Exhibit 10.15
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SHORT-TERM CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of April 30, 1997
among
CULLIGAN WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
and
VARIOUS SUBSIDIARIES THEREOF,
as Borrowers,
BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS,
as Administrative Agent,
BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS,
as Swing Line Lender and
Letter of Credit Issuing Lender,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK,
as Documentation Agent,
LASALLE NATIONAL BANK,
as Documentation Agent,
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
as Syndication Agent,
and
THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO,
as Lenders
Arranged by
BANCAMERICA SECURITIES, INC.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Section Page
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Defined Terms................................................1
1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions.......................................21
1.3 Accounting Principles...............................................22
1.4 Currency Equivalents Generally......................................22
1.5 Introduction of Euro................................................22
ARTICLE II THE CREDITS
2.1 Amounts and Terms of Commitments....................................23
2.2 Loan Accounts.......................................................23
2.3 Procedure for Borrowings............................................24
2.4 Conversion and Continuation Elections for Borrowings................25
2.5 Utilization of Commitments in Offshore Currencies...................27
2.6 Reduction or Termination of Commitments.............................29
2.7 Prepayments.........................................................29
2.8 Currency Exchange Fluctuations......................................30
2.9 Repayment...........................................................30
2.10 Interest............................................................30
2.11 Fees................................................................31
(a) Arrangement, Agency Fees.......................................31
(b) Facility Fees..................................................32
2.12 Computation of Fees and Interest....................................32
2.13 Payments by the Borrowers...........................................32
2.14 Payments by the Lenders to the Administrative Agent.................33
2.15 Sharing of Payments.................................................34
2.16 Swing Line Commitment...............................................35
2.17 Borrowing Procedures for Swing Line Loans...........................35
2.18 Prepayment or Refunding of Swing Line Loans.........................35
2.19 Participations in Swing Line Loans..................................36
2.20 Participation Obligations Unconditional.............................37
2.21 Conditions to Swing Line Loans......................................37
2.22 Designation of Borrowing Subsidiaries...............................37
ARTICLE III THE LETTERS OF CREDIT
3.1 The Letter of Credit Subfacility....................................38
3.2 Issuance, Amendment and Renewal of Letters of Credit................40
3.3 Risk Participations, Drawings and Reimbursements....................42
3.4 Repayment of Participations.........................................44
3.5 Role of the Issuing Lender..........................................45
3.6 Obligations Absolute................................................46
3.7 Cash Collateral Pledge..............................................47
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3.8 Letter of Credit Fees...................................47
3.9 Uniform Customs and Practice............................48
3.10 Letters of Credit for the Account of Subsidiaries.......48
ARTICLE IV TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
4.1 Taxes...................................................48
4.2 Illegality..............................................52
4.3 Increased Costs and Reduction of Return.................53
4.4 Funding Losses..........................................54
4.5 Inability to Determine Rates............................54
4.6 Additional Interest on Certain Offshore Rate Loans......55
4.7 Certificates of Lenders.................................56
4.8 Substitution of Lenders.................................56
4.9 Right of Lenders to Fund through Branches and
Affiliates..........................................56
4.10 Survival................................................56
ARTICLE V CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
5.1 Conditions to Initial Credit Extensions.................56
(a) Agreement and Notes....................................57
(b) Resolutions; Incumbencies..............................57
(c) Organization Documents.................................57
(d) Guaranty...............................................57
(e) Payment of Fees........................................57
(f) Certificate............................................58
(g) Legal Opinions.........................................58
(h) Other Documents........................................58
5.2 Conditions to Initial Loans to Each Borrowing
Subsidiary................................................58
(a) Assumption Letter......................................59
(b) Notes..................................................59
(c) Resolutions; Incumbencies..............................59
(d) Legal Opinions.........................................59
(e) Other Documents........................................59
5.3 Conditions to All Credit Extensions.....................59
(a) Notice, Application....................................59
(b) Continuation of Representations and Warranties.........60
(c) No Existing Default....................................60
ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
6.1 Corporate Existence and Power...........................60
6.2 Authorization; No Contravention.........................61
6.3 Governmental Authorization..............................61
6.4 Binding Effect.................................................. 61
6.5 Litigation...................................................... 61
6.6 No Default...................................................... 62
6.7 ERISA Compliance................................................ 62
6.8 Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations............................. 63
6.9 Title to Properties............................................. 63
6.10 Taxes........................................................... 63
6.11 Financial Condition............................................. 63
6.12 Environmental Matters........................................... 64
6.13 Regulated Entities.............................................. 64
6.14 No Burdensome Restrictions...................................... 64
6.15 Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Licenses, etc............... 64
6.16 Subsidiaries.................................................... 65
6.17 Insurance....................................................... 65
6.18 Full Disclosure................................................. 65
ARTICLE VII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
7.1 Financial Statements............................................ 66
7.2 Certificates; Other Information................................. 66
7.3 Notices......................................................... 67
7.4 Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc........................ 68
7.5 Maintenance of Property......................................... 69
7.6 Insurance....................................................... 69
7.7 Payment of Obligations.......................................... 69
7.8 Compliance with Laws............................................ 69
7.9 Compliance with ERISA........................................... 70
7.10 Inspection of Property and Books and Records.................... 70
7.11 Environmental Laws.............................................. 70
7.12 Use of Proceeds................................................. 70
7.13 Guaranty........................................................ 70
ARTICLE VIII NEGATIVE COVENANTS
8.1 Limitation on Liens............................................. 71
8.2 Disposition of Assets........................................... 73
8.3 Consolidations and Mergers...................................... 74
8.4 Loans and Investments........................................... 74
8.5 Limitation on Indebtedness...................................... 75
8.6 Transactions with Affiliates.................................... 76
8.7 Use of Proceeds................................................. 76
8.8 Contingent Obligations.......................................... 77
8.9 Leverage Ratio.................................................. 78
8.10 Minimum Net Worth............................................... 78
8.11 Interest Coverage Ratio......................................... 78
8.12 Restricted Payments............................................. 78
8.13 ERISA........................................................... 79
8.14 Change in Business.............................................. 79
8.15 Accounting Changes.............................................. 79
8.16 Margin Stock....................................................79
ARTICLE IX EVENTS OF DEFAULT
9.1 Event of Default.................................................79
(a) Non-Payment 79
(b) Representation or Warranty.......................................80
(c) Specific Defaults................................................80
(d) Other Defaults...................................................80
(e) Cross-Default 80
(f) Insolvency; Voluntary Proceedings................................80
(g) Involuntary Proceedings..........................................81
(h) ERISA 81
(i) Monetary Judgments...............................................81
(j) Non-Monetary Judgments...........................................81
(k) Guaranty 82
(l) Change of Control................................................82
9.2 Remedies 82
9.3 Rights Not Exclusive...........................................83
ARTICLE X THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
10.1 Appointment and Authorization...................................83
10.2 Delegation of Duties............................................84
10.3 Liability of Agent-Related Persons..............................84
10.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent................................84
10.5 Notice of Default...............................................85
10.6 Credit Decision.................................................85
10.7 Indemnification of the Administrative Agent.....................86
10.8 Administrative Agent in Individual Capacity.....................87
10.9 Successor Administrative Agent..................................87
10.10 Withholding Tax.................................................88
10.11 Other Agents....................................................89
ARTICLE XI
GUARANTY
11.1 Guaranty........................................................89
11.2 Guaranty Unconditional..........................................89
11.3 Discharge only upon Payment in Full; Reinstatement in
Certain Circumstances...........................................90
11.4 Waiver by Culligan..............................................91
11.5 Subrogation.....................................................91
11.6 Stay of Acceleration............................................91
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ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Amendments and Waivers.............................. 91
12.2 Notices............................................. 92
12.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies...................... 93
12.4 Costs and Expenses.................................. 94
12.5 Borrower Indemnification............................ 94
12.6 Payments Set Aside.................................. 95
12.7 Successors and Assigns.............................. 95
12.8 Assignments, Participations, etc.................... 95
12.9 Confidentiality..................................... 97
12.10 Set-off............................................. 98
12.11 Automatic Debits of Fees............................ 98
12.12 Notification of Addresses, Lending Offices, etc..... 99
12.13 Counterparts........................................ 99
12.14 Severability........................................ 99
12.15 No Third Parties Benefited.......................... 99
12.16 Governing Law and Jurisdiction...................... 99
12.17 Waiver of Jury Trial............................... 100
12.18 Judgment........................................... 100
12.19 Entire Agreement................................... 101
Section Page
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Section Page
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Section Page
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SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.1(a) Pricing Schedule
Schedule 2.1 Commitments and Pro Rata Shares
Schedule 4.6 Associated Costs Rate
Schedule 5.1(i) Debt to be Repaid
Schedule 6.5 Litigation
Schedule 6.12 Environmental Matters
Schedule 6.16 Subsidiaries and Minority Interests
Schedule 8.1 Liens
Schedule 8.4 Investments
Schedule 8.5 Indebtedness
Schedule 8.8 Contingent Obligations
Schedule 12.2 Offshore and Domestic Lending Offices; Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit B Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit C Form of Assumption Letter
Exhibit D Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit E Form of Guaranty
Exhibit F-1 Form of Opinion of General Counsel of Culligan
Exhibit F-2 Form of Opinion of Skadden, Arps, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇
Exhibit G Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Administrative Agent
Exhibit H Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit I-1 Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit I-2 Form of Swing Ling Note
Exhibit J Form of Request for Extension of Revolving Termination Date
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SHORT-TERM CREDIT AGREEMENT
This SHORT-TERM CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of April 30, 1997 among
CULLIGAN WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of
Delaware ("Culligan"), each Borrowing Subsidiary (as defined below), the several
financial institutions from time to time party to this Agreement (collectively
the "Lenders"; individually each a "Lender"), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK, as
Documentation Agent, LASALLE NATIONAL BANK, as Documentation Agent, THE FIRST
NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, as Syndication Agent, BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS, as
swing line lender and letter of credit issuing lender, and BANK OF AMERICA
ILLINOIS, as Administrative Agent as provided herein.
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders
have agreed to make loans and other financial accommodations to Culligan and
certain subsidiaries thereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and
covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
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1.1 Certain Defined Terms. The following terms have the following
meanings:
Acquisition means any transaction or series of related transactions
for the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the
acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of
any business or division of a Person, (b) the acquisition of in excess of
50% of the capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or
equity of any Person, or otherwise causing any Person to become a
Subsidiary, or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other business
combination with another Person (other than a Person that is a Subsidiary).
Administrative Agent means BofA in its capacity as administrative
agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, as provided in Article
X, and any successor Administrative Agent arising under Section 10.9.
Administrative Agent's Payment Office means (i) in respect of payments
by the Loan Parties or the Lenders in U.S. Dollars, the address for
payments set forth on Schedule 12.2 for the Administrative Agent or such
other address as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify in
accordance with Section 12.2, and (ii) in the case of payments by the Loan
Parties or the Lenders in any Offshore Currency, such address as the
Administrative Agent may from time to time specify in accordance with
Section 12.2.
Affiliate means, as to any Person, any other Person which, directly or
indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if
the controlling Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such other
Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or membership
interests, by contract, or otherwise.
Agent-Related Persons means the Administrative Agent and any successor
thereto in such capacity hereunder, together with their respective
Affiliates (including the Arranger), and the officers, directors,
employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.
Aggregate Commitment Amount means the aggregate amount of the
Commitments.
Aggregate Outstandings means at any time the sum of (a) the aggregate
outstanding principal Dollar Equivalent amount of all Revolving Loans and
Swing Line Loans plus (b) (without duplication) the Effective Amount of all
L/C Obligations.
Agreed Alternative Currency - see subsection 2.5(e).
Agreement means this Short-Term Credit Agreement.
Applicable Currency means, as to any particular payment or Loan, U.S.
Dollars or the Offshore Currency in which such payment or Loan is
denominated or is payable.
Applicable Margin means, at any time, the percentage set forth in
Schedule 1.1(a) opposite the applicable Indebtedness to Capitalization
Ratio under the heading "Applicable Margin".
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Arranger means BancAmerica Securities, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Assignee - see subsection 12.8(a).
Assumption Letter - see subsection 5.2(a).
Astrum Plans means the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Stores Pension Plan and the Schenley
Industries, Inc. Employees' Retirement Benefit Plan.
Attorney Costs means and includes all reasonable and documented fees
and charges of any law firm or other external counsel and, without
duplication, the reasonable allocated cost of internal legal services and
all disbursements of internal counsel.
Bankruptcy Code means the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (11
U.S.C. (S)101, et seq.).
Base Rate means, for any day, the higher of: (a) 0.50% per annum above
the latest U.S. Federal Funds Rate; and (b) the per annum rate of interest
in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by BofA in
Chicago, Illinois, as its "reference rate." (The "reference rate" is a rate
set by BofA based upon various factors including BofA's costs and desired
return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a
reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or
below such announced rate.) Any change in the reference rate announced by
BofA shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in
the public announcement of such change.
Base Rate Loan means a Loan, or an L/C Advance, that bears interest
based on the Base Rate.
Beneficial Owner shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Rule 13d-3
of the SEC under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof.
BofA means Bank of America Illinois, an Illinois banking corporation.
Borrowers means Culligan and each Borrowing Subsidiary; and Borrower
means Culligan or a Borrowing Subsidiary, as applicable.
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Borrowing means a borrowing hereunder consisting of one or more Loans
of the same Type and in the same Applicable Currency made to (or continued
or converted by) a Borrower on the same day by one or more Lenders under
Article II and, other than in the case of Base Rate Loans, having the same
Interest Period.
Borrowing Date means any date on which a Borrowing occurs under
Section 2.3 or 2.18.
Borrowing Subsidiary means any Foreign Subsidiary of Culligan which
has been designated as a "Borrowing Subsidiary" pursuant to Section 2.22.
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day
on which commercial banks in New York City, Chicago or San Francisco are
authorized or required by law to close and (i) with respect to
disbursements and payments in U.S. Dollars relating to Offshore Rate Loans,
a day on which dealings are carried on in the applicable offshore U.S.
Dollar interbank market, and (ii) with respect to disbursements and
payments in and calculations pertaining to any Offshore Currency, a day on
which dealings in the relevant Offshore Currency are carried on in the
offshore foreign exchange interbank market in which disbursement of or
payment in such Offshore Currency will be made or received hereunder and
also (except in the case of Canadian Dollars) in London, England.
Capital Adequacy Regulation means, in respect of any Lender, any
guideline, request or directive, whether or not having the force of law, of
any central bank or other Governmental Authority, or any other law, rule or
regulation of any Governmental Authority, in each case regarding capital
adequacy of such Lender or of any corporation controlling such Lender which
is generally applicable to banks or corporations controlling banks in any
applicable jurisdiction (and not applicable to such Lender or the
corporation controlling such Lender solely due to the financial or
regulatory condition of such Lender or such corporation).
Cash Collateralize means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the
Issuing Lender and the other Lenders, as collateral for the L/C
Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in
form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing
Lender (which documents are hereby consented to by the other Lenders).
Derivatives of such term shall have corresponding meanings. Each Borrower
hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for
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the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the other
Lenders, a security interest in all such cash and deposit account balances.
Cash collateral shall be maintained in blocked deposit accounts at BofA.
Change of Control means that (a) any Person or group (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-5 of the SEC under the Exchange Act), other than any
Person who owns on the date of this Agreement more than 10% of the
outstanding common stock of Culligan, shall become the Beneficial Owner of
20% or more of the Voting Stock of Culligan or (b) a majority of the
members of the Board of Directors of Culligan shall cease to be Continuing
Members.
Closing Date means the date on which all conditions precedent set
forth in Section 5.1 are satisfied or waived by all Lenders (or, in the
case of subsection 5.1(e), waived by the Person entitled to receive the
applicable payment).
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Commitment means for any Lender the amount set forth on Schedule 2.1
under the column titled "Commitment" beside such Lender's name, as such
amount may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 2.6, 4.8 or
12.8.
Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form
of Exhibit D.
Computation Date means any date on which the Administrative Agent
determines the Dollar Equivalent principal amount of any Offshore Currency
Loans pursuant to subsection 2.5(a).
Computation Period means each period of four consecutive fiscal
quarters ending on the last day of a fiscal quarter.
Consolidated Net Income means the net income (or loss) of Culligan and
its Subsidiaries for such period, excluding any extraordinary or non-
recurring gains or losses during such period.
Contingent Obligation means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect
liability of such Person, whether or not contingent, with or without
recourse, (a) with respect to any Indebtedness, lease, dividend, letter of
credit or other obligation (the "primary obligation") of another
5
Person (the "primary obligor"), including any obligation of such Person (i)
to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such primary obligation or any
security therefor, (ii) to advance or provide funds for the payment or
discharge of any such primary obligation, or to maintain working capital or
equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net
worth or solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial
condition of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or
services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such
primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of
such primary obligation, or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the
holder of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof
(each, a "Guaranty Obligation"); (b) with respect to any Surety Instrument
(other than any Letter of Credit) issued for the account of such Person or
as to which such Person is otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings
or payments; (c) to purchase any materials, supplies or other property
from, or to obtain the services of, another Person if the relevant contract
or other related document or obligation requires that payment for such
materials, supplies or other property, or for such services, shall be made
regardless of whether delivery of such materials, supplies or other
property is ever made or tendered, or such services are ever performed or
tendered; or (d) in respect of any Swap Contract; provided that the term
"Contingent Obligation" shall not include the endorsement of instruments
for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of
any Contingent Obligation shall (x) in the case of a Guaranty Obligation,
be deemed equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary
obligation in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made or, if not
stated or if indeterminable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability
in respect thereof, and (y) in the case of other Contingent Obligations, be
equal to the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof.
Continuing Member means a member of the Board of Directors of Culligan
who either (a) was a member of Culligan's Board of Directors on the Closing
Date and has been such continuously thereafter or (b) became a member of
such Board of Directors after the Closing Date and whose election or
nomination for election was approved by a vote of the majority of the
Continuing Members then members of Culligan's Board of Directors.
Contractual Obligation means, as to any Person, any provision of any
security issued by such Person or of any agreement, undertaking, contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument,
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document or agreement to which such Person is a party or by which it or any
of its property is bound.
Conversion/Continuation Date means any Business Day on which a
Borrower (i) converts Revolving Loans from one Type to the other Type or
(ii) continues as Revolving Loans of the same Type, but with a new Interest
Period, Revolving Loans having Interest Periods expiring on such date.
Credit Extension means and includes (a) the making of any Loan
hereunder and (b) the Issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder.
Culligan - see the Preamble.
Debt to be Repaid means all Indebtedness listed on Schedule 5.1(i).
Dollar Equivalent means, at any time, (a) as to any amount denominated
in U.S. Dollars, the amount thereof at such time, and (b) as to any amount
denominated in an Offshore Currency, the equivalent amount in U.S. Dollars
as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the
Spot Rate for the purchase of U.S. Dollars with such Offshore Currency on
the most recent Computation Date provided for in Section 2.5(a) or such
other date as is specified herein.
Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of Culligan other than a
Foreign Subsidiary.
EBITDA means, for any Computation Period, Consolidated Net Income
before deducting Interest Expense, income tax expense, depreciation and
amortization (including amortization of debt discount and debt issuance
costs) for such Computation Period. Prior to the first anniversary of the
consummation of any Acquisition, the historical financial results of the
acquired Person or assets for the relevant period will be included for
purposes of calculating EBITDA (but without any adjustment to such
historical results for cost savings or other synergies).
Effective Amount means, with respect to any outstanding L/C
Obligations on any date, the aggregate Dollar Equivalent amount of such L/C
Obligations on such date after giving effect to any Issuances of Letters of
Credit occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate Dollar
Equivalent amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a
result of any reimbursement of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letter
of Credit or any reduction in the maximum
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amount available for drawing under any Letter of Credit taking effect on
such date.
Eligible Assignee means (i) a commercial bank organized under the laws
of the United States, or any state thereof, and having a combined capital
and surplus of at least U.S. $100,000,000; (ii) a commercial bank organized
under the laws of any country which is a member of the European Union, or a
political subdivision of any such country, or under the laws of Japan,
Canada, Switzerland, Australia or New Zealand, or a political subdivision
of any such country, and having a combined capital and surplus in a Dollar
Equivalent amount of at least U.S. $100,000,000, provided that such bank is
acting through a branch or agency located in the country in which it is
organized or another country which is a member of the European Union, or
which is Japan, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand or the United
States; (iii) a Person that is primarily engaged in the business of
commercial banking and that is (A) a Subsidiary of a Lender, (B) a
Subsidiary of a Person of which a Lender is a Subsidiary, or (C) a Person
of which a Lender is a Subsidiary; and (iv) only in respect of assignments
after the Maturity Date, an insurance company, mutual fund or other
financial institution organized under the laws of the United States, any
state thereof, any country which is a member of the European Union, or a
political subdivision of any such country, or under the laws of Japan,
Canada, Switzerland, Australia or New Zealand or a political subdivision of
any such country; provided that no Person shall be an Eligible Assignee in
respect of any Commitment unless, at the time of the proposed assignment to
such Person, such Person is able to make Loans in U.S. Dollars and each
Offshore Currency.
Environmental Claims means all claims, however asserted, by any
Governmental Authority or other Person alleging potential liability or
responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law, or for release or
injury to the environment.
Environmental Laws means all federal, state and local laws, statutes,
common law duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with
all administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses,
authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental
Authorities, in each case relating to environmental, health, safety and
land use matters.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
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ERISA Affiliate means any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) under common control with Culligan within the meaning of
Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code
for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
ERISA Event means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension
Plan; (b) the failure to make a required contribution to a Pension Plan if
such failure is sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 302(f) of
ERISA; (c) a withdrawal by Culligan or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension
Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a
substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a
cessation of operations which is treated as such a withdrawal under Section
4062(e) of ERISA; (d) a complete or partial withdrawal by Culligan or any
ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a
Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (e) the filing of a notice of
intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination
under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by
the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) an event or
condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under
Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a
trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the
imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than PBGC
premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon Culligan
or any ERISA Affiliate.
Event of Default means any of the events or circumstances specified in
Section 9.1.
Exchange Act means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.
Facility Fee Rate means the percentage set forth in Schedule 1.1(a)
opposite the applicable Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio under the
heading "Facility Fee Rate".
Fee Letter - see subsection 2.11(a).
Foreign Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of Culligan which (i) is
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States or
a state thereof and (ii) conducts substantially all of its business and
operations outside of the United States.
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FRB means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and
any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles set forth from
time to time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting
Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards
Board (or agencies with similar functions of comparable stature and
authority within the U.S. accounting profession), which are applicable to
the circumstances as of the date of determination.
Governmental Authority means any nation or government, any state or
other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary
or regulatory authority) thereof, any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or
controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the
foregoing.
Guarantors means (a) as of the Closing Date, the Material Domestic
Subsidiaries identified on, and the other Domestic Subsidiaries identified
as "Guarantors" on, Schedule 6.16, and (b) thereafter, each Person listed
in clause (a), each person which becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary and
any other Person which executes and delivers a counterpart of the Guaranty.
Guaranty - see subsection 5.1(d).
Guaranty Obligation has the meaning specified in the definition of
Contingent Obligation.
Honor Date - see subsection 3.3(b).
Indebtedness of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all
indebtedness for borrowed money of such Person; (b) all obligations issued,
undertaken or assumed by such Person as the deferred purchase price of
property or services (other than trade payables and accrued expenses
entered into or incurred in the ordinary course of business on ordinary
terms); (c) all non-contingent reimbursement or payment obligations of such
Person with respect to Surety Instruments (such as, for example, unpaid
reimbursement obligations in respect of a drawing under a letter of
credit); (d) all obligations of such Person evidenced by
10
notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so
evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets
or businesses; (e) all indebtedness of such Person created or arising under
any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as
financing, in either case with respect to property acquired by such Person
(even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such
agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of
such property); (f) all obligations of such Person with respect to leases
which are or should be capitalized in accordance with GAAP; (g) all
indebtedness of other Persons referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above
secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing
right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien upon or in
property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person,
even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of
such Indebtedness; and (h) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person in
respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to
in clauses (a) through (g) above.
Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio means at any time the ratio of
(a) Total Indebtedness to (b) the sum of Total Indebtedness plus Net Worth.
Indemnified Liabilities - see Section 12.5.
Indemnified Person - see Section 12.5.
Independent Auditor - see subsection 7.1(a).
Insolvency Proceeding means, with respect to any Person, (a) any case,
action or proceeding with respect to such Person before any court or other
Governmental Authority relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
liquidation, receivership, dissolution, winding-up or relief of debtors, or
(b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition,
marshalling of assets for creditors, or other, similar arrangement in
respect of such Person's creditors generally or any substantial portion of
its creditors.
Interest Coverage Ratio means, as of the last day of any Computation
Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Net Income before deducting Interest
Expense, income tax expense and amortization for such Computation Period to
(b) Interest Expense for such Computation Period.
11
Interest Expense means for any period the consolidated interest
expense of Culligan and its Subsidiaries for such period (including all
imputed interest on capital leases).
Interest Payment Date means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate
Loan or Swing Line Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to
such Loan, and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan or Swing Line Loan, the last
Business Day of each calendar quarter; provided that if any Interest Period
for an Offshore Rate Loan exceeds three months, the date that falls three
months after the beginning of such Interest Period also shall be an
Interest Payment Date.
Interest Period means, as to any Offshore Rate Loan, the period
commencing on the Borrowing Date of such Loan or on the Conversion/
Continuation Date on which such Loan is converted into or continued as an
Offshore Rate Loan, as applicable, and ending on the date one, two, three
or six months thereafter as selected by the applicable Borrower in its
Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation, as the case may
be; provided that:
(i) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is
not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the
following Business Day, unless the result of such extension would be
to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month, in which
event such Interest Period shall end on the preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period for an Offshore 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
calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;
(iii) no Interest Period for any Loan shall extend beyond the
scheduled Maturity Date; and
(iv) no Borrower may select any Interest Period which would
extend beyond any date on which an installment of principal of the
Loans to such Borrower is scheduled to be paid pursuant to Section 2.9
unless the aggregate principal Dollar Equivalent amount of all Loans
to such Borrower in the relevant Applicable Currency having Interest
Periods expiring on or before such date (plus, in the case of Loans
denominated in U.S. Dollars, the aggregate principal amount
12
of all Base Rate Loans) exceeds the Dollar Equivalent amount of the
installment scheduled to be paid on such date.
Investment - see Section 8.4.
IRS means the Internal Revenue Service, and any Governmental Authority
succeeding to any of its principal functions under the Code.
Issuance Date - see subsection 3.1(a).
Issue means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, to issue or to
extend the expiry of, or to renew or increase the amount of, such Letter of
Credit; and the terms "Issued," "Issuing" and "Issuance" have corresponding
meanings.
Issuing Lender means BofA in its capacity as issuer of one or more
Letters of Credit hereunder, together with any replacement letter of credit
issuer arising under Section 10.9.
Joint Venture means a limited-purpose corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture or other similar legal arrangement
(whether created by contract or conducted through a separate legal entity)
now or hereafter formed by Culligan or any Subsidiary with another Person
or Persons in order to conduct a common venture or enterprise with such
Person or Persons.
L/C Advance means each Lender's participation in any L/C Borrowing in
accordance with its Pro Rata Share.
L/C Amendment Application means an application form for amendment of
an outstanding letter of credit as shall at any time be in use by the
Issuing Lender for the applicable type of letter of credit, as the Issuing
Lender shall specify.
L/C Application means an application form for issuance of a letter of
credit as shall at any time be in use by the Issuing Lender for the
applicable type of letter of credit, as the Issuing Lender shall specify.
L/C Borrowing means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing
under any Letter of Credit which shall not have been reimbursed on the date
when made nor converted into a Borrowing of Revolving Loans under
subsection 3.3(b).
13
L/C Commitment means the commitment of the Issuing Lender to Issue,
and the commitment of the Lenders severally to participate in, Letters of
Credit from time to time Issued or outstanding under Article III, in an
aggregate Dollar Equivalent amount not exceeding on any date an amount
equal to the least of (a) U.S. $10,000,000, (b) the Aggregate Commitment
Amount and (c) U.S. $100,000,000 minus the amount of the "L/C Obligations"
under and as defined in the Long-Term Credit Agreement; it being understood
that the L/C Commitment is a part of the combined Commitments of all
Lenders, rather than a separate, independent commitment.
