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-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, DC6gDMTlgo1vCXu8ZpLVZzRnyg7cTDX7vY8Z07uXU5yLxdJ39ep6oaIWpmzU6vpG a2l5feo26OepgVu0e06dnA== 0000950134-05-010933.txt : 20050611 0000950134-05-010933.hdr.sgml : 20050611 20050526164226 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950134-05-010933 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20050523 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Other Events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20050526 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050526 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: COMMERCIAL METALS CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000022444 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES ROLLING MILLS (COKE OVENS) [3312] IRS NUMBER: 750725338 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-04304 FILM NUMBER: 05860603 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6565 N. MACARTHUR BLVD., SUITE 800 STREET 2: P O BOX 1046 CITY: IRVING STATE: TX ZIP: 75039 BUSINESS PHONE: 2146894300 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6565 N. MACARTHUR BLVD., SUITE 800 STREET 2: PO BOX 1046 CITY: IRVING STATE: TX ZIP: 75039 8-K 1 d25837e8vk.htm FORM 8-K e8vk

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 26, 2005 (May 23, 2005)

Commercial Metals Company

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


1-4034		75-0725338

(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)


6565 N. MacArthur Blvd.
Irving, Texas		75039

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

(214) 689-4300

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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

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

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

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Employment Agreement with Murray R. McClean

On May 23, 2005, Commercial Metals Company (the “Company”) entered into an Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with Murray R. McClean, its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. The agreement provides a base salary of $400,000 and benefits consistent with the Company’s executive compensation policies. The term of the Employment Agreement expires on August 31, 2009.

The Employment Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Future Grants of Restricted Stock Awards and Stock Appreciation Rights

Pursuant to the Commercial Metals Company 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the Company may grant key management employees of the Company and its subsidiaries restricted stock and stock appreciation rights, whether granted singly, in combination, or in tandem. A copy of the Plan was previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2005.

Any future grant of restricted stock by the Company to key management employees will be awarded pursuant to a Commercial Metals Company 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Award Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are set forth substantially in the form filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2.

Any future grant of stock appreciation rights by the Company to key management employees will be awarded pursuant to a Commercial Metals Company 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement, the terms and conditions of which are set forth substantially in the form filed herewith as Exhibit 10.3.

First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

On May 23, 2005, the Company entered into the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”) with each lender, who from time to time may become a party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd., as Syndication Agent, BNP Paribas, Scotiabanc, Inc. and Wells Fargo HSBC Trade Bank, as Co-Documentation Agents. The Amendment amends and restates that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2003, providing for a credit facility to the Company in the maximum principal amount of $275,000,000.00, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 10(i)(e) to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2003, to (i) extend the maturity of the facility to May 23, 2010 from August 6, 2006, (ii) increase the facility commitment to $400 million from $275 million (which includes a $150 million sublimit for letters of credit and a $35 million sublimit for swingline loans), (iii) reduce the required minimum interest coverage ratio to 2.50/1 from 3.00/1, (iv) increase the maximum permitted Debt/Capitalization ratio to .60/1 from .55/1, and (v) reduce interests rates and certain fees.

The Amendment is attached as Exhibit 10.4 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On May 24, 2005, the Company issued a press release announcing that the board of directors of the Company has authorized the purchase of up to 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. During April and May 2005, the Company purchased a total of 1,944,610 shares in open market transactions for a total price of approximately $50,675,000 or an average of $26.06 per share. These purchases completed a stock repurchase program last increased in March 2003. The purchases will be

made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions at prevailing market prices. The shares will be used for general corporate purposes including various employee benefit plans and acquisitions.

A copy of the Company’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

The following exhibits are furnished with this Form 8-K.


10.1		Employment Agreement dated as of May 23, 2005 between Commercial Metals Company and Murray R. McClean.

10.2		Form of Commercial Metals Company 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

10.3		Form of Commercial Metals Company 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement.

10.4		First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 23, 2005.

99.1		Press Release dated May 24, 2005.

SIGNATURES

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.


	COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY

Date: May 26, 2005
	By:	/s/ William B. Larson

	Name:	William B. Larson
	Title:	Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.		Description of Exhibit
10.1		Employment Agreement dated as of May 23, 2005 between Commercial Metals Company and Murray R. McClean.

