FORM 8-K

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 9, 2005

 

KADANT INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware   1-11406   52-1762325
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

One Acton Place
Acton, Massachusetts
  01720
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(978) 776-2000

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

Not Applicable

(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 obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ 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))

 



KADANT INC.

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

As more fully set forth in Item 2.01 below, to fund a portion of the purchase price for its acquisition of The Johnson Corporation, a Michigan corporation (“Johnson”), Kadant Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Kadant”), entered into a term loan and revolving credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”) effective as of May 9, 2005 in the aggregate principal amount of up to $85 million, including a $25 million revolver. The Credit Agreement is among Kadant, as Borrower, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time parties thereto, the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. The term loan facility is in the aggregate principal amount of up to $60 million and is repayable in equal quarterly installments over a five-year period. The aggregate principal to be repaid each year is as follows: $4.5 million, $9 million, $10.5 million, $13.5 million, $15 million, and $7.5 million in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively. Interest on the revolving loan and the term loan accrues and is payable quarterly in arrears at one of the following rates selected by Kadant (a) the prime rate plus an applicable margin (up to .25%) or (b) a Eurocurrency rate plus an applicable margin (up to 1.25%). The applicable margin is determined based upon Kadant’s total debt to EBITDA ratio.

 

In connection with the Credit Agreement, Kadant agreed to pay a commitment fee, payable quarterly at an initial rate of 0.25% per annum of the unused amount of revolving credit commitments, subject to adjustment based upon Kadant’s total debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) ratio (up to a per annum rate of between 0.175% and 0.275%). Kadant also agreed to pay an arrangement fee of approximately $260,000, plus a $30,000 fee based on its allocated commitment under the facility, which will be paid to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. at the closing of the acquisition, and an annual administration fee of $30,000 payable to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. The other lenders under the facility will share fees in the amount of $80,000 allocated in accordance with the relative size of their commitments payable at the closing of the acquisition.

 

The obligations of Kadant under the Credit Agreement may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Credit Agreement, which includes customary events of default including without limitation payment defaults, defaults in the performance of affirmative and negative covenants, the inaccuracy of representations or warranties, bankruptcy and insolvency related defaults, defaults relating to such matters as ERISA, uninsured judgments and the failure to pay certain indebtedness, and a change of control default.

 

The loans under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain domestic subsidiaries of Kadant and secured by a pledge of 65% of the stock of the first-tier foreign subsidiaries of the guarantors pursuant to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement effective as of May 9, 2005 in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as agent on behalf of the lenders. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains negative covenants applicable to Kadant and its subsidiaries, including financial covenants requiring Kadant to comply with a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, and restrictions on liens, indebtedness, fundamental changes, dispositions of property, making certain restricted payments (including dividends and stock repurchases), investments, transactions with affiliates, sale and leaseback transactions, swap agreements, changing its fiscal year, negative pledges, arrangements affecting subsidiary distributions, entering into new lines of business, and amending the documents relating to the Johnson acquisition.

 

The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of the parties’ rights under the Credit Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Agreement which is filed with this report as Exhibit 99.1. The foregoing description of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of the parties’ rights under the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, which is filed with this report as Exhibit 99.2.

 

2


KADANT INC.

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

On May 11, 2005, Kadant acquired all of the outstanding stock of Johnson pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) between Kadant, Johnson Acquisition Corp., a Michigan corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kadant, Johnson, and the principal shareholders of Johnson identified in the Purchase Agreement for approximately $102 million in cash (the “Base Purchase Price”), subject to post-closing adjustments. On May 11, 2005, the purchase price was adjusted to $101.5 million, and is subject to a further post-closing adjustment. The parties also agreed in the Purchase Agreement to an earn-out provision, based on the achievement of certain revenue targets between the closing date and July 1, 2006, which could increase the Base Purchase Price by up to $8 million. In addition to the cash consideration, Kadant issued a letter of credit to the sellers for $4 million, subject to adjustment, related to certain expected tax assets of Johnson, the value of which is expected to be realized by Kadant.

 

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, at the closing $12.75 million of the Base Purchase Price was deposited into an escrow fund to secure certain indemnification obligations of the sellers and to satisfy certain obligations of the sellers to adjust the Base Purchase Price. On the 18-month anniversary of the closing, the balance of the escrow fund in excess of the sum of $2 million and amounts held for unresolved claims will be distributed to the sellers. The remainder of the escrow fund will be held until the fifth year anniversary of the closing to satisfy certain tax, environmental, and other indemnity claims.

 

The foregoing description of the transaction contemplated by the Purchase Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of the parties’ rights under the Purchase Agreement, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Purchase Agreement which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 11, 2005 as Exhibit 99.2 to Kadant’s Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of the press release announcing the closing of the Johnson acquisition is filed with this report as Exhibit 99.3.

 

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

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above with respect to the Credit Agreement is incorporated herein in its entirety.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above with respect to certain restrictions on the payment of dividends under the Credit Agreement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired

 

The financial statements required by this item are not included with this initial report. The required financial statements will be filed by amendment as soon as practicable, but not later than 71 days after the date this Current Report on Form 8-K was required to be filed.

 

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information

 

The pro-forma financial statements required by this item are not included with this initial report. The required pro-forma financial statements will be filed by amendment as soon as practicable, but not later than 71 days after the date this Current Report on Form 8-K was required to be filed.

 

3


KADANT INC.

 

(c) Exhibits

 

No.

  

Description


99.1    Credit Agreement among Kadant, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time parties thereto, the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, dated May 9, 2005. (1)
99.2    Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, dated May 9, 2005, in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as agent on behalf of the lenders. (2)
99.3    Press Release dated May 11, 2005 announcing the closing of the Johnson acquisition.

 

(1) The schedules to the Credit Agreement have been omitted from this filing pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Kadant will furnish copies of any of the schedules to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

(2) The schedules to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement have been omitted from this filing pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Kadant will furnish copies of any of the schedules to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

4


KADANT INC.

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

       

KADANT INC.

Date: May 11, 2005       By:  

/s/ Thomas M. O’Brien

               

Thomas M. O’Brien

               

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

5

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 99.1

 

Execution Copy

 


 

$85,000,000

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

among

 

KADANT INC.,

as Borrower,

 

The Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

 

The Several Lenders from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

 

Dated as of May 9, 2005

 


 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,

as Lead Arranger and Bookrunner


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

SECTION 1.

  

DEFINITIONS

   1

1.1

  

Defined Terms

   1

1.2

  

Other Definitional Provisions

   22

1.3

  

Currency Conversion

   22

SECTION 2.

  

AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS

   23

2.1

  

Term Commitments

   23

2.2

  

Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing

   23

2.3

  

Repayment of Term Loans

   23

2.4

  

Revolving Commitments

   24

2.5

  

Procedure for Revolving Loan Borrowing

   25

2.6

  

Swingline Commitment

   26

2.7

  

Procedure for Swingline Borrowing; Refunding of Swingline Loans

   26

2.8

  

Commitment Fees

   27

2.9

  

Termination or Reduction of Revolving Commitments

   28

2.10

  

Optional Prepayments

   28

2.11

  

Mandatory Prepayments of Term Loans

   28

2.12

  

Mandatory Prepayments of Multicurrency Revolving Loans

   29

2.13

  

Conversion and Continuation Options

   30

2.14

  

Limitations on Eurocurrency Tranches

   30

2.15

  

Interest Rates and Payment Dates

   30

2.16

  

Computation of Interest and Fees

   31

2.17

  

Inability to Determine Interest Rate

   31

2.18

  

Pro Rata Treatment and Payments

   32

2.19

  

Requirements of Law

   34

2.20

  

Taxes

   36

2.21

  

Indemnity

   38

2.22

  

Change of Lending Office

   38

2.23

  

Replacement of Lenders

   39

2.24

  

Judgment Currency

   39

2.25

  

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate

   39

SECTION 3.

  

LETTERS OF CREDIT

   40

3.1

  

L/C Commitment

   40

3.2

  

Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit

   41

3.3

  

Fees and Other Charges

   41

3.4

  

L/C Participations

   41

3.5

  

Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers

   42

3.6

  

Obligations Absolute

   42

3.7

  

Letter of Credit Payments

   43

3.8

  

Applications and Designated Letters of Credit

   43

3.9

  

Certain Reporting Requirements

   43

 


SECTION 4.

  

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

   44

4.1

  

Financial Condition

   44

4.2

  

No Change

   44

4.3

  

Existence; Compliance with Law

   44

4.4

  

Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations

   45

4.5

  

No Legal Bar

   45

4.6

  

Litigation

   45

4.7

  

No Default

   46

4.8

  

Ownership of Property; Liens

   46

4.9

  

Intellectual Property

   46

4.10

  

Taxes

   46

4.11

  

Federal Regulations

   46

4.12

  

Labor Matters

   46

4.13

  

ERISA

   46

4.14

  

Investment Company Act; Other Regulations

   47

4.15

  

Subsidiaries

   47

4.16

  

Use of Proceeds

   47

4.17

  

Environmental Matters

   47

4.18

  

Accuracy of Information, etc.

   48

4.19

  

Security Documents

   49

4.20

  

Solvency

   49

4.21

  

Insurance

   49

4.22

  

Certain Documents

   49

SECTION 5.

  

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

   49

5.1

  

Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit

   49

5.2

  

Conditions to Each Extension of Credit

   51

5.3

  

Conditions to Initial Borrowings by each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower

   52

5.4

  

Additional Conditions Applicable to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers

   52

SECTION 6.

  

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

   53

6.1

  

Financial Statements

   53

6.2

  

Certificates; Other Information

   54

6.3

  

Payment of Obligations

   54

6.4

  

Maintenance of Existence; Compliance

   55

6.5

  

Maintenance of Property; Insurance

   55

6.6

  

Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions

   55

6.7

  

Notices

   55

6.8

  

Environmental Laws

   56

6.9

  

Additional Collateral, etc.

   56

6.10

  

Reorganization

   58

SECTION 7.

  

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

   58

7.1

  

Financial Condition Covenants

   58

7.2

  

Indebtedness

   58

7.3

  

Liens

   60

7.4

  

Fundamental Changes

   61

7.5

  

Disposition of Property

   61

7.6

  

Restricted Payments

   62

 


7.7

  

Investments

   62

7.8

  

Transactions with Affiliates

   64

7.9

  

Sales and Leasebacks

   64

7.10

  

Swap Agreements

   64

7.11

  

Changes in Fiscal Periods

   64

7.12

  

Negative Pledge Clauses

   64

7.13

  

Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions

   64

7.14

  

Lines of Business

   65

7.15

  

Amendments to Acquisition Documents

   65

SECTION 8.

  

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

   65

SECTION 9.

  

THE AGENTS

   67

9.1

  

Appointment

   67

9.2

  

Delegation of Duties

   68

9.3

  

Exculpatory Provisions

   68

9.4

  

Reliance by Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent

   68

9.5

  

Notice of Default

   69

9.6

  

Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders

   69

9.7

  

Indemnification

   69

9.8

  

Agent in Its Individual Capacity

   70

9.9

  

Successor Administrative Agent

   70

SECTION 10.

  

MISCELLANEOUS

   70

10.1

  

Amendments and Waivers

   70

10.2

  

Notices

   72

10.3

  

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

   72

10.4

  

Survival of Representations and Warranties

   73

10.5

  

Payment of Expenses and Taxes

   73

10.6

  

Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments

   74

10.7

  

Adjustments; Set-off

   76

10.8

  

Counterparts

   77

10.9

  

Severability

   77

10.10

  

Integration

   77

10.11

  

GOVERNING LAW

   77

10.12

  

Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers

   77

10.13

  

Acknowledgements

   78

10.14

  

Releases of Guarantees and Liens

   78

10.15

  

Confidentiality

   78

10.16

  

WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL

   79

10.17

  

Delivery of Addenda

   79

10.18

  

Appointment of Process Agent

   79

10.19

  

Liability of Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers

   79

 


SCHEDULES:

1.1A

   Commitments

3.1

   Designated Letters of Credit

4.4

   Consents, Authorizations, Filings and Notices

4.12

   Labor Matters

4.15

   Subsidiaries

4.19(a)

   UCC Filing Jurisdictions

7.2(f)

   Existing Indebtedness

7.3(g)

   Existing Liens

7.7(e)

   Existing Investments

7.8

   Affiliate Transactions

EXHIBITS:

A

   Form of Guarantee and Pledge Agreement

B

   Form of Compliance Certificate

C-1

   Form of Closing Certificate (Borrower)

C-2

   Form of Closing Certificate (Loan Party)

D

   Form of Assignment and Assumption

E-1

   Form of Legal Opinion of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, special New York counsel to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties

E-2

   Form of Legal Opinion of Dykema Gossett PLLC, special Wisconsin counsel to Kadant Grantek Inc.

F

   Form of Exemption Certificate

G

   Form of Joinder Agreement

 


CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of May 9, 2005, among KADANT INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time parties hereto, the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties to this Agreement (the “Lenders”), and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent.

 

The parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, 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 ½ of 1%. For purposes hereof: “Prime Rate” shall mean the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 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 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in connection with extensions of credit to debtors). 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.

 

Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment”: a binding commitment of the Borrower reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent entered into at any time prior to the date occurring one year after any Reinvestment Event to reinvest the proceeds of such Recovery Event; provided, such reinvestment is actually expended within one year after the date on which such commitment is entered into.

 

Acquisition”: as defined in Section 5.1.

 

Acquisition Agreement”: the Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2005, by and among the Borrower, Johnson Acquisition Corp., Target, the principal shareholders of the Target identified on the signature pages thereto and certain additional selling shareholders and option holders of the Target who execute joinder agreements after April 7, 2005.

 

Acquisition Documentation”: collectively, the Acquisition Agreement and all schedules, exhibits and annexes thereto and all side letters and agreements affecting, or relating to, the terms thereof.

 

Adjustment Date”: as defined in the Pricing Grid.

 

Administrative Agent”: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., together with its affiliates, as the arranger of the Commitments and as the administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with any of its successors. It is understood that matters concerning the Multicurrency Revolving Loans will be administered by the Multicurrency Administrative Agent and therefore all notices concerning such Multicurrency Revolving Loans will be required to be given at the London Funding Office.

 

Affected Foreign Currency”: as defined in Section 2.17(c).

 


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.

 

Aggregate Exposure”: with respect to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate then unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Term Loans and (b) the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment then in effect or, if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the amount of such Lender’s Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit.

 

Aggregate Exposure Percentage”: with respect to any Lender at any time, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of such Lender’s Aggregate Exposure at such time to the Aggregate Exposure of all Lenders at such time.

 

Agreement”: as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Agreement Currency”: as defined in Section 2.24(b).

 

Applicable Creditor”: as defined in Section 2.24(b).

 

Applicable Margin”: initially, (a) 0%, in the case of ABR Loans and (b) 1.00%, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans; provided, that on and after the first Adjustment Date occurring after the completion of the second full fiscal quarter after the Funding Date, such rates per annum will be determined pursuant to the Pricing Grid.

 

Application”: an application, in such form as the Issuing Lender may specify from time to time, requesting the Issuing Lender to open 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), (d) or (e) of Section 7.5) 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 $1,000,000.

 

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

 

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

 

Available Revolving Commitment”: as to any Revolving Lender at any time, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Revolving Commitment then in effect over (b) such Lender’s Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit; provided, that in calculating any Lender’s Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit for the purpose of determining such Lender’s Available Revolving Commitment pursuant to Section 2.8(a), the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding shall be deemed to be zero.

 

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 either the Borrower or a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower as a date on which the Borrower or any such Foreign Subsidiary 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 (a) with respect to notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, Eurocurrency Loans, such day is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the interbank eurocurrency market, (b) when used in connection with a Multicurrency Revolving Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which commercial banks in London are authorized or required by law to remain closed and (c) when used in connection with Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Euros, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer System (TARGET) (or, if such clearing system ceases to be operative, such other clearing system (if any) determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is not open for settlement of payment in Euros.

 

Calculation Date”: with respect to each Foreign Currency, the fifteenth and last day of each calendar month (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) and such other days from time to time as the Administrative Agent shall designate as a “Calculation Date”; provided, that the third Business Day preceding each Borrowing Date with respect to, and each date of any continuation of, any Multicurrency Revolving Loan shall also be a “Calculation Date” with respect to the relevant Foreign Currency.

 

Capital Expenditures”: for any period, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Subsidiaries for the acquisition, construction 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 should be capitalized under GAAP on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries.

 

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 Collateral Account”: as defined in Section 2.12(a).

 

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, eurocurrency time deposits or overnight bank deposits having

 

3


maturities of eighteen 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 or by any financial institution organized in any foreign country recognized by the United States, in each case, having combined capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof); (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) or P-1 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“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) money market mutual or similar funds that invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a) through (f) of this definition; or (h) 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.

 

Change of Control”: (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Exchange Act, of Capital Stock representing 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Borrower or (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were neither (i) nominated (or appointed) by the board of directors of the Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated (or so appointed).

 

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

 

Collateral”: as defined in Section 1.1 of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement.

 

Commitment”: as to any Lender, the sum of the Term Commitment and the Revolving Commitment of such Lender.

 

Commitment Fee Rate”: initially, ¼ of 1% per annum; provided, that on or after the first Adjustment Date occurring after the completion of the second full fiscal quarter of the Borrower after the Funding Date, such rate per annum shall be determined pursuant to the Pricing Grid.

 

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.

 

Conduit Lender”: any special purpose corporation organized and administered by any Lender for the purpose of making Loans otherwise required to be made by such Lender and designated by such Lender in a written instrument; provided, that the designation by any Lender of a Conduit Lender

 

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shall not relieve the designating Lender of any of its obligations to fund a Loan under this Agreement if, for any reason, its Conduit Lender fails to fund any such Loan, and the designating Lender (and not the Conduit Lender) shall have the sole right and responsibility to deliver all consents and waivers required or requested under this Agreement with respect to its Conduit Lender, and provided, further, that no Conduit Lender shall (a) be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to Section 2.19, 2.20, 2.21 or 10.5 than the designating Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the extensions of credit made by such Conduit Lender or (b) be deemed to have any Commitment.

 

Confidential Information Memorandum”: the Confidential Information Memorandum dated April 2005 and furnished to certain Lenders.

 

Consolidated EBITDA”: for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) income tax expense, (b) interest expense, amortization or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness (including the Loans), (c) depreciation and amortization expense, (d) amortization of intangibles (including, but not limited to, goodwill) and organization costs, (e) a one-time charge, in the aggregate not in excess of $9,515,000, incurred in the Borrower’s fourth fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2004 in connection with the restructuring of Kadant SAS, (f) operating losses, in the aggregate not in excess of $8,065,000, incurred by the Borrower’s discontinued composites building products business through the twelve months ended January 1, 2005, provided that the operating losses referred to in this clause (f) shall be allocated to the relevant fiscal quarter or quarters, as applicable, in which such loss was incurred (it being understood that any such operating losses shall be based on the actual losses incurred during the relevant fiscal quarter in which such losses occurred) and (g) extraordinary and non-recurring non-cash non-operating losses reducing Consolidated Net Income during any such period (excluding any such loss that represents an accrual or reserve for a cash expenditure for a future period), and minus, to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) interest income, (b) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring non-cash non-operating income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business, but excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item in any prior period) and (c) income tax credits (to the extent not netted from income tax expense). For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (each, a “Reference Period”) pursuant to any determination of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (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 EBITDA 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. As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means (i) for the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries during the period beginning with the second fiscal quarter of 2005, the Acquisition and (ii) any other acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) 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 (b) 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Consolidated EBITDA with respect to the Target shall be deemed to be

 

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$3,106,094, $3,106,094 and $3,106,094 for the third and fourth fiscal quarters of fiscal year 2004 and for the first fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2005, respectively. For the avoidance of doubt, for the third and fourth fiscal quarters of year 2004 and for the first fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2005, respectively, the combined Consolidated EBITDA for the Borrower, the Target and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries will be the sum of (a) the Consolidated EBITDA for the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as determined in accordance with the preceding definition of Consolidated EBITDA for each respective fiscal period and (b) the corresponding Consolidated EBITDA amounts set forth in the preceding sentence for the Target and its consolidated Subsidiaries for each respective fiscal period. After the first fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2005, the Consolidated EBITDA for both the Borrower and the Target and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries will be the actual combined Consolidated EBITDA for such entities calculated in accordance with the preceding definition for each respective fiscal period.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”: as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the relevant Reference Period less the aggregate amount actually paid by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such Reference Period on account of Capital Expenditures (excluding the principal amount of Indebtedness (other than any Loans) incurred in connection with such expenditures) to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such Reference Period.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges”: for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense for the relevant Reference Period and (b) scheduled payments made during such Reference Period on account of principal of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (including scheduled principal payments in respect of the Term Loans).

 

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); provided, that for the purposes of determining the ratio described above for the third and fourth fiscal quarters of the Borrower for fiscal year 2005 and the first fiscal year quarter of the Borrower for fiscal year 2006, Consolidated Fixed Charges for the relevant period shall be deemed to equal Consolidated Fixed Charges for such fiscal quarter (and, in the case of the latter two such determinations, without duplication, each previous fiscal quarter commencing after the Funding Date) multiplied by 4, 2 and 4/3, respectively.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio”: as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of the last day of the relevant Reference Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period.

 

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 the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Consolidated Net Worth”: as of the date of determination thereof, all items that in conformity will GAAP would be included under shareholders’ equity on a consolidated balance sheet of the applicable Person on such date.

 

Consolidated Tangible Assets”: the total assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries less their consolidated Intangible Assets. For purposes of this definition, “Intangible Assets” means the amount of (i) all write-ups in the book value of any asset owned by the Borrower or a

 

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consolidated Subsidiary and (ii) all unamortized debt discount and expense, unamortized deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and other intangible assets.

 

Consolidated Total Capitalization”: as of any date of determination, the sum of the Consolidated Net Worth of the applicable Person at such date, the Consolidated Total Debt of such Person at such date, and, to the extent not otherwise included, preferred stock and mandatorily redeemable preferred trust securities of such Person at such date.

 

Consolidated Total Debt”: as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness described in clauses (f) (to the extent paid on a current basis only), (h) and (i)) of the definition thereof) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

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.

 

Control”: the possession of the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Cumulative Consolidated Net Income Available to Stockholders”: as of any date of determination, Consolidated Net Income plus, without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income, any impairment charge or intangible asset write-off pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 142—”Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, less cash dividends paid, and share repurchases made, by the Borrower with respect to its Capital Stock, in each case, for the period (taken as one accounting period) commencing on the Funding Date and ending on the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders under Section 6.1. It is understood that Cumulative Consolidated Net Income Available to Stockholders for the period beginning on the Funding Date and ending on the last day of the first fiscal quarter to occur after the Funding Date (the “Stub Period”) shall be calculated as follows: the product of (x) the Cumulative Consolidated Net Income Available to Stockholders during the entire first quarter in which the Funding Date occurred multiplied by (y) the product of (A) the actual number of days elapsed during the Stub Period and (B) the actual number of days elapsed during the entire fiscal quarter in which the Funding Date occurred.