L/C Fee Rate means, at any time for any Letter of Credit, the
percentage set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) opposite the applicable
Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio under the heading "L/C Fee Rate" for
the applicable type (standby or commercial) of Letter of Credit.
L/C Obligations means at any time the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn
Dollar Equivalent amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding, plus
(b) the Dollar Equivalent amount of all unreimbursed drawings under all
Letters of Credit, including all outstanding L/C Borrowings.
L/C-Related Documents means the Letters of Credit, the L/C
Applications, the L/C Amendment Applications and any other document
relating to any Letter of Credit, including any of the Issuing Lender's
standard form documents for letter of credit issuances. In the event that
any provision contained in any L/C-Related Document conflicts with this
Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.
Lender - see the Preamble. References to the "Lenders" shall include
BofA in its capacity as Issuing Lender and as Swing Line Lender.
Lending Office means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such
Lender (or, in the case of an Offshore Currency Loan, of an Affiliate of
such Lender) specified as its "Lending Office," or "Domestic Lending
Office" or "Offshore Lending Office" as the case may be, on Schedule 12.2,
or such other office or offices of such Lender (or, in the case of an
Offshore Currency Loan, of an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may
from time to time specify to Culligan and the Administrative Agent.
14
Letter of Credit means any letter of credit Issued by the Issuing
Lender pursuant to Article III.
Leverage Ratio means, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the
ratio of (a) Total Indebtedness as of such day to (b) EBITDA for the
Computation Period ending on such day.
Lien means any security interest, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment for security, charge or deposit arrangement,
encumbrance, preferential arrangement in the nature of security or lien
(statutory or other) in respect of any property (including those created
by, arising under or evidenced by any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement, the interest of a lessor under a capital lease, or any
financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the
foregoing, but not including the interest of a lessor under an operating
lease).
Loan means a Revolving Loan, a Swing Line Loan or an L/C Advance.
Loan Documents means this Agreement, the Notes, the Fee Letter, the
L/C-Related Documents, the Guaranty and all other agreements or instruments
delivered by Culligan and/or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or
any Lender in connection herewith.
Loan Parties means the Borrowers and the Guarantors; and Loan Party
means any Borrower or any Guarantor, as applicable.
Long-Term Credit Agreement means the Credit Agreement dated as of
April 30, 1997 among Culligan, the Subsidiaries of Culligan from time to
time party thereto, various financial institutions and BofA, as Agent.
Margin Stock means "margin stock" as such term is defined in
Regulation G, T, U or X of the FRB.
Material Adverse Effect means (a) a material adverse change in, or a
material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties,
condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Culligan or of Culligan
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or (b) a material impairment of the
ability of Culligan or any other Loan Party to perform under any applicable
Loan Document.
15
Material Domestic Subsidiary means at any time any Domestic Subsidiary
which, as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter, either
(a) held more than 5% of consolidated total assets of Culligan and its
Domestic Subsidiaries or (b) had more than 5% of the consolidated revenues
of Culligan and its Domestic Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter ending on
such date (or, in the case of any Domestic Subsidiary acquired or created
during any fiscal quarter, which would have met either of such tests on a
pro forma basis as of the last day of the preceding fiscal quarter).
Maturity Date means the earlier to occur of (a) April 30, 2002; and
(b) the date on which all Loans become due and payable (by acceleration or
otherwise).
Minimum Tranche means, in respect of Loans comprising part of the same
Borrowing, or to be converted or continued under Section 2.4, (a) in the
case of Base Rate Loans, U.S. $2,500,000 or a higher integral multiple of
U.S. $500,000, and (b) in the case of Offshore Rate Loans, a minimum Dollar
Equivalent amount of U.S. $2,000,000 and an integral multiple of 500,000
units of the Applicable Currency.
Multiemployer Plan means a "multiemployer plan", within the meaning of
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Culligan or any ERISA Affiliate
makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions or, during the
preceding three calendar years, has made, or been obligated to make,
contributions.
Net Worth means Culligan's consolidated shareholders' equity.
Note means a promissory note executed by a Borrower in favor of a
Lender pursuant to subsection 2.2(b), in substantially the form of Exhibit
I-1 or I-2, as applicable.
Notice of Borrowing means a notice in substantially the form of
Exhibit A.
Notice of Conversion/Continuation means a notice in substantially the
form of Exhibit B.
Obligations means all advances, debts, liabilities, obligations,
covenants and duties arising under any Loan Document owing by any Borrower
to any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Indemnified Person, whether
direct or indirect (including those acquired by
16
assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or
hereafter arising.
Offshore Currency means at any time Canadian Dollars, German
Deutschemarks, French Francs, British Pounds Sterling, and any Agreed
Alternative Currency.
Offshore Currency Loan means any Loan denominated in an Offshore
Currency.
Offshore Rate means, for any Interest Period, with respect to Offshore
Rate Loans comprising part of the same Borrowing, the rate of interest per
annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next 1/16th of 1%) determined
by the Administrative Agent as the rate at which deposits in the Applicable
Currency in the approximate amount of the Offshore Rate Loan of BofA, and
having a maturity comparable to such Interest Period, are offered by BofA
to major banks in the offshore interbank eurocurrency market at the
Relevant Local Time (as defined below) two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period. "Relevant Local Time" means (i) for
Offshore Rate Loans denominated in U.S. Dollars or Canadian Dollars,
approximately 11:00 a.m. New York City time, and (ii) for Offshore Rate
Loans denominated in any other Offshore Currency, approximately 11:00 a.m.
London, England time.
Offshore Rate Loan means any Loan that bears interest based on the
Offshore Rate.
Offshore U.S. Dollar Loan means any Offshore Rate Loan denominated in
U.S. Dollars.
Organization Documents means (a) for any corporation, the certificate,
articles or memorandum of incorporation or association, the bylaws or code
of regulations, any certificate of determination or instrument relating to
the rights of preferred shareholders of such corporation, any shareholder
rights agreement, and all applicable resolutions of the board of directors
(or any committee thereof) of such corporation, and (b) for any other
entity, its partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement,
operating agreement or other comparable constituting and organizational
agreements or documents.
Other Taxes means any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or
any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which
17
arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or
registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other
Loan Document.
Overnight Rate means, for any day, the rate of interest per annum at
which overnight deposits in the Applicable Currency, in an amount
approximately equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being
determined, would be offered for such day by BofA to major banks in the
applicable interbank market. The Overnight Rate for any day which is not a
Business Day shall be the Overnight Rate for the preceding Business Day.
Overnight Rate Loan means any Loan that bears interest based on the
Overnight Rate.
Participant - see subsection 12.8(c).
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any
Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under
ERISA.
Pension Plan means a pension plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of
ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which Culligan or any
ERISA Affiliate has any liability.
Permitted Liens - see Section 8.1.
Person means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated association, joint venture or Governmental Authority.
Plan means an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of
ERISA) with respect to which Culligan or any ERISA Affiliate has any
liability, and includes any Pension Plan.
Pro Rata Share means for any Lender at any time the proportion which
such Lender's Commitment constitutes of all the Lenders' Commitments (or,
after the Commitments have terminated, the proportion which (i) such
Lender's Loans plus (without duplication) the participation of such Lender
in (or in the case of the Issuing Lender or the Swing Line Lender, its
unparticipated portion of) the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations and
the amount of all Swing Line Loans constitutes of (ii) the
18
aggregate Dollar Equivalent Amount of all Loans plus (without duplication)
the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations.
Replacement Lender - see Section 4.8.
Reportable Event means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(b)
of ERISA or the regulations thereunder with respect to which Culligan or
any ERISA Affiliate would be subject to the notice requirements of Section
4043(b).
Required Lenders means Lenders holding Pro Rata Shares aggregating
more than 50%; provided that if and so long as any Lender fails to fund any
Revolving Loan when required by Section 2.18 or Section 3.3 or a
participation in a Swing Line Loan or an L/C Borrowing pursuant to Section
2.19 or Section 3.3, as the case may be, such Lender's Pro Rata Share shall
be deemed for purposes of this definition to be reduced by the percentage
which the defaulted amount constitutes of such Lender's Pro Rata Share, and
the Pro Rata Share of the Issuing Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as
applicable, shall be deemed for purposes of this definition to be increased
by such percentage.
Requirement of Law means, as to any Person, any law (statutory or
common), treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or of
a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon the
Person or any of its property or to which the Person or any of its property
is subject.
Responsible Officer means, with respect to any Person, the chief
executive officer, the chief financial officer, the president, the
treasurer or the managing director of such Person, or any other officer or
director having substantially the same authority and responsibility.
Restricted Payment - see Section 8.12.
Revolving Loan - see Section 2.1.
Revolving Termination Date means the earlier to occur of (a) April 29,
1998 or such later date to which the Revolving Termination Date is extended
pursuant to Section 2.23; and (b) the date on which the Commitments
terminate in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
19
Same Day Funds means (i) with respect to disbursements and payments in
U.S. Dollars, immediately available funds, and (ii) with respect to
disbursements and payments in an Offshore Currency, same day or other funds
as may be determined by the Administrative Agent to be customary in the
place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international
banking transactions in the relevant Offshore Currency.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental
Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
Spot Rate for a currency means the rate quoted by BofA as the spot
rate for the purchase by BofA of such currency with another currency in
accordance with its customary procedures at approximately 10:00 a.m.
(Chicago time) on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which
the foreign exchange computation is made.
Subordinated Debt means any Indebtedness of Culligan that has
maturities and other terms, and which is subordinated to the Obligations in
a manner, approved in writing by the Required Banks.
Subsidiary of a Person means any corporation, association,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, business trust or
other business entity of which more than 50% of the stock, membership
interests or other equity interests entitled to vote is owned or controlled
directly or indirectly by such Person, or one or more of the Subsidiaries
of such Person, or a combination thereof. Unless the context otherwise
clearly requires, references herein to a "Subsidiary" refer to a Subsidiary
of Culligan.
Surety Instruments means all letters of credit (including standby and
commercial), banker's acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and
similar instruments.
Swap Contract means any agreement (including any master agreement and
any agreement, whether or not in writing, relating to any single
transaction) that is an interest rate swap agreement, basis swap, forward
rate agreement, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index
swap or option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange
agreement, rate cap, collar or floor agreement, currency swap agreement,
cross-currency rate swap agreement, swaption, currency option or any other,
similar agreement (including any option to enter into any of the
foregoing).
20
Swing Line Commitment means the commitment of the Swing Line Lender to
make Swing Line Loans hereunder.
Swing Line Lender means BofA in its capacity as swing line lender
hereunder, together with any replacement swing line lender arising under
Section 10.9.
Swing Line Loan - see Section 2.16.
Taxes means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,
deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect
thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender and the Administrative
Agent, such taxes (including income taxes or franchise taxes) as are
imposed on or measured by such Lender's or the Administrative Agent's net
income by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the
laws of which such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be,
is organized or maintains a lending office or, if the transactions under
this Agreement were disregarded, would otherwise be subject to the
imposition of such taxes.
Total Indebtedness means all Indebtedness of Culligan and its
Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis.
Type of Loan means a Base Rate Loan or an Offshore Rate Loan.
Unfunded Pension Liability means the excess of a Plan's benefit
liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA over the current value of
such Plan's assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for
funding such Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable
plan year.
United States and U.S. each means the United States of America.
Unmatured Event of Default means any event or circumstance which, with
the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, would (if not cured or
otherwise remedied during such time) constitute an Event of Default.
U.S. Dollars and U.S. $ each mean lawful money of the United States.
21
U.S. Federal Funds Rate means, for any day, the rate set forth in the
weekly statistical release designated as H.15(519), or any successor
publication, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (including
any such successor, "H.15(519)") on the preceding Business Day opposite the
caption "Federal Funds (Effective)"; or, if for any relevant day such rate
is not so published on any such preceding Business Day, the rate for such
day will be the arithmetic mean as determined by the Administrative Agent
of the rates for the last transaction in overnight Federal funds arranged
prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on that day by each of three
leading brokers of Federal funds transactions in New York City selected by
the Administrative Agent.
Voting Stock means, with respect to any Person, any shares of stock or
other equity interests of any class or classes of such Person whose holders
are entitled under ordinary circumstances (irrespective of whether at the
time stock or other equity interests of any other class or classes shall
have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any
contingency) to vote for the election of a majority of the directors,
managers, trustees or other governing body of such Person.
1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions. (a) The meanings of defined terms
are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
(b) The words "hereof", "herein", "hereunder" and similar words refer
to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement; and subsection, Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this
Agreement unless otherwise specified.
(c) (i) The term "documents" includes any and all instruments,
documents, agreements, certificates, indentures, notices and other
writings, however evidenced.
(ii) The term "including" is not limiting and means "including
without limitation."
(iii) In the computation of periods of time from a specified
date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including";
the words "to" and "until" each mean "to but excluding", and the word
"through" means "to and including."
(d) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references to
agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall
22
be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto,
but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not
prohibited by the terms of any Loan Document, and (ii) references to any statute
or regulation are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory
provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting the
statute or regulation.
(e) The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
(f) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents may use several
different limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar
matters. All such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and shall
each be performed in accordance with their terms; provided, however, that, in
the event that any provision contained in any L/C-Related Document conflicts
with this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.
(g) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the result of
negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to the Administrative
Agent, the Borrowers and the other parties and are the products of all parties.
Accordingly, they shall not be construed against the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders merely because of the Administrative Agent's or Lenders' involvement in
their preparation.
1.3 Accounting Principles. (a) Unless the context otherwise clearly
requires, all accounting terms not expressly defined herein shall be construed,
and all financial computations required under this Agreement shall be made, in
accordance with GAAP, consistently applied; provided that if Culligan notifies
the Administrative Agent that Culligan wishes to amend any covenant in Article
VIII to eliminate or to take into account the effect of any change in GAAP on
the operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies Culligan
that the Required Lenders wish to amend Article VIII for such purpose), then
Culligan's compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of
GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective,
until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner
satisfactory to Culligan and the Required Lenders.
(b) References herein to "fiscal year" and "fiscal quarter" refer to
such fiscal periods of Culligan.
23
1.4 Currency Equivalents Generally. For all purposes of this Agreement
(but not for purposes of the preparation of any financial statements delivered
pursuant hereto), the equivalent in any Offshore Currency or other currency of
an amount in U.S. Dollars, and the equivalent in U.S. Dollars of an amount in
any Offshore Currency or other currency, shall be determined at the Spot Rate.
1.5 Introduction of Euro. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto
affirm and agree that neither the fixation of the conversion rate of any
Offshore Currency of a country that is a member of the European Union against
the Euro as a single currency, in accordance with the Treaty Establishing the
European Economic Community, as amended by the Treaty on the European Union (the
Maastricht Treaty), nor the conversion of any Obligations under the Loan
Documents from an Offshore Currency of a country that is a member of the
European Union into Euro, shall require the early termination of this Agreement
or the prepayment of any amount due under the Loan Documents or create any
liability of one party to another party for any direct or consequential loss
arising from any of such events. As of the date that any such Offshore Currency
is no longer the lawful currency of its respective country, all payment
obligations under the Loan Documents that would otherwise be in such Offshore
Currency shall thereafter by satisfied in Euro.
ARTICLE II
THE CREDITS
-----------
2.1 Amounts and Terms of Commitments. (a) Each Lender severally agrees,
on the terms and conditions set forth herein, to make loans to any of the
Borrowers (each such loan, a "Revolving Loan") from time to time on any Business
Day during the period from the Closing Date through the Revolving Termination
Date; provided that after giving effect to any Borrowing of Revolving Loans, the
Aggregate Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment Amount; and
provided, further, that after giving effect to any Borrowing of Revolving Loans,
the aggregate outstanding principal Dollar Equivalent amount of the Revolving
Loans of any Lender plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of all outstanding Swing Line Loans plus (without
duplication) the participation of such Lender in (or, in the case of the Issuing
Lender, its unparticipated portion of) the Effective Amount of all L/C
Obligations shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment. Within the foregoing
limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may
borrow under this Section 2.1, prepay under Section 2.7 and reborrow under
24
this Section 2.1; provided that no Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.1
after the Revolving Termination Date.
2.2 Loan Accounts. (a) The Loans made by each Lender and the
obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of the Letters of Credit Issued by
the Issuing Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records
maintained by such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, in the
ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the
Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Lender shall be rebuttable
presumptive evidence of the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the
Borrowers and the obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of the Letters of
Credit Issued for the account of the Loan Parties, and the interest and payments
thereon. Any failure so to record or any error in so recording shall not,
however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the applicable Borrower
hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to any Loan or any Letter of
Credit.
(b) Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative
Agent, the Loans made by such Lender to any Borrower may be evidenced by one or
more Notes issued by such Borrower, instead of or in addition to loan accounts.
Each such Lender shall endorse on the schedules annexed to the applicable Note
the date, amount and maturity of each applicable Loan made by it and the amount
of each payment of principal made by the applicable Borrower with respect
thereto. Each such Lender is irrevocably authorized by each Borrower to endorse
the applicable Note and each such Lender's record shall be conclusive absent
demonstrable error; provided, however, that the failure of a Lender to make, or
an error in making, a notation on any Note with respect to any Loan shall not
limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the applicable Borrower hereunder
or under such Note to such Lender.
2.3 Procedure for Borrowings. (a) Each request for a Revolving Loan
shall be made upon the applicable Borrower's irrevocable written notice
delivered to the Administrative Agent in the form of a Notice of Borrowing
(which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 a.m.,
Chicago time, (i) four Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date, in
the case of Offshore Currency Loans, (ii) three Business Days prior to the
requested Borrowing Date, in the case of Offshore U.S. Dollar Loans, and (iii)
on the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of Base Rate Loans, specifying:
(A) the principal amount of the Borrowing, which shall be
in an aggregate principal amount not less than the Minimum Tranche;
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(B) the requested Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business
Day;
(C) the Type of Loans comprising the Borrowing;
(D) in the case of a Borrowing of Offshore Rate Loans, the
duration of the Interest Period therefor; and
(E) in the case of a Borrowing of Offshore Currency Loans,
the Applicable Currency.
(b) The Dollar Equivalent amount of any Borrowing of Revolving Loans
in an Offshore Currency will be determined by the Administrative Agent on each
Computation Date therefor in accordance with subsection 2.5(a). Upon receipt of
a Notice of Borrowing pursuant to subsection 2.3(a), the Administrative Agent
will promptly notify each Lender thereof and of the amount of such Lender's Pro
Rata Share of the Borrowing.
(c) Each Lender will make its Pro Rata Share of each Borrowing of
Revolving Loans available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
applicable Borrower at the Administrative Agent's Payment Office on the
Borrowing Date requested by such Borrower in Same Day Funds and in the requested
currency (i) in the case of a Borrowing comprised of Loans in U.S. Dollars, by
1:00 p.m. (Chicago time) and (ii) in the case of a Borrowing comprised of
Offshore Currency Loans, by such time as the Administrative Agent may specify
(but in no event later than such time as may be necessary for such payment to be
credited on such date in accordance with normal banking procedures in effect at
the place of payment). The proceeds of all such Loans will promptly be made
available to the applicable Borrower by the Administrative Agent at such office
by crediting the account of the applicable Borrower on the books of BofA with
the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the
Lenders and in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.
(d) After giving effect to any Borrowing, there may not be more than
eight different Interest Periods in effect for all Revolving Loans.
2.4 Conversion and Continuation Elections for Borrowings. (a) The
applicable Borrower may, upon irrevocable written notice to the Administrative
Agent in accordance with subsection 2.4(b) and subject to Section 4.4:
26
(i) elect, as of any Business Day, to convert any Revolving
Loans in U.S. Dollars (or any part thereof in an amount not less than the
Minimum Tranche) of any Type into Revolving Loans in U.S. Dollars of the
other Type; or
(ii) elect, as of the last day of the applicable Interest
Period, to continue any Revolving Loans having Interest Periods expiring on
such day (or any part thereof in an amount not less than the Minimum
Tranche);
provided that if at any time the aggregate amount of Offshore U.S. Dollar Loans
in respect of any Borrowing is reduced, by payment, prepayment or conversion of
part thereof, to be less than the Minimum Tranche, such Offshore U.S. Dollar
Loans shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans, and on and after such
date the right of the related Borrower to continue such Loans as, or convert
such Loans into, Offshore U.S. Dollar Loans shall terminate.
(b) The applicable Borrower shall deliver a Notice of Conversion/
Continuation to be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00
a.m., Chicago time, (i) four Business Days prior to the Conversion/Continuation
Date, if Revolving Loans are to be continued as Offshore Currency Loans, (ii)
three Business Days prior to the Conversion/Continuation Date, if Revolving
Loans are to be converted into or continued as Offshore U.S. Dollar Loans, and
(iii) on the Conversion/ Continuation Date, if Revolving Loans are to be
converted into Base Rate Loans, specifying:
(A) the proposed Conversion/Continuation Date;
(B) the aggregate amount of Revolving Loans to be converted
or continued;
(C) in the case of Revolving Loans in U.S. Dollars, the
Type of Loans resulting from the proposed conversion or continuation;
and
(D) other than in the case of conversions into Base Rate
Loans, the duration of the requested Interest Period or Periods.
(c) If upon the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to
Offshore U.S. Dollar Loans, the applicable Borrower has failed to select timely
a new Interest Period to be applicable to such Offshore U.S. Dollar Loans, the
27
applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Offshore
U.S. Dollar Loans into Base Rate Loans effective as of the last day of such
Interest Period. If the applicable Borrower has failed to select a new Interest
Period to be applicable to Offshore Currency Loans by the applicable time on the
fourth Business Day in advance of the expiration date of the current Interest
Period applicable thereto as provided in subsection 2.4(b), subject to the
provisions of subsection 2.5(d), the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have
elected to continue such Offshore Currency Loans for a one-month Interest
Period.
(d) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its
receipt of a Notice of Conversion/Continuation pursuant to this Section 2.4 or,
if no timely notice is provided by the applicable Borrower, the Administrative
Agent will promptly notify each Lender of the details of any automatic
conversion or continuation pursuant to this Section 2.4. All conversions and
continuations shall be made ratably according to the respective outstanding
principal amounts of the Loans held by each Lender with respect to which the
notice was given.
(e) Unless the Required Lenders otherwise agree, during the existence
of an Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default, the applicable Borrower
may not elect to have a Revolving Loan converted into an Offshore U.S. Dollar
Loan or continued as an Offshore U.S. Dollar Loan.
(f) After giving effect to any conversion or continuation of Loans,
there may not be more than eight different Interest Periods in effect for all
Revolving Loans.
2.5 Utilization of Commitments in Offshore Currencies. (a) The
Administrative Agent will determine the Dollar Equivalent amount with respect to
(i) any Borrowing comprised of Offshore Currency Loans as of the requested
Borrowing Date, (ii) all outstanding Offshore Currency Loans and L/C Obligations
as of the last Business Day of each month and as of any date on which the
Commitments are reduced pursuant to Section 2.6, and (iii) any outstanding
Offshore Currency Loan or L/C Obligations as of any redenomination date pursuant
to this Section 2.5 or Section 4.2 or 4.5.
(b) In the case of a proposed Borrowing comprised of Offshore
Currency Loans, the Lenders shall be under no obligation to make Offshore
Currency Loans in the requested Offshore Currency as part of such Borrowing if
the Administrative Agent has received notice from any of the Lenders by 4:00
p.m. (Chicago time) four Business Days prior to the day of such Borrowing that
such Lender cannot provide Loans in the requested Offshore Currency, in which
28
event the Administrative Agent will give notice to the related Borrower no later
than 9:00 a.m. (Chicago time) three Business Days prior to the date of the
requested Borrowing that the Borrowing in the requested Offshore Currency is not
then available, and notice thereof also will be given promptly by the
Administrative Agent to the Lenders. If the Administrative Agent shall have so
notified the related Borrower that any such Borrowing in a requested Offshore
Currency is not then available, the related Borrower may, by notice to the
Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) three Business
Days prior to the date of the requested Borrowing, withdraw the Notice of
Borrowing relating to such requested Borrowing. If the related Borrower does so
withdraw such Notice of Borrowing, the Borrowing requested therein shall not
occur and the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify each Lender. If the
related Borrower does not so withdraw such Notice of Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent will promptly so notify each Lender and such Notice of
Borrowing shall be deemed to be a Notice of Borrowing that requests a Borrowing
comprised of Base Rate Loans in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of the
originally requested Borrowing as expressed in U.S. Dollars in the Notice of
Borrowing; and in such notice by the Administrative Agent to each Lender the
Administrative Agent will state such aggregate amount of such Borrowing in U.S.
Dollars and such Lender's Pro Rata Share thereof.
(c) In the case of a proposed continuation of Offshore Currency Loans
for an additional Interest Period pursuant to Section 2.4, the Lenders shall be
under no obligation to continue such Offshore Currency Loans if the
Administrative Agent has received notice from any of the Lenders by 4:00 p.m.
(Chicago time) four Business Days prior to the date of such proposed
continuation that such Lender cannot continue to provide Loans in the relevant
Offshore Currency, in which event the Administrative Agent will give notice to
the related Borrower no later than 9:00 a.m. (Chicago time) three Business Days
prior to the date of such proposed continuation that the continuation of such
Offshore Currency Loans in the relevant Offshore Currency is not then available,
and notice thereof also will be given promptly by the Administrative Agent to
the Lenders. If the Administrative Agent shall have so notified the related
Borrower that any such continuation of Offshore Currency Loans is not then
available, any Notice of Continuation/Conversion with respect thereto shall be
deemed withdrawn and such Offshore Currency Loans shall be repaid on the last
day of the Interest Period with respect to such Offshore Currency Loans.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during the
existence of an Event of Default, upon the request of the Required Lenders, all
or any part of any outstanding Offshore Currency Loans shall be converted into
Overnight Rate Loans (bearing interest at the Overnight Rate plus the Applicable
29
Margin plus 3%) with effect from the last day of the Interest Period with
respect to such Offshore Currency Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly
notify the related Borrowers of any request pursuant to the foregoing sentence.
(e) The Borrowers shall be entitled to request that Revolving Loans
hereunder also be permitted to be made in any other lawful currency, in addition
to the currencies specified in the definition of "Offshore Currency" herein,
that in the opinion of the Lenders is at such time freely traded in the offshore
interbank foreign exchange markets and is freely transferable and freely
convertible into U.S. Dollars (an "Agreed Alternative Currency"). The Borrowers
shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any request for designation of an
Agreed Alternative Currency not later than 12:00 noon (Chicago time) at least
ten Business Days in advance of the date of any Borrowing hereunder proposed to
be made in such Agreed Alternative Currency. Upon receipt of any such request,
the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders thereof, and each
Lender will respond to the Administrative Agent with respect to such request
within three Business Days of receipt thereof. Each Lender may grant or accept
such request in its sole discretion. The Administrative Agent will promptly
notify the Borrowers of the acceptance or rejection of any such request and, if
such request is accepted by all Lenders, such currency shall thereafter
constitute an Offshore Currency for all purposes of this Agreement.
2.6 Reduction or Termination of Commitments.
(a) The Borrowers may, upon not less than three Business Days' prior
notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Commitments in whole, or
permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitment Amount by an aggregate amount of
U.S. $5,000,000 or a higher integral multiple of U.S. $1,000,000; provided that,
after giving effect to any partial reduction of the Aggregate Commitment Amount,
the Aggregate Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment Amount.
(b) Once reduced in accordance with this Section, the Commitments
may not be increased. Any reduction of the Commitments shall be applied to each
Lender's Commitment according to its Pro Rata Share. All accrued facility fees
to, but not including, the effective date of any reduction or termination of
Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such reduction or
termination.
2.7 Prepayments. Subject to Section 4.4, the Borrowers may, at any time
or from time to time, ratably prepay any Borrowing of Revolving Loans in whole
or in part. Each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate Dollar Equivalent
30
principal amount equal to the Minimum Tranche (or, if the Borrowing of Revolving
Loans to be prepaid was made pursuant to Section 2.18 or 3.3 and is not in an
aggregate Dollar Equivalent principal amount equal to the Minimum Tranche, in
such other amount as will cause the aggregate principal Dollar Equivalent
principal amount of such Borrowing of Revolving Loans to be equal to the Minimum
Tranche). The applicable Borrower shall deliver a notice of prepayment in
accordance with Section 12.2 to be received by the Administrative Agent not
later than 11:00 a.m., Chicago time, (i) three Business Days in advance of the
prepayment date if the Loans to be prepaid are Offshore U.S. Dollar Loans, (ii)
four Business Days in advance of the prepayment date if the Loans to be prepaid
are Offshore Currency Loans, and (iii) on the Business Day of such prepayment if
the Loans to be prepaid are Base Rate Loans. Such notice of prepayment shall
specify the Loans to be prepaid and the date and amount of such prepayment. Such
notice shall not thereafter be revocable by the applicable Borrower. The
Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender thereof and of such
Lender's share of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the applicable
Borrower, the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable
on the date specified therein, together with, in the case of Offshore Rate
Loans, accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid and any amounts
required pursuant to Section 4.4. After the Revolving Termination Date, all
prepayments shall be applied to the installments of the Revolving Loans on the
inverse order of the maturity of such installments.
