-----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, EU8tvSkeSwLiKKhPKajMHkhCWVJ790LkAH9rebkjs+aSOhri7rm0s7uiyrbIOVz/ uuVI1K1atUd/iaj4p1cZ4g== 0001104659-03-022902.txt : 20031016 0001104659-03-022902.hdr.sgml : 20031016 20031015204624 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-03-022902 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 9 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20030926 FILED AS OF DATE: 20031016 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: DANAHER CORP /DE/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000313616 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL [3823] IRS NUMBER: 591995548 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-08089 FILM NUMBER: 03942708 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE N.W., 12TH FLOOR CITY: WASHINGTON STATE: DC ZIP: 20006 BUSINESS PHONE: 2028280850 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. N.W., 12TH FLOOR CITY: WASHINGTON STATE: DC ZIP: 20006 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: DMG INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19850221 10-Q 1 a03-3858_110q.htm 10-Q

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

ý

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the Quarter ended September 26, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

OR

 

 

 

 

 

o

 

TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the transition period from            to           

 

Commission File Number:         1-8089

 

DANAHER CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

59-1995548

(State of incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification number)

 

 

 

2099 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.

 

20006

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 202-828-0850

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes  ý                                                  No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes  ý                                                  No  o

 

The number of shares of common stock outstanding at October 10, 2003 was 153,556,253.

 

 



 

DANAHER CORPORATION

 

INDEX

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

Page

PART I   - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets at September 26, 2003 and December 31, 2002

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings for the three months and nine months ended September 26, 2003 and September 27, 2002

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the nine months ended September 26, 2003

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flow for the nine months ended September 26, 2003 and September 27, 2002

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

5

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

15

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

30

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

30

 

 

 

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

31

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signatures

32

 



 

DANAHER CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(000’s omitted)

 

 

 

September 26,
2003

 

December 31,
2002

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(Note 1)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,104,727

 

$

810,463

 

Trade accounts receivable, net

 

836,586

 

759,028

 

Inventories:

 

 

 

 

 

Finished goods

 

197,347

 

165,061

 

Work in process

 

127,690

 

119,872

 

Raw material and supplies

 

214,751

 

200,654

 

Total inventories

 

539,788

 

485,587

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

299,306

 

332,188

 

Total current assets

 

2,780,407

 

2,387,266

 

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $917,000 and $832,000, respectively

 

570,724

 

597,379

 

Other assets

 

31,049

 

36,796

 

Goodwill

 

2,946,052

 

2,776,774

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

261,990

 

230,930

 

Total assets

 

$

6,590,222

 

$

6,029,145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt

 

$

10,299

 

$

112,542

 

Accounts payable

 

439,494

 

366,587

 

Accrued expenses

 

827,887

 

786,183

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,277,680

 

1,265,312

 

Other liabilities

 

606,370

 

556,812

 

Long-term debt

 

1,246,008

 

1,197,422

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock-$.01 par value

 

1,675

 

1,665

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

988,037

 

915,562

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

(83,297

)

(105,973

)

Retained earnings

 

2,553,749

 

2,198,345

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

3,460,164

 

3,009,599

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

6,590,222

 

$

6,029,145

 

 

See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

1



 

DANAHER CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(000’s omitted except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 26,
2003

 

September 27,
2002

 

September 26,
2003

 

September 27,
2002

 

Net sales

 

$

1,309,451

 

$

1,151,721

 

$

3,805,098

 

$

3,302,254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

766,948

 

691,648

 

2,270,310

 

2,021,740

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

326,831

 

275,317

 

951,687

 

791,493

 

Gains on sale of real estate, net

 

(93

)

(2,674

)

(868

)

(5,205

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

1,093,686

 

964,291

 

3,221,129

 

2,808,028

 

Operating profit

 

215,765

 

187,430

 

583,969

 

494,226

 

Interest expense

 

(14,520

)

(14,788

)

(44,003

)

(39,429

)

Interest income

 

2,605

 

4,501

 

7,148

 

6,926

 

Earnings before income taxes and effect of accounting change

 

203,850

 

177,143

 

547,114

 

461,723

 

Income taxes

 

(65,232

)

(61,114

)

(180,226

)

(159,294

)

Net earnings, before effect of accounting change

 

138,618

 

116,029

 

366,888

 

302,429

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of accounting change, net of tax

 

 

 

 

(173,750

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

138,618

 

$

116,029

 

$

366,888

 

$

128,679

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings before effect of accounting change

 

$

0.90

 

$

0.76

 

$

2.39

 

$

2.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:  Effect of accounting change

 

 

 

 

(1.16

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

0.90

 

$

0.76

 

$

2.39

 

$

0.86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings before effect of accounting change

 

$

0.87

 

$

0.74

 

$

2.31

 

$

1.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:  Effect of accounting change

 

 

 

 

(1.10

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

0.87

 

$

0.74

 

$

2.31

 

$

0.85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average common stock and common equivalent shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

153,538

 

151,842

 

153,200

 

149,432

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted

 

161,771

 

159,611

 

161,213

 

157,868

 

 

See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

2



 

DANAHER CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(000’s omitted)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

Common
Shares

 

Stock
Amount

 

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

 

Retained
Earnings

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income

 

Comprehensive
Income

 

Balance, December 31, 2002

 

166,545

 

$

1,665

 

$

915,562

 

$

2,198,345

 

$

(105,973

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings for the period

 

 

 

 

366,888

 

 

$

366,888

 

Dividends declared

 

 

 

 

(11,484

)

 

 

Common stock issued for options exercised and amendment of deferred compensation plan

 

997

 

10

 

72,475

 

 

 

 

Increase from translation of foreign financial statements

 

 

 

 

 

22,676

 

22,676

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, September 26, 2003

 

167,542

 

$

1,675

 

$

988,037

 

$

2,553,749

 

$

(83,297

)

$

389,564

 

 

See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

3



 

DANAHER CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(000’s omitted)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 26,
2003

 

September 27,
2002

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings from operations

 

$

366,888

 

$

128,679

 

Effect of change in accounting principle

 

 

173,750

 

Net earnings, before effect of accounting change

 

366,888

 

302,429

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash items, depreciation and amortization

 

102,281

 

98,209

 

Change in accounts receivable

 

(23,008

)

28,765

 

Change in inventories

 

(15,017

)

44,306

 

Change in accounts payable

 

48,952

 

52,986

 

Change in prepaid expenses and other assets

 

46,201

 

(25,549

)

Change in accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

93,062

 

64,283

 

Total operating cash flows

 

619,359

 

565,429

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Payments for additions to property, plant, and equipment

