Form 8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report: December 2, 2005

(Date of earliest event reported)

 


 

SunPower Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   000-51593   94-3008969

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

430 Indio Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94085

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (408) 991-0900

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240-13e-4(c))

 



Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

See disclosure contained in Item 2.03 below, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

 

On December 2, 2005, Registrant entered into a Credit Agreement with Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as both Administrative Agent and a Lender (“CSCI”), and with Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as a Lender, in order to obtain a $25 million revolving credit line (the “Credit Agreement”). Registrant and SunPower North America, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Registrant (“SPNA”), entered into an associated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2005, with CSCI as Administrative Agent, (the “Collateral Agreement” and together with the Credit Agreement, the “Loan Documents”). CSCI and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. are affiliates of Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Lehman Brother Inc., respectively, who served as managing underwriters in Registrant’s initial public offering that closed on November 22, 2005.

 

During the three-year term of the Credit Agreement, Registrant may request that letters of credit be issued or that loans be made, provided that the no more than $10 million of letters of credit may be outstanding at any one time and provided further that the combination of outstanding letters of credit and loans may not exceed $25 million at any time (the “Cap”). As detailed in the Credit Agreement, Registrant pays interest on outstanding borrowings and a fee for outstanding letters of credit as well as a commitment fee for available but unused credit. Registrant has the ability at any time to prepay outstanding loans as well as the ability at any time to irrevocably reduce the amount of the Cap of the credit line. All borrowings must be repaid and all letters of credit shall expire on December 2, 2008.

 

Under the terms of the Collateral Agreement, Registrant and SPNA have pledged as security all of their assets, including, without limitation, bank and securities accounts, inventory, accounts receivable, real estate and intellectual property rights, but only sixty-six percent of Registrant’s holdings in SunPower Technology, Ltd., a wholly-owned Cayman Islands subsidiary of Registrant, or any other wholly-owned foreign subsidiary Registrant may in the future establish. Pursuant to the Collateral Agreement, SPNA also has guaranteed Registrant’s obligations under the Credit Agreement. In addition, under the Credit Agreement, Registrant must maintain in an account with limited access the lesser of (a) 40% of the then Cap of the line of credit and (b) the amount of borrowings and letters of credit then outstanding. The Loan Documents include certain conditions to borrowings, representations and covenants, and events of default.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c) Exhibits

 

Exhibit 10.29, Credit Agreement between Registrant, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent and a Lender, and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as a Lender, entered into on December 2, 2005.

 

Exhibit 10.30, Guarantee and Collateral Agreement between Registrant, SunPower North America, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Registrant, and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent, entered into on December 2, 2005.


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on the 7th day of December, 2005.

 

SUNPOWER CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By:  

/s/ Emmanuel T. Hernandez


    Emmanuel T. Hernandez
    Chief Financial Officer


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit

 

Description


10.29   Exhibit 10.29, Credit Agreement between Registrant, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent and a Lender, and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as a Lender, entered into on December 2, 2005.
10.30   Exhibit 10.30, Guarantee and Collateral Agreement between Registrant, SunPower North America, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Registrant, and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent, entered into on December 2, 2005.
Credit Agreement

EXHIBIT 10.29

 


 

$25,000,000 Senior Secured Revolving Facility

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

among

 

SUNPOWER CORPORATION,

as Borrower,

 

The Several Lenders from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

 

and

 

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent

 

Dated as of December 2, 2005

 


 

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH and

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

            Page

SECTION 1.

     DEFINITIONS    1

1.1

     Defined Terms.    1

1.2

     Other Definitional Provisions    17

SECTION 2.

     AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS    18

2.1

     Commitments    18

2.2

     Procedure for Borrowing    18

2.3

     Commitment Fees, etc    19

2.4

     Termination or Reduction of Commitments    19

2.5

     Optional Prepayments    19

2.6

     Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions    20

2.7

     Conversion and Continuation Options    20

2.8

     Limitations on Eurodollar Tranches    21

2.9

     Interest Rates and Payment Dates    21

2.10

     Computation of Interest and Fees    21

2.11

     Inability to Determine Interest Rate    22

2.12

     Pro Rata Treatment and Payments    22

2.13

     Requirements of Law    23

2.14

     Taxes    24

2.15

     Indemnity    26

2.16

     Change of Lending Office    26

2.17

     Replacement of Lenders    26

2.18

     Notes.    27

SECTION 3.

     LETTERS OF CREDIT    27

3.1

     L/C Commitment    27

3.2

     Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit    28

3.3

     Fees and Other Charges    28

3.4

     L/C Participations    28

3.5

     Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower    29

3.6

     Obligations Absolute    29

3.7

     Letter of Credit Payments    30

3.8

     Applications    30

3.9

     Resignation of the Issuing Lender    30

SECTION 4.

     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    30

4.1

     Financial Condition    30

4.2

     No Change    31

4.3

     Existence; Compliance with Law    31

4.4

     Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations    31

4.5

     No Legal Bar    31

4.6

     Litigation    32

4.7

     No Default    32


4.8

     Ownership of Property; Liens    32

4.9

     Intellectual Property    32

4.10

     Taxes    32

4.11

     Federal Regulations    32

4.12

     Labor Matters    32

4.13

     ERISA    33

4.14

     Investment Company Act; Other Regulations    33

4.15

     Subsidiaries    33

4.16

     Use of Proceeds    33

4.17

     Environmental Matters    33

4.18

     Accuracy of Information, etc    34

4.19

     Security Documents    34

4.20

     Solvency    35

4.21

     Regulation H    35

SECTION 5.

     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT    35

5.1

     Conditions to Effectiveness of this Agreement    35

5.2

     Conditions to Each First Out Tranche Extension of Credit    37

5.3

     Conditions to Each Last Out Tranche Extension of Credit    37

SECTION 6.

     AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS    38

6.1

     Financial Statements    38

6.2

     Certificates; Other Information    38

6.3

     Payment of Obligations    39

6.4

     Maintenance of Existence; Compliance    39

6.5

     Maintenance of Property; Insurance    39

6.6

     Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions    39

6.7

     Notices    40

6.8

     Additional Collateral, etc    40

6.9

     Controlled Account    41

6.10

     Post-Closing Matters    41

SECTION 7.

     NEGATIVE COVENANTS    42

7.1

     Indebtedness    42

7.2

     Liens    42

7.3

     Fundamental Changes    44

7.4

     Disposition of Property    44

7.5

     Restricted Payments    45

7.6

     Investments    45

7.7

     Transactions with Affiliates    45

7.8

     Sale Leaseback Transactions    46

7.9

     Swap Agreements    46

7.10

     Negative Pledge Clauses    46

7.11

     Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions    46

7.12

     Lines of Business    46

SECTION 8.

     EVENTS OF DEFAULT    46


SECTION 9.

     THE AGENTS    49

9.1  

     Appointment and Authority.    49

9.2  

     Delegation of Duties    49

9.3  

     Exculpatory Provisions    49

9.4  

     Reliance by Administrative Agent    50

9.5  

     Notice of Default    51

9.6  

     Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders    51

9.7  

     Indemnification    51

9.8  

     Agent in Its Individual Capacity    52

9.9  

     Successor Administrative Agent    52

9.10  

     Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners    52

SECTION 10.

     MISCELLANEOUS    53

10.1  

     Amendments and Waivers    53

10.2  

     Notices    53

10.3  

     No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies    54

10.4  

     Survival of Representations and Warranties    54

10.5  

     Payment of Expenses and Taxes    54

10.6  

     Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments    56

10.7  

     Adjustments; Set-off    58

10.8  

     Counterparts    59

10.9  

     Severability    59

10.10  

     Integration    59

10.11  

     GOVERNING LAW    59

10.12  

     Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers    59

10.13  

     Acknowledgements    60

10.14  

     Releases of Guarantees and Liens    60

10.15  

     Confidentiality    61

10.16  

     WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL    61

10.17  

     Patriot Act    61


SCHEDULES:

1.1

  

Commitments

4.4

  

Consents, Authorizations, Filings and Notices

4.8

  

Real Estate

4.15

  

Subsidiaries

4.19

  

UCC Filing Jurisdictions

7.1(d)

  

Existing Indebtedness

7.2(f)

  

Existing Liens

7.7

  

Excluded Transactions with Affiliates

EXHIBITS:

A

  

Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

B

  

Form of Compliance Certificate

C

  

Form of Closing Certificate

D

  

Form of Assignment and Assumption

E

  

Form of Legal Opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

F

  

Form of Exemption Certificate

G-1

  

Form of First Out Tranche Loan Note

G-2

  

Form of Last Out Tranche Loan Note


CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 2, 2005, among SUNPOWER CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties to this Agreement (the “Lenders”), and CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (“Credit Suisse”), as administrative agent.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower desires to obtain financing for working capital financing and general corporate purposes;

 

WHEREAS, the Lenders have agreed to extend certain credit facilities consisting of $25,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Commitments;

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has agreed to secure all of its Obligations by granting to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a first priority lien on substantially all of its assets; and

 

WHEREAS, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors has agreed to guarantee the Obligations of the Borrower and to secure its respective Obligations by granting to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a first priority lien on substantially all of its assets.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 Defined Terms.

 

As used in this Agreement (including the recitals hereof), the terms listed in this Section 1.1 shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1.1.

 

ABR”: for any day, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus  1/2 of 1%. Any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

 

ABR Loans”: Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based upon the ABR.

 

Administrative Agent”: Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, together with its affiliates, as the administrative agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with any of its successors in such capacity.

 

Administrative Agent’s Fee Letter”: the confidential Fee Letter, dated as of the date hereof, between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate”: as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person or (b) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.

 

1


Agreement”: as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Applicable Commitment Fee Rate”: the rate per annum set forth under the relevant column heading below:

 

First Out Tranche
Commitments


  Last Out Tranche
Commitments


0.125%

  0.25%

 

Applicable Margin”: for each Type of Loan, the rate per annum set forth under the relevant column heading below:

 

     ABR Loans

    Eurodollar Loans

 

First Out Tranche Loans

   0.00 %   1.00 %

Last Out Tranche Loans

   2.00 %   3.00 %

 

Application”: an application, in such form as the Issuing Lender may specify from time to time, requesting the Issuing Lender to issue a Letter of Credit.

 

Approved Fund”: as defined in Section 10.6(b).

 

Asset Sale”: any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property (excluding any such Disposition permitted by clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) of Section 7.4) that yields gross proceeds to any Group Member (valued at the initial principal amount thereof in the case of non-cash proceeds consisting of notes or other debt securities and valued at fair market value in the case of other non-cash proceeds) in excess of $250,000.

 

Assignee”: as defined in Section 10.6(b).

 

Assignment and Assumption”: an Assignment and Assumption, substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

 

Available Commitment”: as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Commitments then in effect over (b) such Lender’s Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Available First Out Tranche Commitment”: as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s First Out Tranche Commitments then in effect over (b) such Lender’s First Out Tranche Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Available Last Out Tranche Commitment”: as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Last Out Tranche Commitments then in effect over (b) such Lender’s Last Out Tranche Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Benefitted Lender”: as defined in Section 10.7(a).

 

Board”: the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

 

2


Borrower”: as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Borrowing Date”: any Business Day specified by the Borrower as a date on which the Borrower requests the relevant Lenders to make Loans hereunder.

 

Business”: as defined in Section 4.17(b).

 

Business Day”: a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close, provided, that with respect to notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, Eurodollar Loans, such day is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the interbank eurodollar market.

 

Capital Lease Obligations”: as to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Stock”: any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

 

Cash Equivalents”: (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000; (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-1 by S&P or P-1 by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally, and maturing within six months from the date of acquisition; (d) repurchase obligations of any Lender or of any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition, having a term of not more than 30 days, with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government; (e) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s; (f) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition; (g) auction rate securities subject to a “dutch auction” process within 90 days or less (provided that such auction rate securities are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s); (h) money market mutual or similar funds that invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a) through (g) of this definition; or (i) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000.

 

Certificated Securities”: as defined in Section 4.19(a).

 

3


Change of Control”: at any time, (a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), excluding the Permitted Investors, shall become, or obtain rights (whether by means or warrants, options or otherwise) to become, the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50.0% of the voting power for the election of directors of the Borrower (determined on a fully diluted basis); or (b) the board of directors of the Borrower shall cease to consist of a majority of Continuing Directors.

 

Closing Date”: the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.1 shall have been satisfied, which date is December 2, 2005.

 

Code”: the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

Collateral”: all property of the Loan Parties, now owned or hereafter acquired, upon which a Lien is purported to be created by any Security Document.

 

Commitments”: collectively, the First Out Tranche Commitments and the Last Out Tranche Commitments.

 

Commitment Period”: the period from and including the Closing Date to the Termination Date.

 

Commonly Controlled Entity”: an entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or is part of a group that includes the Borrower and that is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

Compliance Certificate”: a certificate duly executed by a Responsible Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

 

Consolidated Adjusted Net Income”: for any fiscal quarter of the Borrower, Consolidated Net Income for such fiscal quarter plus, without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such fiscal quarter, the sum of (a) taxes paid in cash during such fiscal quarter, (b) depreciation and amortization expense for such fiscal quarter, and (c) the Consolidated Working Capital Adjustment for such fiscal quarter.

 

Consolidated Capital Expenditures”: for any period, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or other consideration or accrued as a liability and including that portion of Capital Lease Obligations which is capitalized on the consolidated balance sheet of the Group Members) by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a capital lease) of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements during such period) that, in conformity with GAAP, are included in “additions to property, plant or equipment” or comparable items reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows of such Person and its Subsidiaries.

 

Consolidated Current Assets”: at any date, all amounts (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date.

 

Consolidated Current Liabilities”: at any date, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date, but excluding (a) the current portion of any Funded Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (b) without duplication of clause (a) above, all Indebtedness consisting of Loans to the extent otherwise included therein.

 

4


Consolidated Interest Expense”: for any period, total cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).

 

Consolidated Net Income”: for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower) in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Working Capital”: at any date, the excess of Consolidated Current Assets on such date over Consolidated Current Liabilities on such date.

 

Consolidated Working Capital Adjustment”: for any period on a consolidated basis, the amount (which may be a negative number) by which Consolidated Working Capital as of the beginning of such period exceeds (or is less than) Consolidated Working Capital as of the end of such period.

 

Continuing Directors”: the directors of the Borrower on the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, and each other director, if, in each case, such other director’s nomination for election to the board of directors of the Borrower is recommended by at least 662/3% of the then Continuing Directors or such other director receives the vote of the Permitted Investors in his or her election by the shareholders of the Borrower.

 

Contractual Obligation”: as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

 

Controlled Account”: an account of the Borrower maintained with Credit Suisse or another financial institution reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which account shall be governed by an account control agreement satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, subject to the restrictions contained in Section 6.9 and subject to a perfected, first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

Coverage Ratio”: for any fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Adjusted Net Income for such fiscal quarter to (b) Consolidated Capital Expenditures for such fiscal quarter.

 

Credit Suisse”: as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Cypress”: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

 

5


Default”: any of the events specified in Section 8, whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

 

Disposition”: with respect to any property (including, without limitation, Capital Stock of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), any sale, lease, Sale Leaseback Transaction, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition thereof and any issuance of Capital Stock of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Dollars” and “$”: dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

 

Domestic Subsidiary”: any Subsidiary of the Borrower organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States.

 

Eligible Assignee”: (a) any Lender, any Affiliate of a Lender and any Approved Fund (any two or more Approved Funds with respect to a particular Lender being treated as a single Eligible Assignee for all purposes hereof), and (b) any commercial bank, insurance company, investment or mutual fund or other entity that is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) and which extends credit or buys loans as one of its businesses; provided that neither the Borrower nor any Affiliate of the Borrower shall be an Eligible Assignee.

 

Environmental Laws”: any and all foreign, Federal, state, local or municipal laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes, decrees, requirements of any Governmental Authority or other Requirements of Law (including common law) regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning protection of human health or the environment, as now or may at any time hereafter be in effect.

 

ERISA”: the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

 

Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements”: for any day as applied to a Eurodollar Loan, the aggregate (without duplication) of the maximum rates (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve requirements in effect on such day (including basic, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves) under any regulations of the Board or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto dealing with reserve requirements prescribed for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board) maintained by a member bank of the Federal Reserve System.

 

Eurodollar Base Rate”: with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, the rate per annum determined by reference to the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period in Dollars, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) two (2) Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period (as set forth by Bloomberg Information Service or any successor thereto or any other service selected by the Administrative Agent which has been nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying such rates). In the event that the rate referenced in the preceding sentence is not available, the “Eurodollar Base Rate” shall be determined by reference to the rate per annum equal to the offered quotation rate to first class banks in the London interbank market by Credit Suisse for deposits (for delivery on the first day of the relevant Interest Period) in Dollars of amounts in same day funds comparable to the principal amount of the applicable Loan of Administrative Agent, in its capacity as a Lender, for which the Eurodollar Base Rate is then being determined with maturities comparable to such period as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) two (2) Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period.

 

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Eurodollar Loans”: Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based upon the Eurodollar Rate.

 

Eurodollar Rate”: with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, a rate per annum determined for such day in accordance with the following formula (rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th of 1%):

 

Eurodollar Base Rate


1.00 - Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements

 

Eurodollar Tranche”: the collective reference to Eurodollar Loans the then current Interest Periods with respect to all of which begin on the same date and end on the same later date (whether or not such Loans shall originally have been made on the same day).

 

Event of Default”: any of the events specified in Section 8, provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

 

Extensions of Credit”: as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Loans held by such Lender then outstanding, and (b) such Lender’s Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding.

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate”: for any day, the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day of such transactions received by Credit Suisse from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

Fee Payment Date”: (a) the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December (commencing on December 30, 2005) and (b) the last day of the Commitment Period.

 

First Out Tranche”: as defined in Section 2.1(a).

 

First Out Tranche Commitment”: as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make First Out Tranche Loans and participate in Letters of Credit in an aggregate principal and/or face amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “First Out Tranche Commitment” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

First Out Tranche Extensions of Credit”: as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all First Out Tranche Loans held by such Lender then outstanding, and (b) such Lender’s Percentage of the First Out Tranche L/C Obligations then outstanding.

 

First Out Tranche L/C Obligations”: at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit in respect of the First Out Tranche and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit in respect of the First Out Tranche that have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.

 

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First Out Tranche Loan Note”: a promissory note in the form of Exhibit G-1, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

First Out Tranche Loans”: as defined in Section 2.1(a).