2.8 Currency Exchange Fluctuations. If on any Computation Date (after
giving effect to any Loan or Letter of Credit proposed to be made or issued on
such date and any concurrent repayment of any Obligations) the Administrative
Agent shall have determined that the Aggregate Outstandings exceeds the
Aggregate Commitment Amount by more than U.S. $1,000,000 due to a change in
applicable rates of exchange between U.S. Dollars, on the one hand, and Offshore
Currencies, on the other hand, then the Administrative Agent shall give notice
to Culligan that a prepayment is required under this Section, and the Borrowers
agree thereupon to make prepayments of Loans such that, after giving effect to
such prepayment, the Aggregate Outstandings will not exceed the Aggregate
Commitment Amount. Such prepayments shall be applied, first, to outstanding
Swing Line Loans, second, to outstanding Base Rate Loans and, third, to such
other Revolving Loans as Culligan shall specify. Any such prepayment shall be
subject to Section 4.4.
2.9 Repayment. (a) All Revolving Loans to each Borrower which are
outstanding on the Revolving Termination Date shall be repaid in substantially
equal quarterly installments; it being understood that (i) the number of
installments shall be calculated on the Revolving Termination Date based upon
31
the number of installments which will be required to be paid (determined in
accordance with the immediately following sentence); and (ii) if any Borrower
has Revolving Loans denominated in more than one Applicable Currency, the
installments shall be of a proportionate share of the Revolving Loans of each
such Applicable Currency. Such installments shall be payable on the last day of
July, October, January and April of each year, commencing on the July 31 after
the Revolving Termination Date and continuing until April 30, 2002; provided
that, in any event, all Revolving Loans shall be due and payable in full on the
Maturity Date.
(b) All Swing Line Loans shall be paid in full on the Revolving
Termination Date.
2.10 Interest. (a) Each Revolving Loan shall bear interest on the
outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable Borrowing Date at a
rate per annum equal to (i) the Offshore Rate plus the Applicable Margin or (ii)
the Base Rate, as the case may be. Each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on
the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable Borrowing Date at a
rate per annum equal to the sum of (x) the U.S. Federal Funds Rate as in effect
from time to time plus (y) the Applicable Margin plus (z) 0.10%
(b) Interest on each Loan shall be paid in arrears on each Interest
Payment Date. Interest shall also be paid on the date of any prepayment or
conversion of Offshore Rate Loans for the portion of the Loans so prepaid or
converted. In addition, during the existence of any Event of Default, interest
on the Loans shall be paid on demand of the Administrative Agent at the request
or with the consent of the Required Lenders.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, if any
amount of principal of or interest on any Loan, or any other amount payable
hereunder or under any other Loan Document that is not subject to Section
3.3(d), is not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by
acceleration, demand or otherwise), each Borrower agrees, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, to pay interest on such unpaid principal or other
amount from the date such amount becomes due until the date such amount is paid
in full, after as well as before any entry of judgment thereon, payable on
demand, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of principal due in respect
of any Loan prior to the end of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the rate
otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2%, and (ii) in the case of any other
amount, (x) if such amount is payable in U.S. Dollars, the Base Rate from time
to time in effect plus 2% and (y) if such amount is payable in a currency other
than U.S. Dollars,
32
the Overnight Rate from time to time in effect plus the Applicable Margin for
Offshore Currency Loans from time to time in effect plus 3%.
(d) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligations
of the Borrowers to any Lender hereunder shall be subject to the limitation that
payments of interest shall not be required for any period for which interest is
computed hereunder to the extent (but only to the extent) that contracting for
or receiving such payment by such Lender would be contrary to the provisions of
any law applicable to such Lender limiting the highest rate of interest that may
be lawfully contracted for, charged or received by such Lender, and in such
event the applicable Borrower shall pay such Lender interest at the highest rate
permitted by applicable law.
2.11 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in Section 3.8:
(a) Arrangement, Agency Fees. Culligan shall pay arrangement fees to
the Arranger for the Arranger's own account, and shall pay an agency fee to the
Administrative Agent for the Administrative Agent's own account, as required by
the letter agreement ("Fee Letter") among Culligan, the Arranger and the
Administrative Agent dated March 31, 1997.
(b) Facility Fees. Culligan shall pay to the Administrative Agent for
the account of each Lender a facility fee computed at a rate per annum equal to
the Facility Fee Rate on the average daily amount of such Lender's Commitment
(or, after the Revolving Termination Date, on the aggregate amount of such
Lender's Loans and such Lender's direct or participation interest in all L/C
Obligations) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears on the last Business Day
of each calendar quarter. Such facility fee (i) shall accrue from May 15, 1997
to the later of the Maturity Date and the date on which all Loans and L/C
Borrowings have been repaid in full and (ii) shall be due and payable quarterly
in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter through the
Maturity Date, on the Maturity Date, and thereafter on demand; provided that, in
connection with any reduction of Commitments under Section 2.6, the accrued
facility fee calculated for the period ending on such date shall also be paid on
the date of such reduction, with the following quarterly payment being
calculated on the basis of the period from such reduction date to such quarterly
payment date. The facility fees provided in this subsection shall accrue at all
times after the above-mentioned commencement date, including at any time during
which one or more conditions in Article V are not met.
2.12 Computation of Fees and Interest. (a) All computations of interest for
Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by BofA's "reference rate"
33
shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and
actual days elapsed. All other computations of interest and fees shall be made
on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed; provided that interest
on Offshore Currency Loans denominated in British pounds sterling shall be
calculated on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and
actual days elapsed. Interest and fees shall accrue during each period during
which interest or such fees are computed from the first day thereof to the last
day thereof.
(b) Each determination of an interest rate or a Dollar Equivalent
amount by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive and binding on the
Borrowers and the Lenders in the absence of demonstrable error. The
Administrative Agent will, at the request of the applicable Borrower or any
Lender, deliver to such Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, a statement
showing the quotations used by the Administrative Agent in determining any
interest rate or Dollar Equivalent amount.
2.13 Payments by the Borrowers. (a) All payments to be made by the
Borrowers shall be made without set-off, recoupment or counterclaim. Except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers shall be made
to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders at the Administrative
Agent's Payment Office and (i) with respect to principal of, interest on, and
any other amount relating to any Offshore Currency Loan, shall be made in the
Offshore Currency in which such Loan is denominated or payable, and (ii) with
respect to all other amounts payable hereunder, shall be made in U.S. Dollars.
Such payments shall be made in Same Day Funds and (x) in the case of Offshore
Currency payments, no later than such time on the dates specified herein as may
be determined by the Administrative Agent (and advised in writing to the related
Borrower) to be necessary for such payment to be credited on such date in
accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment, and (y) in
the case of any U.S. Dollar payments, no later than 12:00 noon (Chicago time) on
the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to
each Lender its share of such payment in like funds as received. Any payment
received by the Administrative Agent later than the time specified in clause (x)
or (y) above, as applicable, shall be deemed to have been received on the
following Business Day, and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to
accrue.
(b) Whenever any payment is due on a day other than a Business Day,
such payment shall be made on the following Business Day (unless, in the case of
an Offshore Rate Loan, the following Business Day is the first Business Day of a
calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made on the
34
preceding Business Day), and such extension of time shall be included in the
computation of interest or fees, as the case may be.
(c) Unless the Administrative Agent receives notice from the
applicable Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders
that such Borrower will not make such payment in full as and when required, the
Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full
to the Administrative Agent on such date in Same Day Funds and the
Administrative Agent may (but shall not be required to), in reliance upon such
assumption, distribute to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the
amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent the applicable Borrower has
not made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent, each Lender shall
repay to the Administrative Agent on demand such amount distributed to such
Lender, together with interest thereon at (i) in the case of a payment in an
Offshore Currency, the Overnight Rate, or (ii) in the case of a payment in U.S.
Dollars, the U.S. Federal Funds Rate, in each case for each day from the date
such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date repaid.
2.14 Payments by the Lenders to the Administrative Agent. (a) Unless the
Administrative Agent receives notice from a Lender on or prior to the Closing
Date or, with respect to any Borrowing of Revolving Loans after the Closing
Date, at least one Business Day prior to the date of such Borrowing, that such
Lender will not make available as and when required hereunder to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Borrower the amount of
such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may
assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative
Agent in Same Day Funds on the Borrowing Date and the Administrative Agent may
(but shall not be required to), in reliance upon such assumption, make available
to the applicable Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the
extent any Lender shall not have made its full amount available to the
Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds and the Administrative Agent in such
circumstances has made available to the applicable Borrower such amount, such
Lender shall on the Business Day following such Borrowing Date make such amount
available to the Administrative Agent, together with interest at (i) in the case
of a payment in an Offshore Currency, the Overnight Rate, and (ii) in the case
of a payment in U.S. Dollars, at the U.S. Federal Funds Rate, in each case for
each day during such period. A notice of the Administrative Agent submitted to
any Lender with respect to amounts owing under this subsection (a) shall be
conclusive, absent demonstrable error. If such amount is so made available, such
payment to the Administrative Agent shall constitute such Lender's Loan on the
date of Borrowing for all purposes of this Agreement. If
35
such amount is not made available to the Administrative Agent on the Business
Day following the Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent will notify the
related Borrower of such failure to fund and, upon demand by the Administrative
Agent, the related Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent
for the Administrative Agent's account, together with interest thereon for each
day elapsed since the date of such Borrowing, at a rate per annum equal to the
interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing.
(b) The failure of any Lender to make any Loan on any Borrowing Date
shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder (if any) to make
a Loan on such Borrowing Date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the
failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on
any Borrowing Date.
2.15 Sharing of Payments. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere
herein, any Lender shall obtain any payment or other recovery (whether
voluntary, involuntary, by application of offset, enforcement of security or
otherwise) on account of principal of or interest on any Loan or L/C Advance or
any participation therein or its participation in any Letter of Credit in excess
of its Pro Rata Share of the payments and recoveries received by all Lenders,
such Lender shall purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the
Loans and L/C Advances held by them (and, if applicable, such sub-participations
in the Letters of Credit) as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender
to share the excess payment or other recovery ratably with each of them so that
each Lender has received its Pro Rata Share of all such payments and recoveries;
provided, however, that if all or any portion of the excess payment or other
recovery is subsequently recovered from such purchasing Lender, the purchase
shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such
subsequent recovery, but without interest.
2.16 Swing Line Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Swing Line Lender agrees to make loans to Culligan on a revolving
basis (each such loan, a "Swing Line Loan") from time to time on any Business
Day during the period from the Closing Date to the Revolving Termination Date in
an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed U.S.
$5,000,000; provided, however, that, after giving effect to any proposed Swing
Line Loan, (a) the aggregate amount of all Swing Line Loans plus the aggregate
amount of all "Swing Line Loans" under and as defined in the Long-Term Credit
Agreement shall not exceed $5,000,000; and (b) the Aggregate Outstandings shall
not exceed the Aggregate Commitment Amount.
36
2.17 Borrowing Procedures for Swing Line Loans. Culligan shall provide a
Notice of Borrowing or telephonic notice (followed by a confirming Notice of
Borrowing) to the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender of each
proposed borrowing pursuant to Section 2.16 not later than 12:00 noon (Chicago
time) on the proposed Borrowing Date. Each such notice shall be effective upon
receipt by the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender and shall specify
the date and the principal amount of borrowing. Unless the Swing Line Lender has
received written notice prior to 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the proposed
Borrowing Date from the Administrative Agent or any Lender that one or more of
the conditions precedent set forth in Article V with respect to such borrowing
is not then satisfied, the Swing Line Lender shall pay over the requested
principal amount to Culligan on the requested Borrowing Date in Same Day Funds.
Each Swing Line Loan shall be made on a Business Day and shall be in the amount
of at least U.S. $500,000 and an integral multiple of U.S. $100,000. The Swing
Line Lender will promptly notify the Administrative Agent of the making and
amount of each Swing Line Loan.
2.18 Prepayment or Refunding of Swing Line Loans. (a) Culligan may, at any
time and from time to time, prepay any Swing Line Loan in whole or in part, in
an amount of at least U.S. $500,000 and an integral multiple of U.S. $100,000.
Culligan shall deliver a notice of prepayment in accordance with Section 12.2 to
be received by the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender not later than
11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the Business Day of such prepayment, specifying the
date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by Culligan, the
payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date
specified therein.
(b) The Swing Line Lender may, at any time in its sole and absolute
discretion, on behalf of Culligan (which hereby irrevocably directs the Swing
Line Lender to act on its behalf), request each Lender to make a Revolving Loan
in an amount equal to such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the principal amount of
the Swing Line Loans outstanding on the date such notice is given. Unless any of
the events described in subsection 9.1(f) or (g) shall have occurred (in which
event the procedures of Section 2.19 shall apply), and regardless of whether the
conditions precedent set forth in this Agreement to the making of a Revolving
Loan are then satisfied or the aggregate amount of such Revolving Loans is not
in the minimum or integral amount otherwise required hereunder, each Lender
shall make the proceeds of its Revolving Loan available to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent's
Payment Office prior to 12:00 noon (Chicago time) in Same Day Funds on the
Business Day next succeeding the date such notice is given. The proceeds of such
Revolving Loans shall be immediately applied to repay the outstanding
37
Swing Line Loans. All Revolving Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.18 shall
be Base Rate Loans (but, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, may
be converted to Offshore Rate Loans).
2.19 Participations in Swing Line Loans. (a) If an event described in
subsection 9.1(f) or (g) occurs (or for any reason the Lenders may not make
Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.18), each Lender will, upon notice from
the Administrative Agent, purchase from the Swing Line Lender (and the Swing
Line Lender will sell to each Lender) an undivided participation interest in all
outstanding Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the
outstanding principal amount of the Swing Line Loans (and each Lender will
immediately transfer to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swing
Line Lender, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participation).
(b) Whenever, at any time after the Swing Line Lender has received payment
for any Lender's participation interest in the Swing Line Loans pursuant to
subsection 2.19(a), the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account
thereof, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to the Administrative Agent for
the account of such Lender its participation interest in such amount
(appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period
of time during which such Lender's participation interest was outstanding and
funded) in like funds as received; provided, however, that in the event that
such payment received by the Swing Line Lender is required to be returned, such
Lender will return to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line
Lender any portion thereof previously distributed by the Swing Line Lender to it
in like funds as such payment is required to be returned by the Swing Line
Lender.
2.20 Participation Obligations Unconditional. (a) Each Lender's obligation
to make Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.18 and/or to purchase
participation interests in Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.19 shall be
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance
whatsoever, including (a) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or
other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, any Loan
Party or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (b) the occurrence or
continuance of an Event of Default; (c) any adverse change in the condition
(financial or otherwise) of any Loan Party or any other Person; (d) any breach
of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any Loan Party or any other
Lender; (e) any inability of any Loan Party to satisfy the conditions precedent
to borrowing set forth in this Agreement on the date upon which any Loan is to
be refunded or any participation interest therein is to be purchased;
38
or (f) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not
similar to any of the foregoing.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.20(a), no Lender shall
be required to make any Revolving Loan to Culligan to refund a Swing Line Loan
pursuant to Section 2.18 or to purchase a participation interest in a Swing Line
Loan pursuant to Section 2.19 if, prior to the making by the Swing Line Lender
of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender received written notice from any
Lender specifying that such Lender believes in good faith that one or more of
the conditions precedent to the making of such Swing Line Loan were not
satisfied and, in fact, such conditions precedent were not satisfied at the time
of the making of such Swing Line Loan; provided that the obligation of such
Lender to make such Revolving Loans and to purchase such participation interests
shall be reinstated upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which such
Lender notifies the Swing Line Lender that its prior notice has been withdrawn
and (ii) the date on which all conditions precedent to the making of such Swing
Line Loan have been satisfied (or waived by the Required Lenders or all Lenders,
as applicable).
2.21 Conditions to Swing Line Loans. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, the Swing Line Lender shall not be obligated to make any Swing
Line Loan if an Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists or would
result therefrom.
2.22 Designation of Borrowing Subsidiaries. Culligan may from time to
time designate any Foreign Subsidiary of Culligan as a "Borrowing Subsidiary"
hereunder by causing such Foreign Subsidiary to execute and deliver a duly
completed Assumption Letter to the Administrative Agent, with the written
consent of Culligan at the foot thereof. Upon such execution, delivery and
consent, such Foreign Subsidiary shall for all purposes be a party hereto as a
Borrowing Subsidiary as fully as if it had executed and delivered this
Agreement. So long as the principal of and interest on all Loans made to any
Borrowing Subsidiary under this Agreement shall have been paid in full and all
other obligations of such Borrowing Subsidiary hereunder shall have been fully
performed, such Borrowing Subsidiary may, by not less than five Business Days'
prior notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the
Lenders thereof), terminate its status as a "Borrowing Subsidiary" hereunder.
2.23 Extension of Revolving Termination Date. Not more than 60 nor less
than 30 days prior to the then-scheduled Revolving Termination Date, Culligan
may, at its option, request that the scheduled Revolving Termination Date be
extended for an additional 364 days by means of a letter, addressed to
39
the Administrative Agent and each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit
J. Each Lender consenting (in its sole and complete discretion) so to extend the
scheduled Revolving Termination Date shall deliver signed counterparts of such
letter to Culligan and the Administrative Agent no later than 21 days after the
date of such request by Culligan. Any Lender which does not deliver such
counterparts by the 21st day after such request shall be deemed to have declined
to extend the scheduled Revolving Termination Date. If all Lenders consent to
the requested extension of the scheduled Revolving Termination Date, the
scheduled Revolving Termination Date shall be extended for an additional 364
days on the previously-scheduled Revolving Termination Date (and the
Administrative Agent shall notify Culligan and the Lenders of such extension).
If all Lenders do not consent to the requested extension of the scheduled
Revolving Termination Date, the scheduled Revolving Termination Date shall not
be extended.
ARTICLE III
THE LETTERS OF CREDIT
---------------------
40
3.1 The Letter of Credit Subfacility. (a) On the terms and conditions set
forth herein, (i) the Issuing Lender agrees, (A) from time to time, on any
Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the day which is 30 days
prior to the scheduled Revolving Termination Date, to issue Letters of Credit
for the account of Culligan (or, if a Letter of Credit is for the account of a
Subsidiary of Culligan, jointly for the account of Culligan and such Subsidiary
of Culligan), and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it,
in accordance with subsections 3.2(c) and 3.2(d), and (B) to honor properly
drawn drafts under Letters of Credit; and (ii) the Lenders severally agree to
participate in Letters of Credit Issued for the account of Culligan (including
any Letter of Credit issued jointly for the account of Culligan and any
Subsidiary of Culligan); provided that the Issuing Lender shall not be obligated
to Issue, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in, any Letter of
Credit if as of the date of Issuance of such Letter of Credit (the "Issuance
Date") (1) the Aggregate Outstandings will exceed the Aggregate Commitment
Amount, (2) the participation of such Lender in the Effective Amount of all L/C
Obligations plus (without duplication) the outstanding principal Dollar
Equivalent amount of the Revolving Loans of such Lender plus such Lender's Pro
Rata Share of all Swing Line Loans will exceed such Lender's Commitment, or (3)
the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations will exceed the L/C Commitment.
Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions
hereof, Culligan's ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving,
and, accordingly, Culligan may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of
Credit to replace Letters of Credit which have expired or which have been drawn
upon and reimbursed.
(b) The Issuing Lender shall be under no obligation to Issue any
Letter of Credit if:
(i) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority
or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the Issuing
Lender from Issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Requirement of Law
applicable to the Issuing Lender or any request or directive (whether or
not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with
jurisdiction over the Issuing Lender shall prohibit, or request that the
Issuing Lender refrain from, the Issuance of letters of credit generally or
such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Issuing Lender
with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital
requirement (for which the Issuing Lender is not otherwise compensated
hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the
Issuing Lender any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not
applicable on the Closing Date and which the Issuing Lender in good ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ material to it;
41
(ii) the Issuing Lender has received written notice from any
Lender, the Administrative Agent or Culligan, on or prior to the Business
Day prior to the requested date of Issuance of such Letter of Credit, that
one or more of the applicable conditions contained in Article V is not then
satisfied;
(iii) the expiry date of any requested Letter of Credit is on or
after the 30th day preceding the scheduled Revolving Termination Date;
(iv) any requested Letter of Credit does not provide for
drafts, or is not otherwise in form and substance acceptable to the Issuing
Lender, or the Issuance of a Letter of Credit shall violate any applicable
policy of the Issuing Lender; or
(v) such Letter of Credit is denominated in a currency other
than U.S. Dollars or an Offshore Currency.
3.2 Issuance, Amendment and Renewal of Letters of Credit. (a) Each Letter
of Credit shall be Issued upon the irrevocable written request of Culligan (or,
if a Letter of Credit is for the joint account of Culligan and a Subsidiary of
Culligan, of Culligan and such Subsidiary) received by the Issuing Lender (with
a copy sent by Culligan to the Administrative Agent) at least five Business Days
(or such shorter time as the Issuing Lender may agree in a particular instance
in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed date of Issuance. Each such
request for Issuance of a Letter of Credit that is not subject to subsection
3.2(c) or 3.2(d) shall be by facsimile, confirmed immediately in an original
writing, in the form of an L/C Application, and shall specify in form and detail
satisfactory to the Issuing Lender: (i) the proposed date of Issuance of the
Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (ii) the face amount of the
Letter of Credit; (iii) the expiry date of the Letter of Credit; (iv) the name
and address of the beneficiary thereof; (v) the documents to be presented by the
beneficiary of the Letter of Credit in case of any drawing thereunder; (vi) the
full text of any certificate to be presented by the beneficiary in case of any
drawing thereunder; and (vii) such other matters as the Issuing Lender may
require.
42
(b) At least two Business Days prior to the Issuance of any Letter of
Credit, the Issuing Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by
telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of
the L/C Application or L/C Amendment Application from Culligan and, if not, the
Issuing Lender will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless
the Issuing Lender has received, on or before the Business Day immediately
preceding the date the Issuing Lender is to Issue a requested Letter of Credit,
(A) notice from the Administrative Agent directing the Issuing Lender not to
Issue such Letter of Credit because such Issuance is not then permitted under
subsection 3.1(a) as a result of the limitations set forth in clauses (1)
through (3) thereof or (B) a notice described in subsection 3.1(b)(ii), then,
subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Issuing Lender shall, on the
requested date, Issue a Letter of Credit for the account of Culligan (or jointly
for the account of Culligan and the applicable Subsidiary) in accordance with
the Issuing Lender's usual and customary business practices.
(c) From time to time while a Letter of Credit is outstanding and
prior to the Revolving Termination Date, the Issuing Lender will, upon the
written request of Culligan or, if a Letter of Credit is for the joint account
of Culligan and a Subsidiary of Culligan, of Culligan and such Subsidiary
received by the Issuing Lender (with a copy sent by Culligan to the
Administrative Agent) at least five Business Days (or such shorter time as the
Issuing Lender may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion) prior
to the proposed date of amendment, amend any Letter of Credit Issued by it. Each
such request for amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be made by facsimile,
confirmed immediately in an original writing, made in the form of an L/C
Amendment Application and shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the
Issuing Lender: (i) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (ii) the proposed date
of amendment of the Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (iii) the
nature of the proposed amendment; and (iv) such other matters as the Issuing
Lender may require. The Issuing Lender shall be under no obligation to amend any
Letter of Credit if: (A) the Issuing Lender would have no obligation at such
time to Issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms of this
Agreement; or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the
proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent will
promptly notify the Lenders of the receipt by it of any L/C Application or L/C
Amendment Application.
(d) The Issuing Lender and the Lenders agree that, while a Letter of
Credit is outstanding and prior to the Revolving Termination Date, at the option
of Culligan and upon the written request of Culligan or, if a Letter of Credit
is for the joint account of Culligan and a Subsidiary of Culligan, of
43
Culligan and such Subsidiary received by the Issuing Lender (with a copy sent by
Culligan to the Administrative Agent) at least five Business Days (or such
shorter time as the Issuing Lender may agree in a particular instance in its
sole discretion) prior to the proposed date of notification of renewal, the
Issuing Lender shall be entitled to authorize the renewal of any Letter of
Credit issued by it. Each such request for renewal of a Letter of Credit shall
be made by facsimile, confirmed immediately in an original writing, in the form
of an L/C Amendment Application, and shall specify in form and detail
satisfactory to the Issuing Lender: (i) the Letter of Credit to be renewed; (ii)
the proposed date of notification of renewal of the Letter of Credit (which
shall be a Business Day); (iii) the revised expiry date of the Letter of Credit;
and (iv) such other matters as the Issuing Lender may require. The Issuing
Lender shall be under no obligation so to renew any Letter of Credit if: (A) the
Issuing Lender would have no obligation at such time to Issue or amend such
Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms of this Agreement; or (B)
the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed renewal of
such Letter of Credit. If any outstanding Letter of Credit shall provide that it
shall be automatically renewed unless the beneficiary thereof receives notice
from the Issuing Lender that such Letter of Credit shall not be renewed, and if
at the time of renewal the Issuing Lender would be entitled to authorize the
automatic renewal of such Letter of Credit in accordance with this subsection
3.2(d) upon the request of Culligan but the Issuing Lender shall not have
received any L/C Amendment Application from Culligan (or Culligan and a
Subsidiary of Culligan, as the case may be) with respect to such renewal or
other written direction by Culligan with respect thereto, the Issuing Lender
shall nonetheless be permitted to allow such Letter of Credit to renew, and
Culligan (and, if applicable, such Subsidiary) and the Lenders hereby authorize
such renewal, and, accordingly, the Issuing Lender shall be deemed to have
received an L/C Amendment Application from Culligan (or Culligan and such
Subsidiary) requesting such renewal.
(e) The Issuing Lender may, at its election (or as required by the
Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders), deliver any
notices of termination or other communications to any Letter of Credit
beneficiary or transferee, and take any other action as necessary or
appropriate, at any time and from time to time, in order to cause the expiry
date of such Letter of Credit to be a date not later than the 30th day prior to
the scheduled Revolving Termination Date.
(f) This Agreement shall control in the event of any conflict with
any L/C-Related Document (other than any Letter of Credit).
44
(g) The Issuing Lender will also deliver to the Administrative Agent,
concurrently or promptly following its delivery of a Letter of Credit, or
amendment to or renewal of a Letter of Credit, to an advising bank or a
beneficiary, a true and complete copy of each such Letter of Credit or amendment
to or renewal of a Letter of Credit.
3.3 Risk Participations, Drawings and Reimbursements. (a) Immediately upon
the Issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Issuing
Lender a participation in such Letter of Credit, each drawing thereunder and
each L/C Borrowing with respect thereto in an amount equal to the product of (i)
the Pro Rata Share of such Lender times (ii) the maximum amount available to be
drawn under such Letter of Credit, the amount of such drawing and the amount of
such L/C Borrowing, respectively.
(b) In the event of any request for a drawing under a Letter of
Credit by the beneficiary or transferee thereof, the Issuing Lender will
promptly notify Culligan. Culligan shall reimburse the Issuing Lender prior to
9:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on each date that any amount is paid by the Issuing
Lender under any Letter of Credit (each such date, an "Honor Date") in an amount
equal to the amount so paid by the Issuing Lender. If Culligan fails to
reimburse the Issuing Lender for the full amount of any drawing under any Letter
of Credit by 9:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the Honor Date, the Issuing Lender will
promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent will
promptly notify each Lender thereof, and Culligan shall be deemed to have
requested that Revolving Loans (which shall be Base Rate Loans (if in U.S.