 

Currency”: Dollars and any Foreign Currency.

 

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.

 

Designated Letters of Credit”: each letter of credit designated on the Effective Date and on the Funding Date by the Borrower, with the consent of the issuer of such letter of credit, as a “Letter of Credit” hereunder in Schedule 3.1. The issuer of any such Designated Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be an Issuing Lender for the purposes hereof and shall have all the rights and be subject to all the limitations of an Issuing Lender hereunder.

 

Disposition”: with respect to any property, any sale, lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition thereof. The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.

 

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Dollar Equivalent”: at any time as to any amount denominated in a Foreign Currency except as otherwise provided in Section 2.25, the equivalent amount in Dollars as determined by the Multicurrency Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Exchange Rate for the purchase of Dollars with such Foreign Currency on the most recent Calculation Date for such Foreign Currency.

 

Dollar Revolving Lender”: any Lender that holds a Dollar Revolving Loan.

 

Dollar Revolving Loans”: as defined in Section 2.4(a).

 

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.

 

EDGAR”: the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval computer system for the receipt, acceptance, review and dissemination of documents submitted to the SEC in electronic format.

 

Effective Date”: May 9, 2005.

 

EMU”: the Economic and Monetary Union as contemplated in the Treaty.

 

EMU Legislation” shall mean the legislative measures of the European Council (including the European Council regulations) for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of the Euro in one or more member states.

 

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.

 

Euro”: the single currency of Participating Member States of the EMU introduced in accordance with the provisions of Article 123 of the Treaty and, in respect of all payments to be made under this Agreement in Euro, means immediately available, freely transferable funds in such currency.

 

Eurocurrency Base Rate”: with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to a Eurocurrency Loan, the rate per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars or the relevant Foreign Currency, as the case may be, for a period equal to such Interest Period commencing on the first day of such Interest Period appearing on Page 3750 (or other relevant page) of the Telerate screen as of 11:00 A.M., London time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period. In the event that such rate does not appear on Page 3750 of the Telerate screen (or otherwise on such screen), the “Eurocurrency Base Rate” shall be determined by reference to such other comparable publicly available service for displaying eurocurrency rates as may be selected by the Administrative Agent or, in the absence of such availability, by reference to the rate at which the Administrative Agent is offered Dollar or the relevant Foreign Currency, as the case may be, deposits at or about 11:00 A.M., New York City time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period in the interbank eurocurrency market where its eurocurrency, foreign currency and exchange

 

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operations are then being conducted for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period for the number of days comprised therein.

 

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

 

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

 

    Eurocurrency Base Rate    
    1.00 - Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements    

 

Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements”: for any day as applied to a Eurocurrency 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.

 

Eurocurrency Tranche”: the collective reference to Eurocurrency Loans under a particular Facility 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.

 

Exchange Act”: the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Rate”: on any day, with respect to any Currency, the rate at which such Currency may be exchanged into any other Currency, as set forth at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such date on the Reuters World Currency Page for such Currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be selected by the Administrative Agent, or, in the event no such service is selected, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such Currency are then being conducted, at or about 11:00 A.M., local time, on such date for the purchase of the relevant Currency for delivery two Business Days later; provided that if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Administrative Agent, after consultation with the Borrower, may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be presumed correct absent manifest error.

 

Facility”: each of (a) the Term Commitments and Term Loans made thereunder (the “Term Facility”) and (b) the Revolving Commitments and the extensions of credit made thereunder (the “Revolving Facility”), including the multicurrency subfacility.

 

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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 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

Fee Payment Date”: (a) the third Business Day following the last day of each March, June, September and December; provided, that, in the event that the Borrower shall not have received an invoice from the Administrative Agent prior to such third Business Day specifying the amount of fees due and payable on any such date, the Borrower shall not be required to make such payment until one Business Day following such receipt and (b) the last day of the Revolving Commitment Period.

 

Foreign Currency”: Pounds Sterling and Euros, so long as such Currency is freely traded and convertible into Dollars in the London interbank market and a Dollar Equivalent thereof can be calculated.

 

Foreign Currency Equivalent”: at any time as to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent in the relevant foreign currency or currencies as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Exchange Rate for the purchase of such foreign currency or currencies with Dollars on the date of determination thereof.

 

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

 

Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Closing Date”: with respect to each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.3 shall have been satisfied in respect of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower.

 

Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers”: each Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower that becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 5.3; provided, that the only Foreign Subsidiaries of the Borrower permitted to become parties hereto shall be Kadant U.K Limited and Kadant Lamont SAS.

 

Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations”: as defined in Section 1.1 of Guarantee and Pledge Agreement.

 

Funding Date”: the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.1 shall have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.1), which date shall occur on or prior to May 20, 2005.

 

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; provided that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and

 

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applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

 

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 Pledge Agreement”: the Guarantee and Pledge 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 payment 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 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.

 

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 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 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) the liquidation value of all mandatorily redeemable preferred Capital Stock of such Person, (h) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above, (i) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be

 

11


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 (j) 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.

 

Indemnified Liabilities”: as defined in Section 10.5.

 

Indemnitee”: as defined in Section 10.5.

 

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.

 

Interest Payment Date”: (a) as to any ABR Loan (other than any Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December to occur while such Loan is outstanding and the final maturity date of such Loan, (b) as to any Eurocurrency Loan having an Interest Period of three months or less, the last day of such Interest Period, (c) as to any Eurocurrency 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, (d) as to any Loan (other than any Revolving Loan that is an ABR Loan and any Swingline Loan), the date of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof and (e) as to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid.

 

Interest Period”: as to any Eurocurrency Loan, (a) initially, the period commencing on the borrowing or conversion date, as the case may be, with respect to such Eurocurrency Loan and ending one, two, three or six (or, if agreed to by all Lenders under the relevant Facility, nine or twelve) 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 Eurocurrency Loan and ending one, two, three or six (or, if agreed to by all Lenders under the relevant Facility, nine or twelve) 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, in the case of Revolving Loans denominated in Dollars, and 11:00 A.M., London time, in the case of Multicurrency Revolving Loans, 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;

 

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(ii) the Borrower may not select an Interest Period under the Revolving Facility that would extend beyond the Revolving Termination Date or beyond the date final payment is due on the Term Loans, as the case may be;

 

(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 Eurocurrency Loan during an Interest Period for such Loan.

 

Investments”: as defined in Section 7.7.

 

Issuing Lender”: (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or any Affiliate thereof, or any other consenting Lender reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, or any consenting Affiliate thereof, in each case, in its capacity as issuer of any Letter of Credit and (b) any issuer of any Designated Letter of Credit.

 

Judgment Currency”: as defined in Section 2.24(b).

 

L/C Commitment”: $15,000,000.

 

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

 

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

 

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 Conduit Lender.

 

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

 

Lien”: any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, 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 by any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

London Funding Office”: the office of the Multicurrency Administrative Agent specified in Section 10.2 or such other office as may be specified from time to time by the Multicurrency

 

13


Administrative Agent as its funding office by written notice to the Borrower, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

 

Majority Facility Lenders”: with respect to any Facility, the holders of more than 50% of (a) in the case of the Term Facility, (i) until the Funding Date, the Term Commitments, and (ii) thereafter, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans and (b) in the case of the Revolving Facility, the Revolving Commitments then in effect or, if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit.

 

Material Acquisition”: any Permitted Acquisition for total consideration (including any assumed Indebtedness) in excess of $20,000,000.

 

Material Adverse Effect”: a material adverse effect on (a) on the Funding Date only, the Acquisition, (b) the business, property, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.

 

Material Domestic Subsidiary”: each Domestic Subsidiary that is also a Material Subsidiary.

 

Material Subsidiary”: any (a) Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and (b) any other Subsidiary of the Borrower (i) the Consolidated Tangible Assets of which exceed 10% of the Consolidated Tangible Assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year or (ii) the Net Revenue of which exceeds 10% of the Net Revenue of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the most recently completed fiscal year; provided, that, for a period of one year after the Funding Date, Kadant Composites Inc. shall not be deemed a Material Subsidiary; provided, further, that (A) any Subsidiary that directly or indirectly owns a Material Subsidiary Guarantor shall itself be a Material Subsidiary and (B) in the event Subsidiaries that would otherwise not be Material Subsidiaries shall in the aggregate account for a percentage in excess of 30% of the Consolidated Tangible Assets or 30% of the Net Revenue of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for the most recently completed fiscal year, then one or more of such Subsidiaries designated by the Borrower (or, if the Borrower shall make no designation, one or more of such Subsidiaries in descending order based on their respective contributions to Consolidated Tangible Assets), shall be included as Material Subsidiaries to the extent necessary to eliminate such excess.

 

Materials of Environmental Concern”: any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum products or any hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes, defined or regulated as such in or under any Environmental Law, including asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls and urea-formaldehyde insulation.

 

Multicurrency Administrative Agent”: JPMorgan Europe Limited, together with its affiliates and any successors.

 

Multicurrency Lender”: any Lender with a Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitment or that holds Multicurrency Revolving Extensions of Credit.

 

Multicurrency Revolving Extensions of Credit”: as to any Multicurrency Lender at any time, an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount (based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) of all Multicurrency Revolving Loans held by such Lender then outstanding.

 

14


Multicurrency Revolving Loans”: as defined in Section 2.4(c).

 

Multicurrency Revolving Percentage”: as to any Multicurrency Lender at any time, the percentage which such Lender’s Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitment then constitutes of the aggregate of Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitments or, at any time after the Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Multicurrency Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding constitute of the aggregate amount of the Multicurrency Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitment”: as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Multicurrency Revolving Loans in an aggregate principal amount (based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitment” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1A or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The original amount of the Total Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitments shall equal the Multicurrency Sublimit of the Revolving Facility.

 

Multicurrency Sublimit”: $10,000,000.

 

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 or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements) and (b) in connection with any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or any incurrence of Indebtedness, the cash proceeds received from such issuance or 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; provided, that if the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries Disposes of Kadant Composites Inc. or its assets or property, the first $10,000,000 of net cash proceeds received therefrom shall not be included in the calculations made hereunder and the Borrower shall be entitled to retain up to such amount of net cash proceeds without having to apply them to the prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(c).

 

Net Revenue”: with respect to any Person for any period, the net revenue of such Person and its consolidated subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period.

 

Non-Excluded Taxes”: as defined in Section 2.20(a).

 

Non-U.S. Lender”: as defined in Section 2.20(d).

 

Notes”: the collective reference to any promissory note evidencing Loans.

 

15


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 and any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, 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 and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers to the Administrative Agent, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent or to any Lender (or, in the case of Specified Swap Agreements, any affiliate of 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, any Specified Swap Agreement 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, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent or to any Lender that are required to be paid by the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower pursuant hereto) or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, “Obligations” shall include all Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations.

 

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.

 

Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit”: as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of Multicurrency Revolving Loans) held by such Lender then outstanding, (b) such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding, and (c) such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding.

 

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

 

Participating Member State”: a member of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its currency in accordance with EMU Legislation.

 

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

 

Permitted Acquisition”: any acquisition, by merger or otherwise, by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of assets or Capital Stock, so long as (a) such acquisition and all transactions related thereto shall be consummated in accordance with all Requirements of Law, (b) such acquisition shall result in the issuer of such Capital Stock becoming a Subsidiary and, to the extent required by Section 6.9(b), a Subsidiary Guarantor, (c) to the extent required by Section 6.9(c), such acquisition shall result in the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the applicable Lenders being granted a security interest in any Capital Stock so acquired, (d) immediately prior to and after giving effect to such acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (e) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such acquisition (including any Indebtedness assumed or permitted to exist or incurred pursuant to Section 7.2), with the covenants set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2, as such covenants are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Reference Period under such section as if such acquisition had occurred on the first day of such Reference Period.

 

Permitted Sale Leaseback”: any Sale Leaseback consummated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, that any such Sale Leaseback not between the Borrower and any Subsidiary

 

16


Guarantor or any Subsidiary Guarantor and another Subsidiary Guarantor is consummated for fair value as determined at the time of consummation in good faith by the Borrower or any such Subsidiary and, in the case of all such Sale Leasebacks during the term of this Agreement, the aggregate proceeds of which do not exceed $20,000,000 less, without duplication, the aggregate principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(j).

 

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.

 

Pounds” or “£” or “Pounds Sterling”: the lawful money of the United Kingdom.

 

Pricing Grid”: the table set forth below.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio


  

Applicable Margin

for

Eurocurrency Loans


   

Applicable Margin

for

ABR Loans


    Commitment Fee
Rate


 

    ³2.75 to 1.00

   1.25 %   0.250 %   0.275 %

    ³2.25 to 1.00

but < 2.75 to 1.00

   1.00 %   0 %   0.250 %

    ³1.75 to 1.00

but < 2.25 to 1.00

   0.875 %   0 %   0.225 %

    ³1.25 to 1.00

but < 1.75 to 1.00

   0.750 %   0 %   0.200 %

    <1.25 to 1.00

   0.625 %   0 %   0.175 %

 

For the purposes of the Pricing Grid, changes in the Applicable Margin or the Commitment Fee Rate resulting from changes in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective on the date (the “Adjustment Date”) that is three Business Days after the date on which financial statements are delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.1 and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant to this paragraph. If any financial statements referred to above are not delivered within the time periods specified in Section 6.1, then, until the date that is three Business Days after the date on which such financial statements are delivered, the highest rate set forth in each column of the Pricing Grid shall apply. In addition, at all times while an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the highest rate set forth in each column of the Pricing Grid shall apply.

 

Pro Forma Balance Sheet”: as defined in Section 4.1(a).

 

Pro Forma Statements of Operations”: as defined in Section 4.1(a).

 

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

 

17


Recovery Event”: any settlement of or payment in respect of any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of any Group Member, other than any settlement of or payment in respect of any property or insurance claim relating to the inventory of any Group Member, which settlement or payment is in excess of $1,000,000 for any single Recovery Event or series of related Recovery Events.

 

Reference Period”: as defined in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA.

 

Refunded Swingline Loans”: as defined in Section 2.7(b).

 

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 or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, to reimburse any 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 Group Member in connection therewith that are not applied by the Borrower to prepay the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(c) as a result of the delivery of a Reinvestment Notice.

 

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 Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and that the Borrower (directly or indirectly through a Subsidiary) 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 or committed to be expended pursuant to an Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment, 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 one year after such Reinvestment Event or, in the case of any Reinvestment Deferred Amount that is the subject of an Acceptable Reinvestment Commitment, the date occurring one year after the date on which such commitment is entered into, and (b) the date on which the Borrower shall have determined not to acquire or repair assets useful in the Borrower’s business with all or any portion of the relevant Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

 

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.

 

18


Required Lenders”: at any time, the holders of more than 50% of the sum of (a)(i) until the Funding Date, the Term Commitments or (ii) thereafter, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding and (b) the Revolving Commitments then in effect or, if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit.

 

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.

 

Reset Date”: as defined in Section 2.25.

 

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

 

Restricted Payments”: as defined in Section 7.6.

 

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

 

Revolving Commitment”: as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make Revolving Loans (which includes Multicurrency Revolving Loans) and participate in Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit in an aggregate principal and/or face amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “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. The original amount of the Total Revolving Commitments is $25,000,000.

 

Revolving Commitment Period”: the period from and including the Funding Date to the Revolving Termination Date; provided, however, that with respect to any borrowing or other extension of credit under the Revolving Facility by any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, Revolving Commitment Period shall mean the period from and including the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Closing Date for such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower to the Revolving Termination Date.

 

Revolving Lender”: each Lender that has a Revolving Commitment or that holds Revolving Loans.

 

Revolving Loans”: the collective reference to Dollar Revolving Loans and Multicurrency Revolving Loans.

 

Revolving Percentage”: as to any Revolving Lender at any time, the percentage which such Lender’s Revolving Commitment then constitutes of the Total Revolving Commitments or, at any time after the Revolving Commitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit of all Lenders then outstanding.

 

Revolving Termination Date”: the fifth anniversary of the Funding Date; provided, that if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.1 shall not have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.1) prior to May 20, 2005, the Revolving Termination Date shall mean May 20, 2005.

 

19


Sale Leaseback” shall mean any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (a) Disposes of any property, real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and (b) as part of such transaction, thereafter rents or leases such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being Disposed.

 

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

 

Security Documents”: the collective reference to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement 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, means that, 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.

 

Specified Swap Agreement”: any Swap Agreement entered into by the Borrower and any Lender or affiliate thereof.

 

Subordinated Indebtedness”: Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (a) that does not require the issuer thereof or any other obligor thereon or any Subsidiary thereof to maintain any specified financial condition or performance (other than as a condition to the taking of certain actions) that is as restrictive or more restrictive than the financial conditions or performance covenants contained herein, (b) which is unsecured, (c) which contains no mandatory prepayments other than customary asset sale and change of control prepayments (the terms of which provide that the Obligations shall be paid prior to any such prepayment of such Indebtedness) and (d) which contains subordination provisions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Subordinated Indebtedness may be issued only if no Default or Event of Default has occurred or will result therefrom.

 

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 Material Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower and each other Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower from time to time party to the Guarantee and Pledge

 

20


Agreement as a Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that Johnson Southeast LLC shall not be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Swap Agreement”: any agreement with respect to any swap, 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”.

 

Swingline Commitment”: the obligation of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.6 in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $5,000,000.

 

Swingline Lender”: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as the lender of Swingline Loans.

 

Swingline Loans”: as defined in Section 2.6.

 

Swingline Participation Amount”: as defined in Section 2.7.

 

Target”: The Johnson Corporation, a Michigan corporation.

 

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

 

Term Commitment”: as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make a Term Loan to the Borrower on the Funding Date in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Term Commitment” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1A. The original aggregate amount of the Term Commitments is $60,000,000.

 

Term Lender”: each Lender that has a Term Commitment or that holds a Term Loan.

 

Term Loan”: as defined in Section 2.1.

 

Term Loan Maturity Date”: the fifth anniversary of the Funding Date; provided, that if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.1 shall not have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.1) prior to May 20, 2005, the Term Loan Maturity Date shall mean May 20, 2005.

 

Term Percentage”: as to any Term Lender at any time, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Term Loans then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding.

 

Total Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitments”: at any time, the aggregate amount of the Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitments then in effect.

 

Total Revolving Commitments”: at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments then in effect.

 

Transferee”: any Assignee or Participant.

 

21


Treaty”: the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, being the Treaty of Rome of March 25, 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1987, the Maastricht Treaty (which was signed at Maastricht on February 7, 1992 and came into force on November 1, 1993), the Amsterdam Treaty (which was signed at Amsterdam on October 2, 1997 and came into force on May 1, 1999) and the Nice Treaty (which was signed on February 26, 2001), each as amended from time to time and as referred to in legislative measures of the European Union for the introduction of, changeover to or operating of the Euro in one or more member states.

 

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

 

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 “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 or other Contractual Obligations shall, unless otherwise specified, be deemed to refer to such agreements or Contractual Obligations as amended, 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.

 

1.3 Currency Conversion.

 

(a) If more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognized by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then (i) any reference in the Loan Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Loan Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into or paid in the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Administrative Agent and (ii) any translation from one currency or currency unit to another of any

 

22


country shall be at the official rate of exchange recognized by the central bank for conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Administrative Agent as it deems appropriate.

 

(b) If a change in any currency of a country occurs, this Agreement shall be amended (and each party hereto agrees to enter into any supplemental agreement necessary to effect any such amendment) to the extent that the Administrative Agent determines such amendment to be necessary to reflect the change in currency and to put the Lenders in the same position, so far as possible, that they would have been in if no change in currency had occurred.

 

SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS

 

2.1 Term Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Term Lender severally agrees to make a term loan denominated in Dollars (a “Term Loan”) to the Borrower on the Funding Date in an amount not to exceed the amount of the Term Commitment of such Lender. The Term Loans may from time to time be Eurocurrency Loans or ABR Loans, as determined by the Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Sections 2.2 and 2.13. If the terms and conditions to making any Term Loan hereunder are not satisfied on or prior to May 20, 2005, the Term Commitments of each Lender hereunder shall terminate on such date and the Term Lenders will not be obligated to make the Term Loans to the Borrower hereunder.

 

2.2 Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, three Business Day prior to the anticipated Funding Date) requesting that the Term Lenders make the Term Loans on the Funding Date and specifying the amount to be borrowed. Upon receipt of such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Term Lender thereof. Not later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the Funding Date each Term Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent at the Funding Office an amount in Dollars and in immediately available funds equal to the Term Loan or Term Loans to be made by such Lender. The Administrative Agent shall credit the account of the Borrower on the books of such office of the Administrative Agent with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Term Lenders in immediately available funds.

 

2.3 Repayment of Term Loans. The Term Loan of each Lender shall be payable in 20 consecutive quarterly installments, each of which shall be in an amount equal to such Lender’s Term Percentage multiplied by the amount set forth below opposite such installment:

 

Date


   Principal Amount

September 30, 2005

   2,250,000.00

December 31, 2005

   2,250,000.00

March 31, 2006

   2,250,000.00

June 30, 2006

   2,250,000.00

September 30, 2006

   2,250,000.00

December 31, 2006

   2,250,000.00

March 31, 2007

   2,250,000.00

June 30, 2007

   2,250,000.00

September 30, 2007

   3,000,000.00

December 31, 2007

   3,000,000.00

 

23


Date


   Principal Amount

March 31, 2008

   3,000,000.00

June 30, 2008

   3,000,000.00

September 30, 2008

   3,750,000.00

December 30, 2008

   3,750,000.00

March 31, 2009

   3,750,000.00

June 30, 2009

   3,750,000.00

September 30, 2009

   3,750,000.00

December 31, 2009

   3,750,000.00

March 31, 2010

   3,750,000.00

Term Loan Maturity Date

   3,750,000.00

 

2.4 Revolving Commitments. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans denominated in Dollars (“Dollar Revolving Loans”) to the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding which, when added to such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the sum of the other Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit, does not exceed the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. If the terms and conditions set forth in Section 5.1 are not satisfied on or prior to May 20, 2005, the Revolving Commitments of each Lender hereunder shall terminate on such date and the Lenders will not be obligated to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereunder. During the Revolving Commitment Period, the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may use the Revolving Commitments by borrowing, prepaying the Dollar Revolving Loans in whole or in part, and reborrowing, all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. The Dollar Revolving Loans may from time to time be Eurocurrency Loans or ABR Loans, as determined by the Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Sections 2.5 and 2.13.