 

Foreign Subsidiary”: any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Funding Office”: the office of the Administrative Agent specified in Section 10.2 or such other office as may be specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its funding office by written notice to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

GAAP”: generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time, except that for purposes of calculating the Coverage Ratio, GAAP shall be determined on the basis of such principles in effect on the date hereof and consistent with those used in the preparation of the most recent audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.1. In the event that any “Accounting Change” (as defined below) shall occur and such change results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to reflect equitably such Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Borrower’s financial condition shall be the same after such Accounting Changes as if such Accounting Changes had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such Accounting Changes had not occurred. “Accounting Changes” refers to changes in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or, if applicable, the SEC.

 

Governmental Approval”: any consent, authorization, approval, order, license, franchise, permit, certificate, accreditation, registration, filing or notice, of, issued by, from or to, or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority.

 

Governmental Authority”: any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, any securities exchange and any self-regulatory organization (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners).

 

Group Members”: the collective reference to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”: the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement to be executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

Guarantee Obligation”: as to any Person (the “guaranteeing person”), any obligation, including a reimbursement, counterindemnity or similar obligation, of the guaranteeing person that guarantees or in effect guarantees, or which is given to induce the creation of a separate obligation by another Person (including any bank under any letter of credit) that guarantees or in effect guarantees, any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (the “primary obligations”) of any other third Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any

 

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property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency 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 owner of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee Obligation, unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Borrower in good faith.

 

Incurrence Test”: as defined in Section 5.3(d).

 

Indebtedness”: of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than current trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement 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), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations and all Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under or in respect of acceptances, letters of credit, surety bonds or similar arrangements, (g) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above, (h) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, and (i) for the purposes of Section 8(e) only, all obligations of such Person in respect of Swap Agreements. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

 

Insolvency”: with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

 

Insolvent”: pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.

 

Intellectual Property”: the collective reference to all rights, priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise, including copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, trademarks, trademark licenses, technology, know-how and processes, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom.

 

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Interest Payment Date”: (a) as to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December (commencing on December 30, 2005) to occur while such Loan is outstanding and the final maturity date of such Loan, (b) as to any Eurodollar Loan having an Interest Period of three months or less, the last day of such Interest Period, (c) as to any Eurodollar Loan having an Interest Period longer than three months, each day that is three months, or a whole multiple thereof, after the first day of such Interest Period and the last day of such Interest Period, and (d) as to any Loan (other than any Loan that is an ABR Loan), the date of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof.

 

Interest Period”: as to any Eurodollar Loan, (a) initially, the period commencing on the borrowing or conversion date, as the case may be, with respect to such Eurodollar Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its notice of borrowing or notice of conversion, as the case may be, given with respect thereto; and (b) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the next preceding Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower by irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date that is three Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto; provided that all of the foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following:

 

(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 next succeeding 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 immediately preceding Business Day;

 

(ii) the Borrower may not select an Interest Period that would extend beyond the Termination Date;

 

(iii) any Interest Period 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 a calendar month; and

 

(iv) the Borrower shall select Interest Periods so as not to require a payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar Loan during an Interest Period for such Loan.

 

Investments”: as defined in Section 7.6.

 

IPO”: the initial public offering of the Borrower’s class A common stock.

 

Issuing Lender”: Credit Suisse or any affiliate thereof, in its capacity as issuer of any Letter of Credit or, if such Issuing Lender shall not be acceptable to any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, for purposes of such Letter of Credit, such other Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender that, with the approval of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, agrees, pursuant to an agreement with and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be bound by the terms hereof applicable to the Issuing Lender.

 

Last Out Tranche”: as defined in Section 2.1(a).

 

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Last Out Tranche Commitment”: as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make Last Out Tranche Loans and participate in Letters of Credit in an aggregate principal and/or face amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Last Out Tranche Commitment” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

Last Out Tranche Extensions of Credit”: as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Last Out Tranche Loans held by such Lender then outstanding, and (b) such Lender’s Percentage of the Last Out Tranche L/C Obligations then outstanding.

 

Last Out Tranche L/C Obligations”: at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit in respect of the Last Out Tranche and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit in respect of the Last Out Tranche that have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.

 

Last Out Tranche Loan Note”: a promissory note in the form of Exhibit G-2, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Last Out Tranche Loans”: as defined in Section 2.1(a).

 

L/C Commitment”: $10,000,000.

 

L/C Obligations”: at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit that have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.

 

L/C Participants”: the collective reference to all the Lenders other than the Issuing Lender.

 

Lenders”: as defined in the preamble hereto; provided, that unless the context otherwise requires, each reference herein to the Lenders shall be deemed to include any Issuing Lender.

 

Letter of Credit Availability Period”: the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the date that is 30 days prior to the Termination Date.

 

Letters of Credit”: as defined in Section 3.1(a).

 

Lien”: any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, collateral assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Loan”: any loan made or maintained by any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Loan Documents”: this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Notes and any amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, waiver, supplement or other modification to any of the foregoing.

 

Loan Parties”: each Group Member that is a party to a Loan Document.

 

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Material Adverse Effect”: a material adverse effect on (a) the Transactions, (b) the business, assets, liabilities, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or operating results of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (c) the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party or (d) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.

 

Materials of Environmental Concern”: any substance, material or waste that is defined, regulated, governed or otherwise characterized under any Environmental Law as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant (or by words of similar meaning and regulatory effect), any petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea-formaldehyde insulation, molds or fungus, and radioactivity, radiofrequency radiation at levels known to be hazardous to human health and safety.

 

Minimum Amount”: at any time, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) forty percent (40%) of the Total Commitments then in effect and (ii) Total Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Moody’s”: Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

Mortgaged Properties”: the real properties as to which the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, shall be granted a Lien pursuant to the Mortgages.

 

Mortgages”: each of the mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt or such equivalent documents hereafter entered into and executed and delivered by one or more of the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent, in each case, as such documents may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, renewed or replaced from time to time and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

Multiemployer Plan”: a Plan that is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

Net Cash Proceeds”: (a) in connection with any Asset Sale or any Recovery Event, the proceeds thereof in the form of cash and cash equivalents (including any such proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received), net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien expressly permitted hereunder on any asset that is the subject of such Asset Sale or Recovery Event (other than any Lien pursuant to a Security Document) and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith and net of taxes paid and the Borrower’s reasonable and good faith estimate of income, franchise, sales, and other applicable taxes required to be paid by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor in connection with such Asset Sale or Recovery Event in the taxable year that such Asset Sale or Recovery Event is consummated, the computation of which shall, in each such case, take into account the reduction in tax liability resulting from any available operating losses and net operating loss carryovers, tax credits, and tax credit carry forwards, and similar tax attributes and (b) in connection with any incurrence of Indebtedness, the cash proceeds received from such incurrence, net of attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting discounts and commissions and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith.

 

New York UCC”: the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.

 

Non-Excluded Taxes”: as defined in Section 2.14(a).

 

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Non-Guarantor Subsidiary”: each Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Non-U.S. Lender”: as defined in Section 2.14(d).

 

Note”: a First Out Tranche Loan Note or a Last Out Tranche Loan Note.

 

Obligations”: the unpaid principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after the maturity of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower or any Guarantor, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) the Loans and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Letters of Credit or any other document made, delivered or given in connection herewith or therewith, whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses (including all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender that are required to be paid by the Borrower or any Guarantor pursuant hereto) or otherwise.

 

Other Taxes”: any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

Participant”: as defined in Section 10.6(c).

 

Patriot Act”: the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001.

 

PBGC”: the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA (or any successor).

 

Percentage”: as to any Lender at any time, (i) the percentage which such Lender’s (x) Commitments then constitutes of the Total Commitments, (y) First Out Tranche Commitments then constitutes of the Total First Out Tranche Commitments and (z) Last Out Tranche Commitments then constitutes of the Total Last Out Tranche Commitments or, (ii) at any time after the Commitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Loans then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans then outstanding.

 

Permitted Investors”: the collective reference to Cypress and its Affiliates.

 

Person”: an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

 

Plan”: at a particular time, any employee benefit plan that is covered by ERISA and in respect of which the Borrower or a Commonly Controlled Entity is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

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Prime Rate” shall mean the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by Credit Suisse as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City (the Prime Rate not being intended to be the lowest rate of interest charged by Credit Suisse in connection with extensions of credit to debtors).

 

Pro Forma Basis”: for the purposes of calculating Consolidated Adjusted Net Income for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (each, a “Reference Period”), (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated Adjusted Net Income for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Adjusted Net Income (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference Period and (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated Adjusted Net Income for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period (including, in each such case, pro forma adjustments (x) arising out of events which are directly attributable to a specific transaction, are factually supportable and are expected to have a continuing impact, in each case determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act and as interpreted by the staff of the SEC, which would include cost savings resulting from head count reduction, closure of facilities and similar restructuring charges and (y) such other pro forma adjustments relating to a specific transaction or event that are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and reflective of actual or reasonably anticipated synergies and cost savings expected to be realized or achieved in the twelve months following such transaction or event, which pro forma adjustments shall be certified by the chief financial officer or treasurer of the Borrower). As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) is material in accordance with GAAP or (b)(i) constitutes assets comprising all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business or constitutes all or substantially all of the common stock of a Person and (ii) involves the payment of consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $1,000,000; and “Material Disposition” means any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $1,000,000.

 

Projections”: as defined in Section 6.2(c).

 

Properties”: as defined in Section 4.17(a).

 

Recovery Event”: any settlement of or payment in excess of $250,000 in respect of any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of any Group Member.

 

Register”: as defined in Section 10.6(b).

 

Regulation U”: Regulation U of the Board as in effect from time to time.

 

Reimbursement Obligation”: the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit.

 

Reinvestment Deferred Amount”: with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by any Loan Party in connection therewith that are not applied to reduce the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.6(b) as a result of the delivery of a Reinvestment Notice.

 

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Reinvestment Event”: any Asset Sale or Recovery Event in respect of which the Borrower has delivered a Reinvestment Notice.

 

Reinvestment Notice”: a written notice executed by a Responsible Officer stating that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and that the Borrower (directly or indirectly through a Subsidiary Guarantor) intends and expects to use all or a specified portion of the Net Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale or Recovery Event to acquire or repair assets useful in its business.

 

Reinvestment Prepayment Amount”: with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the Reinvestment Deferred Amount relating thereto less any amount expended prior to the relevant Reinvestment Prepayment Date to acquire or repair assets useful in the Borrower’s business.

 

Reinvestment Prepayment Date”: with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the earlier of (a) the date occurring six months after such Reinvestment Event and (b) the date on which the Borrower shall have determined not to, or shall have otherwise ceased to, acquire or repair assets useful in the Borrower’s business with all or any portion of the relevant Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

 

Related Parties”: with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

 

Reorganization”: with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such plan is in reorganization within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA.

 

Reportable Event”: any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than those events as to which the thirty day notice period is waived under subsections .27, .28, .29, .30, .31, .32, .34 or .35 of PBGC Reg. § 4043.

 

Required Lenders”: at any time, the holders of more than 662/3% of (a) until the Closing Date, the Total Commitments then in effect, and (b) thereafter, the Total Commitments then in effect or, if the Commitments have been terminated, the Total Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Requirement of Law”: as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

 

Responsible Officer”: the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer or treasurer of the Borrower, but in any event, with respect to financial matters, the chief financial officer or treasurer of the Borrower.

 

Restricted Payments”: as defined in Section 7.5.

 

S&P”: Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.

 

Sale Leaseback Transaction”: any arrangement with any Person or Persons, whereby in contemporaneous or substantially contemporaneous transactions a Loan Party sells substantially all of its right, title and interest in any property and, in connection therewith, acquires, leases or licenses back the right to use all or a material portion of such property.

 

SEC”: the Securities and Exchange Commission, any successor thereto and any analogous Governmental Authority.

 

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Secured Parties”: the collective reference to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (including any Issuing Lender in its capacity as Issuing Lender).

 

Securities Act”: the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time and any successor statute.

 

Security Documents”: the collective reference to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the Mortgages and all other security documents hereafter delivered to the Administrative Agent granting a Lien on any property of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

 

Single Employer Plan”: any Plan that is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but that is not a Multiemployer Plan.

 

Solvent”: when used with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, (a) the amount of the “present fair saleable value” of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all “liabilities of such Person, contingent or otherwise”, as of such date, as such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as such debts become absolute and matured, (c) such Person will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct its business, and (d) such Person will be able to pay its debts as they mature. For purposes of this definition, (i) ”debt” means liability on a “claim”, and (ii) ”claim” means any (x) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured or (y) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.

 

Subsidiary”: as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantor”: each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

Swap Agreement”: any agreement with respect to any swap, hedge, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be a “Swap Agreement”.

 

Synthetic Lease Obligation”: the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease or (b) an agreement for the use of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

 

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Termination Date”: the third anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

Total Commitments”: the aggregate amount of Total First Out Tranche Commitments and Total Last Out Tranche Commitments of the Lenders. The amount of Total Commitments as of the Closing Date is $25,000,000.

 

Total Extensions of Credit”: at any time, the aggregate amount of Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Total First Out Tranche Commitments”: the aggregate amount of First Out Tranche Commitments of the Lenders. The amount of Total First Out Tranche Commitments as of the Closing Date is $10,000,000.

 

Total Last Out Tranche Commitments”: the aggregate amount of Last Out Tranche Commitments of the Lenders. The amount of Total Last Out Tranche Commitments as of the Closing Date is $15,000,000.

 

Transactions”: as defined in Section 5.1(b).

 

Transferee”: any Assignee or Participant.

 

Type”: as to any Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.

 

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC”: the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation) as in effect from time to time in any applicable jurisdiction.

 

United States”: the United States of America.

 

Wholly Owned Subsidiary”: as to any Person, any other Person all of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares required by law) is owned by such Person directly and/or through other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

 

Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor”: any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

1.2 Other Definitional Provisions.

 

(a) Unless otherwise specified therein, all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in the other Loan Documents or any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(b) As used herein and in the other Loan Documents, and any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, (i) accounting terms relating to any Group Member not defined in Section 1.1 and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1.1, to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP, (ii) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (iii) the word “incur” shall be construed to mean incur, create, issue, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist (and the words “incurred” and “incurrence” shall have correlative meanings), (iv) the words

 

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“asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, Capital Stock, securities, revenues, accounts, leasehold interests and contract rights, and (v) references to agreements (including this Agreement) or other Contractual Obligations shall, unless otherwise specified, be deemed to refer to such agreements or Contractual Obligations as amended, amended and restated, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

(c) The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

 

(d) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

 

SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS

 

2.1 Commitments.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Commitment Period (i) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding which, when added to such Lender’s Percentage of the First Out Tranche L/C Obligations then outstanding, does not exceed the amount of such Lender’s First Out Tranche Commitments (the “First Out Tranche” and such revolving credit loans, the “First Out Tranche Loans”) and (y) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding which, when added to such Lender’s Percentage of the Last Out Tranche L/C Obligations then outstanding, does not exceed the amount of such Lender’s Last Out Tranche Commitments (the “Last Out Tranche” and such revolving credit loans, the “Last Out Tranche Loans”); provided that no Last Out Tranche Loans shall be made unless Available First Out Tranche Commitments equal zero. During the Commitment Period the Borrower may use the Commitments by borrowing, prepaying the Loans in whole or in part, and reborrowing, all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. The Loans may from time to time be Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans, as determined by the Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Sections 2.5 and 2.12.

 

(b) The Borrower shall repay all outstanding Loans on the Termination Date.

 

2.2 Procedure for Borrowing. The Borrower may borrow under the Commitments during the Commitment Period on any Business Day, provided that the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, (a) three Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, or (b) one Business Day prior to the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of ABR Loans) (provided that any such notice of a borrowing of ABR Loans to finance payments required by Section 3.5 may be given not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed borrowing), specifying (i) the amount and Type of Loans to be borrowed, (ii) the requested Borrowing Date, (iii) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, the respective amounts of each such Type of Loan and the respective lengths of the initial Interest Period therefor, and (iv) remittance instructions for the proceeds of such proposed borrowing. Each borrowing shall be in an amount equal to $500,000 or a whole multiple thereof (or, if the then aggregate Available Commitments are less than $500,000, such lesser amount). Upon receipt of any such notice from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof. Each Lender will make the amount of its pro rata share of each borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower at the Funding Office

 

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prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the Borrowing Date requested by the Borrower in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent. Such borrowing will then be made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent crediting the account of the Borrower as instructed in the applicable notice of borrowing 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.

 

2.3 Commitment Fees, etc.

 

(a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee for the period from and including the date hereof to but excluding the last day of the Commitment Period, computed at the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate on the average daily amount of the Available First Out Tranche Commitments and the Available Last Out Tranche Commitments of such Lender during the period for which payment is made, payable quarterly in arrears: (i) on each Fee Payment Date, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof, in the case of commitment fees in respect of the First Out Tranche; and (ii) on the date of delivery of each Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.2(b), commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof, in the case of commitment fees in respect of the Last Out Tranche; provided that commitment fees in respect of the Last Out Tranche shall only be payable for any fiscal quarter with respect to which the Incurrence Test was satisfied as of the last day of such fiscal quarter.

 

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent the fees in the amounts and on the dates as set forth in the Administrative Agent’s Fee Letter.

 

2.4 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower shall have the right, upon not less than three Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, to terminate the Commitments or, from time to time, to reduce the amount of the First Out Tranche Commitments or the Last Out Tranche Commitments (as specified by the Borrower in the applicable notice); provided that no such termination or reduction of Commitments shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto and to any prepayments of the Loans made on the effective date thereof, (i) the First Out Tranche Extensions of Credit would exceed the First Out Tranche Commitments; or (ii) the Last Out Tranche Extensions of Credit would exceed the Last Out Tranche Commitments. Any such reduction shall be in an amount equal to $500,000, or a whole multiple thereof, and shall reduce permanently the applicable Commitments then in effect.

 

2.5 Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, upon irrevocable notice delivered to the Administrative Agent no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days prior thereto, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, and no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day prior thereto, in the case of ABR Loans, which notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment; provided, that if a Eurodollar Loan is prepaid on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay any amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.15; provided further that if such notice of prepayment indicates that such prepayment is to be funded with the proceeds of a refinancing, such notice of prepayment may be revoked if the refinancing is not consummated. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, together with (except in the case of Loans that are ABR Loans) accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid. Partial prepayments of Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple thereof. The application of any prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be made, first, to Last Out Tranche Loans and, second, to First Out Tranche Loans.

