit will be, subject to regulation under
the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or the Interstate
Commerce Act, each as amended, or any other Applicable Law which
limits its ability to incur or consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(m) Material Contracts. Each Material Contract is, and after
giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
the Loan Documents will be, in full force and effect in accordance
with the terms thereof.
(n) Employee Relations. Except as set forth on Schedule
6.1(n), the Borrower is not party to any collective bargaining
agreement, nor has any labor union been recognized as the
representative of its employees. Each of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries has a stable work force in place. The Borrower knows of
no pending, threatened or contemplated strikes, work stoppage or other
collective labor disputes involving its employees or those of its
Subsidiaries.
(o) Burdensome Provisions. Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary thereof is a party to any indenture, agreement, lease or
other instrument, or subject to any corporate or partnership
restriction, Governmental Approval or Applicable Law which is so
unusual or burdensome as in the foreseeable future could be reasonably
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower and its
Subsidiaries do not presently anticipate that future expenditures
needed to meet the provisions of any statutes, orders, rules or
regulations of a Governmental Authority will be so burdensome as to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) Financial Statements. The Consolidated and consolidating
audited financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
dated June 28, 1997 and the Consolidated and consolidating balance
sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of December 27, 1997
and the related statements of income and retained earnings and cash
62
flows for the periods then ended, copies of which have been furnished
to the Agent and each Revolving Credit Lender, fairly present the
assets, liabilities and financial position of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as at such dates, and the results of the operations and
changes of financial position for the periods then ended. All such
financial statements, including the related schedules and notes
thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Borrower and
its Subsidiaries have no Debt, obligation or other unusual forward or
long-term commitment which is not fairly reflected in the foregoing
financial statements or in the notes thereto.
(q) No Material Adverse Change. Since June 28, 1997 except as
disclosed in the Borrower's unaudited quarterly financial statements
dated as of December 27, 1997, there has been no material adverse
change in the properties, business, operations, or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
including, but not limited to, any material adverse change resulting
from any fire, explosion, accident, drought, storm, hail, earthquake,
embargo, act of God, or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether
or not covered by insurance).
(r) Solvency. As of the Closing Date and after giving effect to
each Extension of Credit made hereunder, the Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries will be Solvent.
(s) Titles to Properties. Each of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries has such title to the real property owned by it as is
necessary or desirable to the conduct of its business and valid and
legal title to all of its personal property and assets, including, but
not limited to, those reflected on the balance sheets of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(p). Any real
property owned by the Borrower that is currently subject to any lease,
is listed together with a description of all such leases on Schedule
6.1(s).
(t) Liens. None of the properties and assets of the Borrower or
any Subsidiary thereof is subject to any Lien, except Liens permitted
pursuant to Section 10.3. No financing statement under the Uniform
Commercial Code of any state which names the Borrower or any
Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective trade names or divisions
as debtor and which has not been terminated, has been filed in any
state or other jurisdiction and neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary thereof has signed any such financing statement or any
security agreement authorizing any secured party thereunder to file
any such financing statement, except to perfect those Liens permitted
by Section 10.3 hereof or signed with respect to leases other than
Capital Leases and except for Liens in favor of the Agent for the
benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders.
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(u) Debt and Contingent Obligations. Except with respect to the
1997 Credit Agreement and any noteholder agreement which is superseded
as of the Closing Date, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have
performed and are in compliance in all material respects with all of
the terms of their Debt and Contingent Obligations and all instruments
and agreements relating thereto, and no default or event of default
which has not been waived, or event or condition which with notice or
lapse of time or both would constitute such a default or event of
default, on the part of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries exists with
respect to any such Debt or Contingent Obligation.
(v) Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(v), there
are no actions, suits or proceedings pending nor, to the knowledge of
the Borrower, threatened against or in any other way relating
adversely to or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or
any of their respective properties in any court or before any
arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority in
which a decision adverse to the Borrower or such Subsidiary can
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) Absence of Defaults. No event has occurred or is continuing
which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default which has not been
waived, or which constitutes, or which with the passage of time or
giving of notice or both would constitute, a default or event of
default, which has not been waived, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
thereof under any Material Contract or judgment, decree or order to
which the Borrower or its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties may
be bound or which would require the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to
make any payment thereunder prior to the scheduled maturity date
therefor.
(x) Accuracy and Completeness of Information. All written
information, reports and other papers and data produced by or on
behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof and furnished to the
Revolving Credit Lenders were, at the time the same were so furnished,
complete and correct in all respects to the extent necessary to give
the recipient a true and accurate knowledge of the subject matter. No
document furnished or written statement made to the Agent or the
Revolving Credit Lenders by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof in
connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this
Agreement or any of the Loan Documents contains or will contain any
untrue statement of a fact material to the credit worthiness of the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries or omits or will omit to state a fact
necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not
misleading. The Borrower is not aware of any facts which it has not
disclosed in writing to the Agent having a Material Adverse Effect, or
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insofar as the Borrower can now foresee, could reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(y) Rockingham Subsidiaries. Rockingham Poultry, Inc. is not an
active corporate entity and does not own or otherwise hold any assets.
Rockingham Poultry, Inc. (VI) holds only one asset consisting of a
bank account at Banco Popular (Puerto Rico) in the name of Rockingham
Poultry, Inc. (VI) (the "RVI Account") which RVI Account shall at no
time contain an amount more than $15,000.
(z) WLR Common Stock. As of the date hereof, there are
16,335,058 shares of the Common Stock, no par value, of WLR issued and
outstanding. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(z) attached hereto:
(a) there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to
acquire shares of WLR Common Stock, whether or not presently
exercisable; (b) there are no outstanding securities convertible into
shares of WLR Common Stock, whether or not presently convertible; and
(c) there are no understandings, agreements or commitments with
respect to the issuance of any such securities.
SECTION 6.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties Etc.
All representations and warranties set forth in this Article VI and
all representations and warranties contained in any certificate, or
any of the Loan Documents (including but not limited to any such
representation or warranty made in or in connection with any amendment
thereto) shall constitute representations and warranties made under
this Agreement. All representations and warranties made under this
Agreement shall be made or deemed to be made at and as of the Closing
Date, shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived by the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation made by or
on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders or any borrowing hereunder.
ARTICLE VII
FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND NOTICES
Until all the Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid
and satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent
has been obtained in the manner set forth in Section 13.11 hereof, the
Borrower will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agent at the
Agent's Office (with copies for each Revolving Credit Lender) and the
Agent at its address set forth in Section 13.1 hereof, or such other
office as may be designated by the Agent from time to time:
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SECTION 7.1 Financial Statements and Projections.
(a) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and
in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal
quarter, an unaudited Consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal
quarter in the form as attached as Exhibit "G," an unaudited
Consolidated and consolidating statement of income for the fiscal
quarter then ended and that portion of the Fiscal Year then ended and
an unaudited Consolidated and consolidating statement of cash flows
for that portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, including the notes,
if any, thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in comparative
form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and
prepared by the Borrower in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable,
containing disclosure of the effect on the financial position or
results of operations of any material change in the application of
accounting principles and practices during the period and certified by
the chief financial officer of the Borrower to present fairly in all
material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as of their respective dates and the results of
operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the respective
periods then ended, subject to normal year end adjustments.
(b) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and in
any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year,
an audited Consolidated and unaudited consolidating balance sheet of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such Fiscal Year
and audited Consolidated and unaudited consolidating statements of
income, retained earnings and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then
ended, including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting
forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding
Fiscal Year and certified by an independent certified public
accounting firm acceptable to the Agent in accordance with GAAP and,
if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect on the financial
position or results of operation of any change in the application of
accounting principles and practices during the year, and accompanied
by a report thereon by such certified public accountants that is not
qualified with respect to scope limitations imposed by the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries or with respect to accounting principles
followed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries not in accordance
with GAAP.
(c) Monthly Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and in
any event within thirty days after the end of each calendar month,
such financial information as may be required by written notification
to the Borrower from the Agent on or before March 31, 1998.
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(d) SEC Filings. Within three (3) Business Days after their
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), copies
of the Borrower's 10-K and 10-Q and any other periodic financial
statements which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is required
to file with the SEC.
(e) Financial Projections. Within thirty (30) days after each
such request, such financial projections for the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request.
(f) Three Year Business Plan. On or before June 1, 1998, a copy
of the Borrower's three year business plan (the "Three Year Business
Plan") in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Revolving
Credit Lenders and the Agent.
(g) Weekly Borrowing Base Certificates and Information. On each
Monday before 2:00 p.m., for the immediately preceding week ending
Friday, a Borrowing Base Certificate together with such additional
information relating to the Collateral and the calculation of the
Borrowing Base as may be required by the Agent by written notification
to the Borrower on or before March 31, 1998.