10.2		Form of Commercial Metals Company 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Award Agreement.

10.3		Form of Commercial Metals Company 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement.

10.4		First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 23, 2005.

99.1		Press Release dated May 24, 2005.

EX-10.1 2 d25837exv10w1.txt EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 10.1 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into this 23rd day of May, 2005 by and between COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Employer") and MURRAY R. MCCLEAN (the "Executive"). The Employer and Executive are collectively referred to as the "Parties," and individually as a "Party." R E C I T A L S: WHEREAS, Employer has promoted Executive to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer effective September 20, 2004; and WHEREAS, the existing employment agreement between Executive and Employer dated September 1, 1999, as amended July 10, 2000, October 2, 2000 and March 28, 2001 terminates on August 31, 2005 and the Parties desire to assure Executive's continued employment with Employer by terminating that agreement and entering into this Agreement to better reflect the responsibilities of Executive's new position; and WHEREAS, Executive desires to be employed by Employer in this new position pursuant to all of the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows: 1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Agreement is to formalize the terms and conditions of Executive's employment with Employer as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. This Agreement cannot be amended except by a writing signed by both Parties. 2. DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following words shall have the following meanings: (a) "AFFILIATE" or "AFFILIATES" shall mean any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, unincorporated organization or any other legal entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Employer. (b) "CAUSE" shall mean: (1) any breach by Executive of any material provision of this Agreement; (2) any act by Executive constituting a felony or otherwise involving theft, embezzlement, fraud, or gross dishonesty; (3) any act by Executive involving moral turpitude or willful misconduct that, in the good faith judgment of Board of Directors of the Employer either (i) causes material economic harm to the Employer or its Affiliates (ii) brings substantial discredit to the reputation of the Employer or any Affiliate, or (iii) damages or interferes with the relationships of the Employer or any Affiliate with any of their customers, suppliers, employees or other agents; (4) gross EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT PAGE 1 negligence on the part of Executive in the performance of his duties as an employee, officer, or director of Employer or any Affiliate; (5) Executive's breach of his fiduciary obligations to Employer, or (6) any chemical dependence of the Executive which adversely affects the performance of his duties and responsibilities to Employer. (c) "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall mean any of the following: (i) any consolidation, merger or share exchange of the Employer in which the Employer is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which shares of the Employer's Common Stock would be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a consolidation, merger or share exchange of the Employer in which the holders of the Employer's Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction have the same proportionate ownership of Common Stock of the surviving corporation immediately after such transaction; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (excluding transfer by way of pledge or hypothecation) in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Employer; (iii) the stockholders of the Employer approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Employer; (iv) the cessation of control (by virtue of their not constituting a majority of directors) of the Board by the individuals (the "Continuing Directors") who (x) at the date of this Agreement were directors or (y) become directors after the date of this Agreement and whose election or nomination for election by the Employer's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office who were directors at the date of this Agreement or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved; (v) the acquisition of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of an aggregate of 20% of the voting power of the Employer's outstanding voting securities by any person or group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the 1934 Act) who beneficially owned less than 15% of the voting power of the Employer's outstanding voting securities on the date of this Agreement, or the acquisition of beneficial ownership of an additional 5% of the voting power of the Employer's outstanding voting securities by any person or group who beneficially owned at least 15% of the voting power of the Employer's outstanding voting securities on the date of this Agreement, provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, an acquisition shall not constitute a Change of Control hereunder if the acquiror is (x) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Employer and acting in such capacity, (y) a Subsidiary of the Employer or a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Employer in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of voting securities of the Employer or (z) any other person whose acquisition of shares of voting securities is approved in advance by a majority of the Continuing Directors; or (vi) in a Title 11 bankruptcy proceeding, the appointment of a trustee or the conversion of a case involving the Employer to a case under Chapter 7. (d) "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" means information (1) disclosed to or known by Executive as a consequence of or through his employment with Employer or Affiliate; (2) not generally known outside Employer or its Affiliates; and (3) which relates to any aspect of Employer's or Affiliate's business, research, or development. "Confidential Information" includes, but is not limited to, Employer's and Affiliate's trade secrets, proprietary information, business plans, marketing plans, financial information, compensation and benefit information, cost and pricing information, customer contacts, EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT PAGE 2 suppliers, vendors, and information provided to Employer or Affiliate by a third Party under restrictions against disclosure or use by Employer or others. (e) "CONFLICT OF INTEREST" means any situation in which the Executive has two or more duties or interests which are mutually incompatible and may tend to conflict with the proper and impartial discharge of the Executive's duties, responsibilities or obligations to Employer, including but not limited to those described in Employer's Policy of Business Conduct and Ethics (the "Policy") which Executive has either not disclosed to Employer's Board of Directors or has disclosed and not been granted a waiver under the provisions of such Policy. (f) "GOOD REASON" shall mean the occurrence, without Executive's written consent, of any of the following events: (1) a breach of any material provision of this Agreement by Employer; (2) a significant reduction in the authorities, duties, responsibilities, and title of the Executive as set forth in this Agreement; or (3) Employer's requiring the Executive, without his consent, to be employed at a location more than fifty (50) miles from the Employer's present office location in Dallas, Texas 3. DURATION. This Agreement shall, unless terminated as hereinafter provided, continue through August 31, 2009. Unless Executive or Employer gives notice of his or its intent not to renew this Agreement no later than ninety (90) days prior to its expiration, this Agreement shall automatically continue in effect for successive additional one (1) year terms subject to all other terms and conditions contained herein. 4. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. Upon execution of this Agreement, Executive shall diligently render his services to Employer as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in accordance with Employer's directives, and shall use his best efforts and good faith in accomplishing such directives. Executive shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. Executive agrees to devote his full-time efforts, abilities, and attention (defined to mean not normally less than forty (40) hours/week) to the business of Employer, and shall not engage in any activities which will interfere with such efforts. Attached as Appendix 1 is the Executive's job description. 5. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. In return for the services to be provided by Executive pursuant to this Agreement, Employer agrees to pay Executive as follows: (a) SALARY. Executive shall receive an annual base salary of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000.00) during the term of this Agreement This salary may be increased at the sole discretion of Employer's Board of Directors, but cannot be decreased without Executive's written consent. (b) DISCRETIONARY BONUS. Executive shall be eligible to receive a bonus (the "Discretionary Bonus") for each fiscal year of Employer ending August 31 during the term of this Agreement. The amount of the Discretionary Bonus shall be determined by, and in the sole discretion of, Employer's Board of Directors and shall be based upon its evaluation of Executive's performance during the fiscal year and such other factors or criteria as it may, in its sole discretion, consider. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT PAGE 3 (c) PAYMENT AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. Employer shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable travel and other expenses incurred by Executive in performing his obligations under this Agreement in accordance with the policies and procedures of Employer provided that Executive properly accounts therefore in accordance with such policies and procedures. (d) FRINGE BENEFITS AND PERQUISITES. Executive shall be entitled to participate in or receive benefits under any plan or arrangement generally made available to the employees or executive officers of Employer, including the Employer's Key Employee Long-Term Performance and Annual Incentive Plans and 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan for equity including periodic grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, and/or restricted stock, all subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions, and overall administration of such plans and arrangements and as approved by Employer's Board of Directors in its sole discretion. To the extent permitted by law and the terms of Employer's benefit plans, including Employer's Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan and Benefit Restoration Plan, prior service by Executive with a subsidiary of Employer shall be credited as service with Employer for purposes of vesting of any benefit. Employer shall furnish Executive with an automobile for the duration of this Agreement consistent with Employer's policies on automobiles furnished senior corporate executives. (e) VACATIONS. In accordance with the policies of Employer, Executive shall be entitled to the number of paid vacation days in each calendar year determined by Employer from time to time for its employees generally, but not fewer than twenty (20) business days in any calendar year (prorated in any calendar year in which Executive is employed hereunder for less than the entire year in accordance with the number of days in such calendar year during which Executive is so employed). (f) INSURANCE. Employer shall (to the extent Executive elects to participate in such coverage where optional) provide life insurance coverage, disability insurance, and hospital, surgical, medical, and dental benefits for Executive and his qualified dependents, all on such terms as Employer normally provides such benefits for its salaried employees and dependents. 6. TERMINATION. (a) Executive's employment will terminate upon his death, or if he is unable to perform the functions of his position with reasonable accommodation for four (4) consecutive months, or for a total of six (6) months during any twelve (12) month period. (b) Employer may terminate Executive's employment at any time without notice for Cause or, following thirty (30) days written notice to Executive, without Cause. (c) Executive may terminate his employment upon thirty (30) days written notice to Employer. In the event Executive terminates his employment in this manner, he shall remain in Employer's employ subject to all terms and conditions of this Agreement for the entire thirty (30) day period unless instructed otherwise by Employer. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT PAGE 4 (d) Executive may terminate this Agreement for Good Reason. Prior to terminating the Agreement for Good Reason, Executive must give Employer thirty (30) days advance written notice of his intent to terminate for Good Reason and the grounds therefore, such that Employer has the opportunity to cure and/or rectify the alleged breach. Only if Employer does not cure the alleged breach at the end of thirty (30) days may Executive terminate for Good Reason. 7. SEVERANCE. Executive shall be entitled to the following compensation upon termination of his employment resulting from: (a) TERMINATION RESULTING FROM DEATH OR DISABILITY. In the event Executive's employment is terminated as a result of his death or disability, Executive or his estate shall be entitled to the following: (i) such life insurance or disability benefits as Executive may be entitled to pursuant to any life or disability insurance then maintained by the Employer for the benefit of its employees and executive officers and, in addition thereto, Employer shall pay a lump sum payment of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) to Executive or his estate; (ii) a pro-rata share of Discretionary Bonus in an amount as determined by Employer's Board of Directors in their sole discretion, payable no later than November 1 following the end of Employer's fiscal year during which termination occurs; (iii) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Employer's Key Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan, payment, at such time as all other participants in that plan receive payment, of any cash incentive attributable to periods during which Executive was employed; (iv) to the extent permitted by the terms and conditions of Employer's 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan or other applicable equity incentive plan(s) and to the extent authorized by the terms of each of Executive's outstanding award or grant agreements entered into pursuant to such plan(s), immediate vesting of all stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, and/or stock options previously awarded Executive; and (v) to the extent permitted by the terms and conditions of the Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan and Benefit Restoration Plan maintained by the Employer, crediting of any Employer contribution to the Executive's account attributable to the plan year during which termination occurs and accelerated full vesting of any previously unvested Employer contributions to the Executive's account in such plans. (b) TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE BY EMPLOYER OR FOR GOOD REASON BY EXECUTIVE. In the event Executive's employment is terminated without Cause by the Employer or for Good Reason by the Executive, Executive shall be entitled to the following: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT PAGE 5 (i) lump sum payment of an amount equal to 1.5 times Executive's then current annual base salary; (ii) a cash payment in lieu of Discretionary Bonus equal to 1.5 times the average annual Discretionary Bonus received by Executive for the five year period ended with Employer's last complete fiscal year prior to termination without Cause by the Employer or for Good Reason by the Executive; and (ii) all those additional amounts described above in 7(a)ii, iii, iv and v. (c) TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. In the event Executive's employment is terminated for Cause the Executive shall not be entitled to compensation. (d) TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE BY EMPLOYER OR FOR GOOD REASON BY EXECUTIVE WITHIN TWELVE MONTHS FOLLOWING A CHANGE OF CONTROL. If, within twelve months following a Change in Control, Executive's employment is terminated by the Employer for any reason other than for Cause, Death or Disability or if Executive terminates employment for Good Reason during such twelve month period, Executive shall be entitled to the following: (i) lump sum payment of two times Executive's then current annual base salary; (ii) a cash payment in lieu of Discretionary Bonus equal to two times the average annual Discretionary Bonus received by Executive for the five year period ended with Employer's last complete fiscal year prior to the Change of Control; and (iii) all those additional amounts described above in 7 (a)iii, iv and v. (e) EMPLOYER'S NON-RENEWAL OF AGREEMENT. In the event, pursuant to Paragraph 3, the Employer elects not to renew this Employment Agreement, either at the end of the initial term or any successive one year extension, Executive shall receive a lump sum payment of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00). 8. NON-COMPETITION, NON-SOLICITATION, AND CONFIDENTIALITY. Employer and Executive acknowledge and agree that while Executive is employed pursuant to this Agreement, he will have access to Confidential Information of Employer and its Affiliates, will be provided with specialized training on how to perform his duties; and will be provided contact with Employer's and Affiliates' customers and potential customers. In consideration of all of the foregoing, Employer and Executive agree as follows: (a) NON-COMPETITION DURING EMPLOYMENT. Executive agrees that for the duration of this Agreement, he will not compete with Employer by engaging in the conception, design, development, production, marketing, sourcing or servicing of any product or service that is substantially similar to the products or services which Employer or Affiliates provides, and that he will not work for, in any capacity, assist, or become EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT PAGE 6 affiliated with as an owner, partner, etc., either directly or indirectly, any individual or business which offers or performs services, or offers or provides products substantially similar to the services and products provided by Employer or Affiliates. (b) NON-COMPETITION AFTER EMPLOYMENT. Executive agrees that for a period of eighteen months after termination of his employment with Employer for any reason other than for Executive's termination for Good Cause or Employer's non-renewal of this Agreement, he will not compete with Employer or Affiliates by engaging in the conception, design, development, production, marketing, sourcing or servicing of any product or service that is substantially similar to the products or services which Employer or Affiliates provides, and that he will not work for, in any capacity, assist, or become affiliated with as an owner, partner, etc., either directly or indirectly, any individual or business which offers or performs services, or offers or provides products substantially similar to the services and products provided by Employer or Affiliates . (c) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. Executive agrees that for the duration of this Agreement, he will not engage, either directly or indirectly, in any Conflict of Interest, and that Executive will promptly inform the Chairman of the Audit Committee of Employer's Board of Directors as to each offer received by Executive to engage in any such activity. Executive further agrees to disclose to Employer any other facts of which Executive becomes aware which might involve or give rise to a Conflict of Interest or potential Conflict of Interest. (d) NON-SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES. Executive further agrees that for a period of eighteen months after the termination of this Agreement for any reason other than for Employer's non-renewal of this Agreement he will not either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or on behalf of others (i) solicit or accept any business from any customer or supplier or prospective customer or supplier with whom Executive personally dealt or solicited at any time on or after September 1, 1999 on behalf of Employer or Affiliates, or (ii), solicit, attempt to hire, or hire any employees of Employer or Affiliates to work for Executive or for any other entity, firm, corporation, or individual.. (e) CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Executive further agrees that he will not, except as Employer may otherwise consent or direct in writing, reveal or disclose, sell, use, lecture upon, publish, or otherwise disclose to any third party any Confidential Information or proprietary information of Employer or Affiliates, or authorize anyone else to do these things at any time either during or subsequent to his employment with Employer. If Executive becomes legally compelled by deposition, subpoena or other court or governmental action to disclose any Confidential Information, then the Executive shall give Employer prompt notice to that effect, and will cooperate with Employer if Employer seeks to obtain a protective order concerning the Confidential Information. Executive will disclose only such Confidential Information as his counsel shall advise is legally required. Executive agrees to deliver to Employer, at any time Employer may request, all documents, memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, and other documentation, models, components, devices, or computer software, whether embodied in electronic format on a computer hard drive, disk or in other form (and all copies of all of the foregoing), relating to the businesses, operations or affairs of Employer or any Affiliates and any other Confidential EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT PAGE 7 Information that Executive may then possess or have under his control. This section shall continue in full force and effect after termination of Executive's employment and after the termination of this Agreement for any reason, including expiration of this Agreement. Executive's obligations under this section of this Agreement with respect to any specific Confidential Information and proprietary information shall cease when that specific portion of Confidential Information and proprietary information becomes publicly known, in its entirety and without combining portions of such information obtained separately and without breach by Executive of his obligations under this Agreement. It is understood that such Confidential Information and proprietary information of Employer and Affiliates includes matters that Executive conceives or develops, as well as matters Executive learns from other employees of Employer or Affiliates. (f) BREACH. Executive agrees that any breach of Paragraphs 8(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above cannot be remedied solely by money damages, and that in addition to any other remedies Employer may have, Employer is entitled to obtain injunctive relief against Executive. Nothing herein, however, shall be construed as limiting Employer's right to pursue any other available remedy at law or in equity, including recovery of damages and termination of this Agreement. If the Executive is found to have violated Paragraph 8 (b), the Parties agree that the duration of the non-competition period set forth therein shall be automatically extended by the same period of time that Executive is determined to have been in violation of the restriction. 9. ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement may be assigned by Employer, but cannot be assigned by Executive. 10. BINDING AGREEMENT. Executive understands that his obligations under this Agreement are binding upon Executive's heirs, successors, personal representatives, and legal representatives. 11. NOTICES. All notices pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and sent certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed as follows: IF TO EXECUTIVE: IF TO EMPLOYER: Murray R. McClean Stanley A. Rabin - Chairman, CEO, 5323 Tennington Park and President Dallas, Texas 75287 Commercial Metals Company 6565 N. MacArthur Blvd. WITH A COPY TO: Suite 800 Irving, Texas 750397 Dan C. Dargene, Esq. Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C. WITH A COPY TO: 5400 Renaissance Tower 1201 Elm Street David M. Sudbury, Esq. Dallas, Texas 75270 Commercial Metals Company 6565 N. MacArthur Blvd. Suite 800 Irving, Texas 750397 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT PAGE 8 12. WAIVER. No waiver by either Party to this Agreement of any right to enforce any term or condition of this Agreement, or of any breach hereof, shall be deemed a waiver of such right in the future or of any other right or remedy available under this Agreement. 13. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be void, invalid, unenforceable, or against public policy, such provisions shall be deemed severable from the Agreement, and the remaining provisions of the Agreement will remain unaffected and in full force and effect. Furthermore, any breach by Employer of any provision of this Agreement shall not excuse Executive's compliance with the requirements of Paragraph 8 to the extent otherwise enforceable. 14. ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING. The terms and provisions contained herein shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to Executive's employment with Employer during the time period covered by this Agreement. This Agreement replaces and supersedes any and all existing agreements, including that employment agreement dated September 1, 1999. as amended, entered into between the Parties. The Parties represent and warrant that they have read and understood each and every provision of this Agreement, and that they are free to obtain advice from legal counsel of choice, if necessary and desired, in order to interpret any and all provisions of this Agreement, and that both Parties have voluntarily entered into this Agreement. 15. EFFECTIVE DATE. It is understood that this Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and that the terms of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect both during Executive's employment and where applicable thereafter. 16. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above. EXECUTIVE EMPLOYER MURRAY R. McCLEAN COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY /s/ MURRAY R. MCCLEAN By: /s/ STANLEY A. RABIN - -------------------------------- ----------------------------------- Stanley A. Rabin Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT PAGE 9 EX-10.2 3 d25837exv10w2.txt FORM OF 1996 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 10.2 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY 1996 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD Pursuant to the Commercial Metals Company 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "PLAN") for employees of Commercial Metals Company, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY") and its Subsidiaries, _________________________________ (the "PARTICIPANT") has been granted a Restricted Stock Award under the Plan. 1. Terms of Award. The number of shares of Common Stock awarded under this Award Agreement is __________ shares (the "AWARDED SHARES"). The Date of Grant of this Award is ______________, 200_. 2. Subject to Plan. This Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, and the terms of the Plan shall control to the extent not otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement. The capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Plan shall have the same meanings assigned to them in the Plan. This Award Agreement is subject to any rules promulgated pursuant to the Plan by the Board or the Administrator and communicated to the Participant in writing. 3. Vesting. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement and subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Plan, the Awarded Shares shall be vested as follows: [COMPENSATION COMMITTEE TO ESTABLISH VESTING SCHEDULE FOR EACH AWARD PRIOR TO GRANT:] (a) ___________ PERCENT (___%) OF THE AWARDED SHARES SHALL VEST ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF GRANT, PROVIDED THE PARTICIPANT IS PROVIDING SERVICES AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COMPANY ON THAT DATE. (b) AN ADDITIONAL ______________ PERCENT (____%) OF THE AWARDED SHARES SHALL VEST ON THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF GRANT, PROVIDED THE PARTICIPANT IS PROVIDING SERVICES AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COMPANY ON THAT DATE. [REPEAT FOR EACH YEAR IN WHICH THE SHARES VEST, USING THE NEXT PARAGRAPH FOR THE FINAL YEAR] (c) THE REMAINING ______________ PERCENT (____%) OF THE AWARDED SHARES SHALL VEST ON THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF GRANT, PROVIDED THE PARTICIPANT IS PROVIDING SERVICES AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COMPANY ON THAT DATE. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Awarded Shares not previously vested shall become fully vested immediately upon (i) the Participant's death; (ii) the Participant's Termination of Service as a result of his or her Total and Permanent Disability; (iii) the Participant's Termination of Service as a result of his or her Retirement; or (iv) the occurrence of a Change in Control. 1 4. Forfeiture of Awarded Shares. Awarded Shares that are not vested in accordance with Section 3 shall be forfeited on the date of the Participant's Termination of Service. Upon forfeiture, all of the Participant's rights with respect to the forfeited Awarded Shares shall cease and terminate, without any further obligations on the part of the Company. 5. Restrictions on Awarded Shares. The Participant shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge or assign Awarded Shares that are not vested in accordance with Section 3 and which are subject to forfeiture in accordance with Section 4. 6. Rights of a Shareholder. During the Restriction Period or until forfeiture of the nonvested Awarded Shares, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote the Awarded Shares and the right to receive dividends paid with respect thereto. Any stock dividends paid with respect to Awarded Shares (whether vested or unvested) shall at all times be treated as Awarded Shares and shall be subject to all restrictions placed on Awarded Shares; any such stock dividends paid with respect to unvested Awarded Shares shall vest as the unvested Awarded Shares become vested. 7. Legend. The following legend shall be placed on all certificates representing Awarded Shares: On the face of the certificate: "Transfer of this stock is restricted in accordance with conditions printed on the reverse of this certificate." On the reverse: "The shares evidenced by this certificate are subject to and transferable only in accordance with that certain Commercial Metals Company 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan, a copy of which is on file at the principal office of the Company in Dallas, Texas. No transfer or pledge of the shares evidenced hereby may be made except in accordance with and subject to the provisions of said Plan. By acceptance of this certificate any holder, transferee or pledgee hereof agrees to be bound by all of the provisions of said Plan." The following legend shall be inserted on a certificate evidencing Common Stock issued under the Plan if the shares were not issued in a transaction registered under the applicable federal and state securities laws: "Shares of stock represented by this certificate have been acquired by the holder for investment and not for resale, transfer or distribution, have been issued pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of applicable state and federal securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold or transferred other than pursuant to effective registration under such laws, or in transactions otherwise in compliance with such laws, and upon evidence satisfactory to the Company of compliance with such laws, as to which the Company may rely upon an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company." All Awarded Shares owned by the Participant shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement and shall be represented by a certificate or certificates bearing the foregoing legend. 2 8. Delivery of Certificates. Certificates for Awarded Shares free of restriction under this Agreement shall be delivered to the Participant promptly after, and only after, the Restriction Period has expired, such shares are no longer subject to forfeiture pursuant to Section 4 and the Participant has requested delivery of certificated shares. Certificates for shares of Common Stock forfeited pursuant to Section 4 shall be promptly returned to the Company by the Participant. In connection with the issuance of a certificate for Restricted Stock, the Participant shall endorse such certificate in blank or execute a stock power in a form satisfactory to the Company in blank and deliver such certificate and executed stock power to the Company. In addition, the Participant, by his or her acceptance of the Awarded Shares and execution of this Agreement, irrevocably grants the Company a power of attorney to transfer any shares forfeited pursuant to Section 4 to the Company and agrees to execute any documents requested by the Company in connection with any such forfeiture and transfer. 9. Voting. The Participant, as record holder of the Awarded Shares has the exclusive right to vote, or consent with respect to, such Awarded Shares until such time as the Awarded Shares are transferred in accordance with this Agreement or a proxy is granted pursuant to Section 10 below; provided, however, that this Section 9 shall not create any voting right where the holders of such Awarded Shares otherwise have no such right. 10. Proxies. Participant may not grant a proxy to any person, other than a revocable proxy not to exceed 30 days in duration granted to another stockholder for the sole purpose of voting for directors of the Company. 11. Representations, Etc. Each spouse individually is bound by, and such spouse's interest, if any, in any Awarded Shares is subject to, the terms of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall create a community property interest where none otherwise exists. 12. Simultaneous Death. If Participant and his or her spouse both suffer a common accident or casualty which results in their respective deaths within 60 days of each other, it shall be conclusively presumed, for the purpose of this Agreement, that the Participant died first and the spouse died thereafter. 13. Specific Performance. The parties acknowledge that remedies at law will be inadequate remedies for breach of this Agreement and consequently agree that this Agreement shall be enforceable by specific performance. The remedy of specific performance shall be cumulative of all of the rights and remedies at law or in equity of the parties under this Agreement. 14. Participant's Representations. Notwithstanding any of the provisions hereof, the Participant hereby agrees that he will not acquire any Awarded Shares, and that the Company will not be obligated to issue any Awarded Shares to the Participant hereunder, if the issuance of such shares shall constitute a violation by the Participant or the Company of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority. Any determination in this connection by the Company shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The obligations of the Company and the rights of the Participant are subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. 15. Participant's Acknowledgments. The Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, which is annexed hereto, and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts this Award subject to all the terms and provisions thereof. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board or the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Agreement. 3 16. Law Governing. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas (excluding any conflict of laws rule or principle of Texas law that might refer the governance, construction, or interpretation of this agreement to the laws of another state). 17. Legal Construction. In the event that any one or more of the terms, provisions, or agreements that are contained in this Agreement shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable term, provision, or agreement shall not affect any other term, provision, or agreement that is contained in this Agreement and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable term, provision, or agreement had never been contained herein. 18. Covenants and Agreements as Independent Agreements. Each of the covenants and agreements that is set forth in this Agreement shall be construed as a covenant and agreement independent of any other provision of this Agreement. The existence of any claim or cause of action of the Participant against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the covenants and agreements that are set forth in this Agreement. 19. Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with the Plan supersede any and all other prior understandings and agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and constitute the sole and only agreements between the parties with respect to the said subject matter. All prior negotiations and agreements between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof are merged into this Agreement. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises, or agreements, orally or otherwise, have been made by any party or by anyone acting on behalf of any party, which are not embodied in this Agreement or the Plan and that any agreement, statement or promise that is not contained in this Agreement or the Plan shall not be valid or binding or of any force or effect. 20. Parties Bound. The terms, provisions, and agreements that are contained in this Agreement shall apply to, be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, and permitted successors and assigns, subject to the limitation on assignment expressly set forth herein. No person or entity shall be permitted to acquire any Awarded Shares without first executing and delivering an agreement in the form satisfactory to the Company making such person or entity subject to the restrictions on transfer contained in Sections 4 and 5 hereof. 21. Modification. No change or modification of this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon the parties unless the change or modification is in writing and signed by the parties; provided, however, that the Company may change or modify this Agreement without the Participant's consent or signature if the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that such change or modification is necessary for purposes of compliance with or exemption from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or any regulations or other guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Company may amend the Plan to the extent permitted by the Plan. 22. Headings. The headings that are used in this Agreement are used for reference and convenience purposes only and do not constitute substantive matters to be considered in construing the terms and provisions of this Agreement. 23. Gender and Number. Words of any gender used in this Agreement shall be held and construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular number shall be held to include the plural, and vice versa, unless the context requires otherwise. 4 24. Notice. Any notice required or permitted to be delivered hereunder shall be deemed to be delivered only when actually received by the Company or by the Participant, as the case may be, at the addresses set forth below, or at such other addresses as they have theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance herewith: (a) Notice to the Company shall be addressed and delivered as follows: Commercial Metals Company 6565 N. MacArthur, Suite 800 Irving, Texas 75039 Attn: Secretary Facsimile: (214)689-4326 (b) Notice to the Participant shall be addressed and delivered as set forth on the signature page. 25. Tax Requirements. The Participant is hereby advised to consult immediately with his or her own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of this Agreement , the method and timing for filing an election to include this Agreement in income under Section 83(b) of the Code, and the tax consequences of such election. By execution of this Agreement, the Participant agrees that if the Participant makes such an election, the Participant shall provide the Company with written notice of such election in accordance with the regulations promulgated under Code Section 83(b). The Company or, if applicable, any Subsidiary (for purposes of this Section 25, the term "COMPANY" shall be deemed to include any applicable Subsidiary), shall have the right to require the Participant receiving shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan to pay the Company the amount of any taxes that the Company is required to withhold in connection with the Participant's income arising with respect to this Award. Such payments shall be required to be made when requested by the Company and shall be required to be made prior to the delivery of any certificate representing shares of Common Stock. Such payment may be made in cash, by check, or, to the extent permitted by the Committee, through the delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant (which may be effected by the actual delivery of shares of Common Stock by the Participant or, with the Committee's approval, by the Company's withholding a number of shares to be issued upon the conversion of an Award, if applicable), which shares have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the required minimum withholding payment, or any combination thereof. [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS] 5 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and the Participant, to evidence his consent and approval of all the terms hereof, has duly executed this Agreement, as of the date specified in Section 1 hereof. COMPANY: COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY By: _________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ PARTICIPANT: _____________________________________ Signature Name: _______________________________ Address: ____________________________ ____________________________ 6 EX-10.3 4 d25837exv10w3.txt FORM OF 1996 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 10.3 COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY 1996 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT 1. Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Pursuant to the Commercial Metals Company 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "PLAN"), Commercial Metals Company, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), hereby grants to _______________________________ (the "PARTICIPANT") Stock Appreciation Rights relating to the appreciation in _________ shares of Common Stock of the Company (the "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS" or "SARs") at an exercise price (the "SAR PRICE") of $__________ per share (which is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the Date of Grant), all upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. This SAR Agreement is intended to comply with the provisions governing stock appreciation rights under Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-1 in order to exempt the SARs from application of Section 409A of the Code. 2. Date of Grant. The Date of Grant of the Stock Appreciation Rights is _______________, 200__. 3. Subject to Plan. The SARs and this Agreement are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, and the terms of the Plan shall control to the extent not otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, the capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Plan shall have the same meanings assigned to them in the Plan. The SARs are subject to any rules promulgated pursuant to the Plan by the Board or the Committee and communicated to the Participant in writing. 4. Vesting; Time of Exercise. The Participant shall become vested in installments of shares of Stock Appreciation Rights awarded to the Participant and such shares shall become fully exercisable in accordance with the following schedule: [COMPENSATION COMMITTEE TO ESTABLISH VESTING SCHEDULE FOR EACH AWARD PRIOR TO GRANT:] a. ___________ PERCENT (___%) SHALL VEST AND BECOME EXERCISABLE ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF GRANT, PROVIDED THE PARTICIPANT IS EMPLOYED BY THE COMPANY OR A SUBSIDIARY ON THAT DATE. b. AN ADDITIONAL ___________ PERCENT (___%) SHALL VEST AND BECOME EXERCISABLE ON THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF GRANT, PROVIDED THE PARTICIPANT IS EMPLOYED BY THE COMPANY OR A SUBSIDIARY ON THAT DATE. c. AN ADDITIONAL ___________ PERCENT (___%) SHALL VEST AND BECOME EXERCISABLE ON THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF GRANT, PROVIDED THE PARTICIPANT IS EMPLOYED BY THE COMPANY OR A SUBSIDIARY ON THAT DATE. d. AN ADDITIONAL ___________ PERCENT (___%) SHALL VEST AND BECOME EXERCISABLE ON THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF GRANT, PROVIDED THE PARTICIPANT IS EMPLOYED BY THE COMPANY OR A SUBSIDIARY ON THAT DATE. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the vesting of shares under this SAR Agreement shall automatically accelerate and the Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable in full upon (i) the Participant's death, (ii) the Participant's Termination of Service as a result of his Total and Permanent Disability, (iii) the Participant's Retirement, or (iv) the occurrence of a Change of Control. 5. Term; Forfeiture. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, unexercised SARs that are unvested on the date of the Participant's Termination of Service shall terminate on that date. Unexercised SARs that are vested shall terminate on the first to occur of the following: a. 5 p.m. on ______, 200_ (the period of time extending from the date of this Agreement to such date being referred to herein as the "SARs PERIOD"); b. 5:00 p.m. on the date that is ______ (___) months following the Participant's Termination of Service due to Retirement; c. 5 p.m. on the date that is twelve (12) months following the date of the Participant's Termination of Service due to death or Total and Permanent Disability; or d. 5 p.m. on the date of the Participant's Termination of Service for any reason other than due to Retirement, death or Total and Permanent Disability. 6. Exercise and Payment. The Participant may exercise vested SARs at any time prior to the termination of the SARs in accordance with Section 5 above by the delivery of written notice to the Committee setting forth the number of vested shares of Stock Appreciation Rights which are to be exercised and the date of exercise thereof (the "Exercise Date") which shall be a date not less than three (3) business days after giving such notice, unless an earlier date and time shall have been mutually agreed upon. On the Exercise Date, the Company shall deliver to the Participant the number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value, as of the Exercise Date, equal to the excess (if any) of (i) the Fair Market Value as of the Exercise Date of a share of Common Stock over (ii) the SAR Price of a share specified in this Agreement, multiplied by the total number of shares of SARs being exercised. 7. No Fractional Shares. SARs may be exercised only with respect to full shares, and no fractional share of stock shall be issued. 8. Who May Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 4 and 5 above, during the lifetime of the Participant, SARs may only be exercised by the Participant or his guardian or legal representative. If the Participant dies prior to the dates specified in Section 5 above without having exercised all of his or her then-vested SARs as of his or her date of death, then the following persons may exercise the exercisable portion of the SARs on behalf of the Participant at any time prior to the earliest of the dates specified in Section 5 hereof: the personal representative of his or her estate or any person who acquired the right to exercise the SARs by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the death of the Participant; provided that the SARs shall remain subject to the other terms of this Agreement, the Plan and all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. 9. Non-Assignability. The Stock Appreciation Rights granted under this Agreement, and any interest in or right associated with such Stock Appreciation Rights, are not assignable or transferable by the Participant except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. 2 10. Representations, Etc. Each spouse individually is bound by, and such spouse's interest, if any, in any Awarded Shares is subject to, the terms of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall create a community property interest where none otherwise exists. 11. Simultaneous Death. If the Participant and his or her spouse both suffer a common accident or casualty which results in their respective deaths within 60 days of each other, it shall be conclusively presumed, for the purpose of this Agreement, that the Participant died first and the spouse died thereafter. 12. Specific Performance. The parties acknowledge that remedies at law will be inadequate remedies for breach of this Agreement and consequently agree that this Agreement shall be enforceable by specific performance. The remedy of specific performance shall be cumulative of all of the rights and remedies at law or in equity of the parties under this Agreement. 13. No Rights as Shareholder. The Participant will have no rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to any shares of Stock Appreciation Rights. 14. Adjustment of Number of Shares and Related Matters. The number of shares of Common Stock covered by the SARs, and the SAR Price thereof, shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Articles 13 - 15 of the Plan and Section 22 below. 15. Participant's Acknowledgments. The Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, which is annexed hereto, and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts the SARs subject to all the terms and provisions thereof. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee or the Board, as appropriate, upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Agreement. 16. Law Governing. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas (excluding any conflict of laws rule or principle of Texas law that might refer the governance, construction, or interpretation of this agreement to the laws of another state). 17. No Right to Continue Service or Employment. Nothing herein shall be construed to confer upon the Participant the right to continue in the employ or to provide services to the Company or any Subsidiary, whether as an Employee or as a consultant or as an outside director, or interfere with or restrict in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to discharge the Participant as an Employee, consultant or outside director at any time. 18. Legal Construction. In the event that any one or more of the terms, provisions, or agreements that are contained in this Agreement shall be held by a Court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable term, provision, or agreement shall not affect any other term, provision, or agreement that is contained in this Agreement and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable term, provision, or agreement had never been contained herein. 19. Covenants and Agreements as Independent Agreements. Each of the covenants and agreements that is set forth in this Agreement shall be construed as a covenant and agreement independent of any other provision of this Agreement. The existence of any claim or cause of action of the Participant against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the covenants and agreements that are set forth in this Agreement. 3 20. Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with the Plan supersede any and all other prior understandings and agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and constitute the sole and only agreements between the parties with respect to the said subject matter. All prior negotiations and agreements between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof are merged into this Agreement. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises, or agreements, orally or otherwise, have been made by any party or by anyone acting on behalf of any party, which are not embodied in this Agreement or the Plan and that any agreement, statement or promise that is not contained in this Agreement or the Plan shall not be valid or binding or of any force or effect. 21. Parties Bound. The terms, provisions, and agreements that are contained in this Agreement shall apply to, be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, and permitted successors and assigns, subject to the limitation on assignment expressly set forth herein. 22. Modification. No change or modification of this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon the parties unless the change or modification is in writing and signed by the parties; provided, however, that the Company may change or modify the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the SAR Price, without the Participant's consent or signature if the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that such change or modification is necessary for purposes of compliance with or exemption from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or any regulations or other guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Company may amend the Plan or revoke the SARs to the extent permitted by the Plan. 23. Headings. The headings that are used in this Agreement are used for reference and convenience purposes only and do not constitute substantive matters to be considered in construing the terms and provisions of this Agreement. 24. Gender and Number. Words of any gender used in this Agreement shall be held and construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular number shall be held to include the plural, and vice versa, unless the context requires otherwise. 25. Notice. Any notice required or permitted to be delivered hereunder shall be deemed to be delivered only when actually received by the Company or by the Participant, as the case may be, at the addresses set forth below, or at such other addresses as they have theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance herewith: a. Notice to the Company shall be addressed and delivered as follows: Commercial Metals Company 6565 N. MacArthur, Suite 800 Irving, Texas 75039 Attn: Secretary Facsimile: (214)689-4326 b. Notice to the Participant shall be addressed and delivered as set forth on the signature page. 26. Tax Requirements. The Participant is hereby advised to consult immediately with his or her own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of this Agreement. The Company or, if applicable, any Subsidiary (for purposes of this Section 26, the term "COMPANY" shall be deemed to include any 4 applicable Subsidiary), shall have the right to require the Participant receiving shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan to pay the Company the amount of any taxes that the Company is required to withhold in connection with the Participant's income arising with respect to this Award. Such payments shall be required to be made when requested by the Company and shall be required to be made prior to the delivery of any certificate representing shares of Common Stock. Such payment may be made in cash, by check, or, to the extent permitted by the Committee, through the delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant (which may be effected by the actual delivery of shares of Common Stock by the Participant or, with the Committee's approval, by the Company's withholding a number of shares to be issued upon the exercise of a SAR, if applicable), which shares have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the required minimum withholding payment, or any combination thereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and the Participant, to evidence his or her consent and approval of all the terms hereof, has duly executed this Agreement, as of the ____ day of _________________, 200___. COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY By: __________________________________ PARTICIPANT By: __________________________________ Participant's Address for Notices: ______________________________________ ______________________________________ 5 EX-10.4 5 d25837exv10w4.txt AMENDED/RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 10.4 EXECUTION COPY ================================================================================ Published CUSIP Number _______________ FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of May 23, 2005 among COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY, as the Borrower, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer, THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, LTD. as Syndication Agent, BNP PARIBAS SCOTIABANC, INC. and WELLS FARGO HSBC TRADE BANK, as Co-Documentation Agents, and The Other Lenders Party Hereto ================================================================================ BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as Book Manager and Lead Arranger Table of Contents