 

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2.6 Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions.

 

(a) If any Indebtedness shall be incurred by any Group Member (excluding any Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 7.1), an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof shall be applied on the date of such incurrence toward the reduction of the Commitments as set forth in Section 2.6(c).

 

(b) If on any date any Group Member shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale or Recovery Event then, unless a Reinvestment Notice shall be delivered in respect thereof, such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied on such date toward the reduction of the Commitments as set forth in Section 2.6(c); provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, on each Reinvestment Prepayment Date, an amount equal to the Reinvestment Prepayment Amount with respect to the relevant Reinvestment Event shall be applied toward the reduction of the Commitments as set forth in Section 2.6(c).

 

(c) Amounts to be applied in connection with prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.6 and Commitment reductions made pursuant to Section 2.6 shall be applied to reduce permanently the applicable Commitments. Any such reduction of the Commitments shall be accompanied by prepayment of the Loans to the extent, if any, that the (i) Last Out Tranche Extensions of Credit exceed the amount of the Last Out Tranche Commitments as so reduced or (ii) First Out Tranche Extensions of Credit exceed the amount of the First Out Tranche Commitments as so reduced, provided that if the aggregate principal amount of Loans then outstanding is less than the amount of any such excess (because L/C Obligations constitute a portion thereof), the Borrower shall, to the extent of the balance of such excess, replace outstanding Letters of Credit and/or deposit an amount in cash in a cash collateral account established with the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. The application of any prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.6 and Commitment reductions pursuant to Section 2.6 shall be made, first, to Last Out Tranche Loans and Last Out Tranche Commitments and, second, to First Out Tranche Loans and First Out Tranche Commitments. Each prepayment of the Loans under Section 2.6 (except in the case of Loans that are ABR Loans) shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the amount prepaid.

 

2.7 Conversion and Continuation Options.

 

(a) The Borrower may elect from time to time to convert Eurodollar Loans to ABR Loans by giving the Administrative Agent prior irrevocable notice of such election no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Business Day preceding the proposed conversion date, provided that any such conversion of Eurodollar Loans may only be made on the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. The Borrower may elect from time to time to convert ABR Loans to Eurodollar Loans by giving the Administrative Agent prior irrevocable notice of such election no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding the proposed conversion date (which notice shall specify the length of the initial Interest Period therefor), provided that no ABR Loan may be converted into a Eurodollar Loan when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof.

 

(b) Any Eurodollar Loan may be continued as such upon the expiration of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto by the Borrower giving irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the term “Interest Period” set forth in Section 1.1, of the length of the next Interest Period to be applicable to such Loans, provided that no Eurodollar Loan may be continued as such when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and provided, further, that if the Borrower shall fail to give any required notice as described above in this

 

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paragraph or if such continuation is not permitted pursuant to the preceding proviso such Loans shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans on the last day of such then expiring Interest Period. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof.

 

2.8 Limitations on Eurodollar Tranches. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all borrowings, conversions and continuations of Eurodollar Loans and all selections of Interest Periods shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant to such elections so that, (a) after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of the Eurodollar Loans comprising each Eurodollar Tranche shall be equal to $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof and (b) no more than seven Eurodollar Tranches shall be outstanding at any one time.

 

2.9 Interest Rates and Payment Dates.

 

(a) Each Eurodollar Loan shall bear interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate determined for such day plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(b) Each ABR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the ABR plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(c) (i) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), all outstanding Loans and Reimbursement Obligations (whether or not overdue) and the Borrower has received at least one day’s prior notice of such due date shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to (x) in the case of the Loans, the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section plus 2% or (y) in the case of Reimbursement Obligations, the rate applicable to ABR Loans that are Last Out Tranche Loans plus 2%, and (ii) if all or a portion of any interest payable on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or any commitment fee or other amount payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate then applicable to ABR Loans that are Last Out Tranche Loans plus 2%, in each case, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, from the date of such non-payment until such amount is paid in full (as well after as before judgment).

 

(d) Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, provided that interest accruing pursuant to Section 2.9(c) shall be payable from time to time on demand.

 

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees.

 

(a) Interest and fees payable pursuant hereto shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed, except that, with respect to ABR Loans the rate of interest on which is calculated on the basis of the Prime Rate, the interest thereon shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders of each determination of a Eurodollar Rate. Any change in the interest rate on a Loan resulting from a change in the ABR or the Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements shall become effective as of the opening of business on the day on which such change becomes effective. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders of the effective date and the amount of each such change in interest rate.

 

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(b) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error.

 

2.11 Inability to Determine Interest Rate. If prior to the first day of any Interest Period:

 

(a) the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, or

 

(b) the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Required Lenders that the Eurodollar Rate determined or to be determined for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (as conclusively certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining their affected Loans during such Interest Period,

 

the Administrative Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the Borrower and the relevant Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. If such notice is given (x) any Eurodollar Loans requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be made as ABR Loans, (y) any Loans that were to have been converted on the first day of such Interest Period to Eurodollar Loans shall be continued as ABR Loans and (z) any outstanding Eurodollar Loans shall be converted, on the last day of the then-current Interest Period, to ABR Loans. Until such notice has been withdrawn by the Administrative Agent, no further Eurodollar Loans shall be made or continued as such, nor shall the Borrower have the right to convert Loans to Eurodollar Loans.

 

2.12 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments.

 

(a) Each borrowing by the Borrower from the Lenders hereunder, each payment by the Borrower on account of any commitment fee and any reduction of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be made pro rata according to the respective Percentages of the Lenders.

 

(b) Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on account of principal of and interest on the Loans shall be made pro rata according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Loans then held by the Lenders.

 

(c) All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrower hereunder, whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without setoff or counterclaim and shall be made prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the due date thereof to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, at the Funding Office, in Dollars and in immediately available funds. The Administrative Agent shall distribute such payments to the Lenders promptly upon receipt in like funds as received. If any payment hereunder (other than payments on the Eurodollar Loans) becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. If any payment on a Eurodollar Loan becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the case of any extension of any payment of principal pursuant to the preceding two sentences, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during such extension.

 

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(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Lender prior to the date of any borrowing that such Lender will not make the amount that would constitute its share of such borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender is making such amount available to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative Agent by the required time on the Borrowing Date therefor, such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent, on demand, such amount with interest thereon, at a rate equal to the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Effective Rate and (ii) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, for the period until such Lender makes such amount immediately available to the Administrative Agent. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this paragraph shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If such Lender’s share of such borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender within three Business Days after such Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to ABR Loans, on demand, from the Borrower.

 

(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by the Borrower prior to the date of any payment due to be made by the Borrower hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower is making such payment, and the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Lenders their respective pro rata shares of a corresponding amount. If such payment is not made to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower within three Business Days after such due date, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover, on demand, from each Lender to which any amount which was made available pursuant to the preceding sentence, such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum equal to the daily average Federal Funds Effective Rate. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower.

 

2.13 Requirements of Law.

 

(a) If the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by any Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof:

 

(i) shall subject any Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any Application or any Eurodollar Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Non-Excluded Taxes covered by Section 2.14 and changes in the rate of tax on the overall net income of such Lender);

 

(ii) shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans or other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender that is not otherwise included in the determination of the Eurodollar Rate; or

 

(iii) shall impose on such Lender any other condition;

 

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and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender, by an amount that such Lender deems to be material, of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining Eurodollar Loans or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or to reduce any amount receivable hereunder in respect thereof, then, in any such case, the Borrower shall promptly pay such Lender, upon its demand, any additional amounts necessary to compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount receivable. If any Lender becomes entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this paragraph, it shall promptly notify the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of the event by reason of which it has become so entitled.

 

(b) If any Lender shall have determined that the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof shall have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such corporation’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder or under or in respect of any Letter of Credit to a level below that which such Lender or such corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such corporation’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time, after submission by such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of a written request therefor, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such corporation for such reduction.

 

(c) A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section submitted by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any amounts incurred more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided that, if the circumstances giving rise to such claim have a retroactive effect, then such nine-month period shall be extended to include the period of such retroactive effect. The obligations of the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

2.14 Taxes.

 

(a) All payments made by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, excluding net income taxes and franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of net income taxes) imposed on the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of a present or former connection between the Administrative Agent or such Lender and the jurisdiction of the Governmental Authority imposing such tax or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (other than any such connection arising solely from the Administrative Agent or such Lender having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, this Agreement or any other Loan Document). If any such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings (“Non-Excluded Taxes”) or Other Taxes are required to be withheld from any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder, the amounts so payable to the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall be increased to the extent necessary to yield to the Administrative Agent or such Lender (after payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this Agreement, provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to increase any such amounts payable to any Lender with respect to any Non-Excluded Taxes (i) that are

 

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attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the requirements of paragraph (d) or (e) of this Section or (ii) that are United States withholding taxes imposed on amounts payable to such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, except to the extent that such Lender’s assignor (if any) was entitled, at the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such Non-Excluded Taxes pursuant to this paragraph.

 

(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(c) Whenever any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes are payable by the Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter the Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent for its own account or for the account of the relevant Lender, as the case may be, a certified copy of an original official receipt received by the Borrower showing payment thereof. If the Borrower fails to pay any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes when due to the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for any incremental taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable by the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of any such failure.

 

(d) Each Lender (or Transferee) that is not a “U.S. Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “Non-U.S. Lender”) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a Participant, to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased) two copies of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI, or, in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with respect to payments of “portfolio interest”, a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit F and a Form W-8BEN, or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, properly completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S. Lender claiming complete exemption from, or a reduced rate of, U.S. federal withholding tax on all payments by the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Such forms shall be delivered by each Non-U.S. Lender on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement (or, in the case of any Participant, on or before the date such Participant purchases the related participation). In addition, each Non-U.S. Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Non-U.S. Lender. Each Non-U.S. Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower at any time it determines that it is no longer in a position to provide any previously delivered certificate to the Borrower (or any other form of certification adopted by the U.S. taxing authorities for such purpose). Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, a Non-U.S. Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this paragraph that such Non-U.S. Lender is not legally able to deliver.

 

(e) A Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of non-U.S. withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate, provided that such Lender is legally entitled to complete, execute and deliver such documentation and such completion, execution or submission would not materially prejudice the legal position of such Lender.

 

(f) If the Administrative Agent or any Lender reasonably determines that it has received a refund of any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.14, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments

 

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made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 2.14 with respect to the Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This paragraph shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

 

(g) The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

2.15 Indemnity. The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender for, and to hold each Lender harmless from, any loss or expense that such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) default by the Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (b) default by the Borrower in making any prepayment of or conversion from Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or (c) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Loans on a day that is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. Such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, converted or continued, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or continue to the last day of such Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest for such Loans provided for herein (excluding, however, the Applicable Margin included therein, if any) over (ii) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by such Lender) that would have accrued to such Lender on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the interbank eurodollar market. A certificate as to any amounts payable pursuant to this Section submitted to the Borrower by any Lender shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. This covenant shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

2.16 Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.13 or 2.14(a) with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such event with the object of avoiding the consequences of such event; provided, that such designation is made on terms that, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its lending office(s) to suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the rights of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.13 or 2.14(a).

 

2.17 Replacement of Lenders. The Borrower shall be permitted to replace any Lender that (a) requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.13 or 2.14(a), (b) defaults in its obligation to make Loans hereunder, or (c) has not consented to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination of the provisions of this Agreement as contemplated by Section 10.1 that requires the consent of such Lender and which has been approved by the Required Lenders as provided in Section 10.1 with a replacement financial institution or other commercial lending institution; provided that (i) such replacement does not conflict with any Requirement of Law, (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such replacement, (iii) in the case of clause (a), prior to any such

 

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replacement, such Lender shall have taken no action under Section 2.16 so as to eliminate the continued need for payment of amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.13 or 2.14(a), (iv) the replacement financial institution or other commercial lending institution shall purchase, at par, all Loans and other amounts owing to such replaced Lender on or prior to the date of replacement, (v) the Borrower shall be liable to such replaced Lender under Section 2.15 if any Eurodollar Loan owing to such replaced Lender shall be purchased other than on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto, (vi) the replacement financial institution or other commercial lending institution, if not already a Lender, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (vii) the replaced Lender shall be deemed to have made such replacement in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.6 (provided that the Borrower shall be obligated to pay any registration and processing fee referred to therein), (viii) until such time as such replacement shall be consummated, the Borrower shall pay all additional amounts (if any) required pursuant to Section 2.13 or 2.14(a), as the case may be, and (ix) any such replacement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender shall have against the replaced Lender. In the event that a replaced Lender does not execute an Assignment and Assumption pursuant to Section 10.6 within three Business Days after receipt by such replaced Lender of notice of replacement pursuant to this Section 2.17 and presentation to such replaced Lender of an Assignment and Assumption evidencing an assignment pursuant to this Section 2.17, the Borrower shall be entitled (but not obligated), upon receipt by the replaced Lender of all amounts required to be paid under this Section 2.17, to execute such an Assignment and Assumption on behalf of such replaced Lender, and any such Assignment and Assumption so executed by the Borrower, the replacement Lender and, to the extent required pursuant to Section 10.6, the Administrative Agent, shall be effective for purposes of this Section 2.17 and Section 10.6. Upon any such assignment, such replaced Lender shall no longer constitute a “Lender” for purposes hereof; provided that any rights of such replaced Lender to indemnification hereunder shall survive as to such replaced Lender.

 

2.18 Notes. If so requested by any Lender by written notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (and/or, if applicable and if so specified in such notice, to any Person who is an assignee of such Lender pursuant to Section 10.6) (promptly after the Borrower’s receipt of such notice) a Note or Notes to evidence such Lender’s Loans.

 

SECTION 3. LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

3.1 L/C Commitment.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Issuing Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in Section 3.4(a), agrees to issue letters of credit (“Letters of Credit”) for the account of the Borrower on any Business Day during the Letter of Credit Availability Period in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing Lender; provided that the Issuing Lender shall have no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (i) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Commitment; or (ii) the aggregate amount of the Available Commitments would be less than zero. Each Letter of Credit shall (i) be denominated in Dollars and (ii) expire no later than the earlier of (x) the first anniversary of its date of issuance and (y) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Termination Date, provided that any Letter of Credit with a one-year term may provide for the renewal thereof for additional one-year periods (which shall in no event extend beyond the date referred to in clause (y) above).

 

(b) The Issuing Lender shall not at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit if such issuance would conflict with, or cause the Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to exceed any limits imposed by, any applicable Requirement of Law.

 

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3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Borrower may from time to time request that the Issuing Lender issue a Letter of Credit by delivering to the Issuing Lender at its address for notices specified herein an Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of the Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as the Issuing Lender may request. Upon receipt of any Application, the Issuing Lender will process such Application and the certificates, documents and other papers and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall the Issuing Lender be required to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than three Business Days after its receipt of the Application therefor and all such other certificates, documents and other papers and information relating thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed to by the Issuing Lender and the Borrower. The Issuing Lender shall furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to the Borrower promptly following the issuance thereof. The Issuing Lender shall promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent, which shall in turn promptly furnish to the Lenders, notice of the issuance of each Letter of Credit (including the amount thereof).

 

3.3 Fees and Other Charges.

 

(a) The Borrower will pay a fee on all outstanding Letters of Credit at a per annum rate equal to 1.00%, shared ratably among the Lenders and payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment Date after the issuance date. In addition, the Borrower shall pay to the Issuing Lender for its own account a fronting fee of 0.125% per annum on the undrawn and unexpired amount of each Letter of Credit, payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment Date after the issuance date.

 

(b) In addition to the foregoing fees, the Borrower shall pay or reimburse the Issuing Lender for such normal and customary costs and expenses as are incurred or charged by the Issuing Lender in issuing, negotiating, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit.

 

3.4 L/C Participations.

 

(a) The Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from the Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions set forth below, for such L/C Participant’s own account and risk an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant’s Percentage in the Issuing Lender’s obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit and the amount of each draft paid by the Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant agrees with the Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit for which the Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender upon demand at the Issuing Lender’s address for notices specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof, that is not so reimbursed. Each L/C Participant’s obligation to pay such amount shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such L/C Participant may have against the Issuing Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Section 5, (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other L/C Participant or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing

 

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(b) If any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant to the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit is paid to the Issuing Lender within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender on demand an amount equal to the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the daily average Federal Funds Effective Rate during the period from and including the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Issuing Lender, times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 360. If any such amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant pursuant to Section 3.4(a) is not made available to the Issuing Lender by such L/C Participant within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, the Issuing Lender shall be entitled to recover from such L/C Participant, on demand, such amount with interest thereon calculated from such due date at the rate per annum applicable to ABR Loans under the Last Out Tranche. A certificate of the Issuing Lender submitted to any L/C Participant with respect to any amounts owing under this Section shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

(c) Whenever, at any time after the Issuing Lender has made payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any L/C Participant its pro rata share of such payment in accordance with Section 3.4(a), the Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of collateral applied thereto by the Issuing Lender), or any payment of interest on account thereof, the Issuing Lender will distribute to such L/C Participant its pro rata share thereof; provided, however, that in the event that any such payment received by the Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by the Issuing Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to the Issuing Lender the portion thereof previously distributed by the Issuing Lender to it.

 

3.5 Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower. If any draft is paid under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Lender for the amount of (a) the draft so paid and (b) any taxes, fees, charges or other costs or expenses incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with such payment, not later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice of such draft, if such notice is received on such day prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, or (ii) if clause (i) above does not apply, the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice. Each such payment shall be made to the Issuing Lender at its address for notices referred to herein in Dollars and in immediately available funds. Interest shall be payable on any such amounts from the date on which the relevant draft is paid until payment in full (x) until the Business Day next succeeding the date of the relevant notice, at the rate per annum applicable to ABR Loans under the Last Out Tranche, and (y) thereafter, at the rate set forth in Section 2.9(c).

 

3.6 Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligations under this Section 3 shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment that the Borrower may have or have had against the Issuing Lender, any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or any other Person. The Borrower also agrees with the Issuing Lender that the Issuing Lender shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligations under Section 3.5 shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee. The Issuing Lender shall not be liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit, except for errors or omissions found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Lender. The Borrower agrees that any action taken

 

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or omitted by the Issuing Lender under or in connection with any Letter of Credit or the related drafts or documents, if done in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall be binding on the Borrower and shall not result in any liability of the Issuing Lender to the Borrower.