SECTION 7.2 Officer's Compliance Certificate. At each time
financial statements are delivered pursuant to Sections 7.1 (a) or (b)
and at such other times as the Agent shall reasonably request, a
certificate of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the
Borrower in the form of Exhibit "H" attached hereto (an "Officer's
Compliance Certificate"):
(a) stating that such officer has reviewed such financial
statements and such statements fairly present the financial condition
of the Borrower as of the dates indicated and the results of its
operations and cash flows for the periods indicated;
(b) stating that to such officer's knowledge, based on a
reasonable examination sufficient to enable him to make an informed
statement, no Default or Event of Default exists, or, if such is not
the case, specifying such Default or Event of Default and its nature,
when it occurred, whether it is continuing and the steps being taken
by the Borrower with respect to such Default or Event of Default; and
(c) setting forth as at the end of such Fiscal Month, Fiscal
Quarter, or Fiscal Year, as the case may be, the calculations required
to establish whether or not the Borrower and its Subsidiaries were in
compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Article IX hereof
as at the end of each respective period, and, with the delivery of the
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calculations as at the end of any Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, the
actual Coverage Ratio and Leverage Ratio for purposes of calculating
the Applicable Margin for Tranche I Loans.
SECTION 7.3 Accountants' Certificate. At each time financial
statements are delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(b), a certificate of
the independent public accountants certifying such Consolidated
financial statements addressed to the Agent for the benefit of the
Revolving Credit Lenders:
(a) stating that in making the examination necessary for the
certification of such financial statements, they obtained no knowledge
of any Default or Event of Default or, if such is not the case,
specifying such Default or Event of Default and its nature and period
of existence; and
(b) including the calculations certified by such accountants
required to establish whether or not the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Article IX
hereof as at the end of each respective period.
SECTION 7.4 Other Reports.
(a) Promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all reports, if
any, submitted to the Borrower or its Board of Directors by its
independent public accountants in connection with their auditing
function, excluding any management report and any management responses
thereto (which shall nevertheless be made available as provided in
Section 8.11); and
(b) Such other information regarding the operations, business
affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries as the Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender may
reasonably request, including, without limitation, consolidating
financial statements and summary product sales information as provided
on company-prepared fact sheets.
SECTION 7.5 Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Prompt
(but in no event later than five (5) days after the Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or any Vice President of WLR obtains
knowledge thereof) telephonic and written notice of:
(a) the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or
before any Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in
any court or before any arbitrator against or involving the Borrower
or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties,
assets or businesses in which a decision adverse to the Borrower or
such Subsidiary can reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;
68
(b) any notice of any violation (including, without limitation,
a violation of Environmental Laws) received by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary thereof from any Governmental Authority which violation
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) any labor controversy that has resulted in, or threatens to
result in, a strike or other work action against the Borrower or any
Subsidiary thereof, which strike or work action, if continued, can
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) any attachment, judgment, lien (except Permitted Liens),
levy or order exceeding $3,000,000 that may be assessed against the
Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof;
(e) any Default or Event of Default, or any event which
constitutes or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or
both would constitute a default or event of default under any Material
Contract to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
or by which the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their
respective properties may be bound, and any corrective action which
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has taken or proposes to take
with respect thereto;
(f) (i) the establishment of any new Employee Benefit Plan which
is a defined benefit plan or a welfare plan providing post-retirement
benefits, the commencement of contributions to any such plan to which
the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate was not previously contributing or
any increase in the benefits of any such existing Employee Benefit
Plan which would increase the projected liability of the Borrower
and/or one or more ERISA Affiliates by $1,000,000 or more; (ii) each
funding waiver request filed with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan
and all communications received or sent by the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate with respect to such request; (iii) the failure of the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to make a required installment or
payment under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code by the
due date; (iv) any Termination Event or "prohibited transaction", as
such term is defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
Code, in connection with any Employee Benefit Plan or any trust
created thereunder which can reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, along with a description of the nature thereof, what
action the Borrower has taken, is taking or proposes to take with
respect thereto and, when known, any action taken or threatened by the
Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or the PBGC with
respect thereto; (v) any unfavorable determination letter from the
Internal Revenue Service regarding the qualification of an Employee
Benefit Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code if the failure of such
Employee Benefit Plan to be qualified can reasonably be expected to
69
have a Material Adverse Effect (along with a copy thereof); (vi) all
notices received by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC's
intent to terminate any Pension Plan or to have a trustee appointed to
administer any Pension Plan; (vii) each Schedule B (Actuarial
Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate with the Internal Revenue Service with
respect to each Pension Plan; (viii) all notices received by the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor
concerning the imposition or amount of withdrawal liability pursuant
to Section 4202 of ERISA; and (ix) the Borrower obtaining knowledge or
reason to know that the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has filed or
intends to file a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan under
a distress termination within the meaning of Section 4041 (c) of
ERISA; and
(g) any event which makes any of the representations set forth
in Section 6.1 inaccurate in any material respect.
SECTION 7.6 Accuracy of Information. All written information,
reports, statements and other papers and data furnished by or on
behalf of the Borrower to the Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender
(other than financial forecasts) whether pursuant to this Article VII
or any other provision of this Agreement, or any of the Security
Documents, shall be, at the time the same is so furnished, complete
and correct in all material respects to the extent necessary to give
the Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender complete, true and accurate
knowledge of the subject matter based on the Borrower's knowledge
thereof.
ARTICLE VIII
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly
paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless
consent has been obtained in the manner provided for in Section 13.11,
the Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to:
SECTION 8.1 Preservation of Corporate Existence and Related
Matters. Except as permitted by Section 10.5, preserve and maintain
its separate corporate existence and all rights, franchises, licenses
and privileges necessary to the conduct of its business; and qualify
and remain qualified as a foreign corporation and authorized to do
business in each jurisdiction in which time failure to so qualify
would have a Material Adverse Effect.
70
SECTION 8.2 Maintenance of Property. Protect and preserve all
properties useful in and material to its business, including
copyrights, patents, trade names and trademarks; maintain in good
working order and condition all buildings, equipment and other
tangible real and personal property; and from time to time make or
cause to be made all renewals, replacements and additions to such
property necessary for the conduct of its business, so that the
business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and
advantageously conducted at all times.
SECTION 8.3 Insurance. Carry at all times with financially
sound and reputable insurance companies which have ratings from A. M.
Best & Co. of "A" or higher or are otherwise acceptable to the Agent:
(a) all workers' compensation or similar insurance as may be required
under the laws of any jurisdiction; (b) public liability insurance
against claims for personal injury, death or property damage suffered
upon, in or about any premises occupied by it or occurring as a result
of the ownership, maintenance or operation by it of any automobile,
truck or other vehicle or as a result of the use of products
manufactured, constructed or sold by it, or services rendered by it;
(c) business interruption insurance covering risk of loss as a result
of the cessation for all or any part of one year of any substantial
part of the business conducted by it; (d) hazard insurance against
such other hazards as are usually insured against by business entities
of established reputation engaged in like businesses and similarly
situated, including, without limitation, fire (flood, if applicable)
and extended coverage; and (e) such other insurance as the Agent may
from time to time reasonably require, and pay all premiums on the
policies for all such insurance when and as they become due and take
all other actions necessary to maintain such policies in full force
and effect at all times. CIGNA is an acceptable insurer for purposes
of this Section unless the Agent, at the request of the Required
Revolving Credit Lenders, notifies the Borrower that CIGNA is
unacceptable. The Borrower shall cause each hazard insurance policy
to provide, and the insurer issuing each such policy to certify to the
Agent, that (a) if such insurance be proposed to be canceled or
materially changed for any reason whatsoever, such insurer will
promptly notify the Agent and such cancellation or change shall not be
effective for 30 days after receipt by the Agent of such notice,
unless the effect of such change is to extend or increase coverage
under the policy; (b) the Agent, for the benefit of the Revolving
Credit Lenders, shall be named as lender loss payee with respect to
personal property and mortgagee with respect to real property; and (c)
the Agent will have the right, at its election, to remedy any default
in the payment of premiums within 30 days of notice from the insurer
of such default. The foregoing covenants regarding insurance are in
addition to, and not intended to supersede, those covenants regarding
insurance set forth in the Security Documents. In the event and to
71
the extent of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement
and the provisions of the Security Documents regarding the insuring of
Collateral, the provisions of the Security Documents with respect
thereto shall govern.
SECTION 8.4 Accounting Methods and Financial Records.
Maintain a system of accounting, and keep such books, records and
accounts (which shall be true and complete in all material respects)
as may be required or as may be necessary to permit the preparation of
financial statements in accordance with GAAP and in compliance with
the regulations of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over
it or any of its properties.
SECTION 8.5 Payment and Performance of Obligations. Pay and
perform all Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, and pay or perform (a) all taxes, assessments and other
governmental charges that may be levied or assessed upon it or any of
its property, and (b) all other indebtedness, obligations and
liabilities in accordance with customary trade practices; provided
that the Borrower or such Subsidiary may contest any item described in
this Section 8.5 in good faith so long as adequate reserves are
maintained with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.