 

(54,060

)

(44,953

)

Proceeds from disposals of property, plant, and equipment

 

9,927

 

19,295

 

Cash paid for acquisitions

 

(186,317

)

(990,312

)

Proceeds from divestitures

 

11,648

 

52,562

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(218,802

)

(963,408

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

27,754

 

507,420

 

Proceeds from debt borrowings

 

5,262

 

 

Debt repayments

 

(147,513

)

(16,033

)

Payment of dividends

 

(11,484

)

(9,072

)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(125,981

)

482,315

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

19,688

 

12,283

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

294,264

 

96,619

 

Beginning balance of cash and cash equivalents

 

810,463

 

706,559

 

Ending balance of cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,104,727

 

$

803,178

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash interest payments

 

$

36,972

 

$

35,048

 

Cash income tax payments

 

$

86,476

 

$

17,972

 

 

See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

4



 

DANAHER CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

NOTE 1.                GENERAL

 

The consolidated condensed financial statements included herein have been prepared by Danaher Corporation (the Company) without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  The condensed financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

In the opinion of the registrant, the accompanying financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company at September 26, 2003 and December 31, 2002, its results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 26, 2003 and September 27, 2002, and its cash flows for the nine months ended September 26, 2003 and September 27, 2002.

 

Total comprehensive income was as follows:

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

(millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months

 

$

142.2

 

$

103.2

 

Nine Months

 

$

389.6

 

$

130.6

 

 

Total comprehensive income for all periods represents net earnings and the change in cumulative foreign translation adjustment.  Accumulated comprehensive income (loss) also includes the effect of an additional minimum pension liability recorded in the fourth quarter of 2002 of $76.9 million, net of tax.

 

NOTE 2.                SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

Segment information is presented consistently with the basis described in the 2002 Annual Report.  There has been no material change in total assets or liabilities by segment, except for 2003 acquisitions and divestitures (see Note 4).  Segment results for 2003 and 2002 are shown below:

 

5



 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 26,
2003

 

September 27,
2002

 

September 26,
2003

 

September 27,
2002

 

Sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Process/Environmental Controls

 

$

1,004,179

 

$

840,222

 

$

2,946,729

 

$

2,417,978

 

Tool and Components

 

305,272

 

311,499

 

858,369

 

884,276

 

 

 

$

1,309,451

 

$

1,151,721

 

$

3,805,098

 

$

3,302,254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Process/Environmental Controls

 

$

172,617

 

$

139,932

 

$

474,957

 

$

377,604

 

Tool and Components

 

48,502

 

51,723

 

126,803

 

131,954

 

Other

 

(5,354

)

(4,225

)

(17,791

)

(15,332

)

 

 

$

215,765

 

$

187,430

 

$

583,969

 

$

494,226

 

 

NOTE 3.                EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Basic EPS is calculated by dividing earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the applicable period. Diluted EPS is calculated after adjusting the numerator and the denominator of the basic EPS calculation for the effect of all potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the period.  Information related to the calculation of earnings per share of common stock before the effect of the Company’s first quarter 2002 goodwill write down is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Net Earnings
(Numerator)

 

Shares
(Denominator)

 

Per Share
Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 26, 2003:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS

 

$

138,618

 

153,538

 

$

.90

 

Adjustment for interest on convertible debentures

 

2,109

 

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of dilutive options

 

 

2,202

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed conversion of the convertible debenture

 

 

6,031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

$

140,727

 

161,771

 

$

.87

 

 

6



 

 

 

Earnings
(Numerator)

 

Shares
(Denominator)

 

Per Share
Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
September 27, 2002:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS

 

$

116,029

 

151,842

 

$

.76

 

Adjustment for interest on convertible debentures

 

1,981

 

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of dilutive options

 

 

1,738

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed conversion of of convertible debentures

 

 

6,031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

$

118,010

 

159,611

 

$

.74

 

 

 

 

Net Earnings
(Numerator)

 

Shares
(Denominator)

 

Per Share
Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2003:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS

 

$

366,888

 

153,200

 

$

2.39

 

Adjustment for interest on convertible debentures

 

6,290

 

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of dilutive options

 

 

1,982

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed conversion of the convertible debenture

 

 

6,031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

$

373,178

 

161,213

 

$

2.31

 

 

 

 

Earnings
(Numerator)

 

Shares
(Denominator)

 

Per Share
Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended
September 27, 2002:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic EPS before the effect of the accounting change

 

$

302,429

 

149,432

 

$

2.02

 

Adjustment for interest on convertible debentures

 

5,908

 

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of dilutive options

 

 

2,405

 

 

 

Incremental shares from assumed conversion of the convertible debentures

 

 

6,031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS before the effect of the accounting change

 

$

308,337

 

157,868

 

$

1.95

 

 

7



 

NOTE 4.                ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

 

The Company completed eight business acquisitions during the nine months ended September 26, 2003.  In addition, the Company acquired twelve businesses during the year ended December 31, 2002. These acquisitions have either been completed because of their strategic fit with an existing Company business or because they are of such a nature and size as to establish a new strategic platform for growth for the Company.  All of the acquisitions during these time periods have been additions to the Company’s Process/Environmental Controls segment, have been accounted for as purchases and have resulted in the recognition of goodwill in the Company’s financial statements. This goodwill arises because the purchase prices for these targets reflect a number of factors including the future earnings and cash flow potential of these targets; the multiple to earnings, cash flow and other factors at which companies similar to the targets have been purchased by other acquirers; the competitive nature of the process by which we acquired the targets; and because of the complementary strategic fit and resulting synergies these targets bring to existing operations.

 

The Company makes an initial allocation of the purchase price at the date of acquisition based upon its understanding of the fair market value of the acquired assets and liabilities.  The Company obtains this information during due diligence and through other sources.  In the months after closing, as the Company obtains additional information about these assets and liabilities and learns more about the newly acquired business, it is able to refine the estimates of fair market value and more accurately allocate the purchase price.  Examples of factors and information that we use to refine the allocations include: tangible and intangible asset appraisals; cost data related to redundant facilities; employee/personnel data related to redundant functions; product line integration and rationalization information; management capabilities; and information systems compatibilities.  The Company will adjust the initial purchase price allocation as the fair value at the acquisition date of the assets and liabilities acquired are determined.  The only items considered for subsequent adjustment are items identified as of the acquisition date. The Company’s acquisitions in 2003 and 2002 have not had any significant pre-acquisition contingencies (as contemplated by SFAS No. 38, “Accounting for Preacquisition Contingencies of Purchased Enterprises”) which were expected to have a significant effect on the purchase price allocation.