 

3.7 Letter of Credit Payments. If any draft shall be presented for payment under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of the date and amount thereof. The responsibility of the Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft presented for payment under any Letter of Credit shall, in addition to any payment obligation expressly provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that the documents (including each draft) delivered under such Letter of Credit in connection with such presentment are substantially in conformity with such Letter of Credit.

 

3.8 Applications. To the extent that any provision of any Application related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 3, the provisions of this Section 3 shall apply.

 

3.9 Resignation of the Issuing Lender. The Issuing Lender may resign at any time by giving at least 30 days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower. Subject to the next succeeding paragraph, upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Issuing Lender hereunder by a Lender that shall agree to serve as successor Issuing Lender, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the interests, rights and obligations of the retiring Issuing Lender and the retiring Issuing Lender shall be discharged from its obligations to issue additional Letters of Credit hereunder without affecting its rights and obligations with respect to Letters of Credit previously issued by it. At the time such resignation shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all accrued and unpaid fees pursuant to Section 3.3. The acceptance of any appointment as the Issuing Lender hereunder by a successor Lender shall be evidenced by an agreement entered into by such successor, in a form satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and, from and after the effective date of such agreement, (i) such successor Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the previous Issuing Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (ii) references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the term “Issuing Lender” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Lender, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Lenders, as the context shall require. After the resignation of the Issuing Lender hereunder, the retiring Issuing Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

 

SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans and issue or participate in the Letters of Credit, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

 

4.1 Financial Condition. The audited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower as at December 31, 2002, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for the fiscal years ended on such dates, reported on by and accompanied by an unqualified report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, present fairly (on the basis disclosed in the footnotes to such financial statements) in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower (including both predecessor and successor companies) and its Subsidiaries as at such date, and the consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flows for the respective fiscal years then ended. The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at September 30, 2005, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for

 

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the nine-month period ended on such date, present fairly (on the basis disclosed in the footnotes to such financial statements) in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such date, and the consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flows for the nine-month period then ended (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments). All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved (except as approved by the aforementioned firm of accountants and disclosed therein). No Group Member has any material Guarantee Obligations, contingent liabilities and liabilities for taxes, or any long-term leases or unusual forward or long-term commitments, including any interest rate or foreign currency swap or exchange transaction or other obligation in respect of derivatives, excluding foreign currency hedges, that are not reflected in the most recent financial statements referred to in this paragraph. During the period from December 31, 2004 to and including the date hereof there has been no Disposition by any Group Member of any material part of its business or property.

 

4.2 No Change. Since December 31, 2004, there has been no development or event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.3 Existence; Compliance with Law. Each Group Member (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 the legal right, to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, (c) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other organization 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 and (d) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law except to the extent that the failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.4 Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. Each Loan Party has the power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to obtain extensions of credit hereunder. Each Loan Party has taken all necessary organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to authorize the extensions of credit on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. No Governmental Approval or consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any other Person is required in connection with the Acquisition and the extensions of credit hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, except (i) Governmental Approvals, consents, authorizations, filings and notices described in Schedule 4.4, which Governmental Approvals, consents, authorizations, filings and notices have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and (ii) the filings referred to in Section 4.19. Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of each Loan Party party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document upon execution will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

 

4.5 No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the issuance of Letters of Credit, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof will not violate any Requirement of Law or any material Contractual Obligation of any Group Member and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of their respective properties or revenues pursuant to any Requirement of Law or any such Contractual Obligation (other than the Liens created by the Security Documents). No Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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4.6 Litigation. No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened by or against any Group Member or against any of their respective properties or revenues (a) with respect to any of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or (b) that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.7 No Default. No Group Member is in default under or with respect to any of its Contractual Obligations in any respect that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

4.8 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each Group Member has title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its real property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its other property except for defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of such property is subject to any Lien except as permitted by Section 7.2. Schedule 4.8 lists, as of the Closing Date, each parcel of owned real property and each leasehold interest in real property and held by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

4.9 Intellectual Property. Each Group Member owns, or is licensed to use, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted. No claim has been asserted and is pending by any Person challenging or questioning the use of any Intellectual Property or the validity or effectiveness of any Intellectual Property, nor does the Borrower know of any valid basis for any such claim, in each case unless such claim would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The use of Intellectual Property by each Group Member does not infringe on the rights of any Person unless such infringement would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.10 Taxes. Each Group Member has filed or caused to be filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns that are required to be filed and has paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on said returns or on any assessments made against it or any of its property and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority (other than any the amount or validity of which are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of the relevant Group Member); no tax Lien has been filed, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no claim is being asserted, with respect to any such tax, fee or other charge.

 

4.11 Federal Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loans, and no other extensions of credit hereunder, will be used (a) for “buying” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U as now and from time to time hereafter in effect for any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulations of the Board or (b) for any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulations of the Board. If requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form G-3 or FR Form U-1, as applicable, referred to in Regulation U.

 

4.12 Labor Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against any Group Member pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened; (b) hours worked by and payment made to employees of each Group Member have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or

 

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any other applicable Requirement of Law dealing with such matters; and (c) all payments due from any Group Member on account of employee health and welfare insurance have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the relevant Group Member.

 

4.13 ERISA. Neither a Reportable Event nor an “accumulated funding deficiency” (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) has occurred during the five-year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made with respect to any Plan, and each Plan has complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code. No termination of a Single Employer Plan has occurred, and no Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan has arisen, during such five-year period. The present value of all accrued benefits under each Single Employer Plan (based on those assumptions used to fund such Plans) did not, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made, exceed the value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such accrued benefits by a material amount. Neither the Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled Entity has had a complete or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a material liability under ERISA, and neither the Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled Entity would become subject to any material liability under ERISA if the Borrower or any such Commonly Controlled Entity were to withdraw completely from all Multiemployer Plans as of the valuation date most closely preceding the date on which this representation is made or deemed made. No such Multiemployer Plan is in Reorganization or Insolvent.

 

4.14 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations. No Loan Party is an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. No Loan Party is subject to regulation under any Requirement of Law (other than Regulation X of the Board) that limits its ability to incur Indebtedness.

 

4.15 Subsidiaries. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 4.15 sets forth: (a) the name and jurisdiction of organization of each Subsidiary and, as to each such Subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Capital Stock owned by any Loan Party and (b) all outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options granted to employees or directors and directors’ qualifying shares and except as created by the Loan Documents) of any nature relating to any Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

4.16 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit shall be used for working capital needs and for general corporate purposes (including capital expenditures).

 

4.17 Environmental Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a) the facilities and properties owned, leased or operated by any Group Member (the “Properties”) do not contain, and, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge have not previously contained, any Materials of Environmental Concern in amounts or concentrations or under circumstances that constitute or constituted a violation of, or would give rise to liability under, any Environmental Law;

 

(b) no Group Member has received or is aware of any notice of violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability regarding environmental matters or compliance with Environmental Laws with regard to any of the Properties or the business operated by any Group Member (the “Business”), nor does the Borrower have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened;

 

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(c) Materials of Environmental Concern have not been transported or disposed of from the Properties in violation of, or in a manner or to a location that would give rise to liability under, any Environmental Law, nor have any Materials of Environmental Concern been generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Properties in violation of, or in a manner that would give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Law;

 

(d) no judicial proceeding or governmental or administrative action is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which any Group Member is or will be named as a party with respect to the Properties or the Business, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to the Properties or the Business;

 

(e) there has been no release or threat of release of Materials of Environmental Concern at or from the Properties, or arising from or related to the operations of any Group Member in connection with the Properties or otherwise in connection with the Business, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that could give rise to liability under Environmental Laws;

 

(f) the Properties and all operations at the Properties are in compliance, and to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge have in the last five years been in compliance, with all applicable Environmental Laws, and there is no contamination at, under or about the Properties or violation of any Environmental Law with respect to the Properties or the Business; and

 

(g) no Group Member has assumed any liability of any other Person under Environmental Laws.

 

4.18 Accuracy of Information, etc. No statement or information contained in this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other document, certificate or statement furnished in writing (other than projections and pro forma financial information) by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, contained as of the date such statement, information, document or certificate was so furnished, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading. The projections and pro forma financial information contained in the materials referenced above are based upon good faith estimates and assumptions believed by management of the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such financial information as it relates to future events is not to be viewed as fact and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such financial information may differ from the projected results set forth therein by a material amount.

 

4.19 Security Documents.

 

(a) The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein and proceeds thereof. In the case of the Pledged Stock described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement that are securities represented by stock certificates or otherwise constituting certificated securities within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(15) of the New York UCC or the corresponding code or statute of any other applicable jurisdiction (“Certificated Securities”), when certificates representing such Pledged Stock are delivered to the Administrative Agent, and in the case of the other Collateral constituting personal property described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, when financing statements and other filings specified on Schedule 4.19 in

 

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appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 4.19, the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, shall have a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral and the proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person (except, in the case of Collateral other than Pledged Stock, Liens permitted by Section 7.2).

 

(b) Each of the Mortgages delivered after the Closing Date, if any, will be, upon execution, effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on the Mortgaged Properties described therein and proceeds thereof, and when such Mortgage is filed in the offices for the applicable jurisdictions in which the Mortgaged Properties are located, each such Mortgage shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Mortgaged Properties and the proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations (as defined in the relevant Mortgage), in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person.

 

4.20 Solvency. Each Loan Party is Solvent on the Closing Date and, after giving effect to the Transactions and the incurrence of all Indebtedness and obligations being incurred in connection herewith and therewith, the Borrower will be Solvent and the Loan Parties, on a consolidated basis, will be Solvent.

 

4.21 Regulation H. No Mortgage encumbers improved real property that is located in an area that has been identified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as an area having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance has not been made available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.

 

SECTION 5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

5.1 Conditions to Effectiveness of this Agreement. The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction, prior to or concurrently with the Closing Date, of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a) Credit Agreement; Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) this Agreement, executed and delivered by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Person listed on Schedule 1.1, and (ii) the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, executed and delivered by the Borrower and SunPower North America, Inc.

 

(b) IPO, etc. The following transactions (collectively with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents on the Closing Date, the “Transactions”) shall have been consummated:

 

(i) the Borrower shall have received at least $92,000,000 of aggregate net cash proceeds from equity issued by the Borrower pursuant to the IPO; and

 

(ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received satisfactory evidence that the Note Purchase and Line of Credit Agreement dated as of May 30, 2002, between the Borrower and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, as amended, and all Unsecured Senior Convertible Promissory Notes issued in connection therewith, shall have been terminated and all amounts thereunder shall have been paid in full.

 

(c) Approvals. All Governmental Approvals and consents and approvals of, or notices to, any other Person required or, in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent, advisable in connection with the Transactions, the continuing operations of the Group Members and the

 

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other transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect, and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken or threatened by any competent authority that would restrain, prevent or otherwise impose adverse conditions on the IPO or the financing contemplated hereby.

 

(d) Lien Searches. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a recent lien search in each of the jurisdictions where assets of the Loan Parties are located, and such search shall reveal no liens on any of the assets of the Loan Parties except for liens permitted by Section 7.2 or discharged on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(e) Closing Certificate; Certified Certificate of Incorporation; Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments, including the certificate of incorporation or other similar organizational document of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor and the bylaws or other similar organizational document of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor, and (ii) a long form good standing certificate for the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor from its jurisdiction of organization.

 

(f) Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received an executed legal opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, counsel to the Borrower and SunPower North America, Inc., substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

 

(g) Pledged Stock; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the certificates representing the shares of Capital Stock pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof, and (ii) each promissory note (if any) pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof.

 

(h) Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by the Security Documents or under law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 7.2), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

 

(i) Solvency Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate from the chief financial officer or treasurer of the Borrower certifying that each of the Loan Parties, after giving effect to the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, is solvent.

 

(j) Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent shall have received, prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information required by Governmental Authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

 

(k) Insurance. The Administrative Agent shall have received insurance certificates satisfying the requirements of Section 5.2(b) of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

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5.2 Conditions to Each First Out Tranche Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender to make any extension of credit in respect of the First Out Tranche requested to be made by it on any date is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a) Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties made by any Loan Party in or pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be true and correct on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date.

 

(b) No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date or after giving effect to the extensions of credit requested to be made on such date.

 

(c) Minimum Amount of Unrestricted Cash . The Borrower shall have a balance of not less than the Minimum Amount in the Controlled Account (calculated after giving effect to the contemplated Extension of Credit but excluding proceeds of any Extensions of Credit hereunder).

 

Each borrowing by and issuance of a Letter of Credit on behalf of the Borrower hereunder in respect of the First Out Tranche shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower as of the date of such extension of credit that the conditions contained in this Section 5.2 have been satisfied.

 

5.3 Conditions to Each Last Out Tranche Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender to make any extension of credit in respect of the Last Out Tranche requested to be made by it on any date is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a) Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties made by any Loan Party in or pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be true and correct on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date.

 

(b) No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date or after giving effect to the extensions of credit requested to be made on such date.

 

(c) Minimum Amount of Unrestricted Cash. The Borrower shall have a balance of not less than the Minimum Amount in the Controlled Account (calculated after giving effect to the contemplated Extension of Credit but excluding proceeds of any Extensions of Credit hereunder).

 

(d) Incurrence Test. As of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Borrower (the “Incurrence Test”) the Coverage Ratio equals or exceeds 1.10x.

 

(e) Available First Out Tranche Commitments. Available First Out Tranche Commitments shall equal zero.

 

Each borrowing by and issuance of a Letter of Credit on behalf of the Borrower hereunder in respect of the Last Out Tranche shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower as of the date of such extension of credit that the conditions contained in this Section 5.3 have been satisfied.

 

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SECTION 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in effect, any Letter of Credit remains outstanding or any Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Borrower shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

6.1 Financial Statements. Furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and the related audited consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year, reported on without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception, or qualification arising out of the scope of the audit, by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders; and

 

(b) as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly periods of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Borrower’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, including the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for such quarter and the portion of the fiscal year through the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year, certified by a Responsible Officer as being fairly stated in all material respects (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments).

 

All such financial statements shall be complete and correct in all material respects and shall be prepared in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP applied (except as approved by such accountants or officer, as the case may be, and disclosed in reasonable detail therein and, in the case of financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(b) and 6.1(c) above, subject to the absence of footnotes) consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and with prior periods.

 

6.2 Certificates; Other Information. Furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (or, in the case of clause (f), to the relevant Lender):

 

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.1(a), if at any time during the fiscal year covered by such financial statements any Extensions of Credit were outstanding, a certificate of the independent certified public accountants reporting on such financial statements stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default or Event of Default, except as specified in such certificate;

 

(b) concurrently with the delivery of any financial statements pursuant to Section 6.1, (i) a certificate of a Responsible Officer stating that, to the best of each such Responsible Officer’s knowledge, each Loan Party during such period has observed or performed all of its covenants and other agreements, and satisfied every condition contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party to be observed, performed or satisfied by it, and that such Responsible Officer has obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except as specified in such certificate and (ii) in the case of quarterly or annual financial statements, (x) a Compliance Certificate containing all information and calculations necessary for determining compliance by each Group Member with the provisions of this Agreement referred to therein and the Coverage Ratio as of the last day of the fiscal quarter or fiscal year of the Borrower, as the case may be, and (y) to the extent not previously disclosed to the Administrative Agent, a description of any change in the jurisdiction of organization of any Loan Party and a list of any Intellectual Property acquired by any Loan Party since the date of the most recent report delivered pursuant to this clause (y) (or, in the case of the first such report so delivered, since the Closing Date);

 

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(c) as soon as available, and in any event no later than 45 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a detailed consolidated budget for the following fiscal year (including a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year, the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow, projected changes in financial position and projected income and a description of the underlying assumptions applicable thereto), and, as soon as available, significant revisions, if any, of such budget and projections with respect to such fiscal year (collectively, the “Projections”), which Projections shall in each case be accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer stating that such Projections are based on reasonable estimates, information and assumptions and that such Responsible Officer has no reason to believe that such Projections are incorrect or misleading in any material respect; and

 

(d) promptly, such additional financial and other information as any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

 

6.3 Payment of Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all its material obligations of whatever nature, except where the amount or validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of the relevant Group Member.

 

6.4 Maintenance of Existence; Compliance. (a) (i) Preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its organizational existence and (ii) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except, in each case, as otherwise permitted by Section 7.3 and except, in the case of clause (ii) above, to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) comply with all Contractual Obligations and Requirements of Law (including all applicable Environmental Laws) except to the extent that failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) comply with all Governmental Approvals except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.5 Maintenance of Property; Insurance. (a) Keep all property material to its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and (b) maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all its property in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (but including in any event public liability, product liability and business interruption) as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business.

 

6.6 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions. (a) Keep proper books of records and account in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP and all Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (b) upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, permit the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of its properties and examine and make abstracts from any of its books and records and to discuss the business, operations, properties and financial and other condition of the Group Members with officers and employees of the Group Members and with their independent certified public accountants not more often than once during any calendar year unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in which event permit representatives of any Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties and examine and make abstracts from any of its books and records at any reasonable time and as often as may reasonably be desired and to discuss the business, operations, properties and financial and other condition of the Group Members with officers and employees of the Group Members and with their independent certified public accountants.