SECTION 8.6 Compliance With Laws and Approvals. Observe and
remain in compliance in all material respects with all Applicable Laws
and maintain in full force and effect all material Governmental
Approvals, in each case applicable to the conduct of its business.
SECTION 8.7 Environmental Laws. In addition to and without
limiting the generality of Section 8.6, (a) comply in all material
respects with, and ensure such compliance in all material respects by
all tenants and subtenants, if any, with, all applicable Environmental
Laws and obtain and comply with and maintain, and ensure that all
tenants and subtenants obtain and comply with and maintain, any and
all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits
required by applicable Environmental Laws; (b) conduct and complete
all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial,
removal and other actions required under Environmental Laws, and
promptly comply with all lawful orders and directives of any
Governmental Authority regarding Environmental Laws; and (c) defend,
indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and the Revolving Credit
Lenders, and their respective parents, Subsidiaries, Affiliates,
employees, agents, officers and directors, from and against any
claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages,
costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature known or unknown,
contingent or otherwise, arising out of, or in any way relating to the
violation of, noncompliance with or liability under any Environmental
Laws applicable to the operations of the Borrower or such Subsidiary,
or any orders, requirements or demands of Governmental Authorities
72
related thereto, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's
and consultant's fees, investigation and laboratory fees, response
costs, court costs and litigation expenses, except to the extent that
any of the foregoing arise out of the negligence or willful misconduct
of the party seeking indemnification therefor.
SECTION 8.8 Compliance with ERISA. In addition to and without
limiting the generality of Section 8.6, (a) make timely payment of
contributions required to meet the minimum funding standards set forth
in ERISA with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan; (b) not take any
action or fail to take action the result of which could be a liability
to the PBGC or to a Multiemployer Plan; (c) not participate in any
prohibited transaction that could result in any material civil penalty
under ERISA or tax under the Code; (d) furnish to the Agent upon the
Agent's request such additional information about any Employee Benefit
Plan as may be reasonably requested by the Agent; and (e) operate each
Employee Benefit Plan in such a manner that will not incur any tax
liability under Section 4980B of the Code or any liability to any
qualified beneficiary as defined in Section 4980B of the Code.
SECTION 8.9 Compliance With Agreements. Comply in all
material respects with each term, condition and provision of all
leases, agreements and other instruments entered into in the conduct
of its business including, without limitation, any Material Contract;
provided that the Borrower or such Subsidiary may contest any such
lease, agreement or other instrument in good faith through applicable
proceedings so long as adequate reserves are maintained in accordance
with GAAP.
SECTION 8.10 Conduct of Business. Engage only in businesses in
substantially the same fields as the businesses conducted on the
Closing Date and in lines of business reasonably related thereto.
SECTION 8.11 Visits and Inspections. Permit representatives of
the Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender, from time to time, after
reasonable notice, to visit and inspect its properties; inspect, audit
and make extracts from its books, records and files, including, but
not limited to, management letters prepared by independent
accountants; and discuss with its principal officers, and its
independent accountants, its business, assets, liabilities, financial
condition, results of operations and business prospects.
SECTION 8.12 Further Assurances. Make, execute and deliver all
such additional and further acts, things, deeds and instruments as the
Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender may reasonably require to
document and consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to
73
vest completely in and insure the Agent and the Revolving Credit
Lenders their respective rights under this Agreement, the Revolving
Credit Notes, the Letters of Credit and the other Loan Documents.
SECTION 8.13 Meeting with Revolving Credit Lenders.
Participate in meetings at least twice annually with all Revolving
Credit Lenders wishing to participate therein at a date, time and
location satisfactory to the Agent and fully disclose in such meeting
the material future business plans of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.
SECTION 8.14 Year 2000 Issues. Take all action necessary to
assure that the Borrower's computer based systems are able to operate
and effectively process data including dates on and after January 1,
2000. At the request of the Agent, the Borrower shall provide the
Agent assurance acceptable to the Agent of the Borrower's Year 2000
compatibility.
SECTION 8.15 Employment of Outside Accountants and Financial
Consultants. Employ Ernst & Young LLP or another outside accounting
firm and/or financial consulting firm acceptable to the Agent for the
purpose of providing consulting and related financial services to the
Borrower as more fully described in the work plan attached as Schedule
8.15. The Borrower will continuously employ a chief financial officer
and related accounting and financial employees reasonably acceptable
to the Agent until the Obligations have been paid in full. For
purposes of this Section 8.15, current Chief Financial Officer is
acceptable to the Agent as chief financial officer of the Borrower.
If the Borrower fails to employ continuously a chief financial officer
and related accounting and financial employees reasonably acceptable
to the Agent, the Borrower will employ an outside accounting and/or
financial consulting firm acceptable to the Agent to perform such
tasks as the Agent may designate. If the Borrower wishes to terminate
the accounting firm and/or financial consulting firm which is
performing the services described in the work plan attached as
Schedule 8.15 prior to its completion, the Borrower must obtain the
prior written consent of the Agent.
For purposes of computing EBITDA under the financial covenants
contained in Article IX of this Agreement and the Term Loan Agreement,
fees and expenses which have been paid prior to the date of this
Agreement and which may be paid after the date of this Agreement to
the outside accounting firm and/or financial consulting firm referred
to in this Section 8.15 will not be considered an expense in
calculating EBITDA.
SECTION 8.16 Maintenance of Bank Accounts. Except for a
deposit account with a balance at no time to exceed $15,000 maintained
74
in the name of Rockingham Poultry (VI) at Banco Popular (Puerto Rico),
maintain all of its depository, disbursement and other accounts with
the Agent and/ or any Revolving Credit Lender.
SECTION 8.17 Interest Rate Protection. As promptly as
practicable, and in any event within 60 days after the Closing Date,
enter into, and thereafter for a period of not less than two years
from the Closing Date maintain in effect, one or more Interest Rate
Protection Agreements on such terms and with such parties as shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, the effect of which shall be to
fix or limit the interest costs to the Borrower with respect to at
least fifty percent (50%) of the amount outstanding under the Term
Loan, the Note Agreement, and projected outstanding amount for
Revolving Credit Loans.
ARTICLE IX
FINANCIAL COVENANTS
Commencing on June 27, 1998, and continuing until all of the
Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid and satisfied in
full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained
in the manner set forth in Section 13.11 hereof, the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis will not:
SECTION 9.1 Minimum Monthly EBITDA. As of the end of any
Fiscal Month, permit the Borrower's Consolidated Cumulative twelve
month EBITDA ending with such Fiscal Month, to be less than the dollar
amount corresponding to such period set forth below:
Minimum Cumulative
Fiscal Month Ended Twelve Month EBITDA
July 1998 $10,701,000
August 1998 $15,248,000
September 1998 $17,048,000
October 1998 $21,089,000
November 1998 $23,646,000
December 1998 $29,821,000
SECTION 9.2 Minimum Quarterly EBITDA. As of the end of any
Fiscal Quarter, permit the Borrower's Consolidated cumulative four-
quarter EBITDA ending with such Fiscal Quarter to be less than the
dollar amount corresponding to the period set forth below:
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Minimum Cumulative
Fiscal Quarter Ended Four Quarter EBITDA
Third Fiscal Quarter 1999 $41,456,000
Fourth Fiscal Quarter 1999 $53,830,000
First Fiscal Quarter 2000 $62,646,000
Second Fiscal Quarter 2000 $69,333,000
Third Fiscal Quarter 2000 $71,082,000
Fourth Fiscal Quarter 2000 $74,151,000
First Fiscal Quarter 2001 $75,963,000
Second Fiscal Quarter 2001 $77,852,000
SECTION 9.3 Limitation on Capital Expenditures. Make or incur
Capital Expenditures in any cumulative four Fiscal Quarter period
ending with such Fiscal Quarter, which would exceed an aggregate
amount for such period corresponding to such period as set forth
below:
Maximum Capital
Quarter Ended Expenditures
Fourth Fiscal Quarter 1998 $30,856,000
First Fiscal Quarter 1999 $36,562,000
Second Fiscal Quarter 1999 $35,800,000
Third Fiscal Quarter 1999 $32,500,000
Fourth Fiscal Quarter 1999 $27,700,000
First Fiscal Quarter 2000 $24,000,000
Second Fiscal Quarter 2000 $24,000,000
Third Fiscal Quarter 2000 $24,000,000
Fourth Fiscal Quarter 2000 $24,000,000
First Fiscal Quarter 2001 $24,000,000
Second Fiscal Quarter 2001 $24,000,000
ARTICLE X
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly
paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless
consent has been obtained in the manner set forth in Section 13.11
hereof, the Borrower has not and will not, and will not permit any of
its Subsidiaries to:
SECTION 10.1 Limitations on Debt. Create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any Debt except:
(a) The Obligations;
(b) Debt created under the Note Agreement and related
documents;
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(c) Debt existing on the Closing Date as described on
Schedule 10.1(c) and the renewal and refinancing (but not the
increase) thereof; provided, however, that until such time as the
Obligations are indefeasibly paid in full, the Borrower shall not
refinance any portion of the Debt on a secured basis;
(d) [intentionally left blank]
(e) Debt consisting of Contingent Obligations permitted by
Section 10.2(b);
(f) Debt from Approved Subordinated Debt Transaction(s) as
provided in Article IV hereof;
(g) Purchase Money Debt (including Capital Leases) in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 on any date of
determination.