 

The Company also periodically disposes of existing operations that are not deemed to strategically fit with its ongoing operations or are not achieving the desired return on investment.  The following briefly describes the Company’s acquisition and divestiture activity for the nine months ended September 26, 2003.  For a description of the Company’s acquisition activity for the year-ended December 31, 2002, reference is made to Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

8



 

The Company acquired eight companies and product lines during the nine-month period ended September 26, 2003 for total consideration of approximately $186 million in cash including transaction costs. The Company also assumed debt with an aggregate fair market value of approximately $45 million in connection with these acquisitions. In general, each company is a manufacturer and assembler of environmental or instrumentation products, in market segments such as product identification, environmental and aerospace and defense. These companies were all acquired to complement existing units of the Process/Environmental Controls segment.  The aggregated annual revenue of the acquired businesses is approximately $210 million and each of these eight companies individually has less than $125 million in annual revenues.  In addition, the Company sold one facility acquired in connection with a prior acquisition for approximately $11.6 million in net proceeds.  No gain or loss was recognized on the sale and the proceeds have been included in proceeds from the divestiture in the accompanying consolidated condensed statements of cash flows.

 

The following table summarizes the aggregate estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition for the acquisitions consummated during the nine months ended September 26, 2003 ($ in 000’s):

 

Accounts receivable

 

$

36,454

 

Inventory

 

26,881

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

21,617

 

Goodwill

 

162,689

 

Other intangible assets, primarily trade names and patents

 

30,598

 

Accounts payable

 

(14,930

)

Other assets and liabilities, net

 

(32,384

)

Assumed debt

 

(44,608

)

Net cash consideration

 

$

186,317

 

 

The Company is continuing to evaluate the initial purchase price allocations for the acquisitions completed during the nine months ended September 26, 2003 and will adjust the allocations as additional information relative to the estimated integration costs of the acquired businesses and the fair market values of the assets and liabilities of the businesses become known.  The Company completed its evaluation of the purchase price allocation for the Thomson Industries acquisition completed in the fourth quarter of 2002 in September 2003.  Goodwill with respect to the acquisition of Thomson Industries was reduced from the original estimate by approximately $5.4 million due primarily to a reduction of the cost estimates for integration activities to be undertaken with respect to this business.  While not expected to be significant, the Company will adjust the purchase price allocations for its 2003 acquisitions as information related to the fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities becomes available.  In addition, the Company will accrue the estimated cost of integration activities when such amounts are determined, but in no event beyond one-year from the date of acquisition.

 

9



 

The unaudited pro forma information for the periods set forth below gives effect to all prior acquisitions as if they had occurred at the beginning of the period.  The pro forma information is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that actually would have been achieved had the acquisitions been consummated as of that time (unaudited, 000’s omitted except per share amounts):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 26,
2003

 

September 27,
2002

 

September 26,
2003

 

September 27,
2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

1,309,935

 

$

1,266,673

 

$

3,823,691

 

$

3,750,109

 

Net earnings before change in accounting principle

 

136,080

 

113,657

 

366,849

 

306,202

 

Net earnings

 

136,080

 

113,657

 

366,849

 

132,452

 

Diluted earnings per share before change in accounting principle

 

$

.85

 

$

.72

 

$

2.30

 

$

1.98

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

.85

 

$

.72

 

$

2.30

 

$

.88

 

 

In connection with its acquisitions, the Company assesses and formulates a plan related to the future integration of the acquired business.  This process begins during the due diligence process and is concluded within twelve months of the acquisition.  The Company accrues estimates for certain costs, related primarily to personnel reductions and facility closures or restructurings, anticipated at the date of acquisition, in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 95-3, “Recognition of Liabilities in Connection with a Purchase Business Combination.”  Adjustments to these estimates are made up to 12 months from the acquisition date as plans are finalized. To the extent these accruals are not utilized for the intended purpose, the excess is recorded as a reduction of the purchase price, typically by reducing recorded goodwill balances.  Costs incurred in excess of the recorded accruals are expensed as incurred.  The Company is finalizing its exit plans with respect to certain of its recent acquisitions which may result in adjustments to the current accrual levels.

 

Accrued liabilities associated with these exit activities include the following ($ in 000’s except headcount):

 

 

 

Videojet

 

Viridor

 

Gilbarco

 

Thomson

 

All Others

 

Total

 

Planned Headcount Reduction:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance December 31, 2002

 

6

 

42

 

271

 

936

 

154

 

1,409

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrual related to 2003 acquisitions

 

 

 

 

 

647

 

647

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reductions in 2003

 

(6

)

(32

)

(154

)

(268

)

(507

)

(967

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments to previously provided reserves

 

 

(10

)

(32

)

(207

)

(11

)

(260

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance September 26, 2003

 

 

 

85

 

461

 

283

 

829

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Involuntary Employee Termination Benefits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance December 31, 2002

 

$

1,613

 

$

1,595

 

$

16,067

 

$

16,541

 

$

16,119

 

$

51,935

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrual related to 2003 acquisitions

 

 

 

 

 

7,009

 

7,009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs incurred in 2003

 

(1,613

)

(1,492

)

(7,253

)

(3,412

)

(12,406

)

(26,176

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments to previously provided reserves

 

 

 

 

(7,106

)

(3,251

)

(10,357

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance September 26, 2003

 

$

 

$

103

 

$

8,814

 

$

6,023

 

$

7,471

 

$

22,411

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Facility Closure and Restructuring Costs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance December 31, 2002

 

$

914

 

$

2,389

 

$

2,573

 

$

6,424

 

$

22,609

 

$

34,909

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrual related to 2003 acquisitions

 

 

 

 

 

5,299

 

5,299

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs incurred in 2003

 

(567

)

(792

)

(888

)

(3,977

)

(9,562

)

(15,786

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments to previously provided reserves

 

(18

)

 

 

2,773

 

(3,488

)

(733

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance September 26, 2003

 

$

329

 

$

1,597

 

$

1,685

 

$

5,220

 

$

14,858

 

$

23,689

 

 

10



 

NOTE 5.                GOODWILL

 

The following table shows the rollforward of goodwill reflected in the financial statements resulting from the Company’s acquisition activities for the first nine months of 2003 ($ in millions).