 

(b) The Borrower and each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall repay all outstanding Dollar Revolving Loans on the Revolving Termination Date.

 

(c) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Multicurrency Lender severally agrees, from time to time during the Revolving Commitment Period, to make revolving credit loans denominated in one or more Foreign Currencies (the “Multicurrency Revolving Loans”) to any of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers in an aggregate principal amount (based on the Dollar Equivalent of such Multicurrency Revolving Loans) at any one time outstanding which (a) shall not exceed the amount of such Lender’s Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitment and (b) when added to such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the other Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit, shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. If the terms and conditions set forth in Section 5.1 are not satisfied on or prior to May 20, 2005, the Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitment of each Multicurrency Lender hereunder shall terminate on such date and such Lenders will not be obligated to make Multicurrency Loans to any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereunder. No Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall request and no Multicurrency Lender shall be required to make any Multicurrency Revolving Loan if, after making such Multicurrency Revolving Loan (i) the Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit shall exceed the Revolving Commitments then in effect or (ii) the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate outstanding Multicurrency Revolving Loans shall exceed the Multicurrency Sublimit. During the Revolving Commitment Period, each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Multicurrency Revolving Loans, respectively, in whole or in part, all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. The Multicurrency Revolving Loans shall be Eurocurrency Loans.

 

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(d) Each Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers shall repay all of its outstanding Multicurrency Revolving Loans on the Revolving Termination Date or in accordance with Section 2.12.

 

2.5 Procedure for Revolving Loan Borrowing. (a) The Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may borrow Dollar Revolving Loans under the Revolving Commitments during the Revolving 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 Eurocurrency 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 under the Revolving Facility 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 Revolving Loans to be borrowed, (ii) the requested Borrowing Date, (iii) in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, the respective amounts of each such Type of Loan and the respective lengths of the initial Interest Period therefor and (iv) the actual borrower of such Dollar Revolving Loans, whether the Borrower or a specified Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. Each borrowing of Dollar Revolving Loans under the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount equal to (x) in the case of ABR Loans, $1,000,000 or a whole multiple thereof (or, if the then aggregate Available Revolving Commitments are less than $1,000,000, such lesser amount) and (y) in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, $2,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; provided, that the Swingline Lender may request, on behalf of the Borrower, borrowings of Dollar Revolving Loans in any amount under the Revolving Commitments that are ABR Loans in other amounts pursuant to Section 2.7. Upon receipt of any such notice from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender thereof. Each Revolving Lender will make the amount of its pro rata share of each borrowing of Dollar Revolving Loans available to the Administrative Agent in Dollars for the account of the Borrower or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower specified in clause (iv) above, as applicable, at the Funding Office 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 of Dollar Revolving Loans will then be made available to the Borrower or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower specified in clause (iv) above, as applicable, by the Administrative Agent crediting the account of the Borrower or such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower on the books of such office with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Revolving Lenders and in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b) Any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may borrow Multicurrency Revolving Loans under the Multicurrency Subcommitments during the Revolving Commitment Period on any Business Day, provided that such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall give the Multicurrency Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (which notice must be received by the Multicurrency Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 A.M., London time, three Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date), specifying (i) the requested Borrowing Date, (ii) the respective amounts of each Multicurrency Revolving Loan in each Foreign Currency and (iii) the respective lengths of the initial Interest Period therefor. Each borrowing under the Multicurrency Subcommitments shall be in an amount equal to (x) in the case of Multicurrency Revolving Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling, £1,000,000 or a whole multiple of £1,000,000 in excess thereof and (y) in the case of Multicurrency Revolving Loans denominated in Euros, €1,000,000 or a whole multiple of €1,000,000 in excess thereof. Upon receipt of any such notice from the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Multicurrency Lender and the Administrative Agent thereof. Each Multicurrency Lender will make the amount of its pro rata share of each borrowing available to the Multicurrency Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower at the London Funding Office prior to 12:00 Noon, London time, in each case, on the Borrowing Date requested by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in funds immediately available in the relevant Foreign Currency to the Multicurrency Administrative Agent. Such

 

25


borrowing will then be made available to the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower by the Multicurrency Administrative Agent crediting the account of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower on the books of such office with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Multicurrency Administrative Agent by the Multicurrency Lenders and in like funds as received by the Multicurrency Administrative Agent or by wire transfer of such amounts to an account designated in writing by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower to the Multicurrency Administrative Agent in connection with the relevant borrowing. The outstanding principal amount of any Multicurrency Revolving Loan made by a Lender shall constitute usage under the Revolving Facility for all purposes including determining the availability of borrowings from such Lender thereunder.

 

2.6 Swingline Commitment. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swingline Lender agrees to make a portion of the credit otherwise available to the Borrower under the Revolving Commitments from time to time during the Revolving Commitment Period by making swing line loans (“Swingline Loans”) in Dollars to the Borrower; provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed the Swingline Commitment then in effect (notwithstanding that the Swingline Loans outstanding at any time, when aggregated with the Swingline Lender’s other outstanding Revolving Loans, may exceed the Swingline Commitment then in effect) and (ii) the Borrower shall not request, and the Swingline Lender shall not make, any Swingline Loan if, after giving effect to the making of such Swingline Loan and, if applicable, the repayment at such time of any Revolving Loans, the aggregate amount of the Available Revolving Commitments would be less than zero. If the terms and conditions set forth in Section 5.1 are not satisfied on or prior to May 20, 2005, the Swingline Commitment of the Swingline Lender shall terminate on such date and such Swingline Lender will not be obligated to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower hereunder. During the Revolving Commitment Period, the Borrower may use the Swingline Commitment by borrowing, repaying and reborrowing, all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. Swingline Loans shall be ABR Loans only.

 

(b) The Borrower shall repay to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Revolving Termination Date and the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th or last day of a calendar month and is at least two Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Loan is borrowed, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding.

 

2.7 Procedure for Swingline Borrowing; Refunding of Swingline Loans. (a) Whenever the Borrower desires that the Swingline Lender make Swingline Loans it shall give the Swingline Lender irrevocable telephonic notice confirmed promptly in writing (which telephonic notice must be received by the Swingline Lender not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the proposed Borrowing Date), specifying (i) the amount to be borrowed and (ii) the requested Borrowing Date (which shall be a Business Day during the Revolving Commitment Period). Each borrowing under the Swingline Commitment shall be in an amount equal to $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Not later than 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Borrowing Date specified in a notice in respect of Swingline Loans, the Swingline Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent at the Funding Office an amount in Dollars and in immediately available funds equal to the amount of the Swingline Loan to be made by the Swingline Lender. The Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of such Swingline Loan available to the Borrower on such Borrowing Date by depositing such proceeds in the account of the Borrower with the Administrative Agent on such Borrowing Date in immediately available funds.

 

(b) The Swingline Lender, at any time and from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion may, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably directs the Swingline Lender to act on its behalf), on one Business Day’s notice given by the Swingline Lender no later than 12:00 Noon,

 

26


New York City time, request each Revolving Lender to make, and each Revolving Lender hereby agrees to make, a Dollar Revolving Loan, in an amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the aggregate amount of the Swingline Loans (the “Refunded Swingline Loans”) outstanding on the date of such notice, to repay the Swingline Lender. Each Revolving Lender shall make the amount of such Dollar Revolving Loan available to the Administrative Agent at the Funding Office in immediately available funds, not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, one Business Day after the date of such notice. The proceeds of such Dollar Revolving Loans shall be immediately made available by the Administrative Agent to the Swingline Lender for application by the Swingline Lender to the repayment of the Refunded Swingline Loans. The Borrower irrevocably authorizes the Swingline Lender to charge the Borrower’s accounts with the Administrative Agent (up to the amount available in each such account) in order to immediately pay the amount of such Refunded Swingline Loans to the extent amounts received from the Revolving Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full such Refunded Swingline Loans.

 

(c) If prior to the time a Dollar Revolving Loan would have otherwise been made pursuant to Section 2.7(b), one of the events described in Section 8(f) shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to the Borrower or if for any other reason, as determined by the Swingline Lender in its sole discretion, Dollar Revolving Loans may not be made as contemplated by Section 2.7(b), each Revolving Lender shall, on the date such Dollar Revolving Loan was to have been made pursuant to the notice referred to in Section 2.7(b), purchase for cash an undivided participating interest in the then outstanding Swingline Loans by paying to the Swingline Lender an amount (the “Swingline Participation Amount”) equal to (i) such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Percentage times (ii) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding that were to have been repaid with such Dollar Revolving Loans.

 

(d) Whenever, at any time after the Swingline Lender has received from any Dollar Revolving Lender such Lender’s Swingline Participation Amount, the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account of the Swingline Loans, the Swingline Lender will distribute to such Lender its Swingline Participation Amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s participating interest was outstanding and funded and, in the case of principal and interest payments, to reflect such Lender’s pro rata portion of such payment if such payment is not sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on all Swingline Loans then due); provided, however, that in the event that such payment received by the Swingline Lender is required to be returned, such Dollar Revolving Lender will return to the Swingline Lender any portion thereof previously distributed to it by the Swingline Lender.

 

(e) Each Dollar Revolving Lender’s obligation to make the Dollar Revolving Loans referred to in Section 2.7(b) and to purchase participating interests pursuant to Section 2.7(c) 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 Dollar Revolving Lender or the Borrower may have against the Swingline 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 Revolving Lender or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

 

2.8 Commitment Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a commitment fee for the period from and including the Effective Date to the last day of the Revolving Commitment Period, computed at the Commitment Fee Rate on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the

 

27


period for which payment is made, payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment Date, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date.

 

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent the fees in the amounts and on the dates as set forth in any fee agreements with the Administrative Agent and to perform any other obligations contained therein.

 

2.9 Termination or Reduction of Revolving Commitments. The Borrower shall have the right, upon not less than three Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, to terminate the Revolving Commitments (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitments) or, from time to time, to reduce the amount of the Revolving Commitments (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitments); provided that no such termination or reduction of Revolving Commitments (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitments) shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto and to any prepayments of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans made on the effective date thereof, the Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit would exceed the Total Revolving Commitments. Any such reduction shall be in an amount equal to $2,500,000, or a whole multiple thereof, and shall reduce permanently the Revolving Commitments then in effect. If the Borrower opts to reduce the Revolving Commitments, the Multicurrency Sublimit shall subsequently be reduced on a pro rata basis.

 

2.10 Optional Prepayments. (a) The Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay the Loans (other than Multicurrency Revolving 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 Eurocurrency 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 and whether the prepayment is of Eurocurrency Loans or ABR Loans; provided, that if a Eurocurrency Loan is prepaid on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower or the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall also pay any amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.21. 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 Revolving Loans that are ABR Loans and Swingline Loans) accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid. Partial prepayments of Term Loans and Revolving Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $2,500,000 or a whole multiple thereof. Partial prepayments of Swingline Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple thereof.

 

(b) Any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay Multicurrency Revolving Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, upon irrevocable notice (which notice must be received by the Multicurrency Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 A.M., London time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment) specifying the date and amount of prepayment. Upon receipt of any such notice the Multicurrency Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Multicurrency Lender and the Administrative Agent 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 any amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.21 and accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid. Partial prepayments of Multicurrency Revolving Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of (x) £1,000,000 or a whole multiple of £1,000,000 in excess thereof, in the case of Loans denominated in British Pounds Sterling, and (y) €1,000,000 or a whole multiple or €1,000,000 in excess thereof, in the case of Loans denominated in Euros.

 

2.11 Mandatory Prepayments of Term Loans. (a) If any Indebtedness shall be incurred by any Group Member after the Funding Date (excluding any Indebtedness incurred in

 

28


accordance with Section 7.2), an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof shall be applied and paid by the Borrower within one Business Day after the date of such incurrence toward the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.11(d).

 

(b) If any Capital Stock (other than any Capital Stock issued pursuant to any employee or director stock-based compensation plan) shall be issued by any Group Member after the Funding Date, an amount equal to 50% of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof shall be applied and paid by the Borrower within one Business Day after the date of such issuance toward the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.11(d).

 

(c) 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 and paid by the Borrower on such date toward the prepayment of the Term Loans; 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 prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.11(d).

 

(d) The application of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11 shall be made, first, to ABR Loans and, second, to Eurocurrency Loans. Each prepayment of the Term Loans under Section 2.11 shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the amount prepaid.

 

2.12 Mandatory Prepayments of Multicurrency Revolving Loans. (a) If, on any Calculation Date, (i) the Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit exceed the Revolving Commitments or (ii) the Dollar Equivalent of the Multicurrency Revolving Loans outstanding, in each case, on such date exceeds 105% of the Multicurrency Sublimit on such date, the Borrower and/or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall, without notice or demand, immediately repay such of its outstanding Revolving Loans in an aggregate principal amount such that, after giving effect thereto, (x) the Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit do not exceed the Revolving Commitments and (y) the Dollar Equivalent of the Multicurrency Revolving Loans outstanding on such date is equal to or less than the Multicurrency Sublimit on such date, together with interest accrued to the date of such payment or prepayment on the principal so prepaid and any amounts payable under Section 2.21 in connection therewith. The Borrower and/or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may, in lieu of prepaying Revolving Loans in order to comply with this paragraph, deposit amounts in a Cash Collateral Account, for the benefit of the Lenders, equal to the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans required to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent shall apply any cash deposited in any Cash Collateral Account (to the extent thereof) to repay Revolving Loans at the end of the Interest Periods therefor, as the case may be, provided that (x) the Administrative Agent shall release to the Borrower and/or any applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower from time to time such portion of the amount on deposit in any Cash Collateral Account to the extent such amount is not required to be so deposited in order for the Borrower and/or the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower to be in compliance with this Section 2.12 and (y) the Administrative Agent may so apply such cash at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default. “Cash Collateral Account” means an account specifically established by the Borrower and/or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower with the Administrative Agent for purposes of this Section 2.12 and hereby pledged to the Administrative Agent and over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the right of withdrawal for application in accordance with this Section 2.12.

 

(b) If any prepayment occurs pursuant to this Section 2.12 on a day that is not the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, the Borrower and/or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall pay to the Multicurrency Lenders such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to Section 2.21.

 

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2.13 Conversion and Continuation Options. (a) The Borrower may elect from time to time to convert Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Dollars 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 Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Dollars 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 Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Dollars 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 under a particular Facility may be converted into a Eurocurrency Loan denominated in Dollars when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of such Facility have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such conversions. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof.

 

(b) Any Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency Loan denominated in Dollars under a particular Facility may be continued as such when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent has or the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of such Facility have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuations, and provided, further, that if the Borrower shall fail to give any required notice as described above in this paragraph or if such continuation is not permitted pursuant to the preceding proviso such Loans denominated in Dollars shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans on the last day of such then expiring Interest Period and, if the Borrower shall fail to give such notice of continuation of a Multicurrency Revolving Loan, such Multicurrency Revolving Loan shall be automatically continued for an Interest Period of one month. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender and, if applicable, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent thereof.

 

2.14 Limitations on Eurocurrency Tranches. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all borrowings, conversions and continuations of Eurocurrency Loans and all selections of Interest Periods shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant to such elections so that no more than ten Eurocurrency Tranches shall be outstanding at any one time.

 

2.15 Interest Rates and Payment Dates. (a) Each Eurocurrency Loan shall bear interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate determined for such day plus the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Loans.

 

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

 

(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) 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 under the Revolving Facility 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

 

30


then applicable to ABR Loans under the relevant Facility plus 2% (unless such overdue amount is denominated in a Foreign Currency, in which case such overdue amount shall bear interest of a rate per annum equal to the highest rate then applicable under this Agreement to Multicurrency Revolving Loans denominated in such Foreign Currency 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 paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable from time to time on demand.

 

2.16 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 (i) 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 and (ii) Multicurrency Revolving Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling, interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 365-day year for actual days elapsed. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, if applicable, and the Lenders of each determination of a Eurocurrency 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, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, if applicable, and the relevant Lenders of the effective date and the amount of each such change in interest rate.

 

(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 relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, if applicable, and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error. The Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower deliver to the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as applicable, a statement showing the quotations used by the Administrative Agent in determining any interest rate pursuant to Section 2.15.

 

2.17 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 Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period, or

 

(b) the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of the relevant Facility that the Eurocurrency 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, or

 

(c) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower and the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers) that deposits in the applicable currency are not generally available, or cannot be obtained by the relevant Lenders, in the applicable market (any Foreign Currency affected by the circumstances described in clause (a), (b) or (c) is referred to as an “Affected Foreign Currency”),

 

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the Administrative Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the Borrower, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, if applicable, and the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. If such notice is given (y) pursuant to clause (a) or (b) of this Section 2.17 in respect of any Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Dollars, then (i) any Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Dollars under the relevant Facility requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be made as ABR Loans, (ii) any ABR Loans under the relevant Facility that were to have been converted on the first day of such Interest Period to Eurocurrency Loans shall be continued as ABR Loans and (iii) any outstanding Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Dollars under the relevant Facility shall be converted, on the last day of the then-current Interest Period, to ABR Loans and (z) in respect of any Multicurrency Revolving Loans, then (i) any Multicurrency Revolving Loans in an Affected Foreign Currency requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall not be made and (ii) any outstanding Multicurrency Revolving Loans in an Affected Foreign Currency shall be converted, on the last day of the then-current Interest Period, to Dollar Revolving Loans. Until such notice has been withdrawn by the Administrative Agent, no further Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Dollars or Multicurrency Revolving Loans in an Affected Foreign Currency under the relevant Facility shall be made or continued as such, nor shall the Borrower have the right to convert ABR Loans under the relevant Facility to Eurocurrency Loans.

 

2.18 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments. (a) (i) Each borrowing by the Borrower or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers 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 Term Percentages or Revolving Percentages, as the case may be, of the relevant Lenders; provided, that each borrowing by the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers of Multicurrency Revolving Loans from the Multicurrency Lenders hereunder and any reduction of the Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitments of the Multicurrency Lenders shall be made pro rata according to the respective Revolving Percentages of the Lenders; provided further that the Multicurrency Sublimit shall be reduced pro rata with any reduction in the Revolving Commitments.

 

(b) Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on account of principal of and interest on the Term Loans shall be made pro rata according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Term Loans then held by the Term Lenders. The amount of each principal prepayment of the Term Loans shall be applied to reduce the then remaining installments of the Term Loans pro rata based upon the respective then remaining principal amounts thereof. Amounts prepaid on account of the Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

(c) Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower on account of principal of and interest on the Dollar Revolving Loans shall be made pro rata according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Dollar Revolving Loans then held by the Dollar Revolving Lenders and each payment (including each prepayment) by any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower on account of principal of and interest on the Multicurrency Revolving Loans shall be made pro rata according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Multicurrency Revolving Loans then held by the Multicurrency Lenders.

 

(d) All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary 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 (or, in the case of principal or interest relating to Multicurrency Revolving Loans, prior to 3:00 P.M., London time, on the due date thereof to the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, for the account of the Multicurrency Lenders, at its London Funding Office, in the relevant Foreign Currency 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

 

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payment hereunder (other than payments on the Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency 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.

 

(e) Unless the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Lender prior to a borrowing that such Lender will not make the amount that would constitute its share of such borrowing available to the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, may assume that such Lender is making such amount available to the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, and the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as applicable, a corresponding amount. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, by the required time on the Borrowing Date therefor, such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, on demand, (i) in the case of amounts denominated in Dollars, such amount with interest thereon, at a rate equal to the greater of (X) the Federal Funds Effective Rate and (Y) 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 or (ii) in the case of amounts denominated in Foreign Currencies, such amount with interest thereon at a rate determined by the Multicurrency Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount until such Lender makes such amount immediately available to the Multicurrency Administrative Agent. A certificate of the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, 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 or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, by such Lender within three Business Days after such Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, shall also be entitled to recover (i) in the case of amounts denominated in Dollars, such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to ABR Loans under the relevant Facility, on demand, from the Borrower or (ii) in the case of amounts denominated in Foreign Currencies, such amount with interest thereon at a rate determined by the Multicurrency Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount, on demand, from the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of any Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower against any Lender that fails to make Loans hereunder.

 

(f) Unless the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, shall have been notified in writing by the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower prior to the date of any payment due to be made by the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereunder that the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower will not make such payment to the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, may assume that the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is making such payment, and the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, 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 or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, by the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary

 

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Borrower within three Business Days after such due date, the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to recover, on demand, from each Lender to which any amount which was made available pursuant to the preceding sentence, (i) in the case of amounts denominated in Dollars, such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum equal to the daily average Federal Funds Effective Rate and (ii) in the case of amounts denominated in Foreign Currencies, such amount with interest thereon at a rate per annum determined by the Multicurrency Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower.

 

2.19 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 Effective Date:

 

(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 Eurocurrency 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 2.19 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 Eurocurrency Rate; or

 

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

 

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 Eurocurrency 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; provided, that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate any Lender pursuant to this paragraph for any amounts incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided, further, that if the circumstances giving rise to such claim have a retroactive effect, then such 180-day period shall be extended to include the period of such retroactive effect.

 

(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 Effective Date 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

 

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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; provided, that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate any Lender pursuant to this paragraph for any amounts incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided, further, that if the circumstances giving rise to such claim have a retroactive effect, then such 180-day period shall be extended to include the period of such retroactive effect.

 

(c) If any Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction of any Foreign Currency (or any other jurisdiction in which the funding operations of any Multicurrency Lender shall be conducted with respect to such Foreign Currency) shall have in effect any reserve, liquid asset or similar requirement with respect to any category of deposits or liabilities customarily used to fund loans in such Foreign Currency (excluding any Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements), or by reference to which interest rates applicable to loans in such Foreign Currency are determined, and the result of such requirement shall be to increase the cost to such Multicurrency Lender of making or maintaining any Multicurrency Revolving Loan in such Foreign Currency, and such Multicurrency Lender shall deliver to the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower a notice requesting compensation under this paragraph, then the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower will pay to such Multicurrency Lender on each Interest Payment Date with respect to each affected Multicurrency Revolving Loan an amount that will compensate such Multicurrency Lender for such additional cost; provided, that the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Multicurrency Lender pursuant to this paragraph for any amounts incurred more than three months prior to the date that such Multicurrency Lender notifies the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower of such Multicurrency Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; and provided further that, if the circumstances giving rise to such claim have a retroactive effect, then such three-month period shall be extended to include the period of such retroactive effect.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if, (i) (A) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (B) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (C) compliance by any Lender with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement, shall make it unlawful for any such Multicurrency Lender to make or maintain any Multicurrency Revolving Loan or to give effect to its obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any Multicurrency Revolving Loan, or (ii) there shall have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions (including the imposition of or any change in exchange controls, but excluding conditions otherwise covered by this Section 2.19) which would make it impracticable for the Multicurrency Lenders to make or maintain Multicurrency Revolving Loans denominated in the relevant currency after the Effective Date to, or for the account of, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, then, by written notice to the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and to the Multicurrency Administrative Agent:

 

(i) such Multicurrency Lender or Multicurrency Lenders may declare that Multicurrency Revolving Loans (in the affected currency or currencies) will not thereafter (for the duration of such unlawfulness) be made by such Multicurrency Lender or Multicurrency Lenders hereunder (or be continued for additional Interest Periods), whereupon any request for a Multicurrency Revolving Loan (in the affected currency or currencies) or to continue a Multicurrency Revolving Loan (in the affected currency or currencies), as the case may be, for an additional Interest Period) shall, as to such Multicurrency Lender or Multicurrency Lenders only, be of no force and effect, unless such declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and

 

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(ii) such Multicurrency Lender may require that all outstanding Multicurrency Revolving Loans (in the affected currency or currencies), made by it be converted to ABR Loans or Loans denominated in Dollars, as the case may be (unless repaid by the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower), in which event all such Multicurrency Revolving Loans (in the affected currency or currencies) shall be converted to ABR Loans or Loans denominated in Dollars, as the case may be, as of the effective date of such notice as provided in paragraph (f) below and at the Exchange Rate on the date of such conversion or, at the option of the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, repaid on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto or, if earlier, the date on which the applicable notice becomes effective.