Dollars) or Offshore Currency Loans accruing interest at the Overnight Rate plus
the Applicable Margin) be made by the Lenders to be disbursed on the Honor Date
under such Letter of Credit, subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of
the Aggregate Commitment Amount and subject to the condition that no Event of
Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists under Section 9.1(f) or (g). Any
notice given by the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this
subsection 3.3(b) may be oral if immediately confirmed in writing (including by
facsimile); provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not
affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
(c) Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to subsection 3.3(b)
make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender
an amount in U.S. Dollars or the applicable Offshore Currency and in Same Day
Funds equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount of the drawing, whereupon the
participating Lenders shall (subject to subsection 3.3(d)) each be deemed to
have made a Revolving Loan to Culligan in that amount bearing
45
interest at the Base Rate or, if in an Offshore Currency, at the Overnight Rate
plus the Applicable Margin. If any Lender so notified fails to make available to
the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of
such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the amount of the drawing by no later than 11:00
a.m. (Chicago time) on the Honor Date, then interest shall accrue on such
Lender's obligation to make such payment, from the Honor Date to the date such
Lender makes such payment, at a rate per annum equal to the U.S. Federal Funds
Rate or the Overnight Rate (as applicable) in effect from time to time during
such period. The Administrative Agent will promptly give notice of the
occurrence of the Honor Date, but failure of the Administrative Agent to give
any such notice on the Honor Date or in sufficient time to enable any Lender to
effect such payment on such date shall not relieve such Lender from its
obligations under this Section 3.3, except that such Lender's obligation to pay
interest pursuant to this subsection 3.3(c) shall accrue only from the date on
which it receives such notice from the Administrative Agent.
(d) With respect to any unreimbursed drawing that is not converted
into Revolving Loans to Culligan in whole or in part, because of Culligan's
failure to satisfy the condition that no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of
Default exists under Section 9.1(f) or (g) or for any other reason, Culligan
shall be deemed to have incurred from the Issuing Lender an L/C Borrowing in the
amount of such drawing, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand
(together with interest) and shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to
(if in U.S. Dollars) the Base Rate plus 2% per annum or the Overnight Rate plus
the Applicable Margin plus 3% per annum (if in an Offshore Currency) and each
Lender's payment to the Issuing Lender pursuant to subsection 3.3(c) shall be
deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall
constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation
obligation under this Section 3.3.
(e) Each Lender's obligation in accordance with this Agreement to
make the Revolving Loans or L/C Advances, as contemplated by this Section 3.3,
as a result of a drawing under a Letter of Credit, shall be absolute and
unconditional and without recourse to the Issuing Lender and shall not be
affected by any circumstance, including (i) any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the
Issuing Lender, Culligan or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (ii) the
occurrence or continuance of an Event of Default, an Unmatured Event of Default
or a Material Adverse Effect; or (iii) any other circumstance, happening or
event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that
each Lender's obligation to make Revolving Loans under this Section 3.3 is
46
subject to the condition that no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default
exists under Section 9.1(f) or (g).
3.4 Repayment of Participations. (a) Upon (and only upon) receipt by the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender of Same Day Funds (i)
in reimbursement of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under a Letter of
Credit with respect to which any Lender has paid the Administrative Agent for
the account of the Issuing Lender for such Lender's participation in such Letter
of Credit pursuant to Section 3.3 or (ii) in payment of interest thereon, the
Administrative Agent will pay to each Lender, in the same funds as those
received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender, the
amount of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of such funds, and the Issuing Lender
shall receive the amount of the Pro Rata Share of such funds of any Lender that
did not so pay the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender.
(b) If the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender is required at
any time to return to Culligan, or to a trustee, receiver, liquidator or
custodian therefor, or any official in any Insolvency Proceeding, any portion of
any payment made by Culligan to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
Issuing Lender pursuant to subsection 3.4(a) in reimbursement of a payment made
under any Letter of Credit or interest or fee thereon, each Lender shall, on
demand of the Administrative Agent, forthwith return to the Administrative Agent
or the Issuing Lender the amount of its Pro Rata Share of any amount so returned
by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender plus interest thereon from the
date such demand is made to the date such amount is returned by such Lender to
the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the
U.S. Federal Funds Rate (if in U.S. Dollars) or the Overnight Rate (if in an
Offshore Currency) in effect from time to time.
3.5 Role of the Issuing Lender. (a) Each Lender and Culligan agree
that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall
not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft
and certificates or other documents expressly required by such Letter of Credit)
or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document
or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document.
(b) No Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents,
participants or assignees of the Issuing Lender shall be liable to any Lender
for: (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or
with the approval of the Lenders (or the Required Lenders, as applicable); (ii)
any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or
47
willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or
enforceability of any L/C-Related Document.
(c) Culligan (and any applicable Subsidiary of Culligan) hereby
assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with
respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided that this assumption is not
intended to, and shall not, preclude Culligan's or such Subsidiary's pursuing
such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at
law or under any other agreement. No Agent-Related Person, nor any of the
respective correspondents, participants or assignees of the Issuing Lender,
shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i)
through (vi) of Section 3.6; provided that, anything in such clauses to the
contrary notwithstanding, Culligan (or any applicable Subsidiary) may have a
claim against the Issuing Lender, and the Issuing Lender may be liable to
Culligan (or such Subsidiary), to the extent, but only to the extent, of any
direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by Culligan
(or such Subsidiary) which Culligan (or such Subsidiary) proves were caused by
the Issuing Lender's willful misconduct or gross negligence or the Issuing
Lender's willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the
presentation to it by the beneficiary or transferee of a sight draft and
certificates or other documents strictly complying with the terms and conditions
of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing:
(i) the Issuing Lender may accept documents that appear on their face to be in
order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any
notice or information to the contrary; and (ii) the Issuing Lender shall not be
responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or
assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights
or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove
to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.
3.6 Obligations Absolute. The obligations of Culligan under this
Agreement and any L/C-Related Document to reimburse the Issuing Lender for a
drawing under a Letter of Credit, and to repay any L/C Borrowing and any drawing
under a Letter of Credit converted into Loans, shall be unconditional and
irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and each such other L/C-Related Document under all circumstances,
including the following:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement or
any L/C-Related Document;
(ii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right
that Culligan or any other applicant may have at any time against any
48
beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Person for
whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the
Issuing Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this
Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by the L/C-Related
Documents or any unrelated transaction;
(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented
under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or
insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or
inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or
otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under any
Letter of Credit;
(iv) any payment by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of
Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate or other document
that does not strictly comply with the terms of any Letter of Credit; or
any payment made by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit to any
Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession,
assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other
representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of any
Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any Insolvency
Proceeding;
(v) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral,
or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any
guarantee, for all or any of the obligations of Culligan or any other
applicant in respect of any Letter of Credit; or
(vi) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or
not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that
might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of,
Culligan, any other applicant or a guarantor.
3.7 Cash Collateral Pledge. If any Letter of Credit remains outstanding
and partially or wholly undrawn as of the 30th day prior to the scheduled
Revolving Termination Date, then Culligan shall immediately, upon written demand
therefor by the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent, Cash Collateralize
the L/C Obligations in an amount equal to the maximum amount then available to
be drawn under all Letters of Credit.
3.8 Letter of Credit Fees. (a) Culligan shall pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of each of the Lenders ratably according to their
respective
49
Pro Rata Shares a letter of credit fee with respect to each Letter of Credit at
a rate per annum equal to the L/C Fee Rate (as in effect from time to time) on
the average daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of
Credit, computed on a quarterly basis in arrears on the last Business Day of
each calendar quarter and on the Revolving Termination Date (or such later date
on which such Letter of Credit has expired or been terminated).
(b) Culligan shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of
the Issuing Lender a letter of credit fronting fee for each Letter of Credit
Issued by the Issuing Lender at the rate per annum set forth in the Fee Letter
on the average daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of
Credit, computed on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and on the
Revolving Termination Date (or such later date on which such Letter of Credit
has expired or been terminated).
(c) The letter of credit fees payable under subsection 3.8(a) and the
fronting fees payable under subsection 3.8(b) shall be due and payable quarterly
in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter during which
Letters of Credit are outstanding, commencing on the first such quarterly date
to occur after the Closing Date, through the Revolving Termination Date (or such
later date upon which all outstanding Letters of Credit have expired or been
terminated), with the final payment to be made on the Revolving Termination Date
(or such later expiration or termination date).
(d) Culligan shall pay to the Issuing Lender from time to time on
demand the normal and customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other
processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the Issuing Lender
relating generally to letters of credit issued by it as are from time to time in
effect.
3.9 Uniform Customs and Practice. The Uniform Customs and Practice for
Documentary Credits as published by the International Chamber of Commerce most
recently at the time of issuance of any Letter of Credit shall (unless otherwise
expressly provided in such Letter of Credit) apply to such Letter of Credit.
3.10 Letters of Credit for the Account of Subsidiaries. The obligations
of Culligan and any Subsidiary with respect to any Letter of Credit which is
issued jointly for the account of Culligan and such Subsidiary shall be joint
and several.
50
ARTICLE IV
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
--------------------------------------
4.1 Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by any Borrower to any Lender or the
Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be
made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for, any Taxes. In
addition, the applicable Borrower shall pay all Other Taxes.
(b) Each Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Lender
and the Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes
(including any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts
payable under this Section) paid by such Lender or the Administrative Agent as a
result of the execution and delivery of any Loan Document or any payment made by
such Borrower to such Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder, and any
liability (including penalties, interest, additions to tax and expenses) arising
therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were
correctly or legally asserted; provided that if such Lender or the
Administrative Agent determines in its reasonable discretion and in good faith
that it has received a refund or credit of such Taxes or such Other Taxes (or of
any liability, including penalties, interest, additions to tax and reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses, arising therefrom or with respect thereto), then such
Lender or the Administrative Agent shall promptly repay the applicable Borrower
to the extent of such refund or credit; provided, further, that if, due to any
adjustment of such Taxes or Other Taxes (or of any liability, including
penalties, interest, additions to tax and expenses, arising therefrom or with
respect thereto) such Lender or the Administrative Agent loses the benefit of
all or any portion of such refund or credit, the applicable Borrower will
indemnify and hold harmless such Lender or the Administrative Agent in
accordance with this subsection. Payment under this indemnification shall be
made within 30 days after the date such Lender or the Administrative Agent makes
written demand therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Borrower shall be
obligated to indemnify the Administrative Agent or any lender to the extent that
the amount claimed by such Person would not have been required to be paid by
such Person absent the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Person.
(c) If any Borrower shall be required by law to deduct or withhold
any Taxes or Other Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any
Lender or the Administrative Agent, then:
(i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that
after making all required deductions and withholdings (including
51
deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under
this Section) such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be,
receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
deductions or withholdings been made;
(ii) such Borrower shall make such deductions and withholdings;
and
(iii) such Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted or
withheld to the relevant taxing authority or other authority in accordance
with applicable law.
(d) Within 30 days after the date of any payment by a Borrower of
Taxes or Other Taxes, such Borrower shall furnish the Administrative Agent the
original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or other
evidence of payment satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) If any Borrower is required to pay additional amounts to any
Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this
Section, then such Lender or the Administrative Agent shall use reasonable
efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the
jurisdiction of its Lending Office or take other appropriate action so as to
eliminate or minimize any such additional payment by such Borrower which may
thereafter accrue, if such change or other action in the judgment of such Lender
or the Administrative Agent is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender or
the Administrative Agent.
(f) (i) Each Lender which is a foreign person (i.e., a person other
than a United States person for United States Federal income tax purposes)
agrees that:
(A) it shall, no later than the Closing Date (or, in the case of a
Lender which becomes a party hereto after the Closing Date, the date upon which
such Lender becomes a party hereto) deliver to the Administrative Agent and to
the Borrowers through the Administrative Agent two accurate and complete signed
originals of Internal Revenue Service Form 4224 or any successor thereto ("Form
4224"), or two accurate and complete signed originals of Internal Revenue
Service Form 1001 or any successor thereto ("Form 1001"), as appropriate, in
each case indicating that such Lender is on the date of delivery thereof
entitled to receive payments of principal, interest and fees under this
Agreement free from withholding of United States Federal income tax;
52
(B) if at any time such Lender makes any changes necessitating a new
Form 4224 or Form 1001, it shall with reasonable promptness deliver to the
Administrative Agent and to the Borrowers through the Administrative Agent in
replacement for, or in addition to, the forms previously delivered by it
hereunder, two accurate and complete signed originals of Form 4224 or Form 1001,
as appropriate, in each case indicating that such Lender is on the date of
delivery thereof entitled to receive payments of principal, interest and fees
under this Agreement free from withholding of United States Federal income tax;
(C) it shall, before or promptly after the occurrence of any event
(including the passing of time (and in any event (x) in the case of a Form 4224,
before the payment of any interest in the each succeeding taxable year of such
Lender after the Closing Date during which interest may be paid under this
Agreement, and (y) in the case of a Form 1001, before the payment of any
interest in each third succeeding calendar year after the Closing Date during
which interest may be paid under this Agreement) but excluding any event
mentioned in clause (B) above) requiring a change in or renewal of the most
recent Form 4224 or Form 1001 previously delivered by such Lender, deliver to
the Administrative Agent and to the Borrowers through the Administrative Agent
two accurate and complete original signed copies of Form 4224 or Form 1001 in
replacement for the forms previously delivered by such Lender; and
(D) it shall, promptly upon Culligan's or the Administrative Agent's
reasonable request to that effect, deliver to the Borrowers or the
Administrative Agent (as the case may be) such other forms or similar
documentation as may be required from time to time by any applicable law,
treaty, rule or regulation in order to establish such Lender's tax status for
withholding purposes, including Internal Revenue Form W-8 or any successor
thereto.
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection (f)
or any other provision of this Section 4.1, no Lender shall be required to
deliver any form pursuant to this Section 4.1 if such Lender is not legally
permitted to deliver such form as a result of a change in any Requirement of Law
after the date of this Agreement.
(g) The Borrowers will not be required to pay any additional amount
in respect of United States Federal tax pursuant to this Section 4.1 to any
Lender or to the Administrative Agent with respect to any Lender:
53
(A) if the obligation to pay such additional amount would not
have arisen but for a failure by such Lender to comply with its obligations
under subsection 4.1(f)(i) or Section 10.10;
(B) if such Lender shall have delivered to the Borrowers a Form
4224 in respect of its applicable Lending Office pursuant to subsection
4.1(f)(i) and such Lender shall not at any time be entitled to exemption
from deduction or withholding of United States Federal income tax in
respect of payments by the Borrowers hereunder for the account of such
Lending Office for any reason other than a change in United States law or
regulations or in the official interpretation of such law or regulations by
any Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof (whether or not having the force of law) after the
date of delivery of such Form 4224; or
(C) if such Lender shall have delivered to the Borrowers a Form
1001 in respect of its applicable Lending Office pursuant to subsection
4.1(f)(i) and such Lender shall not at any time be entitled to exemption
from deduction or withholding of United States Federal income tax in
respect of payments by the Borrowers hereunder for the account of such
Lending Office for any reason other than a change in United States law or
regulations or any applicable tax treaty or regulations or in the official
interpretation of any such law, treaty or regulations by any Governmental
Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof
(whether or not having the force of law) after the date of delivery of such
Form 1001.
(h) If, at any time, the Borrowers request any Lender to deliver any
forms or other documentation pursuant to subsection 4.1(f)(i)(D), then the
Borrowers shall, on demand of such Lender through the Administrative Agent,
reimburse such Lender for any reasonable costs and expenses (including Attorney
Costs) incurred by such Lender in the preparation or delivery of such forms or
other documentation.
4.2 Illegality. (a) If any Lender reasonably determines that the
introduction of any Requirement of Law, or any change in any Requirement of Law,
or in the interpretation or administration of any Requirement of Law, has made
it unlawful, or that any central bank or other Governmental Authority has
asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable Lending Office
to make Offshore Rate Loans in any Applicable Currency, then, on notice
54
thereof by the Lender to the applicable Borrower through the Administrative
Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make Offshore Rate Loans in such
Applicable Currency shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the
Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower that the circumstances giving
rise to such determination no longer exist. Such Lender shall give prompt
written notice to Culligan and the Administrative Agent when the circumstances
giving rise to such determination no longer exist.
(b) If a Lender reasonably determines that it is unlawful to maintain
any Offshore Rate Loan in any Applicable Currency, the applicable Borrower
shall, upon its receipt of notice of such fact and demand from such Lender (with
a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay in full the Offshore Rate Loans of
such Lender then outstanding in such Applicable Currency, together with interest
accrued thereon and amounts required under Section 4.4, either on the last day
of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to
maintain such Offshore Rate Loan to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may
not lawfully continue to maintain such Offshore Rate Loan. If any Borrower is
required to so prepay any Offshore Rate Loan, then concurrently with such
prepayment, such Borrower shall borrow from the affected Lender, in the Dollar
Equivalent amount of such prepayment, a Base Rate Loan; provided that if such
prepayment is of an Offshore Currency Loan, the borrowing from such affected
Lender shall bear interest, for each day during the period from the date of such
borrowing to the date of repayment thereof, at a rate per annum equal to the
Applicable Margin plus the Overnight Rate as in effect from time to time or such
other rate as may be agreed to between the related Borrower and such affected
Lender and specified to the Administrative Agent from time to time.
(c) Before giving any notice to the Administrative Agent or making
any demand on any Borrower under this Section, the affected Lender shall
designate a different Lending Office with respect to its Offshore Rate Loans or
take other appropriate action if such designation or other action will avoid the
need for giving such notice and making such demand and will not, in the judgment
of such Lender, be illegal or otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender or the
applicable Borrower.
4.3 Increased Costs and Reduction of Return. (a) If any Lender
reasonably determines that, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change
in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) compliance by such
Lender with any guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental
Authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase
in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining
any Offshore Rate Loan or participating in Letters of Credit, or,
55
in the case of the Issuing Lender, any increase in the cost to the Issuing
Lender of agreeing to issue, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or of
agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any unpaid drawing under any
Letter of Credit, then the related Borrower shall be liable for, and shall from
time to time, upon demand (with a copy of such demand to be sent to the
Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such
Lender, additional amounts as are sufficient to compensate such Lender for such
increased costs.
(b) If any Lender shall have reasonably determined that (i) the
introduction of any Capital Adequacy Regulation, (ii) any change in any Capital
Adequacy Regulation, (iii) any change in the interpretation or administration of
any Capital Adequacy Regulation by any central bank or other Governmental
Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or (iv)
compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) or any corporation controlling
such Lender with any Capital Adequacy Regulation, affects or would affect the
amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any
corporation controlling such Lender and (taking into consideration such Lender's
or such corporation's policies with respect to capital adequacy) reasonably
determines that the amount of such capital is increased as a consequence of its
Commitment, loans, credits or obligations under this Agreement, then, upon
demand of such Lender to Culligan through the Administrative Agent, Culligan
shall pay to such Lender, from time to time as specified by such Lender,
additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increase.
(c) Each Lender shall give prompt notice to Culligan upon the
relevant account officers of such Lender becoming aware of the existence of any
circumstances which will give rise to a claim for compensation by such Lender
under Section 4.3(a) or (b). In determining the amount of compensation under
Section 4.3(a) or (b), each Lender will act reasonably and in good faith and use
averaging or attribution methods which are fair and reasonable and will not
demand any such compensation unless it is then generally demanding similar
compensation (determined on substantially the same basis) from other substantial
corporate borrowers similarly situated.
4.4 Funding Losses. The applicable Borrower shall reimburse each Lender
and hold each Lender harmless from any loss or expense which such Lender may
sustain or incur as a consequence of:
56
(a) the failure of such Borrower to borrow, continue or convert an
Offshore Rate Loan after such Borrower has given (or is deemed to have given) a
Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Conversion/Continuation therefor;
(b) the failure of such Borrower to make any prepayment of any Loan
in accordance with any notice delivered under Section 2.7;
(c) the prepayment (including pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8 or 4.2(b))
or other payment (including after acceleration thereof) of the principal of any
Offshore Rate Loan on a day that is not the last day of an Interest Period
therefor; or
(d) the conversion under Section 2.4 of any Offshore Rate Loan in
U.S. Dollars to a Base Rate Loan on a day that is not the last day of an
Interest Period therefor; including any such loss or expense arising from the
liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain the applicable
Loans or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were
obtained. For purposes of calculating amounts payable by a Borrower to any
Lender under this Section and under subsection 4.3(a), each Offshore Rate Loan
made by a Lender (and each related reserve, special deposit or similar
requirement) shall be conclusively deemed to have been funded at the Offshore
Rate used in determining the interest rate for such Loan by a matching deposit
or other borrowing in the interbank eurocurrency market for a comparable amount
and for a comparable period and in the same Applicable Currency, whether or not
such Loan is in fact so funded.
4.5 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Administrative Agent reasonably
determines that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
determining the Offshore Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to
a proposed Borrowing of Offshore Rate Loans, or the Required Lenders notify the
Administrative Agent that the Offshore Rate to be applicable for any requested
Interest Period with respect to a proposed Borrowing of Offshore Rate Loans does
not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such
Loans, then (i) the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the related
Borrower and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Offshore
Rate Loans in the Applicable Currency shall be suspended until the circumstances
giving rise to such determination or notice no longer exist. Upon receipt of a
notice from the Administrative Agent pursuant to the first sentence of this
Section 4.5, the related Borrower may revoke any Notice of Borrowing or Notice
of Conversion/Continuation then submitted by it. If the
57
related Borrower does not revoke such Notice with respect to Offshore U.S.
Dollar Loans, the Lenders shall make, convert or continue the applicable Loans,
as proposed by the related Borrower, in the amount specified in the applicable
notice submitted by the related Borrower, but such Loans shall be made,
converted or continued as Base Rate Loans instead of Offshore Rate Loans. If the
related Borrower does not revoke such Notice in the case of Offshore Currency
Loans, the related Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing of
Base Rate Loans on the originally proposed Borrowing Date in an aggregate amount
equal to the Dollar Equivalent amount of the originally requested Borrowing in
the applicable Offshore Currency (and any outstanding Offshore Currency Loans
which are the subject of any continuation shall be prepaid on the last day of
the Interest Period with respect to such Offshore Currency Loans).
4.6 Additional Interest on Certain Offshore Rate Loans. (a) The
applicable Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be
required under regulations of the FRB to maintain reserves with respect to
liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits
(currently known as "Eurocurrency liabilities") and, in respect of any Offshore
Currency Loans, under any applicable regulations of any relevant Governmental
Authority in the country in which the Offshore Currency of such Offshore
Currency Loan circulates, additional costs on the unpaid principal amount of
each Offshore Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to
such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which
determination shall be conclusive, absent demonstrable error), payable on each
date on which interest is payable on such Loan.
(b) Concurrently with each payment of interest on any Offshore Currency
Advance denominated in British pounds sterling, the applicable Borrower shall
pay each Lender the additional costs referred to in Schedule 4.6.
4.7 Certificates of Lenders. Any Lender claiming reimbursement or
compensation under this Article IV shall deliver to the applicable Borrower
(with a copy to the Administrative Agent) a certificate setting forth in
reasonable detail the circumstances giving rise to such claim and a computation
of the amount payable to such Lender hereunder in respect thereof. Any such
certificate shall be conclusive and binding on such Borrower in the absence of
demonstrable error.
4.8 Substitution of Lenders. Upon the receipt by any Borrower or the
Administrative Agent from any Lender (an "Affected Lender") of a claim for
58
compensation under Section 4.1 or 4.3 or a notice of the type described in
subsection 2.5(b), 2.5(c), 4.2(a) or 4.2(b), the applicable Borrower may: (i)
designate a replacement bank or financial institution (a "Replacement Lender")
satisfactory to the Borrowers to acquire and assume all or a ratable part of
such Affected Lender's Loans, L/C Advances and Commitment, and/or (ii) request
one or more of the other Lenders to acquire and assume all or a ratable part of
such Affected Lender's Loans, L/C Advances and Commitment. Any designation of a
Replacement Lender under clause (i) above shall be subject to the prior written
consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Swing Line
Lender (which consents shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
4.9 Right of Lenders to Fund through Branches and Affiliates. Each Lender
may, if it so elects, fulfill its commitment as to any Loan or L/C Advance
hereunder by designating a branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan
or L/C Advance; provided that (a) such Lender shall remain solely responsible
for the performance of its obligations hereunder and (b) no such designation
shall result in any increased costs to the applicable Borrower or otherwise
adversely affect the applicable Borrower.
4.10 Survival. The agreements and obligations of the Borrowers in this
Article IV shall survive the payment of all other Obligations.
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
--------------------
59
5.1 Conditions to Initial Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender
to make its initial Credit Extension is, in addition to the conditions precedent
set forth in Section 5.3, subject to the conditions that (i) the Borrowers shall
have submitted evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that
all Debt to be Repaid has been (or concurrently with the initial Credit
Extensions will be) paid in full, that all Liens securing Debt to be Repaid have
been (or concurrently with the initial Credit Extensions will be) released and
that all commitments to lend arising under any agreements relating to Debt to be
Repaid have been (or concurrently with the initial Credit Extensions will be)
terminated, (ii) the Closing Date shall occur on or before May 30, 1997 and
(iii) the Administrative Agent shall have received on or before the date of the
initial Credit Extensions all of the following, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and (except for any
Note) in sufficient copies for the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) Agreement and Notes. This Agreement (and, if applicable, any
Notes) executed by each party hereto (and, if applicable, thereto).
(b) Resolutions; Incumbencies.
(i) Copies of resolutions of the board of directors (or
comparable body) of each Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and
performance by such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which such Loan
Party is to be a party, certified as of the Closing Date by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary (or a comparable officer) of such Loan Party; and
(ii) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
(or a comparable officer) of each Loan Party certifying the names and true
signatures of the officers of such Loan Party authorized to execute and
deliver the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is to be a party.
(c) Organization Documents. The articles or certificate of
incorporation or association (or similar charter document) and, if applicable,
the code of regulations or bylaws of each Loan Party as in effect on the Closing
Date, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary (or a comparable
officer) of such Loan Party as of the Closing Date.
(d) Guaranty. A guaranty (the "Guaranty"), substantially in the form
of Exhibit E, executed by each Person which (as of the Closing Date) is a
Guarantor.
60
(e) Payment of Fees. Evidence of payment by Culligan of all accrued
and unpaid fees, costs and expenses payable by the Borrowers to the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders to the extent due and payable on the Closing
Date, together with Attorney Costs of the Administrative Agent to the extent
invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of
Attorney Costs as shall constitute the Administrative Agent's reasonable
estimate of Attorney Costs incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing
proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude final
settling of accounts between Culligan and the Administrative Agent), including
any such costs, fees and expenses arising under or referenced in Section 2.11 or
12.4.
(f) Certificate. A certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of
Culligan, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that:
(i) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI
are true and correct on and as of such date, as though made on and as of
such date;
(ii) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists or
would result from the initial Credit Extension;
(iii) no event or circumstance has occurred since January 31,
1997 that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Legal Opinions.
(i) An opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, General Counsel of
Culligan, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-1;
(ii) an opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇, counsel
to the Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2;
(iii) opinions of special Nevada, Indiana and Iowa counsel to
the Loan Parties, each in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
and
(iv) an opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇, special counsel to the
Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit G.
61
(h) Other Documents. Such other approvals, opinions, documents or
materials as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
6.2 Conditions to Initial Loans to Each Borrowing Subsidiary. The
obligation of each Lender to make its initial Loan to any Borrowing Subsidiary
is subject to the conditions precedent that the Administrative Agent shall have
received on or before the date of such initial Loan all of the following, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and
(except for any Note) in sufficient copies for the Administrative Agent and each
Lender:
(a) Assumption Letter. An assumption letter in the form of Exhibit C
(any such letter, an "Assumption Letter") signed by such Borrowing Subsidiary
and Culligan.
(b) Notes. Any Notes to be issued by such Borrowing Subsidiary
pursuant to Section 2.2(b).
(c) Resolutions; Incumbencies.
(i) Copies of resolutions of the board of directors (or
comparable body) of such Borrowing Subsidiary authorizing the execution and
delivery by such Borrowing Subsidiary of the Assumption Letter referred to
in clause (a) and any Notes, the borrowings by such Borrowing Subsidiary
hereunder and performance by such Borrowing Subsidiary of its obligations
hereunder and under any Notes, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary (or a comparable officer) of such Borrowing Subsidiary.
(ii) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
(or a comparable officer) of such Borrowing Subsidiary certifying the names
of the officers or representatives of such Borrowing Subsidiary authorized
to execute and deliver the Assumption Letter referred to in clause (a) and
any Notes.
(d) Legal Opinions. One or more opinions of counsel to such
Borrowing Subsidiary covering such matters as the Administrative Agent or any
Lender may reasonably request.