 

Balance December 31, 2002

 

$

2,777

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to 2003 acquisitions

 

163

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments due to finalization of purchase price allocations

 

(20

)

 

 

 

 

Effect of foreign currency translation

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

Balance September 26, 2003

 

$

2,946

 

 

There were no dispositions of businesses with related goodwill during the nine months ended September 26, 2003.  The acquired goodwill change in the period related to the Company’s Process/Environmental Controls segment.  The Company reduced previously recorded goodwill related to acquisitions which occurred in 2002 primarily as a result of finalization of the integration plans with respect to the Thomson business and other smaller acquisitions, the receipt of information relative to the fair market value of other assets acquired and the finalization of the acquired businesses deferred tax position reflecting the above changes.  The carrying value of goodwill, at September 26, 2003, for the Tools and Components segments and Process/Environmental Controls segment is approximately $212 million and $2,734 million, respectively.  Danaher has nine reporting units closely aligned with the Company’s strategic platforms and specialty niche businesses.  They are as follows:  Tools, Motion, Electronic Test, Power Quality, Environmental, Aerospace and Defense, Industrial Controls, Level/Flow, and Product Identification.

 

11



 

Goodwill—Management assesses goodwill for impairment at least annually at the beginning of the fourth quarter or as “triggering” events occur.  In making this assessment, management relies on a number of factors including operating results, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows, and transactions and market place data.  There are inherent uncertainties related to these factors and management’s judgment in applying them to the analysis of goodwill impairment which may effect the carrying value of goodwill.

 

NOTE 6.                NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

In July 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.”  SFAS No. 146 addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies EITF Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (Including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).”  SFAS No. 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred, rather than at the date of the entity’s commitment to an exit plan.  This statement is effective for exit and disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002.  This SFAS did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued Statement No. 148 (FAS 148), “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure” which amends FASB No. 123 (FAS 123), “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.”  FAS 148 provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and amends the disclosure requirements of FAS 123 to require disclosures in both the annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results.  The transition guidance and disclosure provisions of FAS 148 is effective for the Company’s financial statements issued for 2003.  As allowed by FAS 123, the Company follows the disclosure requirements of FAS 123, but continues to account for its employee stock option plans in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, which results in no charge to earnings when options are issued at fair market value.  Therefore, at this time, adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

12



 

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share as if the fair value based method had been applied to all outstanding and unvested awards in each period:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 26,
2003

 

September 27,
2002

 

September 26,
2003

 

September 27,
2002

 

Net earnings before effect of accounting change, as reported

 

$

138,618

 

$

116,029

 

$

366,888

 

$

302,429

 

Deduct:  Stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

 

(6,569

)

(6,261

)

(16,084

)

(15,935

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma net income

 

$

132,049

 

$

109,768

 

$

350,804

 

$

286,494

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share before effect of accounting change:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic—as reported

 

$

.90

 

$

.76

 

$

2.39

 

$

2.02

 

Basic—pro forma

 

$

.86

 

$

.72

 

$

2.29

 

$

1.92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted—as reported

 

$

.87

 

$

.74

 

$

2.31

 

$

1.95

 

Diluted—pro forma

 

$

.83

 

$

.70

 

$

2.22

 

$

1.85

 

 

Nonqualified options have been issued only at fair market value exercise prices as of the date of grant during the periods presented herein, and the Company’s policy does not recognize compensation costs for options of this type.  The pro forma costs of these options granted have been calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and assuming an estimated 3.2% risk-free interest rate, an estimated 7 year life for the option, an estimated 25% expected volatility and dividends at the current annual rate.  The weighted-average grant date fair market value of options issued was $24 and $28 per share in the nine months ended September 26, 2003 and September 27, 2002, respectively.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45 (FIN 45), “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.”  FIN 45 requires a guarantor to make additional disclosures in its interim and annual financial statements regarding the guarantor’s obligations.  In addition, FIN 45 requires, under certain circumstances, that a guarantor recognize, at the inception of the guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation

undertaken when issuing the guarantee. The Company has adopted the disclosure requirements of this interpretation.

 

The Company has from time to time divested certain of its businesses and assets.  In connection with these divestitures, the Company often provides representations, warranties and/or indemnities to cover various risks and unknown liabilities, such as environmental liabilities and tax liabilities. The Company cannot estimate the potential liability from such representations, warranties and indemnities because they relate to unknown conditions.  However, the Company does not believe that the liabilities relating to these representations, warranties and indemnities will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Due to the Company’s downsizing of certain operations pursuant to acquisitions, restructuring plans or otherwise, certain properties leased by the Company have been sublet to third parties. In the event any of these third parties vacates any of these premises, the

 

13



 

Company would be legally obligated under master lease arrangements. The Company believes that the financial risk of default by such sublessors is individually and in the aggregate not material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

The Company generally accrues estimated warranty costs at the time of sale.  In general, manufactured products are warranted against defects in material and workmanship when properly used for their intended purpose, installed correctly, and appropriately maintained.  Warranty period terms depend on the nature of the product and range from 90 days up to the life of the product.  The amount of the accrued warranty liability is determined based on historical information such as past experience, product failure rates or number of units repaired, estimated cost of material and labor, and in certain instances estimated property damage.  The liability, shown in the following table, is reviewed on a quarterly basis and may be adjusted as additional information regarding expected warranty costs becomes known.

 

In certain cases the Company will sell extended warranty or maintenance agreements.  The proceeds from these agreements is deferred and recognized as revenue over the term of the agreement.

 

The following is a roll forward of the Company’s warranty accrual for the nine months ended September 26, 2003 ($ in 000’s).

 

Balance December 31, 2002

 

$

61,235

 

Accruals for warranties issued during the period

 

31,440

 

Changes in estimates related to pre-existing warranties

 

7,725

 

Settlements made

 

(36,507

)

Additions due to acquisitions

 

2,613

 

 

 

 

 

Balance September 26, 2003

 

$

66,506

 

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” (FIN 46).  This interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements”, addresses consolidation of variable interest entities.  FIN 46 requires certain variable interest entities (“VIE’s”) to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary if the entity does not effectively disperse risks among the parties involved.  The provisions of FIN 46 are effective immediately for those variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003.  The provisions, as amended, are effective for the first interim or annual period ending after December 15, 2003 for those variable interests held prior to February 1, 2003.  While the Company believes this Interpretation will not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations, it is continuing to evaluate the effect of adoption of this Interpretation.

 

14



 

In April 2003, the FASB released SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 clarifies the accounting for derivatives, amending the previously issued SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 clarifies under what circumstances a contract with an initial net investment

meets the characteristics of a derivative, amends the definition of an underlying contract, and clarifies when a derivative contains a financing component in order to increase the comparability of accounting practices under SFAS No. 133. SFAS No. 149 was effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003.  The adoption of SFAS No. 149 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2003 the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity”. SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. SFAS No. 150 applies specifically to a number of financial instruments that companies have historically presented within their financial statements either as equity or between the liabilities section and the equity section, rather than as liabilities. SFAS 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company’s implementation of this SFAS did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with its audited consolidated financial statements.