SECTION 10.2 Limitations on Contingent Obligations. Create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist any Contingent Obligations except:
(a) Contingent Obligations in favor of the Agent for the
benefit of the Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders and/or the Term
Lenders;
(b) Contingent Obligations existing on the Closing Date as
described on Schedule 10.2(b) (but not the increase) thereof; and
(c) Other Contingent Obligations in an aggregate amount not
to exceed $1,000,000 at any time.
SECTION 10.3 Limitations on Liens. Create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its assets or
properties (including shares of capital stock), real or personal,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:
(a) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental
charges or levies (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any of the
provisions of ERISA or Environmental Laws) not yet due or as to which
the period of grace (not to exceed thirty (30) days), if any, related
thereto has not expired or which are being contested in good faith and
by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves are maintained to the
extent required by GAAP;
(b) The claims of materialmen, mechanics, carriers,
warehousemen, processors or landlords for labor, materials, supplies
or rentals, and/or statutory liens incurred in the ordinary course of
business which in the aggregate do not at any time exceed $1,000,000,
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and (i) which are not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30)
days or (ii) which are being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings;
(c) Liens consisting of deposits or pledges made in the
ordinary course of business in connection with, or to secure payment
of, obligations under workers' compensation, unemployment insurance or
similar legislation or obligations (not to exceed $10,000,000);
(d) Liens constituting encumbrances in the nature of zoning
restrictions, easements and rights or restrictions of record on the
use of real property, which in the aggregate are not substantial in
amount and which do not, in any case, detract from the value of such
property or impair the use thereof in the ordinary conduct of
business;
(e) Liens of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders, the Term Lenders and/or the
Note Lenders;
(f) Any Lien existing on the Closing Date which is
described on Schedule 10.3(f);
(g) Limited Grower Payable Liens;
(h) Liens on personal property held in a margin account by
the counter party with respect to a Derivative Agreement relating to
commodities, so long as (i) such Derivative Agreement was entered into
in the ordinary course of business solely for the purpose of
mitigating risk and (ii) the aggregate fair market value of all
personal property held in all such margin accounts does not at any
time exceed $10,000,000; and
(i) Liens created on account of Purchase Money Debt
authorized pursuant to Section 10.1(g) hereof.
SECTION 10.4 Limitations on Acquisitions. Without the prior
written consent of each Revolving Credit Lender, acquire any
significant part of the assets of any Person which is not a Subsidiary
or acquire the capital stock or other ownership interest in any
Person.
SECTION 10.5 Limitations on Mergers and Liquidation. Merge,
consolidate or enter into any similar combination with any other
Person or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve itself (or suffer any
liquidation or dissolution); or enter into any new business activities
or ventures (including joint ventures) not related to its present
business; except that ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Supply may be merged or liquidated into
any Borrower.
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SECTION 10.6 Limitations on Sale of Assets. Convey, sell,
lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its property,
business or assets (including, without limitation, the sale of any
receivables and leasehold interests and any sale leaseback or similar
transaction), whether now owned or hereafter acquired except:
(a) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of
business;
(b) the sale of obsolete assets no longer used or usable in
the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(c) the sale or discount without recourse of accounts
receivable arising in the ordinary course of business in connection
with the compromise or collection thereof;
(d) Asset Sales as proposed in the Three Year Business Plan
to the extent approved and accepted by each of the Revolving Credit
Lenders;
(e) Approved Miscellaneous Asset Sales; and
(f) Any asset sales agreed to in writing between the
Borrower and each of the Revolving Credit Lenders.
SECTION 10.7 Transactions with Affiliates. Directly or
indirectly: (a) make any material loan or advance to, or purchase or
assume any note or other obligation in a material amount to or from,
any of its officers, directors, shareholders or other Affiliates
(which is/are not a Borrower), or to or from any member of the
immediate family of any of its officers, directors, shareholders or
other Affiliates (which is/are not a Borrower), or subcontract any
operations to any of its Affiliates (which is/are not a Borrower), or
(b) enter into, or be a party to, any transaction with any of its
Affiliates (which is/are not a Borrower), except pursuant to the
reasonable requirements of its business and upon fair and reasonable
terms that are no less favorable to it than would obtain in a
comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not its Affiliate.
SECTION 10.8 Certain Accounting Changes. Change its Fiscal
Year end, or make any change in its accounting treatment and reporting
practices except as permitted by GAAP.
SECTION 10.9 Compliance with ERISA. (a) Permit the occurrence
of any Termination Event which would result in a liability to the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in excess of $5,000,000; (b) permit
the present value of all benefit liabilities under all Pension Plans
(determined under the actuarial assumptions used for Code and ERISA
79
funding purposes) to exceed the current value of the assets of such
Pension Plans allocable to such benefit liabilities by more than
$5,000,000; (c) permit any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined
in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code) with respect to
any Pension Plan, whether or not waived; (d) fail to make any
contribution or payment to any Multiemployer Plan which the Borrower
or any ERISA Affiliate may be required to make under any agreement
relating to such Multiemployer Plan, or any law pertaining thereto
which results in or is likely to result in a liability in excess of
$5,000,000; (e) engage, or permit the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
to engage, in any prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or
Section 4975 of the Code for which a civil penalty pursuant to Section
502(i) of ERISA a tax pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code in excess
of $5,000,000 is imposed; (f) permit the establishment of any Employee
Benefit Plan providing post-retirement welfare benefits (other than an
Employee Benefit Plan which provides such benefits solely for a select
group of present or former management employees) or establish or amend
any Employee Benefit Plan which establishment or amendment could
reasonably be expected to result in liability to the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate or increase the obligation of the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate to a Multiemployer Plan which liability or increase,
individually or together with all similar liabilities and increases,
is material to the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; or (g) fail, or
permit the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to fail, to establish,
maintain and operate each Employee Benefit Plan in compliance in all
material respects with the provisions of ERISA, the Code and all other
applicable laws and the regulations and interpretations thereof.
SECTION 10.10 Limitations on New Equity, Dividends and
Distributions. Except as provided in the Warrant Agreement and
related documents, declare or pay any dividend, or make any
distributions of cash or property, to holders of any shares of its
capital stock on account of such shares, or, directly or indirectly,
redeem or otherwise acquire any such shares or any option, warrant or
right to acquire any such shares except for the reacquisition of the
shares held in an escrow account in connection with the acquisition of
the Goldsboro facility.
SECTION 10.11 Transfers to Subsidiaries. Transfer any assets
now or hereafter owned by the Borrower to any Subsidiary which is not
a Borrower, except to the extent WLR may transfer funds to Rockingham
Poultry, Inc. (VI) to maintain a balance in the RVI Account of no more
than $15,000.
SECTION 10.12 Limitations on Investments. Purchase, invest in,
or make any loan in the nature of an investment in the stocks, bonds,
notes or other securities or evidence of Debt of any Person, or make
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any loan or advance to or for the benefit of any Person except for the
following (collectively, "Permitted Investments"): (i) short-term
obligations of the Treasury of the United States of America; (ii)
certificates of deposit issued by banks with shareholders' equity of
at least $100,000,000; (iii) repurchase agreements not exceeding 29
days in duration issued by banks with shareholders' equity of at least
$100,000,000; (iv) notes and other instruments generally known as
"commercial paper" which arise out of current transactions, which have
maturities at the time of issuance thereof not exceeding nine months
and which have, at the time of such purchase, investment or other
acquisition, the highest credit rating of Standard & Poor's
Corporation or ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Service, Inc.; provided that to the
extent the Borrower shall seek to make any of the foregoing Permitted
Investments, it shall notify the Agent in writing in advance and shall
comply with such steps as the Agent may require to evidence the
perfected security interests of the Revolving Credit Lenders therein.
SECTION 10.13 Limitations on Certain Agreements. Enter into any
Derivative Agreement or Interest Rate Protection Agreement with any
Revolving Credit Lender to the extent that any liability created
thereunder would be secured by any Collateral.
ARTICLE XI
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
SECTION 11.1 Events of Default. Each of the following shall
constitute an Event of Default, whatever the reason for such event and
whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by
operation of law or pursuant to any judgment or order of any court or
any order, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority or
otherwise:
(a) Default in Payment of Principal of Revolving Loans and
Reimbursement Obligations. The Borrower shall default in any payment
of principal of any Revolving Loan, Revolving Credit Note or
Reimbursement Obligation as and when due (whether at maturity, by
reason of acceleration or otherwise).