i Table of Contents (continued)

ii Table of Contents (continued)

iii SCHEDULES 1.01 Existing Letters of Credit 2.01 Commitments and Pro Rata Shares 5.01 Subsidiaries 5.06 Supplement to Interim Financial Statements 7.01 Existing Liens 10.02 Administrative Agent's Office, Certain Addresses for Notices 10.06 Processing and Recordation Fees EXHIBITS FORM OF A Revolving Loan Notice B Revolving Loan Note C Compliance Certificate D Assignment and Assumption E Swing Line Note F Swing Line Notice iv FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT This FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into as of May 23, 2005, among COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the "Lenders" and individually, a "Lender"), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer, and THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, LTD., as Syndication Agent, BNP PARIBAS, SCOTIABANC, INC. and WELLS FARGO HSBC TRADE BANK, as Co-Documentation Agents. The Borrower, certain of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2003, providing for a credit facility to the Borrower in the maximum principal amount of $275,000,000.00 (as heretofore amended and as in effect on the date of this Agreement, the "Existing Credit Agreement"). The parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement as hereafter set forth. The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein. In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree that the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows: ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS 1.01 DEFINED TERMS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: "Act" has the meaning specified in Section 10.19. "Administrative Agent" means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent. "Administrative Agent's Office" means the Administrative Agent's address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account of which the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders. "Administrative Questionnaire" means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent. "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. "Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. "Controlling" and "Controlled" have meanings correlative thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to be Controlled by another Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, 1 power to vote 5% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managing general partners or the equivalent. "Agent-Related Persons" means the Administrative Agent, together with its Affiliates (including, in the case of Bank of America in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, the Arranger), and the officers, directors, employees, agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates. "Aggregate Commitments" means the Commitments of all the Lenders. "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement. "Applicable Law" means (a) in respect of any Person, all provisions of Laws applicable to such Person, and all orders and decrees of all courts and determinations of arbitrators applicable to such Person and (b) in respect of contracts made or performed in the State of Texas, "Applicable Law" shall also mean the Laws of the United States of America, including, without limiting the foregoing, 12 USC Sections 85 and 86, as amended to the date hereof and as the same may be amended at any time and from time to time hereafter, and any other statute of the United States of America now or at any time hereafter prescribing the maximum rates of interest on loans and extensions of credit, and the Laws of the State of Texas, including, without limitation, Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code, as amended, and any other statute of the State of Texas now or at any time hereafter prescribing maximum rates of interest on loans and extensions of credit; provided that the parties hereto agree pursuant to Texas Finance Code Section 346.004 that the provisions of Chapter 346 of the Texas Finance Code, shall not apply to Loans, the Letters of Credit, this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Documents. "Applicable Rate" means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:

"Debt Rating" means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Moody's of the Borrower's non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt (collectively, the "Debt Ratings"); provided that if a Debt Rating is issued by each of the foregoing rating agencies, then the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest), 2 unless there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, in which case the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply. If the Borrower has no Debt Rating from either S&P or Moody's at the time (and provided that, at such time, S&P or Moody's (x) exist and (y) continue to issue Debt Ratings in the ordinary course of business), the Applicable Rate shall be deemed to be in Pricing Level 5. Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the Debt Rating specified in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(ix). Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, on the date of such public announcement and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. "Approved Fund" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g). "Arranger" means Banc of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as sole and exclusive lead arranger and sole and exclusive book manager. "Assignee Group" means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor. "Assignment and Assumption" means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit D. "Attorney Costs" means and includes all fees, expenses and disbursements of any Law firm or other external counsel. "Attributable Indebtedness" means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease. "Audited Financial Statements" means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto. "Auditors" means a Registered Public Accounting Firm acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders. "Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii). "Availability Period" means the period from and including the Closing Date to the Maturity Date. 3 "Bank of America" means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors. "Base Rate" means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its "prime rate." The "prime rate" is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America's costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. "Base Rate Loan" means a Revolving Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate. "Borrower" has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto. "Borrower Materials" has the meaning specified in Section 6.02. "Borrowing" means a Revolving Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require. "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent's Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan or Swing Line Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market. "Capital Lease" means, as of any date, any lease of property, real or personal, the obligations of the lessee in respect of which are required in accordance with GAAP to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee. "Capital Stock" means, as to any Person, the equity interests in such Person, including, without limitation, the shares of each class of capital stock in any Person that is a corporation, each class of partnership interest in any Person that is a partnership, and each class of membership interest in any Person that is a limited liability company, and any warrants or options to purchase or otherwise acquire any such equity interests. "Capitalized Rentals" means, for any Person and as of any date of any determination, the amount at which the aggregate Rentals due and to become due under all Capital Leases under which such Person is a lessee would be reflected as a liability on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person. "Cash and Cash Equivalents" means (a) cash, (b) marketable obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. Government or issued by any of its agencies and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S., in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition (and investments in mutual funds investing primarily in those obligations); (c) short-term investment grade domestic and eurodollar certificates of deposit or time deposits that are fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or are issued by commercial banks having combined capital, surplus, and undivided profits of not less than $100,000,000 (as shown 4 on its most recently published statement of condition); (d) commercial paper and similar obligations rated "P-1" or "P-2" by Moody's; or "A-1" or "A-2" by S&P; (e) readily marketable tax-free municipal bonds of a domestic issuer rated "Aaa" by Moody's, or "AAA" by S&P, and maturing within one year from the date of issuance (and investments in mutual funds investing primarily in those bonds); and (f) demand deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business. "Cash Collateralize" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g). "Change of Control" means, with respect to any Person, an event or series of events by which: (a) any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire (such right, an "option right"), whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the Voting Shares of such Person; or (b) during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors). "Closing Date" means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 4.01 (or, in the case of Section 4.01(b), waived by the Person entitled to receive the applicable payment). "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. "Commitment" means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, and (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 2.03 and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and 5 Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. "Compensation Period" has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(c)(ii). "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C. "Consolidated EBITDA" means Consolidated Net Income plus (a) interest expense, (b) income taxes, and (c) depreciation and amortization expense, in each case of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and computed on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP. "Consolidated Funded Debt" means all Funded Debt of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis and eliminating intercompany items. "Consolidated Interest Expense" means interest expense of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, computed on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP. "Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, for the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries computed on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (but excluding the effect of any extraordinary or other non-recurring gain or loss outside the ordinary course of business) for that period. "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the net book value of all assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, excluding any amounts carried as assets for shares of capital stock held in treasury, debt discount and expense, goodwill, patents, trademarks and other intangible assets, less all liabilities of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries (except Funded Debt, minority interests in consolidated Subsidiaries, deferred taxes and general contingency reserves of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries), which in each case would be included on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date of determination, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. "Consolidated Tangible Assets" means the net book value of all assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, excluding any amounts carried as assets for shares of capital stock held in treasury, debt discount and expense, goodwill, patents, trademarks and other intangible assets, which would be included on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date of determination, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" means the total shareholders' equity of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, calculated in accordance with GAAP and reflected on the most recent balance sheet of the Borrower, minus Intangible Assets. "Contractual Obligation" means, 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" has the meaning specified in the definition of "Affiliate." 6 "Credit Extension" means each of the following: (a) a Revolving Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension. "Daily Floating LIBOR Rate" means, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to BBA LIBOR, as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such day for Dollar deposits with a term equivalent to one (1) month. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in dollars in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Swing Line Loan being made by the Swing Line Lender and with a term equivalent to one (1) month would be offered by the Swing Line Lender's London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate on any day that is not a Business Day shall be the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate determined on the immediately preceding Business Day. Each change in the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate shall be effective, without notice to the Borrower or any other Person, upon the effective date of such change. "Debt Rating" has the meaning specified in the definition of "Applicable Rate." "Debt to Capitalization Ratio" means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Debt as of such date to (b) Total Capitalization as of such date. "Debtor Relief Laws" means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally. "Default" means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default. "Default Rate" means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, a per annum interest rate equal to the lesser of (i) the Highest Lawful Rate and (ii) the sum of the Base Rate (plus any Applicable Rate) plus two percent; provided, however, that with respect to a (x) Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be a per annum interest rate equal to the lesser of (A) the Highest Lawful Rate and (B) the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent and (y) Swing Line Loan, the Default Rate shall be a per annum interest rate equal to the lesser of (A) the Highest Lawful rate and (B) the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus two percent and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate per annum equal to the Applicable Rate plus two percent. "Defaulting Lender" means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Revolving Loans, participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded 7 by it hereunder, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding. "Disposition" or "Dispose" means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith, including any securitization, transfer or encumbrance of any accounts receivable. "Dividends," in respect of any Person, means cash dividends or any other distributions of property, or otherwise, on, or in respect of, any class of Capital Stock of such Person (other than dividends or other distributions payable solely in common stock of such Person or options, warrants or other rights to purchase common stock of such Person). "Dollar" and "$" mean lawful money of the United States. "Eligible Assignee" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g). "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, Laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems. "Environmental Liability" means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing. "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code). "ERISA Event" means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any 8 ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate. "Eurocurrency Liabilities" has the meaning specified in Section 3.04(c). "Eurodollar Rate" means for any Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate ("BBA LIBOR"), as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the "Eurodollar Rate" for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America's London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period. "Eurodollar Rate Loan" means a Revolving Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate. "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 8.01. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. "Existing Credit Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the Background provision of this Agreement. "Existing Letters of Credit" means those Letters of Credit set forth on Schedule 1.01 hereof. "Facility Fee" has the meaning specified in Section 2.09(a). "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for 9 such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent. "Fee Letter" means the letter agreement, dated as of March 22, 2005, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger. "Foreign Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 10.15(a)(i). "FRB" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States. "Fund" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g). "Funded Debt" of any Person means, as of the date of determination and without duplication (a) all Indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or which has been incurred in connection with the acquisition of plant, property and equipment, (b) all Capitalized Rentals of such Person, and (c) all Guaranties by such Person of Funded Debt of others; provided, however, at such time, if any, that Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness of such Person is classified as Indebtedness for borrowed money to be disclosed on a financial statement of such Person pursuant to GAAP, such amount of Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness shall, without duplication, be included as Funded Debt of such Person. "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied. "Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government. "Guarantee" means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any 10 assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term "Guarantee" as a verb has a corresponding meaning. "Hazardous Materials" means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law. "Highest Lawful Rate" means at the particular time in question the maximum rate of interest which, under Applicable Law, any Lender is then permitted to charge on the Obligations. If the maximum rate of interest which, under Applicable Law, any Lender is permitted to charge on the Obligations shall change after the date hereof, the Highest Lawful Rate shall be automatically increased or decreased, as the case may be, from time to time as of the effective time of each change in the Highest Lawful Rate without notice to the Borrower. For purposes of determining the Highest Lawful Rate under Applicable Law, on each day, if any, that Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code, as amended, establishes the Highest Lawful Rate, such rate shall be the weekly ceiling computed in accordance with Section 303.003 of the Texas Finance Code, as amended, for that day. "Increase Effective Date" has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(d). "Indebtedness" means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP: (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments; (b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers' acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments; (c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract; (d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business); (e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse; (f) Capital Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations; 11 (g) obligations in respect of Redeemable Stock of such Person; (h) Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness; and (i) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing. For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company or similar limited liability entity) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer and for whose Indebtedness such Person is directly or indirectly liable, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any Capital Lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date. "Indemnified Liabilities" has the meaning specified in Section 10.05. "Indemnitees" has the meaning specified in Section 10.05. "Intangible Assets" means as of the date of any determination thereof the total amount of all goodwill, patents, trade names, trade marks, copyrights, franchises, experimental expense, organizational expense, unamortized debt discount and expense, deferred assets (other than prepaid insurance, prepaid taxes, and supplies, spare parts, and other Tangible Assets which are treated as deferred assets on the books of the Borrower), the excess of cost of shares acquired over book value of related assets , and such other assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as are properly classified as "Intangible Assets" in accordance with GAAP. "Interest Coverage Ratio" means, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense, in each case for the then-most recently concluded period of four consecutive fiscal quarters. "Interest Payment Date" means, (a) as to any Revolving Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Revolving Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date; and (c) as to any Swing Line Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date. "Interest Period" means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Revolving Loan Notice; provided that: (i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such 12 Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day; (ii) 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 the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and (iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date. "Internal Control Event" means a material weakness in, or fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Borrower's "disclosure controls and procedures" or "internal controls over financial reporting", in each case as described in Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 promulgated under the Exchange Act. "IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service. "ISP" means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the "International Standby Practices 1998" published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at time of issuance). "L/C Advance" means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender's funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share. "L/C Borrowing" means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Revolving Borrowing. "L/C Credit Extension" means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof. "L/C Issuer" means Bank of America, Wells Fargo HSBC Trade Bank and up to four (4) additional Lenders approved by the Borrower and Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided that no Lender may be required to be an L/C Issuer without such Lender's consent in such Lender's sole discretion, in their respective capacities as issuers of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. "L/C Obligations" means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit will be deemed to be "outstanding" in the amount so remaining available to be drawn. "Laws" means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial 13 precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of Law. "Lender" has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. "Lending Office" means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender's Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. "Letter of Credit" means any letter of credit issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit. "Letter of Credit Application" means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by any L/C Issuer. "Letter of Credit Expiration Date" means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day). "Letter of Credit Fee" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(i). "Letter of Credit Sublimit" means an amount equal to $150,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments. "License" means any license, certificate of authority, permit, franchise or other authorization which is required to be obtained from any Governmental Authority in connection with the operation, ownership or transaction of insurance business. "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing). "Loan" means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving Loan or a Swing Line Loan. "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, each Revolving Loan Note, the Swing Line Note, the Fee Letter, and all other documents executed and delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection herewith. "Material Adverse Effect" means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or as to any 14 Material Subsidiary; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary to perform under any Loan Document; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of any Loan Document. "Material Domestic Subsidiary" means any Material Subsidiary organized under the laws of the United States, any State of the United States or the District of Columbia. "Material Property" means any facility (together with the land on which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof) used primarily for manufacturing, processing, research, warehousing or distribution, owned or leased by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower and (a) having a net book value in excess of 3% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, other than any such facility or portion thereof which is a pollution control facility financed by state or local government obligations or is not of material importance to the total business conducted or assets owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as an entirety, or (b) acquired with Net Proceeds from a sale and leaseback transaction and which is irrevocably designated by the Borrower as a Material Property, which designation shall be made in writing to the Administrative Agent. "Material Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that owns or leases a Material Property or owns or controls Capital Stock which under ordinary circumstances has the voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors (or similar governing body) of a Material Subsidiary. "Maturity Date" means the earliest of (a) May 23, 2010 or (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of any L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02. "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto. "Multiemployer Plan" means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions. "Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by any Person in respect of a sale or other disposition of property by such Person (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any such disposition), net of direct costs relating to such disposition, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions or tax sharing arrangements with respect to such disposition, and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness or other liabilities, secured by a Lien on the property or properties that were the subject of such disposition, or required to be paid as a result of such disposition, and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such property or properties established in accordance with GAAP. "New Commitments" has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a). 15 "Nonrenewal Notice Date" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii). "Notes" means the Revolving Loan Notes and the Swing Line Notes, collectively (and each, a "Note"). "Obligations" means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding. "Organization Documents" means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity. "Other Taxes" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(b). "Outstanding Amount" means (i) with respect to Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any Borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts. "Participant" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d). "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. "PCAOB" means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. "Pension Plan" means any "employee pension benefit plan" (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years. 16 "Permitted Liens" has the meaning specified in Section 7.01. "Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity. "Plan" means any "employee benefit plan" (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate. "Platform" has the meaning specified in Section 6.02. "Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to each Lender at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitment of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments at such time; provided that if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of any L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof. The initial Pro Rata Share of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable. "Public Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 6.02. "Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness" means the amount of obligations outstanding under a receivables purchase facility on any date of determination that would be characterized as principal if such facility were structured as a secured lending transaction rather than as a purchase transaction. "Redeemable Stock" means any Capital Stock of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which prior to June 20, 2010 is or may be (a) mandatorily redeemable, (b) redeemable at the option of the holder thereof or (c) convertible into Indebtedness. "Register" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(c). "Registered Public Accounting Firm" means an accounting firm that (a) has registered with the PCAOB pursuant to the provisions of Section 102 of Sarbanes-Oxley and whose registration has not been withdrawn, terminated, revoked or suspended and (b) meets the "independence" requirements of Section 10A of the Exchange Act. "Related Parties" means, with respect to any Person, such Person's Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates. "Rentals" means and includes as of the date of any determination thereof all fixed payments (including as such all payments which the lessee is obligated to make to the lessor on termination of the lease or surrender of the property) payable by the Borrower or a Material Subsidiary, as lessee or sublessee under a lease of real or personal property, but shall be 17 exclusive of any amounts required to be paid by the Borrower or a Material Subsidiary (whether or not designated as rents or additional rents) on account of maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes and similar charges. Fixed rents under any so-called "percentage leases" shall be computed solely on the basis of the minimum rents, if any, required to be paid by the lessee regardless of sales volume or gross revenues. "Reportable Event" means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived. "Request for Credit Extension" means (a) with respect to a Revolving Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Revolving Loans, a Revolving Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice. "Required Lenders" means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of any L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender's risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing line Loans being deemed "held" by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders. "Responsible Officer" means the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, controller, secretary or assistant secretary of the Borrower which shall be designated in writing by name and title by the Borrower. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower. "Revolving Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01. "Revolving Loan" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01. "Revolving Loan Note" means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Revolving Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B. "Revolving Loan Notice" means a notice of (a) a Revolving Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A. "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto. 18 "Sarbanes-Oxley" means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions. "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933. "Securities Laws" means the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, Sarbanes-Oxley and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB. "Securitizing Subsidiaries" means, collectively, CMC Steel Fabricators, Inc., d/b/a SMI Joist Co. (Hope, AR), Howell Metals Company, Owen Electric Steel Company of South Carolina, SMI Steel, Inc., and Structural Metals, Inc. "Solvent" means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, that the fair value of the assets of such Person (at fair valuation) is, on the date of determination, greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent and unliquidated liabilities) of such Person as of such date, that 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 probable liability of such Person on its debts as such debts become absolute and matured, and that, as of such date, such Person will be able to pay all liabilities of such Person as such liabilities mature and such Person does not have unreasonably small capital with which to carry on its business. In computing the amount of contingent or unliquidated liabilities at any time, such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability discounted to present value at rates believed to be reasonable by such Person. "Stock Redemptions", in respect of any Person, means any and all funds, cash or other payments made in respect of the redemption, repurchase or acquisition of such Capital Stock (specifically including, without limitation, a treasury stock purchase), unless such Capital Stock shall be redeemed or acquired through the exchange of such Capital Stock with Capital Stock of the same class or options or warrants to purchase such Capital Stock. "Subsidiary" of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the Voting Shares are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a "Subsidiary" or to "Subsidiaries" shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower. "Swap Contract" means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any 19 combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a "Master Agreement"), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement. "Swap Termination Value" means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after (a) taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts and (b) giving effect to the actual value of the underlying transactions to which such Swap Contracts relate, for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s). "Swing Line" mean the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04. "Swing Line Borrowing" means a borrowing by the Borrower of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04. "Swing Line Lender" means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder. "Swing Line Loan" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a). "Swing Line Loan Notice" means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit F. "Swing Line Note" means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of the Swing Line Lender evidencing Swing Line Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit E. "Swing Line Sublimit" means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $35,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments. "Synthetic Lease Obligation" means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment). "Tangible Assets" means as of the date of any determination thereof the total amount of all assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries (less depreciation, depletion and other properly deductible valuation reserves) after deducting Intangible Assets. 20 "Taxes" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a). "Total Capitalization" means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) Consolidated Tangible Net Worth as of such date and (b) Consolidated Funded Debt as of such date. "Total Outstandings" means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations. "Trade Date" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(b). "Type" means, with respect to a Revolving Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan. "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code of Texas or, where applicable to specific collateral, any other relevant state. "Unfunded Pension Liability" means the excess of a Pension Plan's benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan's assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year. "United States" and "U.S." mean the United States of America. "Unreimbursed Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i). "Voting Shares" of any Person means any class or classes of Capital Stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body of such Person, other than Capital Stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency. 1.02 OTHER INTERPRETIVE PROVISIONS. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document: (a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms. (i) The words "herein," "hereto," "hereof" and "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof. (ii) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears. (iii) The term "including" is by way of example and not limitation. (iv) The term "documents" includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form. 21 (b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including;" the words "to" and "until" each mean "to but excluding;" and the word "through" means "to and including." (c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. 1.03 ACCOUNTING TERMS. (a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. (b) If at any time any change in GAAP or any change in accounting treatment or practices required or permitted by any Governmental Authority, as applicable, would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP or required by any Governmental Authority, as applicable (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP or required by any Governmental Authority, as applicable. 1.04 ROUNDING. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number). 1.05 REFERENCES TO AGREEMENTS AND LAWS. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions and rulings consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law, and any reference to any Law shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such Law as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time. 22 1.06 TIMES OF DAY. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Central time (daylight or standard, as applicable). 1.07 LETTER OF CREDIT AMOUNTS. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit Application related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time. ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS 2.01 REVOLVING LOANS. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a "Revolving Loan") to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender's Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Revolving Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans, shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender's Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. 2.02 REVOLVING BORROWINGS, CONVERSIONS AND CONTINUATIONS OF REVOLVING LOANS. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing, each conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower's irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Revolving Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(b) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Revolving Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by two Responsible Officers of the Borrower. Each Revolving Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Section 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Revolving Borrowing of or conversion to Base 23 Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Revolving Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Revolving Borrowing, a conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Revolving Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Revolving Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Revolving Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Revolving Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Revolving Loan in a Revolving Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Revolving Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Revolving Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Revolving Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. (b) Following receipt of a Revolving Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Revolving Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Revolving Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Revolving Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent's Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Revolving Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Revolving Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date the Revolving Loan Notice with respect to such Revolving Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Revolving Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above. (c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the 24 existence of a Default, no Revolving Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders. (d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Eurodollar Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America's prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change. (e) After giving effect to all Revolving Borrowings, all conversions of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Revolving Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Revolving Loans. 2.03 LETTERS OF CREDIT. (a) The Letter of Credit Commitment. (i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) any L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower or certain Subsidiaries, and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower or certain Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit if as of the date of such L/C Credit Extension, (x) the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans, would exceed such Lender's Commitment, or (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower's ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof. (ii) No L/C Issuer shall issue any Letter of Credit if: (A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from 25 issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which such L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it; (B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; (C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date; (D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such L/C Issuer; or (E) such Letter of Credit is in an initial amount less than $10,000, or is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars. (iii) No L/C Issuer shall amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit. (iv) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term "Administrative Agent" as used in Article IX included each L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to each L/C Issuer. (b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Renewal Letters of Credit. (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the relevant L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by relevant L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not 26 later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the relevant L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to relevant L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may require. (ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the relevant L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by the relevant L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the relevant L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such L/C Issuer's usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from such L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender's Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Letter of Credit. (iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an "Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit"); provided that any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the "Nonrenewal Notice Date") in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such renewal. Once an Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the relevant L/C Issuer to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that such L/C Issuer shall not permit any such renewal if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), or 27 (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Nonrenewal Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such renewal or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied. (iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the relevant L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment. (v) No later than 5 days prior to the last day of each calendar quarter, each L/C Issuer shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower separate schedules or invoices for standby Letters of Credit and commercial Letters of Credit issued by it, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth the aggregate L/C Obligations outstanding at the time of delivery of such schedules or invoices with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, and any information requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent relating thereto. (c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations. (i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by any L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an "Honor Date"), the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse such L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the "Unreimbursed Amount"), and the amount of such Lender's Pro Rata Share thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Revolving Loan Notice). Any notice given by an L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice. (ii) Each Lender (including any Lender acting as an L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent's Office in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such 28 amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the relevant L/C Issuer. (iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason (including by reason of a default by a Defaulting Lender), the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the relevant L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender's payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03. (iv) Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of such amount shall be solely for the account of such L/C Issuer. If any Lender fails to fund its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c), any principal payment in respect of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of such amount shall be solely for the account of such L/C Issuer. (v) Each Lender's obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse an L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against such L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including whether or not the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 shall have been satisfied. No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse an L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein. (vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect and a rate determined by such L/C issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. A certificate of an L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error. 