 

INFORMATION RELATING TO FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain information included or incorporated by reference in this document may be deemed to be “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that Danaher Corporation (“Danaher,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our”) intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward looking statements. Such statements are characterized by terminology such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “positioned,” “strategy,” and similar expressions. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by the Company’s management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes to be appropriate. These forward looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not

 

15



 

limited to:

              the Company’s ability to continue long-standing relationships with major customers and penetrate new channels of distribution;

              increased competition;

              demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products, including changes in regulations (particularly environmental regulations) which could affect demand for products in the Process/Environmental Controls segment;

              adverse changes in currency exchange rates or raw material commodity prices;

              unanticipated developments that could occur with respect to contingencies such as litigation, product liability exposures and environmental matters;

              changes in the environment for making acquisitions and dispositions, including changes in accounting or regulatory requirements or in the market value of acquisition candidates;

              the Company’s ability to identify appropriate acquisition candidates and integrate acquired businesses into its operations, realize planned synergies and operate such businesses profitably in accordance with expectations;

              risks customarily encountered in foreign operations, including transportation interruptions, changes in a country’s or region’s political or economic conditions, trade protection measures, different protection of intellectual property and changes in laws or licensing or regulatory requirements;

              the Company’s ability to achieve projected levels of efficiencies and cost reduction measures;

              the difference between the actual and estimated return on pension plan assets;

              risks related to terrorist activities and instability in the Middle East; and

              other risks and uncertainties that affect the manufacturing sector generally including, but not limited to, economic, political, governmental and technological factors affecting the Company’s operations, markets, products, services and prices.

 

Any such forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performances and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such forward looking statements.  The Company disclaims any duty to update any forward looking statement, all of which are expressly qualified by the foregoing.

 

16



 

OVERVIEW

 

Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures and markets industrial and consumer products with strong brand names, proprietary technology and major market positions in two business segments: Process/Environmental Controls and Tools and Components. The Process/Environmental Controls segment is a leading producer of environmental products, including water quality analytical instrumentation and leak detection systems for underground fuel storage tanks; retail petroleum automation products; compact professional electronic test tools; product identification equipment and consumables; and motion, position, speed, temperature, pressure, level, flow, particulate and power reliability and quality control and safety devices. In its Tools and Components segment, the Company is a leading producer and distributor of general purpose mechanics’ hand tools and automotive specialty tools, as well as of toolboxes and storage devices, diesel engine retarders, wheel service equipment, drill chucks, and hardware and components for the power generation and transmission industries.

 

Market indicators of the global manufacturing economy continue to be mixed.  While differences exist among the Company’s businesses, the Company’s markets have remained generally stable for the past four quarters and this trend is expected to continue for the balance of the 2003 fiscal year.

 

Third quarter 2003 consolidated revenues increased 14% over 2002. Acquisitions accounted for approximately 10% growth, and favorable currency translation contributed 4%.  Consolidated sales from existing businesses for the quarter (defined as businesses that have been part of the Company for each comparable period reported) were consistent with 2002’s levels.  For the nine month period, consolidated sales grew 15%, with acquisition growth of 12% and favorable currency translation of 3%. Consolidated sales from existing businesses for the nine month period were consistent with 2002’s levels.

 

PROCESS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS

 

Revenues of the Process/Environmental Controls segment increased 19.5% for the third quarter of 2003 compared to 2002.  The fourth quarter 2002 acquisition of Thomson Industries, and the 2003 acquisition of Willett International Limited (“Willett”), together with several other smaller acquisitions provided a 14% increase in segment sales.  This increase was in addition to an approximate 5% favorable currency translation impact.  Sales from existing businesses for this segment were slightly positive for the quarter compared to 2002.

 

Revenues from the Company’s environmental businesses, representing approximately 30% of segment revenue, increased 17% in the 2003 third quarter compared to 2002.  Acquisitions completed in 2002 and 2003 accounted for 6% growth, sales from existing operations

 

17



 

provided 6% growth and favorable currency translation provided 5% growth.  Existing operations were impacted by strength in the Gilbarco Veeder-Root business, resulting primarily from market-share gains in the U.S. and the timing of orders from major oil companies for Gilbarco petroleum dispensers.  Sales before currency gains from existing businesses in the Company’s water quality businesses were up low single-digits for the quarter as strength in both lab and process instrumentation sales in Europe was partially offset by continued softness in the U.S. ultrapure markets.

 

Electronic test revenues, representing approximately 17% of segment revenues, grew 11% during the third quarter of 2003 compared to 2002.  Acquisitions, principally the Raytek Corporation acquisition, provided 8% growth, which includes recent, strong sales of Raytek’s non-contact temperature measurement products.   Favorable currency translation provided 4% growth.  These factors were partially offset by a 1% decline related to sales from existing businesses driven primarily due to softness in industrial end-markets.  Our network test equipment business strengthened, compared to earlier this year, to post near flat sales for the quarter.

 

Sales in the Company’s motion businesses, representing approximately 20% of segment revenues, grew 37%, as acquisitions provided growth of 29% (primarily from the Thomson Industries acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2002) and favorable currency translation effects provided 7% growth to drive this increase.  The existing businesses’ revenues provided 1% growth when compared to the comparable period in 2002 as growth in our motors and direct drives businesses were largely offset by declines in the linear actuator product offerings.

 

In February 2002, the Company established its product identification business with the acquisition of Videojet Technologies, and in January 2003 added to it with the acquisition of Willett, which together account for approximately 12% of segment revenues.  For the third quarter of 2003, product identification revenues grew 53.5% compared to 2002, with the Willett acquisition providing 48% growth, favorable currency impacts of 3%, and existing operations providing 2.5% growth.

 

The segment’s niche businesses in the aggregate showed mid-single digit revenue growth in the third quarter, primarily from acquisitions.

 

Segment sales for the nine month period of 2003 of $2,947 million were 22% higher than the 2002 period.  Acquisitions accounted for a 17% increase in sales over the comparable period in 2002, in addition to favorable currency translation impacts of 5% and a slight increase in sales from existing businesses.

 

For the nine month period, sales from existing operations of the environmental businesses provided 1% growth, with slight improvement in performance in both the water quality markets and in Gilbarco’s dispenser markets offsetting slight declines in the ultrapure instrumentation businesses.  Sales from existing operations of the motion control businesses provided low-single

 

18



 

digit growth for the period, reflecting share gains in certain of its end markets, including electric vehicles and direct drives, offset by weakness in certain linear product offerings.  The electronic test businesses reported sales from existing operations declined at low-single digit rates for the nine month period, primarily due to weakness in network test equipment sales and to a lesser extent softness in industrial end-markets.