(b) Other Payment Default. The Borrower shall default in the
payment as and when due (whether at maturity, by reason of
acceleration or otherwise) of interest on any Revolving Loan,
Revolving Credit Note or Reimbursement Obligation or the payment of
any other Obligation, and such a default shall continue unremedied for
five (5) Business Days provided, that if the default referenced in
this paragraph (b) arises only under a Mortgage, the five (5) Business
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Days referenced in this paragraph (b) will commence after written
notice of such default shall have been given by the Agent to the
Borrower.
(c) Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty made by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under this Agreement, any Loan
Document or any amendment hereto or thereto, shall at any time prove
to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when
made.
(d) Default in Performance of Certain Covenants. The Borrower
shall default in the performance or observance of any covenant or
agreement contained in Sections 7.5(e) or Articles IX or X of this
Agreement.
(e) Default in Performance of Other Covenants and Conditions.
The Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof shall default in the
Performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or
agreement contained in this Agreement (other than as specifically
provided for otherwise in this Section 11.1) or any other Loan
Document and such default shall continue for a period of thirty (30)
days after written notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by
the Agent.
(f) Derivative Agreements and Interest Rate Protection
Agreements. Any termination payment shall be due by the Borrower
under any Derivative Agreement or Interest Rate Protection Agreement
and such amount is not paid within five (5) Business Days of the due
date thereof.
(g) Debt Cross-Default. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
shall (i) default in the payment of any Debt (other than the Revolving
Credit Notes or any Reimbursement Obligation) the aggregate
outstanding amount of which is equal to or in excess of $3,000,000
beyond the period of grace if any, provided in the instrument or
agreement under which such Debt was created; or (ii) default in the
observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating
to any Debt (other than the Obligations) the aggregate outstanding
amount of which is equal to or in excess of $3,000,000 or contained in
any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto
or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which
default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the
holder or holders of such Debt (or a trustee or agent on behalf of
such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of notice if
required, any such Debt to become due prior to its stated maturity
(any applicable grace period having expired).
(h) Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. The Borrower or any
Subsidiary thereof shall (i) commence a voluntary case under the
federal bankruptcy laws (as now or hereafter in effect); (ii) file a
petition seeking to take advantage of any other laws, domestic or
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foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding
up or composition for adjustment of debts; (iii) consent to or fail to
contest in a timely and appropriate manner any petition filed against
it in an involuntary case under such bankruptcy laws or other laws;
(iv) apply for or consent to, or fail to contest in a timely and
appropriate manner, the appointment of, or the taking of possession
by, a receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of itself or of a
substantial part of its property, domestic or foreign; (v) admit in
writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due; (vi) make a
general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (vii) take any
corporate action for the purpose of authorizing any of the foregoing.
(i) Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. A case or other
proceeding shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Subsidiary
thereof in any court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief
under the federal bankruptcy laws (as now or hereafter in effect) or
under any other laws, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, winding up or adjustment of debts; or (ii)
the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or the
like for the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or for all or any
substantial part of their respective assets, domestic or foreign, and
such case or proceeding shall continue undismissed or unstayed for a
period of sixty (60) consecutive calendar days, or an order granting
the relief requested in such case or proceeding (including, but not
limited to, an order for relief under such federal bankruptcy laws)
shall be entered.
(j) Failure of Agreements. (i) any material provision of this
Agreement or of any other Loan Document shall for any reason cease to
be valid and binding on the Borrower or a Subsidiary party thereto or
any such Person shall so state in writing; or (ii) this Agreement or
any other Loan Document shall for any reason cease to create a valid
and perfected first priority Lien on, or security interest in, any of
the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, in each case other
than in accordance with the express terms hereof or thereof, provided
that no Event of Default shall have occurred pursuant to this
subparagraph (j)(ii) if the Borrower, within five (5) Business Days
notice from the Agent, takes such steps as are necessary to create a
valid and perfected first priority Lien in such Collateral.
(k) Judgment. A judgment or order for the payment of money
which exceeds $2,500,000 in amount shall be entered against the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by any court and such judgment or
order shall continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of thirty
(30) calendar days.
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(l) Attachment. A warrant or writ of attachment or execution or
similar process shall be issued against any property of the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries which exceeds $2,500,000 in value and such
warrant or process shall continue undischarged or unstayed for a
period of thirty (30) calendar days.
(m) Change in Control. (a) Any person or group of persons
(within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) other than the current board of directors of the
Borrower, shall obtain ownership or control in one or more series of
transactions of more than fifty percent (50%) of the common stock and
fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the Borrower entitled to
vote in the election of members of the board of directors of the
Borrower (a "Change in Control").
(n) Term Loan Events of Default. Any one or more Events of
Default occurs under the Term Loan Agreement.
(o) Note Agreement Events of Default. Any one or more Events of
Default occurs under the Note Agreement.
SECTION 11.2 Remedies. Upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default and at the request of each of the Revolving Credit Lenders,
the Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower:
(a) Acceleration; Termination of Facilities. Declare the
principal of and interest on the Revolving Loans, the Revolving Credit
Notes and the Reimbursement Obligations at the time outstanding, and
all other amounts owed to the Revolving Credit Lenders and to the
Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents
(including, without limitation, all L/C Obligations, whether or not
the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have
presented the documents required thereunder) and all other
obligations, to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the same shall
immediately become due and payable without presentment, demand,
protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly
waived, anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the
contrary notwithstanding, and terminate the Credit Facility and any
right of the Borrower to request borrowings or Letters of Credit
thereunder; provided, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
specified in Section 11.1(h) or (i), the Credit Facility shall be
automatically terminated and all obligations shall automatically
become due and payable, without notice, declaration or demand of any
kind.
(b) Letters of Credit. With respect to all Letters of Credit
with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at
the time of an acceleration pursuant to the preceding paragraph,
84
require the Borrower at such time to deposit in a cash collateral
account opened by the Agent an amount equal to the aggregate then
undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit. Amounts held
in such cash collateral account shall be applied by the Agent to the
payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused
portion thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or
been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay the other
Obligations. After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or
been fully drawn upon, the Reimbursement Obligation shall have been
satisfied and all other Obligations shall have been paid in full, the
balance, if any, in such cash collateral account shall be returned to
the Borrower.
(c) Rights of Collection. Exercise on behalf of the Revolving
Credit Lenders all of its other rights and remedies under this
Agreement, the other Loan Documents and Applicable Law, in order to
satisfy all of the Borrower's obligations.
(d) Setoff. Exercise or direct any Revolving Credit Lender to
exercise any and all setoff rights as described in Section 13.3 hereof
or as otherwise provided under Applicable Law.
SECTION 11.3 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc.
The enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Agent and the
Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Agreement is not intended
to be exhaustive and the exercise by the Agent and the Revolving
Credit Lenders of any right or remedy shall not preclude the exercise
of any other rights or remedies, all of which shall be cumulative, and
shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given hereunder or
under the Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist in law or
in equity or by suit or otherwise. No delay or failure to take action
on the part of the Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender in exercising
any right, power or privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or
privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right, power or privilege or shall be construed to be a
waiver of any Event of Default. No course of dealing between the
Borrower, the Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders or their
respective agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or
discharge any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents or to constitute a waiver of any Event of Default.
ARTICLE XII
THE AGENT
SECTION 12.1 Appointment. Each of the Revolving Credit Lenders
hereby irrevocably designates and appoints First Union as Agent of
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such Revolving Credit Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and each such Revolving Credit Lender irrevocably authorizes
First Union as Agent for such Revolving Credit Lender, to take such
action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such
duties as are expressly delegated to the Agent by the terms of this
Agreement and such other Loan Documents, together with such other
powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any
provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement or such other
Loan Documents, the Agent shall not have any duties or
responsibilities, except-those expressly set forth herein and therein,
or any fiduciary relationship with any Revolving Credit Lender, and no
implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or
liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents or otherwise exist against the Agent.
SECTION 12.2 Delegation of Duties. The Agent may execute any
of its respective duties under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be
entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to
such duties. The Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or
misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by the Agent.
SECTION 12.3 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Agent nor any
of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in fact,
Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall be (a) liable for any action lawfully
taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in
connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (except for
actions occasioned solely by its or such Person's own gross negligence
or willful misconduct), or (b) responsible in any manner to any of the
Revolving Credit Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations
or warranties made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any
officer thereof contained in this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents or in any certificate, report, statement or other document
referred to or provided for in, or received by the Agent under or in
connection with, this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or for the
value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or
sufficiency of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or for any
failure of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to perform its
obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Agent shall not be under any
obligation to any Revolving Credit Lender to ascertain or to, inquire
as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained
in, or conditions of this Agreement, or to inspect the properties,
books or records of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
86
SECTION 12.4 Reliance by the Agent. The Agent shall be
entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any
note, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit,
letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype message,
statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to
be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the
proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal
counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Borrower),
independent accountants and other experts selected by the Agent. The
Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Revolving Credit Note as the
owner thereof for all purposes unless such Revolving Credit Note shall
have been transferred in accordance with Section 13.10 hereof. The
Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any
action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents unless it
shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required
Revolving Credit Lenders (or, when expressly required hereby or by the
relevant other Loan Document, all the Revolving Credit Lenders) as it
deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction
by the Revolving Credit Lenders against any and all liability and
expenses which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing
to take any such action except for its own gross negligence or willful
misconduct. The Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in
acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the
Revolving Credit Notes in accordance with a request of the Required
Revolving Credit Lenders (or, when expressly required hereby, all the
Revolving Credit Lenders), and such request and any action taken or
failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the
Revolving Credit Lenders and all future holders of the Revolving
Credit Notes.