29 (d) Repayment of Participations. (i) At any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender's L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of an L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender's L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent. (ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by an L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement. (e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse an L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer and to repay each L/C Borrowing in respect of such Letter of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following: (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto; (ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), an L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction; (iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit; (iv) any payment by an L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such 30 Letter of Credit; or any payment made by an L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or (v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any Subsidiary. The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower's instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify such L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against an L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid. (f) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, no L/C Issuer shall have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of an L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower's pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at Law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of an L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against an L/C Issuer, and an L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by such L/C Issuer's willful misconduct or gross negligence or such L/C Issuer's willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, any L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and no L/C Issuer shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason. 31 (g) Cash Collateral. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) if any L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, (a) any Letter of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn or (b) any amount remains available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit by reason of the operation of Section 3.14 of the "International Standby Practices" published by the Institute of International Banking Law and Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance), the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such Outstanding Amount determined as of the date of such L/C Borrowing or the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, as the case may be). For purposes hereof, "Cash Collateralize" means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of such L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the relevant L/C Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America. (h) Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), (i) the rules of ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce (the "ICC") at the time of issuance shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit. (i) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share a Letter of Credit fee (the "Letter of Credit Fee") for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. Such Letter of Credit Fee shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such Letter of Credit Fees shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. (j) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall pay directly to the relevant L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit equal to the greater of $250.00 or (i) 1/8 of 1% per annum times the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under each standby Letter of Credit computed on a quarterly basis in arrears, and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each of March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, and thereafter on demand, and (ii) 1/8 of 1% times the face amount of each commercial Letter of Credit, computed 32 and payable on the date of issuance and the date of any extension or increase thereof. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the relevant L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable. Notwithstanding anything contained in this provision to the contrary, the Borrower shall not be required to pay a new fronting fee on an Existing Letter of Credit that is deemed to be issued under this Agreement for the period prior to the Closing Date. (k) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Application, the terms hereof shall control. (l) Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower's business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries. 2.04 SWING LINE LOANS. (a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, to make loans (each such loan, a "Swing Line Loan") to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the Maturity Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans of the Swing Line Lender in its capacity as a Lender of Revolving Loans, may exceed the amount of such Lender's Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment, and provided, further, that the Swing Line Lender shall not make any Swing Line Loan to refinance an outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender's Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Swing Line Loan. 33 (b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower's irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon, Dallas, Texas time, on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by two Responsible Officers of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 1:00 p.m., Dallas, Texas time, on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 2:00 p.m., Dallas, Texas time, on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds. (c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans. (i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably requests the Swing Line Lender to act on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Revolving Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount specified in such Revolving Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent's Payment Office not later than 12:00 noon, Dallas, Texas time, on the day specified in such Revolving Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender. (ii) If for any reason any Revolving Borrowing cannot be requested in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i) or any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Borrowing, the Revolving Loan Notice submitted by the Swing Line Lender 34 shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender's payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation. (iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with industry rules on interbank compensation. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error. (iv) Each Lender's obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. Any such purchase of participations shall not relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein. (d) Repayment of Participations. (i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender's participation was outstanding and funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender. (ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender, each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive payment in full of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement. 35 (e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Loan or participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender's Pro Rata Share of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Pro Rata Share shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender. (f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender. 2.05 PREPAYMENTS. (a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) one Business Day prior to the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Revolving Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Revolving Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares. (b) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon, Dallas, Texas time, on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. (c) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect. 36 2.06 TERMINATION OR REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS. (a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Letter of Credit Sublimit or Swing Line Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. (b) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Pro Rata Share. Once reduced in accordance with this Section 2.06, the Aggregate Commitments may not be increased. All Facility Fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination. 2.07 REPAYMENT. The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans outstanding on such date. The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (a) the date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and (b) the Maturity Date. The Borrower shall also pay all other outstanding Obligations on the Maturity Date. 2.08 INTEREST. (a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate, but in no event in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable Revolving Borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate, but in no event in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the date of the applicable Swing Line Borrowing Date at a rate per annum equal to the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Rate, but in no event in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate. (b) If any amount payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws. Furthermore, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the 37 fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws. Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand. (c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law. 2.09 FEES. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i) and (j) of Section 2.03: (a) Facility Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a facility fee ("Facility Fee") equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments (or, if the Aggregate Commitments have terminated, on the Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations), regardless of usage. The Facility Fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period (and thereafter so long as any Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans or L/C Obligations remain outstanding), including at any time (on and subsequent to the Closing Date) during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the Maturity Date (and, if applicable, thereafter on demand). The Facility Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. (b) Other Fees. (i) The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever. (ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever. 2.10 COMPUTATION OF INTEREST AND FEES. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America's "prime rate" shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. Subject to Section 10.10, all other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Revolving Loan for the day on which the Revolving Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Revolving Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Revolving Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Revolving Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to 38 Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. 2.11 EVIDENCE OF DEBT. (a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Revolving Loan Note and/or Swing Line Note, as applicable, which shall evidence such Lender's Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note(s) and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of the applicable Loans and payments with respect thereto. (b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. 2.12 PAYMENTS GENERALLY. (a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent's Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender's Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. (b) If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be. 39 (c) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds, then: (i) if the Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation; and (ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the "Compensation Period") at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect and a rate determined by the Administrative agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender's Revolving Loan included in the applicable Revolving Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent's demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Revolving Borrowing. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. (d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest. 40 (e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Revolving Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans, and to make payments pursuant to Section 9.10 are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Revolving Loan or to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 9.10 on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Revolving Loan or purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 9.10. (f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Revolving Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Revolving Loan in any particular place or manner. 2.13 SHARING OF PAYMENTS. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Revolving Loans made by it or the participations in L/C Obligations held by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) in excess of its Pro Rata Share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) from the other Lenders such participations in the Revolving Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Revolving Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender's ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender's required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased. 41 2.14 INCREASE IN COMMITMENTS. (a) Request for Increase. (i) Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time, request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments by an amount (for all such requests) not exceeding $50,000,000; provided that any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000. (ii) The Borrower may invite, with the consent of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), one or more Persons to become additional Lenders hereunder, pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel, with aggregate Commitments of such Persons (the "New Commitments") not to exceed the amount of the requested increase. (iii) If the New Commitments of such Persons shall be less than the amount of the requested increase, the Administrative Agent shall notify the existing Lenders of the option to increase their Commitments hereunder. (iv) At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each such existing Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders). (b) Lender Elections to Increase. Each existing Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Pro Rata Share of such requested increase less the New Commitments. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment. (c) Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of the Lenders' responses to each request made hereunder. (d) Effective Date and Allocations. If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the "Increase Effective Date") and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date. (e) Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to such increase, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Borrower dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by the Borrower approving or consenting to such increase, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V (but 42 excluding Section 5.06(c)) and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.14, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.06 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (B) no Default exists. The Borrower shall prepay any Revolving Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Revolving Loans ratable with any revised Pro Rata Shares arising from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section 2.14. (f) Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Sections 2.12 or 10.01 to the contrary. ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY 3.01 TAXES. (a) Any and all payments by the Borrower to or for the account of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, is organized or maintains a lending office (all such non-excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the Borrower shall be required by any Laws to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section), each of the Administrative Agent and such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with Applicable Laws, and (iv) within 30 days after the date of such payment, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall forward the same to such Lender) the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof. (b) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes or charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes"). 43 (c) If the Borrower shall be required to deduct or pay any Taxes or Other Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Borrower shall also pay to the Administrative Agent or to such Lender, as the case may be, at the time interest is paid, such additional amount that the Administrative Agent or such Lender specifies is necessary to preserve the after-tax yield (after factoring in all taxes, including taxes imposed on or measured by net income) that the Administrative Agent or such Lender would have received if such Taxes or Other Taxes had not been imposed. (d) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent and such Lender, (ii) amounts payable under Section 3.01(c) and (iii) any liability (including additions to tax, penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Payment under this subsection (d) shall be made within 30 days after the date the Lender or the Administrative Agent makes a demand therefor. 3.02 ILLEGALITY. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans or Swing Line Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate or the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or Swing Line Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans or Swing Line Loans of such Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans or Swing Line Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans or Swing Line Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. Each Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. 3.03 INABILITY TO DETERMINE RATES. If (a) the Required Lenders determine that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan, or that the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not 44 adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Revolving Loan or (b) the Swing Line Lender determines that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate or the Daily Floating LIBOR Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Swing Line Lender of funding a Swing Line Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans or the obligation of the Swing Line Lender to make or maintain Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders or the Swing Lien Lender, as the case may be) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Revolving Borrowing or Swing Line Borrowing, as the case may be, of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein. 3.04 INCREASED COST AND REDUCED RETURN; CAPITAL ADEQUACY; RESERVES ON EURODOLLAR RATE LOANS. (a) If any Lender determines that as a result of the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any Law, or such Lender's compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans or Swing Line Loans or (as the case may be) issuing or participating in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this subsection (a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 3.01 shall govern), (ii) changes in the basis of taxation of overall net income or overall gross income by the United States or any foreign jurisdiction or any political subdivision of either thereof under the Laws of which such Lender is organized or has its Lending Office, and (iii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.04(c)), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction. (b) If any Lender determines that the introduction of any Law regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, or compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender's obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender's desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction. (c) The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as "Eurocurrency Liabilities"), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan or Swing Line Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Revolving Loan or Swing Line Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall 45 be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Revolving Loan or Swing Line Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least 15 days' prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 15 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 15 days from receipt of such notice. 3.05 FUNDING LOSSES. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, setting forth in reasonable detail the amount payable to such Lender, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of: (a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Revolving Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Revolving Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise); (b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Revolving Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or (c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.16; including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Revolving Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing. For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Revolving Loan by a matching deposit or other Revolving Borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded. 3.06 MATTERS APPLICABLE TO ALL REQUESTS FOR COMPENSATION. (a) A certificate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III and setting forth in reasonable detail the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, the Administrative Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods. (b) Upon any Lender's making a claim for compensation under Section 3.01 or 3.04, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.16. 3.07 LIMITATION ON COMPENSATION. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article III, the Borrower shall not be required to compensate the Administrative Agent or any Lender (as applicable) under Section 3.01 for Taxes or Other Taxes, under Section 3.04(a) for 46 any increased cost or reduction described therein, under Section 3.04(b) for any reduction described therein, or under Section 3.05 for any loss, cost or expense described therein, if such Taxes, Other Taxes, increased cost, reduction, loss, cost or expense, as applicable, shall have been incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that the Administrative Agent or such Lender (as applicable) delivers the demand described in the applicable Section; provided, however, to the extent that any such costs are imposed retroactively, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to recover such costs from the date such costs were retroactively imposed, provided that a request for reimbursement of such costs is provided to the Borrower within 270 days of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders becoming aware of such retroactive costs. 3.08 SURVIVAL. All of the Borrower's obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder. ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS 4.01 CONDITIONS OF INITIAL CREDIT EXTENSION. The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent: (a) The Administrative Agent's receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel: (i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower; (ii) a Revolving Loan Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Revolving Loan Note; (iii) the duly executed Swing Line Note payable to the order of the Swing Line Lender in the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit; (iv) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each such Responsible Officer authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party; (v) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower and each Material Subsidiary is validly existing and in good standing in its state of incorporation and/or domicile; 47 (vi) a favorable opinion of counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to matters concerning the Borrower and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request; (vii) a favorable opinion of David M. Sudbury, Esq., in-house counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to matters concerning the Borrower and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request; (viii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and the validity against the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required; (ix) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Section 4.02(a) have been satisfied; and (B) that, as of the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or would be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) the current Debt Ratings; and (x) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers or the Required Lenders reasonably may require. (b) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid, including any accrued fees pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement. (c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all Attorney Costs of the Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of Attorney Costs as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of Attorney Costs incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent). (d) The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before May 31, 2005. 4.02 CONDITIONS TO ALL CREDIT EXTENSIONS. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Revolving Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Revolving Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent: (a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that 48 for purposes of this Section 4.02, (i) the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.06 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (ii) except as set forth in the following clause (d), the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.06(c) and 5.07(a) shall not be deemed to be made for purposes of this Section 4.02 for any Credit Extension. (b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension. (c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable the L/C Issuers, shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof. (d) The representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.06(c) and 5.07(a) were true and correct on the Closing Date. Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Revolving Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Revolving Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension. ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that: 5.01 SUBSIDIARIES. Each of the Borrower's Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 5.01, along with its jurisdiction of formation and the percentage of its Voting Shares owned by the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all of the shares or interests it purports to own of the Capital Stock of each Subsidiary (or each other Subsidiary, as applicable), free and clear in each case of any Lien, other than Permitted Liens. All such shares or interests have been duly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. 5.02 EXISTENCE, QUALIFICATION AND POWER; COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Each of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license, and (d) is in compliance with all Laws; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i), (c) or (d), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.03 AUTHORIZATION; NO CONTRAVENTION. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document to which it is party, have been duly authorized by all 49 necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of the Borrower's Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, (i) any Contractual Obligation to which the Borrower is a party or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which the Borrower or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law except, in the case of the preceding clause (b), to the extent that any such conflict, breach, contravention or creation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.04 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION; OTHER CONSENTS. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. 5.05 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws. 5.06 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; NO MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT. (a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness. (b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries dated February 28, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments. Schedule 5.06 sets forth all material indebtedness and other material liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate not reflected on the February 28, 2005 financial statements referred to above, incurred after the date of such financial statements but prior to the Closing Date, including liabilities for material commitments and Indebtedness in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate. 50 (c) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance (including, without limitation, an Internal Control Event), either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.07 LITIGATION. (a) Except as set forth in (i) the Borrower's Form 10K for the period ended August 31, 2004 filed with the SEC, and (ii) the Borrower's Form 10Q for each of the periods ending November 30, 2004, and February 28, 2005 filed with the SEC there are no proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the actual knowledge of the Borrower, threatened or contemplated, at Law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries or against any of their respective properties or revenues that individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. (b) There are no proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the actual knowledge of the Borrower, threatened or contemplated, at Law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries or against any of their respective properties or revenues that purport to pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. 5.08 NO DEFAULT. Neither the Borrower nor any Material Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that would, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document. 5.09 OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY; LIENS. Each of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries has good record and indefeasible title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Permitted Liens. 5.10 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. The Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries have complied with all Environmental Laws except for any Environmental Liability as a result of any non-compliance therewith which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.11 INSURANCE. The properties of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies of similar size engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates, except to the extent failure to maintain any such insurance would not reasonably be expect to result in a Material Adverse Effect. 51 5.12 TAXES. The Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Federal income tax liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been determined by the Internal Revenue Service and paid for all fiscal years up to and including the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999. 5.13 ERISA COMPLIANCE. (a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan. (b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would be reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. (c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability which has resulted or which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA) which has resulted or which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA which has resulted or which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 52 5.14 MARGIN REGULATIONS; INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT; PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT. (a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Revolving Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section 7.03 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be margin stock. (b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary (i) is a "holding company," or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, or (ii) is or is required to be registered as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940. 5.15 DISCLOSURE. The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions actually known to the Borrower to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters actually known to it, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other written information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time. 5.16 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Each of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.17 SOLVENT. The Borrower is, and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are on a consolidated basis, Solvent. 53 ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Revolving Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03 and 6.11) cause each Material Subsidiary to: 6.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Deliver to the Administrative Agent with sufficient copies for each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders: (a) as soon as available and in any event within 5 days after the date that annual financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC, but in no event later than 100 days after the close of each fiscal year, copies of: (i) consolidated and consolidating (by business segment) balance sheets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year; (ii) consolidated and consolidating (by business segment) statements of income and retained earnings of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year; and (iii) consolidated statements of cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, in each case setting forth in comparative form the consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal year, and the Borrower further agrees to provide with such financial statements information (by business segment) as to the amount charged to amortization and depreciation expense, interest expense, rental expense and capital spending for such fiscal year and the unamortized balance of goodwill as of the end of such fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by (A) an unqualified opinion thereon of a Registered Public Accounting Firm of recognized national standing to the effect that the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of the fiscal year being reported on and the consolidated results of the operations and cash flows for said year in conformity with GAAP and applicable Securities Laws, without expressing a doubt as to the ability of the Borrower to continue as a going concern or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit, and that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and included such tests of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures as said accountants deemed necessary in the circumstances and (B) an attestation report of such Registered Public Accounting Firm as to the Borrower's internal controls pursuant to Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley; (b) as soon as available and in any event within 5 days after the date that quarterly financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (excluding the last quarterly fiscal period of each fiscal year), but in no event later than 50 days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period (except the last) of each fiscal year, copies of: 54 (i) consolidated and consolidating (by business segment) balance sheets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the close of such quarterly fiscal period, setting forth in comparative form the consolidated figures for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year; (ii) consolidated and consolidating (by business segment) statements of income of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarterly fiscal period, in each case setting forth in comparative form the consolidated figures for the corresponding periods of the preceding fiscal year; and (iii) consolidated statements of cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarterly fiscal period, setting forth in comparative form the consolidated figures for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified as complete and correct by an authorized financial officer of the Borrower and the Borrower further agrees to provide with such financial statements information (by business segment) as to the amount charged to amortization and depreciation expense, interest expense, rental expense and net capital spending, in each case for the periods indicated above and the unamortized balance of goodwill as at the end of the periods indicated above. As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(c), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in subsections (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein. 6.02 CERTIFICATES; OTHER INFORMATION. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders: (a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower; (b) promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them; (c) promptly after the same are available, copies of each (i) annual report, proxy or financial statement or, at the Administrative Agent's request, copies of each other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports (including Forms 10K, 10Q and 8K) and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto and (ii) without duplication, copies of any certifications or affidavits required by the SEC in connection with the filing of Forms 10K, 10Q and 8K; and 55 (d) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request. Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(c) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower's website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower's behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent and each Lender of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(a) to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, "Borrower Materials") by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the "Platform") and (b) certain of the Lenders may be "public-side" Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each a "Public Lender"). The Borrower hereby agrees that so long as the Borrower is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked "PUBLIC" which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word "PUBLIC" shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials "PUBLIC," the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute confidential information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.15); (y) all Borrower Materials marked "PUBLIC" are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated "Public Investor;" and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked "PUBLIC" as being suitable only for posting 56 on a portion of the Platform not designated "Public Investor." Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials "PUBLIC." 6.03 NOTICES. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent: (a) of the occurrence of any Default; (b) of any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including to the extent any of the following would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) any breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws; (c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event; or (d) of any announcement by Moody's or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating. Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached. 6.04 PAYMENT OF OBLIGATIONS. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its material obligations and liabilities, including (a) all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by Law become a Lien upon its property, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary; and (c) all Indebtedness with a principal obligation of not less than $10,000,000, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness. 6.05 PRESERVATION OF EXISTENCE, ETC. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.02 or 7.03; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 57 6.06 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment used in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and except in connection with transactions permitted by Section 7.04; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 6.07 MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons. 6.08 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, write, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 6.09 BOOKS AND RECORDS. (a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP, consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary, as the case may be. 6.10 INSPECTION RIGHTS. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers and independent public accountants, in each case as reasonably necessary, and all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice (which notice shall include the subject matter of the proposed inspection, examination or discussion) to the Borrower; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours upon no less than two days advance notice. 6.11 USE OF PROCEEDS. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document. 58 ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Revolving Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding: 7.01 LIENS. The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following ("Permitted Liens"): (a) Liens for property taxes and assessments or governmental charges or levies and Liens securing claims or demands of mechanics and materialmen, if payment thereof is not at the time required by Section 6.04; (b) Liens of or resulting from any judgment or award, the time for the appeal or petition for rehearing of which shall not have expired, or in respect of which the Borrower or a Subsidiary shall at any time in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceeding for a review and in respect of which a stay of execution pending such appeal or proceeding for review shall have been secured or which are covered by insurance and which are removed within 60 days after attachment; provided the aggregate amount of such judgments and awards shall not exceed $10,000,000; (c) Liens incidental to the conduct of business or the ownership of properties and assets (including Liens in connection with worker's compensation, unemployment insurance and other like laws, warehousemen's and attorneys' liens and statutory landlords' liens, but excluding any Lien imposed by ERISA) and Liens to secure the performance of bids, tenders or trade contracts, or to secure statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds or other Liens of like general nature incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money, if in each case, the obligation secured is not overdue or, if overdue, is being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or proceedings; (d) Liens securing Indebtedness of a Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a Material Domestic Subsidiary; (e) Liens existing as of the Closing Date and reflected in Schedule 7.01 and any extension, renewal or replacement of such liens in connection with the extension, renewal or refunding of the Indebtedness secured thereby, provided (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness is not increased, other than through the capitalization of accrued interest, and (ii) such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or any part of the same property that secured the Lien extended, renewed or replaced (together with improvements on such property); (f) Liens incurred after the Closing Date given to secure the payment of the purchase price incurred in connection with the acquisition, alteration or improvement of fixed assets useful and intended to be used in carrying on the business of the Borrower or a Subsidiary (and any renewals or extensions of any Indebtedness so secured), including Liens existing on such fixed 59 assets at the time of acquisition thereof or at the time of acquisition by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of any business entity then owning such fixed assets, whether or not such existing Liens were given to secure the payment of the purchase price of the fixed assets to which they attach so long as they were not incurred, extended or renewed in contemplation of such acquisition, provided (i) the Lien shall attach solely to the fixed assets acquired, altered or improved and (ii) at the time of acquisition, alteration or improvement of such fixed assets, the aggregate amount remaining unpaid on all Indebtedness secured by Liens on such fixed assets whether or not assumed by the Borrower or a Subsidiary shall not exceed an amount equal to the lesser of the total cost of such acquisition, alteration or improvement or fair market value at the time of acquisition, alteration or improvement of such fixed assets (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Borrower); (g) Liens in connection with the securitizations permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e) of this Agreement; (h) Liens on the assets of CMC Zawiercie S.A., a Polish joint stock company, in an amount not to exceed $125,000,000 in the aggregate, provided that such Liens are non-recourse to the Borrower and its other Subsidiaries; and (i) Liens in addition to those permitted by the foregoing clauses (a) through (h) created after the Closing Date, provided at the time of the creation of any such Lien and after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds of any Indebtedness secured thereby, the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness secured by such Liens does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. 7.02 MERGERS AND CONSOLIDATIONS. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Material Subsidiary to, consolidate with or be a party to a merger with any other corporation; except: (a) any Material Domestic Subsidiary or any Solvent Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with or into the Borrower or any Material Domestic Subsidiary, so long as in any merger or consolidation involving the Borrower, the Borrower shall be the surviving or continuing corporation and any merger or consolidation involving a Subsidiary that is not a Material Domestic Subsidiary, the Borrower or the Material Domestic Subsidiary shall be the surviving or continuing corporation; and (b) the Borrower may consolidate or merge with any other corporation provided (A) the Borrower shall be the surviving or continuing corporation, and (B) at the time of such consolidation or merger and after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. 7.03 SALES OF ASSETS. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Material Subsidiary to make any Disposition, except: (a) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property in the ordinary course of business; 60 (b) Dispositions of inventory and Cash and Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business; (c) Dispositions among the Borrower and Material Domestic Subsidiaries; (d) Dispositions in which the Net Proceeds thereof are used within 365 days of such Disposition to purchase assets useful in the business of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries; (e) Dispositions by the Borrower and the Securitizing Subsidiaries in respect of a securitization of accounts receivable, provided the aggregate funding in respect thereof shall not exceed $160,000,000 at any one time outstanding; and (f) Dispositions other than those otherwise specifically permitted pursuant to clauses (a) through (e) above, provided that the aggregate book value of assets Disposed of during any fiscal year may not exceed 30% of Consolidated Tangible Assets determined as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year. Provided, however, notwithstanding anything above to the contrary, in no event shall any Disposition be less than for full, fair and reasonable consideration. 7.04 CHANGE IN NATURE OF BUSINESS. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto. 7.05 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Material Subsidiary to, enter into or be a party to any transaction or arrangement with any Affiliate (including the purchase from, sale to or exchange of property with, or the rendering of any service by or for, any Affiliate), except in the ordinary course of, and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Borrower's or such Material Subsidiary's business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary than would obtain in a comparable arm's length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate; but the Borrower may make charitable contributions to The Feldman Foundation, a private trust organized under the laws of Texas and a not-for-profit entity under Section 510(c)(3) of the Code, in an amount up to 5% of the Borrower's pre-tax profit in any fiscal year. 7.06 BURDENSOME AGREEMENTS. The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Material Subsidiary to, enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Material Subsidiary to declare or pay Dividends to the Borrower or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower, or (ii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (ii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge or restriction on transfer incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness solely to the extent any such negative pledge or restriction on transfer relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person. 61 7.07 USE OF PROCEEDS. The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose. 7.08 INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO. The Borrower shall not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than 2.50 to 1.00 at any time. 7.09 DEBT TO CAPITALIZATION RATIO. The Borrower shall not permit the Debt to Capitalization Ratio to be greater than 0.60 to 1.00 at any time. 7.10 ERISA. The Borrower shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its ERISA Affiliates to: (a) engage in a prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) engage in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA or (c) withdraw from any Multiemployer Plan or permit any Plan maintained by it to be terminated if such withdrawal or termination could result in withdrawal liability (as described in Part 1 of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA) or the imposition of a Lien on any property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA. 7.11 ACCOUNTING CHANGES. The Borrower shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any Material Subsidiary to, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required or permitted by GAAP or any Governmental Authority, as applicable, or change the fiscal year of the Borrower or of any Material Subsidiary. 7.12 SPECULATIVE HEDGES. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, enter into any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest, currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging agreement except those entered into with the intention to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities. ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES 8.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default: (a) Non-Payment. The Borrower fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) the earlier of (A) five calendar days or (B) two Business Days after notice, that the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any Facility Fee or any other fees or amounts due hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or (b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03, 6.05, 6.10, or 6.11 or Article VII; or 62 (c) Other Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date upon which a Responsible Officer knew or reasonably should have known of such failure or (ii) the date upon which written notice thereof is given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or (d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or (e) Cross-Default. The Borrower or any Material Subsidiary (i) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than $10,000,000 and such failure continues after the applicable grace or notice period, if any, specified in the relevant document on the date of such failure, or (ii) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event or condition occurs, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any Material Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or any Material Subsidiary shall become subject to any conservation, rehabilitation or liquidation order, directive or mandate issued by an Governmental Authority; or (g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Material Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, subject to applicable grace periods, if any, whether at stated maturity or otherwise, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied 63 against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 60 days after its issue or levy; or (h) Monetary Judgments. One or more non-interlocutory judgments, non-interlocutory orders, decrees or arbitration awards is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary involving in the aggregate a liability (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage) as to any single or related series of transactions, incidents or conditions, of $10,000,000 or more, and the same shall remain unsatisfied, unvacated and unstayed pending appeal for a period of 30 days after the entry thereof; or (i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000, (ii) the aggregate amount of Unfunded Pension Liability among all Pension Plans at any time exceeds $10,000,000; or (iii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000; or (j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or the Borrower or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or the Borrower denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or (k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control with respect to the Borrower. 8.02 REMEDIES UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions: (a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of an L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated; (b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; (c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and (d) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or Applicable Law; 64 provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of an L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender. 8.03 APPLICATION OF FUNDS. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order: First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges, Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such; Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges, Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them; Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them; Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit; and Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law. Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above. 65 ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT 9.01 APPOINTMENT AND AUTHORITY. Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions (other than in respect of the consent right of the Borrower set forth in Section 9.06). 9.02 RIGHTS AS A LENDER. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders. 9.03 EXCULPATORY PROVISIONS. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent: (a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing; (b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or Applicable Law; and (c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or 66 percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. 9.04 RELIANCE BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts. 9.05 DELEGATION OF DUTIES. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. 9.06 RESIGNATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (such consent not to 67 be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor's appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent. Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor's appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit. 9.07 NON-RELIANCE ON ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER LENDERS. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or 68 any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder. 9.08 NO OTHER DUTIES, ETC. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Book Managers, Arrangers or Co-Syndication Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder. 9.09 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise (a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and (b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding. 69 9.10 INDEMNIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it (WHETHER OR NOT ARISING OUT OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF SUCH AGENT-RELATED PERSON); provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities to the extent determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent-Related Person's own gross negligence or willful misconduct; provided, however, that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower. The undertaking in this Section shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent. THE FOREGOING INDEMNITY SHALL APPLY TO THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE AGENT-RELATED PERSON (BUT NOT THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE AGENT-RELATED PERSON). The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 9.10 are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(e). ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS 10.01 AMENDMENTS, ETC. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall: (a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender; (b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender; (c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; 70 (d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv)) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of "Default Rate" or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate; (e) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender; or (f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of "Required Lenders" or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the each L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of any L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; and (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender. 10.02 NOTICES; EFFECTIVENESS; ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION. (a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows: (i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and (ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire. Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, 71 shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b). (b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender's receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the "return receipt requested" function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor. (c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." THE AGENT-RELATED PERSONS DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT-RELATED PERSON IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall any Agent-Related Person have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower's or the Administrative Agent's transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent-Related Person; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent-Related Person have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages). 72 (d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. (e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Revolving Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording. 10.03 NO WAIVER; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law. 10.04 ATTORNEY COSTS, EXPENSES AND TAXES. The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Arranger in connection with the development, preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including all Attorney Costs, and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and each Lender for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or preservation of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any "workout" or restructuring in respect of the Obligations and during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law), including all Attorney Costs. The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all search, filing, recording, title insurance and appraisal charges and fees and taxes related thereto, and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the cost of independent public accountants and other outside experts reasonably retained by the 73 Administrative Agent or, with respect to clause (b) above, any Lender. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable within ten Business Days after demand therefor, setting forth in reasonable detail the costs and expenses so incurred. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. 10.05 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE BORROWER. (a) WHETHER OR NOT THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY ARE CONSUMMATED, THE BORROWER SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH AGENT-RELATED PERSON, EACH LENDER AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, COUNSEL, AGENTS AND ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT (COLLECTIVELY THE "INDEMNITEES") FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES AND DISBURSEMENTS (INCLUDING ATTORNEY COSTS) OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER WHICH MAY AT ANY TIME BE IMPOSED ON, INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY SUCH INDEMNITEE IN ANY WAY RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH (i) THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY, ENFORCEMENT, PERFORMANCE OR ADMINISTRATION OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT (OTHER THAN ADMINISTRATION COSTS, FEES OR EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE ORDINARY ADMINISTRATION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE INFORMATION POSTINGS, REVOLVING LOAN NOTICES, PAYMENT NOTICES, BILLING, COLLECTION OF LENDER PAYMENTS AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF PAYMENTS MADE BY THE BORROWER TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF LENDERS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID AND ARE CONTEMPLATED BY THE FEE LETTER), LETTER OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY OR THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY, (ii) ANY COMMITMENT, REVOLVING LOAN OR LETTER OF CREDIT OR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREFROM (INCLUDING ANY REFUSAL BY AN L/C ISSUER TO HONOR A DEMAND FOR PAYMENT UNDER A LETTER OF CREDIT IF THE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH DEMAND DO NOT STRICTLY COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF SUCH LETTER OF CREDIT), OR (iii) ANY CLAIM, LITIGATION, INVESTIGATION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY (INCLUDING ANY INVESTIGATION OF, PREPARATION FOR, OR DEFENSE OF ANY PENDING OR THREATENED (IN WRITING) CLAIM, INVESTIGATION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING) AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY INDEMNITEE IS A PARTY THERETO (ALL THE FOREGOING, COLLECTIVELY, THE "INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES"), IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; PROVIDED THAT SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL NOT, AS TO ANY INDEMNITEE, BE AVAILABLE (i) TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES OR DISBURSEMENTS ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL 74 MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNITEE OR (ii) FOR ANY LOSS ASSERTED AGAINST IT BY ANOTHER INDEMNITEE, PROVIDED THAT SUCH ASSERTED LOSS WAS NOT A RESULT OF BORROWER'S OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES' OWN CONDUCT. NO INDEMNITEE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE USE BY OTHERS OF ANY INFORMATION OR OTHER MATERIALS OBTAINED THROUGH INTRALINKS OR OTHER SIMILAR INFORMATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, NOR SHALL ANY INDEMNITEE HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR ARISING OUT OF ITS ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH (WHETHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE CLOSING DATE). THE FOREGOING INDEMNITY SHALL APPLY TO THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE (BUT NOT THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE INDEMNITEE). ALL AMOUNTS DUE UNDER THIS SECTION 10.05 SHALL BE PAYABLE WITHIN TEN BUSINESS DAYS AFTER DEMAND THEREFOR. THE AGREEMENTS IN THIS SECTION SHALL SURVIVE THE RESIGNATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE REPLACEMENT OF ANY LENDER, THE TERMINATION OF THE AGGREGATE COMMITMENTS AND THE REPAYMENT, SATISFACTION OR DISCHARGE OF ALL THE OTHER OBLIGATIONS. (b) EACH INDEMNITEE AGREES WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION AGAINST IT IN RESPECT OF WHICH INDEMNITY MAY BE SOUGHT UNDER THIS SECTION 10.05, THAT SUCH INDEMNITEE WILL GIVE WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF SUCH ACTION TO THE BORROWER WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AFTER SUCH INDEMNITEE IS MADE A PARTY TO SUCH ACTION. UPON RECEIPT OF ANY SUCH NOTICE BY THE BORROWER, THE BORROWER, UNLESS SUCH INDEMNITEE SHALL BE ADVISED BY ITS COUNSEL THAT THERE ARE OR MAY BE LEGAL DEFENSES AVAILABLE TO SUCH INDEMNITEE THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM, IN ADDITION TO, OR IN CONFLICT WITH, THE DEFENSES AVAILABLE TO THE BORROWER, MAY PARTICIPATE WITH THE INDEMNITEE IN THE DEFENSE OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED MATTER; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, NOTHING PROVIDED HEREIN SHALL (i) ENTITLE THE BORROWER TO ASSUME THE DEFENSE OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED MATTER OR (ii) REQUIRE THE CONSENT OF THE BORROWER FOR ANY SETTLEMENT OR ACTION IN RESPECT OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED MATTER, ALTHOUGH EACH INDEMNITEE AGREES TO CONFER AND CONSULT WITH THE BORROWER BEFORE MAKING ANY SETTLEMENT OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED MATTER. 10.06 PAYMENTS SET ASIDE. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and 75 L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of each Lender and L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement. 10.07 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. (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, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) or (h) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement. (b) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that (i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment and the Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans owing to it at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (as defined in subsection (g) of this Section) with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans owing to it) 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 or, if "Trade Date" is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and member of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met; (ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to its rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans made by it if such assigning Lender is the Swing Line Lender; (iii) any assignment of a Commitment must be approved by the Administrative Agent, the Swing 76 Line Lender and each L/C Issuer (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) unless the Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender (whether or not the proposed assignee would otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee); (iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption; and (v) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount, if any, required as set forth in Schedule 10.06, and the Eligible Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement 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 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Revolving Loan Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection 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 subsection (d) of this Section. (c) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent's Office 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 amounts of the Revolving 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 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 and any L/C Issuer, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In addition, at any time that a request for a consent for a material or substantive change to the Loan Documents is pending, any Lender may receive from the Administrative Agent a copy of the Register. (d) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a "Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender's participations in L/C Obligations) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such 77 Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument 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 or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that directly affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. (e) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower's prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 10.15 as though it were a Lender. (f) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Revolving Loan Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. (g) As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings: "Eligible Assignee" means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent and each L/C Issuer, and (ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, "Eligible Assignee" shall not include the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries. "Fund" means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business. "Approved Fund" means any Fund 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. (h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Revolving Loans owing to it and 78 the Revolving Loan Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities, provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise. (i) The words "execution," "signed," "signature," and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any Applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. (j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days' notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days' notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender and acceptance by such successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender of such appointment, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit. 10.08 CONFIDENTIALITY. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates' directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed 79 to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority; (c) to the extent required by Applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any direct or indirect contractual counterparty or prospective counterparty (or such contractual counterparty's or prospective counterparty's professional advisor) to any credit derivative transaction relating to obligations of the Borrower; (g) with the consent of the Borrower; (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower; or (i) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this Section, "Information" means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified in writing at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information. 10.09 SET-OFF. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and L/C Issuer is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being waived by the Borrower to the fullest extent permitted by Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender or L/C Issuer to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender or L/C Issuer hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or indebtedness. Each Lender and L/C Issuer agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. 10.10 INTEREST RATE LIMITATION. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not 80 exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder. 10.11 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 10.12 INTEGRATION. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof. 10.13 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding. 10.14 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. 81 10.15 TAX FORMS. (a) (i) Each Lender that is not a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a "Foreign Lender") shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, prior to receipt of any payment subject to withholding under the Code (or upon accepting an assignment of an interest herein), two duly signed completed copies of either IRS Form W-8BEN or any successor thereto (relating to such Foreign Lender and entitling it to an exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax on all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or IRS Form W-8ECI or any successor thereto (relating to all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or such other evidence satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such Foreign Lender is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. withholding tax, including any exemption pursuant to Section 881(c) of the Code. Thereafter and from time to time, each such Foreign Lender shall (A) promptly submit to the Administrative Agent such additional duly completed and signed copies of one of such forms (or such successor forms as shall be adopted from time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may then be available under then current United States Laws and regulations to avoid, or such evidence as is satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any available exemption from or reduction of, United States withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, (B) promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (C) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of Applicable Laws that the Borrower make any deduction or withholding for taxes from amounts payable to such Foreign Lender. (ii) Each Foreign Lender, to the extent it does not act or ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any sums paid or payable to such Lender under any of the Loan Documents (for example, in the case of a typical participation by such Lender), shall deliver to the Administrative Agent on the date when such Foreign Lender ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any such sums paid or payable, and at such other times as may be necessary in the determination of the Administrative Agent (in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), (A) two duly signed completed copies of the forms or statements required to be provided by such Lender as set forth above, to establish the portion of any such sums paid or payable with respect to which such Lender acts for its own account that is not subject to U.S. withholding tax, and (B) two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor thereto), together with any information such Lender chooses to transmit with such form, and any other certificate or statement of exemption required under the Code, to establish that such Lender is not acting for its own account with respect to a portion of any such sums payable to such Lender. 82 (iii) The Borrower shall not be required to pay any additional amount to any Foreign Lender under Section 3.01 (A) with respect to any Taxes required to be deducted or withheld on the basis of the information, certificates or statements of exemption such Lender transmits with an IRS Form W-8IMY pursuant to this Section 10.15(a) or (B) if such Lender shall have failed to satisfy the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.15(a); provided that if such Lender shall have satisfied the requirement of this Section 10.15(a) on the date such Lender became a Lender or ceased to act for its own account with respect to any payment under any of the Loan Documents, nothing in this Section 10.15(a) shall relieve the Borrower of its obligation to pay any amounts pursuant to Section 3.01 in the event that, as a result of any change in any Applicable Law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any change in the interpretation, administration or application thereof, such Lender is no longer properly entitled to deliver forms, certificates or other evidence at a subsequent date establishing the fact that such Lender or other Person for the account of which such Lender receives any sums payable under any of the Loan Documents is not subject to withholding or is subject to withholding at a reduced rate. (iv) The Administrative Agent may, without reduction, withhold any Taxes required to be deducted and withheld from any payment under any of the Loan Documents with respect to which the Borrower is not required to pay additional amounts under this Section 10.15(a). (b) Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Lender that is a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Administrative Agent two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-9. If such Lender fails to deliver such forms, then the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Lender an amount equivalent to the applicable back-up withholding tax imposed by the Code, without reduction. (c) If any Governmental Authority asserts that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold or backup withhold, as the case may be, any tax or other amount from payments made to or for the account of any Lender, such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent therefor, including all penalties and interest, any taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to the Administrative Agent under this Section, and costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs) of the Administrative Agent. The obligation of the Lenders under this Section shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and the resignation of the Administrative Agent. 10.16 REPLACEMENT OF LENDERS. If any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or under any circumstances set forth herein providing that the Borrower shall have the right to replace a Lender as a party to this Agreement, the Borrower may, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, replace such Lender by causing such Lender to assign its Commitment (with any assignment fee to be paid by the Borrower in such instance) pursuant to Section 10.07(b) to one or more other Lenders or Eligible Assignees procured by the Borrower; provided, however, that if the Borrower elects to exercise such right with respect to any Lender pursuant to Section 3.06(b), it shall be obligated to replace all Lenders that have made similar requests for compensation pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04. The Borrower shall (x) pay in full 83 all principal, interest, fees and other amounts owing to such Lender through the date of replacement (including any amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.05), (y) provide appropriate assurances and indemnities (which may include letters of credit) to the L/C Issuers as each may reasonably require with respect to any continuing obligation to fund participation interests in any L/C Obligations then outstanding, and (z) release such Lender from its obligations under the Loan Documents. Any Lender being replaced shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender's Commitment and outstanding Revolving Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans. 10.17 GOVERNING LAW. (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF TEXAS APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE; PROVIDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW. (b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS SITTING IN DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENCE, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS, WHICH MAY BE MADE BY ANY OTHER MEANS PERMITTED BY THE LAW OF SUCH STATE. 10.18 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. 84 10.19 USA PATRIOT ACT NOTICE. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the "Act"), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act. 10.20 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES. REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK 85 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written. COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY By: ____________________________________ Name: ______________________________ Title: _____________________________ S-1 BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent By: __________________________________________ Name: ____________________________________ Title: ___________________________________ S-2 BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer By: ____________________________________ Name: ______________________________ Title: _____________________________ S-3 THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, LTD., as Syndication Agent and as a Lender By: ____________________________________ Name: ______________________________ Title: _____________________________ S-4 BNP PARIBAS, as Co-Documentation Agent and as a Lender By: ____________________________________ Name: ______________________________ Title: _____________________________ By: ____________________________________ Name: ______________________________ Title: _____________________________ S-5 SCOTIABANC, INC., as Co-Documentation Agent and as a Lender By: ____________________________________ Name: ______________________________ Title: _____________________________ S-6 WELLS FARGO HSBC TRADE BANK, as Co-Documentation Agent, a Lender and an L/C Issuer By: _____________________________________________ Name: _______________________________________ Title: ______________________________________ S-7 HARRIS NESBITT FINANCING, INC. By: ____________________________________ Name: ______________________________ Title: _____________________________ S-8 JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. By: ____________________________________ Name: ______________________________ Title: _____________________________ S-9 WACHOVIA BANK, NA By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ S-10 MELLON BANK, N.A. By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ S-11 ABN AMRO BANK N.V. By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ S-12 AMEGY BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ S-13 AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ S-14 COMERICA BANK By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ S-15 FORTIS CAPITAL CORP. By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ S-16 HIBERNIA NATIONAL BANK By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ S-17 HSBC BANK USA By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ S-18 NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED, A.B.N. 12 004 044 937 By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ S-19 SOCIETE GENERALE By: _____________________________________ Name: _______________________________ Title: ______________________________ S-20 EX-99.1 6 d25837exv99w1.htm PRESS RELEASE exv99w1