 

For the third quarter, operating profit margins for the segment were 17.2% in 2003 compared to 16.6% in 2002.  This 0.6% increase resulted primarily from benefits achieved from the 2001 restructuring program and other cost reductions completed during 2002 and 2003.  This increase was partially offset by the dilutive impact of lower operating margins of newly acquired businesses, and increases in expenditures on growth opportunities in the segment.

 

For the nine month period, operating profit margins for the segment increased to 16.1% in 2003 from 15.6% in 2002.  This improvement was driven primarily by cost reduction initiatives completed during 2002, and margin improvements in recently acquired businesses.

 

TOOLS AND COMPONENTS

 

Revenues in the Tools and Components segment declined approximately 2% in the third quarter of 2003 compared to 2002.  The entirety of this decrease represents a decline in sales from existing businesses, as there were no acquisitions in this segment during 2002 or 2003, and the impact of currency was negligible.  Hand Tool revenues, representing approximately two-thirds of segment sales, improved approximately 9%, driven primarily by increases in sales from the group’s retail hand tool product lines which rebounded following the inventory reductions by the group’s largest customers which affected sales earlier in the year.  Offsetting these increases was a net sales decline in the segment’s niche businesses, as continued weakness in shipments of truck and industrial boxes as a result of softness in end-user demand was partially offset by revenue gains in the Company’s wheel service equipment product lines.  Also, sales of diesel engine retarders fell during the quarter, reflecting decreased end-user demand as compared to 2002. In 2002, the business experienced an inventory build-up by customers in advance of regulatory changes implemented last year.

 

Segment revenues for the nine month period of 2003 fell 3% compared to 2002 principally for the reasons noted above.

 

Third quarter 2003 operating profit margins for the segment were 15.9%, below the 16.6% margins reported in the third quarter of 2002.  Margin improvements at the Jacobs Chuck business unit related to the 2001 restructuring program, and other cost reductions, were offset by margin declines at the Delta Industries business unit related to the volume decrease noted above, the impact of lower engine retarder sales, and by spending on growth opportunities.  Operating profit margins for the nine month period of 14.8% declined slightly from the 14.9% reported in 2002.  The

 

19



 

Company expects to continue pursuing cost reduction efforts in its tools businesses, including plant closures and integrations of existing operations as appropriate.

 

GROSS PROFIT

 

Gross profit margins for the 2003 third quarter were 41.4%, an increase of 1.4 points compared to 40.0% in 2002.  This increase results from the benefits of the 2001 restructuring program and other improvements in the cost structures of existing business units, and from cost reductions in business units acquired during the first quarter of 2002, offset somewhat by the effect of slightly lower gross margins of newly acquired businesses.

 

Gross profit margins for the 2003 nine month period were 40.3%, an increase of 1.5 points compared to 38.8% in 2002.  This increase resulted from the same cost reductions and margin improvements impacting the third quarter, as discussed above.  The Company’s restructuring program announced in the fourth quarter of 2001 is expected to provide approximately $38 million of savings to the full year 2003.

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

In the third quarter of 2003, selling, general and administrative expenses were 25.0% of sales, an increase of 1.1 points from the 2002 level of 23.9%.  This increase is due primarily to additional spending to fund growth opportunities throughout the Company, as well as the impact of newly acquired businesses and their higher relative operating expense structures.  For the nine month period of 2003, selling, general and administrative expenses were 25.0% of sales, an increase of 1.0 point from the 2002 level of 24.0%.  This increase results from the same factors as those described for the third quarter.

 

INTEREST COSTS AND FINANCING TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company’s debt financing as of September 26, 2003 was composed primarily of $551.4 million of zero coupon convertible notes due 2021 (“LYONs”), $344.4 million of 6.25% Eurobond notes due 2005 and $250 million of 6% notes due 2008.  The Company maintains revolving senior unsecured credit facilities totaling $1 billion available for general corporate purposes.  There have been no borrowings under the revolving credit facilities.  Borrowings under the revolving credit agreements bear interest of Eurocurrency rate plus ..21% to .70%, depending on the Company’s debt rating.  The credit facilities, each $500 million, have a fixed term expiring June 28, 2006 and July 23, 2006, respectively.

 

Interest expense of $14.5 million in the third quarter of 2003 was slightly lower than the corresponding 2002 period.  The decrease in interest expense is due primarily to reduced debt levels resulting from repaying outstanding indebtedness offset by the unfavorable impact of the Euro/US Dollar exchange rate on interest expense

 

20



 

related to the Company’s $344.4 million of 6.25% Eurobond notes due 2005.  Interest expense of $44.0 million for the nine month period rose slightly compared to 2002, primarily driven by the unfavorable impacts of the Euro/U.S. Dollar exchange rate on interest expense. Interest income of $2.6 million and $4.5 million was recognized in the third quarters of 2003 and 2002, respectively, and interest income of $7.1 million and $6.9 million was recognized in each of the 2003 and 2002 nine month periods, respectively.

 

INCOME TAXES

 

The 2003 effective tax rate of 32.9% is 1.6% lower than the 2002 effective rate, mainly due to the effect of a higher proportion of foreign earnings in 2003 compared to 2002 and the impact of additional research and experimentation credits available to reduce the U.S. tax liabilities.  The Company expects a 32.0% effective tax rate for the balance of 2003.

 

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

 

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and credit risk, which could impact its results of operations and financial condition. The Company manages its exposure to these risks through its normal operating and financing activities.  In addition, the Company’s broad-based business activities help to reduce the impact that volatility in any particular area or related areas may have on its operating earnings as a whole.

 

The fair value of the Company’s fixed-rate long-term debt is sensitive to changes in interest rates. The value of this debt is subject to change as a result of movements in interest rates. Sensitivity analysis is one technique used to evaluate this potential impact. Based on a hypothetical, immediate 100 basis-point increase in interest rates at September 26, 2003, the market value of the Company’s fixed-rate long-term debt would decrease by approximately $16 million. This methodology has certain limitations, and these hypothetical gains or losses would not be reflected in the Company’s results of operations or financial conditions under current accounting principles. In January 2002, the Company entered into two interest rate swap agreements for the term of the 6% notes due 2008 having a notional principal amount of $100 million whereby the effective interest rate on $100 million of these notes will be the six month LIBOR rate plus approximately 0.425%.  In accordance with SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, as amended, the Company accounts for these swap agreements as fair value hedges.  Since these instruments qualify as “effective” or “perfect” hedges, they have no impact on net income or stockholders’ equity.