 

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6.7 Notices. Promptly give notice to the Administrative Agent and each Lender of:

 

(a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

 

(b) any (i) default or event of default under any Contractual Obligation of any Group Member or (ii) litigation, investigation or proceeding that may exist at any time between any Group Member and any Governmental Authority, that in either case, if not cured or if adversely determined, as the case may be, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c) any litigation or proceeding affecting any Group Member (i) in which the amount involved is $1,000,000 or more and not covered by insurance, (ii) in which injunctive or similar relief is sought or (iii) which relates to any Loan Document;

 

(d) the following events, as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know thereof: (i) the occurrence of any Reportable Event with respect to any Plan, a failure to make any required contribution to a Plan, the creation of any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan or any withdrawal from, or the termination, Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Multiemployer Plan or (ii) the institution of proceedings or the taking of any other action by the PBGC or the Borrower or any Commonly Controlled Entity or any Multiemployer Plan with respect to the withdrawal from, or the termination, Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Plan; and

 

(e) any development or event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the relevant Group Member proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

6.8 Additional Collateral, etc.

 

(a) With respect to any property acquired after the Closing Date by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than (x) any property described in paragraph (b), (c) or (d) below, and (y) any property subject to a Lien expressly permitted by Section 7.2(g)) as to which the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, does not have a perfected Lien, promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or such other documents as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in such property and (ii) take all actions necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first priority security interest in such property, including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or by law or as may be requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b) With respect to any fee interest in any real property having a value (together with improvements thereof) of at least $1,000,000 acquired after the Closing Date by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than any such real property subject to a Lien expressly permitted by Section 7.2(g)), promptly (i) execute and deliver a first priority Mortgage, in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, covering such real property, (ii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, provide the Lenders with (x) title and extended coverage insurance covering such real property in an amount at least equal to the purchase price of such real property (or such other amount as shall be reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent) as well as a current ALTA survey thereof, together with a surveyor’s certificate, and (y) any consents or estoppels

 

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reasonably deemed necessary or advisable by the Administrative Agent in connection with such Mortgage, each of the foregoing in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (iii) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described above, which opinions shall be in form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(c) With respect to any new Domestic Subsidiary created or acquired after the Closing Date by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing such Capital Stock, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower or the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor, (iii) cause such new Subsidiary (A) to become a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, (B) to take such actions necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement with respect to such new Subsidiary, including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or by law or as may be requested by the Administrative Agent and (C) to deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of such Subsidiary, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments, and (iv) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described above, which opinions shall be in form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d) With respect to any new, direct Foreign Subsidiary created or acquired after the Closing Date by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement necessary to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by the Borrower or any such Subsidiary Guarantor (provided that in no event shall more than 66% of the total outstanding voting Capital Stock of any such new Subsidiary be required to be so pledged), (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing such Capital Stock, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower or the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor, and take such other action as may be necessary to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein, and (iii) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described above, which opinions shall be in form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

6.9 Controlled Account. The Borrower shall at all times on and after the date of the initial Extension of Credit under this Agreement maintain an aggregate amount of Cash and Cash Equivalents in the Controlled Account equal to or exceeding the Minimum Amount.

 

6.10 Post-Closing Matters. No later than 30 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent shall agree) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders an executed legal opinion of local counsel in the Cayman Islands in form, and covering such matters as are, reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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SECTION 7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in effect, any Letter of Credit remains outstanding or any Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

7.1 Indebtedness. Create, issue, incur, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a) Indebtedness of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b) Indebtedness of (i) the Borrower to any Subsidiary, (ii) any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, (iii) any Subsidiary as of the Closing Date to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary and (iv) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary;

 

(c) Guarantee Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business (i) by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of obligations of the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary of obligations of any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary;

 

(d) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.1(d) and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof (without shortening the maturity thereof or increasing the principal amount thereof);

 

(e) Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Capital Lease Obligations) secured by Liens permitted by Section 7.2(g) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $40,000,000 at any one time outstanding and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof (without shortening the maturity thereof or increasing the principal amount thereof);

 

(f) Indebtedness in favor of Solon AG and its Affiliates under the Amended and Restated Supply Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2005, between Solon AG fur Solartechnik and the Borrower and its affiliates (as in effect on the date hereof);

 

(g) Indebtedness (in addition to Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.1(f)) in favor of customers and suppliers of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with supply and purchase agreements in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any one time; and

 

(h) additional Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount (for the Borrower and all Subsidiaries) not to exceed $15,000,000 at any one time outstanding.

 

7.2 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

 

(a) Liens for taxes not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in conformity with GAAP;

 

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(b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

(c) pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

 

(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business that, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount and that do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(f) Liens in existence on the date hereof listed on Schedule 7.2(f), securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1(d) and any Lien granted as a replacement or substitute therefor, provided that no such Lien is spread to cover any additional property after the Closing Date and that the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;

 

(g) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary incurred pursuant to Section 7.1(e) to finance the acquisition of fixed or capital assets (including refinancings thereof), provided that (i) such Liens shall be created substantially simultaneously with the acquisition of such fixed or capital assets, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness (and replacements thereof) and (iii) the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;

 

(h) Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;

 

(i) any interest or title of a lessor under any lease entered into by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business and covering only the assets so leased;

 

(j) Liens in favor of Solon AG and its Affiliates on solar cell manufacturing equipment purchased with the proceeds of advances made by Solon AG and its Affiliates under, securing obligations in connection with, the Amended and Restated Supply Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2005, between Solon AG fur Solartechnik and the Borrower and its affiliates (as in effect on the date hereof) permitted under Section 7.1(f);

 

(k) Liens in favor of customers or suppliers of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on equipment purchased with the proceeds of advances made by such customers or suppliers under, and securing obligations in connection with, supply agreements permitted under Section 7.1(g);

 

(l) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

(m) licenses of patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights granted by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary;

 

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(n) bankers’ Liens, rights of setoff and other similar Liens existing solely with respect to cash and Cash Equivalents on deposit in one or more accounts maintained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case granted or existing in the ordinary course of business in favor of the bank or banks with which such accounts are maintained, securing amounts owing to such bank; provided that, unless such Liens are non-consensual and arise by operation of law;

 

(o) Liens arising out of judgments or awards not resulting in a Default;

 

(p) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by any Group Member in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(q) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section so long as neither (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby nor (ii) the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the date such Lien is incurred) of the assets subject thereto exceeds (as to the Borrower and all Subsidiaries) $5,000,000 at any one time.

 

7.3 Fundamental Changes. Enter into any merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or Dispose of all or substantially all of its property or business, except that:

 

(a) (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may be merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation) or with or into any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor (provided that the Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation); and (ii) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary may be merged or consolidated with or into any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary;

 

(b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may Dispose of any or all of its assets (i) to the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) or (ii) pursuant to a Disposition permitted by Section 7.4;

 

(c) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary may Dispose of any or all of its assets to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary; and

 

(d) any Investment expressly permitted by Section 7.6 may be structured as a merger, consolidation or amalgamation.

 

7.4 Disposition of Property. Dispose of any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or, in the case of any Subsidiary, issue or sell any shares of such Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to any Person, except:

 

(a) the Disposition of obsolete or worn out property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c) Dispositions permitted by clause (i) of Section 7.3(b);

 

(d) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.3(c);

 

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(e) (i) the sale or issuance of any Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) the sale or issuance of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary; and

 

(f) the Disposition of other property having a fair market value not to exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate for any fiscal year of the Borrower.

 

7.5 Restricted Payments. Declare or pay any dividend (other than dividends payable solely in common stock of the Person making such dividend) on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of, any Capital Stock of any Group Member, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of any Group Member (collectively, “Restricted Payments”), except that:

 

(a) any Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(b) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary; and

 

(c) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower may purchase the Borrower’s common stock or common stock options from present or former officers or employees of any Group Member upon the death, disability or termination of employment of such officer or employee, provided, that the aggregate amount of payments under this clause (b) after the date hereof shall not exceed $500,000.

 

7.6 Investments. Make any advance, loan, extension of credit (by way of guarantee or otherwise) or capital contribution to, or purchase any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other debt securities of, or any assets constituting a business unit of, or make any other investment in, any Person (all of the foregoing, “Investments”), except:

 

(a) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b) Investments in Cash Equivalents;

 

(c) Guarantee Obligations permitted by Section 7.1;

 

(d) loans and advances to employees of any Group Member in the ordinary course of business (including for travel, entertainment and relocation expenses) in an aggregate amount for all Group Members not to exceed $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

 

(e) intercompany Investments by any Group Member (i) in the Borrower, (ii) in any Person that was a Subsidiary as of the Closing Date or (iii) in any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor; and

 

(f) in addition to Investments otherwise expressly permitted by this Section, Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount (valued at cost) not to exceed $25,000,000 (excluding equity consideration) during the term of this Agreement.

 

7.7 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction, including any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management,

 

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advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate (other than the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary Guarantor and excluding transactions with Cypress pursuant to agreements described on Schedule 7.7) unless such transaction is (a) otherwise permitted under this Agreement, (b) in the ordinary course of business of the relevant Group Member, and (c) upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the relevant Group Member than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate.

 

7.8 Sale Leaseback Transactions. Enter into any Sale Leaseback Transaction.

 

7.9 Swap Agreements. Enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business (as a bona fide hedge and not for speculative purposes) to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Capital Stock) and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business (as a bona fide hedge and not for speculative purposes) in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

7.10 Negative Pledge Clauses. Enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of any Group Member to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party other than (a) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) any agreements governing any purchase money Liens or Capital Lease Obligations otherwise permitted hereby (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby) and (c) customary restrictions on the assignment of leases, licenses and other agreements.

 

7.11 Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions. Enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to (a) make Restricted Payments in respect of any Capital Stock of such Subsidiary held by, or pay any Indebtedness owed to, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, (b) make loans or advances to, or other Investments in, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower or (c) transfer any of its assets to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) any restrictions existing under the Loan Documents, (ii) any restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into in connection with the Disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary, (iii) customary restrictions on the assignment of leases, licenses and other agreements, and (iv) restrictions of the nature referred to in clause (c) above under agreements governing purchase money liens or Capital Lease Obligations otherwise permitted hereby which restrictions are only effective against the assets financed thereby.

 

7.12 Lines of Business. Enter into any business, either directly or through any Subsidiary, except for those businesses in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are engaged on the date of this Agreement or that are reasonably related thereto.

 

SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

 

(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation when due in accordance with the terms hereof; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, or any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, within five Business Days after any such interest or other amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof; or

 

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(b) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by any Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or that is contained in any certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished by it at any time under or in connection with this Agreement or any such other Loan Document shall prove to have been inaccurate in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

 

(c) (i) any Loan Party shall default in the observance or performance of any agreement contained in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 6.4(a) (with respect to the Borrower only), Section 6.7(a), Section 6.9 or Section 7 of this Agreement or (ii) an “Event of Default” under and as defined in any Mortgage shall have occurred and be continuing; or

 

(d) any Loan Party shall default in the observance or performance of any other agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than as provided in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section), and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after the earlier of (i) any Loan Party becoming aware of such default or (ii) written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower; or

 

(e) any Group Member shall (i) default in making any payment of any principal of any Indebtedness (including any Guarantee Obligation, but excluding the Loans) on the scheduled or original due date with respect thereto; or (ii) default in making any payment of any interest on any such Indebtedness beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created; or (iii) default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is (x) to cause, or to permit the holder or beneficiary of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or beneficiary) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity or (in the case of any such Indebtedness constituting a Guarantee Obligation) to become payable or (y) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, any Group Member to purchase or redeem or make an offer to purchase or redeem such Indebtedness prior to its stated maturity; provided, that a default, event or condition described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (e) shall not at any time constitute an Event of Default unless, at such time, one or more defaults, events or conditions of the type described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph (e) shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to Indebtedness the outstanding principal amount of which exceeds in the aggregate $2,500,000; or

 

(f) (i) any Group Member shall commence any case, proceeding or other action (a) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (b) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or any Group Member shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (ii) there shall be commenced against any Group Member any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above that (a) results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (b) remains undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of 60 days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against any Group Member any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment, execution, distraint or similar process against all or any substantial part of its assets that results in the entry of an order for any such relief that shall not

 

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have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or (iv) any Group Member shall take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or (v) any Group Member shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or

 

(g) (i) any Person shall engage in any “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Plan, (ii) any “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan or any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan shall arise on the assets of any Group Member or any Commonly Controlled Entity, (iii) a Reportable Event shall occur with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a trustee appointed, or a trustee shall be appointed, to administer or to terminate, any Single Employer Plan, which Reportable Event or commencement of proceedings or appointment of a trustee is, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (iv) any Single Employer Plan shall terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (v) any Group Member or any Commonly Controlled Entity shall, or in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders is likely to, incur any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan or (vi) any other event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan; and in each case in clauses (i) through (vi) above, such event or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if any, could, in the sole judgment of the Required Lenders, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(h) one or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against any Group Member involving in the aggregate a liability (not paid or fully covered by insurance as to which the relevant insurance company has acknowledged coverage) of $5,000,000 or more, and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within 30 days from the entry thereof; or

 

(i) any of the Security Documents shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect, or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert, or any Lien created by any of the Security Documents on a material portion of the Collateral shall cease to be enforceable and of the same effect and priority purported to be created thereby; or

 

(j) the guarantee contained in Section 2 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert; or

 

(k) a Change of Control shall occur;

 

then, and in any such event, (a) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (f) above with respect to the Borrower, the Commitments shall immediately terminate automatically and the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all amounts of L/C Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented the documents required thereunder) shall automatically become immediately due and payable, and (b) if such event is any other Event of Default, either or both of the following actions may be taken: (i) with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower declare the Commitments to be terminated forthwith, whereupon the Commitments shall immediately terminate; and (ii) with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Loans (with accrued interest thereon)

 

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and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all amounts of L/C Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented the documents required thereunder) to be due and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable. With respect to all Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall at such time deposit in a cash collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit. Amounts held in such cash collateral account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay other obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents. After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, all Reimbursement Obligations shall have been satisfied and all other obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such cash collateral account shall be returned to the Borrower (or such other Person as may be lawfully entitled thereto). Except as expressly provided above in this Section, presentment, demand, protest and all other notices of any kind are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

 

SECTION 9. THE AGENTS

 

9.1 Appointment and Authority.

 

(a) Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Credit Suisse to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

(b) The provisions of Section 9 are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities to any Lender or any other Person, except those expressly set forth herein, or 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.

 

9.2 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Section shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.

 

9.3 Exculpatory Provisions. No Agent shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Agent:

 

(a) shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether any Default or any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(b) shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that such Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), as applicable, provided that such Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and

 

(c) shall, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and no Agent shall be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by any Person serving as the applicable Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

No Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as such Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.1) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

No Agent shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 5 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to such Agent.

 

9.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with 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 (or such other number or percentage of Lenders as shall be provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents) as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense that 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 and the other Loan Documents in accordance with a request

 

50


of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of Lenders as shall be provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans.

 

9.5 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Lenders or the Borrower, as applicable. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all Lenders); provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action or refrain from taking such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders.

 

9.6 Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates have made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Administrative Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of a Group Member or any affiliate of a Group Member, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Group Members and their affiliates and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Group Members and their affiliates. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of any Group Member or any affiliate of a Group Member that may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

 

9.7 Indemnification. Each of the Lenders agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to do so), according to its Percentage in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, in accordance with its Percentage immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent in any way relating to or arising out of, the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no

 

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Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

9.8 Agent in Its Individual Capacity. Each Person serving as an Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include each such Person serving as an Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

9.9 Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in New York, New York. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above provided that if the retiring Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and such collateral security is assigned to such successor Administrative Agent) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above in this paragraph. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of Section 9 and Section 10.5 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as an Administrative Agent.

 

9.10 Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Joint Lead Arrangers or the Joint Bookrunners listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as an Agent or a Lender hereunder.

 

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SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1 Amendments and Waivers. Neither this Agreement, any other Loan Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.1. The Required Lenders and each Loan Party party to the relevant Loan Document may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party party to the relevant Loan Document may, from time to time, (i) enter into written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Loan Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or of the Loan Parties hereunder or thereunder or (ii) waive, on such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided, however, that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall (A) forgive the principal amount or extend the final scheduled date of maturity of any Loan, reduce the stated rate of any interest or fee payable hereunder (except (x) in connection with the waiver of applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates and (y) that any amendment or modification of defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (A)) or extend the scheduled date of any payment thereof, or increase the amount or extend the expiration date of any Lender’s Commitment, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; (B) eliminate or reduce the voting rights of any Lender under this Section 10.1 without the written consent of such Lender; (C) reduce any percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders, consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, release all or substantially all of the Collateral or release all or substantially all of the Subsidiary Guarantors from their obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, in each case without the written consent of all Lenders; (D) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 9 without the written consent of the Administrative Agent; or (E) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 3 without the written consent of the Issuing Lender. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each of the Lenders and shall be binding upon the Loan Parties, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the Loans. In the case of any waiver, the Loan Parties, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be restored to their former position and rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing during the period such waiver is effective; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

10.2 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by telecopy), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered, or three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of telecopy notice, when received, addressed as follows in the case of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and as set forth in an administrative questionnaire delivered to the Administrative Agent in the case of the Lenders, or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto:

 

Borrower:   

SunPower Corporation

430 Indio Way

Sunnyvale, California 94086

Attention: Emmanuel T. Hernandez

Telecopy: (408) 739-7713

 

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Administrative Agent:   

Credit Suisse

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

Attention: Thomas Lynch,

Agency Group Manager

Telecopy: (212) 325-8304

 

provided that any notice, request or demand to or upon the Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall not be effective until received.

 

Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder (other than notices of any Default or Event of Default) may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Section 2 unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that (a) approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications and (b) the Borrower shall not be permitted to deliver notices of any Default or Event of Default by electronic communication. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (a) notices and other communications sent to an email address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgment from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return email or other written acknowledgment), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (b) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its email address as described in the foregoing clause (a) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

10.3 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 or under the other Loan Documents 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. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

10.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder, in the other Loan Documents and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans and other extensions of credit hereunder.

 

10.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes. The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation and execution of any amendment, supplement or modification to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents prepared in connection therewith, and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and filing and recording fees and expenses, with statements with respect to the foregoing to be submitted to the Borrower from time to time on a quarterly basis or such other periodic basis as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate, (b) to pay or reimburse each Lender and the Administrative Agent for all its costs and expenses incurred

 

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after an Event of Default in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, including the fees and disbursements of counsel (including the allocated fees and expenses of in-house counsel) to each Lender and of counsel to the Administrative Agent, (c) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender and the Administrative Agent harmless from, any and all recording and filing fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, stamp, excise and other taxes, if any, that may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or consummation or administration of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment, supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, and (d) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender and the Administrative Agent and their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents and controlling persons (each, an “Indemnitee”) harmless from and against any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to or arising out of or in connection with the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents (regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party hereto and regardless or whether any such matter is initiated by a third party, the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Person), including any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of the Loans or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any Environmental Law applicable to the operations of any Group Member or any of the Properties and the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel in connection with claims, actions or proceedings by any Indemnitee against any Loan Party under any Loan Document (all the foregoing in this clause (d), collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), provided, that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnitee with respect to Indemnified Liabilities to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnitee under this clause (d) of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnitee will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Borrower under this clause (d), notify the Borrower of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this clause (d) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; provided that the failure to notify the Borrower shall not relieve the Borrower from any liability that it may have to an Indemnitee otherwise than under this clause (d) above. In case any such action is brought against any Indemnitee and it notifies the Borrower of the commencement thereof, the Borrower will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnitee (who shall not, except with the consent of the Indemnitee, be counsel to the Borrower), and after notice from the Borrower to such Indemnitee of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the Borrower will not be liable to such Indemnitee under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No Group Member shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any Indemnitee is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnitee unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnitee from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an Indemnitee. Without limiting the foregoing, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower agrees not to assert and to cause its Subsidiaries not to assert, and hereby waives and agrees to cause its Subsidiaries to waive, all rights for contribution or any other rights of recovery with respect to all claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature, under or related to Environmental Laws, that any of them might have by statute or otherwise against any Indemnitee. All amounts due under this Section 10.5 shall be payable not later than 10 days after written demand therefor. Statements payable by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 10.5 shall be submitted to

 

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Emmanuel T. Hernandez, Chief Financial Officer (Telephone No. (408) 470-4274) (Telecopy No. (408) 739-7713), at the address of the Borrower set forth in Section 10.2, or to such other Person or address as may be hereafter designated by the Borrower in a written notice to the Administrative Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.5 shall survive repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

10.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments.