 

In the event any Multicurrency Lender shall exercise its rights under (i) or (ii) above, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise have been applied to repay the converted Multicurrency Revolving Loans of such Multicurrency Lender shall instead be applied to repay the ABR Loans or Loans denominated in Dollars, as the case may be, made by such Multicurrency Lender resulting from such conversion.

 

(e) For purposes of Section 2.19(d), a notice to the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower by any Multicurrency Lender shall be effective as to each Multicurrency Revolving Loan made by such Multicurrency Lender, if lawful, on the last day of the Interest Period currently applicable to such Multicurrency Revolving Loan; in all other cases such notice shall be effective on the date of receipt thereof by the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower.

 

2.20 Taxes. (a) All payments made by the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary 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, branch profit 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 neither the Borrower nor any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be required to increase any such amounts payable to any Lender with respect to any Non-Excluded Taxes (i) that are attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the requirements of paragraph (d), (e) or (g) of this Section or (ii) that are United States, French or United Kingdom 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 or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower with respect to such Non-Excluded Taxes pursuant to this paragraph.

 

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

 

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(c) Whenever any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes are payable by the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, 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 or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, showing payment thereof. If the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, 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 or such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, 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 and any Foreign Subsidiary 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 or any Foreign Subsidiary 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 or any Foreign Subsidiary 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 in such Lender’s judgment such completion, execution or submission would not materially prejudice the legal position of such Lender.

 

(f) If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion, 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 any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, or with respect to which the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.20, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower or such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, under this Section 2.20 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

 

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the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower or such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower or such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be (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 such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person.

 

(g) Each Lender that is not incorporated or organized under the laws of the jurisdiction under which a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is incorporated or organized or is not a resident for taxation purposes of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s country of tax residence, shall upon written request by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, deliver to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or the applicable Governmental Authority or taxing authority, as the case may be, any form or certificate required in order that any payment by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement to such Lender may be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of any tax (or to allow any such deduction or withholding to be at a reduced rate) imposed on such payment under the laws of the jurisdiction under which such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is incorporated or organized or is otherwise a resident for taxation purposes, provided that such Lender is legally entitled to complete, execute and deliver such form or certificate and such completion, execution or submission would not materially prejudice the legal position of such Lender.

 

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

 

2.21 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 or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion into or continuation of Eurocurrency Loans after the Borrower has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (b) default by the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in making any prepayment of or conversion from Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency 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.

 

2.22 Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.19 or 2.20(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

 

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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 2.19 or 2.20(a).

 

2.23 Replacement of Lenders. The Borrower shall be permitted to replace (a) any Lender that requests reimbursement or for whom the Borrower is required to make payments, for amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.19 or 2.20(a), (b) any Lender that defaults in its obligation to make Loans hereunder, with a replacement financial institution, (c) any L/C Participant to the extent that the issuance of any Letter of Credit would conflict with, or cause such L/C Participant to exceed any limits imposed by, any applicable Requirement of Law ; 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) prior to any such replacement, such Lender or L/C Participant shall have taken no action under Section 2.21 so as to eliminate the continued need for payment of amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.19 or 2.20(a), (iv) the replacement financial institution shall purchase, at par, all Loans and other amounts owing to such replaced Lender or L/C Participant on or prior to the date of replacement, (v) the Borrower shall be liable to such replaced Lender or L/C Participant under Section 2.21 if any Eurocurrency 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, if not already a Lender or L/C Participant, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (vii) the replaced Lender or L/C Participant shall be replaced in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.6 (provided that the Borrower shall be obligated to pay the 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 2.19 or 2.20(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 or L/C Participant.

 

2.24 Judgment Currency. (a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction, the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.

 

(b) The obligations of the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “Applicable Creditor”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, agrees to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss. The obligations of the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower contained in this Section 2.24 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts owing hereunder.

 

2.25 Foreign Currency Exchange Rate. (a) No later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on each Calculation Date with respect to a Foreign Currency, the Administrative Agent shall determine the Exchange Rate as of such Calculation Date with respect to such Foreign Currency, provided that, upon receipt of a borrowing request pursuant to Section 2.5(b), the Administrative Agent

 

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shall determine the Exchange Rate with respect to the relevant Foreign Currency on the related Calculation Date (it being acknowledged and agreed that the Administrative Agent shall use such Exchange Rate for the purposes of determining compliance with Section 2.2 with respect to such borrowing request). The Exchange Rates so determined shall become effective on the relevant Calculation Date (a “Reset Date”), shall remain effective until the next succeeding Reset Date and shall for all purposes of this Agreement (other than Section 2.19(d) and any other provision requiring the use of a current Exchange Rate) be the Exchange Rates employed in converting any amounts between Dollars and Foreign Currencies.

 

(b) No later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on each Reset Date, the Administrative Agent shall determine the aggregate amount of the Dollar Equivalents of the principal amounts of the relevant Multicurrency Revolving Loans then outstanding (after giving effect to any Multicurrency Revolving Loans to be made or repaid on such date).

 

(c) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower of each determination of an Exchange Rate hereunder.

 

SECTION 3. LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

3.1 L/C Commitment. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Issuing Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the other Revolving Lenders set forth in Section 3.4(a), agrees to issue letters of credit (together with any Designated Letters of Credit, “Letters of Credit”) for the account of the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower (provided, that the Borrower shall be a co-applicant, and be jointly and severally liable with respect to each Letter of Credit issued for the account of any Subsidiary of the Borrower and the Borrower shall be deemed to be a co-applicant, and shall be jointly and severally liable with respect to each Designated Letter of Credit issued for the account of any Subsidiary of the Borrower) on any Business Day during the Revolving Commitment Period in such form as may be approved from time to time by such Issuing Lender; provided that such Issuing Lender shall not issue or extend any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance or extension, (i) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Commitment or (ii) the sum of Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit would exceed the Total Revolving Commitments. 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 Revolving 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) No Issuing Lender shall at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit if such issuance would conflict with, or cause such Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to exceed any limits imposed by, any applicable Requirement of Law.

 

(c) On the Effective Date and on the Funding Date, (i) the Borrower shall provide Schedule 3.1, which Schedule shall list the Designated Letters of Credit, (ii) such Designated Letters of Credit shall be deemed to be Letters of Credit issued pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 3.1, (iii) the face amount of such Designated Letters of Credit shall be included in the calculation of the available L/C Commitment and the Outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit, (iv) the provisions of this Agreement shall apply thereto, and the Borrower, if applicable, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower and the Lenders hereunder hereby expressly assume all obligations with respect to such Letters of Credit that they would have if such Letters of Credit had been issued

 

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pursuant to this Agreement and (v) all liabilities of the Borrower and, if applicable, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or other Subsidiary of the Borrower, with respect to such Designated Letters of Credit shall constitute obligations of the Borrower or the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereunder.

 

3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit. The Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may from time to time request that an Issuing Lender issue a Letter of Credit by delivering to the relevant Issuing Lender at its address for notices specified herein an Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of such Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as such Issuing Lender may request. Upon receipt of any Application, such 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 any 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 such Issuing Lender and the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be. The relevant Issuing Lender shall furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, promptly following the issuance thereof. The relevant 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) in accordance with Section 3.9.

 

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 the Applicable Margin then in effect with respect to Eurocurrency Loans under the Revolving Facility, shared ratably among the Revolving Lenders and payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment Date after the issuance date. In addition, the Borrower shall pay to each 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 each Issuing Lender for such normal and customary costs and expenses as are incurred or charged by such Issuing Lender in issuing, negotiating, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit.

 

3.4 L/C Participations. (a) Each Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce each Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from each 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 Revolving Percentage in each Issuing Lender’s obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit and the amount of each draft paid by each Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant agrees with each Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit for which any Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay to such Issuing Lender upon demand at such Issuing Lender’s address for notices specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving 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 any Issuing Lender, the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person

 

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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 or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary 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.

 

(b) If any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant to any Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by any Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit is paid to such Issuing Lender within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, such L/C Participant shall pay to such 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 such 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 such Issuing Lender by such L/C Participant within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, such 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 Revolving Facility. A certificate of such 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 an 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), such Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of collateral applied thereto by such Issuing Lender), or any payment of interest on account thereof, such 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 such Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by such Issuing Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to such Issuing Lender the portion thereof previously distributed by such Issuing Lender to it.

 

3.5 Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers. If any draft is paid under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower or the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, shall reimburse the relevant Issuing Lender for the amount of (a) the draft so paid and (b) any taxes, fees, charges or other costs or expenses incurred by such 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 or the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, 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 or the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, receives such notice. Each Issuing Lender agrees to forward any such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each such payment shall be made to such 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 at the rate set forth in (x) until the Business Day next succeeding the date of the relevant notice, Section 2.15(b) and (y) thereafter, Section 2.15(c).

 

3.6 Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s and each applicable Foreign Subsidiary 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 or any relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may have or have had against any Issuing Lender, any beneficiary

 

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of a Letter of Credit or any other Person. The Borrower and each relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower also agree with each Issuing Lender that no Issuing Lender shall be responsible for, and the Borrower’s and each applicable Foreign Subsidiary 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 or any relevant Foreign Subsidiary 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 any relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee. No Issuing Lender shall 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 such Issuing Lender. The Borrower and each relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower agree that any action taken or omitted by any 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 or each relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and shall not result in any liability of any Issuing Lender to the Borrower and each relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower against the Issuing Bank for any actions or inactions taken by the Issuing Bank that are found by a final and non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Bank.

 

3.7 Letter of Credit Payments. If any draft shall be presented for payment under any Letter of Credit, the relevant Issuing Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, of the date and amount thereof. The responsibility of an Issuing Lender to the Borrower or the relevant Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, 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 and Designated Letters of Credit. To the extent that any provision of any Application related to any Letter of Credit or any Designated Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 3, the provisions of this Section 3 shall apply.

 

3.9 Certain Reporting Requirements. Each Issuing Lender will report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the fifth Business Day prior to the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the aggregate stated amount of Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding as of the last Business Day of the preceding week and (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which an Issuing Lender expects to issue or amend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance or amendment and the aggregate stated amount of Letters of Credit to be issued by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance or amendment (and such Issuing Lender shall advise the Administrative Agent on such Business Day whether such issuance or amendment occurred and whether the amount thereof changed).

 

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:

 

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4.1 Financial Condition. (a) The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at January 1, 2005 (including the notes thereto) (the “Pro Forma Balance Sheet”) and the unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2005 and for the twelve-month period ended January 1, 2005 (including the notes thereto) (the “Pro Forma Statements of Operations”), copies of which have heretofore been furnished to each Lender, have been prepared giving effect (as if such events had occurred, with respect to the Pro Forma Balance Sheet, on such date and, with respect to the Pro Forma Statements of Operations, on the first day of each of the periods set forth above) to (i) the consummation of the Acquisition, (ii) the Loans to be made on the Funding Date and the use of proceeds thereof and (iii) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing. The Pro Forma Balance Sheet and the Pro Forma Statements of Operations have been prepared based on the best information available to the Borrower as of the date of delivery thereof, and present fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis the estimated financial position of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, with respect to the Pro Forma Balance Sheet, as at January 1, 2005, and, with respect to the Pro Forma Statements of Operations, on the first day of each of the periods set forth above, assuming that the events specified in the preceding sentence had actually occurred at such date.

 

(b) The audited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at January 3, 2004 and January 1, 2005, 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 Ernst & Young LLP, present fairly the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at such date, and the consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flows for the respective fiscal years then ended. All such financial statements, including the related schedules, 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).

 

(c) The audited consolidated balance sheets of the Target and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at 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 Grant Thornton LLP, present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Target and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at such date, and the consolidated results of its respective operations and its respective consolidated cash flows for the respective fiscal years then ended. All such financial statements and notes thereto, including the related schedules, 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).

 

(d) 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 that are made outside the ordinary course of business, that are not reflected in the Pro Forma Balance Sheet or the Pro Forma Statement of Operations. Other than pursuant to the Acquisition, during the period from January 1, 2005 to and including the Effective Date and the Funding Date, there has been no Disposition by any Group Member of any material part of the business or property of the Group Members, taken as a whole.

 

4.2 No Change. Since January 1, 2005, there has been no development or event that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.3 Existence; Compliance with Law. (a) Each of the Borrower, each other Loan Party and each other Material Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and, other than Kadant

 

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Fibergen Inc., in good standing (or the equivalent of such standing, if any, under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States) under the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) each Group Member (other than the Borrower and each Material Subsidiary) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (c) each Group Member 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, (d) each Group Member 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 (e) each Group Member is in compliance with all Requirements of Law, except in the case of clause (b), (c), (d) or (e) above, to the extent that the failure to comply therewith would 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, on and after the Funding Date, and each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, on or after the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Closing Date applicable to each such Foreign Subsidiary 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 and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, to authorize the extensions of credit on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with (A) the extensions of credit hereunder, (B) the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents or, (C) as of the Funding Date, the Acquisition, except (i) consents, authorizations, filings and notices described in Schedule 4.4, which consents, authorizations, filings and notices have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and in the case of the Acquisition only, such consents, authorizations, filings and notices that are not material to the consummation of the Acquisition, the continuing operations of the Group Members, taken as a whole, and the transactions and financing contemplated hereby 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 material Requirement of Law or any material Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary 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 would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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, other than the Acquisition, (b) on the Effective Date and on the Funding Date, with respect to the Acquisition or the Acquisition

 

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Documentation or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, or (c) 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, a valid leasehold interest in or a valid license to use, all its other property except for such defects in title that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of such property is subject to any Lien except as permitted by Section 7.3.

 

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, except to the extent that the failure to own or have a license to use would 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 that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, nor does the Borrower know of any valid basis for any such claim. The use of Intellectual Property by each Group Member does not infringe on the rights of any Person except to the extent that any 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 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 (a) 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 or (b) the failure to so file or so pay would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

 

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, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and except as disclosed on Schedule 4.12: (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 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

 

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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. On the Effective Date, the Borrower does not have any Subsidiaries other than the Subsidiaries listed on Part A of Schedule 4.15. On the Funding Date, the Borrower does not have any Subsidiaries other than the Subsidiaries listed on Part B of Schedule 4.15. Except as disclosed to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly inform the Lenders of any such disclosure) by the Borrower in writing from time to time after the Funding Date, (a) Schedule 4.15 sets forth the name and jurisdiction of incorporation of each Subsidiary of the Borrower and, as to each such Subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Capital Stock owned by any Loan Party and whether such Subsidiary is a Material Subsidiary and (b) there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than the Rights Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2001, between the Borrower and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company and stock options or restricted stock granted to employees or directors and directors’ qualifying shares) of any nature relating to any Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except as created by the Loan Documents.

 

4.16 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Term Loans shall be used to finance a portion of the Acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses. The proceeds of the Revolving Loans and the Swingline Loans, and the Letters of Credit, shall be used for general corporate purposes.

 

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 have not previously contained, any Materials of Environmental Concern in amounts or concentrations or under circumstances that constitute or constituted a violation of, or could 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 could 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 could 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 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, the Confidential Information Memorandum (it being understood that the representation with respect to the information contained in the Confidential Information Memorandum provided by the Target is being made to the Borrower’s knowledge) or any other document, certificate or statement furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, or any of them, 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 (or, in the case of the Confidential Information Memorandum, as of the date of this Agreement), any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made. 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 and may not be achieved. As of the Effective Date and as of the Funding Date, the representations and warranties made by the Borrower and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, made by other Persons, contained in the Acquisition Documentation are true and correct in all material respects. As of the Effective Date and as of the Funding Date, there is no fact known to any Loan Party that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been expressly disclosed herein, in the other Loan Documents, in the Confidential Information Memorandum or in any other documents, certificates and statements furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents.

 

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4.19 Security Documents. (a) The Guarantee and Pledge Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein and proceeds thereof. In the case of the certificated Pledged Stock described in the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, when stock certificates representing such Pledged Stock are delivered to the Administrative Agent, and in the case of the other Collateral described in the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, when financing statements and other filings specified on Schedule 4.19(a) in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 4.19(a), the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement shall, for the purposes of U.S. federal, state and local law, constitute 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 (as defined in the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement), in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person.

 

4.20 Solvency. The Loan Parties, taken as a whole, are, and after giving effect to the Acquisition and the incurrence of all Indebtedness and obligations being incurred in connection herewith and therewith will be and will continue to be, Solvent.

 

4.21 Insurance. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries maintains with financially sound and reputable insurers (not related to or affiliated with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) insurance with respect to its properties and business and against at least such liabilities, casualties and contingencies and in at least such types and amounts as is customary in the case of corporations engaged in the same or a similar business or having similar properties similarly situated.

 

4.22 Certain Documents. The Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a complete and correct copy of the Acquisition Documentation, including any amendments, supplements or modifications with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

5.1 Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender to make Term Loans or Revolving Loans requested to be made by it and of any Issuing Bank to issue or extend Letters of Credit hereunder is subject to the satisfaction, prior to or concurrently with the making of such extension of credit on the Funding Date, of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a) Credit Agreement; Guarantee and Pledge Agreement. On or prior to the Funding Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) this Agreement executed and delivered by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent and each Person listed on Schedule 1.1A, (ii) the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor, other than with respect to the Subsidiaries of the Borrower acquired pursuant to the Acquisition, as to which the provisions of Section 6.9(a) shall govern, and (iii) an Acknowledgement and Consent in the form attached to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, executed and delivered by each Issuer (as defined therein, other than with respect to the Subsidiaries of the Borrower acquired pursuant to the Acquisition, as to which the provisions of Section 6.9(c) shall govern), if any, that is not a Loan Party.

 

(b) Acquisition, etc. The following transactions shall have been consummated or shall be consummated concurrently with the making of the Term Loans on the Funding Date:

 

(i) the Borrower shall have purchased, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement and without the waiver, amendment, supplement or other modification of any material provision of any of the Acquisition Documentation that has not been approved in writing by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, and in accordance with

 

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all Requirements of Law, all of the outstanding Capital Stock of Target for an aggregate purchase price not exceeding $115,000,000 in cash ($50,000,000 of which shall have been sourced from cash on hand of the Borrower) (the “Acquisition”); and

 

(ii) (A) The Administrative Agent shall have received satisfactory evidence that all existing Indebtedness of the Target and its Subsidiaries except for Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2 shall have been repaid, retired or redeemed in full and any evidence of such Indebtedness shall have been terminated and (B) satisfactory arrangements shall have been made for the termination of all Liens granted in connection therewith, except for Liens permitted by Section 7.3.

 

(c) Acquisition Agreement. On or prior to the Funding Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a true and correct copy, certified as to its authenticity, of the Acquisition Documentation (and any amendments, supplements, modifications or waivers thereto), which documentation shall (i) have been executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Target and the other parties thereto, (ii) be in full force and effect on the Funding Date and (iii) will be made available to any Lender upon request.

 

(d) Pro Forma Balance Sheet; Pro Forma Statements of Operations Financial Statements. On or prior to the Funding Date, the Lenders shall have received the financial statements referred to in Section 4.1, and such financial statements, in each case, shall not, in the reasonable judgment of the Required Lenders, reflect any material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as reflected in the projections delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(g).

 

(e) Approvals. On or prior to the Funding Date, all material governmental and third party approvals necessary in connection with the Acquisition, the continuing operations of the Group Members, taken as a whole, and the transactions and financing 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 Acquisition or the financing contemplated hereby.

 

(f) Lien Searches. On or prior to the Funding Date, 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 7.3 or discharged on or prior to the Funding Date pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(g) Projections. On or prior to the Funding Date, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received financial projections for the period from the Funding Date through the end of fiscal year 2009.

 

(h) Fees. The Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received all fees required to be paid, and all expenses for which invoices have been presented (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), on or before the Funding Date. All such amounts will be paid with the proceeds of the Term Loans made on the Funding Date and will be reflected in the funding instructions given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent on or before the Funding Date.

 

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(i) Closing Certificate; Certified Certificate of Incorporation; Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of each Loan Party (other than the Subsidiaries of the Borrower acquired pursuant to the Acquisition, as to which the provisions of Section 6.9(a) shall govern), dated the Funding Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments, including the certificate of incorporation of each Loan Party that is a corporation certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party, and (ii) a long form good standing certificate for each Loan Party (other than the Subsidiaries of the Borrower acquired pursuant to the Acquisition, as to which the provisions of Section 6.9(c) shall govern) from its jurisdiction of organization.

 

(j) Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received the following executed legal opinions:

 

(i) the legal opinion of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, special New York counsel of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1; and

 

(ii) the legal opinion of Dykema Gossett PLLC, special Wisconsin counsel to the Kadant Grantek Inc., substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2.

 

Each such legal opinion shall cover such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require.

 

(k) Filings, Registrations and Recordings. On or prior to the Funding Date, each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by the Security Documents or under U.S. federal, state or local 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 Lenders, a perfected Lien under U.S federal, state and local law on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 7.3), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

 

(l) Solvency Certificate. On or prior to the Funding Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a satisfactory solvency analysis certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, which shall document the solvency of the Borrower and its subsidiaries considered as a whole after giving effect to the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

5.2 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender to make any extension of credit requested to be made by it on any date (including its initial extension of credit, the Term Loans and any borrowing by a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower) 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, except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct 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.