62
(e) Other Documents. Such other approvals, opinions, documents or
materials as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
5.3 Conditions to All Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender
to make any Credit Extension (including the initial Credit Extension) is subject
to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the relevant
Borrowing Date or Issuance Date:
(a) Notice, Application. The Administrative Agent shall have
received a Notice of Borrowing or the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line
Lender shall have received notice from Culligan of a Swing Line Loan or the
Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent shall have received an L/C
Application or L/C Amendment Application, as required under Section 3.2 (in the
case of any Issuance of a Letter of Credit).
(b) Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties in Article VI shall be true and correct in all
material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension with the same
effect as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such
representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case
they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date).
(c) No Existing Default. No Event of Default or Unmatured Event of
Default shall exist or will result from such Credit Extension.
Each Notice of Borrowing, L/C Application, L/C Amendment Application and Swing
Line Loan request submitted by a Borrower hereunder shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the Borrowers hereunder, as of the date of such
notice or request and as of the relevant Borrowing Date or Issuance Date, as
applicable, that the applicable conditions in this Section 5.3 are satisfied.
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
------------------------------
Culligan represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each
Lender that:
6.1 Corporate Existence and Power. Culligan and each of its Subsidiaries:
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(a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization;
(b) has the power and authority and all material governmental
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals (i) to own its assets and to
carry on its business as presently conducted and (ii) to execute, deliver and
perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party;
(c) is duly qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the
laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or
the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; and
(d) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law; except, in each
case referred to in clauses (b)(i), (c) and (d), to the extent that the failure
to so be or have would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.2 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and
performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Loan Party is
a party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action
on the part of such Loan Party, and do not and will not:
(a) contravene the terms of such Loan Party's Organization Documents;
(b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the
creation of any Lien under, any document evidencing any material Contractual
Obligation to which Culligan or any Subsidiary is a party or any order,
injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to which Culligan or
any Subsidiary or any property thereof is subject; or
(c) violate any Requirement of Law.
6.3 Governmental Authorization. No approval, consent, exemption,
authorization or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental
Authority is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or
performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of any Loan Document to
which such Loan Party is a party (except in the case of enforcement involving
litigation or similar proceedings, filings of complaints and other pleadings
with courts).
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6.4 Binding Effect. Each of this Agreement and each other Loan Document
to which any Loan Party is a party constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance
with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.
6.5 Litigation. Except as may exist with respect to matters specifically
disclosed in Schedule 6.5, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or
disputes pending or, to the knowledge of Culligan, threatened or contemplated,
at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, against
Culligan or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties:
(a) which purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; or
(b) as to which there exists a reasonable likelihood of an adverse
determination, which determination would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
No injunction, writ, temporary restraining order or other order of any
nature has been issued by any court or other Governmental Authority purporting
to enjoin or restrain the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement
or any other Loan Document, or directing that the transactions provided for
herein or therein not be consummated as herein or therein provided.
6.6 No Default. No Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists
or would result from the incurrence of any Obligations by any Loan Party. As of
the Closing Date, neither Culligan nor any Subsidiary is in default under or
with respect to any Contractual Obligation in any respect which, individually or
together with all other such defaults, would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect, or that would, if such default had occurred after the
Closing Date, create an Event of Default under subsection 9.1(e).
6.7 ERISA Compliance.
(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the
applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state law. Each
Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received
a favorable determination letter from the IRS or is relying on a determination
65
letter from the IRS secured by the sponsor of a prototype plan or such letter is
pending and, to the knowledge of Culligan, nothing has occurred which would
cause a denial or the loss of such qualification. Other than with respect to
the Astrum Plans, all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412
of the Code have been made and no application for a funding waiver or an
extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has
been made with respect to any Plan.
(b) There is no pending or, to the knowledge of Culligan, threatened
claim, action or lawsuit, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect
to any Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation
of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan which has
resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) (i) Other than with respect to the Astrum Plans, no ERISA Event
has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur which has resulted or could
reasonably be expected to result in any liability to Culligan or any ERISA
Affiliate which is or would be material to Culligan or to Culligan and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or in any Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA; (ii)
no Pension Plan (other than the Astrum Plans) has any Unfunded Pension Liability
which is or would be material to Culligan or to Culligan and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole; (iii) neither Culligan nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred,
or reasonably expects to incur, any material liability under Title IV of ERISA
with respect to any Pension Plan (other than with respect to the Astrum Plans or
with respect to premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA) in
connection with a termination of such Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (iv)
neither Culligan nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to
incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice
under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in liability) under Section 4201 or
4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan, which liability is or would
be material to Culligan or to Culligan and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
and (v) neither Culligan nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction
that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
6.8 Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. The proceeds of the Loans are
to be used solely for the purposes set forth in and permitted by Section 7.12
and Section 8.7. Neither Culligan nor any Subsidiary is generally engaged in
the business of purchasing or selling Margin Stock or extending credit for the
purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.
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6.9 Title to Properties. Culligan and its Subsidiaries have good record
and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real
property used in the ordinary conduct of their respective businesses, except for
such defects in title as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date and after payment of the Debt
to be Repaid, the property of Culligan and its Subsidiaries is subject to no
Liens, other than Permitted Liens.
6.10 Taxes. Culligan and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal income
tax and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have
paid all Federal income taxes and other material taxes, assessments, fees and
other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties,
income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate
reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax
assessment against Culligan or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a
Material Adverse Effect.
6.11 Financial Condition. (a) The audited consolidated financial
statements of Culligan and its Subsidiaries dated January 31, 1997, copies of
which have been furnished to each Lender:
(i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted
therein; and
(ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial
condition of Culligan and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and
results of operations for the period covered thereby.
(b) Since January 31, 1997, there has been no Material Adverse
Effect.
6.12 Environmental Matters. Culligan conducts in the ordinary course of
business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and existing
Environmental Claims on its business, operations and properties, and as a result
thereof Culligan has reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed
in Schedule 6.12, such Environmental Laws and Environmental Claims could not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
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6.13 Regulated Entities. None of Culligan, any Person controlling
Culligan or any Subsidiary is an "investment company" subject to registration
under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Neither Culligan nor any Subsidiary is
subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the
Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, any state public utilities code
(other than Culligan Operating Services Inc., which has certain operations that
are subject to public utilities regulation in North Carolina), or any other
Federal or state statute or regulation (other than margin regulations) limiting
its ability to incur Indebtedness hereunder.
6.14 No Burdensome Restrictions. Neither Culligan nor any Subsidiary is
subject to any restriction in any Organization Document or any Requirement of
Law which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.15 Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Licenses, etc. Culligan and its
Subsidiaries own or are licensed or otherwise have the right to use all of the
patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, contractual
franchises, authorizations and other rights that are reasonably necessary for
the operation of their respective businesses as presently conducted, without any
known conflict with the rights of any other Person which would, individually or
in the aggregate with all other such conflicts, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. No slogan or other advertising device, product,
process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now
contemplated to be employed, by Culligan or any Subsidiary infringes upon any
rights held by any other Person, which infringement would, individually or in
the aggregate with all other such infringements, reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect.
6.16 Subsidiaries. As of the Closing Date, (a) Culligan has no
Subsidiaries or equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than
(i) those specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.16 and (ii) equity investments in
other corporations or entities not in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate; and
(b) Culligan has no Material Domestic Subsidiaries other than those designated
as such on Schedule 6.16.
6.17 Insurance. The properties of Culligan and its Subsidiaries are
insured or reinsured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies
not Affiliates of Culligan, in such amounts, with such deductibles and co-
insurance provisions and covering such risks as are customarily carried by
companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in
localities where Culligan or such Subsidiary operates, provided that Culligan
and its Subsidiaries may self-insure with respect to such risks to the extent
68
customary for prudent Persons in the same or similar businesses under similar
circumstances.
6.18 Full Disclosure. None of the representations or warranties made by
the Loan Parties herein or in any other Loan Document as of the date such
representations and warranties are made or deemed made, and none of the
statements contained in any exhibit, report, statement or certificate furnished
by or on behalf of Culligan or any Subsidiary in connection with the Loan
Documents (including the offering and disclosure materials delivered by or on
behalf of Culligan to the Lenders prior to the Closing Date), contains any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, taken as a
whole and in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading as of the time when made or delivered; it being understood that the
projections and pro forma financial information contained in such materials are
based on good faith estimates and assumptions believed by Culligan to be
reasonable as of the date such projections and pro forma financial information
were furnished by Culligan based on the information actually known to
Responsible Officers of Culligan at such time, but such projections and pro
forma financial information shall be excluded from the scope of this
representation and warranty.
ARTICLE VII
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
---------------------
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or
other Obligation shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit
shall remain outstanding, unless the Required Lenders waive compliance in
writing:
7.1 Financial Statements. Culligan shall deliver to the Administrative
Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:
(a) as soon as available, but not later than 90 days after the end of
each fiscal year, a copy of the audited consolidated balance sheet of Culligan
and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and the related consolidated
statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for such year, setting
forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year,
and accompanied by the report of KPMG Peat Marwick or another
69
nationally-recognized independent public accounting firm ("Independent
Auditor"), which report (i) shall state that such consolidated financial
statements present fairly the consolidated financial position of Culligan and
its Subsidiaries for such year in conformity with GAAP and (ii) shall not be
qualified or limited because of a restricted or limited examination by the
Independent Auditor of any material portion of Culligan's or any Subsidiary's
records; and
(b) as soon as available, but not later than 45 days after the end of
each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, a copy of the
consolidated balance sheets of Culligan and its Subsidiaries as of the end of
such quarter and the related consolidated statements and cash flows for such
quarter and for the period commencing on the first day of such fiscal year and
ending on the last day of such quarter, setting forth in each case in
comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and period in the
previous fiscal year, and certified by a Responsible Officer of Culligan as
fairly presenting, in accordance with GAAP (subject to ordinary, good-faith
year-end adjustments), the financial position and the results of operations of
Culligan and its Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby.
7.2 Certificates; Other Information. Culligan shall furnish to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements
referred to in subsection 7.1(a), a certificate of the Independent Auditor
stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was
obtained of any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default, except as
specified in such certificate;
(b) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements
referred to in subsections 7.1(a) and (b), a Compliance Certificate executed by
a Responsible Officer of Culligan;
(c) promptly, copies of all financial statements and regular,
periodic or special reports (including 10K, 10Q and 8-K) that Culligan or any
Subsidiary may make to, or file with, the SEC;
(d) promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender, copies of all detailed financial and management reports submitted to
Culligan by the Independent Auditor in connection with each annual or interim
audit made of the books of Culligan and its Subsidiaries;
70
(e) as soon as practicable and in any event within 60 days after the
commencement of each fiscal year, the business plan for Culligan and its
Subsidiaries for such fiscal year prepared in a manner consistent with the
projections delivered by Culligan to the Lenders prior to the Closing Date or
otherwise in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Required Lenders; and
(f) promptly, such additional information regarding the business,
financial or corporate affairs of Culligan or any Subsidiary as the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.
7.3 Notices. Promptly upon any Responsible Officer of Culligan
obtaining knowledge thereof, Culligan shall promptly notify the Administrative
Agent and each Lender of:
(a) the occurrence of any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of
Default;
(b) any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, including any of the following having such
an effect: (i) any breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a
Contractual Obligation of Culligan or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute,
litigation, investigation or proceeding between Culligan or any Subsidiary and
any Governmental Authority or any suspension by any Governmental Authority of
any qualification or license of Culligan or any Subsidiary; or (iii) the
commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding
affecting Culligan or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable
Environmental Laws; and
(c) the occurrence of any of the following events if such event has
resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in any liability to Culligan
or any ERISA Affiliate which is material to Culligan or to Culligan and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or in a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA, and
deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a copy of any notice with
respect to such event that is filed with a Governmental Authority and any notice
delivered by a Governmental Authority to Culligan or any ERISA Affiliate with
respect to such event:
(i) an ERISA Event;
(ii) a contribution failure with respect to a Pension Plan
sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA;
71
(iii) a material increase in the Unfunded Pension Liability of
any Pension Plan;
(iv) the adoption of, or the commencement of contributions to,
any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code by Culligan or any ERISA
Affiliate; or
(v) the adoption of any amendment to a Plan subject to Section
412 of the Code, if such amendment results in a material increase in
contributions or Unfunded Pension Liability.
Each notice under this Section shall be accompanied by a written statement
by a Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to
therein, and stating what action Culligan or the affected Subsidiary proposes to
take with respect thereto. Each notice under subsection 7.3(a) shall describe
with particularity any and all clauses or provisions of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document that have been (or foreseeably will be) breached or
violated.
7.4 Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc. Culligan shall, and shall
cause each Subsidiary to:
(a) preserve and maintain in full force and effect its existence and
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization (subject to
Sections 8.2 and 8.3 and except to the extent, in the case of any Subsidiary
other than a Guarantor, failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect);
(b) preserve and maintain in full force and effect all material
governmental rights, privileges, qualifications, permits, licenses and
franchises necessary in the normal conduct of its business except in connection
with transactions permitted by Section 8.3 and sales of assets permitted by
Section 8.2;
(c) use commercially reasonable efforts, in the ordinary course of
business, to preserve its business organization and goodwill; and
(d) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks,
trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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7.5 Maintenance of Property. Culligan shall, and shall cause each
Subsidiary to, maintain and preserve all its material property (taken as a
whole) which is used in its business in accordance with the standard of care
typical in the industry in which it is engaged.
7.6 Insurance. Culligan shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to,
maintain, with financially sound and reputable independent insurers, insurance
or reinsurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or
damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same
or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (with such deductibles
and co-insurance provisions) as are customarily carried under similar
circumstances by such other Persons; provided that Culligan or any Subsidiary
may self-insure with respect to such risks to the extent customary for prudent
Persons in the same or a similar business under similar circumstances.
7.7 Payment of Obligations. Culligan shall, and shall cause each
Subsidiary to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable all of
its material obligations and liabilities, including:
(a) all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental
charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets; and
(b) all material lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become
a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon its property; unless, in each case,
the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by Culligan or
the applicable Subsidiary with respect thereto.
7.8 Compliance with Laws. Culligan shall, and shall cause each
Subsidiary to, comply in all material respects with all material Requirements of
Law of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or its business
(including the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act), except such as may be
contested in good faith or as to which a bona fide dispute may exist or such
noncompliance which in the aggregate would not be reasonably expected to result
in material liability to Culligan or to Culligan and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.
7.9 Compliance with ERISA. Culligan shall, and shall cause each of its
ERISA Affiliates to: (a) maintain each Plan in compliance in all material
respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or
state law; and (b) make all required contributions to any Plan subject to
73
Section 412 of the Code (except such contributions that in the aggregate for all
Plans are less than $1,000,000).
7.10 Inspection of Property and Books and Records. Culligan shall, and
shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain proper books of record and account, in
which full, true and correct entries in order to permit the preparation of
Culligan's consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP shall be
made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business
of Culligan and Subsidiaries. Culligan shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary
to, permit representatives of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (subject to
Section 12.9) to visit and inspect any of their respective properties, to
examine their respective corporate, financial and operating records, and make
copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs,
finances and accounts with their respective directors, officers and independent
public accountants, all at such reasonable times during normal business hours
and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice;
provided that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any
Lender may do any of the foregoing at the expense of Culligan at any time during
normal business hours and without advance notice.
7.11 Environmental Laws. Culligan shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary
to, conduct its operations in material compliance with all material
Environmental Laws, except for such noncompliance which in the aggregate would
not be reasonably expected to result in material liability to Culligan or any
Subsidiary.
7.12 Use of Proceeds. Culligan shall, and shall cause each other
Borrower to, use the proceeds of the Loans to refinance Debt to be Repaid, to
provide working capital and for other general corporate purposes (including for
capital expenditures and to finance Acquisitions) not in contravention of any
Requirement of Law or of any Loan Document.
7.13 Guaranty. Culligan shall take such actions as are reasonably
necessary, or as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request
from time to time, to ensure that the Obligations are unconditionally guaranteed
by each Material Domestic Subsidiary pursuant to the Guaranty. Without limiting
the foregoing, promptly upon the creation or acquisition of any Material
Domestic Subsidiary (or any Domestic Subsidiary becoming a Material Domestic
Subsidiary), Culligan shall (i) cause such Subsidiary to execute and deliver a
counterpart of the Guaranty and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent such
documents (including certified resolutions, incumbency certificates
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and opinions of counsel) as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may
reasonably request to confirm the authorization of the Guaranty by, and the
enforceability of the Guaranty against such Subsidiary.
ARTICLE VIII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
------------------
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or
other Obligation shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit
shall remain outstanding, unless the Required Lenders waive compliance in
writing:
8.1 Limitation on Liens. Culligan shall not, and shall not permit any
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make, create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist any Lien upon or with respect to any part of its property, whether now
owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following ("Permitted Liens"):
(a) any Lien existing on property of Culligan or any Subsidiary on
the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 8.1 securing Indebtedness outstanding
on such date and any extension, renewal or replacement of any such Lien,
provided that the principal amount secured thereby shall not be increased in
connection therewith or the scope of such Lien extended;
(b) Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other governmental charges
which are not delinquent or remain payable without penalty, or to the extent
that non-payment thereof is permitted by Section 7.7, provided that no notice of
lien has been filed or recorded under the Code or any other Requirement of Law;
(c) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', landlords', materialmen's,
repairmen's or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business
which are not delinquent or remain payable without material penalty or which are
being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, which proceedings
have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject
thereto;
(d) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) consisting of
pledges or deposits incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection
with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security
legislation;
75
(e) Liens on the property of Culligan or any Subsidiary securing (i)
the non-delinquent performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed
money), leases or statutory obligations, (ii) contingent obligations on surety
bonds (excluding bonds related to litigation), and (iii) other non-delinquent
obligations of a like nature; in each case incurred in the ordinary course of
business, provided all such Liens in the aggregate would not (even if enforced)
cause a Material Adverse Effect;
(f) Liens consisting of judgment or judicial attachment liens
(including prejudgment attachment) and Liens in respect of appeal bonds or other
bonds related to litigation, provided that the enforcement of such Liens is
effectively stayed and (i) the maximum amount secured by all such Liens does not
at any time exceed, in the aggregate for Culligan and its Subsidiaries, a Dollar
Equivalent amount of U.S. $50,000,000 and (ii) the maximum amount secured by
such Liens arising in respect of litigation in which Culligan or a Subsidiary is
the defendant or which has been decided adversely to Culligan or a Subsidiary
does not at any time exceed, in the aggregate for Culligan and its Subsidiaries,
a Dollar Equivalent amount of U.S. $10,000,000;
(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, exceptions
and other similar encumbrances and irregularities in title incurred in the
ordinary course of business which, individually and in the aggregate, do not
materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the businesses of Culligan and
its Subsidiaries;
(h) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law
provision relating to banker's liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and
remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor
depository institution; provided that (i) such deposit account is not a
dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against
access by Culligan or the applicable Subsidiary in excess of those set forth by
regulations promulgated by the FRB, and (ii) such deposit account is not
intended by Culligan or the applicable Subsidiary to provide collateral to the
depository institution;
(i) purchase money security interests on any property acquired or
held by Culligan or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business,
securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or
any part of the cost of acquiring such property; provided that (i) any such Lien
attaches to such property concurrently with or within 60 days after the
acquisition thereof, (ii) such Lien attaches solely to the property so acquired
in such transaction, (iii) the principal amount of the debt secured thereby does
76
not exceed 100% of the cost of such property and (iv) the principal amount of
the Indebtedness secured by any and all such purchase money security interests
shall not at any time exceed $5,000,000;
(j) Liens on retail accounts receivable financed by the Company or
any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business consistent with the practice
of the Company and its Subsidiaries prior to the date of this Agreement;
provided that the aggregate amount of all accounts receivable so financed shall
not at any time exceed $15,000,000;
(k) Liens on the assets of any Subsidiary securing obligations of
such Subsidiary to Culligan or another Subsidiary, except that no Liens shall be
permitted on the assets of any Guarantor other than Liens securing obligations
to Culligan or another Guarantor;
(l) prior to the initial Credit Extension, Liens securing Debt to be
Repaid; and
(m) Liens (excluding Liens on inventory and accounts receivable) not
otherwise permitted hereunder covering assets having a book value not at any
time exceeding in the aggregate 5% of Net Worth.
8.2 Disposition of Assets. Culligan shall not, and shall not permit any
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, lease, convey, transfer or
otherwise dispose of (whether in one or a series of transactions) any property,
or enter into any agreement to do any of the foregoing, except:
(a) the sale or lease of inventory and of used, worn-out or surplus
equipment or other assets, and the licensing of intellectual property, all in
the ordinary course of business;
(b) the sale of machinery or equipment to the extent that such
machinery or equipment is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of
similar replacement machinery or equipment, or the proceeds of such sale are
reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of similar replacement
machinery or equipment;
(c) dispositions of property (including stock or other ownership or
equity interests in any Person but excluding accounts and notes receivable not
related to a Person or division being disposed of) not otherwise permitted
hereunder which are made for fair market value; provided that at the time of any
such disposition, (i) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists
or will result therefrom and (ii) the aggregate book value of all property
77
so disposed of (net of any liabilities related to such property assumed by the
buyer of such property) by Culligan and its Subsidiaries during the term of this
Agreement shall not, at the time of any disposition, exceed 15% of the total
consolidated assets of Culligan and its Subsidiaries; and
(d) dispositions of property (including stock or other ownership or
equity interests in any Person but excluding accounts and notes receivable not
related to a Person or division being disposed of) by Culligan to any Subsidiary
or by any Subsidiary to Culligan or another Subsidiary.
8.3 Consolidations and Mergers. Culligan shall not, and shall not permit
any Subsidiary to, merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other
Person, except:
(a) any Subsidiary may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into
Culligan (provided that Culligan shall be the surviving corporation) or with or
into any other Subsidiary;
(b) any merger, amalgamation or consolidation in connection with a
disposition permitted by Section 8.2 or an Acquisition permitted by Section 8.4;
and
(c) Culligan may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with any other
Person so long as Culligan is the surviving corporation and no Event of Default
or Unmatured Event of Default exists or will result therefrom.
8.4 Loans and Investments. Culligan shall not, and shall not permit any
Subsidiary to, purchase or acquire, or make any commitment to purchase or
acquire, any capital stock, equity interest, or obligations or other securities
of, or any interest in, any Person, or make or commit to make any Acquisition,
or make or commit to make any advance, loan, extension of credit or capital
contribution to or any other investment in, any Person (any of the foregoing, an
"Investment"), except for:
(a) investments in cash equivalents and marketable securities;
(b) extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or
notes receivable arising from the sale or lease of goods or services in the
ordinary course of business;
(c) Investments (not constituting an Acquisition other than the
creation or acquisition of the equity interest in a newly-formed Person which
78
does not have material assets or liabilities) in Subsidiaries, and Investments
by Subsidiaries in Culligan;
(d) Investments made in connection with or in order to consummate
Acquisitions; provided that (i) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of
Default exists or will result therefrom, (ii) in the case of any Acquisition or
series of related Acquisitions involving consideration (including assumed
liabilities) in excess of $75,000,000, Culligan shall have delivered to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender a certificate showing that on a pro forma
basis, after giving effect to such Acquisition(s), Culligan would have been in
compliance with Sections 8.9, 8.10 and 8.11 on the last day of the most
recently-completed fiscal quarter (assuming, for purposes of Section 8.9 that
such Acquisition had occurred, and any related Indebtedness had been incurred,
on the first day of the Computation Period ending on such last day) and (iii)
the board of directors (or the executive committee thereof) or equivalent
governing body of the acquiree or the parent of the acquiree shall have given
its written consent to or approval of such Acquisition;
(e) pledges or deposits permitted under subsection 8.1(d) or (e);
(f) existing Investments listed on Schedule 8.4;
(g) advances, loans or extensions of credit in the ordinary course of
business to employees of Culligan and its Subsidiaries, provided that the
aggregate amount of all such loans, advances and extensions of credit (other
than (x) advances for travel and entertainment expenses in the ordinary course
of business and (y) loans described in subsection 8.4(h)) shall not at any time
exceed in the aggregate a Dollar Equivalent amount of U.S. $1,000,000;
(h) loans to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ in connection with the exercise by ▇▇.
▇▇▇▇▇ of options to purchase common stock of Culligan, provided that the
aggregate amount of all such loans shall not at any time exceed $5,000,000; and
(i) other Investments (excluding Investments of the types described
in subsection 8.4(g)) not at any time exceeding in the aggregate a Dollar
Equivalent amount equal to the greater of U.S. $75,000,000 and 20% of Net Worth.
8.5 Limitation on Indebtedness. Culligan shall not, and shall not permit
any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume, suffer to exist, or otherwise
79
become or remain directly or indirectly liable with respect to, any
Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Agreement and the
Long-Term Credit Agreement and guaranties of such Indebtedness;
(b) Indebtedness consisting of Contingent Obligations permitted
pursuant to Section 8.8;
(c) Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date which is Debt to be
Repaid or is set forth in Schedule 8.5 (and any renewal, extension, replacement,
refunding or refinancing of such Indebtedness provided that the principal amount
of such Indebtedness is not increased in connection therewith);
(d) unsecured Indebtedness of Culligan to any Subsidiary or of any
Subsidiary to Culligan or any other Subsidiary;
(e) Subordinated Debt;
(f) Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted pursuant to subsection
8.1(i);
(g) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries not at any time exceeding in
the aggregate a Dollar Equivalent amount equal to 20% of Net Worth; and
(h) unsecured Indebtedness of Culligan and its Domestic Subsidiaries;
provided that all such Indebtedness plus (without duplication) all Indebtedness
of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted by subsection 8.5(g) shall not exceed an
amount equal to 35% of Net Worth.
8.6 Transactions with Affiliates. Culligan shall not, and shall not
permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction with any Affiliate of
Culligan (other than a Subsidiary), except upon fair and reasonable terms no
less favorable to Culligan or such Subsidiary than would obtain in a comparable
arm's-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate of Culligan or such
Subsidiary.
8.7 Use of Proceeds. (a) Culligan shall not, and shall not permit any
Subsidiary to, use any portion of the Loan proceeds or any Letter of Credit,
directly or indirectly, (i) to purchase or carry Margin Stock in violation of
any
80
Requirement of Law, (ii) to repay or otherwise refinance indebtedness of
Culligan or others incurred to purchase or carry Margin Stock in violation of
any Requirement of Law or (iii) to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing
or carrying any Margin Stock in violation of any Requirement of Law.
(b) Culligan shall not, directly or indirectly, use any portion of
the Loan proceeds or any Letter of Credit (i) knowingly to purchase Ineligible
Securities from the Arranger during any period in which the Arranger makes a
market in such Ineligible Securities, (ii) knowingly to purchase during the
underwriting or placement period Ineligible Securities being underwritten or
privately placed by the Arranger, or (iii) to make payments of principal or
interest on Ineligible Securities underwritten or privately placed by the
Arranger and issued by or for the benefit of Culligan or any Subsidiary of
Culligan. The Arranger is a registered broker-dealer and permitted to
underwrite and deal in certain Ineligible Securities; and "Ineligible
Securities" means securities which may not be underwritten or dealt in by member
banks of the Federal Reserve System under Section 16 of the Banking Act of 1933
(12 U.S.C. (S) 24, Seventh), as amended.
8.8 Contingent Obligations. Culligan shall not, and shall not permit any
Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Contingent
Obligation, except:
(a) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business;
(b) Swap Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business as
bona fide hedging transactions (including, without limitation, hedging of
currency exchange rates with respect to projected revenues, expenses, cash
flows, balance sheet items and other budgeted items, projected repatriation of
funds, hedging of interest rates, hedging prices of projected requirements of
materials and the like);
(c) Contingent Obligations of Culligan and its Subsidiaries existing
as of the Closing Date and listed in Schedule 8.8;
(d) Contingent Obligations arising under (i) Surety Instruments
arising in the ordinary course of business or (ii) any guaranty of the
performance of contractual obligations (other than obligations to pay money) of
other Persons so long as such guaranty arises in connection with a project in
which Culligan or the applicable Subsidiary is otherwise involved in the
ordinary course of business;
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(e) Guaranty Obligations of Culligan or any Subsidiary in respect of
the obligations of Culligan or any Subsidiary;
(f) Guaranty Obligations in respect of the Indebtedness or other
liabilities of other Persons, provided that such Guaranty Obligations constitute
permitted Investments under subsection 8.4(t) and permitted Indebtedness under
subsection 8.5(h); and
(g) Contingent Obligations in respect of retail accounts receivable
sold to or financed by third parties to the extent permitted by subsection
8.1(j) or sold to or financed by Culligan or any Subsidiary to the extent
permitted by subsection 8.1(k).