 

The Company has a number of manufacturing sites throughout the world and sells its products in more than 30 countries.  As a result, it is exposed to movements in the exchange rates of various currencies against the United States dollar and against the

 

21



 

currencies of countries in which it manufactures and sells products and services.  In particular, the Company has more sales in European currencies than it has expenses in those currencies.  Therefore, when European currencies strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar, operating profits are increased or decreased, respectively.  The Company’s issuance of Eurobond notes in 2000 provides a natural hedge to a portion of the Company’s European net asset position. The Company has generally accepted the exposure to exchange rate movements relative to its investment in foreign operations without using derivative financial instruments to manage this risk.

 

Other than the above noted swap arrangements, there were no material derivative instrument transactions during any of the periods presented.  Additionally, the Company does not have significant commodity contracts or derivatives.

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to significant concentrations of credit risk consist of cash and temporary investments, our interest rate swap agreements and trade accounts receivable.

 

The Company is exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by counter parties to its financial instruments.  The Company anticipates, however, that counter parties will be able to fully satisfy their obligations under these instruments. The Company places cash and temporary investments and its interest rate swap agreements with various high-quality financial institutions throughout the world, and exposure is limited at any one institution.  In addition, though the Company does not obtain collateral or other security to support these financial instruments, it does periodically evaluate the credit standing of the counter party financial institutions.

 

Concentrations of credit risk arising from trade accounts receivable are due to selling to a large number of customers in a particular industry. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial conditions and obtains collateral or other security when appropriate.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

The Company’s liquidity needs arise primarily from capital investment in machinery, equipment and the improvement of facilities, funding working capital requirements to support business growth initiatives, acquisitions, dividend payments, pension funding obligations and debt service costs.  The Company continues to generate substantial cash from operations and remains in a strong financial position, with resources available for reinvestment in existing businesses, strategic acquisitions and managing its capital structure on a short and long-term basis.  Operating cash flow, a key source of the Company’s liquidity, was $619.4 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2003, an increase of $54.0 million, or approximately 10% as compared to the

 

22



 

nine months ended September 27, 2002.  The increase in operating cash flow was driven primarily by earnings growth.  The impact of the timing of payments for certain of the Company’s benefit programs, including 401(k) and employee health plan contributions were substantially offset by slowing in working capital improvements relating to accounts receivable and inventory and increased income tax payments compared to levels in 2002.

 

Investing activities for the nine months ended September 26, 2003 used cash of $218.8 million compared to $963.4 million of cash used in the first nine months of 2002.  Gross capital spending of $54.1 million for the first nine months of 2003 increased $9.1 million from the first nine months of 2002, due to capital spending relating to new acquisitions and spending related to the Company’s low-cost region sourcing initiatives.  Capital expenditures are made primarily for machinery, equipment and the improvement of facilities. In 2003, the Company expects capital spending of approximately $80 million. Disposals of fixed assets yielded $9.9 million of cash proceeds for the first nine months of 2003, primarily due to the sale of four facilities and other real property. Net pre-tax gains of $0.9 million were recorded on the sales and are included as a gain on sale of real estate in the accompanying statements of earnings.  In addition, as discussed below, the Company has completed several business acquisitions during the nine months ended September 26, 2003 as well as the year ended December 31, 2002.  All of the acquisitions during this time period have resulted in the recognition of goodwill in the Company’s financial statements. This goodwill typically arises because the purchase prices for these targets reflect the competitive nature of the process by which we acquired the targets and the complementary strategic fit and resulting synergies these targets bring to existing operations.  For a discussion of other factors resulting in the recognition of goodwill see Note 4 to the accompanying financial statements.

 

The Company acquired eight companies and product lines during the nine-month period ended September 26, 2003 for total consideration of approximately $186.3 million in cash, including transaction costs. The Company also assumed debt with an estimated fair market value of approximately $45.0 million in connection with these acquisitions. In general, each company is a manufacturer and assembler of environmental or instrumentation products, in market segments such as product identification, environmental and aerospace and defense. These companies were all acquired to complement existing units of the Process/Controls segment. The aggregated annual revenue of the acquired businesses is approximately $210 Million and each of these eight companies individually has less than $125 Million.  In addition, the Company sold one facility acquired in connection with a prior acquisition for approximately $11.6 million in net proceeds.  No gain or loss was recognized on the sale and the proceeds have been included in proceeds from divestitures in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows.

 

23



 

On February 25, 2002, the Company completed the divestiture of API Heat Transfer, Inc. to an affiliate of Madison Capital Partners for approximately $63 million (including $53 million in net cash and a note receivable in the principal amount of $10 million), less certain liabilities of API Heat Transfer, Inc. paid by the Company at closing and subsequent to closing.  On February 5, 2002, the Company acquired 100% of Marconi Data Systems, formerly known as Videojet Technologies, from Marconi plc in a stock acquisition, for approximately $400 million in cash including transaction costs.  On February 4, 2002, the Company acquired 100% of Viridor Instrumentation Limited from the Pennon Group plc in a stock acquisition, for approximately $137 million in cash including transaction costs.  On February 1, 2002, the Company acquired 100% of Marconi Commerce Systems, formerly known as Gilbarco, from Marconi plc in a stock acquisition, for approximately $309 million in cash including transaction costs (net of $17 million of acquired cash).  On October 18, 2002, the Company acquired 100% of Thomson Industries, Inc. in a stock and asset acquisition, for approximately $147 million in cash including transaction costs (net of $2 million of acquired cash), an agreement to pay $15 million over the next six years, and an additional maximum contingent consideration of up to $60 million cash based on the future performance of Thomson through December 31, 2005.  In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company acquired eight smaller companies, for total consideration of approximately $186 million in cash including transaction costs.

 

Financing activities used cash of $126.0 million during the first nine months of 2003 compared to $482.3 million generated during the first nine months of of 2002.  The primary reason for the difference was the Company’s issuance of 6.9 million shares of the Company’s common stock in March 2002.  Proceeds of the common stock issuance, net of the related expenses, were approximately $467 million. The Company used the proceeds to repay approximately $230 million of short-term borrowings incurred in the first quarter of 2002 related to the Videojet, Gilbarco and Viridor acquisitions.