SECTION 12.5 Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed
to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event
of Default hereunder unless it has received notice from a Revolving
Credit Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing
such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a
"notice of default." In the event that the Agent receives such a
notice, it shall promptly give notice thereof to the Revolving Credit
Lenders. The Agent shall take such action with respect to such
Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the
Required Revolving Credit Lenders; provided that unless and until the
Agent shall have received such directions, the Agent may (but shall
not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such
action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall
deem advisable.
SECTION 12.6 Non-Reliance on the Agent and other Revolving
Credit Lenders. Each Revolving Credit Lender expressly acknowledges
that neither the Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors,
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employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact, Subsidiaries or Affiliates has
made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the
Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be deemed to constitute any
representation or warranty by the Agent to any Revolving Credit
Lender. Each Revolving Credit Lender represents to the Agent that it
has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other
Revolving Credit Lender, and based on such documents and information
as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and
investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and
other condition and credit worthiness of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and made its own decision to make its Loans and issue or
participate in Letters of Credit hereunder and enter into this
Agreement. Each Revolving Credit Lender also represents that it will,
independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other
Revolving Credit Lender, and based on such documents and information
as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own
credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking
action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make
such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the
business, operations, property, financial and other condition and
credit worthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. Except for
notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be
furnished to the Revolving Credit Lenders by the Agent hereunder or by
the other Loan Documents, the Agent shall not have any duty or
responsibility to provide any Revolving Credit Lender with any credit
or other information concerning the business, operations, property,
financial and other condition or credit worthiness of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries which may come into the possession of the
Agent or any of its respective officers, directors, employees, agents,
attorneys-in-fact, Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
SECTION 12.7 Indemnification. The Revolving Credit Lenders
agree to indemnify the Agent in its capacity as such and (to the
extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the
obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to the
respective amounts of their Commitment Percentages, from and against,
any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any
kind whatsoever which may at any time (including, without limitation,
at any time following the payment of the Revolving Credit Notes or any
Reimbursement Obligation) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or any documents contemplated
by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under or
in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Revolving
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Credit Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting solely
from the Agent's bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The agreements in this Section 12.7 shall survive the payment of the
Revolving Credit Notes, any Reimbursement Obligation and all other
amounts payable hereunder and the termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 12.8 The Agent in Its Individual Capacity. The Agent
and its respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates may make loans to,
accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with
the Borrower as though the Agent were not an Agent hereunder. With
respect to any Revolving Loans made or renewed by it and any Revolving
Credit Note issued to it and with respect to any Letter of Credit
issued by it or participated in by it, the Agent shall have the same
rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as
any Revolving Credit Lender and may exercise the same as though it
were not an Agent, and the terms "Revolving Credit Lender" and
"Revolving Credit Lenders" shall include the Agent in its individual
capacity.
SECTION 12.9 Resignation of the Agent; Successor Agent.
Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor as provided
below, the Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to
the Revolving Credit Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such
resignation, the Required Revolving Credit Lenders shall have the
right to appoint a successor Agent, which successor shall have minimum
capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. If no successor Agent
shall have been so appointed by the Required Revolving Credit Lenders
and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after
the Agent's giving of notice of resignation, then the Agent may, on
behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders, appoint a successor Agent,
which successor shall have minimum capital and surplus of at least
$500,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent
hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon
succeed to and become vested with all rights, powers, privileges and
duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be
discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any
retiring Agent's resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of
this Section 12.9 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect
of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting
as Agent.
SECTION 12.10 Settlement. The Agent and the Revolving Credit
Lenders hereby agree that each Revolving Credit Lender's funded
portion of the Revolving Loans is intended to be equal at all times to
such Revolving Credit Lender's Commitment Percentage of the
outstanding Revolving Loans. The Agent and the Revolving Credit
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Lenders agree (which agreement shall not be for the benefit of or
enforceable by any Borrower) that in order to facilitate the
administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, at the
option of the Agent, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, settlement among them as to the Revolving Loans may take
place on a periodic basis in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) The Agent shall request settlement ("Settlement") with
the Revolving Credit Lenders on a basis not less frequently than once
during each seven (7) day period, or on a more frequent basis if so
determined by the Agent, with respect to each outstanding Revolving
Loan by notifying the other Revolving Credit Lenders by telecopy,
telephone or other similar form of transmission, of such requested
Settlement, no later than 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time)
on the date of such requested Settlement (the "Settlement Date").
Each Revolving Credit Lender shall make the amount of such Revolving
Credit Lender's Commitment Percentage of the outstanding principal
amount of the Revolving Loans with respect to which Settlement is
requested available to the Agent, in same day funds, to such account
of the Agent as the Agent may designate, not later than 11:00 a.m.
(Charlotte, North Carolina time), on the Settlement Date applicable
thereto. Such amounts made available to the Agent shall be applied
against the amounts of the Revolving Loans and shall constitute
Revolving Loans of such Revolving Credit Lenders. If any such amount
is not made available to the Agent by any Revolving Credit Lender on
the Settlement Date applicable thereto, the Agent shall be entitled to
recover such amount on demand from such Revolving Credit Lender
together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate for the first
three (3) days from and after the Settlement Date and thereafter at
the interest rate then applicable to the Revolving Loans with respect
to which Settlement is to be made.
(b) If any payments are received by the Agent which, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement are to be applied to the
reduction of the Revolving Loans, the Agent may apply such payments to
its Revolving Loans. If, as of any Settlement Date, payments received
since the then immediately preceding Settlement Date have been applied
to the Agent's Revolving Loans as provided for in the immediately
preceding sentence, then the Agent shall pay such amounts to the
Revolving Credit Lenders, to be applied to the outstanding Revolving
Loans of such Revolving Credit Lenders, such that each Revolving
Credit Lender shall have outstanding, as of such Settlement Date,
after giving effect to such payments, its Commitment Percentage of
such Revolving Loans; provided, that the Agent may offset payments due
its pursuant to this sentence against payments due to the Agent
pursuant to subsection (a) hereof on the applicable Settlement Date,
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and require the other Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable, to make
only the net amount of the payment due.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 13.1 Notices.
(a) Method of Communication. Except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement, all notices and communications hereunder shall be in
writing, or by telephone subsequently confirmed in writing. Any
notice shall be effective if delivered by hand delivery or sent via
telecopy, recognized overnight courier service or certified mail,
return receipt requested, and shall be presumed to be received by a
party hereto (i) on the date of delivery if delivered by hand or sent
by telecopy, (ii) on the next Business Day if sent by recognized
overnight courier service and (iii) on the third Business Day
following the date sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(b) Addresses for Notices. Notices to any party shall be sent
to it at the following addresses, or any other address as to which all
the other parties are notified in writing.
If to the Borrower: WLR Foods, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇-▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, CFO
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Or, if sent by mail:
WLR Foods, Inc.
▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, CFO
If to First Union
as Revolving Credit Lender:
First Union National Bank
301 College Street, DC-5
NC 0737
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, SVP
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇; and
First Union National Bank
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to CoreStates Bank, N.A.
as Revolving Credit Lender:
CoreStates Bank, N.A.
FC 1-8-3-8
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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If to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust and Savings Bank
as Revolving Credit Lender: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust and Savings Bank
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Agribusiness Division
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to Crestar Bank as Crestar Bank
Revolving Credit Lender: ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Telephone No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to the Agent: First Union National Bank
301 College Street, DC-5
NC 0737
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, SVP
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇; and
First Union National Bank
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
SECTION 13.2 Expenses. The Borrower will pay all out-of-pocket
expenses of the Agent in connection with: (i) the preparation,
execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the other Loan
Documents, whenever the same shall be executed and delivered,
including all out-of-pocket syndication and due diligence expenses,
appraiser's fees, search fees, title insurance premiums, recording
fees, taxes and reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Agent; (ii) the preparation, execution and delivery of any waiver,
amendment or consent by the Agent or the Revolving Credit Lenders
relating to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents
including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agent,
search fees, appraiser's fees, recording fees and taxes imposed in
connection therewith; and (iii) administering, monitoring, negotiating
and/or enforcing their respective rights under the Credit Facility,
including consulting with one or more persons, including appraisers,
accountants, engineers and attorneys, concerning or related to the
nature, scope or value of any Collateral or any right or remedy of the
Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender hereunder or under any of the
other Loan Documents, including any review of factual matters in
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connection therewith, which expenses shall include the reasonable fees
and disbursements of such Persons.