8.9 Leverage Ratio. Culligan shall not permit the Leverage Ratio to exceed
(a) 3.5 to 1 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter ending on or prior to
April 30, 2000 or (b) 3.25 to 1 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter
thereafter; provided that the Leverage Ratio may exceed the levels specified
above for a period not exceeding three consecutive quarters so long as the
Leverage Ratio does not exceed 4.0 to 1 as of the last day of any fiscal
quarter.
8.10 Minimum Net Worth. Culligan shall not permit Net Worth at any time to
be less than the sum of (i) U.S. $140,000,000, plus (ii) 50% of quarterly
Consolidated Net Income for each fiscal quarter ending after October 31, 1996
and prior to the date of determination (provided that if Consolidated Net Income
is less than zero for any fiscal quarter, Consolidated Net Income shall be
deemed to be zero for such quarter), plus (iii) 50% of the net proceeds of any
equity contributed to or issued by Culligan or any Subsidiary after the Closing
Date.
8.11 Interest Coverage Ratio. Culligan shall not permit the Interest
Coverage Ratio to be less than (a) 2.5 to 1 as of the last day of any fiscal
quarter ending on or prior to April 30, 1999 or (b) 3.0 to 1 as of the end of
any fiscal quarter thereafter.
8.12 Restricted Payments. Culligan shall not, and shall not permit any
Subsidiary to, declare or make any dividend payment or other distribution of
assets, properties, cash, rights, obligations or securities on account of any
shares of any class of its capital stock, or purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire for value any shares of its capital stock or any warrants, rights or
options to acquire such shares, now or hereafter outstanding, or prepay,
82
purchase, redeem or defease any Subordinated Debt (all of the foregoing being
collectively called "Restricted Payments"), except that
(a) any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends to Culligan or to
another Subsidiary;
(b) Culligan may declare and make stock splits and dividend payments
or other distributions payable solely in its common stock; and
(c) so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default
exists or will result therefrom, Culligan or any Subsidiary may make Restricted
Payments (including dividends payable by a Subsidiary to a Person other than
Culligan or a Subsidiary) in an aggregate amount not exceeding (at the time any
Restricted Payment is made) 50% of quarterly Consolidated Net Income for each
fiscal quarter ending after October 31, 1996 (provided that if Consolidated Net
Income is less than zero for any fiscal quarter, Consolidated Net Income shall
be deemed to be zero for such quarter).
8.13 ERISA. Culligan shall not, and shall not permit any of its ERISA
Affiliates to, engage in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or
4212(c) of ERISA.
8.14 Change in Business. Culligan shall not, and shall not permit any
Subsidiary to, engage in any material line of business other than engaging,
directly or indirectly, in the water purification and treatment industry,
including waste water treatment, and related product or service extensions
thereof.
8.15 Accounting Changes. Culligan shall not, and shall not permit any
Subsidiary to, make any significant change in accounting principles or reporting
practices, except as required by GAAP, or change its fiscal year.
8.16 Margin Stock. Culligan shall not at any time permit the value of all
Margin Stock owned by Culligan and its Subsidiaries to exceed 25% of the value
of the total consolidated assets of Culligan and its Subsidiaries.
8.17 Domestic Subsidiaries. Culligan shall not permit more than 15% of the
consolidated total assets of Culligan and its Domestic Subsidiaries at any time
to be held by, or more than 15% of the consolidated revenues of Culligan and its
Domestic Subsidiaries for any fiscal quarter to be earned by, Domestic
Subsidiaries which are not Guarantors.
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ARTICLE IX
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
-----------------
9.1 Event of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an "Event of
Default":
(a) Non-Payment. Any Borrower fails to pay, (i) when and as required
to be paid herein, any principal of any Loan or of any L/C Obligation or (ii)
within five Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest, fee or any
other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
(b) Representation or Warranty. Any representation or warranty by
Culligan or any Subsidiary made or deemed made herein or in any other Loan
Document, or contained in any certificate, document or financial or other
statement by Culligan or any Subsidiary furnished at any time under this
Agreement or under any other Loan Document, is incorrect in any material respect
on or as of the date made or deemed made.
(c) Specific Defaults. Culligan fails to perform or observe any term,
covenant or agreement contained in Section 7.3(a), 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.7,
8.8, 8.9, 8.10, 8.11 or 8.12.
(d) Other Defaults. Culligan or any other Loan Party fails to perform
or observe any other term or covenant contained in this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30
days after the earlier of (i) the date upon which a Responsible Officer of such
Loan Party knew of such failure or (ii) the date upon which written notice
thereof is given to Culligan by the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
(e) Cross-Default. (i) Culligan or any Subsidiary fails to make any
payment in respect of any Indebtedness or Contingent Obligation having an
aggregate principal Dollar Equivalent amount of more than U.S. $10,000,000 or
more when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration,
demand or otherwise, but subject to any applicable grace period); or (ii)
Culligan or any Subsidiary fails to perform or observe any other condition or
covenant, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, under any agreement
or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness or Contingent Obligation having
an aggregate principal Dollar Equivalent amount of U.S. $15,000,000 or more, if
the effect of such failure, event or condition is to cause, or to permit the
holder or holders of such Indebtedness or Contingent
84
Obligation or beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Indebtedness or Contingent
Obligation (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or
beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, such Indebtedness to be declared to be
due and payable prior to its stated maturity or such Contingent Obligation to
become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded.
(f) Insolvency; Voluntary Proceedings. Culligan or any Subsidiary (i)
ceases or fails to be solvent, or generally fails to pay, or admits in writing
its inability to pay, its debts as they become due; (ii) voluntarily ceases to
conduct its business in the ordinary course; (iii) commences any Insolvency
Proceeding with respect to itself; or (iv) takes any action to effectuate or
authorize any of the foregoing.
(g) Involuntary Proceedings. (i) Any involuntary Insolvency Proceeding
is commenced or filed against Culligan or any Subsidiary, or any writ, judgment,
warrant of attachment, warrant of execution or similar process is issued or
levied against a substantial part of Culligan's or any Subsidiary's properties,
and such proceeding or petition shall not be dismissed, or such writ, judgment,
warrant of attachment, warrant of execution or similar process shall not be
released, vacated or fully bonded within 60 days after commencement, filing or
levy; (ii) Culligan or any Subsidiary admits the material allegations of a
petition against it in any Insolvency Proceeding, or an order for relief (or
similar order under non-U.S. law) is ordered in any Insolvency Proceeding
commenced or filed against Culligan or any Subsidiary; or (iii) Culligan or any
Subsidiary acquiesces in the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian,
conservator, liquidator, mortgagee in possession (or agent therefor) or other
similar Person for itself or a substantial portion of its property or business.
(h) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a Pension
Plan or a Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected
to result in liability of Culligan under Title IV of ERISA to such Pension Plan
or Multiemployer Plan or to the PBGC in an aggregate Dollar Equivalent amount of
U.S. $10,000,000 or more; (ii) the aggregate Dollar Equivalent amount of
Unfunded Pension Liability among all Pension Plans at any time exceeds U.S.
$10,000,000; or (iii) Culligan or any Subsidiary shall fail to pay when due,
after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment
with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a
Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate Dollar Equivalent amount in excess of U.S.
$15,000,000.
85
(i) Monetary Judgments. One or more non-interlocutory judgments, non-
interlocutory orders, decrees or arbitration awards is entered against Culligan
or any Subsidiary involving in the aggregate a liability (to the extent not
covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not
dispute coverage) as to any single or related series of transactions, incidents
or conditions, of a Dollar Equivalent amount of U.S. $10,000,000 or more, and
the same shall remain undischarged, unvacated or unstayed pending appeal for a
period of 30 days after the entry thereof.
(j) Non-Monetary Judgments. Any non-monetary judgment, order or decree
is entered against Culligan or any Subsidiary which has or would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there shall be any period of 30
consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order,
by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect.
(k) Guaranty. The Guaranty ceases to be in full force and effect with
respect to any Guarantor (other than as a result of a transaction permitted
hereunder); or any Guarantor repudiates, or attempts to repudiate, or fails to
perform, any of its obligations under the Guaranty.
(l) Change of Control. Any Change of Control occurs.
9.2 Remedies. If any Event of Default occurs, the Administrative Agent
shall, at the request, or may, with the consent, of the Required Lenders, take
any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the Commitments, the obligation of the Issuing Lender to
Issue Letters of Credit and the obligation of the Swing Line Lender to make
Swing Line Loans to be terminated, whereupon such Commitments and obligations
shall be terminated;
(b) declare an amount equal to the maximum aggregate amount that is or
at any time thereafter may become available for drawing under any outstanding
Letter of Credit (whether or not any beneficiary shall have presented, or shall
be entitled at such time to present, the drafts or other documents required to
draw under such Letter of Credit) to be immediately due and payable as Cash
Collateral, and declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and
L/C Borrowings, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts
owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately
due and payable, without presentment,
86
demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by the Borrowers;
(c) exercise any right under any L/C-Related Document to effect a
drawing under or to terminate any Letter of Credit; and
(d) exercise on behalf of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all
rights and remedies available to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under
the Loan Documents or applicable law or otherwise; provided, however, that upon
the occurrence of any event specified in subsection (f) or (g) of Section 9.1,
the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the Issuing
Lender to Issue Letters of Credit shall automatically terminate and the unpaid
principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as
aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable without further act of the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or any other Lender. The Administrative
Agent shall give notice to the Borrowers of any of the actions described above,
but any failure or delay in giving such notice shall not affect the
effectiveness of such actions.
9.3 Rights Not Exclusive. The rights provided for in this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other right,
power, privilege or remedy provided by law or in equity or under any other
instrument, document or agreement now existing or hereafter arising.
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ARTICLE X
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
------------------------
10.1 Appointment and Authorization. (a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably
(subject to Section 10.9) appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative
Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement
and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties
as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this
Agreement or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall not have
any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor
shall the Administrative Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary
relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions,
responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the
Administrative Agent.
(b) The Issuing Lender shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect
to any Letters of Credit Issued by it and the documents associated therewith.
The Issuing Lender shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to
the Administrative Agent in this Article X with respect to any acts taken or
omissions suffered by the Issuing Lender in connection with Letters of Credit
Issued by it or proposed to be Issued by it and the applications and agreements
for letters of credit pertaining to the Letters of Credit as fully as if the
term "Administrative Agent", as used in this Article X, included the Issuing
Lender with respect to such acts or omissions and (ii) as additionally provided
in this Agreement with respect to the Issuing Lender.
(c) The Swing Line Lender shall have all of the benefits and
immunities (i) provided to the Administrative Agent in this Article X with
respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the Swing Line Lender in
connection with Swing Line Loans made or proposed to be made by it as fully as
if the term "Administrative Agent", as used in this Article X, included the
Swing Line Lender with respect to such acts or omissions and (ii) as
additionally provided in this Agreement with respect to the Swing Line Lender.
10.2 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its
duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents,
employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel
concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent
88
shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or
attorney-in-fact that it selects with reasonable care.
10.3 Liability of Agent-Related Persons. None of the Agent-Related Persons
shall (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them
under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the
transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful
misconduct) or (ii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any
recital, statement, representation or warranty made by Culligan or any
Subsidiary, or any officer thereof, contained in this Agreement or in any other
Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document
referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or
in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity,
effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, or for any failure of Culligan or any other party to
any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-
Related Person shall be under any obligation to any 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 any other Loan Document, or to inspect
the properties, books or records of Culligan or any of Culligan's Subsidiaries
or Affiliates.
10.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent. (a) The Administrative Agent shall
be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing,
resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram,
facsimile, telex or telephone message, statement 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 counsel to Culligan), independent accountants and other
experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be
fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement
or any other Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or
concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so
requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders
against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason
of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall
in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or
consent of the Required Lenders (or, when expressly required by this Agreement
or such other Loan Documents, all Lenders), and such request and any action
taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the
Lenders.
89
(b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions
specified in Sections 5.1 and 5.2, each Lender that has executed this Agreement
shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied
with each document or other matter either sent by the Administrative Agent to
such Lender for consent, approval, acceptance or satisfaction, or required
thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to
the Lender.
10.5 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to
have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Unmatured
Event of Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal,
interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
written notice from a Lender or a Borrower referring to this Agreement,
describing such Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default and stating that
such notice is a "notice of default". If the Administrative Agent receives such
a notice, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of its
receipt thereof. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to
such Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default as may be requested by the
Required Lenders in accordance with Section 9.2; provided, however, that unless
and until the Administrative Agent has received any such request, the
Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or
refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default or
Unmatured Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of
the Lenders.
10.6 Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that none of the Agent-
Related Persons has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act
by the Administrative Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs
of Culligan or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to constitute any representation
or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender. Each Lender represents to
the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon
any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has
deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the
business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of Culligan and its Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank
regulatory laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its
own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrowers
hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without
reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time,
90
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 investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business,
prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of the Borrowers. Except for notices, reports and other
documents expressly herein required to be furnished to the Lenders by the
Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or
responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information
concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other
condition or creditworthiness of the Loan Parties which may come into the
possession of any of the Agent-Related Persons.
10.7 Indemnification of the Administrative Agent. Whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify
upon demand the Agent-Related Persons (to the extent not reimbursed by or on
behalf of the Borrowers and without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to
do so), pro rata according to their respective Pro Rata Shares, from and against
any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided, however, that no Lender shall be
liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of the
Indemnified Liabilities resulting solely from such Person's gross negligence or
willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall
reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share (determined
on the same basis used in determining Required Lenders) of any costs or out-of-
pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent
in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration,
modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal
proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or
responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document
contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative
Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrowers. The
undertakings in this Section shall survive the payment of all Obligations
hereunder and the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent.
10.8 Administrative Agent in Individual Capacity. BofA and its Affiliates
may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits
from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking,
trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with Culligan and its
Subsidiaries as though BofA were not the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line
Lender and the Issuing Lender, in each case without notice to or consent of the
Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, BofA or its
Affiliates may receive information regarding Culligan or its Subsidiaries
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(including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in
favor of Culligan or a Subsidiary) and acknowledge that BofA and its Affiliates
shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect
to its Loans, BofA (and any of its Affiliates which may become a Lender) shall
have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may
exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent or the Issuing
Lender or the Swing Line Lender.
10.9 Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may, and at
the request of the Required Lenders shall, resign as the Administrative Agent
upon 30 days' notice to the Lenders and Culligan. If the Administrative Agent
resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the
Lenders (with the consent of Culligan if no Event of Default or Unmatured Event
of Default exists) a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor
Administrative Agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation
of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after
consulting with the Lenders, a successor Administrative Agent from among the
Lenders (with the consent of Culligan if no Event of Default or Unmatured Event
of Default exists). Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor
Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor Administrative Agent shall
succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative
Agent and the term "Administrative Agent" shall mean such successor agent and
the retiring Administrative Agent's appointment, powers and duties as
Administrative Agent shall be terminated. After any retiring Administrative
Agent's resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this
Article X and Sections 12.4 and 12.5 shall inure to its benefit as to any
actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent
under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the
Administrative Agent by the date which is 30 days following a retiring
Administrative Agent's notice of resignation, such retiring Administrative
Agent's resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the
Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder
until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as
provided for above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, BofA may not be
removed as the Administrative Agent at the request of the Required Lenders
unless BofA or any Affiliate of BofA shall also simultaneously be replaced as
"Issuing Lender" and as "Swing Line Lender" hereunder pursuant to documentation
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to BofA and, if applicable, such
Affiliates.
10.10 Withholding Tax. (a) If any Lender claims exemption from, or
reduction of, withholding tax under a United States tax treaty by providing IRS
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Form 1001 pursuant to subsection 4.1(f) and such Lender sells, assigns, grants a
participation in, or otherwise transfers all or part of the Obligations of any
Loan Party to such Lender, such Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent
and Culligan of the percentage amount in which it is no longer the beneficial
owner of Obligations of such Borrower to such Lender. To the extent of such
percentage amount, the Administrative Agent will treat such Lender's IRS Form
1001 as no longer valid, and, in the case of its granting of a participation,
such Lender agrees to undertake sole responsibility for complying with the
withholding tax requirements imposed by Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code.
(b) If any Lender claiming exemption from United States withholding
tax by filing IRS Form 4224 with the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection
4.1(f) grants a participation in all or part of the Obligations of any Borrower
to such Lender, such Lender agrees to undertake sole responsibility for
complying with the withholding tax requirements imposed by Sections 1441 and
1442 of the Code.
(c) If any Lender is entitled to a reduction in the applicable
withholding tax, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment
to such Lender an amount equivalent to the applicable withholding tax after
taking into account such reduction. If the forms or other documentation required
by subsection 4.1(f) are not delivered to the Administrative Agent, then the
Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Lender not
providing such forms or other documentation an amount equivalent to the
applicable withholding tax.
(d) If the IRS or any other Governmental Authority of the United
States or any other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent
did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any
Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered or was not properly
executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a
change in circumstances which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of,
withholding tax ineffective, or for any other reason) such Lender shall
indemnify the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or
indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as tax or otherwise, including penalties
and interest, and including any taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts
payable to the Administrative Agent under this Section, together with all costs
and expenses (including Attorney Costs), provided that no Lender shall be liable
to indemnify the Administrative Agent for any such amounts paid as a result
solely of the Administrative Agent's gross negligence or willful
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misconduct. The obligation of the Lenders under this subsection shall survive
the payment of all Obligations.
10.11 Other Agents. None of the Lenders identified on the facing page, the
first page or signature pages of this Agreement or any related document as the
"Documentation Agent," the "Syndication Agent" or a "Co-Agent" shall have any
right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement
other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the
foregoing, none of the Lenders so identified as the "Documentation Agent,"
"Syndication Agent" or a "Co-Agent" shall have or be deemed to have any
fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not
relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders so identified in deciding to
enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.
ARTICLE XI
GUARANTY
11.1 Guaranty. Culligan hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees
the full and punctual payment (whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or
otherwise) of the principal of and interest on each Note issued by each of the
Borrowing Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement, and the full and punctual
payment of all other amounts payable by each of the Borrowing Subsidiaries under
this Agreement. Upon failure by any Borrowing Subsidiary to pay punctually any
such amount, Culligan shall forthwith on demand pay the amount not so paid at
the place and in the manner specified in this Agreement. In addition (and
without limiting the foregoing), upon any Loan of any Borrowing Subsidiary being
declared or otherwise becoming immediately due and payable pursuant to Section
9.2, Culligan shall forthwith on demand pay all amounts payable under such Loan
at the place and in the manner specified in this Agreement.
11.2 Guaranty Unconditional. The obligations of Culligan under this Article
XI shall be unconditional and absolute and, without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by:
(a) any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise, waiver or release
in respect of any obligation of any Borrowing Subsidiary under this
Agreement or any Note, by operation of law or otherwise;
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(b) any modification or amendment of or supplement to this Agreement
or any Note;
(c) any release, impairment, non-perfection or invalidity of any
direct or indirect security for any obligation of any Borrowing Subsidiary
under this Agreement or any Note;
(d) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of
any Borrowing Subsidiary or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or
other similar proceeding affecting any Borrowing Subsidiary or such
Borrowing Subsidiary's assets or any resulting release or discharge of any
obligation of any Borrowing Subsidiary contained in this Agreement or any
Note;
(e) the existence of any claim, set-off or other right which Culligan
may have at any time against any Borrowing Subsidiary, the Administrative
Agent, any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or
any unrelated transaction, provided that nothing herein shall prevent the
assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim;
(f) any invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any
Borrowing Subsidiary for any reason of this Agreement or any Note, or any
provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit the
payment by any Borrowing Subsidiary of the principal of or interest on any
Note or any other amount payable by any Borrowing Subsidiary under this
Agreement; or
(g) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by any
Borrowing Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other
Person or any other circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the
provisions of this paragraph, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of
Culligan's obligations as guarantor hereunder.
11.3 Discharge only upon Payment in Full; Reinstatement in Certain
Circumstances. Culligan's obligations as guarantor hereunder shall remain in
full force and effect until the Commitments shall have terminated and all
Obligations of all Borrowing Subsidiaries under this Agreement and each Note
shall have been paid in full. If at any time any payment of principal, interest
or any other amount payable by any Borrowing Subsidiary under this Agreement or
any Note is rescinded or must be otherwise restored or returned upon the
insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of such Borrowing Subsidiary or
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otherwise, Culligan's obligations hereunder with respect to such payment shall
be reinstated as though such payment had been due but not made at such time.
11.4 Waiver by Culligan. Culligan irrevocably waives acceptance hereof,
presentment, demand, protest and any notice not provided for herein, as well as
any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any
Borrowing Subsidiary or any other Person.
11.5 Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment made by or for the account of
any Borrowing Subsidiary pursuant to this Article XI, Culligan shall not be
subrogated to any right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender until such
time as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received final
payment in cash of the full amount of all Obligations.
11.6 Stay of Acceleration. If acceleration of the time for payment of any
amount payable by any Borrowing Subsidiary under this Agreement or any Note is
stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of such Borrowing
Subsidiary, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms
of this Agreement shall nonetheless be payable by Culligan hereunder forthwith
on demand by the Administrative Agent made at the request of the Required
Lenders.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
-------------
12.1 Amendments and Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent with respect to any
departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless the same shall
be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent
with the written consent of the Required Lenders) and Culligan and acknowledged
by the Administrative Agent, and then any such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which
given; provided, however, that no such waiver, amendment or consent shall,
unless in writing and signed by all Lenders and Culligan and acknowledged by the
Administrative Agent, do any of the following:
(a) increase or extend the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any
Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 9.2);
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(b) postpone or delay any date fixed by this Agreement or any other
Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due
to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document;
(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein
on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing or (subject to clause (iv) below) any fees or
other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document;
(d) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the Loans and L/C Obligations which is required for
the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder;
(e) amend or release the Guaranty or the guaranty set forth in Article
XI; or
(f) amend this Section, or Section 2.15, or any provision herein
providing for consent or other action by all Lenders;
and provided, further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing and signed by the Issuing Lender in addition to the Required Lenders or
all Lenders, as the case may be, affect the rights or duties of the Issuing
Lender under this Agreement or any L/C-Related Document, (ii) no amendment,
waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender
in addition to the Required Lenders or all Lenders, as the case may be, affect
the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing
and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Required Lenders or
all Lenders, as the case may be, affect the rights or duties of the
Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (iv)
the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a
writing executed by the parties thereto.
12.2 Notices. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all
notices, requests and other communications hereunder shall be in writing
(including, unless the context expressly otherwise provides, by facsimile
transmission or electronic mail, provided that any matter transmitted by any
Borrower to the Administrative Agent by facsimile or electronic mail shall be
immediately confirmed by a telephone call to the recipient at the number
specified on Schedule 12.2) and mailed, faxed, e-mailed or delivered to the
applicable party at the address, facsimile number or electronic mail address
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specified for notices on Schedule 12.2; or, as directed to any Borrower or the
Administrative Agent, to such other address as shall be designated by such party
in a written notice to the other parties, and as directed to any other party, at
such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to
Culligan and the Administrative Agent.
(b) All such notices, requests and communications shall be effective,
(i) if transmitted by overnight delivery or faxed or e-mailed, when delivered or
transmitted in legible form by facsimile machine or electronic mail,
respectively, (ii) if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date
deposited into the U.S. mail, or (iii) if delivered, upon delivery; except that
notices pursuant to Article II, III or X to the Administrative Agent or the
Swing Line Lender shall not be effective until actually received by the
Administrative Agent or the Swing Line Lender, respectively, and notices
pursuant to Article III to the Issuing Lender shall not be effective until
actually received by the Issuing Lender.
(c) Any agreement of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders herein
to receive certain notices by telephone, facsimile or electronic mail is solely
for the convenience and at the request of the Borrowers. The Administrative
Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any Person
purporting to be a Person authorized by the applicable Borrower to give such
notice, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall not have any
liability to such Borrower or any other Person on account of any action taken or
not taken by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in reliance upon such
telephonic, facsimile, or electronic mail notice. The obligation of the
Borrowers to repay the Loans and L/C Obligations shall not be affected in any
way or to any extent by any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to
receive written confirmation of any telephonic, facsimile or electronic mail
notice or the receipt by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of a
confirmation which is at variance with the terms understood by the
Administrative Agent or such Lender to be contained in the telephonic, facsimile
or electronic mail notice.
(d) Any notice to be given to any Borrowing Subsidiary may be given to
Culligan (and shall conclusively be deemed to have been received by such
Borrowing Subsidiary when received, or deemed received, by Culligan). Each
Borrowing Subsidiary agrees that Culligan may give notices hereunder on behalf
of such Borrowing Subsidiary, and that any such notice given by Culligan on
behalf of such Borrowing Subsidiary shall be binding upon such Borrowing
Subsidiary.
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12.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay
in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right,
remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege
hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right, remedy, power or privilege.
12.4 Costs and Expenses. Culligan shall:
(a) whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are
consummated, pay or reimburse the Arranger and BofA (in its capacity as
Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender and Swing Line Lender), within five
Business Days after demand (subject to subsection 5.1(e)), for all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Arranger or BofA (in its
capacity as Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender and Swing Line Lender) in
connection with the development, preparation, syndication, delivery,
administration and execution of, and any amendment, supplement, waiver or
modification to (in each case, whether or not consummated), this Agreement, any
other Loan Document and any other document prepared in connection herewith or
therewith, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, including reasonable Attorney Costs incurred by the Arranger or BofA
(in its capacity as Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender and Swing Line Lender)
with respect thereto; and
(b) pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and each
Lender within five Business Days after demand (subject to subsection 5.1(e)) for
all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs)
incurred by them in connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement or
preservation of any right or remedy under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document during the existence of an Event of Default or after acceleration of
the Loans (including in connection with any "workout" or restructuring regarding
the Loans and including in any Insolvency Proceeding or appellate proceeding).
12.5 Borrower Indemnification. Whether or not the transactions
contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrowers shall indemnify and hold the
Agent-Related Persons and each Lender and each of their respective officers,
directors, employees, counsel, agents and attorneys-in-fact (each, an
"Indemnified Person") harmless from and against any and all liabilities,
obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs,
charges, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs) of any kind or
nature whatsoever which may at any time (including at any time following
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repayment of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, the termination of the Letters of
Credit and the termination, resignation or replacement of the Administrative
Agent or replacement of any Lender) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
against any such Person in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement
or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, or any action taken or omitted by any such
Person under or in connection with any of the foregoing, including with respect
to any investigation, litigation or proceeding (including any Insolvency
Proceeding or appellate proceeding) related to or arising out of this Agreement
or the Loans or Letters of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof, or related
to any Offshore Currency transactions entered into in connection herewith,
whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party thereto (all the foregoing,
collectively, the "Indemnified Liabilities"); provided that (a) no Borrower
shall have any obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Person with respect to
Indemnified Liabilities resulting solely from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Indemnified Person; and (b) no Borrower shall be required to
indemnify any Indemnified Person for any Indemnified Liabilities arising from
any litigation or other proceeding initiated by such Indemnified Person or on
its behalf against such Borrower which is determined adversely to such
Indemnified Person in all material respects. The agreements in this Section
shall survive payment of all other Obligations.
12.6 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any Borrower makes a payment
to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any
Lender exercises its right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such
set-off or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be
fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any
settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its
discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in
connection with any Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, then (a) to the extent
of such recovery the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be
satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such
payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred and (b) each Lender
severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its pro rata
share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent.
12.7 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns, except that the Borrowers may not assign or transfer any
of their respective rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior
written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and except that any
assignment by any Lender shall comply with Section 12.8.
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12.8 Assignments, Participations, etc. (a) Any Lender may, with the
written consent of Culligan, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and
the Swing Line Lender (which consents shall not be unreasonably withheld), at
any time assign and delegate to one or more Eligible Assignees (provided that no
written consent of Culligan, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or the
Swing Line Lender shall be required in connection with any assignment and
delegation by a Lender to an Eligible Assignee that is an Affiliate of such
Lender (so long as such assignment will not result in any increased costs to the
Borrowers) or to another Lender) (each an "Assignee") all or any part of the
Loans, the Commitment, the L/C Obligations and the other rights and obligations
of such Lender hereunder, in a minimum Dollar Equivalent amount of U.S.