 

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Each borrowing by and issuance or extension of a Letter of Credit on behalf of the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower and any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereunder 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 Initial Borrowings by each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. The agreement of each Lender to make Revolving Loans, each Multicurrency Lender to make Multicurrency Loans requested to be made by it and of any Issuing Bank to issue or extend Letters of Credit (other than Designated Letters of Credit as to which the Borrower is a co-applicant) to any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereunder is subject to the satisfaction, prior to or concurrently with the making of such extension of credit on the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Closing Date applicable to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a) Effective Date and Funding Date. The conditions set forth in Section 5.1 shall have been satisfied prior to or concurrently with the conditions set forth in this Section 5.3.

 

(b) Joinder Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Joinder Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit G, executed and delivered by the Borrower, the applicable Foreign Subsidiary and the Administrative Agent, providing for such Foreign Subsidiary to become Foreign Subsidiary Borrower.

 

(c) Borrower Guarantee. The Administrative Agent shall have received an agreement and acknowledgment by the Borrower that the guarantee set forth in Section 3 of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement covers the obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary as a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

(d) Closing Certificate; Certified Certificate of Incorporation; Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of such Foreign Subsidiary, dated the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments, including corporate or other applicable resolutions, other corporate or other applicable documents and certificates in respect of such Foreign Subsidiary substantially equivalent to comparable documents delivered on the Funding Date and (ii) such other documents with respect to such Foreign Subsidiary as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

 

(e) Legal Opinion. The Administrative Agent shall have received a legal opinion from counsel to such Foreign Subsidiary in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

5.4 Additional Conditions Applicable to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers. The agreement of each Lender to make any Loan and of any Issuing Bank to issue or extend any Letter of Credit (other than Designated Letters of Credit as to which the Borrower is a co-applicant) on or after the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Closing Date requested to be made by it to any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower on any date is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of, in addition to the conditions precedent set forth in Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 to be fulfilled by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, the truthfulness and correctness in all material respects on and as of such date of the following additional representations and warranties:

 

(i) Pari Passu. The obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement, when executed and delivered by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, will rank at least pari passu with all unsecured Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower.

 

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(ii) No Immunities, etc. The assets of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be available without material limitation to satisfy the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower under laws of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is organized and existing.

 

(iii) Recordation. This Agreement is in proper legal form under the law of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is organized and existing for the enforcement hereof or thereof against such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower under the law of such jurisdiction. No recordation, filing or registration, and no payment of any charge or tax is necessary under the law of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is organized and existing or for the enforcement hereof or thereof against such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower under the law of such jurisdiction or such recordation, filing or registration has been made and is in full force and effect or such charge or tax paid.

 

(iv) Exchange Controls. The execution, delivery and performance by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is, under applicable foreign exchange control regulations of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is organized and existing, not subject to any notification or authorization except (i) such as have been made or obtained or (ii) such as cannot be made or obtained until a later date (provided any notification or authorization described in immediately preceding clause (ii) shall be made or obtained as soon as is reasonably practicable).

 

Each borrowing by any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereunder shall constitute a representation and warranty by each of the Borrower and such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower as of the date of such borrowing or such issuance that the conditions contained in this Section 5.4 have been satisfied.

 

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, on EDGAR (or upon the request of any Lender, the Borrower shall provide a copy of such statement or report described above to any Lender that does not have access to EDGAR) 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 Ernst & Young LLP or other independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing; 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, on EDGAR (or upon the request of any Lender, the Borrower shall provide a copy of such statement or report described above to any Lender that does not have access to EDGAR) 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

 

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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 subject to the absence of footnotes with respect to quarterly statements) 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 (e), to the relevant Lender):

 

(a) 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 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, in each case, except as specified in such certificate and (ii) (x) a Compliance Certificate containing all information and calculations necessary for determining compliance with the provisions of this Agreement referred to therein 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 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 Funding Date);

 

(b) as soon as available, and in any event no later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a summary consolidated forecast of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the following fiscal year;

 

(c) no later than 5 Business Days prior to the effectiveness thereof, copies of substantially final drafts of any proposed amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification with respect to the Acquisition Documentation; provided, however, that prior to the Funding Date, copies of such drafts shall be delivered concurrently with the distribution of such drafts to any party to the Acquisition Documentation;

 

(d) within five days after the same are sent, copies of all financial statements and reports that the Borrower sends to the holders of any class of its debt securities or public equity securities and, within five days after the same are filed, on EDGAR (or upon the request of any Lender, the Borrower shall provide a copy of such statement or report described above to any Lender that does not have access to EDGAR) copies of all financial statements and reports that the Borrower may make to, or file with, the SEC; and

 

(e) 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 obligations of whatever nature, except (a) 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

 

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relevant Group Member or (b) where the failure to so pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.4 Maintenance of Existence; Compliance. (a) (i) Preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its organizational existence, except as otherwise permitted by Section 7.4 and (ii) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except as otherwise permitted by Section 7.4 and except, in the case of clause (ii) above, to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) comply with all Contractual Obligations and Requirements of Law, except to the extent that failure to comply therewith would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.5 Maintenance of Property; Insurance. (a) Except to the extent that any non-compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, keep all property useful and necessary in 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) 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, on reasonable prior notice, but in no event more often than once per fiscal year, 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 the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) with their independent certified public accountants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Default or any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, representatives of the Lenders shall be permitted to visit and inspect any of its properties and examine and make abstracts from any of its books and records at any time, and without notice, and as often as may 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, without the need for any consent, with their independent certified public accountants.

 

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, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c) any litigation or proceeding affecting any Group Member (i) which has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) in which injunctive or similar relief is sought by any governmental authority, (iii) in which injunctive or similar relief is sought by any Person (other than a governmental authority) and such relief has not had or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (iv) which relates to any Loan Document;

 

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(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 Environmental Laws. (a) Comply with, and ensure compliance by all tenants and subtenants, if any, with, all applicable Environmental Laws, and obtain and comply with and maintain, and ensure that all tenants and subtenants obtain and comply with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws, except, in each such case, to the extent that the failure to so comply, or to ensure compliance or to obtain and maintain would not reasonably, individually, or in the aggregate, be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b) Conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions required under Environmental Laws except to the extent that the failure to so conduct, complete, remediate, remove or take any other action would not reasonably, individually, or in the aggregate, be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and promptly comply in all material respects with all lawful orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws.

 

6.9 Additional Collateral, etc. (a) With respect to any Material Domestic Subsidiary acquired in the Acquisition by any Group Member, other than Johnson Southeast LLC, promptly, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after the Funding Date, (i) cause such Material Domestic Subsidiary (A) to become a party to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement and (B) to deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of such Material Domestic Subsidiary, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments, and (ii) 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; provided, however, that the legal opinion with respect to “no conflicts” with material contracts or agreements shall not be required to be delivered until 30 days after the Funding Date.

 

(b) With respect to any new Material Domestic Subsidiary created or acquired after the Funding Date by any Group Member or with respect to any existing Domestic Subsidiary that becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary after the Funding Date by virtue of meeting the qualifications set forth in the definition of Material Subsidiary, promptly, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after such creation, acquisition or qualification, (i) cause such new Domestic Subsidiary (A) to become a party to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement and (B) to deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of such Subsidiary, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments, and (ii) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the

 

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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 “first-tier” Foreign Subsidiary acquired in the Acquisition by any Group Member (other than by any Group Member that is a Foreign Subsidiary or any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary), (i) promptly, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after the Funding Date, execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments or joinders to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such new “first-tier” Foreign Subsidiary under U.S. federal, state and local law that is owned by any such Group Member (provided that in no event shall more than 65% of the total outstanding voting Capital Stock of any such new Subsidiary be required to be so pledged), (ii) to the extent certificated, promptly, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the Funding Date, 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 relevant Group Member, and take such other action under U.S. federal, state and local law as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, desirable to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein, and (iii) promptly, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after the Funding Date, 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 U.S. counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that the legal opinion with respect to “no conflicts” with material contracts or agreements shall not be required to be delivered until 30 days after the Funding Date.

 

(d) With respect to any new “first-tier” Foreign Subsidiary created or acquired after the Funding Date by any Group Member (other than by any Group Member that is a Foreign Subsidiary or any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary), (i) promptly, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after such creation or acquisition, execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments or joinders to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such new “first-tier” Foreign Subsidiary under U.S. federal, state and local law that is owned by any such Group Member (provided that in no event shall more than 65% of the total outstanding voting Capital Stock of any such new Subsidiary be required to be so pledged), (ii) to the extent certificated, promptly, but in any event within sixty (60) days after such creation or acquisition, 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 relevant Group Member, and take such other action under U.S. federal, state and local law as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, desirable to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein, and (iii) promptly, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after the Funding Date, 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 U.S. counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(e) With respect to Fiberprep Inc., if Fiberprep Inc. continues to exist as a legal entity on the date of the first anniversary of the Funding Date, promptly (i) cause it to (A) become a party to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement and (B) deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments, and (ii) 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.

 

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6.10 Reorganization. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.4(d), Section 7.5(c) and Section 7.7(l), for a period of 30 days after the consummation of each Permitted Acquisition, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be permitted to reorganize the property, assets and Subsidiaries acquired pursuant to any such Permitted Acquisition in any manner that it deems necessary, including by Disposing of, or contributing, such assets, property or Subsidiaries to newly created or already existing Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

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 Financial Condition Covenants.

 

(a) Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as at the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower to exceed 3.00 to 1.00; provided, that, if at any time any Group Member shall consummate a Material Acquisition, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Acquisition was consummated and for the next fiscal quarter to occur after the consummation of such Material Acquisition, shall not be permitted to exceed 2.50 to 1.00.

 

(b) Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower to be less than 1.50 to 1.00.

 

7.2 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 the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

 

(c) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, to any other Subsidiary which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(d) Investments permitted by Section 7.7;

 

(e) Guarantee Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business by the (i) Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) any Subsidiary which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor of obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower;

 

(f) Indebtedness outstanding on the Effective Date and on the Funding Date and listed on Schedule 7.2(f) and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof (without increasing, or shortening the maturity of, the principal amount thereof);

 

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(g) Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Capital Lease Obligations) secured by Liens permitted by Section 7.3(h) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof (without increasing, or shortening the maturity of, the principal amount thereof);

 

(h) Indebtedness of a Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Funding Date as the result of a Permitted Acquisition; provided, that (i) such Indebtedness existed at the time such Person became a Subsidiary and was not created in anticipation of, in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary, (ii) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed in any respect by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than any such person that so becomes a Subsidiary) and (iii) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the assumption of such Indebtedness with the covenants set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2, as such covenants are recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended Reference Period under such section as if such acquisition had occurred on the first day of such Reference Period; provided, further that, if such Indebtedness is assumed pursuant to a Material Acquisition, at the time of such Person becomes a Subsidiary and after giving effect to the assumption of such Indebtedness, (x) the Borrower’s ratio of Consolidated Total Debt on the date of such acquisition to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent Reference Period ended prior to the date of such acquisition and calculated (after giving effect to any pro forma adjustment made pursuant to the second sentence of the definition of Consolidated EBITDA) as if such acquisition had occurred on the first day of such Reference Period, shall be less than 2.50 to 1.00, (y) the ratio of such acquired Subsidiary’s (A) Consolidated Total Debt assumed on the date of such acquisition to (B) Consolidated Total Capitalization on the date of such acquisition, shall not exceed 0.30 to 1.00, and (z) the Borrower shall have demonstrated to the Administrative Agent compliance with the requirements of clauses (x) and (y) above no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the consummation of any such acquisition.

 

(i) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as an account party in respect of trade letters of credit;

 

(j) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary secured by mortgages of and/or security interests in any real property or related tangible personal property] or incurred in connection with Permitted Sale Leasebacks; provided, that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (j) less, without duplication, the aggregate proceeds received in connection with all Permitted Sale Leasebacks consummated during the term of this Agreement, shall not exceed $20,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

 

(k) Subordinated Indebtedness up to an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(l) Indebtedness in respect of additional letter of credit facilities in an aggregate amount not to exceed $20,000,000; and

 

(m) additional Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount (for the Borrower and all Subsidiaries) not to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding.

 

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

 

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(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;

 

(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, deposits, preferences or priority in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security or employment 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) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (h) of Article VIII.

 

(g) Liens in existence on the Effective Date and on the Funding Date listed on Schedule 7.3(g), securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2(f), provided that no such Lien is spread to cover any additional property after the Funding Date and that the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;

 

(h) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(g) to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of fixed or capital assets, provided that (i) such Liens shall be created substantially simultaneously with the acquisition, construction or improvement 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 (iii) the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;

 

(i) Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;

 

(j) 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;

 

(k) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(j), provided that no such Lien at any time encumber any property other than the assets so financed by such Indebtedness and the amount of such Indebtedness secured thereunder is not increased; and

 

(l) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition after the Effective Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only

 

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those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof.

 

7.4 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) 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 Subsidiary Guarantor (provided that a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation);

 

(b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor may be merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

(c) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor may Dispose of any or all of its assets to the Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

(d) any Subsidiary Guarantor may Dispose, to any Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, property having an aggregate fair market value that does not exceed (i) $25,000,000 during the period from the Funding Date to and including the first anniversary of the Funding Date and (ii) $12,000,00 during each year of this Agreement following the first anniversary of the Funding Date, less, in each such year, the aggregate fair market value of all Investments made during the corresponding year in which such Dispositions are made pursuant to Section 7.7(l);

 

(e) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may Dispose of any or all of its assets (i) to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) or (ii) pursuant to a Disposition permitted by Section 7.5; and

 

(f) any Investment expressly permitted by Section 7.7 may be structured as a merger, consolidation or amalgamation.

 

7.5 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 Section 7.4(c), Section 7.4(d), clause (i) of Section 7.4(e) or Section 7.9;

 

(d) the sale or issuance of any Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(e) Dispositions of Cash Equivalents;

 

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(f) the Disposition of Kadant Composites, Inc. or its assets, so long as the provisions of Section 2.11(c) are complied with in connection with such Disposition; and

 

(g) the Disposition of other property that yields Net Cash Proceeds of less than $10,000,000 in the aggregate for any fiscal year of the Borrower; provided, that to the extent that Dispositions made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during any fiscal year are less than $10,000,000 for such fiscal year, 100% of such unused amount (each such amount, a “carry-forward amount”) may be carried forward to any succeeding fiscal year and utilized to make such Dispositions in any such succeeding fiscal year.

 

7.6 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 Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(b) any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower;

 

(c) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower may pay dividends and repurchase its Capital Stock; provided that (i) the aggregate amount of such dividends and repurchases made pursuant to this clause (b) shall not at any time exceed the sum of (x) $15,000,000 plus (y) 50% of Cumulative Consolidated Net Income Available to Stockholders as at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Borrower less the aggregate amount of all dividends previously paid or Capital Stock previously repurchased pursuant to this clause (b) following the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered to the Lenders, and Cumulative Consolidated Net Income Available to Stockholders has been calculated, under Section 6.1 and (ii) at the time of the payment of such dividends or the making of such repurchase, and after giving effect thereto, the Borrower’s ratio of Consolidated Total Debt on the date of such payment of dividends or making of such repurchase to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent Reference Period ended prior to the date of such payment of dividends or the making of such repurchase and calculated as if such payment of dividends or making of such repurchase had occurred on the first day of such Reference Period, shall be less than 2.50 to 1.00; and

 

(d) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management or employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

7.7 Investments. Make any advance, loan, extension of credit (by way of guaranty 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;

 

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(c) Indebtedness and Guarantee Obligations permitted by Section 7.2;

 

(d) investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries existing on the Effective Date and on the Funding Date in the Capital Stock of their Subsidiaries;

 

(e) investments by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in existence on the Effective Date and on the Funding Date listed on Schedule 7.7(e); provided, that the aggregate amount of all such Investments is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investment existing on the Effective Date or the Funding Date, as applicable.

 

(f) loans and advances to employees of any Group Member in the ordinary course of business (including for travel, entertainment and relocation expenses);

 

(g) the Acquisition;

 

(h) Investments in assets useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or for Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions, in either case, with (i) the proceeds of any Reinvestment Deferred Amount and (ii) the first $10,000,000 in net cash proceeds received from the Disposition of Kadant Composites Inc. or its assets or property;

 

(i) Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions; provided, that the aggregate amount of all such Investments as valued by the aggregate consideration paid in connection with such Permitted Acquisitions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not exceed (i) $20,000,000 during the period from the Funding Date to and including the first anniversary of the Funding Date or (ii) $7,500,000 during each year of this Agreement following the first anniversary of the Funding Date; provided, further, that to the extent that Investments made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (i) during any year are less than the maximum amount of Investments permitted to be made during such year, 100% of such unused amount (each such amount, a “carry-forward amount”) may be carried forward to any succeeding fiscal year and utilized to make Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions in any such succeeding year;

 

(j) intercompany Investments by any Group Member in the Borrower or any Person that, prior to such investment, is a Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(k) intercompany Investments made by any Subsidiary which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor in any Person, that prior to such investment, is a Subsidiary;

 

(l) intercompany Investments by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor in any Person that, prior to such investment, is a Subsidiary which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor; provided, that the aggregate of all such Investments as valued at the fair market value such Investment on the date such Investments is made shall not exceed (i) $25,000,000 during the period from the Funding Date to and including the first anniversary of the Funding Date and (ii) $12,000,000 during each year of this Agreement following the first anniversary of the Funding Date less, in each such year, the aggregate fair market value of all Dispositions made during the corresponding year in which such Investments are made pursuant to Section 7.4(d); and

 

(m) 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 $3,000,000 during any fiscal year of the Borrower; provided, that, to the extent that Investments made pursuant to this clause (j) during any fiscal year are less than $3,000,000,

 

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100% of such carry-forward amount may be carried forward to the immediately succeeding fiscal year and utilized to make Investments in such immediately succeeding fiscal year; provided, that no carry-forward amount may be carried forward beyond the next fiscal year immediately succeeding the fiscal year in which it arose.

 

7.8 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, advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate of any Group Member (other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor or pursuant to any transaction that is otherwise permitted pursuant to this Agreement or is otherwise listed on Schedule 7.8) unless such transaction is (a) in the ordinary course of business of the relevant Group Member, and (b) 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.

 

7.9 Sales and Leasebacks. Enter into any Sale Leasebacks, other than Permitted Sale Leasebacks.

 

7.10 Swap Agreements. Enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into 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 order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

7.11 Changes in Fiscal Periods. Permit the fiscal year of the Borrower to end on a day other than the Saturday nearest December 31 or change the Borrower’s method of determining fiscal quarters.

 

7.12 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, 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 in agreements governing Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries so long as such restrictions do not prohibit, restrict or impose any condition on the ability of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to incur, create or permit to exist any Lien securing the obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

 

7.13 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 and (iii) any restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries imposed by any agreement existing prior to the acquisition thereof; provided, that such agreement is not entered into in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary.

 

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7.14 Lines of Business. Enter into any material business, either directly or through any Subsidiary, except for those businesses of the same general type in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are engaged on the Effective Date and the Funding Date, after giving effect to the Acquisition, or that are reasonably incidental or related thereto.

 

7.15 Amendments to Acquisition Documents. (a) After the Funding Date, amend, supplement or otherwise modify (pursuant to a waiver or otherwise) the terms and conditions of the indemnities and licenses furnished to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Acquisition Documentation such that after giving effect thereto such indemnities or licenses shall be materially less favorable to the interests of the Loan Parties or the Lenders with respect thereto or (b) otherwise amend, supplement or otherwise modify the terms and conditions of the Acquisition Documentation or any such other documents except for any such amendment, supplement or modification that (i) becomes effective after the Funding Date and (ii) could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

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

 

(a) the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation when due in accordance with the terms hereof; or the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary 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 days after any such interest or other amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof; or

 

(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) or Section 7 of this Agreement; 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 written notice to the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; 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 (beyond any applicable grace period, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created); 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 (if not cured or waived) is to cause, or to permit the holder or beneficiary of such

 

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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; 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 $2,000,000; or

 

(f) (i) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary 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 the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (ii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary 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 or undischarged for a period of 60 days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against any the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary 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 have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or (iv) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary 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) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary 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 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, at any one time, in the aggregate a liability (not paid or fully covered by insurance as to which the relevant insurance company has acknowledged coverage) of $2,000,000 or more,

 

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and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, satisfied, 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 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 Pledge 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, automatically the Commitments shall immediately terminate 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 immediately become 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 Revolving Commitments to be terminated forthwith, whereupon the Revolving 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) 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. Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Administrative Agent as the agent of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and each such Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably

 

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incidental thereto. Each Multicurrency Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Multicurrency Administrative Agent as the agent of such Multicurrency Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and each such Multicurrency Lender irrevocably authorizes the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Multicurrency Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Multicurrency Administrative Agent shall have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or Multicurrency Lender, as the case may be, 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 or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent.

 

9.2 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Multicurrency Administrative Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.

 

9.3 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall be (i) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its or such Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party a party thereto to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Multicurrency Administrative Agent shall be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party.

 

9.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any instrument, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency 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 or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency 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, if so

 

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specified by this Agreement, all Lenders) 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 and the Multicurrency 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 of the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all Lenders), and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all 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. 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 Agents and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent nor any of their 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 or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of a Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency 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 Loan Parties 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 the Multicurrency 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 Loan Parties and their affiliates. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent hereunder, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Multicurrency 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 Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party that may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

 

9.7 Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify each of the Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective Aggregate Exposure Percentages 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

 

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terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Aggregate Exposure Percentages 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 the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative 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 the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no 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 from the Administrative Agent’s or the Multicurrency Administrative 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 of the Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent and their respective affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with any Loan Party as though such Agent were not an Agent. With respect to its Loans made or renewed by it and with respect to any Letter of Credit issued or participated in by it, each of the Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include each Agent in its individual capacity.