 

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any affiliate of the Issuing Lender that issues any Letter of Credit), except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void).

 

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth below in Section 10.6(b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more banks, mutual funds or financials institutions or entities (each, an “Assignee”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent of:

 

(A) the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund (as defined below) or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other Person;

 

(B) the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and

 

(C) the Issuing Lender.

 

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments or Loans, the amount of the Commitments or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $1,000,000 (provided that simultaneous assignments to or by two or more Approved Funds shall be aggregated for purposes of determining such amount) unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment Agreement via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent (or, if previously agreed with the Administrative Agent, manually), and shall pay to the Administrative Agent a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent); and

 

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(C) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire and applicable tax forms to the extent required pursuant to Section 2.16(d).

 

For the purposes of this Section 10.6, the term “Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to Section 10.6(b)(iv) below, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.18, 2.19, 2.20 and 10.5). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.6 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.6(c).

 

(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Issuing Lender and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, the Assignee’s completed administrative questionnaire (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 10.6(b) and any written consent to such assignment required by Section 10.6(b) (in each case to the extent required), the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties

 

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hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that (1) requires the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby pursuant to the proviso to the second sentence of Section 10.1 and (2) directly affects such Participant. Subject to Section 10.6(c)(ii), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.18, 2.19 and 2.20 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.6(b). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.7(b) as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant shall be subject to Section 10.7(a) as though it were a Lender.

 

(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.13 or 2.14 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. Any Participant that is a Non-U.S. Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.14 unless such Participant complies with Section 2.14(d).

 

(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or Assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(e) The Borrower, upon receipt of written notice from the relevant Lender, agrees to issue Notes to any Lender requiring Notes to facilitate transactions of the type described in Section 10.6(d).

 

(f) Each Lender, upon execution and delivery hereof or upon succeeding to an interest in the Commitments or Loans, as the case may be, represents and warrants as of the Closing Date or as of the effective date of the applicable Assignment and Assumption that (i) it is an Eligible Assignee; (ii) it has experience and expertise in the making of or investing in commitments, loans or investments such as the Commitments and Loans; and (iii) it will make or invest in its Commitments and Loans for its own account in the ordinary course of its business and without a view to distribution of such Commitments and Loans within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or other federal securities laws (it being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Section 10.6, the disposition of such Commitments and Loans or any interests therein shall at all times remain within its exclusive control).

 

10.7 Adjustments; Set-off.

 

(a) Except to the extent that this Agreement expressly provides for payments to be allocated to a particular Lender, if any Lender (a “Benefitted Lender”) shall, at any time after the Loans and other amounts payable hereunder shall immediately become due and payable pursuant to Section 8, receive any payment of all or part of the Obligations owing to it, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 8(f), or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or

 

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collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of the Obligations owing to such other Lender, such Benefitted Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of the Obligations owing to each such other Lender, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefitted Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such Benefitted Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

 

(b) In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, each Lender shall have the right, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any amount becoming due and payable by the Borrower hereunder (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), to set off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender or any branch or agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower, as the case may be. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

10.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

10.9 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

10.10 Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the entire agreement of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Administrative Agent or any Lender relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

 

10.11 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

10.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York, and appellate courts from any thereof;

 

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(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

 

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the Borrower, as the case may be at its address set forth in Section 10.2 or at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

 

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

 

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

 

10.13 Acknowledgements. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that:

 

(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

 

(b) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to the Borrower arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between Administrative Agent and Lenders, on one hand, and the Borrower, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

 

(c) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

10.14 Releases of Guarantees and Liens.

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender (without requirement of notice to or consent of any Lender except as expressly required by Section 10.1) to take any action requested by the Borrower having the effect of releasing any Collateral or guarantee obligations (i) to the extent necessary to permit consummation of any transaction not prohibited by any Loan Document or that has been consented to in accordance with Section 10.1 or (ii) under the circumstances described in Section 10.14(b) below.

 

(b) At such time as the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations and the other obligations under the Loan Documents shall have been paid in full, the Commitments have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, the Collateral shall be released from the Liens created by the Security Documents, and the Security Documents and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party under the Security Documents shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person.

 

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10.15 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees to keep confidential and use only for the purposes of performing its obligations and exercising its rights and remedies under the Loan Documents (and for any other purpose for which the Administrative Agent or such Lender is permitted to use such information) all non-public information provided to it by any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement that is designated by the provider thereof as confidential; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the Administrative Agent or any Lender from disclosing any such information (a) to the Administrative Agent, any other Lender or any affiliate thereof to use only in connection with the purposes of performing its obligations and exercising its rights and remedies under the Loan Documents and any other purpose for which the Administrative Agent or such Lender is permitted to use such information, (b) subject to an agreement to comply with the provisions of this Section, to any actual or prospective Transferee or any direct or indirect counterparty to any Swap Agreement (or any professional advisor to such counterparty), (c) to its employees, directors, agents, attorneys, accountants and other professional advisors or those of any of its affiliates on a need-to-know basis, (d) upon the request or demand of any Governmental Authority, (e) in response to any order of any court or other Governmental Authority or as may otherwise be required pursuant to any Requirement of Law, (f) if requested or required to do so in connection with any litigation or similar proceeding, (g) that has been publicly disclosed, (h) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about a Lender’s investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender, or (i) in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

 

10.16 WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT.

 

10.17 Patriot Act. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any other party) hereby notifies the Borrower that, pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the names and addresses and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, provide, to the extent commercially reasonable or required by any Requirement of Law, such information and take such actions as are reasonably requested by any Agent or any Lender to assist the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in maintaining compliance with the Patriot Act.

 

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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.

 

SUNPOWER CORPORATION
By:  

/s/    Emmanuel Hernandez


Name:   Emmanuel Hernandez
Title:   CFO

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent and as a Lender

By:  

/s/    Ian Nalitt


Name:   Ian Nalitt
Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/    Thomas R. Cantello


Name:   Thomas R. Cantello
Title:   Vice President

LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/    V. Paul Arzouhan


Name:   V. Paul Arzouhan
Title:   Authorized Signatory


SCHEDULE 1.1

TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Commitments

 

Lender


   First Out Tranche
Commitment


   Last Out Tranche
Commitment


   Pro Rata Share

 

Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch

   $ 6,500,000.00    $ 9,750,000.00    65.000000000 %

Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.

   $ 3,500,000.00    $ 5,250,000.00    35.000000000 %

Total

   $ 10,000,000.00    $ 15,000,000.00    100.00 %
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

EXHIBIT 10.30

 


 

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of December 2, 2005

 

made by

 

SUNPOWER CORPORATION

 

and

 

THE OTHER GRANTORS referred to herein

 

in favor of

 

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

SECTION 1.    DEFINED TERMS    1
1.1      Definitions    1
1.2      Other Definitional Provisions    4
SECTION 2.    GUARANTEE    4
2.1      Guarantee    4
2.2      Right of Contribution    5
2.3      No Subrogation    5
2.4      Amendments, etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations    5
2.5      Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional    5
2.6      Reinstatement    6
2.7      Payments    6
SECTION 3.    GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST    7
SECTION 4.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    8
4.1      Title; No Other Liens    8
4.2      Perfected Liens    8
4.3      Jurisdiction of Organization; Chief Executive Office    9
4.4      Inventory and Equipment    9
4.5      Farm Products    9
4.6      Investment Property    9
4.7      Investment Accounts    9
4.8      Receivables    10
4.9      Intellectual Property    10
SECTION 5.    COVENANTS    10
5.1      Delivery of Instruments, Certificated Securities and Chattel Paper    10
5.2      Maintenance of Insurance    11
5.3      Payment of Obligations    11
5.4      Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation    11
5.5      Changes in Locations, Name, etc    12
5.6      Notices    12
5.7      Investment Property    12
5.8      Investment Accounts    13
5.9      Receivables    13
5.10      Intellectual Property    13
SECTION 6.    REMEDIAL PROVISIONS    15
6.1      Certain Matters Relating to Receivables    15
6.2      Communications with Obligors; Grantors Remain Liable    15
6.3      Investment Property    15
6.4      Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent    16
6.5      Application of Proceeds    17
6.6      Code and Other Remedies    17
6.7      Registration Rights    18
6.8      Intellectual Property License    19
6.9      Deficiency    19

 

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SECTION 7.    THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT    19
7.1      Administrative Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc    19
7.2      Duty of Administrative Agent    20
7.3      Authorization of Financing Statements    21
7.4      Authority of Administrative Agent    21
SECTION 8.    MISCELLANEOUS    21
8.1      Amendments in Writing    21
8.2      Notices    21
8.3      No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies    21
8.4      Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification    22
8.5      Successors and Assigns    22
8.6      Set-Off    22
8.7      Counterparts    23
8.8      Severability    23
8.9      Section Headings    23
8.10      Integration    23
8.11      GOVERNING LAW    23
8.12      Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers    23
8.13      Acknowledgements    24
8.14      Additional Grantors    24
8.15      Releases.    24
8.16      WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL    24
SCHEDULES     
Schedule 1    Notice Addresses     
Schedule 2    Investment Property     
Schedule 3    Perfection Matters     
Schedule 4    Jurisdictions of Organization and Chief Executive Offices, etc.     
Schedule 5    Equipment and Inventory Locations     
Schedule 6    Intellectual Property     

 

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GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 2, 2005, made by each of the signatories hereto (together with any other entity that may become a party hereto as provided herein, the “Grantors”), in favor of CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Administrative Agent (together with its successors, in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the banks and other financial institutions or entities (the “Lenders”) from time to time parties to the Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented, restructured or otherwise modified, renewed or replaced from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among SUNPOWER CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto, and CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Administrative Agent.

 

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower is a member of an affiliated group of companies that includes each other Grantor;

 

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement will be used in part to enable the Borrower to make valuable transfers to one or more of the other Grantors in connection with the operation of their respective businesses;

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower and the other Grantors are engaged in related businesses, and each Grantor derives substantial direct and indirect benefit from the extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the Closing Date that the Grantors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINED TERMS

 

1.1 Definitions. (a) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement, and the following terms are used herein as defined in the New York UCC: Accounts, Certificated Security, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claims, Commodities Accounts, Documents, Equipment, Farm Products, Fixtures, General Intangibles, Goods, Instruments, Inventory, Letter-of-Credit Rights, Securities Accounts and Supporting Obligations.

 

  (b) The following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Agreement”: as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Borrower Obligations”: the Obligations of the Borrower.

 

Collateral”: as defined in Section 3.


Collateral Account”: any collateral account established by the Administrative Agent as provided in Section 6.1 or 6.4.

 

Collateral Documents”: the reference to Security Documents as defined in the Credit Agreement.

 

Copyright Licenses”: any written agreement naming any Grantor as licensor or licensee (including, without limitation, those listed on Schedule 6), granting any right under any Copyright, including, without limitation, the grant of rights to manufacture, distribute, exploit and sell materials derived from any Copyright but excluding (i) any written agreement relating to rights held by such Grantor solely as a result of such Grantor’s status as a Subsidiary of Cypress so long as such rights are not used by such Grantor in the conduct of its business and (ii) off the shelf software licenses.

 

Copyrights”: (i) all copyrights arising under the laws of the United States, any other country or any political subdivision thereof, whether registered or unregistered and whether published or unpublished (including, without limitation, those listed on Schedule 6), all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, including, without limitation, all registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Copyright Office, and (ii) the right to obtain all renewals thereof.

 

Deposit Account”: as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction and, in any event, including, without limitation, any demand, time, savings, passbook or like account maintained with a depositary institution.

 

Discharge of Obligations”: as defined in Section 2.1(d).

 

Foreign Subsidiary”: any direct Subsidiary of any Grantor organized under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States of America.

 

Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock”: the voting Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary.

 

Intellectual Property”: the collective reference to all rights, priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property of any Grantor, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise, including, without limitation, the Copyrights, the Copyright Licenses, the Patents, the Patent Licenses, the Trademarks and the Trademark Licenses, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom.

 

Intercompany Note”: any promissory note evidencing loans made by any Grantor to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Investment Accounts”: the collective reference to the Securities Accounts, Commodities Accounts and Deposit Accounts.

 

Investment Property”: the collective reference to (i) all “investment property” as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(49) of the New York UCC (other than any Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock excluded from the definition of “Pledged Stock”) and (ii) whether or not constituting “investment property” as so defined, all Pledged Notes and all Pledged Stock.

 

Issuers”: the collective reference to each issuer of any Investment Property.

 

2


New York UCC”: the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

 

Obligations”: (i) in the case of the Borrower, the Borrower Obligations, and (ii) in the case of each Subsidiary Guarantor, its Subsidiary Guarantor Obligations.

 

Patent License”: all agreements, whether written or oral, providing for the grant by or to any Grantor of any right under any Patent, including, without limitation, the right to manufacture, use or sell any invention covered in whole or in part by a Patent, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing referred to on Schedule 6 but excluding any written agreement relating to rights held by such Grantor solely as a result of such Grantor’s status as a Subsidiary of Cypress so long as such rights are not used by such Grantor in the conduct of its business.

 

Patents”: (i) all letters patent of the United States, any other country or any political subdivision thereof, all reissues and extensions thereof and all goodwill associated therewith, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing referred to on Schedule 6, (ii) all applications for letters patent of the United States or any other country and all divisions, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing referred to on Schedule 6, and (iii) all rights to obtain any reissues or extensions of the foregoing.

 

Pledged Notes”: all promissory notes listed on Schedule 2 and all other promissory notes issued to or held by any Grantor.

 

Pledged Stock”: the shares of Capital Stock listed on Schedule 2, together with any other shares, stock certificates, options, interests or rights of any nature whatsoever in respect of the Capital Stock of any Person that may be issued or granted to, or held by, any Grantor while this Agreement is in effect; provided that in no event shall more than 66% of the total outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary be required to be pledged hereunder.

 

Proceeds”: all “proceeds” as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(64) of the New York UCC and, in any event, shall include, without limitation, all dividends or other income from the Investment Property, collections thereon or distributions or payments with respect thereto.

 

Receivable”: any right to payment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered, whether or not such right is evidenced by an Instrument or Chattel Paper and whether or not it has been earned by performance (including, without limitation, any Account).

 

Subsidiary Guarantor Obligations”: the collective reference to the Obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

Trademark License”: any agreement, whether written or oral, providing for the grant by or to any Grantor of any right to use any Trademark, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing referred to on Schedule 6 but excluding any written agreement relating to rights held by such Grantor solely as a result of such Grantor’s status as a Subsidiary of Cypress so long as such rights are not used by such Grantor in the conduct of its business.

 

Trademarks”: (i) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, service marks, logos, Internet domain names and other source or business identifiers, and all goodwill associated therewith, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, whether in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United

 

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States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, or otherwise, and all common-law rights related thereto, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing referred to on Schedule 6, and (ii) the right to obtain all renewals thereof.

 

1.2 Other Definitional Provisions. (a) The words “hereof,” “herein”, “hereto” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section and Schedule references are to the Sections and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

 

(b) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

 

(c) Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Grantor, shall refer to such Grantor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

 

SECTION 2. GUARANTEE

 

2.1 Guarantee.

 

(a) Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably, guarantees to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and complete payment and performance by the Borrower when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Borrower Obligations.

 

(b) Anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor under applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency of debtors (after giving effect to the right of contribution established in Section 2.2).

 

(c) Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that the Borrower Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the amount of the liability of such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder without impairing the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party hereunder.

 

(d) The guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall remain in full force and effect until all the Borrower Obligations and the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under the guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall have been satisfied by payment in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments shall be terminated (the “Discharge of Obligations”), notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of the Credit Agreement the Borrower may be free from any Borrower Obligations.

 

(e) No payment made by the Borrower, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or any other Person or received or collected by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party from the Borrower, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or any other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application at any time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Borrower Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of any Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment (other than any payment made by such Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the Borrower Obligations or any payment received or collected from such Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the Borrower Obligations), remain liable for the Borrower Obligations up to the maximum liability of such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder until the Discharge of Obligations.

 

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2.2 Right of Contribution. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that a Subsidiary Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made hereunder, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder which has not paid its proportionate share of such payment. Each Subsidiary Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 2.3. The provisions of this Section 2.2 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties for the full amount guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.

 

2.3 No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment made by any Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of any Subsidiary Guarantor by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party against the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Borrower Obligations, nor shall any Subsidiary Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder, in each case, until the Discharge of Obligations. If any amount shall be paid to any Subsidiary Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the Borrower Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by such Subsidiary Guarantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Subsidiary Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Subsidiary Guarantor, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Subsidiary Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Subsidiary Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, if required), to be applied against the Borrower Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Administrative Agent may determine.

 

2.4 Amendments, etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations. Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against any Subsidiary Guarantor and without notice to or further assent by any Subsidiary Guarantor, any demand for payment of any of the Borrower Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party may be rescinded by the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party and any of the Borrower Obligations continued, and the Borrower Obligations, or the liability of any other Person upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, and the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the Administrative Agent (or the Required Lenders or all Lenders, as the case may be) may deem advisable from time to time, and any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Borrower Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Borrower Obligations or for the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or any property subject thereto.