$5,000,000 or, if less, the entire amount of the Loans, Commitment, L/C
Obligations and other rights and obligations of such Lender hereunder; provided
that (i) the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent may continue to deal solely
and directly with such Lender in connection with the interest so assigned to an
Assignee until (x) written notice of such assignment, together with payment
instructions, addresses and related information with respect to the Assignee,
shall have been given to Culligan and the Administrative Agent by such Lender
and the Assignee; (y) such Lender and the Assignee shall have delivered to the
Borrowers and the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance in the form
of Exhibit H ("Assignment and Acceptance") together with any Note or Notes
subject to such assignment; and (z) such Lender or the Assignee shall have paid
to the Administrative Agent a processing fee in the amount of U.S. $3,000; and
(ii) concurrently with such assignment, the assignor Lender shall assign to the
Assignee a proportionate share of its loans, commitment and other rights and
obligations under the Long-Term Credit Agreement.
(b) From and after the date that the Administrative Agent notifies the
assignor Lender that it has received (and, to the extent required, provided its
consent and received the consents of Culligan, the Issuing Lender and the Swing
Line Lender with respect to) an executed Assignment and Acceptance and payment
of the above-referenced processing fee, (i) the Assignee thereunder shall be a
party hereto and, to the extent that rights hereunder have been assigned to it
and obligations hereunder have been assumed by it pursuant to such Assignment
and Acceptance, shall have the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan
Documents, and (ii) the assignor Lender shall, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents have been assigned by
it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be
released from its obligations under the Loan Documents.
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(c) Any Lender may at any time sell to one or more commercial banks or
other Persons not Affiliates of Culligan (a "Participant") participating
interests in any Loan, the Commitment of such Lender and the other interests of
such Lender (the "originating Lender") hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents; provided, however, that (i) the originating Lender's obligations
under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) the originating Lender shall
remain solely responsible for the performance of such obligations, (iii) the
Borrowers, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative
Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with the originating Lender in
connection with the originating Lender's rights and obligations under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (iv) no Lender shall transfer or
grant any participating interest under which the Participant has rights to
approve any amendment to, or any consent or waiver with respect to, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, except to the extent such amendment,
consent or waiver would require unanimous consent of the Lenders as described in
the first proviso to Section 12.1. In the case of any such participation, the
Participant shall be entitled to the benefit of Sections 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6 and
12.5 as though it were also a Lender hereunder, and if amounts outstanding under
this Agreement are due and unpaid, or shall have been declared or shall have
become due and payable upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the
Participant shall be deemed to have the right of set-off in respect of its
participating interest in amounts owing under this Agreement to the same extent
as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a
Lender under this Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, any Lender
may at any time create a security interest in, or pledge, all or any portion of
its rights under and interest in this Agreement and any Note held by it in favor
of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the FRB or U.S.
Treasury Regulation 31 CFR (S)203.14, and such Federal Reserve Bank may enforce
such pledge or security interest in any manner permitted under applicable law.
12.9 Confidentiality. Each Lender agrees to take and to cause its
Affiliates to take normal and reasonable precautions and exercise due care to
maintain the confidentiality of all information identified as "confidential" or
"secret" by Culligan and provided to it by Culligan or any Subsidiary, or by the
Administrative Agent on Culligan's or any Subsidiary's behalf, under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, and neither such Lender nor any of its
Affiliates shall use any such information other than in connection with or in
enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection
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with other business now or hereafter existing or contemplated with Culligan or
any Subsidiary; except to the extent such information (i) was or becomes
generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by such
Lender, or (ii) was or becomes available on a non-confidential basis from a
source other than Culligan or any Subsidiary, provided that such source is not
bound by a confidentiality agreement with Culligan or any Subsidiary known to
such Lender; provided, however, that any Lender may disclose such information
(A) at the request or pursuant to any requirement of any Governmental Authority
to which such Lender is subject or in connection with an examination of such
Lender by any such authority; (B) pursuant to subpoena or other court process;
(C) when required to do so in accordance with the provisions of any applicable
Requirement of Law; (D) to the extent reasonably required in connection with any
litigation or proceeding to which the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any
of their respective Affiliates may be party; (E) to the extent reasonably
required in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any
other Loan Document; (F) to such Lender's independent auditors and other
professional advisors; (G) to any Participant or Assignee, actual or potential,
provided that such Person agrees in writing to keep such information
confidential to the same extent required of the Lenders hereunder; (H) as to any
Lender or its Affiliates, as expressly permitted under the terms of any other
document or agreement regarding confidentiality to which Culligan or any
Subsidiary is party or is deemed party with such Lender or such Affiliate; and
(I) to its Affiliates.
12.10 Set-off. In addition to any right or remedy of the Lenders provided
by law, if any amount is due and payable to any Lender hereunder, such Lender is
authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to any
Borrower, any such notice being waived by each Borrower to the fullest extent
permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special,
time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other
indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender to or for the credit or the
account of such Borrower against such amount, irrespective of whether or not the
Administrative Agent or such Lender shall have made demand under this Agreement
or any other Loan Document. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the applicable
Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application
made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not
affect the validity of such set-off and application.
12.11 Automatic Debits of Fees. With respect to any facility fee,
arrangement fee, letter of credit fee or other fee due and payable to the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender or the Arranger
under the Loan Documents, each Borrower hereby irrevocably
103
authorizes BofA to debit any deposit account of such Borrower with BofA in an
amount such that the aggregate amount debited from all such deposit accounts
does not exceed such fee. If there are insufficient funds in such deposit
accounts to cover the amount of the fee then due, such debits will be reversed
(in whole or in part, in BofA's sole discretion) and such amount not debited
shall be deemed to be unpaid. No such debit under this Section shall be deemed a
set-off.
12.12 Notification of Addresses, Lending Offices, etc. Each Lender shall
notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any change in the address to which
notices to such Lender should be directed, of addresses of any Lending Office,
of payment instructions in respect of all payments to be made to it hereunder
and of such other administrative information as the Administrative Agent shall
reasonably request.
12.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an
original, and all of which taken together shall be deemed to constitute but one
and the same instrument.
12.14 Severability. The illegality or unenforceability of any provision of
this Agreement or any instrument or agreement required hereunder shall not in
any way affect or impair the legality or enforceability of the remaining
provisions of this Agreement or such instrument or agreement.
12.15 No Third Parties Benefited. This Agreement is made and entered into
for the sole protection and legal benefit of the Borrowers, the Lenders, the
Administrative Agent and the Agent-Related Persons, and their permitted
successors and assigns and, to the extent expressly provided herein,
participants, and no other Person shall be a direct or indirect legal
beneficiary of, or have any direct or indirect cause of action or claim in
connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
12.16 Governing Law and Jurisdiction. (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY NOTES
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS; PROVIDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS SHALL RETAIN
ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR
ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS OR
OF THE UNITED STATES FOR
▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS
AGREEMENT (OR, IN THE CASE OF ANY SUBSIDIARY, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF ANY
ASSUMPTION LETTER OR L/C-RELATED DOCUMENT), CULLIGAN, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
AND EACH LENDER (AND EACH BORROWING SUBSIDIARY AND EACH OTHER SUBSIDIARY WHICH
IS A JOINT APPLICANT ON ANY LETTER OF CREDIT) CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN
RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS.
CULLIGAN, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER (AND EACH BORROWING
SUBSIDIARY AND EACH OTHER SUBSIDIARY WHICH IS A JOINT APPLICANT ON ANY LETTER OF
CREDIT) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING
OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR
HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION
IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT RELATED HERETO. CULLIGAN, THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER (AND EACH BORROWING SUBSIDIARY AND EACH
OTHER SUBSIDIARY WHICH IS A JOINT APPLICANT ON ANY LETTER OF CREDIT) WAIVES
PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS, WHICH MAY BE MADE
BY ANY OTHER MEANS PERMITTED BY ILLINOIS LAW.
(c) TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY BORROWER HAS OR HEREAFTER MAY ACQUIRE ANY
IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER
THROUGH SERVICE OR NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF
EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE) WITH RESPECT TO ITSELF OR ITS PROPERTY, SUCH BORROWER
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.
12.17 Waiver of Jury Trial. CULLIGAN, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH
LENDER (AND EACH BORROWING SUBSIDIARY AND EACH OTHER SUBSIDIARY WHICH IS A JOINT
APPLICANT ON ANY LETTER OF CREDIT) WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY
CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS
AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR
THEREBY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LITIGATION OF ANY TYPE BROUGHT BY ANY
OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY OR ANY AGENT-RELATED PERSON,
PARTICIPANT OR ASSIGNEE, WHETHER WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS,
OR OTHERWISE. CULLIGAN, THE ADMINISTRATIVE
105
AGENT AND EACH LENDER (AND EACH BORROWING SUBSIDIARY AND EACH OTHER SUBSIDIARY
WHICH IS A JOINT APPLICANT ON ANY LETTER OF CREDIT) AGREES THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM
OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE TRIED BY A COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY. WITHOUT
LIMITING THE FOREGOING, ALL OF SUCH PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE
RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY ARE WAIVED BY OPERATION OF THIS SECTION AS TO ANY
ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING WHICH SEEKS, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO
CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS OR ANY PROVISION HEREOF OR THEREOF. THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY
SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT, RENEWAL, SUPPLEMENT OR MODIFICATION TO THIS AGREEMENT AND
THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.
12.18 Judgment. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court,
it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or under any other Loan Document
in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that
at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent
could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day
preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of each Borrower
in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender
hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall, notwithstanding any judgment
in a currency (the "Judgment Currency") other than that in which such sum is
denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the
"Agreement Currency"), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day
following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender of any sum adjudged
to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender
may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency
with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased
is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or such Lender
in the Agreement Currency, the applicable Borrower agrees, as a separate
obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the
Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Person to whom such obligation was
owing against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is
greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or such Lender
in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender agrees to return the
amount of any excess to the applicable Borrower (or to any other Person who may
be entitled thereto under applicable law).
12.19 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the other Loan
Documents, embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the
106
Borrowers, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and supersedes all prior or
contemporaneous agreements and understandings of such Persons, verbal or
written, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
107
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of
the day and year first above written.
CULLIGAN WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS,
as Administrative Agent
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS, as a
Lender, as Issuing Lender and as
Swing Line Lender
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK, as
Documentation Agent and as a Lender
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO, as Syndication Agent and
as a Lender
By:
------------------------------
108
Title:
-----------------------------
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Co-
Agent and as a Lender
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
CREDIT LYONNAIS, CHICAGO BRANCH,
as a Co-Agent and as a Lender
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
LASALLE NATIONAL BANK, as
Documentation Agent and as a Lender
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED, CHICAGO
BRANCH
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
109
CAISSE NATIONALE DE CREDIT AGRICOLE
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
110
SCHEDULE 1.1(a)
PRICING SCHEDULE
The Applicable Margin, Facility Fee Rate and the L/C Rate for standby and
commercial Letters of Credit shall be determined based on the applicable
Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio as set forth below; provided that the
Applicable Margin and the L/C Fee Rate (for both standby and commercial Letters
of Credit) shall be increased by 0.5% if the Leverage Ratio exceeds 3.5 to 1.
L/C Fee Rate L/C Fee Rate
for for
Indebtedness to Applicable Facility Standby Commercial
Capitalization Ratio Margin Fee Rate L/Cs L/Cs
-------------------- ---------- -------- ------------ ------------
Less than or equal 0.195% 0.055% 0.195% 0.145%
to 0.15 to 1
Greater than 0.15 to 0.225% 0.075% 0.225% 0.175%
1 but less than or
equal to 0.3 to 1
Greater than 0.3 to 0.300% 0.100% 0.300% 0.250%
1 but less than or
equal to 0.4 to 1
Greater than 0.4 to 0.350% 0.150% 0.350% 0.300%
1 but less than or
equal to 0.5 to 1
0.5 to 1
Greater than 0.5 to 0.450% 0.175% 0.450% 0.400%
1 but less than or
equal to 0.6 to 1
Greater than 0.6 to 0.525% 0.225% 0.525% 0.475%
1
Initially, the Applicable Margin shall be 0.225%, the Facility Fee Rate
shall be 0.075%, the L/C Fee Rate for standby Letters of Credit shall be 0.225%
and the L/C Fee Rate for commercial Letters of Credit shall be 0.175%. Each of
the foregoing shall be adjusted, to the extent applicable, 45 days (or, in the
case of the last fiscal quarter of any fiscal year, 90 days) after the end of
each fiscal quarter based on the Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio and the
Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal quarter; provided that if
Culligan fails to deliver the financial statements required by Section 7.1 by
the 45th day
(or, if applicable, the 90th day) after any fiscal quarter, the Applicable
Margin, the Facility Fee Rate and the L/C Fee Rate (for both standby and
commercial Letters of Credit) that would apply if the Indebtedness to
Capitalization Ratio were greater than 0.6 to 1 and the Leverage Ratio were
greater than 3.5 to 1 shall apply until such financial statements are delivered.
2
SCHEDULE 2.1
COMMITMENTS
AND PRO RATA SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pro Rata
Lender Commitment Share %
------ ---------- --------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bank of America Illinois U.S.$ 14,166,666.67 14.16666667%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust and Savings Bank U.S.$ 13,333,333.33 13.33333333%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The First National Bank of Chicago U.S.$ 14,166,666.67 14.16666667%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LaSalle National Bank U.S.$ 13,333,333.33 13.33333333%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bank of Nova Scotia U.S.$ 11,666,666.66 11.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit Lyonnais, Chicago Branch U.S.$ 11,666,666.66 11.66666666%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sanwa Bank, Limited, Chicago Branch U.S.$ 6,666,666.67 6.66666667%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Union Bank of California, ▇.▇. ▇.▇.$ 6,666,666.67 6.66666667%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit Agricole U.S.$ 8,333,333.34 8.33333334%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL U.S.$ 100,000,000.00 100.00000000%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCHEDULE 4.6
ASSOCIATED COSTS RATE
1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the cost of compliance with existing
requirements of the Bank of England in respect of Offshore Currency Loans
denominated in British pounds sterling will be calculated by the Administrative
Agent in relation to each relevant Borrowing on the basis of rates existing on
the first day of the Interest Period in respect of such Borrowing and, if such
Interest Period exceeds three months, at three calendar monthly intervals from
the first day of such Interest Period during its duration in accordance with the
following formula:
AB + C(B - E) + D(B - F) = ___ per cent, per annum
100 - (A + D)
Where:
A is the percentage of eligible liabilities which Administrative Agent
is from time to time required to maintain as an interest free cash
deposit with the Bank of England to comply with cash ratio
requirements.
B is the percentage rate per annum at which British pound
sterling deposits are offered by the Administrative Agent, in
accordance with its normal practice, for a period equal to (i) the
Interest Period (or, as the case may be, remainder of the Interest
Period) in respect of the relevant Borrowing or (ii) three months,
whichever is the shorter, to a leading bank in the London interbank
market at or about 11:00 a.m. in a sum approximately equal to the
amount of the Administrative Agent's Loan which is part of such
Borrowing.
C is the percentage of eligible liabilities which the Administrative
Agent is from time to time required by the Bank of England to maintain
as secured money with members of the London Discount Market
Association ("LDMA") and/or as secured call money with money brokers
and gilt edged market makers.
D is the percentage of eligible liabilities which the Administrative
Agent is required from time to time to maintain as interest bearing
special deposits with the Bank of England.
E is the percentage rate per annum at which members of the LDMA are
offered British pounds sterling deposits in a sum approximately equal
to the amount of the Administrative Agent's Loan which is part of such
Borrowing as a callable
fixture from the Administrative Agent for such period as determined in
accordance with B above at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time).
F is the percentage rate per annum payable by the Bank of England to the
Administrative Agent on interest bearing special deposits.
2. For the purposes of this Schedule, "eligible liabilities" and "special
deposits" shall have the meanings ascribed to them from time to time by the Bank
of England.
3. The percentages used in A, C and D above shall be those required to be
maintained on the first day of the relevant period as determined in accordance
with B above.
4. In application of the above formula, A, B, C, D, E and F will be included
in the formula as figures and not as percentages (e.g., if A is 0.5 per cent,
and B is 12 per cent, AB will be calculated as 0.5 x 12 and not as 0.5 per cent
x 12 per cent).
5. Calculations will be made on the basis of a 365 day year (or, if market
practice differs, in accordance with market practice).
6. A negative result obtained by subtracting E from B or F from B shall be
taken as zero.
7. Additional amounts calculated in accordance with this Schedule are payable
on each day on which interest is payable on the relevant Borrowing.
8. The determination of the Associated Costs Rate in relation to any period
shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all of the
parties hereto.
9. The Administrative Agent may from time to time, after consultation with
Culligan and the Lenders, determine and notify to all the parties hereto any
amendments or variations which are required to be made to the formula set out
above in order to comply with any requirements from time to time imposed by the
Bank of England in relation to Offshore Currency Loans denominated in British
pounds sterling (including any requirements relating to sterling primary
liquidity) and any such determination shall, in the absence of manifest error,
be conclusive and binding on all of the parties hereto.
SCHEDULE 12.2
OFFSHORE AND DOMESTIC LENDING OFFICES,
ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
CULLIGAN WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
---------------------------------
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: 847/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 847/205-6050
with copy to General Counsel
BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS,
------------------------
as Administrative Agent
Agency Management Services
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: 312/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 312/974-9102
BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS,
------------------------
as Issuing Lender, Swing Line
Lender and a Lender
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: 312/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 312/828-1974
▇▇▇▇▇▇ TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
----------------------------
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: 312/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 312/293-4856
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
---------------------------------
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: 312/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 312/732-1117
with a copy to:
--------------
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: 312/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 312/732-1117
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
----------------------
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: 404/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 404/888-8998
CREDIT LYONNAIS
---------------
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: 312/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 312/641-0527
LASALLE NATIONAL BANK
---------------------
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇ Minichr
Telephone: 312/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 312/606-8423
THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED, CHICAGO BRANCH
---------------------------------------
2
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: 312/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 312/346-6677
▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: 213/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 213/236-4096
CAISSE NATIONALE DE CREDIT AGRICOLE
-----------------------------------
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: 312/▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: 312/372-2830
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
NOTICE OF BORROWING
Date:
To: Bank of America Illinois, as Administrative Agent under the Short-Term
Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997 (as amended or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") among Culligan
Water Technologies, Inc., the Borrowing Subsidiaries from time to time
parties thereto, various financial institutions, and Bank of America
Illinois, as Administrative Agent.
[Bank of America Illinois, as Swing Line Lender under the Credit
Agreement]*
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please refer to the Credit Agreement (capitalized terms defined
therein being used herein as so defined unless otherwise defined herein). The
undersigned, ___________________ (the "Borrower"), hereby gives you notice
irrevocably, pursuant to Section [2.3] [2.17] of the Credit Agreement, of the
[Borrowing/Swing Line Loan] specified below:
(a) The Business Day of the proposed [Borrowing/Swing Line
Loan] is
________________________, _____.
(b) The aggregate amount of the proposed [Borrowing/Swing Line
Loan] is [U.S. $] ____________________ [other Applicable Currency].
(c) The Borrowing is to be comprised of [Base Rate] [Offshore
Rate] Loans.
----------------------
* Insert additional addressee only for Swing Line Loans.
(d) The duration of the Interest Period for the Offshore Rate
Loans included in the Borrowing shall be [_____ month[s]].**
The Borrower certifies that the following statements are true on the
date hereof, and will be true on the date of the proposed Borrowing before and
after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds therefrom:
(a) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI
of the Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects
as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent such
representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in
which case they are true and correct as of such date);
(b) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing or will result from such proposed Borrowing;
and
(c) the proposed Borrowing will not cause the Total Outstandings
to exceed the Aggregate Commitment Amount.
[BORROWER]
By:
----------------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------------------
---------------------
** Items (c) and (d) are applicable only for Revolving Loans and item (d) is
applicable only for Offshore Rate Loans.
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF
NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION
Date:
To: Bank of America Illinois, as Administrative Agent under the Short-Term
Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997 (as amended or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") among Culligan Water
Technologies, Inc., the Borrowing Subsidiaries from time to time party
thereto, various financial institutions, and Bank of America Illinois,
as Administrative Agent.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please refer to the Credit Agreement (capitalized terms defined therein
being used herein as so defined unless otherwise defined herein). The
undersigned, _____________ (the "Borrower"), hereby gives you notice
irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.4 of the Credit Agreement, with respect to
the [conversion] [continuation] of the Loans specified herein, that:
1. The Conversion/Continuation Date is ___________, ____.
2. The aggregate amount of the Loans to be [converted] [continued] is
[U.S. $]______________ [other Applicable Currency].
3. The Loans are to be [converted into] [continued as] [Base Rate]
[Offshore Rate] Loans.
4. The duration of the Interest Period for the Offshore Rate Loans
included in the [conversion] [continuation] shall be [_____ month[s]].
The Borrower certifies that on the proposed Conversion/Continuation Date,
both before and after giving effect thereto, [(a) no Event of Default or
Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from
such proposed [conversion] [continuation];
and (b)]* the Aggregate Outstandings will not exceed the Aggregate Commitment
Amount].
[BORROWER]
By:
Title:
-------------------
* Clause (a) is required only for conversions into and continuations of
Offshore U.S. Dollar Loans.
B-2
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF
ASSUMPTION LETTER
[Date]
To the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders party to the Credit
Agreement referred to below
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please refer to the Short-Term Credit Agreement dated as of April 30,
1997 among Culligan Water Technologies, Inc. ("Culligan"), the Borrowing
Subsidiaries from time to time parties thereto, various financial institutions,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust and Savings Bank, as Documentation Agent, LaSalle National Bank, as
Documentation Agent, The First National Bank of Chicago, as Syndication Agent,
and Bank of America Illinois, as Administrative Agent (as amended or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"). Terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the
Credit Agreement.
The undersigned, _____________________ (the "Subsidiary"), a
__________________ corporation and a Subsidiary of Culligan, proposes to become
a "Borrowing Subsidiary" under the Credit Agreement and, accordingly, hereby
agrees that from the date hereof until the payment in full of the principal of
and interest on all Loans made to it under the Credit Agreement and performance
of all of its other obligations thereunder, and termination of its status as a
"Borrowing Subsidiary" as provided below, it shall perform, comply with and be
bound by each of the provisions of the Credit Agreement which are stated to
apply to a "Borrowing Subsidiary" or a "Borrower". In addition, the Subsidiary
hereby represents and warrants that: (i) each of the representations and
warranties set forth in Article VI of the Credit Agreement is true and correct
with respect to the Subsidiary as of the date hereof and (ii) it has heretofore
received a true and correct copy of the Credit Agreement (including all
amendments thereto, modifications thereof or waivers thereunder) as in effect on
the date hereof.
So long as the principal of and interest on all Loans made to the
Subsidiary under the Credit Agreement shall have been paid in full and all other
obligations of the Subsidiary under the Credit Agreement shall have been fully
performed, the Subsidiary may, by not less than five Business Days' prior notice
to the Administrative Agent, terminate its status as a "Borrowing Subsidiary."
Without limiting the provisions of Section 12.16 of the Credit
Agreement, the Subsidiary irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself
and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of
Illinois and of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois in any
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Assumption Letter, the
Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or for recognition or enforcement of
any judgment relating thereto, and the Subsidiary irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court. The Subsidiary agrees
that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by law. Nothing in this Assumption Letter shall affect any
right that any Lender or the Administrative Agent may otherwise have to bring
any action or proceeding relating to this Assumption Letter, the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document in the courts of any jurisdiction.
This Assumption Letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Illinois applicable to contracts made and to be
performed entirely within such State.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Subsidiary has duly executed and delivered this
Assumption Letter as of the date and year first above written.
[NAME OF BORROWING SUBSIDIARY]
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
Consented to:
▇-▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By
-----------------------------------
Name:
--------------------------------
Title:
-------------------------------
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EXHIBIT D
FORM OF
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
To: Bank of America Illinois, as
Administrative Agent, and the Lenders
which are parties to the Credit
Agreement referred to below
Please refer to the Short-Term Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997
(as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement")
among Culligan Water Technologies, Inc. ("Culligan"), the Borrowing Subsidiaries
from time to time parties thereto, various financial institutions and Bank of
America Illinois, as Administrative Agent. Terms used but not otherwise defined
herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.
I Report. Enclosed herewith is a copy of the [annual audit/quarterly] report
of Culligan as at ____________, ____ (the "Computation Date"), which report
fairly presents the consolidated financial position of Culligan and its
Subsidiaries as of the Computation Date.
II Financial Tests. Culligan hereby certifies and warrants to you that
attached is a true and correct computation as at the Computation Date of
the ratios and financial restrictions contained in the Credit Agreement.
III Defaults. Culligan hereby further certifies and warrants to you that no
Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing [, except _____________].
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Culligan has caused this Certificate to be executed and
delivered by its duly authorized officer this _____________________, ____.
CULLIGAN WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:
------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF
GUARANTY
THIS GUARANTY dated as of April 30, 1997 is executed in favor of BANK OF
AMERICA ILLINOIS, as Administrative Agent, and the Lender Parties referred to
below.
W I T N E S S E T H:
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, Culligan Water Technologies, Inc. ("Culligan") has entered into a
Short-Term Credit Agreement dated as of even date herewith (as amended or
otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"; terms used but not
defined herein are used as defined in the Credit Agreement) with various
financial institutions and Bank of America Illinois, as administrative agent (in
its capacity as administrative agent, together with any successor in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent"), pursuant to which such financial
institutions have agreed (i) to make loans to Culligan and various Borrowing
Subsidiaries thereof and (ii) to issue or participate in letters of credit for
the account of Culligan;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article XI of the Credit Agreement, Culligan has
guaranteed all obligations of each Borrowing Subsidiary under or in connection
with the Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, each of the undersigned will benefit directly or indirectly from
the making of loans and issuance of letters of credit pursuant to the Credit
Agreement and is willing to guaranty the Liabilities (as defined below) as
hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each of the undersigned hereby
jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably, as primary obligor and
not merely as surety, guarantees the full and prompt payment when due, whether
by acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of all obligations
(monetary or otherwise) of Culligan to each of the Administrative Agent and each
Lender Party (as defined below), under or in connection with the Credit
Agreement (including the guaranty set forth in Article XI thereof), the Notes,
any other Loan Document and any other document or instrument (including any Swap
Contract entered into with any Lender Party) executed in
connection therewith, in each case howsoever created, arising or evidenced,
whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or hereafter existing,
or due or to become due (all such obligations being herein collectively called
the "Liabilities"); provided, however, that the liability of each of the
undersigned hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount of the Liabilities
which such undersigned may guaranty without violating any fraudulent conveyance
or fraudulent transfer law (plus all costs and expenses paid or incurred by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender Party in enforcing this Guaranty against such
undersigned). As used herein, "Lender Party" means each Lender under and as
defined in the Credit Agreement and any Affiliate of such a Lender which is a
party to a Swap Contract with Culligan.
Each of the undersigned agrees that, in the event of the dissolution or
insolvency of Culligan or any undersigned, or the inability or failure of
Culligan or any undersigned to pay debts as they become due, or an assignment by
Culligan or any undersigned for the benefit of creditors, or the occurrence of
any other Event of Default under subsection 9.1(f) or (g) of the Credit
Agreement, and if such event shall occur at a time when any of the Liabilities
may not then be due and payable, such undersigned will pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the Lender Parties forthwith the full amount which
would be payable hereunder by such undersigned if all Liabilities were then due
and payable.
To secure all obligations of each of the undersigned hereunder, the
Administrative Agent and each Lender Party shall have a lien on and security
interest in and may, without demand or notice of any kind, at any time and from
time to time when any Unmatured Event of Default under subsection 9.1(f) or (g)
of the Credit Agreement or any Event of Default exists, appropriate and apply
toward the payment of such amount, in such order of application as the
Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties may elect, any and all balances,
credits, deposits, accounts or moneys of or in the name of such undersigned now
or hereafter with the Administrative Agent or such Lender Party and any and all
property of every kind or description of or in the name of such undersigned now
or hereafter, for any reason or purpose whatsoever, in the possession or control
of, or in transit to, the Administrative Agent or such Lender Party or any agent
or bailee for the Administrative Agent or such Lender Party.
This Guaranty shall in all respects be a continuing, irrevocable, absolute
and unconditional guaranty, and shall remain in full force and effect
(notwithstanding, without limitation, the dissolution of any of the undersigned
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or that at any time or from time to time no Liabilities are outstanding) until
all Commitments have terminated and all Liabilities have been paid in full.