SECTION 13.3 Set-off. In addition to any rights now or
hereafter granted under Applicable Law and not by way of limitation of
any such rights, upon and after the occurrence of any Event of Default
and during the continuance thereof, the Revolving Credit Lenders and
any assignee or participant of a Revolving Credit Lender in accordance
with Section 13.10 are hereby authorized by the Borrower at any time
or from time to time, without notice to the Borrower or to any other
Person, any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and
to appropriate and to apply any and all deposits (general or special,
time or demand, including, but not limited to, indebtedness evidenced
by certificates of deposit, whether matured or unmatured, excluding
government securities required by Applicable Law to be held as
security for worker's compensation and similar claims) and any other
indebtedness at any time held or owing by the Revolving Credit Lenders,
or any such assignee or participant to or for the credit or the account
of the Borrower against and on account of the Obligations irrespective
of whether or not (a) the Revolving Credit Lenders shall have made any
demand under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or
(b) the Agent shall have declared any or all of the Obligations to be
due and payable as permitted by Section 11.2 and although such
obligations shall be contingent or unmatured.
SECTION 13.4 Governing Law. This Agreement, the Revolving
Credit Notes and the other Loan Documents, unless otherwise expressly
set forth therein, shall be governed by, construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference
to the conflicts or choice of law principles thereof.
SECTION 13.5 Consent to Jurisdiction. The Borrower hereby
irrevocably consents to the personal jurisdiction of the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York and the Supreme
Court of the State of New York - County of New York in any action,
claim or other proceeding arising out of any dispute in connection
with this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Notes and the other Loan
Documents, any rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder, or the
performance of such rights and obligations. The Borrower hereby
irrevocably consents to the service of a summons and complaint and
other process in any action, claim or proceeding brought by the Agent
or any Revolving Credit Lender in connection with this Agreement, the
Revolving Credit Notes or the other Loan Documents, any rights or
obligations hereunder or thereunder, or the performance of such rights
and obligations, on behalf of itself or its property, in the manner
specified in Section 13.1. Nothing in this Section 13.5 shall affect
the right of the Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender to serve legal
process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law or affect the
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right of the Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender to bring any action
or proceeding against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of
any other jurisdictions.
SECTION 13.6 Waiver of Jury Trial; Waiver of Punitive Damages.
(a) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE
LAW, THE AGENT, EACH REVOLVING CREDIT LENDER AND THE BORROWER HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL WITH RESPECT
TO ANY ACTION, CLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING, OUT OF OR ANY
DISPUTE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS
HEREUNDER, OR THE PERFORMANCE OF SUCH RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS.
(b) Waiver of Punitive Damages. The Borrower and the Agent, on
behalf of itself and the Revolving Credit Lenders, agree that they
shall not have a remedy of punitive or exemplary damages against the
other in any Dispute and hereby waive any right or claim to punitive
or exemplary damages they have now or which may arise in the future in
connection with any Dispute whether the Dispute is resolved by
arbitration or judicially.
SECTION 13.7 Reversal of Payments. To the extent the Borrower
makes a payment or payments to the Agent for the ratable benefit of
the Revolving Credit Lenders or the Agent receives any payment or
proceeds of the Collateral which payments or proceeds or any part
thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or
preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee,
receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal
law, common law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such
payment or proceeds repaid, the obligations or part thereof intended
to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and
effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the
Agent.
SECTION 13.8 Injunctive Relief. The Borrower recognizes that,
in the event the Borrower fails to perform, observe or discharge any
of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, any remedy of
law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Revolving Credit Lenders.
Therefore, the Borrower agrees that the Revolving Credit Lenders, at
the Revolving Credit Lenders' option, shall be entitled to temporary
and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity
of proving actual damages.
SECTION 13.9 Accounting Matters. All financial and accounting
calculations, measurements and computations made for any purpose
relating to this Agreement, including, without limitation, all
computations utilized by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof to
determine compliance with any covenant contained herein, shall, except
95
as otherwise expressly contemplated hereby or unless there is an
express written direction by the Agent to the contrary agreed to by
the Borrower, be performed in accordance with GAAP. In the event that
changes in GAAP shall be mandated by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board, or any similar accounting body of comparable
standing, or shall be recommended by the Borrower's certified public
accountants, to the extent that such changes would modify such
accounting terms or the interpretation or computation thereof, such
changes shall be followed in defining such accounting terms only from
and after the date the Borrower, the Agent and the Revolving Credit
Lenders shall have amended this Agreement to the extent necessary to
reflect any such changes in the financial covenants and other terms
and conditions of this Agreement.
SECTION 13.10 Successors and Assigns; Participations.
(a) Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Agent and the Revolving
Credit Lenders, all future holders of the Revolving Credit Notes, and
their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower
shall not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under
this Agreement without the prior written consent of each Revolving
Credit Lender. Nothing set forth in any guaranty shall impair, as
between the Borrower, the Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders, the
obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents.
(b) Assignment by Revolving Credit Lenders. Each Revolving
Credit Lender may, with the consent of the Agent, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld, assign to one or more Eligible Assignees
all or a portion of its interests, rights and obligations under this
Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of the
Extensions of Credit at the time owing to it and the Revolving Credit
Notes held by it); provided that:
(i) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a
varying, percentage of all the assigning Revolving Credit Lender's
rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Credit
Facility and shall be accompanied by a like assignment on a pro rata
basis of any Term Loan attributable to such Revolving Credit Lender in
its capacity as a Term Lender under the Term Loan Agreement;
(ii) if less than all of the assigning Revolving Credit
Lender's Commitment is to be assigned, the Commitment so assigned
(plus, if applicable, the amount of any Term Loan or any portion
thereof also assigned by such Revolving Credit Lender in its capacity
as a Term Lender under the Term Loan Agreement) shall not be less than
$5,000,000;
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(iii) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and
deliver to the Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the
Register, an Assignment and Acceptance in the form of Exhibit "I"
attached hereto (an "Assignment and Acceptance"), together with any
Revolving Credit Note or Revolving Credit Notes subject to such
assignment;
(iv) such assignment shall not, without the consent of the
Borrower, require the Borrower to file a registration statement with
the Securities and Exchange Commission or apply to or qualify the
Revolving Loans or the Revolving Credit Notes under the blue sky laws
of any state; and
(v) the assigning Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the
Agent an assignment fee of $5,000 upon the execution by such Revolving
Credit Lender of the Assignment and Acceptance; provided that no such
fee shall be payable upon any assignment by a Revolving Credit Lender
to an Affiliate thereof.
Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and
after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance,
which effective date shall be at least five (5) Business Days after
the execution thereof, (A) the assignee thereunder shall be a party
hereto and, to the extent provided in such Assignment and Acceptance,
have the rights and obligations of a Revolving Credit Lender hereby
and (B) the assigning Revolving Credit Lender thereunder shall, to the
extent provided in such assignment, be released from its obligations
under this Agreement.
(c) Rights and Duties Upon Assignment. By executing and
delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Revolving
Credit Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to and
agree with each other and the other parties hereto as set forth in
such Assignment and Acceptance.
(d) Register. The Agent shall maintain a copy of each
Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Revolving Credit Lenders
and the amount of the Extensions of Credit with respect to each
Revolving Credit Lender from time to time (the "Register"). The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive, in the absence of
manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agent and the Revolving Credit
Lenders may treat each person whose name is recorded in the Register
as a Revolving Credit Lender hereunder for all purposes of this
Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the
Borrower or any Revolving Credit Lender at any reasonable time and
from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
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(e) Issuance of New Revolving Credit Notes. Upon its receipt of
an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Revolving Credit
Lender and an Eligible Assignee together with any Revolving Credit
Note or Revolving Credit Notes subject to such assignment and the
written consent to such assignment, the Agent shall, if such
Assignment and Acceptance has been completed and is substantially in
the form of Exhibit "I":
(i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance;
(ii) record the information contained therein in the
Register;
(iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Revolving Credit
Lenders and the Borrower; and
(iv) promptly deliver a copy of such Assignment and
Acceptance to the Borrower.
Within five (5) Business Days after receipt of notice, the Borrower
shall execute and deliver to the Agent, in exchange for the
surrendered Revolving Credit Note or Revolving Credit Notes, a new
Revolving Credit Note or Revolving Credit Notes to the order of such
Eligible Assignee in amounts equal to the Commitment assigned to it
pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance and a new Revolving Credit
Note or Revolving Credit Notes to the order of the assigning Revolving
Credit Lender in an amount equal to the Commitment retained by it
hereunder. Such new Revolving Credit Note or Revolving Credit Notes
shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of such surrendered Revolving Credit Note or
Revolving Credit Notes, shall be dated the effective date of such
Assignment and Acceptance and shall otherwise be in substantially the
form of the assigned Revolving Credit Notes delivered to the assigning
Revolving Credit Lender. The new Revolving Credit Note or Revolving
Credit Notes shall be in substitution for and not in cancellation of,
release or satisfaction of the surrendered Revolving Credit Note or
Revolving Credit Notes.