 

2.5 Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. Each Subsidiary Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Borrower Obligations and notice of or proof of

 

5


reliance by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or acceptance of the guarantee contained in this Section 2; the Borrower Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2; and all dealings between the Borrower and any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2. Each Subsidiary Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon the Borrower or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors with respect to the Borrower Obligations. Each Subsidiary Guarantor understands and agrees that the guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to (a) the validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, any of the Borrower Obligations or any other collateral security therefor or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, (b) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) which may at any time be available to or be asserted by the Borrower or any other Person against the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of the Borrower for the Borrower Obligations, or of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the guarantee contained in this Section 2, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on or otherwise pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the Borrower, any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Borrower Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to make any such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrower, any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of the Borrower, any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve any Subsidiary Guarantor of any obligation or liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party against any Subsidiary Guarantor. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

 

2.6 Reinstatement. The guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Borrower Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

 

2.7 Payments. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid to the Administrative Agent without set-off or counterclaim in Dollars at the Funding Office.

 

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SECTION 3. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

 

Each Grantor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, all of the following property now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “Collateral”), as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of such Grantor’s Obligations:

 

(a) all Accounts;

 

(b) all Chattel Paper;

 

(c) all Deposit Accounts;

 

(d) all Documents;

 

(e) all Equipment;

 

(f) all Fixtures;

 

(g) all General Intangibles;

 

(h) all Goods;

 

(i) all Instruments;

 

(j) all Intellectual Property;

 

(k) all Inventory;

 

(l) all Investment Property;

 

(m) all Letter-of-Credit Rights;

 

(n) all other property not otherwise described above;

 

(o) all books and records pertaining to the Collateral; and

 

(p) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds, Supporting Obligations and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing;

 

provided, however, that notwithstanding any of the other provisions set forth in this Section 3, this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any property to the extent that such grant of a security interest is prohibited by any Requirement of Law of a Governmental Authority or constitutes a breach or default under or results in the termination of or requires any consent not obtained under, any contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document evidencing or giving rise to such property, except (i) to the extent that the terms in such contract, license, instrument or other document providing for such prohibition, breach, default or termination, or requiring such consent are not permitted under Section 7.12 of the Credit Agreement or (ii) to the extent that such Requirement of Law or the term in such contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document providing for such

 

7


prohibition, breach, default or termination or requiring such consent is ineffective under Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the UCC (or any successor provision or provisions) of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law (including the Bankruptcy Code) or principles of equity; provided, however, that such security interest shall attach immediately at such time as such Requirement of Law is not effective or applicable, or such prohibition, breach, default or termination is no longer applicable or is waived, and to the extent severable, shall attach immediately to any portion of the Collateral that does not result in such consequences; and provided, further, that no United States intent-to-use trademark or service mark application shall be included in the Collateral to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark or service mark application under Federal law. After such period, each Grantor acknowledges that such interest in such trademark or service mark application shall automatically be subject to a security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent and shall be included in the Collateral.

 

SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

To induce each Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower thereunder, each Grantor hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party that:

 

4.1 Title; No Other Liens. Except for the Liens permitted to exist on the Collateral by the Credit Agreement, such Grantor owns each item of the Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens or claims of others. No financing statement, fixture filing or other public notice with respect to all or any part of the Collateral is on file or of record or will be filed in any public office, except such as have been filed as permitted by the Credit Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that any Grantor may, as part of its business, grant licenses to third parties to use Intellectual Property owned or developed by a Grantor. For purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, such licensing activity shall not constitute a “Lien” on such Intellectual Property. The Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party understands that any such licenses may be exclusive to the applicable licensees, and such exclusivity provisions may limit the ability of the Administrative Agent to utilize, sell, lease or transfer the related Intellectual Property or otherwise realize value from such Intellectual Property pursuant hereto. In the event any applicable licensee (that is not an Affiliate of any Grantor and that is licensee under a license permitted under Section 7.2(m) of the Credit Agreement) reasonably requests in writing that the Administrative Agent deliver documentation confirming the foregoing and/or that the licensee takes its rights under such license free of the security interest granted by such Grantor under this Agreement in the applicable Intellectual Property, the Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent deliver such documentation and the Administrative Agent agrees to do so (and the Administrative Agent is authorized by the Lenders to do so).

 

4.2 Perfected Liens. The security interests granted to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement (i) upon completion of the filings and other actions specified on Schedule 3 (which, in the case of all filings and other documents referred to on said Schedule, have been delivered to the Administrative Agent in completed and duly (if applicable) executed form) will constitute valid perfected security interests in all of the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as collateral security for such Grantor’s Obligations, enforceable in accordance with the terms hereof against all creditors of such Grantor and any Persons purporting to purchase any Collateral from such Grantor (provided that so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Grantors shall not be required to effect filings in any foreign jurisdictions or offices outside the United States to perfect the security interests in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in any foreign Intellectual Property) and (ii) are prior to all other Liens on the Collateral in existence on the date hereof except for unrecorded Liens permitted by the Credit Agreement which

 

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have priority over the Liens on the Collateral by operation of law, and in the case of Collateral other than Pledged Stock, Liens permitted by Section 7.2 of the Credit Agreement. Each Grantor has the right to remove the Fixtures in which such Grantor has an interest within the meaning of Section 9-334(f)(2) of the UCC.

 

4.3 Jurisdiction of Organization; Chief Executive Office. On the date hereof, such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization, identification number from the jurisdiction of organization (if any), and the location of such Grantor’s chief executive office or sole place of business, as the case may be, are specified on Schedule 4.

 

4.4 Inventory and Equipment. On the date hereof (a) the Inventory and (b) the Equipment (other than mobile goods) are kept either at locations outside the United States or at the locations in the United States listed on Schedule 5.

 

4.5 Farm Products. None of the Collateral constitutes, or is the Proceeds of, Farm Products.

 

4.6 Investment Property. (a) The shares of Pledged Stock pledged by such Grantor hereunder constitute all the issued and outstanding shares of all classes of the Capital Stock of each Issuer owned by such Grantor or, in the case of Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock, if less, 66% of the outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of each relevant Issuer.

 

(b) All the shares of the Pledged Stock of each Subsidiary of such Grantor have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

 

(c) Such Grantor is the record and beneficial owner of, and has title to, the Pledged Stock and Pledged Notes pledged by it hereunder, free of any and all Liens or options in favor of, or adverse claims of, any other Person, except the security interests created by this Agreement.

 

4.7 Investment Accounts. (a) Schedule 2 sets forth under the headings “Securities Accounts” and “Commodities Accounts”, respectively, all of the Securities Accounts and Commodities Accounts (each as defined in the UCC) in which each Grantor has an interest. Each Grantor, as applicable, is the sole entitlement holder of each such Securities Account and Commodities Account, and such Grantor has not consented to, and is not otherwise aware of, any Person (other than the Administrative Agent) having “control” (within the meanings of Sections 8-106 and 9-106 of the UCC) over, or any other interest in, any such Securities Account or Commodity Account or any securities or other property credited thereto;

 

(b) Schedule 2 sets forth under the heading “Deposit Accounts” all of the Deposit Accounts in which each Grantor has an interest and each Grantor is the sole account holder of each such Deposit Account and such Grantor has not consented to, and is not otherwise aware of, any Person (other than the Administrative Agent) having either sole dominion and control (within the meaning of common law) or “control” (within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the UCC) over, or any other interest in, any such Deposit Account or any money or other property deposited therein; and

 

(c) Each Grantor has taken all actions necessary or desirable to: (i) establish the Administrative Agent’s “control” (within the meanings of Sections 8-106 and 9-106 of the UCC) over any Certificated Securities (as defined in the UCC); (ii) establish the Administrative Agent’s “control” (within the meanings of Sections 8-106 and 9-106 of the UCC) over any portion of the Investment Accounts constituting Securities Accounts, Commodities Accounts, Securities Entitlements or Uncertificated Securities (each as defined in the UCC), except as provided in Section 5.8; (iii) establish the Administrative Agent’s “control” (within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the UCC) over all Deposit Accounts, except as provided in Section 5.8; and (iv) deliver all Instruments (as defined in the UCC) to the Administrative Agent to the extent required hereunder.

 

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4.8 Receivables. No amount payable to such Grantor under or in connection with any Receivable is evidenced by any Instrument (other than checks, drafts or other Instruments that will be promptly deposited in an Investment Account) or Chattel Paper which has not been delivered to the Administrative Agent. None of the account debtors or other obligors in respect of any Receivable in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate is the government of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

4.9 Intellectual Property. (a) Schedule 6 lists all registrations and applications for Intellectual Property (including, without limitation, registered Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and all applications therefor) as well as all Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses and Trademark Licenses, in each case owned by such Grantor in its own name on the date hereof.

 

(b) Each Grantor owns, is licensed to use, or otherwise has valid rights to use all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted. The use of such Intellectual Property by each Grantor does not, to the knowledge of the Grantors, infringe on the rights of any Person except infringements that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim has been asserted and is pending by any Person challenging or questioning the use of any Intellectual Property or the validity or effectiveness of any Intellectual Property, nor does any Grantor know of any valid basis for any such claim, except such claims that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 6, on the date hereof, none of the Intellectual Property is the subject of any licensing or franchise agreement pursuant to which such Grantor is the licensor or franchisor.

 

(d) No holding, decision or judgment has been rendered by any Governmental Authority which would limit, cancel or question the validity of, or such Grantor’s rights in, any Intellectual Property in any respect that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e) No action or proceeding is pending, or, to the knowledge of such Grantor, threatened, on the date hereof (i) seeking to limit, cancel or question the validity of any material Intellectual Property or such Grantor’s ownership interest therein, or (ii) which, if adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect on the value of any material Intellectual Property.

 

SECTION 5. COVENANTS

 

Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties that, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Discharge of Obligations:

 

5.1 Delivery of Instruments, Certificated Securities and Chattel Paper. If any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any Instrument (other than checks, drafts or other Instruments that will be promptly deposited in an Investment Account), Certificated Security or Chattel Paper evidencing an amount in excess of $250,000, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, such Instrument, Certificated Security or Chattel Paper shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent, duly indorsed in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to be held as Collateral pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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5.2 Maintenance of Insurance. (a) Such Grantor will maintain, with financially sound and reputable companies, insurance policies (i) insuring the Inventory and Equipment against loss by fire, explosion, theft and such other casualties as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) insuring such Grantor, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties against liability for personal injury and property damage relating to such Inventory and Equipment, such policies to be in such form and amounts and having such coverage as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties.

 

(b) All such insurance shall (i) provide that no cancellation, material reduction in amount or material change in coverage thereof shall be effective until at least 30 days after receipt by the Administrative Agent of written notice thereof, (ii) name the Administrative Agent as an additional insured party or loss payee, (iii) to the extent available on commercially reasonable terms, and if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, include a breach of warranty clause and (iv) be reasonably satisfactory in all other respects to the Administrative Agent.

 

(c) The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a report of a reputable insurance broker with respect to such insurance substantially concurrently with each delivery of the Borrower’s audited annual financial statements and such supplemental reports with respect thereto as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

 

5.3 Payment of Obligations. Such Grantor will pay and discharge or otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon the Collateral or in respect of income or profits therefrom, as well as all claims of any kind (including, without limitation, claims for labor, materials and supplies) against or with respect to the Collateral (other than Liens permitted under Section 7.2 of the Credit Agreement), except that no such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim need be paid if the amount or validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, reserves in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of such Grantor and such proceedings could not reasonably be expected to result in the sale, forfeiture or loss of any material portion of the Collateral or any interest therein.

 

5.4 Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation. (a) Such Grantor shall maintain the security interests of the Secured Parties created by this Agreement as perfected security interests having at least the priority described in Section 4.2 and shall defend such security interests against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever, subject to the rights of such Grantor under the Loan Documents to dispose of the Collateral (provided that so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Grantors shall not be required to effect filings in any foreign jurisdictions or offices outside the United States to perfect the security interests in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in any foreign Intellectual Property).

 

(b) Such Grantor will furnish to the Administrative Agent from time to time statements and schedules further identifying and describing the assets and property of such Grantor and such other reports in connection therewith as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.

 

(c) At any time and from time to time, upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, and at the sole expense of such Grantor, such Grantor will promptly and duly execute and deliver, and have recorded, such further instruments and documents and take such further actions as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request for the purpose of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of this Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted, including, without limitation, (i) filing any financing or continuation statements under the Uniform Commercial Code (or other similar laws) in effect

 

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in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created hereby and (ii) in the case of Investment Property, Investment Accounts, Letter-of-Credit Rights and any other relevant Collateral, taking any actions necessary to enable the Administrative Agent to obtain “control” (within the meaning of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code) with respect thereto to the extent required hereunder.

 

5.5 Changes in Locations, Name, etc. Such Grantor will not, except upon 15 days’ (or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and delivery to the Administrative Agent of (a) all additional executed financing statements and other documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to maintain the validity, perfection and priority of the security interests provided for herein and (b) if applicable, a written supplement to Schedule 4 showing the relevant new jurisdiction of organization, location of chief executive office or sole place of business, as appropriate:

 

(i) change its jurisdiction of organization, identification number from the jurisdiction of organization (if any) or the location of its chief executive office or sole place of business, as appropriate, from that referred to in Section 4.3;

 

(ii) change its name; or

 

(iii) operate in any state or other jurisdiction in addition to those in which such Grantor is operating as of the Closing Date.

 

5.6 Notices. Such Grantor will advise the Administrative Agent promptly, in reasonable detail, of:

 

(a) any Lien (other than Liens permitted under the Credit Agreement) on any of the Collateral; and

 

(b) the occurrence of any other event which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the aggregate value of the Collateral or on the security interests created hereby.

 

5.7 Investment Property. (a) If such Grantor shall become entitled to receive or shall receive any certificate (including, without limitation, any certificate representing a dividend or a distribution in connection with any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital or any certificate issued in connection with any reorganization), option or rights in respect of the Capital Stock of any Issuer, whether in addition to, in substitution of, as a conversion of, or in exchange for, any shares of the Pledged Stock, or otherwise in respect thereof, such Grantor shall accept the same as the agent of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, hold the same in trust for the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and deliver the same forthwith to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received, duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent, if required, together with an undated stock power covering such certificate duly executed in blank by such Grantor and with, if the Administrative Agent so requests, signature guaranteed, to be held by the Administrative Agent, subject to the terms hereof, as additional collateral security for the Obligations. Any sums paid upon or in respect of the Investment Property upon the liquidation or dissolution of any Issuer shall, unless otherwise subject to a perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, be paid over to the Administrative Agent to be held by it hereunder as additional collateral security for the Obligations, and in case any distribution of capital shall be made on or in respect of the Investment Property or any property shall be distributed upon or with respect to the Investment Property pursuant to the recapitalization or reclassification of the capital of any Issuer or pursuant to the reorganization thereof, the property so distributed shall, unless otherwise subject to a perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, be delivered to the Administrative Agent to be held by it hereunder as additional collateral security

 

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for the Obligations. If any sums of money or property so paid or distributed in respect of such Investment Property shall be received by such Grantor, such Grantor shall, until such money or property is paid or delivered to the Administrative Agent, unless otherwise subject to a perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, hold such money or property in trust for the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Grantor, as additional collateral security for the Obligations.

 

(b) Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, and except as permitted by the Credit Agreement, such Grantor will not (i) vote to enable, or take any other action to permit, any Issuer to issue any Capital Stock of any nature or to issue any other securities convertible into or granting the right to purchase or exchange for any Capital Stock of any nature of any Issuer, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, the Investment Property or Proceeds thereof, (iii) create, incur or permit to exist any Lien or option in favor of, or any claim of any Person with respect to, any of the Investment Property or Proceeds thereof, or any interest therein, except for the security interests created by this Agreement or (iv) enter into any agreement or undertaking restricting the right or ability of such Grantor or the Administrative Agent to sell, assign or transfer any of the Investment Property or Proceeds thereof.

 

(c) In the case of each Grantor which is an Issuer, such Issuer agrees that (i) it will be bound by the terms of this Agreement relating to the Capital Stock issued by it and will comply with such terms insofar as such terms are applicable to it, (ii) it will notify the Administrative Agent promptly in writing of the occurrence of any of the events described in Section 5.7(a) with respect to the Capital Stock issued by it and (iii) the terms of Sections 6.3(c) and 6.7 shall apply to it, mutatis mutandis, with respect to all actions that may be required of it pursuant to Section 6.3(c) or 6.7 with respect to the Capital Stock issued by it.

 

5.8 Investment Accounts. With respect to any Investment Accounts consisting of Securities Accounts or Securities Entitlements with a market value in excess of $100,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate for all Securities Accounts and Securities Entitlements, it shall (no later than 15 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period of time as the Administrative Agent shall agree) in the case of any Securities Accounts existing on the Closing Date) enter into and shall cause the securities intermediary maintaining such Securities Account or Securities Entitlement to enter into an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent pursuant to which it shall agree to comply with the Administrative Agent’s “entitlement orders” without further consent by such Grantor. With respect to any Investment Account that is a “Deposit Account” with an outstanding balance in excess of $100,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate for all Deposit Accounts, it shall (no later than 15 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period of time as the Administrative Agent shall agree) in the case of Deposit Accounts existing on the Closing Date) enter into and shall cause the depositary institution maintaining such account to enter into an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, pursuant to which the Administrative Agent shall have “control” (within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the UCC) over such Deposit Account.

 

5.9 Receivables. Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, such Grantor will not (i) grant any extension of the time of payment of any Receivable, (ii) compromise or settle any Receivable for less than the full amount thereof, (iii) release, wholly or partially, any Person liable for the payment of any Receivable, (iv) allow any credit or discount whatsoever on any Receivable or (v) amend, supplement or modify any Receivable in any manner that could adversely affect the value thereof.

 

5.10 Intellectual Property. (a) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will (i) continue to use each material Trademark in order to maintain such material Trademark in full force free from any claim of abandonment for non-use, (ii) maintain as in the past the quality of products and

 

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services offered under such material Trademark, (iii) use such material Trademark with the appropriate notice of registration and all other notices and legends required by applicable Requirements of Law, (iv) not adopt or use any mark which is confusingly similar or a colorable imitation of such material Trademark unless the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, shall obtain a perfected security interest in such mark pursuant to this Agreement, and (v) not (and not knowingly permit any licensee or sublicensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby such Trademark may become invalidated or impaired in any way.

 

(b) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will not do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any material Patent may become forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public.

 

(c) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will not (and will not permit any licensee or sublicensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby any such material Copyrights may become invalidated or otherwise impaired. Such Grantor will not (either itself or through licensees) do any act whereby any material portion of such Copyrights may fall into the public domain.

 

(d) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will not do any act that knowingly uses any Intellectual Property to infringe the intellectual property rights of any other Person.