 

9.9 Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon 30 days’ notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent shall resign as Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, then the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which successor agent shall (unless an Event of Default under Section 8(a) or Section 8(f) with respect to the Borrower shall have occurred and be continuing) be subject to approval by the Borrower (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the Administrative Agent, and the term “Administrative Agent” shall mean such successor agent effective upon such appointment and approval, and the former Administrative Agent’s rights, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such former Administrative Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement or any holders of the Loans. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date that is 30 days’ following a retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective, and the Lenders shall assume and perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Section 9 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The provisions of this Section 9.9 also apply to the Multicurrency Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1 Amendments and Waivers. (a) 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

 

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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, (a) 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 (b) 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 (i) increase the amount or extend the expiration date of any Lender’s Revolving Commitment or any Lender’s Term Commitment or forgive the principal amount or extend the final scheduled date of maturity of any Loan, extend the scheduled date of any amortization payment in respect of any Term 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 (which waiver shall be effective with the consent of the Majority Facility Lenders of each adversely affected Facility) 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 (i)) or extend the scheduled date of any payment thereof, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; (ii) eliminate or reduce the voting rights of any Lender under this Section 10.1 without the written consent of such Lender; (iii) 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, release all or substantially all of the Subsidiary Guarantors from their obligations under the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement (other than pursuant to a transaction permitted by this Agreement) or release the Borrower from its guarantee obligations under the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, in each case without the written consent of all Lenders; (iv) add additional currencies as Foreign Currencies in which Multicurrency Revolving Loans may be made under this Agreement without the written consent of all the Multicurrency Lenders; (v) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 2.18 without the written consent of the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of each Facility adversely affected thereby; (vi) reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Majority Facility Lenders with respect to any Facility without the written consent of all Lenders under such Facility; (vii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 9 without the written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent; (viii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 2.6 or 2.7 without the written consent of the Swingline Lender; or (ix) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 3 without the written consent of each 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; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (a) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit (including any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(l) from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Term Loans and Revolving Extensions of Credit and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Majority Facility Lenders; provided, that no such amendment or restatement shall require any Lender that does not consent thereto to participate in any such facilities, other than each of the Facilities contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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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, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency 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:   

Kadant Inc.

1 Acton Place, Suite 202

Acton, MA 01720

    

Attention:   Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer

and Chief Legal Officer

     Telecopy: (978) 635-1593
     Telephone: (978) 776-2000
Administrative Agent:   

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

120 South LaSalle, 10th Floor

Mail Code: IL1-0318

Chicago, IL 60603-3403

     Attention: Kathleen Blomquist
     Telecopy: (312) 661-1751
     Telephone: (312) 661-1722

Multicurrency

Administrative Agent:

  

J.P. Morgan Europe Limited

125 London Wall

London EC2Y 5AJ

United Kingdom

     Attention: James Beard/Maxine Graves
     Telecopy: +44(0)207 777 2360/2085
     Telephone: +44(0)207 777 2355/2352

 

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

 

Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder 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, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, the Borrower or any Foreign Subsidiary 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 approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

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

 

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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 and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent for all of their respective reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation and execution of, and any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent and filing and recording fees and expenses, with statements with respect to the foregoing to be submitted to the Borrower prior to (i) the Funding Date and (ii) and from time to time thereafter on a quarterly basis or such other periodic basis as the Administrative Agent or the Multicurrency Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate, (b) to pay or reimburse each Lender, the Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent for all of their respective costs and expenses incurred 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 to each Lender and of counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency Administrative Agent, (c) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender, the Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency 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, the Administrative Agent and the Multicurrency 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 the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, 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 a material breach of this Agreement, the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such 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 the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Chief Legal

 

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Officer (Telephone No.: (978) 776-2000) (Telecopy No.: (978) 635-1593), 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 (i) neither the Borrower nor any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may 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 or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section.

 

(b)(i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (each, an “Assignee”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments, Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitments 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), provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender or an affiliate of a Lender or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other Person; and

 

(B) the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (as defined below).

 

(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 under any Facility, 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 $5,000,000 (or, in the case of the Term Facility, $1,000,000) unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that (1) no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;

 

(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500;

 

(C) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire; and

 

(D) in the case of an assignment by a Lender of all or a portion of its Revolving Commitment, such assignment must include a ratable assignment of such Lender’s Multicurrency Revolving Subcommitment.

 

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For the purposes of this Section 10.6, “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 paragraph (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 2.19, 2.20, 2.21 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 paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

(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 paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, 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 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 paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be

 

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entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.19, 2.20 and 2.21 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. 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 2.20 or 2.21 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant. Any Participant that is a Non-U.S. Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.20 unless such Participant complies with Section 2.20(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 paragraph (d) above.

 

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Conduit Lender may assign any or all of the Loans it may have funded hereunder to its designating Lender without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent and without regard to the limitations set forth in Section 10.6(b). Each of the Borrower, each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby confirms that it will not institute against a Conduit Lender or join any other Person in instituting against a Conduit Lender any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceeding under any state bankruptcy or similar law, for one year and one day after the payment in full of the latest maturing commercial paper note issued by such Conduit Lender; provided, however, that each Lender designating any Conduit Lender hereby agrees to indemnify, save and hold harmless each other party hereto for any loss, cost, damage or expense arising out of its inability to institute such a proceeding against such Conduit Lender during such period of forbearance.

 

10.7 Adjustments; Set-off. (a) Except to the extent that this Agreement expressly provides for payments to be allocated to a particular Lender or to the Lenders under a particular Facility, if any Lender (a “Benefitted Lender”) shall 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 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

 

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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 Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Multicurrency 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, the Multicurrency 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. Each of the Borrower and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers 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 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 the Borrower or the applicable Foreign Subsidiary Borrower at its address set

 

77


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 and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers 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, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to the Borrower or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between Administrative Agent, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent and Lenders, on one hand, and the Borrower and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, 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, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers 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 paragraph (b) below.

 

(b) At such time as the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations and the other obligations under the Loan Documents (other than obligations under or in respect of Swap Agreements) 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.

 

10.15 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees to keep confidential all non-public information provided to it by any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, the Multicurrency 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, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent or any Lender from disclosing any such information (a) to the Administrative Agent, the Multicurrency Administrative Agent any other Lender or any affiliate thereof solely for the

 

78


purposes of, or otherwise in connection with, the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (it being understood that the Person to whom the disclosure is made will be instructed to keep such information confidential), (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 solely for the purposes of, or otherwise in connection with, the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (it being understood that the Person to whom the disclosure is made will be instructed to keep such information confidential), (d) upon the request or demand of any Governmental Authority (it being understood that, to the extent practicable, the Borrower shall be provided with prompt written notice of such request or demand), (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 (it being understood that, to the extent practicable, the Borrower shall be provided with prompt written notice of such order), (f) if requested or required to do so in connection with any litigation or similar proceeding (it being understood that, to the extent practicable, the Borrower shall be provided with prompt written notice of such litigation or proceeding), (g) that has been publicly disclosed other than in violation of this Agreement, (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 FOREIGN SUBSIDIARY BORROWERS, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE MULTICURRENCY 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 AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

10.17 Delivery of Addenda. Each initial Lender shall become a party to this Agreement by delivering to the Administrative Agent an Addendum duly executed by such Lender.

 

10.18 Appointment of Process Agent. By the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers designates, appoints and empowers CT Corporation System, 111 8th Avenue, New York, New York, as its authorized agent to receive for and on its behalf service of any summons, complaint or other legal process in any such action, suit or proceeding in the State of New York in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents for so long as any obligation of such Person shall remain outstanding hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents. Each of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers shall grant an irrevocable power of attorney to CT Corporation System in respect of such appointment and shall maintain such power of attorney in full force and effect for so long as any obligation of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers shall remain outstanding hereunder or under the Loan Documents.

 

10.19 Liability of Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers shall only be liable for their own Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations and not for the obligations of the Borrower or the other Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers contained herein or in any other Loan Document.

 

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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.

 

KADANT INC.
By:   /s/    THOMAS M. O’BRIEN        
   

Name:

  Thomas M. O’Brien
   

Title:

  Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent and as a Lender
By:   /s/    PETER M. KILLEA        
   

Name:

  Peter M. Killea
   

Title:

  Vice President

 

80


 

BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a Lender

By:  

/s/ John Davey

   

Name: John Davey

   

Title: Director

 


 

CITIZENS BANK OF MASSACHUSETTS, as a Lender
By:   /s/    WILLIAM E. LINGARD        
   

Name:

  William E. Lingard
   

Title:

  Senior Vice President

 


 

NATIONAL CITY BANK, as a Lender
By:   /s/    HEATHER M. MCINTYRE        
   

Name:

  Heather M. McIntyre
   

Title:

  Vice President

 


 

CREDIT LYONNAIS SA, as a Lender

By:   /s/    ARNAUD DE BANTEL        
   

Name:

  Arnaud de Bantel
   

Title:

  Regional Enterprises Director

 


 

US BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
By:   /s/    DEREK S. ROUDEBUSH        
   

Name:

  Derek S. Roudebush
   

Title:

  Vice President

 


EXHIBIT A


 

GUARANTEE AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

made by

 

KADANT INC.

 

and certain of its Subsidiaries

 

in favor of

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

 

Dated as of May 9, 2005

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

SECTION 1.

   DEFINED TERMS    1

1.1

   Definitions    1

1.2

   Other Definitional Provisions    3

SECTION 2.

   GUARANTEE OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS    4

2.1

   Guarantee    4

2.2

   Right of Contribution    4

2.3

   No Subrogation    5

2.4

   Amendments, etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations    5

2.5

   Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional    5

2.6

   Reinstatement    6

2.7

   Payments    7

SECTION 3.

   GUARANTEE OF BORROWER    7

3.1

   Guarantee    7

3.2

   No Subrogation    7

3.3

   Amendments, etc. with respect to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations    8

3.4

   Guarantees Absolute and Unconditional    8

3.5

   Reinstatement    9

3.6

   Payments    9

SECTION 4.

   GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST    9

SECTION 5.

   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    10

5.1

   Title; No Other Liens    10

5.2

   Perfected First Priority Liens    10

5.3

   Jurisdiction of Organization    10

5.4

   Pledged Stock    10

SECTION 6.

   COVENANTS    10

6.1

   Delivery of Certificated Securities    10

6.2

   Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation    11

6.3

   Changes in Name, etc.    11

6.4

   Notices    11

6.5

   Pledged Stock    11

SECTION 7.

   REMEDIAL PROVISIONS    12

7.1

   Pledged Stock    12

7.2

   Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent    13

7.3

   Application of Proceeds    13

7.4

   Code and Other Remedies    13

7.5

   Deficiency    14

SECTION 8.

   THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT    14

8.1

   Administrative Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc.    14

8.2

   Duty of Administrative Agent    15

 

i


8.3

   Execution of Financing Statements    15

8.4

   Authority of Administrative Agent    15

SECTION 9.

   MISCELLANEOUS    16

9.1

   Amendments in Writing    16

9.2

   Notices    16

9.3

   No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies    16

9.4

   Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification    16

9.5

   Successors and Assigns    16

9.6

   Set-Off    16

9.7

   Counterparts    17

9.8

   Severability    17

9.9

   Section Headings    17

9.10

   Integration    17

9.11

   GOVERNING LAW    17

9.12

   Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers    17

9.13

   Acknowledgements    18

9.14

   Additional Grantors; Additional Guarantors    18

9.15

   Releases    18

9.16

   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL    19

 

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1

   Notice Addresses of Guarantors

Schedule 2

   Pledged Stock

Schedule 3

   Perfection Matters

Schedule 4

   Jurisdictions of Organization and Chief Executive Offices

 

ii


GUARANTEE AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

GUARANTEE AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of May 9, 2005, made by Kadant Inc. (the “Borrower”), each of the Grantors (as defined herein) signatories hereto (together with each other entity that may become a party hereto as a Grantor as provided herein), and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined herein) signatories hereto (together with each other entity that becomes a party hereto as a Subsidiary Guarantor as provided herein), in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (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 May 9, 2005 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Borrower, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time parties thereto, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have severally agreed to make extensions of credit to the Borrower and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

 

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

 

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

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, the other Grantors and the Subsidiary Guarantors are engaged in related businesses, and each Grantor and each Subsidiary Guarantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of the extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers under the Credit Agreement that the Borrower, the other Grantors and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the Administrative 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 or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers thereunder, the Borrower, each other Grantor and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, 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: Certificated Security, Chattel Paper and Supporting Obligations.

 


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

 

Agreement”: this Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Borrower Obligations”: the collective reference to the unpaid principal of and interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower (including, without limitation, the guarantee in Section 3 hereof, the interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the maturity of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of any Specified Swap Agreement, any Affiliate of 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, the Credit Agreement, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any Letter of Credit, any Specified Swap Agreement or any other document made, delivered or given in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of any of the foregoing agreements). For the avoidance of doubt, “Borrower Obligations” shall include all Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of all Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers.

 

Collateral”: as defined in Section 4.

 

Collateral Account”: any collateral account established by the Administrative Agent as provided in Section 7.2.

 

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

 

Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations”: with respect to each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, the collective reference to the unpaid principal of and interest on the Loans made to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers and Reimbursement Obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and all other obligations and liabilities of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower (including, without limitation, interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the maturity of the Loans made to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and Reimbursement Obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) to the Administrative Agent or 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, the Credit Agreement, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any Letter of Credit or any other document made, delivered or given in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to the terms of any of the foregoing agreements).

 

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

 

2


Guarantor Obligations”: with respect to any Guarantor, all obligations and liabilities of such Guarantor which may arise under or in connection with this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2 and Section 3, as applicable) or any other Loan Document to which such Guarantor is a party, in each case whether on account of guarantee obligations, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document).

 

Guarantors”: each Subsidiary Guarantor and for the purposes of Section 3 hereof only, the Borrower.

 

Grantors”: the collective reference to the Borrower and each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that owns or holds any Capital Stock of a “first-tier” Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower, together with any other entity that may become a Grantor hereto as provided herein in Section 9.14 hereof.

 

Issuers”: the collective reference to each issuer of any Pledged Stock.

 

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, (ii) in the case of each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, its Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations and (iii) in the case of each Guarantor, its Guarantor Obligations.

 

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 “first-tier” Foreign Subsidiary 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 65% of the total outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of any “first-tier” 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 Pledged Stock, collections thereon or distributions or payments with respect thereto.

 

Securities Act”: the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Subsidiary Guarantor”: the collective reference to each Material Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower, together with each other Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that may become a Subsidiary Guarantor as provided in Section 9.14 hereof.

 

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 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.

 

3


(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 OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

 

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 Lenders and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and complete payment and performance by the Borrower when due and by the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Borrower Obligations and the Foreign Subsidiary 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 and the Foreign Subsidiary 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 Lender hereunder.

 

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

 

(e) No payment made by the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, any other guarantor 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 or the Foreign Subsidiary 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 the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or any payment received or collected from such Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the Borrower Obligations or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations ), remain liable for the Borrower Obligations (as reduced by any such payment) and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations (as reduced by any such payment), up to the maximum liability of such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder until the Borrower Obligations and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations are paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments are terminated.

 

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

 

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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 Lenders, and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders 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 Lender, no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Borrower Obligations or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, nor shall any Subsidiary Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by the Borrower and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers on account of the Borrower Obligations or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, are paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments are terminated. 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 or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations shall not have been paid in full in cash, such amount shall be held by such Subsidiary Guarantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, 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 and the Foreign Subsidiary 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 and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations. (a) 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 or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and any of the Borrower Obligations or Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations continued, and the Borrower Obligations or the Foreign Subsidiary 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 Lender, 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 Lender for the payment of the Borrower Obligations or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender 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 the Foreign Subsidiary 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 or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative Agent or any

 

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Lender upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or acceptance of the guarantee contained in this Section 2; the Borrower Obligations, the Foreign Subsidiary 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, each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, 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, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors with respect to the Borrower Obligations and the Foreign Subsidiary 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, the Foreign Subsidiary 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 Lender, (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, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person against the Administrative Agent or any Lender; other than any right of defense, set-off or counterclaim specifically available to the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person under the Loan Documents, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary 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, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower of its Foreign Subsidiary 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 Lender 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 Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Borrower Obligations and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make any such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary 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 Foreign Subsidiary 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 Lender 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 or any of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary 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, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

 

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

 

SECTION 3. GUARANTEE OF BORROWER

 

3.1 Guarantee. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and complete payment and performance by each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of each such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations.

 

(b) The guarantee contained in this Section 3 shall remain in full force and effect until all of each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations shall have been satisfied by payment in full in cash by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, no Letter of Credit issued on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be outstanding and the Commitments to extend credit to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of the Credit Agreement such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may be free from its Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations.

 

(c) No payment made by any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Administrative Agent or any Lender from any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor 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 such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of the Borrower hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment (other than any payment made by the Borrower in respect of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or any payment received or collected from the Borrower in respect of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations), remain liable for such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations (as reduced by any such payment) until such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations are paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit issued on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be outstanding and the Commitments to extend credit to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower are terminated.

 

3.2 No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment made by the Borrower hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Borrower shall not be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, nor shall the Borrower seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in respect of payments made by the Borrower hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower on account of its Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, are paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit issued on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be outstanding and the Commitments to extend credit to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower are terminated. If any amount shall be paid to the Borrower on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations shall not have been paid in full in cash, such amount shall be held by the Borrower in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, segregated from other funds of the Borrower and shall, forthwith upon receipt by the Borrower be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by the Borrower be (duly indorsed by the

 

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Borrower to the Administrative Agent, if required), to be applied against such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Administrative Agent may determine.

 

3.3 Amendments, etc. with respect to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations. The Borrower shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against the Borrower and without notice to or further assent by the Borrower, any demand for payment of any of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower continued, and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, 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 Lender, 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 Lender for the payment of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or for the guarantee contained in this Section 3 or any property subject thereto.

 

3.4 Guarantees Absolute and Unconditional. The Borrower waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the guarantee contained in this Section 3 or acceptance of the guarantee contained in this Section 3; the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower 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 3; and all dealings between the Borrower or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon the guarantee contained in this Section 3. The Borrower waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon the any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower with respect to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations. The Borrower understands and agrees that the guarantee contained in this Section 3 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 Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower 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 Lender, (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 such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person against the Administrative Agent or any Lender, other than any right or defense, set-off or counterclaim specifically available to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person under the Loan Documents, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or the Borrower) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower of its Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, or of the Borrower under the guarantee contained in this Section 3, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a

 

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similar demand on or otherwise pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make any such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any 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 any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve the Borrower 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 Lender against the Borrower. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

 

3.5 Reinstatement. The guarantee contained in this Section 3 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 Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

 

3.6 Payments. The Borrower hereby guarantees that payments due hereunder will be paid to the Administrative Agent without set-off or counterclaim in Dollars at the Funding Office.

 

SECTION 4. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

 

Each Grantor hereby assigns and transfers to the Administrative Agent, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, 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 the Obligations (if applicable):

 

(a) all Pledged Stock;

 

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

 

(c) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds of any and all 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 Requirements of Law of a Governmental Authority, requires a consent not obtained of any Governmental Authority pursuant to such Requirement of Law or is prohibited by, 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 or, in the case of any Pledged Stock, any applicable shareholder or similar agreement, except to the extent that such Requirement of Law or the term in such contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document or shareholder or similar agreement providing for such prohibition, breach, default or termination or requiring such consent is ineffective under applicable law.

 

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SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

To induce the Administrative 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 and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers thereunder, each Grantor hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

 

5.1 Title; No Other Liens. Except for the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement, such Grantor owns each item of the Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens or claims of others. No financing statement or other public notice with respect to all or any part of the Collateral is on file or of record in any U.S. federal, state or local public office, except such as have been filed in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, pursuant to this Agreement.

 

5.2 Perfected First Priority Liens. The security interests granted pursuant to this Agreement (a) 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 executed form) will constitute valid perfected security interests under U.S. federal, state and local law in all of the Collateral (to the extent that such interests can be perfected by such filings) in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, as collateral security for the 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 and (b) are prior to all other Liens on the Collateral in existence on the Funding Date.

 

5.3 Jurisdiction of Organization. On the date hereof and as of the Funding Date, such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization and identification number from the jurisdiction of organization (if any), are specified on Schedule 4. With respect to any Grantor who shall become a party hereto after the date hereof, such Grantor has furnished to the Administrative Agent a certified charter, certificate of incorporation or other organization document and long-form good standing certificate as of a date which is recent to the date such Grantor shall become a party hereto.

 

5.4 Pledged Stock. (a) The shares of Pledged Stock of each Issuer pledged by each such Grantor hereunder constitute Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock and each relevant Issuer has no other issued or outstanding shares of Capital Stock other than voting Capital Stock. The shares of the Pledged Stock of each Issuer pledged by each such Grantor hereunder constitute 65% of the outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of each relevant Issuer.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 6. COVENANTS

 

Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Obligations shall have been paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments shall have terminated:

 

6.1 Delivery of Certificated Securities. If any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any Certificated Security, such Certificated Security shall, if permitted by the applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the relevant Issuer is organized and otherwise reasonably practicable, 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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6.2 Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation. (a) Such Grantor shall maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a perfected security interest under U.S. federal, state and local law having at least the priority described in Section 5.2 and shall defend such security interest 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.

 

(b) 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 in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created hereby and (ii) in the case of Pledged Stock and any other relevant Collateral, if permitted by the applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the relevant Issuer is organized and if otherwise reasonably practicable, taking any actions necessary under U.S. federal, state and local law to enable the Administrative Agent to obtain “control” (within the meaning of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code) with respect thereto.

 

6.3 Changes in Name, etc. Such Grantor will not, except upon 15 days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and delivery to the Administrative Agent of 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, (i) change its jurisdiction of organization from that referred to in Section 5.3 or (ii) change its name.

 

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

 

(a) any Lien (other than security interests created hereby) on any of the Collateral which would adversely affect the ability of the Administrative Agent to exercise any of its remedies hereunder; and

 

(b) of 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.

 

6.5 Pledged Stock. (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, or in the case of any such certificate, option or rights in respect of Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of any Issuer, 65% of the same, as the agent of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, hold the same in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and deliver the same, or in the case of any such certificate, option or rights in respect of Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of any Issuer, 65% of 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, or 65% of such

 

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certificate, as the case may be, 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.

 

(b) Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Grantor will not (except pursuant to a transaction expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement or Section 6.5(a) hereof) (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 Pledged Stock 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 Pledged Stock 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 Pledged Stock or Proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 7. REMEDIAL PROVISIONS

 

7.1 Pledged Stock. (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 7.1(b), each Grantor shall be permitted to receive all cash and non-cash dividends and distributions paid in respect of the Pledged Stock (excluding distributions of additional shares of Pledged Stock) to the extent permitted in the Credit Agreement, and to exercise all voting and corporate or other organizational rights with respect to the Pledged Stock; 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 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 Pledged Stock and make application thereof to the Obligations in such order as the Administrative Agent may determine, and (ii) any or all of the Pledged Stock shall be registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee, and the Administrative Agent or its nominee may thereafter exercise, subject to any provisions of applicable law, (x) all voting, corporate and other rights pertaining to such Pledged Stock 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 Pledged Stock as if it were the absolute owner thereof (including, without limitation, the right to exchange at its discretion any and all of the Pledged Stock 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 Pledged Stock, and in connection therewith, the right to deposit and deliver any and all of the Pledged Stock 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 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

 

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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 directly to the Administrative Agent.

 

7.2 Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, all Proceeds received by any Grantor consisting of cash, checks and other near-cash items shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, 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 Lenders) shall continue to be held as collateral security for all the Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as provided in Section 7.3.