(f) Participation. Each Revolving Credit Lender may, with the
consent of the Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities
in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement
(including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment and
its Extensions of Credit and the Revolving Credit Notes held by it);
provided that:
(i) each such participation shall be in an amount not less
than $5,000,000;
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(ii) such Revolving Credit Lender's obligations under this
Agreement including, without limitation, its Commitment, shall remain
unchanged;
(iii) such Revolving Credit Lender shall remain solely
responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such
obligations;
(iv) such Revolving Credit Lender shall remain the holder of
the Revolving Credit Notes held by it for all purposes of this
Agreement;
(v) the Borrower, the Agent and the other Revolving Credit
Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Revolving
Credit Lender in connection with such Revolving Credit Lender's rights
and obligations under this Agreement;
(vi) such Revolving Credit Lender shall not permit such
participant the right to approve any waivers, amendments or other
modifications to this Agreement or any other Loan Document other than
waivers, amendments or modifications which would reduce the principal
of or the interest rate on any Revolving Loan or Reimbursement
Obligation, extend the term or increase the amount of the Commitment
of such participant, reduce the amount of any fees to which such
participant is entitled or extend any scheduled payment date for
principal; and
(vii) any such disposition shall not, without the consent of
the Borrower, require the Borrower to file a registration statement
with the Securities and Exchange Commission or apply to qualify the
Revolving Loans or the Revolving Credit Notes under the blue sky law
of any state.
(g) Disclosure of Information; Confidentiality. The Agent and
the Revolving Credit Lenders shall hold all non-public information
obtained pursuant to the Loan Documents in accordance with their
customary procedures for handling confidential information. Any
Revolving Credit Lender may, in connection with any assignment,
proposed assignment, participation or proposed participation pursuant
to this Section 13.10, disclose to the assignee, participant, proposed
assignee or proposed participant, any information relating to the
Borrower furnished to such Revolving Credit Lender by or on behalf of
the Borrower; provided that prior to any such disclosure, each such
assignee, proposed assignee, participant or proposed participant shall
agree with the Borrower or such Revolving Credit Lender (which in the
case of an agreement with only such Revolving Credit Lender, the
Borrower shall be recognized as a third party beneficiary thereof) to
preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating
to the Borrower received from such Revolving Credit Lender.
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(h) Certain Pledges or Assignments. Nothing herein, or in any
other document regarding the transaction herein, shall prohibit any
Revolving Credit Lender from pledging or assigning any Revolving
Credit Note, including collateral therefor, to any Federal Reserve
Bank in accordance with Applicable Law.
SECTION 13.11 Amendments, Waivers and Consents; Renewal. Except
as set forth below, any term, covenant, agreement or condition of this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents may be amended or waived
by the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, and any consent given by the
Required Revolving Credit Lenders, if, but only if, such amendment,
waiver or consent is in writing signed by the Required Revolving
Credit Lenders (or by the Agent with the consent of the Required
Revolving Credit Lenders) and delivered to the Agent and, in the case
of an amendment, signed by the Borrower; provided that no amendment,
waiver or consent shall (a) change the amount or extend the time of
the obligation of the Revolving Credit Lenders to make Revolving Loans
or issue or participate in Letters of Credit (including without
limitation pursuant to Section 2.6 but not including changes or
adjustments to the Borrowing Base), (b) change the originally
scheduled time or times of payment of the principal of any Revolving
Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or the time or times of payment of
interest on any Revolving Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, (c)
decrease the rate of interest payable on any Revolving Loan or
Reimbursement Obligation, (d) change the amount or time of payment of
any fees payable by the Borrower hereunder, (e) release the Borrower
(or any of them) from all or any portion of the Obligations hereunder;
(f) release any Collateral except as specifically authorized in the
Loan Documents and in connection with the approved asset sales set
forth in Article X hereof; (g) amend, waive or alter any provision of
Article I (Definitions), Article IX (Financial Covenants), Article X
(Negative Covenants) or Article XI (Default and Remedies) hereof; or
(h) amend the provisions of this Section 13.11 or the definition of
Required Revolving Credit Lenders, without the prior written consent
of each Revolving Credit Lender. In addition, no amendment, waiver or
consent to the provisions of Article XII shall be made without the
written consent of the Agent.
SECTION 13.12 Performance of Duties. The Borrower's obligations
under this Agreement and each of the Loan Documents shall be performed
by the Borrower at its sole cost and expense.
SECTION 13.13 Indemnification. The Borrower agrees to reimburse
the Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders for all reasonable costs
and expenses, including all counsel, appraisal, or other expert or
consultant fees and disbursements incurred, and to indemnify and hold
the Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders harmless from and against
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all losses suffered by the Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders in
connection with (i) the exercise by the Agent or the Revolving Credit
Lenders of any right or remedy granted to them under this Agreement or
any of the other Loan Documents, (ii) any claim, and the prosecution
or defense thereof, arising out of or in any way connected with this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and (iii) the collection
or enforcement of the Obligations or any of them; provided that the
Borrower shall not be obligated to reimburse the Agent or any
Revolving Credit Lender for costs and expenses, or indemnify the Agent
or any Revolving Credit Lender for any loss, resulting from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent or any Revolving Credit
Lender.
SECTION 13.14 All Powers Coupled with Interest. All powers of
attorney and other authorizations granted to the Revolving Credit
Lenders, the Agent and any Persons designated by the Agent or any
Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to any provisions of this Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents shall be deemed coupled with an
interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Obligations
remain unpaid or unsatisfied or the Credit Facility has not been
terminated.
SECTION 13.15 Survival of Indemnities. Notwithstanding any
termination of this Agreement, the indemnities to which the Agent and
the Revolving Credit Lenders are entitled under the provisions of this
Article XIII and any other provision of this Agreement and the Loan
Documents shall continue in full force and effect and shall protect
the Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders against events arising
after such termination as well as before.
SECTION 13.16 Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of
Articles, Sections and subsections in this Agreement are for
convenience only, and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this
Agreement.
SECTION 13.17 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability
without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining
provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 13.18 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 shall be binding upon all parties, their successors and
assigns, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same agreement.
101
SECTION 13.19 Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in
effect from the Closing Date through and including the date upon which
all Obligations shall have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid and
satisfied in full. No termination of this Agreement shall affect the
rights and obligations of the parties hereto arising prior to such
termination.
SECTION 13.20 Adjustments. If any Revolving Credit Lender (a
"Benefitted Lender") shall at any time receive any payment of all or
part of its Extensions of Credit, or interest thereon, or if any
Revolving Credit Lender shall at any time receive any collateral in
respect to its Extensions of Credit (whether voluntarily or
involuntarily, by setoff or otherwise) in a greater proportion than
any such payment to and collateral received by any other Revolving
Credit Lender, if any, in respect of such other Revolving Credit
Lender's Extensions of Credit, or interest thereon, such Benefitted
Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Revolving Credit Lenders
such portion of each such other Revolving Credit Lender's Extensions
of Credit or shall provide such other Revolving Credit Lenders with
the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall
be necessary to cause such Benefitted Lender to share the excess
payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each
of the Revolving Credit Lenders based upon the Revolving Credit
Lenders, Commitment Percentages; provided that if all or any portion
of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such
Benefitted Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase
price and benefits returned to the extent of such recovery, but
without interest. The Borrower agrees that each Revolving Credit
Lender so purchasing a portion of another Revolving Credit Lender's
Extensions of Credit may exercise all rights of payment (including,
without limitation, rights of set-off) with respect to such portion as
fully as if such Revolving Credit Lender were the direct holder of
such portion.
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WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and
year first written above.
WLR FOODS, INC.
By:__/S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Ritter__
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FOODS, INC.
By:__/S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Ritter__
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Treasurer
CASSCO ICE & COLD STORAGE, INC.
By:__/S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Ritter__
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SUPPLY COMPANY, INC.
By:__/S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Ritter__
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President
VALLEY RAIL SERVICE, INC.
By:__/S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Ritter__
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President
103
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Agent and Revolving Credit
Lender
By:__/S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ Bouhuys__
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President
Tranche I Commitment Percentage:
35%
Tranche I Commitment: $17,500,000
Tranche II Commitment Percentage:
38.8235%
Tranche II Commitment: $21,352,941
CORESTATES BANK, N.A.
By:__/S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Williams__
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President
Tranche I Commitment Percentage:
35%
Tranche I Commitment: $17,500,000
Tranche II Commitment Percentage:
32.9412%
Tranche II Commitment: $18,117,647
▇▇▇▇▇▇ TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
By:__/S/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. Blackham__
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
Tranche I Commitment Percentage:
20%
Tranche I Commitment: $10,000,000
Tranche II Commitment Percentage:
18.8235%
Tranche II Commitment: $10,352,941
▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
By:__/S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.__
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Senior Vice President
Tranche I Commitment Percentage:
10%
Tranche I Commitment: $5,000,000
Tranche II Commitment Percentage:
9.4118%
Tranche II Commitment: $5,176,471
105