 

(e) Such Grantor will notify the Administrative Agent promptly if it knows, or has reason to know, that any application or registration relating to any material Intellectual Property may become forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public, or of any adverse determination or development (including, without limitation, the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any court or tribunal in any country) regarding such Grantor’s ownership of, or the validity of, any material Intellectual Property or such Grantor’s right to register the same or to own and maintain the same.

 

(f) Whenever such Grantor, either by itself or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, shall file an application for the registration of any Intellectual Property with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, such Grantor shall report such filing to the Administrative Agent within 45 days after the last day of the fiscal quarter in which such filing occurs. Upon request of the Administrative Agent, such Grantor shall execute and deliver, and have recorded, any and all agreements, instruments, documents, and papers as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to evidence the Administrative Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ security interest in any such United States (and, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, foreign) Intellectual Property and the goodwill and general intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby.

 

(g) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, such Grantor will take all reasonable and necessary steps, including, without limitation, in any proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue each material application (and to obtain the relevant registration) and to maintain each registration of the material Intellectual Property, including, without limitation, filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use and affidavits of incontestability.

 

(h) In the event that any material Intellectual Property is infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Grantor shall take such actions as such Grantor shall reasonably deem commercially reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Intellectual Property.

 

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SECTION 6. REMEDIAL PROVISIONS

 

Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties that, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Discharge of Obligations:

 

6.1 Certain Matters Relating to Receivables. (a) The Administrative Agent hereby authorizes each Grantor to collect such Grantor’s Receivables and the Administrative Agent may curtail or terminate said authority at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default. If required by the Administrative Agent at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any payments of Receivables, when collected by any Grantor, (i) shall be forthwith (and, in any event, within two Business Days) deposited by such Grantor in the exact form received, duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent if required, in a Collateral Account over which the Administrative Agent has control, subject to withdrawal by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Secured Parties only as provided in Section 6.5, and (ii) until so turned over, shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Grantor. After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each such deposit of Proceeds of Receivables shall be accompanied by a report identifying in reasonable detail the nature and source of the payments included in the deposit.

 

(b) At the Administrative Agent’s request, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default each Grantor shall deliver to the Administrative Agent all original and other documents evidencing, and relating to, the agreements and transactions which gave rise to the Receivables, including, without limitation, all original orders, invoices and shipping receipts.

 

6.2 Communications with Obligors; Grantors Remain Liable. (a) The Administrative Agent in its own name or in the name of others may at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default communicate with obligors under the Receivables to verify with them to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any Receivables.

 

(b) Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall notify obligors on the Receivables that the Receivables have been assigned to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties and that payments in respect thereof shall be made directly to the Administrative Agent.

 

(c) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Grantor shall remain liable under each of the Receivables to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise thereto. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any Receivable (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of any payment relating thereto, nor shall the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Receivable (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party thereunder, to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

 

6.3 Investment Property. (a) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent shall have given notice to the relevant Grantor of the Administrative Agent’s intent to exercise its corresponding rights pursuant to Section 6.3(b), each Grantor shall be permitted to receive all cash dividends paid in respect of the Pledged Stock and all payments

 

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made in respect of the Pledged Notes, to the extent permitted in the Credit Agreement, and to exercise all voting and corporate or other organizational rights with respect to the Investment Property; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or corporate or other organizational right exercised or other action taken which, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable judgment, would materially impair the Collateral or which would be inconsistent with or result in any violation of any provision of the Credit Agreement, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(b) If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and the Administrative Agent shall give notice of its intent to exercise such rights to the relevant Grantor or Grantors, (i) the Administrative Agent shall have the right to receive any and all cash dividends, payments or other Proceeds paid in respect of the Investment Property and make application thereof to the Obligations in such order as the Administrative Agent may determine, and (ii) any or all of the Investment Property shall be registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee, and the Administrative Agent or its nominee may thereafter exercise (x) all voting, corporate and other rights pertaining to such Investment Property at any meeting of shareholders of the relevant Issuer or Issuers or otherwise and (y) any and all rights of conversion, exchange and subscription and any other rights, privileges or options pertaining to such Investment Property as if it were the absolute owner thereof (including, without limitation, the right to exchange at its discretion any and all of the Investment Property upon the merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other fundamental change in the corporate or other organizational structure of any Issuer, or upon the exercise by any Grantor or the Administrative Agent of any right, privilege or option pertaining to such Investment Property, and in connection therewith, the right to deposit and deliver any and all of the Investment Property with any committee, depositary, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms and conditions as the Administrative Agent may determine), all without liability except to account for property actually received by it, but the Administrative Agent shall have no duty to any Grantor to exercise any such right, privilege or option and shall not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so doing.

 

(c) Each Grantor hereby authorizes and instructs each Issuer of any Pledged Stock or Pledged Notes pledged by such Grantor hereunder to (i) comply with any instruction received by it from the Administrative Agent in writing that (x) states that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) is otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without any other or further instructions from such Grantor, and each Grantor agrees that each Issuer shall be fully protected in so complying, and (ii) unless otherwise expressly permitted hereby, pay any dividends or other payments with respect to the Pledged Stock and Pledged Notes directly to the Administrative Agent upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default.

 

(d) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to apply the balance from any Deposit Account or instruct the bank at which any Deposit Account is maintained to pay the balance of any Deposit Account to or for the benefit of the Administrative Agent.

 

6.4 Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent. In addition to the rights of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties specified in Section 6.1 with respect to payments of Receivables, if an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, all Proceeds received by any Grantor consisting of cash, checks, Cash Equivalents and other near-cash items shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Grantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Grantor, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Grantor (duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent, if required). All Proceeds received by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be held by the Administrative Agent in a Collateral Account maintained under its sole dominion and control. All Proceeds while held by the Administrative Agent in a Collateral Account (or by such Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties) shall continue to be held as collateral security for all the Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as provided in Section 6.5.

 

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6.5 Application of Proceeds. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any time at the Administrative Agent’s election, the Administrative Agent may apply all or any part of Proceeds constituting Collateral, whether or not held in any Collateral Account, in payment of the Obligations in the following order:

 

(a) First, to the payment of all costs and expenses of any sale, collection or other realization on the Collateral, including reasonable compensation to the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and reimbursement for all other costs, expenses, liabilities and advances made or incurred by Administrative Agent in connection therewith (including as described in Section 6.6 hereof), and all amounts for which Administrative Agent is entitled to indemnification hereunder and all advances made by Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the applicable Grantor, and to the payment of all costs and expenses paid or incurred by Administrative Agent in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document and to the payment or reimbursement of all indemnification obligations, fees, costs and expenses owing to the Administrative Agent hereunder or under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, all in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof;

 

(b) Second, for application by it towards all other Obligations, pro rata among the Secured Parties according to the amounts of the Obligations then held by the Secured Parties; and

 

(c) Third, any balance of such Proceeds remaining after the Discharge of Obligations shall be paid over to or upon the order of such Grantor or to whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

6.6 Code and Other Remedies. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, may exercise, in addition to all other rights and remedies granted to them in this Agreement and in any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or relating to the Obligations, all rights and remedies of a secured party under the New York UCC or any other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law) to or upon any Grantor or any other Person (all and each of which demands, defenses, advertisements and notices are hereby waived), may in such circumstances forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, and/or may forthwith sell, lease, assign, give option or options to purchase, or otherwise dispose of and deliver the Collateral or any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or office of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party or elsewhere upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk. The Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption in any Grantor, which right or equity is hereby waived and released. Each Grantor further agrees, at the Administrative Agent’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Administrative Agent at places which the Administrative Agent shall reasonably select, whether at such Grantor’s premises or elsewhere. The Administrative Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it pursuant to this Section 6.6, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred in connection therewith or incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral or in any way relating to the Collateral or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder, including, without limitation,

 

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reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, to the payment in whole or in part of the Obligations, in such order as the Administrative Agent may elect, and only after such application and after the payment by the Administrative Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, including, without limitation, Section 9-615(a)(3) of the New York UCC, need the Administrative Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any Grantor. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages and demands it may acquire against the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder. If any notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be required by law, such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 10 days before such sale or other disposition.

 

6.7 Registration Rights. (a) If the Administrative Agent shall determine to exercise its right to sell any or all of the Pledged Stock pursuant to Section 6.6, and if in the opinion of the Administrative Agent it is necessary or advisable to have the Pledged Stock, or that portion thereof to be sold, registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, the relevant Grantor will cause the Issuer thereof to (i) execute and deliver, and cause the directors and officers of such Issuer to execute and deliver, all such instruments and documents, and do or cause to be done all such other acts as may be, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, necessary or advisable to register the Pledged Stock, or that portion thereof to be sold, under the provisions of the Securities Act, (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the registration statement relating thereto to become effective and to remain effective for a period of one year from the date of the first public offering of the Pledged Stock, or that portion thereof to be sold, and (iii) make all amendments thereto and/or to the related prospectus which, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, are necessary or advisable, all in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable thereto. Each Grantor agrees to cause such Issuer to comply with the provisions of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of any and all jurisdictions which the Administrative Agent shall designate and to make available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

 

(b) Each Grantor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Stock, by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or otherwise, and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers which will be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner. The Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Stock for the period of time necessary to permit the Issuer thereof to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act, or under applicable state securities laws, even if such Issuer would agree to do so.

 

(c) Each Grantor agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to do or cause to be done all such other acts as may be necessary to make such sale or sales of all or any portion of the Pledged Stock pursuant to this Section 6.7 valid and binding and in compliance with any applicable Requirement of Law. Each Grantor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section 6.7 will cause irreparable injury to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, that the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, that each and every covenant contained in this Section 6.7 shall be specifically enforceable against such Grantor, and such Grantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except for a defense that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Credit Agreement.

 

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6.8 Intellectual Property License. Solely for the purpose of enabling the Administrative Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Section 6 and at such time as the Administrative Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, an irrevocable, non-exclusive, worldwide license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to such Grantor), subject, in the case of Trademarks, to sufficient rights to quality control and inspection in favor of such Grantor to avoid the risk of invalidation of said Trademarks, to use, operate under, license, or sublicense any Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Grantors.

 

6.9 Deficiency. Each Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay its Obligations and the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to collect such deficiency.

 

SECTION 7. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties that:

 

7.1 Administrative Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc. (a) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or in its own name, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby gives the Administrative Agent the power and right, on behalf of such Grantor, without notice to or assent by such Grantor, to do any or all of the following:

 

(i) in the name of such Grantor or its own name, or otherwise, take possession of and indorse and collect any checks, drafts, notes, acceptances or other instruments for the payment of moneys due under any Receivable or with respect to any other Collateral and file any claim or take any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of collecting any and all such moneys due under any Receivable or with respect to any other Collateral whenever payable;

 

(ii) in the case of any Intellectual Property, execute and deliver, and have recorded, any and all agreements, instruments, documents and papers as the Administrative Agent may request to evidence the Administrative Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ security interest in such Intellectual Property and the goodwill and general intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby;

 

(iii) pay or discharge taxes and Liens levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral, effect any repairs or any insurance called for by the terms of this Agreement and pay all or any part of the premiums therefor and the costs thereof;

 

(iv) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in Section 6.6 or 6.7, any indorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral; and

 

(v) (1) direct any party liable for any payment under any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all moneys due or to become due thereunder directly to the Administrative Agent or as the

 

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Administrative Agent shall direct; (2) ask or demand for, collect, and receive payment of and receipt for, any and all moneys, claims and other amounts due or to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral; (3) sign and indorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications, notices and other documents in connection with any of the Collateral; (4) commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the Collateral or any portion thereof and to enforce any other right in respect of any Collateral; (5) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against such Grantor with respect to any Collateral; (6) settle, compromise or adjust any such suit, action or proceeding and, in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate; (7) assign and/or license any Copyright, Patent or Trademark (along with the goodwill of the business to which any such Copyright, Patent or Trademark pertains), throughout the world for such term or terms, on such conditions, and in such manner, as the Administrative Agent shall in its sole discretion determine; and (8) generally, sell, transfer, pledge and make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though the Administrative Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and do, at the Administrative Agent’s option and such Grantor’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things which the Administrative Agent deems necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Administrative Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ security interests therein and to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as such Grantor might do.

 

Anything in this Section 7.1(a) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Administrative Agent agrees that it will not exercise any rights under the power of attorney provided for in this Section 7.1(a) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

(b) If any Grantor fails to perform or comply with any of its agreements contained herein, the Administrative Agent, at its option, but without any obligation so to do, may perform or comply, or otherwise cause performance or compliance, with such agreement.

 

(c) The expenses of the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with actions undertaken as provided in this Section 7.1, together with interest thereon at a rate per annum equal to the rate per annum at which interest would then be payable on any category of past due ABR Loans that are Revolving Loans under the Credit Agreement, from the date of payment by the Administrative Agent to the date reimbursed by the relevant Grantor, shall be payable by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent on demand.

 

(d) Each Grantor hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. All powers, authorizations and agencies contained in this Agreement are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable until this Agreement is terminated and the security interests created hereby are released.

 

7.2 Duty of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the Collateral in its possession, under Section 9-207 of the New York UCC or otherwise, shall be to deal with it in the same manner as the Administrative Agent deals with similar property for its own account. Neither the Administrative Agent, any other Secured Party nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any Grantor or any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The powers conferred on the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ interests in the Collateral and shall not

 

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impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise any such powers. The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts that they actually receive as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither they nor any of their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

7.3 Authorization of Financing Statements. Pursuant to any applicable law, each Grantor authorizes the Administrative Agent to file or record financing statements and other filing or recording documents or instruments with respect to the Collateral without the signature of such Grantor in such form and in such offices as the Administrative Agent determines appropriate to perfect the security interests of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement. Each Grantor authorizes the Administrative Agent to use the collateral description “all personal property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired” or any other similar collateral description in any such financing statements. Each Grantor hereby ratifies and authorizes the filing by the Administrative Agent of any financing statement with respect to the Collateral made prior to the date hereof.

 

7.4 Authority of Administrative Agent. Each Grantor acknowledges that the rights and responsibilities of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement with respect to any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the exercise or non-exercise by the Administrative Agent of any option, voting right, request, judgment or other right or remedy provided for herein or resulting or arising out of this Agreement shall, as between the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, be governed by the Credit Agreement and by such other agreements with respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but, as between the Administrative Agent and the Grantors, the Administrative Agent shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Secured Parties with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting, and no Grantor shall be under any obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

 

SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1 Amendments in Writing. None of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except in accordance with Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement.

 

8.2 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the Administrative Agent or any Grantor hereunder shall be effected in the manner provided for in Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement; provided that any such notice, request or demand to or upon any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be addressed to such Subsidiary Guarantor at its notice address set forth on Schedule 1.

 

8.3 No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 8.1), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or Event of Default, as applicable. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy which the Administrative Agent or such other Secured Party would otherwise have on any future occasion. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

 

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8.4 Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification. (a) Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party for all its costs and expenses incurred in collecting against such Subsidiary Guarantor under the guaranty contained in Section 2 of this Agreement or otherwise enforcing or preserving any rights under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Subsidiary Guarantor is a party, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (including the allocated fees and expenses of in-house counsel) to the Administrative Agent and of counsel to each other Secured Party.

 

(b) Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party harmless from, any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, any and all stamp, excise, sales or other taxes excluding net income taxes and franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of net income taxes) which do not constitute Non-Excluded Taxes which may be payable or determined to be payable with respect to any of the Collateral or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(c) Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party harmless from, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement to the extent the Borrower would be required to do so pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

 

(d) The agreements in this Section 8.4 shall survive repayment of the Obligations and any other amounts payable under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

8.5 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Grantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party and their respective successors and assigns; provided that no Grantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

8.6 Set-Off. Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party and any Affiliate thereof at any time and from time to time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, without notice to such Grantor or any other Grantor, any such notice being expressly waived by each Grantor, to set-off and appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party or such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of such Grantor, or any part thereof in such amounts as the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party may elect, against and on account of the Obligations and liabilities of such Grantor to the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and claims of every nature and description of the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party against such Grantor, in any currency, whether arising hereunder, under the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise, as the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party may elect, whether or not the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party has made any demand for payment and although such obligations, liabilities and claims may be contingent or unmatured. Each Secured Party agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Secured Party, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party under this Section 8.6 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which the Administrative Agent or such other Secured Party may have.

 

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8.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.8 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

8.9 Section Headings. The Section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.

 

8.10 Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the agreement of the Grantors, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party relative to subject matter hereof and thereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

 

8.11 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

8.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each Grantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and appellate courts from any thereof;

 

(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

 

(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Grantor at its address referred to in Section 8.2 or at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

 

(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

 

(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

 

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8.13 Acknowledgements. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that:

 

(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party;

 

(b) neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Grantor arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between the Grantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

 

(c) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among any of the Secured Parties or among the Grantors and any of the Secured Parties.

 

8.14 Additional Grantors. Each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.8 of the Credit Agreement shall become a Grantor for all purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary of an Assumption Agreement in the form of Annex 1 hereto.

 

8.15 Releases. Upon the Discharge of Obligations, the Collateral shall be released from the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties created hereby, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of each Grantor to the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party hereunder shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party. At the sole expense of any Grantor following any such termination, the Administrative Agent shall deliver such documents as such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination.

 

(b) If any of the Collateral shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by any Grantor in a transaction permitted by Section 7 of the Credit Agreement, then the Administrative Agent, at the request and sole expense of such Grantor, shall execute and deliver to such Grantor all releases or other documents reasonably necessary or desirable for the release of the Liens created hereby on such Collateral, as applicable. At the request and sole expense of the Borrower, a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released from its obligations hereunder in the event that all the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of to a Person other than a Loan Party in a transaction permitted by Section 7 the Credit Agreement; provided that the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at least ten days, or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may agree, prior to the date of the proposed release, a written request for release identifying the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor and the terms of the sale or other disposition in reasonable detail, including the price thereof and any expenses in connection therewith, together with a certification by the Borrower stating that such transaction is in compliance with Section 7 of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

8.16 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GRANTOR AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Guarantee and Collateral Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

Grantors:
SUNPOWER CORPORATION
By:  

/s/    Emmanuel Hernandez


Name:   Emmanuel Hernandez
Title:   CFO
SUNPOWER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
By:  

/s/    Emmanuel Hernandez


Name:   Emmanuel Hernandez
Title:   CFO

 

[Signature Page to Guarantee and Collateral Agreement]


CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,
as Administrative Agent
By:  

/s/    Ian Nalitt


Name:   Ian Nalitt
Title:   Vice President

 

By:  

/s/    Thomas R. Cantello


Name:   Thomas R. Cantello
Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Guarantee and Collateral Agreement]