 

7.3 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, and any proceeds of the guarantees set forth in Sections 2 and 3, in payment of the Obligations in the following order:

 

First, to pay incurred and unpaid fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents;

 

Second, to the Administrative Agent, for application by it towards payment of amounts then due and owing and remaining unpaid in respect of the Obligations, pro rata among the Lenders according to the amounts of the Obligations then due and owing and remaining unpaid to the Lenders;

 

Third, to the Administrative Agent, for application by it towards prepayment of the Obligations, pro rata among the Lenders according to the amounts of the Obligations then held by the Lenders; and

 

Fourth, any balance remaining after the Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash, no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments shall have terminated shall be paid over to the Borrower or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.

 

7.4 Code and Other Remedies. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, 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 referred to below) 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 Lender or elsewhere upon such terms and conditions as it

 

13


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 Lender 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 7.4, 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 Lenders hereunder, including, without limitation, 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 Lender arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder. The Administrative Agent shall provide at least 20 days notice of any proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral and such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 20 days before such sale or other disposition.

 

7.5 Deficiency. Each Grantor that is also a Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay such Grantor’s Obligations and the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to collect such deficiency.

 

SECTION 8. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

8.1 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) pay or discharge taxes and Liens levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral; and

 

(ii) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in Section 7.4, any indorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral;

 

(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) Anything in Section 8.1(a) or (b) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Administrative Agent agrees that it will not exercise any rights under the power of attorney provided for in Section 8.1(a) or (b) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

14


(d) The expenses of the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with actions undertaken as provided in this Section 8.1, together with interest thereon at a rate per annum equal to the highest rate per annum at which interest would then be payable on any category of past due ABR 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.

 

(e) 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.

 

8.2 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 Lender 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 Lenders hereunder are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise any such powers. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders 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.

 

8.3 Execution of Financing Statements. Pursuant to any applicable law, each Grantor authorizes the Administrative Agent after notice to, and consent of, such Grantor (which consent or non-consent shall be communicated within 5 days after such notice) to file or record financing statements and other filing or recording documents or instruments with respect to the Collateral under U.S. federal, state or local law 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 hereby ratifies and authorizes the filing by the Administrative Agent of any financing statement with respect to the Collateral made prior to Funding Date.

 

8.4 Authority of Administrative Agent. Each Grantor and each Subsidiary Guarantor 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 Lenders, 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, the Grantors and the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Administrative Agent shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Lenders with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting, and no Grantor nor Subsidiary Guarantor shall be under any obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

 

15


SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.1 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.

 

9.2 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the Administrative Agent, any Grantor or any Guarantor 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 Guarantor or Grantor (other than the Borrower) shall be addressed to such Person at its notice address set forth on Schedule 1.

 

9.3 No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 9.1), 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. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, 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 Lender 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 Lender 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.

 

9.4 Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification. (a) Each Guarantor agrees to pay or reimburse each Lender and the Administrative Agent for all its costs and expenses incurred in collecting against such Guarantor under the guarantee contained in Section 2 or Section 3, as the case may be, or otherwise enforcing or preserving any rights under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party, including, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of counsel to each Lender and of counsel to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b) Each Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and the Lenders 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 Section 10.5 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(c) The agreements in this Section 9.4 shall survive repayment of the Obligations and all other amounts payable under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

9.5 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Grantor and each Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their successors and assigns; provided that no Grantor nor any Guarantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

9.6 Set-Off. (a) Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent and each Lender at any time and from time to time while an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, without notice to such Guarantor or other Guarantor, any such notice being expressly waived by each Guarantor, 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

 

16


time held or owing by the Administrative Agent or such Lender to or for the credit or the account of such Guarantor, or any part thereof in such amounts as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may elect, against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent or such Lender hereunder and claims of every nature and description of the Administrative Agent or such Lender against such Guarantor, in any currency, whether arising hereunder, under the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise, as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may elect, whether or not the Administrative Agent or any Lender has made any demand for payment and although such obligations, liabilities and claims may be contingent or unmatured. The Administrative Agent and each Lender shall notify such Guarantor promptly of any such set-off and the application made by the Administrative Agent or such Lender of the proceeds thereof, 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 Lender under this Section 9.6 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which the Administrative Agent or such Lender may have.

 

9.7 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.

 

9.8 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.

 

9.9 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.

 

9.10 Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the agreement of the Grantors and the Guarantors, 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 subject matter hereof and thereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

 

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

 

9.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each Grantor and each Guarantor 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;

 

17


(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 or such Guarantor at its address referred to in Section 9.2 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.

 

9.13 Acknowledgements. Each Grantor and each Guarantor 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 Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Grantor or any Guarantor arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between the Grantors and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and Lenders, 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 Grantors, the Guarantors and the Lenders.

 

9.14 Additional Grantors; Additional Guarantors. (a) Each Domestic Subsidiary that acquires, owns or holds the Capital Stock of a “first-tier” Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.9 of the Credit Agreement shall become a Grantor for all purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Grantor of an Assumption Agreement in the form of Annex 1 hereto.

 

(b) Each Material Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.9 of the Credit Agreement shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Material Domestic Subsidiary of an Assumption Agreement in the form of Annex 1 hereto.

 

(c) Each other Domestic Subsidiary (other than a Material Domestic Subsidiary) of the Borrower that voluntarily desires to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.9 of the Credit Agreement shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Domestic Subsidiary of an Assumption Agreement in the form of Annex 1 hereto.

 

9.15 Releases. (a) At such time as the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations and the other Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of Specified Swap Agreements) shall have been paid in full in cash, the Commitments have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, the Collateral shall be released from the Liens created hereby, and this Agreement and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of the Administrative Agent, each Grantor and each Guarantor hereunder shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party, and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the Grantors. At the request and sole expense of any Grantor following any such termination, the Administrative Agent shall deliver to such

 

18


Grantor any Collateral held by the Administrative Agent hereunder, and execute and deliver to such Grantor 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 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. 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 in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement or it shall cease to be a Material Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided that the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at least ten Business Days prior to the date of the proposed release, (i) in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of such Subsidiary Guarantor, a written request for release identifying the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor, together with a certification by the Borrower stating that such transaction is in compliance with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents or (ii) in the case of a change in such Subsidiary Guarantor’s status as a Material Domestic Subsidiary, a written request for release identifying the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor, together with a certification of the Borrower stating that such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer meets the requirements described in the definition of “Material Subsidiary” in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement.

 

9.16 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GRANTOR AND EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

19


 

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

 

KADANT INC., as a Guarantor

By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:


 

KADANT BLACK CLAWSON INC., as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 


 

KADANT GRANTEK INC., as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 


 

KADANT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., as a Grantor and a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 


 

KADANT WEB SYSTEMS INC., as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 


 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT

 

The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement dated as of May 9, 2005 (the “Agreement”), made by the Borrower, the Grantors and the Subsidiary Guarantors parties thereto for the benefit of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. The undersigned agrees for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:

 

1. The undersigned will be bound by the terms of the Agreement and will comply with such terms insofar as such terms are applicable to the undersigned.

 

2. The undersigned will notify the Administrative Agent promptly in writing of the occurrence of any of the events described in Section 6.5(a) of the Agreement.

 

3. The terms of Sections 7.1(c) of the Agreement shall apply to it, mutatis mutandis, with respect to all actions that may be required of it pursuant to Section 7.1(c) of the Agreement.

 

[NAME OF ISSUER]
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

Address for Notices:

 
 
 

Fax:

 


 

Annex 1 to

Guarantee and Pledge Agreement

 

ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of                                         , 200_, made by                                                                   (the [“Additional Grantor”] [“Additional Guarantor”]), in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the banks and other financial institutions or entities (the “Lenders”) parties to the Credit Agreement referred to below. All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in such Credit Agreement.

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, Kadant Inc. (the “Borrower”), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time parties thereto, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2005 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Credit Agreement, the Borrower and certain of its Subsidiaries (other than the [Additional Grantor] [Additional Guarantor]) have entered into the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2005 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Guarantee and Pledge Agreement”) in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders;

 

WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement requires or permits the [Additional Grantor] [Additional Guarantor] to become a party to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the [Additional Grantor] [Additional Guarantor] has agreed to execute and deliver this Assumption Agreement in order to become a party to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

 

1. Guarantee and Pledge Agreement. By executing and delivering this Assumption Agreement, the [Additional Grantor] [Additional Guarantor], as provided in Section 9.14 of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, hereby becomes a party to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement as a Grantor [and/or a] [Subsidiary Guarantor] thereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor [and/or a] [Subsidiary Guarantor] and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, hereby expressly assumes all obligations and liabilities of a Grantor [and/or a] [Subsidiary Guarantor] thereunder. The information set forth in Annex 1-A hereto is hereby added to the information set forth in the Schedules to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement. [The [Additional Grantor] hereby represents and warrants that each of the representations and warranties contained in Section 5 of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement is true and correct on and as the date hereof (after giving effect to this Assumption Agreement) as if made on and as of such date.]

 

2. Governing Law. THIS ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 


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

 

[ADDITIONAL GRANTOR]
[ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR]
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

2


 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

This Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(a) of the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2005 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “Credit Agreement”), among Kadant Inc. (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”). Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

1. I am the duly elected, qualified and acting [Chief Financial Officer] of the Borrower.

 

2. I have reviewed and am familiar with the contents of this Certificate.

 

3. I have reviewed the terms of the Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents and have made or caused to be made under my supervision, a review in reasonable detail of the transactions and condition of the Borrower during the accounting period covered by the financial statements attached hereto as Attachment 1 (the “Financial Statements”). Such review did not disclose the existence during or at the end of the accounting period covered by the Financial Statements, and I have no knowledge of the existence, as of the date of this Certificate, of any condition or event which constitutes a Default or Event of Default[, except as set forth below].

 

4. Attached hereto as Attachment 2 are the computations showing compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 7.1 of the Credit Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Certificate this              day of                     , 200  .

 

 

Name:

Title:


 

EXHIBIT C-1

 

FORM OF

CLOSING CERTIFICATE (BORROWER)

 

Pursuant to Section [5.1(i)] [5.3(d)] of the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2005 (the “Credit Agreement”; terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Kadant Inc. (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), the undersigned [INSERT TITLE OF OFFICER] of [INSERT NAME OF LOAN PARTY] the Borrower hereby certifies as follows as of the date hereof:

 

The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties in or pursuant to the Loan Documents or which are contained in any certificate furnished by or on behalf of the Loan Parties pursuant to any of the Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the date hereof with the same effect as if made on the date hereof, except for representations and warranties expressly stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct as of such earlier date.

 

No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the date hereof or after giving effect to the Loans to be made on the date hereof and the use of proceeds thereof.

 

The conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.1 [and 5.3] of the Credit Agreement were satisfied or waived [on or prior to the Funding Date] [with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower becoming party to the Credit Agreement on or prior to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowing Funding Date applicable to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower].

 

There are no liquidation or dissolution proceedings pending or to my knowledge threatened against any Loan Party, nor has any other event occurred which materially and adversely affects or threatens the continued corporate existence of any Loan Party.

 

Each Loan Party is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto set my name as of the date set forth below.

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

Date:                                 , 200_

 


 

EXHIBIT C-2

 

FORM OF

CLOSING CERTIFICATE (LOAN PARTY)

 

Pursuant to Section [5.1(i)] [5.3(d)] of the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2005 (the “Credit Agreement”; terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Kadant Inc. (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), the undersigned [INSERT TITLE OF OFFICER] of [INSERT NAME OF LOAN PARTY] (the “Certifying Loan Party”) hereby certifies as follows:

 

                                                  is the duly elected and qualified [Corporate Secretary] of the Certifying Loan Party and the signature set forth for such officer below is such officer’s true and genuine signature.

 

Attached hereto as Annex 1 is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the [Board of Directors] [OR ENTITY SPECIFIC EQUIVALENT] of the Certifying Loan Party; such resolutions have not in any way been amended, modified, revoked or rescinded, have been in full force and effect since their adoption to and including the date hereof and are now in full force and effect and are the only corporate proceedings of the Certifying Loan Party now in force relating to or affecting the matters referred to therein.

 

Attached hereto as Annex 2 is a true and complete copy of the [By-Laws] [OR ENTITY SPECIFIC EQUIVALENT] of the Certifying Loan Party as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Attached hereto as Annex 3 is a true and complete copy of the [Certificate of Incorporation] [OR ENTITY SPECIFIC EQUIVALENT] of the Certifying Loan Party as in effect on the date hereof.

 

The following persons are now duly elected and qualified officers of the Certifying Loan Party holding the offices indicated next to their respective names below, and the signatures appearing opposite their respective names below are the true and genuine signatures of such officers, and each of such officers is duly authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the Certifying Loan Party each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and any certificate or other document to be delivered by the Certifying Loan Party pursuant to the Loan Documents to which it is a party:

 

Name


 

Office


 

Signature


         
         
         

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto set my name as of the date set forth below.

 

           

Name:

     

Name:

Title:

     

Title:

 

Date:                                         , 200_

 


 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2005 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Kadant Inc. (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”). Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

The Assignor identified on Schedule l hereto (the “Assignor”) and the Assignee identified on Schedule l hereto (the “Assignee”) agree as follows:

 

The Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee without recourse to the Assignor, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor without recourse to the Assignor, as of the Effective Date (as defined below), the interest described in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Assigned Interest”) in and to the Assignor’s rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement with respect to those credit facilities contained in the Credit Agreement as are set forth on Schedule 1 hereto (individually, an “Assigned Facility”; collectively, the “Assigned Facilities”), in a principal amount for each Assigned Facility as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

 

The Assignor (a) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or with respect to the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto, other than that the Assignor has not created any adverse claim upon the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any such adverse claim and (b) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any other obligor or the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any other obligor of any of their respective obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into this Assignment and Assumption; (b) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.1 thereof and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption; (c) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Assignor, the Administrative Agent or any Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (d) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto as are

 


delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are incidental thereto; and (e) agrees that it will be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and will perform in accordance with its terms all the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender including, if it is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, its obligation pursuant to Section 2.20(d) of the Credit Agreement.

 

The effective date of this Assignment and Assumption shall be the Effective Date of Assignment described in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Effective Date”). Following the execution of this Assignment and Assumption, it will be delivered to the Administrative Agent for acceptance by it and recording by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement, effective as of the Effective Date (which shall not, unless otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent, be earlier than five Business Days after the date of such acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent).

 

Upon such acceptance and recording, from and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued subsequent to the Effective Date or accrue subsequent to the Effective Date. The Assignor and the Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments by the Agent for periods prior to the Effective Date or with respect to the making of this assignment directly between themselves.

 

From and after the Effective Date, (a) the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder and under the other Loan Documents and shall be bound by the provisions thereof and (b) the Assignor shall, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Assumption, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.

 

This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Assignment and Assumption to be executed as of the date first above written by their respective duly authorized officers on Schedule 1 hereto.

 

2


 

EXHIBIT F

 

FORM OF EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE

 

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2005 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Kadant Inc. (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”). Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.                                               (the “Non-U.S. Lender”) is providing this certificate pursuant to Section 2.20(d) of the Credit Agreement. The Non-U.S. Lender hereby represents and warrants that:

 

1. The Non-U.S. Lender is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loans in respect of which it is providing this certificate.

 

2. The Non-U.S. Lender is not a “bank” for purposes of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In this regard, the Non-U.S. Lender further represents and warrants that:

 

(a) the Non-U.S. Lender is not subject to regulatory or other legal requirements as a bank in any jurisdiction; and

 

(b) the Non-U.S. Lender has not been treated as a bank for purposes of any tax, securities law or other filing or submission made to any Governmental Authority, any application made to a rating agency or qualification for any exemption from tax, securities law or other legal requirements.

 

3. The Non-U.S. Lender is not a 10-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code.

 

4. The Non-U.S. Lender is not a controlled foreign corporation receiving interest from a related person within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this certificate.

 

[NAME OF NON-U.S. LENDER]
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

    Date:                                                  

 


 

EXHIBIT G

 

JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of                         , 200_, among                          (the “Foreign Subsidiary”), KADANT INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the several banks and other financial institutions (the “Lenders”) from time to time parties to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2005 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined) by and among the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the parties to this Joinder Agreement wish to add the Foreign Subsidiary as the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower to the Credit Agreement in the manner hereinafter set forth; and

 

WHEREAS, this Joinder Agreement is entered into pursuant to subsection 5.3(b) of the Credit Agreement;

 

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

 

1. The Foreign Subsidiary hereby acknowledges that it has received and reviewed a copy of the Credit Agreement, and acknowledges and agrees to:

 

(a) join the Credit Agreement as the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as indicated with its signature below;

 

(b) be bound by all covenants, agreements and acknowledgments attributable to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in the Credit Agreement; and

 

(c) perform all obligations and duties required of it by the Credit Agreement.

 

2. The Foreign Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants that the representations and warranties with respect to it contained in Sections 4 and 5.4 of the Credit Agreement or which are contained in any certificate furnished by or on behalf of it are true and correct on the date hereof.

 

3. The address and jurisdiction of organization of the Foreign Subsidiary is set forth below:

 

Address:

   
     
     

Attn:

       

Telecopy:

   

Telephone:

   
Jurisdiction
of organization:
   

 

4. THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Joinder Agreement to be duly executed and delivered in New York, New York by its proper and duly authorized officer as of the date set forth below.

 

Dated:                                 , 200_

 

                                                         ,
as the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

KADANT INC.

By:

   
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

GUARANTEE AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT

Exhibit 99.2

 

Execution Copy


 

GUARANTEE AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

made by

 

KADANT INC.

 

and certain of its Subsidiaries

 

in favor of

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

 

Dated as of May 9, 2005

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

SECTION 1.

   DEFINED TERMS    1

1.1

   Definitions    1

1.2

   Other Definitional Provisions    3

SECTION 2.

   GUARANTEE OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS    4

2.1

   Guarantee    4

2.2

   Right of Contribution    4

2.3

   No Subrogation    5

2.4

   Amendments, etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations    5

2.5

   Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional    5

2.6

   Reinstatement    6

2.7

   Payments    7

SECTION 3.

   GUARANTEE OF BORROWER    7

3.1

   Guarantee    7

3.2

   No Subrogation    7

3.3

   Amendments, etc. with respect to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations    8

3.4

   Guarantees Absolute and Unconditional    8

3.5

   Reinstatement    9

3.6

   Payments    9

SECTION 4.

   GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST    9

SECTION 5.

   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    10

5.1

   Title; No Other Liens    10

5.2

   Perfected First Priority Liens    10

5.3

   Jurisdiction of Organization    10

5.4

   Pledged Stock    10

SECTION 6.

   COVENANTS    10

6.1

   Delivery of Certificated Securities    10

6.2

   Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation    11

6.3

   Changes in Name, etc.    11

6.4

   Notices    11

6.5

   Pledged Stock    11

SECTION 7.

   REMEDIAL PROVISIONS    12

7.1

   Pledged Stock    12

7.2

   Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent    13

7.3

   Application of Proceeds    13

7.4

   Code and Other Remedies    13

7.5

   Deficiency    14

SECTION 8.

   THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT    14

8.1

   Administrative Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc.    14

8.2

   Duty of Administrative Agent    15

 

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8.3

   Execution of Financing Statements    15

8.4

   Authority of Administrative Agent    15

SECTION 9.

   MISCELLANEOUS    16

9.1

   Amendments in Writing    16

9.2

   Notices    16

9.3

   No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies    16

9.4

   Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification    16

9.5

   Successors and Assigns    16

9.6

   Set-Off    16

9.7

   Counterparts    17

9.8

   Severability    17

9.9

   Section Headings    17

9.10

   Integration    17

9.11

   GOVERNING LAW    17

9.12

   Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers    17

9.13

   Acknowledgements    18

9.14

   Additional Grantors; Additional Guarantors    18

9.15

   Releases    18

9.16

   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL    19

 

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1

   Notice Addresses of Guarantors

Schedule 2

   Pledged Stock

Schedule 3

   Perfection Matters

Schedule 4

   Jurisdictions of Organization and Chief Executive Offices

 

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GUARANTEE AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT

 

GUARANTEE AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of May 9, 2005, made by Kadant Inc. (the “Borrower”), each of the Grantors (as defined herein) signatories hereto (together with each other entity that may become a party hereto as a Grantor as provided herein), and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined herein) signatories hereto (together with each other entity that becomes a party hereto as a Subsidiary Guarantor as provided herein), in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (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 May 9, 2005 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Borrower, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time parties thereto, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have severally agreed to make extensions of credit to the Borrower and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

 

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

 

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

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, the other Grantors and the Subsidiary Guarantors are engaged in related businesses, and each Grantor and each Subsidiary Guarantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of the extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers under the Credit Agreement that the Borrower, the other Grantors and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the Administrative 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 or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers thereunder, the Borrower, each other Grantor and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, 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: Certificated Security, Chattel Paper and Supporting Obligations.

 


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

 

Agreement”: this Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Borrower Obligations”: the collective reference to the unpaid principal of and interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower (including, without limitation, the guarantee in Section 3 hereof, the interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the maturity of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of any Specified Swap Agreement, any Affiliate of 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, the Credit Agreement, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any Letter of Credit, any Specified Swap Agreement or any other document made, delivered or given in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of any of the foregoing agreements). For the avoidance of doubt, “Borrower Obligations” shall include all Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of all Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers.

 

Collateral”: as defined in Section 4.

 

Collateral Account”: any collateral account established by the Administrative Agent as provided in Section 7.2.

 

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

 

Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations”: with respect to each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, the collective reference to the unpaid principal of and interest on the Loans made to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers and Reimbursement Obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and all other obligations and liabilities of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower (including, without limitation, interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the maturity of the Loans made to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and Reimbursement Obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) to the Administrative Agent or 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, the Credit Agreement, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any Letter of Credit or any other document made, delivered or given in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to the terms of any of the foregoing agreements).

 

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

 

2


Guarantor Obligations”: with respect to any Guarantor, all obligations and liabilities of such Guarantor which may arise under or in connection with this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2 and Section 3, as applicable) or any other Loan Document to which such Guarantor is a party, in each case whether on account of guarantee obligations, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document).

 

Guarantors”: each Subsidiary Guarantor and for the purposes of Section 3 hereof only, the Borrower.

 

Grantors”: the collective reference to the Borrower and each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that owns or holds any Capital Stock of a “first-tier” Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower, together with any other entity that may become a Grantor hereto as provided herein in Section 9.14 hereof.

 

Issuers”: the collective reference to each issuer of any Pledged Stock.

 

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, (ii) in the case of each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, its Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations and (iii) in the case of each Guarantor, its Guarantor Obligations.