The undersigned further agree that if at any time all or any part of any
payment theretofore applied by the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party to
any of the Liabilities is or must be rescinded or returned by the Administrative
Agent or such Lender Party for any reason whatsoever (including the insolvency,
bankruptcy or reorganization of Culligan or any of the undersigned), such
Liabilities shall, for the purposes of this Guaranty, to the extent that such
payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in
existence, notwithstanding such application by the Administrative Agent or such
Lender Party, and this Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated,
as the case may be, as to such Liabilities, all as though such application by
the Administrative Agent or such Lender Party had not been made.
The Administrative Agent or any Lender Party may, from time to time, at its
sole discretion and without notice to the undersigned (or any of them), take any
or all of the following actions: (a) retain or obtain a security interest in
any property to secure any of the Liabilities or any obligation hereunder, (b)
retain or obtain the primary or secondary obligation of any obligor or obligors,
in addition to the undersigned, with respect to any of the Liabilities, (c)
extend or renew any of the Liabilities for one or more periods (whether or not
longer than the original period), alter or exchange any of the Liabilities, or
release or compromise any obligation of any of the undersigned hereunder or any
obligation of any nature of any other obligor with respect to any of the
Liabilities, (d) release its security interest in, or surrender, release or
permit any substitution or exchange for, all or any part of any property
securing any of the Liabilities or any obligation hereunder, or extend or renew
for one or more periods (whether or not longer than the original period) or
release, compromise, alter or exchange any obligations of any nature of any
obligor with respect to any such property, and (e) resort to the undersigned (or
any of them) for payment of any of the Liabilities when due, whether or not the
Administrative Agent or such Lender Party shall have resorted to any property
securing any of the Liabilities or any obligation hereunder or shall have
proceeded against any other of the undersigned or any other obligor primarily or
secondarily obligated with respect to any of the Liabilities.
Each of the undersigned hereby expressly waives: (a) notice of the
acceptance by the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party of this Guaranty, (b)
notice of the existence or creation or non-payment of all or any of the
Liabilities, (c) presentment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and all other
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notices whatsoever, and (d) all diligence in collection or protection of or
realization upon any Liabilities or any security for or guaranty of any
Liabilities.
Notwithstanding any payment made by or for the account of any of the
undersigned pursuant to this Guaranty, the undersigned shall not be subrogated
to any right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party until such time as
the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties shall have received final
payment in cash of the full amount of all Liabilities.
Each of the undersigned further agrees to pay all expenses (including
Attorney Costs) paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party
in endeavoring to collect the Liabilities of such undersigned, or any part
thereof, and in enforcing this Guaranty against such undersigned.
The creation or existence from time to time of additional Liabilities to
the Administrative Agent or the Lender Parties or any of them is hereby
authorized, without notice to the undersigned (or any of them), and shall in no
way affect or impair the rights of the Administrative Agent or the Lender
Parties or the obligations of the undersigned under this Guaranty, including
each of the undersigned's guaranty of such additional Liabilities.
The Administrative Agent and any Lender Party may from time to time without
notice to the undersigned (or any of them), assign or transfer any or all of the
Liabilities or any interest therein; and, notwithstanding any such assignment or
transfer or any subsequent assignment or transfer thereof, such Liabilities
shall be and remain Liabilities for the purposes of this Guaranty, and each and
every immediate and successive assignee or transferee of any of the Liabilities
or of any interest therein shall, to the extent of the interest of such assignee
or transferee in the Liabilities, be entitled to the benefits of this Guaranty
to the same extent as if such assignee or transferee were an original Lender
Party.
No delay on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party in the
exercise of any right or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single
or partial exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party of any right
or remedy shall preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of
any other right or remedy; nor shall any modification or waiver of any provision
of this Guaranty be binding upon the Administrative Agent or the Lender Parties,
except as expressly set forth in a writing duly signed and delivered on behalf
of the Administrative Agent. No action of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender Party permitted hereunder shall in any way affect or
E-4
impair the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party or the
obligations of the undersigned under this Guaranty. For purposes of this
Guaranty, Liabilities shall include all obligations of Culligan to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender Party arising under or in connection with the
Credit Agreement, any Note, any other Loan Document or any other document or
instrument (including any Swap Contract) executed in connection therewith,
notwithstanding any right or power of Culligan or anyone else to assert any
claim or defense as to the invalidity or unenforceability of any such
obligation, and no such claim or defense shall affect or impair the obligations
of any of the undersigned hereunder.
Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, (a) this Guaranty has been delivered to
the Administrative Agent and (b) the Administrative Agent has been authorized to
enforce this Guaranty on behalf of itself and each of the Lender Parties. All
payments by the undersigned pursuant to this Guaranty shall be made to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lender Parties.
This Guaranty shall be binding upon the undersigned and the successors and
assigns of the undersigned; and to the extent that Culligan or any of the
undersigned is either a partnership or a corporation, all references herein to
Culligan and to the undersigned, respectively, shall be deemed to include any
successor or successors, whether immediate or remote, to such partnership or
corporation. The term "undersigned" as used herein shall mean all parties
executing this Guaranty and each of them, and all such parties shall be jointly
and severally obligated hereunder.
This Guaranty shall be governed by and construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Illinois applicable to contracts made and
to be performed entirely within such State. Wherever possible, each provision
of this Guaranty shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and
valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Guaranty shall be
prohibited by or invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective to
the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder
of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Guaranty.
This Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the
different parties hereto on separate counterparts, and each such counterpart
shall be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together
constitute one and the same Guaranty. At any time after the date of this
Guaranty, one or more additional Persons may become parties hereto by executing
and delivering to the Administrative Agent a counterpart of this Guaranty.
Immediately upon such execution and delivery (and without any
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further action), each such additional Person will become a party to, and will be
bound by all of the terms of, this Guaranty.
This Guaranty may be secured by one or more security agreements, pledge
agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust or other similar documents.
ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, SHALL BE BROUGHT AND MAINTAINED
EXCLUSIVELY IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS OR IN THE UNITED STATES
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
ANY SUIT SEEKING ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE
BROUGHT, AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT'S OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE SUCH COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE FOUND. EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED
HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF
THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN
DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION AS SET FORTH ABOVE.
EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS
BY REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE ADDRESS SET FORTH OPPOSITE ITS
SIGNATURE HERETO (OR SUCH OTHER ADDRESS AS IT SHALL HAVE SPECIFIED IN WRITING TO
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES HEREUNDER) OR BY PERSONAL
SERVICE WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY
EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY
OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH
LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY
SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED, AND (BY ACCEPTING THE BENEFITS HEREOF) EACH OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER PARTY, HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL
BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS
GUARANTY, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR
AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION
HEREWITH OR THEREWITH OR ARISING FROM ANY BANKING RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE FOREGOING, AND AGREES THAT ANY
E-6
SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Guaranty has been duly executed and delivered as
of the day and year first above written.
[GUARANTOR]
By:
----------------------------------------
Address: Title:
----------------------------------
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[GUARANTOR]
By:
--------------------------------
Address: Title:
--------------------------
[GUARANTOR]
By:
--------------------------------
Address: Title:
--------------------------
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Signature page for the Guaranty dated as of __________, ____
among various subsidiaries of Culligan Water Technologies,
Inc. and Bank of America Illinois, as Administrative Agent
for the other Lender Parties referred to herein.
The undersigned is executing a counterpart
hereof for purposes of becoming a party hereto:
[ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR]
By:
----------------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------------
Address:
E-9
EXHIBIT G
[Letterhead of ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇]
________________, 1997
Bank of America Illinois,
as Administrative Agent,
and the other financial institutions
which are parties to the Credit
Agreement referred to below
Re: Culligan Water Technologies, Inc.
---------------------------------
Ladies/Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Bank of America Illinois, as
Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent"), in
connection with the Short-Term Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") dated
as of April 30, 1997 among Culligan Water Technologies, Inc., the Borrowing
Subsidiaries which are parties thereto, various financial institutions, ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Trust and Savings Bank, as Documentation Agent, LaSalle National Bank, as
Documentation Agent, The First National Bank of Chicago, as Syndication Agent,
and Bank of America Illinois, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used
herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings attributed to them in
the Credit Agreement.
In connection herewith, we have examined (i) counterparts of the Credit
Agreement executed by Culligan, each of the Lenders and the Administrative
Agent; (ii) the Notes issued by Culligan on the date hereof pursuant to the
Credit Agreement (the "Notes"); and (iii) the Guaranty issued by the initial
Guarantors (the "Initial Guarantors"). In connection with such examination, we
have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authority of the persons
signing such documents and the authenticity of such documents. We also have
assumed, without any independent investigation, (a) that each of the parties to
the Credit Agreement has duly authorized, executed and delivered
______, 1997
Page 2
the Credit Agreement pursuant to due power and authority, (b) that Culligan has
duly authorized, executed and delivered the Notes pursuant to due power and
authority, (c) that each of the Initial Guarantors has duly authorized, executed
and delivered the Guaranty pursuant to due power and authority and (d) that the
Credit Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party
thereto other than Culligan, and is enforceable against each such party in
accordance with its terms.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications set forth
below, we are of the opinion that, under the laws of the State of Illinois:
(1) The Credit Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of
Culligan, enforceable against Culligan in accordance with its terms.
(2) Each Note is the legal, valid and binding obligation of Culligan,
enforceable against Culligan in accordance with its terms.
(3) The Guaranty is the legal, valid and binding obligation of each
Initial Guarantor, enforceable against each Initial Guarantor in
accordance with its terms.
Our opinions are subject to the following qualifications:
(a) Our opinions are subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar law
affecting creditors' rights generally and to the effect of general principles of
equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law),
including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good
faith and fair dealing.
(b) We express no opinion as to indemnification or contribution obligations
which contravene public policy.
(c) We express no opinion as to any provision of the Credit Agreement
purporting to convey rights to Persons other than parties to the Credit
Agreement.
_______, 1997
Page 3
(d) We express no opinion as to any waiver of (i) the right to a jury
trial, (ii) any objection to venue or (iii) any right to bring legal proceedings
in any court having jurisdiction.
(e) Our opinions are limited to the laws of the State of Illinois, and we
express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.
This opinion letter is solely for the benefit of the addressees hereof (and
their respective successors and permitted assigns) in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement, and this opinion letter may
not be relied upon by any other Person or for any other purpose.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
RCB:WCT
EXHIBIT H
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT
-------------------------------------------
This ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT (this "Assignment and Acceptance")
dated as of __________, ____ is made between ______________________________ (the
"Assignor") and __________________________ (the "Assignee").
RECITALS
--------
The Assignor is party to the Short-Term Credit Agreement dated as of April
30, 1997 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement") among Culligan Water Technologies, Inc., various Subsidiaries
thereof, various financial institutions, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust and Savings Bank, as
Documentation Agent, LaSalle National Bank, as Documentation Agent, The First
National Bank of Chicago, as Syndication Agent, and Bank of America Illinois, as
Administrative Agent. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not defined in
this Assignment and Acceptance are used herein as defined in the Credit
Agreement.
The Assignor wishes to assign to the Assignee [part of the] [all] rights
and obligations of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement in respect of the
Loans, the Assignor's Commitment and the L/C Obligations and the other rights
and obligations of the Assignor thereunder, and the Assignee wishes to accept
assignment of such rights and to assume such obligations from the Assignor, in
each case on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Assignment and
Acceptance.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Assignment and Acceptance.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Assignment and
Acceptance, (i) the Assignor hereby sells, transfers and assigns to the
Assignee, and (ii) the Assignee hereby purchases, assumes and undertakes from
the
Assignor, without recourse and without representation or warranty (except as
provided in this Assignment and Acceptance),
(i) __% of the Assignor's Commitment, together with a corresponding
portion of the Assignor's outstanding Revolving Loans and of the Assignor's
rights and obligations in respect of its participation (whether funded or
unfunded) in Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations; and
(ii) all related rights, benefits, obligations, liabilities and
indemnities of the Assignor under and in connection with the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents
(all of the foregoing being herein called the "Assigned Rights and
Obligations").
(b) With effect on and after the Assignment Effective Date (as defined in
Section 5 hereof), the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and
succeed to all of the rights and be obligated to perform all of the obligations
of a Lender under the Credit Agreement, including the requirements concerning
confidentiality and the payment of indemnification, with a Pro Rata Share equal
to _______%. The Assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their
terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are
required to be performed by it as a Lender. It is the intent of the parties
hereto that (i) as of the Assignment Effective Date, the Pro Rata Share of the
Assignor shall be reduced to _______% and (ii) the Assignor shall relinquish its
rights and be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement to the
extent such obligations have been assumed by the Assignee; provided, however,
that the Assignor shall not relinquish its rights under Article IV or Section
12.4 or 12.5 of the Credit Agreement in respect of the Assigned Rights and
Obligations to the extent such rights relate to the time prior to the Assignment
Effective Date.
(c) After giving effect to the assignment and assumption set forth herein,
on the Assignment Effective Date the Assignee's Commitment will be
$_____________ and the Assignor's Commitment will be $________________.
2. Payments.
(a) As consideration for the sale, assignment and transfer contemplated in
Section 1 hereof, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor on the Assignment
Effective Date in immediately available funds an amount equal to the principal
amount of all outstanding and funded Loans and participations included within
the Assigned Rights and Obligations.*
(b) The [Assignor] [Assignee] further agrees to pay to the Administrative
Agent a processing fee in the amount specified in Section 12.8(a) of the Credit
Agreement.
3. Reallocation of Payments.
Any interest, fees and other payments accrued to the Assignment Effective
Date with respect to the Assigned Rights and Obligations shall be for the
account of the Assignor. Any interest, fees and other payments accrued on and
after the Assignment Effective Date with respect to the Assigned Rights and
Obligations shall be for the account of the Assignee. Each of the Assignor and
the Assignee agrees that it will hold in trust for the other party any interest,
fee or other amount which it may receive to which the other party is entitled
pursuant to the preceding two sentences and pay to the other party any such
amount which it may receive promptly upon receipt.
4. Independent Credit Decision.
The Assignee (a) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Credit
Agreement and the Schedules and Exhibits thereto, together with copies of the
most recent financial statements referred to in Section 6.11 or 7.1 of the
Credit Agreement, and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate to make its own credit and legal analysis and decision to enter into
this Assignment and Acceptance; and (b) agrees that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Assignor, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender
and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
time, continue to make its own credit and legal decisions in taking or not
taking action under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
5. Assignment Effective Date; Notices.
--------------------------
* This provision may be modified by the Assignor and the Assignee.
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(a) As between the Assignor and the Assignee, the effective date for this
Assignment and Acceptance shall be ______________ (the "Assignment Effective
Date"); provided that the following conditions precedent shall have been
satisfied on or before the Assignment Effective Date:
(i) this Assignment and Acceptance shall have been executed and
delivered by the Assignor and the Assignee;
(ii) the consent of Culligan, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Line
Lender and the Administrative Agent, to the extent required for an
effective assignment of the Assigned Rights and Obligations by the Assignor
to the Assignee under Section 12.8(a) of the Credit Agreement, shall have
been duly obtained and shall be in full force and effect as of the
Assignment Effective Date;
(iii) the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor all amounts due to the
Assignor under this Assignment and Acceptance; and
(iv) the processing fee referred to in Section 2(b) hereof shall
have been paid to the Administrative Agent.
(b) Promptly following the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance,
the Assignor shall deliver to Culligan, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Line
Lender and the Administrative Agent, for acknowledgement by the Administrative
Agent, a Notice of Assignment substantially in the form attached hereto as
Schedule 1.
[6. Administrative Agent. INCLUDE ONLY IF ASSIGNOR IS ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT]
(a) The Assignee hereby appoints and authorizes the Assignor to take such
action as Administrative Agent and to exercise such powers under the Credit
Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the Lenders pursuant
to the terms of the Credit Agreement.
(b) The Assignee shall assume no duties or obligations held by the
Assignor in its capacity as Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement.]
[6. Issuing Lender. [INCLUDE ONLY IF ASSIGNOR IS ISSUING LENDER.] The
Assignee shall assume no duties or obligations held by the Assignor in its
capacity as Issuing Lender under the Credit Agreement.]
H-4
[6. Swing Line Lender. [INCLUDE ONLY IF ASSIGNOR IS SWING LINE LENDER.]
The Assignee shall assume no duties or obligations held by the Assignor in its
capacity as Swing Line Lender under the Credit Agreement.]
7. Representations and Warranties.
(a) The Assignor represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and
beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such
interest is free and clear of any Lien or other adverse claim; (ii) it is duly
organized and existing and it has the full power and authority to take, and has
taken, all action necessary to execute and deliver this Assignment and
Acceptance and any other documents required or permitted to be executed or
delivered by it in connection with this Assignment and Acceptance and to fulfill
its obligations hereunder; (iii) no notices to, or consents, authorizations or
approvals of, any Person are required (other than any already given or obtained)
for its due execution, delivery and performance of this Assignment and
Acceptance, and apart from any agreements or undertakings or filings required by
the Credit Agreement, no further action by, or notice to, or filing with, any
Person is required of it for such execution, delivery or performance; and (iv)
this Assignment and Acceptance has been duly executed and delivered by it and
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Assignor, enforceable
against the Assignor in accordance with the terms hereof, subject, as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and other
laws of general application relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equitable principles.
(b) The Assignor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no
responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations
made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the execution, legality,
validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit
Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto. The
Assignor makes no representation or warranty in connection with, and assumes no
responsibility with respect to, the solvency, financial condition or statements
of the Borrowers or any other Loan Party, or the performance or observance by
the Borrowers or any other Loan Party of any of their obligations under the
Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished in connection
therewith.
(c) The Assignee represents and warrants that (i) it is duly organized
and existing and it has full power and authority to take, and has taken, all
action necessary to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and any
other documents required or permitted to be executed or delivered by it in
H-5
connection with this Assignment and Acceptance, and to fulfill its obligations
hereunder; (ii) no notices to, or consents, authorizations or approvals of, any
Person are required (other than any already given or obtained) for its due
execution, delivery and performance of this Assignment and Acceptance; and apart
from any agreements or undertakings or filings required by the Credit Agreement,
no further action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Person is required of it
for such execution, delivery or performance; (iii) this Assignment and
Acceptance has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes the legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Assignee, enforceable against the Assignee
in accordance with the terms hereof, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and other laws of general application
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equitable principles;
and (iv) it is an Eligible Assignee.
8. Further Assurances.
The Assignor and the Assignee hereby agree to execute and deliver such
other instruments, and take such other action, as either party may reasonably
request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Assignment and
Acceptance, including the delivery of any notices or other documents or
instruments to Culligan or the Administrative Agent which may be required in
connection with the assignment and assumption contemplated hereby.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Assignment and
Acceptance shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto. No failure or
delay by either party hereto in exercising any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof and any waiver of any breach of the
provisions of this Assignment and Acceptance shall be without prejudice to any
rights with respect to any other or further breach thereof.
(b) All payments made hereunder shall be made without any set-off or
counterclaim.
(c) The Assignor and the Assignee shall each pay its own costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and
performance of this Assignment and Acceptance.
(d) This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of
counterparts and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to
constitute one and the same instrument.
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(e) THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE
AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE. Each party to this Assignment
and Acceptance irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any
State or Federal court sitting in ▇▇▇▇ County, Illinois over any suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Assignment and Acceptance and
irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may
be heard and determined in such Illinois State or Federal court. Each party to
this Assignment and Acceptance hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
it may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the
maintenance of such action or proceeding.
(f) THE ASSIGNOR AND THE ASSIGNEE EACH HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND
INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY
LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR
AGREEMENT OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING OR STATEMENT (WHETHER ORAL
OR WRITTEN) RELATED THERETO.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Assignor and the Assignee have caused this
Assignment and Acceptance to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized
officers as of the date first above written.
[ASSIGNOR]
By:
-----------------------------
Title:
--------------------------
Address:
[ASSIGNEE]
By:
-----------------------------
Title:
--------------------------
Address:
H-7
SCHEDULE 1
NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
-----------------------------------
_______________, ____
Bank of America Illinois, as
Administrative Agent, Swing
Line Lender and Issuing Lender
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn:
Culligan Water Technologies, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please refer to the Short-Term Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997
(as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement")
among Culligan Water Technologies, Inc., various Subsidiaries thereof, various
financial institutions, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust and Savings Bank, as Documentation Agent,
LaSalle National Bank, as Documentation Agent, The First National Bank of
Chicago, as Syndication Agent, and Bank of America Illinois, as Administrative
Agent. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein
defined.
1. We hereby give you notice of[, and request your consent to,] the
assignment by __________________ (the "Assignor") to _______________ (the
"Assignee") pursuant to the Assignment and Acceptance Agreement attached hereto
(the "Assignment and Acceptance") of:
(i) __% of the Assignor's Commitment, together with a corresponding
portion of the Assignor's outstanding Revolving Loans, the Assignor's
rights and obligations in respect of its participation (whether funded or
unfunded) in Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations; and
(ii) all related rights, benefits, obligations, liabilities and
indemnities of the Assignor under and in connection with the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
After giving effect to such assignment, the Assignee shall have a Pro Rata
Share equal to _______%. As of the Assignment Effective Date, the Pro Rata
Share of the Assignor shall be reduced to _______%.
2. The Assignee agrees that[, upon receiving the consent of the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender and Culligan to
such assignment,] the Assignee will be bound by the terms of the Credit
Agreement as fully and to the same extent as if the Assignee were the Lender
originally holding such interest in the Credit Agreement.
3. The following administrative details apply to the Assignee:
(A) Notice Address:
Assignee name: __________________________
Address: _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
Attention: _____________________________
Telephone: (___) _______________________
Facsimile: (___) ______________________
(B) Payment Instructions:
Account No.: ___________________________
At: ___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
Reference: ___________________________
Attention: ___________________________
(C) Correspondent Bank for Assignee:
(i) Notice Address for Correspondent Bank:
Correspondent Bank name: ________________
Address: _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
Attention: _____________________________
Telephone: (___) _______________________
Telecopier: (___) ______________________
Telex (Answerback): ____________________
(ii) Payment Instructions for Correspondent Bank:
Account No.: ___________________________
At: ___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
Reference: ___________________________
Attention: ___________________________
4. You are entitled to rely upon the representations, warranties and
covenants of each of the Assignor and the Assignee contained in the Assignment
and Acceptance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Assignor and the Assignee have caused this Notice
of Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their respective duly authorized
officials, officers or agents as of the date first above mentioned.
Very truly yours,
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By:
-------------------------------
Title:
-------------------------
By:
-------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By:
-------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------
3
By:
-------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------
ACKNOWLEDGED [AND ASSIGNMENT
CONSENTED TO]:
CULLIGAN WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:
-----------------------------
Its:
----------------------------
BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS, as
Administrative Agent
By:
-----------------------------
Its:
----------------------------
BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS,
as Issuing Lender
By:
-----------------------------
Its:
----------------------------
BANK OF AMERICA ILLINOIS,
as Swing Line Lender
By:
-----------------------------
Its:
----------------------------
4
EXHIBIT I-1
FORM OF
REVOLVING NOTE
_____________, ____
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the "Borrower") hereby promises
to pay to the order of ___________________ (the "Lender"), on or before the
Maturity Date, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans made
by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Short-Term Credit Agreement dated
as of April 30, 1997 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Credit Agreement") among [the Borrower/Culligan Water Technologies, Inc.], the
Borrowing Subsidiaries party thereto [(including the Borrower)], various
financial institutions (including the Lender), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust and Savings Bank, as
Documentation Agent, LaSalle National Bank, as Documentation Agent, The First
National Bank of Chicago, as Syndication Agent, and Bank of America Illinois, as
Administrative Agent. The Borrower further promises to pay interest on the
unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans made to the Borrower from time to
time at the rates, on the dates, and otherwise as provided in the Credit
Agreement.
The Lender is authorized to endorse the amount and the date on which
each Revolving Loan is made to the Borrower and each payment of principal with
respect thereto on the schedules annexed hereto and made a part hereof, or on
continuations thereof which shall be attached hereto and made a part hereof;
provided that any failure to endorse such information on such schedule or
continuation thereof shall not in any manner affect any obligation of the
Borrower under the Credit Agreement or this Revolving Note (this "Note").
This Note is one of the Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the
benefits of, the Credit Agreement, which (among other things) contains
provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain
stated events and also for prepayments of principal hereof prior to the maturity
hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as defined therein
unless otherwise defined herein. This Note shall be governed by, and construed
and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois applicable
to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.
[BORROWER]
By:
-----------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
Schedule A to Note
BASE RATE LOANS AND REPAYMENTS OF BASE RATE LOANS
-------------------------------------------------
(3)
(2) Amount
Amount of Base (4)
(1) of Base Rate Loan Notation
Date Rate Loan Repaid Made By
---- --------- ------ -------
Schedule B to Note
OFFSHORE RATE LOANS AND REPAYMENTS OF OFFSHORE RATE LOANS
---------------------------------------------------------
(2)
Currency (3) (4)
and Interest Amount of
Amount of Period for Offshore (5)
(1) Offshore Offshore Rate Notation
Date Rate Loan Rate Loan Loan Repaid Made By
EXHIBIT I-2
FORM OF
SWING LINE NOTE
$5,000,000 ___________, ____
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Culligan Water Technologies, Inc.
("Culligan"), hereby promises to pay to the order of Bank of America Illinois
("BofA"), as Swing Line Lender (the "Swing Line Lender"), on or before the
Revolving Termination Date, the principal amount of Five Million U.S. Dollars
or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Swing Line Loans made
by the Swing Line Lender to Culligan pursuant to the Short-Term Credit Agreement
dated as of April 30, 1997 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time,
the "Credit Agreement") among Culligan, certain Subsidiaries of Culligan,
various financial institutions, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust and Savings Bank, as Documentation
Agent, LaSalle National Bank, as Documentation Agent, The First National Bank of
Chicago, as Syndication Agent, and Bank of America Illinois, as Administrative
Agent. Culligan further promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount
of the Swing Line Loans from time to time at the rates, on the dates, and
otherwise as provided in the Credit Agreement.
The Swing Line Lender is authorized to endorse the amount and the date on
which each Swing Line Loan is made and each payment of principal with respect
thereto on the schedule annexed hereto and made a part hereof, or on
continuations thereof which shall be attached hereto and made a part hereof;
provided that any failure to endorse such information on such schedule or
continuation thereof shall not in any manner affect any obligation of Culligan
under the Credit Agreement or this Swing Line Note.
This Swing Line Note is one of the Notes referred to in, and is entitled to
the benefits of, the Credit Agreement, which (among other things) contains
provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain
stated events and also for prepayments of principal hereof prior to the maturity
hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as defined therein
unless otherwise defined herein. This Swing Line Note shall be governed by, and
construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois
applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.
CULLIGAN WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:
-----------------------------
Title:
--------------------------
SCHEDULE
Schedule attached to Swing Line Note dated __________, ____ of Culligan Water
Technologies, Inc. payable to the order of Bank of America Illinois, as Swing
Line Lender.
Date of Amount of Amount of Principal Notation
Swing Line Swing Line Repayment Amount Made By
Loan Loan Outstanding
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EXHIBIT J
FORM OF
REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF REVOLVING TERMINATION DATE
___________________________, _____
Bank of America Illinois, as
Administrative Agent, and
the Lenders party to the
Short-Term Credit Agreement
referred to below
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ___________________
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please refer to the Short-Term Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1997
(as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"),
among Culligan Water Technologies, Inc., the Borrowing Subsidiaries from time to
time parties thereto, various financial institutions and Bank of America
Illinois, as Administrative Agent. Terms used but not otherwise defined herein
are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.
In accordance with Section 2.23 of the Credit Agreement, Culligan hereby
requests that each Lender consent to an extension of the Revolving Termination
Date from _________, ____, to __________, _____.
Culligan hereby certifies that: (a) all the representations and warranties
contained in Article VI of the Credit Agreement are true and correct on and as
of the date hereof with the same effect as though made on the date hereof
(except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an
earlier date, in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date);
and (b) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
Please indicate your consent to such extension by signing the enclosed
counterparts of this letter and returning one to Culligan and the other to the
Administrative Agent.
Very truly yours,
CULLIGAN WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:_________________________
Title:______________________
The undersigned consents to
the extension of the Revolving
Termination Date requested above
[NAME OF LENDER]
By:_____________________________
Title:__________________________
Date:___________________________