Exhibit 99.1

COMMERCIAL METALS REPURCHASES 1.9 MILLION SHARES;
ANNOUNCES NEW REPURCHASE AUTHORITY OF TWO MILLION SHARES

Irving, TX – May 24, 2005 – The board of directors of Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC) has authorized the purchase of up to 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. During April and May 2005, CMC purchased a total of 1,944,610 shares in open market transactions for a total price of approximately $50,675,000 or an average of $26.06 per share. These purchases completed a stock repurchase program last increased in March 2003. At present there are approximately 58,725,000 shares of Commercial Metals Company’s common stock issued and outstanding.

CMC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Stanley A. Rabin said, “Our view is that the stock is undervalued. This action will continue to add value for our stockholders.”

The purchases will be made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions at prevailing market prices. The shares will be used for general corporate purposes including various employee benefit plans and acquisitions.

Paragraphs two and three of this news release contain forward-looking statements regarding the outlook for the Company’s financial results and stock valuation. No assurance can be given that the Company’s expectations will be realized, and actual results may differ materially from current expectations.

Commercial Metals Company and subsidiaries manufacture, recycle and market steel and metal products, related materials and services through a network including steel minimills, steel fabrication and processing plants, construction-related product warehouses, a copper tube mill, metal recycling facilities and marketing and distribution offices in the United States and in strategic overseas markets.

-(END)-


Contact:		Debbie Okle
		Director, Public Relations
		214.689.4354

2005-16

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


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


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