 

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 “first-tier” Foreign Subsidiary 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 65% of the total outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of any “first-tier” 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 Pledged Stock, collections thereon or distributions or payments with respect thereto.

 

Securities Act”: the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Subsidiary Guarantor”: the collective reference to each Material Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower, together with each other Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that may become a Subsidiary Guarantor as provided in Section 9.14 hereof.

 

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 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.

 

3


(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 OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

 

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 Lenders and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and complete payment and performance by the Borrower when due and by the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Borrower Obligations and the Foreign Subsidiary 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 and the Foreign Subsidiary 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 Lender hereunder.

 

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

 

(e) No payment made by the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, any other guarantor 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 or the Foreign Subsidiary 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 the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or any payment received or collected from such Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the Borrower Obligations or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations ), remain liable for the Borrower Obligations (as reduced by any such payment) and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations (as reduced by any such payment), up to the maximum liability of such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder until the Borrower Obligations and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations are paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments are terminated.

 

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

 

4


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 Lenders, and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders 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 Lender, no Subsidiary Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Borrower Obligations or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, nor shall any Subsidiary Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by the Borrower and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers on account of the Borrower Obligations or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, are paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments are terminated. 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 or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations shall not have been paid in full in cash, such amount shall be held by such Subsidiary Guarantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, 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 and the Foreign Subsidiary 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 and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations. (a) 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 or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and any of the Borrower Obligations or Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations continued, and the Borrower Obligations or the Foreign Subsidiary 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 Lender, 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 Lender for the payment of the Borrower Obligations or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender 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 the Foreign Subsidiary 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 or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative Agent or any

 

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Lender upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or acceptance of the guarantee contained in this Section 2; the Borrower Obligations, the Foreign Subsidiary 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, each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, 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, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors with respect to the Borrower Obligations and the Foreign Subsidiary 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, the Foreign Subsidiary 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 Lender, (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, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person against the Administrative Agent or any Lender; other than any right of defense, set-off or counterclaim specifically available to the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person under the Loan Documents, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary 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, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower of its Foreign Subsidiary 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 Lender 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 Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any other Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Borrower Obligations and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make any such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary 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 Foreign Subsidiary 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 Lender 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 or any of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary 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, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

 

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

 

SECTION 3. GUARANTEE OF BORROWER

 

3.1 Guarantee. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and complete payment and performance by each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of each such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations.

 

(b) The guarantee contained in this Section 3 shall remain in full force and effect until all of each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations shall have been satisfied by payment in full in cash by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, no Letter of Credit issued on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be outstanding and the Commitments to extend credit to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of the Credit Agreement such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower may be free from its Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations.

 

(c) No payment made by any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Administrative Agent or any Lender from any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor 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 such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of the Borrower hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment (other than any payment made by the Borrower in respect of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or any payment received or collected from the Borrower in respect of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations), remain liable for such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations (as reduced by any such payment) until such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations are paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit issued on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be outstanding and the Commitments to extend credit to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower are terminated.

 

3.2 No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment made by the Borrower hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Borrower shall not be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, nor shall the Borrower seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in respect of payments made by the Borrower hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower on account of its Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, are paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit issued on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be outstanding and the Commitments to extend credit to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower are terminated. If any amount shall be paid to the Borrower on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations shall not have been paid in full in cash, such amount shall be held by the Borrower in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, segregated from other funds of the Borrower and shall, forthwith upon receipt by the Borrower be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by the Borrower be (duly indorsed by the

 

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Borrower to the Administrative Agent, if required), to be applied against such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Administrative Agent may determine.

 

3.3 Amendments, etc. with respect to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations. The Borrower shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against the Borrower and without notice to or further assent by the Borrower, any demand for payment of any of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower continued, and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, 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 Lender, 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 Lender for the payment of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or for the guarantee contained in this Section 3 or any property subject thereto.

 

3.4 Guarantees Absolute and Unconditional. The Borrower waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the guarantee contained in this Section 3 or acceptance of the guarantee contained in this Section 3; the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower 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 3; and all dealings between the Borrower or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon the guarantee contained in this Section 3. The Borrower waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon the any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower with respect to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations. The Borrower understands and agrees that the guarantee contained in this Section 3 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 Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower 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 Lender, (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 such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person against the Administrative Agent or any Lender, other than any right or defense, set-off or counterclaim specifically available to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person under the Loan Documents, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or the Borrower) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower of its Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, or of the Borrower under the guarantee contained in this Section 3, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a

 

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similar demand on or otherwise pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make any such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any 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 any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve the Borrower 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 Lender against the Borrower. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

 

3.5 Reinstatement. The guarantee contained in this Section 3 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 Foreign Subsidiary Borrower Obligations of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

 

3.6 Payments. The Borrower hereby guarantees that payments due hereunder will be paid to the Administrative Agent without set-off or counterclaim in Dollars at the Funding Office.

 

SECTION 4. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

 

Each Grantor hereby assigns and transfers to the Administrative Agent, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, 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 the Obligations (if applicable):

 

(a) all Pledged Stock;

 

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

 

(c) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds of any and all 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 Requirements of Law of a Governmental Authority, requires a consent not obtained of any Governmental Authority pursuant to such Requirement of Law or is prohibited by, 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 or, in the case of any Pledged Stock, any applicable shareholder or similar agreement, except to the extent that such Requirement of Law or the term in such contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document or shareholder or similar agreement providing for such prohibition, breach, default or termination or requiring such consent is ineffective under applicable law.

 

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SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

To induce the Administrative 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 and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers thereunder, each Grantor hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

 

5.1 Title; No Other Liens. Except for the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement, such Grantor owns each item of the Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens or claims of others. No financing statement or other public notice with respect to all or any part of the Collateral is on file or of record in any U.S. federal, state or local public office, except such as have been filed in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, pursuant to this Agreement.

 

5.2 Perfected First Priority Liens. The security interests granted pursuant to this Agreement (a) 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 executed form) will constitute valid perfected security interests under U.S. federal, state and local law in all of the Collateral (to the extent that such interests can be perfected by such filings) in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, as collateral security for the 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 and (b) are prior to all other Liens on the Collateral in existence on the Funding Date.

 

5.3 Jurisdiction of Organization. On the date hereof and as of the Funding Date, such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization and identification number from the jurisdiction of organization (if any), are specified on Schedule 4. With respect to any Grantor who shall become a party hereto after the date hereof, such Grantor has furnished to the Administrative Agent a certified charter, certificate of incorporation or other organization document and long-form good standing certificate as of a date which is recent to the date such Grantor shall become a party hereto.

 

5.4 Pledged Stock. (a) The shares of Pledged Stock of each Issuer pledged by each such Grantor hereunder constitute Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock and each relevant Issuer has no other issued or outstanding shares of Capital Stock other than voting Capital Stock. The shares of the Pledged Stock of each Issuer pledged by each such Grantor hereunder constitute 65% of the outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of each relevant Issuer.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 6. COVENANTS

 

Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Obligations shall have been paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments shall have terminated:

 

6.1 Delivery of Certificated Securities. If any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any Certificated Security, such Certificated Security shall, if permitted by the applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the relevant Issuer is organized and otherwise reasonably practicable, 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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6.2 Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation. (a) Such Grantor shall maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a perfected security interest under U.S. federal, state and local law having at least the priority described in Section 5.2 and shall defend such security interest 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.

 

(b) 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 in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interests created hereby and (ii) in the case of Pledged Stock and any other relevant Collateral, if permitted by the applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the relevant Issuer is organized and if otherwise reasonably practicable, taking any actions necessary under U.S. federal, state and local law to enable the Administrative Agent to obtain “control” (within the meaning of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code) with respect thereto.

 

6.3 Changes in Name, etc. Such Grantor will not, except upon 15 days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and delivery to the Administrative Agent of 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, (i) change its jurisdiction of organization from that referred to in Section 5.3 or (ii) change its name.

 

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

 

(a) any Lien (other than security interests created hereby) on any of the Collateral which would adversely affect the ability of the Administrative Agent to exercise any of its remedies hereunder; and

 

(b) of 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.

 

6.5 Pledged Stock. (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, or in the case of any such certificate, option or rights in respect of Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of any Issuer, 65% of the same, as the agent of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, hold the same in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and deliver the same, or in the case of any such certificate, option or rights in respect of Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of any Issuer, 65% of 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, or 65% of such

 

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certificate, as the case may be, 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.

 

(b) Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Grantor will not (except pursuant to a transaction expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement or Section 6.5(a) hereof) (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 Pledged Stock 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 Pledged Stock 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 Pledged Stock or Proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 7. REMEDIAL PROVISIONS

 

7.1 Pledged Stock. (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 7.1(b), each Grantor shall be permitted to receive all cash and non-cash dividends and distributions paid in respect of the Pledged Stock (excluding distributions of additional shares of Pledged Stock) to the extent permitted in the Credit Agreement, and to exercise all voting and corporate or other organizational rights with respect to the Pledged Stock; 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 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 Pledged Stock and make application thereof to the Obligations in such order as the Administrative Agent may determine, and (ii) any or all of the Pledged Stock shall be registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee, and the Administrative Agent or its nominee may thereafter exercise, subject to any provisions of applicable law, (x) all voting, corporate and other rights pertaining to such Pledged Stock 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 Pledged Stock as if it were the absolute owner thereof (including, without limitation, the right to exchange at its discretion any and all of the Pledged Stock 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 Pledged Stock, and in connection therewith, the right to deposit and deliver any and all of the Pledged Stock 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 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

 

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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 directly to the Administrative Agent.

 

7.2 Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, all Proceeds received by any Grantor consisting of cash, checks and other near-cash items shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, 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 Lenders) shall continue to be held as collateral security for all the Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as provided in Section 7.3.

 

7.3 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, and any proceeds of the guarantees set forth in Sections 2 and 3, in payment of the Obligations in the following order:

 

First, to pay incurred and unpaid fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents;

 

Second, to the Administrative Agent, for application by it towards payment of amounts then due and owing and remaining unpaid in respect of the Obligations, pro rata among the Lenders according to the amounts of the Obligations then due and owing and remaining unpaid to the Lenders;

 

Third, to the Administrative Agent, for application by it towards prepayment of the Obligations, pro rata among the Lenders according to the amounts of the Obligations then held by the Lenders; and

 

Fourth, any balance remaining after the Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash, no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments shall have terminated shall be paid over to the Borrower or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.

 

7.4 Code and Other Remedies. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, 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 referred to below) 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 Lender or elsewhere upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it

 

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may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk. The Administrative Agent or any Lender 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 7.4, 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 Lenders hereunder, including, without limitation, 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 Lender arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder. The Administrative Agent shall provide at least 20 days notice of any proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral and such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 20 days before such sale or other disposition.

 

7.5 Deficiency. Each Grantor that is also a Subsidiary Guarantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay such Grantor’s Obligations and the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to collect such deficiency.

 

SECTION 8. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

8.1 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) pay or discharge taxes and Liens levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral; and

 

(ii) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in Section 7.4, any indorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral;

 

(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) Anything in Section 8.1(a) or (b) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Administrative Agent agrees that it will not exercise any rights under the power of attorney provided for in Section 8.1(a) or (b) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

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(d) The expenses of the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with actions undertaken as provided in this Section 8.1, together with interest thereon at a rate per annum equal to the highest rate per annum at which interest would then be payable on any category of past due ABR 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.

 

(e) 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.

 

8.2 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 Lender 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 Lenders hereunder are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise any such powers. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders 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.

 

8.3 Execution of Financing Statements. Pursuant to any applicable law, each Grantor authorizes the Administrative Agent after notice to, and consent of, such Grantor (which consent or non-consent shall be communicated within 5 days after such notice) to file or record financing statements and other filing or recording documents or instruments with respect to the Collateral under U.S. federal, state or local law 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 hereby ratifies and authorizes the filing by the Administrative Agent of any financing statement with respect to the Collateral made prior to Funding Date.

 

8.4 Authority of Administrative Agent. Each Grantor and each Subsidiary Guarantor 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 Lenders, 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, the Grantors and the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Administrative Agent shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Lenders with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting, and no Grantor nor Subsidiary Guarantor shall be under any obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

 

15


SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.1 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.

 

9.2 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the Administrative Agent, any Grantor or any Guarantor 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 Guarantor or Grantor (other than the Borrower) shall be addressed to such Person at its notice address set forth on Schedule 1.

 

9.3 No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 9.1), 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. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, 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 Lender 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 Lender 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.

 

9.4 Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification. (a) Each Guarantor agrees to pay or reimburse each Lender and the Administrative Agent for all its costs and expenses incurred in collecting against such Guarantor under the guarantee contained in Section 2 or Section 3, as the case may be, or otherwise enforcing or preserving any rights under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party, including, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of counsel to each Lender and of counsel to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b) Each Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and the Lenders 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 Section 10.5 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(c) The agreements in this Section 9.4 shall survive repayment of the Obligations and all other amounts payable under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

9.5 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Grantor and each Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their successors and assigns; provided that no Grantor nor any Guarantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

9.6 Set-Off. (a) Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent and each Lender at any time and from time to time while an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, without notice to such Guarantor or other Guarantor, any such notice being expressly waived by each Guarantor, 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

 

16


time held or owing by the Administrative Agent or such Lender to or for the credit or the account of such Guarantor, or any part thereof in such amounts as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may elect, against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent or such Lender hereunder and claims of every nature and description of the Administrative Agent or such Lender against such Guarantor, in any currency, whether arising hereunder, under the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise, as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may elect, whether or not the Administrative Agent or any Lender has made any demand for payment and although such obligations, liabilities and claims may be contingent or unmatured. The Administrative Agent and each Lender shall notify such Guarantor promptly of any such set-off and the application made by the Administrative Agent or such Lender of the proceeds thereof, 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 Lender under this Section 9.6 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which the Administrative Agent or such Lender may have.

 

9.7 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.

 

9.8 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.

 

9.9 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.

 

9.10 Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the agreement of the Grantors and the Guarantors, 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 subject matter hereof and thereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

 

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

 

9.12 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each Grantor and each Guarantor 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;

 

17


(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 or such Guarantor at its address referred to in Section 9.2 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.

 

9.13 Acknowledgements. Each Grantor and each Guarantor 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 Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Grantor or any Guarantor arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between the Grantors and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and Lenders, 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 Grantors, the Guarantors and the Lenders.

 

9.14 Additional Grantors; Additional Guarantors. (a) Each Domestic Subsidiary that acquires, owns or holds the Capital Stock of a “first-tier” Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.9 of the Credit Agreement shall become a Grantor for all purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Grantor of an Assumption Agreement in the form of Annex 1 hereto.

 

(b) Each Material Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.9 of the Credit Agreement shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Material Domestic Subsidiary of an Assumption Agreement in the form of Annex 1 hereto.

 

(c) Each other Domestic Subsidiary (other than a Material Domestic Subsidiary) of the Borrower that voluntarily desires to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.9 of the Credit Agreement shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Domestic Subsidiary of an Assumption Agreement in the form of Annex 1 hereto.

 

9.15 Releases. (a) At such time as the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations and the other Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of Specified Swap Agreements) shall have been paid in full in cash, the Commitments have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, the Collateral shall be released from the Liens created hereby, and this Agreement and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of the Administrative Agent, each Grantor and each Guarantor hereunder shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party, and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the Grantors. At the request and sole expense of any Grantor following any such termination, the Administrative Agent shall deliver to such

 

18


Grantor any Collateral held by the Administrative Agent hereunder, and execute and deliver to such Grantor 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 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. 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 in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement or it shall cease to be a Material Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided that the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at least ten Business Days prior to the date of the proposed release, (i) in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of such Subsidiary Guarantor, a written request for release identifying the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor, together with a certification by the Borrower stating that such transaction is in compliance with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents or (ii) in the case of a change in such Subsidiary Guarantor’s status as a Material Domestic Subsidiary, a written request for release identifying the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor, together with a certification of the Borrower stating that such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer meets the requirements described in the definition of “Material Subsidiary” in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement.

 

9.16 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GRANTOR AND EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

19


 

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

 

KADANT INC., as a Guarantor
By:   /s/    THOMAS M. O’BRIEN        
   

Name:

  Thomas M. O’Brien
   

Title:

  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


 

KADANT BLACK CLAWSON INC., as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:   /s/    DANIEL J. WALSH        
   

Name:

  Daniel J. Walsh
   

Title:

  Treasurer

 


 

KADANT GRANTEK INC., as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:   /s/    DANIEL J. WALSH        
   

Name:

  Daniel J. Walsh
   

Title:

  Treasurer

 


 

KADANT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., as a Grantor and a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:   /s/    DANIEL J. WALSH        
   

Name:

  Daniel J. Walsh
   

Title:

  Treasurer

 


 

KADANT WEB SYSTEMS INC., as a Subsidiary Guarantor
By:   /s/    DANIEL J. WALSH        
   

Name:

  Daniel J. Walsh
   

Title:

  Treasurer

 


 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT

 

The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement dated as of May 9, 2005 (the “Agreement”), made by the Borrower, the Grantors and the Subsidiary Guarantors parties thereto for the benefit of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. The undersigned agrees for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:

 

1. The undersigned will be bound by the terms of the Agreement and will comply with such terms insofar as such terms are applicable to the undersigned.

 

2. The undersigned will notify the Administrative Agent promptly in writing of the occurrence of any of the events described in Section 6.5(a) of the Agreement.

 

3. The terms of Sections 7.1(c) of the Agreement shall apply to it, mutatis mutandis, with respect to all actions that may be required of it pursuant to Section 7.1(c) of the Agreement.

 

[NAME OF ISSUER]
By:    
   

Name:

   
   

Title:

   
Address for Notices:
 
 
 

Fax:

       

 


 

Annex 1 to

Guarantee and Pledge Agreement

 

ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of                     , 200  , made by                                          (the [“Additional Grantor”] [“Additional Guarantor”]), in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the banks and other financial institutions or entities (the “Lenders”) parties to the Credit Agreement referred to below. All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in such Credit Agreement.

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, Kadant Inc. (the “Borrower”), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time parties thereto, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2005 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Credit Agreement, the Borrower and certain of its Subsidiaries (other than the [Additional Grantor] [Additional Guarantor]) have entered into the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2005 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Guarantee and Pledge Agreement”) in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders;

 

WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement requires or permits the [Additional Grantor] [Additional Guarantor] to become a party to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the [Additional Grantor] [Additional Guarantor] has agreed to execute and deliver this Assumption Agreement in order to become a party to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

 

1. Guarantee and Pledge Agreement. By executing and delivering this Assumption Agreement, the [Additional Grantor] [Additional Guarantor], as provided in Section 9.14 of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement, hereby becomes a party to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement as a Grantor [and/or a] [Subsidiary Guarantor] thereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor [and/or a] [Subsidiary Guarantor] and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, hereby expressly assumes all obligations and liabilities of a Grantor [and/or a] [Subsidiary Guarantor] thereunder. The information set forth in Annex 1-A hereto is hereby added to the information set forth in the Schedules to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement. [The [Additional Grantor] hereby represents and warrants that each of the representations and warranties contained in Section 5 of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement is true and correct on and as the date hereof (after giving effect to this Assumption Agreement) as if made on and as of such date.]

 

2. Governing Law. THIS ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 


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

 

[ADDITIONAL GRANTOR]

[ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR]

By:    
   

Name:

   
   

Title:

   

 

2

PRESS RELEASE

Exhibit 99.3

 

[LOGO]

NEWS

KADANT

AN ACCENT ON INNOVATION

One Acton Place, Suite 202

Acton, MA 01720

 

Investor contact: Thomas M. O’Brien, 978-776-2000

Media contact: GreatPoint Communications, 978-392-6866

 

Kadant Completes Acquisition of The Johnson Corporation

 

ACTON, Mass., May 11, 2005 – Kadant Inc. (NYSE:KAI) has completed its previously announced acquisition of The Johnson Corporation, a leading supplier of steam and condensate systems, components, controls, and related services to the global paper industry.

 

On April 7, 2005, Kadant announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Johnson. At closing, Kadant paid approximately $102 million in cash, subject to post-closing adjustments. The parties also agreed to an earn-out provision, based on the achievement of certain revenue targets between the closing date and July 1, 2006, which could increase the purchase price by up to $8 million. In addition to the cash consideration, Kadant issued a letter of credit to the sellers for $4 million, subject to adjustment, related to certain anticipated tax benefits of Johnson, the value of which is expected to be realized by Kadant. On May 9, 2005, Kadant entered into a credit agreement with a group of banks, led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., for $85 million, consisting of a $60 million 5-year term loan and a $25 million revolver. Kadant financed $60 million of the purchase price using the proceeds from the term loan.

 

“We are excited to have Johnson join the Kadant family, and look forward to the new opportunities this combination will bring to our business,” said William A. Rainville, chairman and chief executive officer of Kadant. “Johnson not only extends our breadth of technology-based offerings to the worldwide paper industry with its leading products and services for improving dryer performance, but also gives us access to other process industries that offer new avenues for growth.

 

“By providing complementary products and services, greater market coverage, and a large aftermarket business, Johnson will contribute to our goal of increasing shareholder value,” Mr. Rainville added. “As we said last month, we expect this acquisition to be accretive to GAAP earnings per share in 2005 by $.05 to $.07, and by approximately $.25 in 2006.”

 

Kadant’s guidance relating to the expected impact that the acquisition will have on its earnings per share is subject to adjustments required under purchase accounting, such as the determination of the portion of the purchase price attributable to identifiable intangible assets and the amortization of those assets.

 

Johnson is based in Three Rivers, Michigan, USA, has approximately 575 employees at its operations in North and South America, Europe, and Asia, and had revenues of $76 million in 2004.

 

Kadant Inc. is a leading global supplier of a range of products that improve quality and productivity in pulp and paper production, including stock-preparation equipment, water-management systems, and paper machine accessories. Kadant, based in Acton, Massachusetts, had approximately $195 million in revenues from continuing operations in 2004 and approximately 1,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.kadant.com.

 

-more-


The following constitutes a “Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including forward-looking statements regarding the future performance of the combined company and our opportunities for growth. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such statements are set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in Kadant’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2005. These include risks and uncertainties relating to our dependence on the pulp and paper industry; international sales and operations; competition; acquisition strategy; our ability to complete the proposed restructuring of our French subsidiary; ability to sell the composite building products business on favorable terms; ability to manufacture and distribute composite building products, and the economic conditions, seasonality in sales, and the long-term performance of such products; availability of raw materials and exposure to commodity price fluctuations related to the manufacture of composite and fiber-based products; protection of patents and proprietary rights; fluctuations in quarterly operating results; and anti-takeover provisions. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

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