 

During the first quarter of 2001, the Company issued $830 million (value at maturity) in zero-coupon convertible senior notes due 2021 known as Liquid Yield Option Notes or LYONS. The net proceeds to the Company were approximately $505 million, of which approximately $100 million was used to pay down debt, and the balance was used for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions.  The LYONs carry a yield to maturity of 2.375%.  Holders of the LYONs may convert each of their LYONs into 7.2676 shares of Danaher common stock (in the aggregate for all LYONs, approximately 6.0 million shares of Danaher common stock) at any time on or before the maturity date of January 22, 2021.  The Company may redeem all or a portion of the LYONs for cash at any time on or after January 22, 2004. Holders may require the Company to purchase all or a portion of the notes for cash and/or Company common stock, at the Company’s option, on January 22, 2004 or on January 22, 2011.  The Company has not determined if it would issue stock or pay cash in the event the LYONs notes are put in January 2004.  The Company has the ability to draw off available revolving

 

24



 

credit facilities should it elect to redeem such notes for cash and has therefore classified the LYONs obligations as long-term in the accompanying financial statements.  Holders of the LYONs will consider various factors, including the Company’s stock price, the Company’s projected stock price volatility and prevailing market interest rates, in determining whether to require the Company to repurchase the LYONs in January 2004.  If a put does become likely, the Company may consider altering the terms of the indenture governing the LYONs to reduce the likelihood of a put.  The Company will pay contingent interest to the holders of LYONs during any six-month period commencing after January 22, 2004 if the average market price of a LYON for a measurement period preceding such six-month period equals 120% or more of the sum of the issue price and accrued original issue discount for such LYON. Except for the contingent interest described above, the Company will not pay interest on the LYONs prior to maturity.

 

Total debt decreased to $1,256.3 million at September 26, 2003, compared to $1,310.0 million at December 31, 2002.  This decrease was due primarily to repayments of $147.5 million of debt, offset in part by the change in the U.S Dollar/Euro exchange rates and the resulting increase in the carrying value of the Company’s Euro denominated debt.  All significant debt obligations assumed related to first quarter 2003 acquisitions have been repaid.  As of September 26, 2003, $344.4 million of the Company’s debt was fixed at a rate of 6.25%, $250 million was fixed at an average interest cost of 6% (subject to the interest rate swaps described above) and the Company’s LYONs obligations (which as of September 26, 2003 amounted to $551.4 million) carry a yield to maturity of 2.375% (with contingent interest payable as described above).  Substantially all remaining borrowings have interest costs that float with referenced base rates.  As of September 26, 2003, the Company had unutilized commitments under its revolving credit facilities of $1.0 billion.

 

As of September 26, 2003, the Company held $1.1 billion of cash and cash equivalents that were invested in highly liquid investment grade debt instruments with a maturity of 90 days or less.  As of September 26, 2003, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants under the aforementioned debt instruments, including limitations on secured debt and debt levels. None of the Company’s debt instruments contain trigger clauses requiring the Company to repurchase or pay off its debt if rating agencies downgrade the Company’s debt rating.  In addition, as of the date of this Form 10-Q, the Company could issue up to $1 billion of securities under its shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The Company’s Matco subsidiary has sold, with recourse, or provided credit enhancements for, certain of its accounts receivable and notes receivable.  Amounts outstanding under this program approximated $80 million and $93 million at September 26, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively.  The subsidiary accounts for such sales in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing

 

25



 

of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities – a replacement of FASB Statement No. 125.”  A provision for estimated losses relating to the recourse exposure has been included in accrued expenses.

 

Due to declines in the equity markets, the fair value of the Company’s pension fund assets has decreased since 2001.  In accordance with SFAS No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions”, the Company recorded a minimum pension liability adjustment of $76.9 million (net of tax benefit of $39.6 million) at December 31, 2002.  The minimum pension liability is calculated as the difference between the actuarially determined accumulated benefit obligation and the value of the plan assets as of September 30, 2002 (see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2002 for additional information).  This adjustment results in a direct charge to stockholders’ equity and does not immediately impact net earnings, but is included in other comprehensive income.  Calculations of the amount of pension and other postretirement benefits costs and obligations depend on the assumptions used in such calculations.  These assumptions include discount rates, expected return on plan assets, rate of salary increases, health care cost trend rates, mortality rates, and other factors.  While the Company believes that the assumptions used in calculating its pension and other postretirement benefits costs and obligations are appropriate, differences in actual experience or changes in the assumptions may affect the Company’s financial position or results of operations.  The Company used a 7.0% discount rate in computing the amount of the minimum pension liability to be recorded at December 31, 2002.  A 25 basis point reduction in the discount rate would have increased the after-tax minimum pension liability approximately $10 million from the amount recorded in the financial statements at December 31, 2002.

 

For 2003, the Company lowered the expected long-term rate of return assumption from 9% to 8.5% for the Company’s defined benefit pension plan reflecting lower expected long-term returns on equity and debt investments included in plan assets.  The plan maintains between 60 to 70% of its assets in equity portfolios, which are invested in funds that are expected to mirror broad market returns for equity securities.  The balance of the asset portfolio is invested in high-quality corporate bonds and bond index funds.  Including the effect of this change, pension expense for this plan for the year ended December 31, 2003 is anticipated to be approximately $12 million, or $8 million on an after-tax basis, compared with $1.9 million (or $1.2 million after tax) for this plan in 2002.  Consistent with prior years, the Company anticipates there will be no statutory funding requirements for the defined benefit plan in 2003.  If asset values and interest rates remain at 2002 levels through the end of 2003, funding of approximately $10 million may be required in 2004.

 

Except to the extent disclosed elsewhere in this document, as of September 26, 2003, there have been no material changes outside the ordinary course of business with respect to the contractual obligations, commercial commitments, and off-balance sheet

 

26



 

obligations described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

The ongoing costs of compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations have not had, and are not expected to have, a material adverse effect on the Company’s cash flows or financial position.

 

The Company will continue to have cash requirements to support working capital needs and capital expenditures and acquisitions, to pay interest and service debt, fund its pension plans as required and to pay dividends to shareholders. In order to meet these cash requirements, the Company intends to use available cash, internally generated funds and borrowings under its credit facility, or accessing capital markets, or under uncommitted lines of credit. The Company believes that cash provided from these sources will be adequate to meet its cash requirements for the foreseeable future.

 

The Company declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.025 per share payable on October 31, 2003, to holders of record on September 26, 2003.

 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Management’s discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates these estimates, including those related to bad debts, inventories, intangible assets, pensions and other post-retirement benefits, income taxes, and contingencies and litigation. The Company bases these estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

The Company believes the following critical accounting policies affect management’s more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 1 in the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

27



 

Accounts receivable. The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of the Company’s customers to make required payments. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

 

Inventories. The Company records inventory at the lower of cost or market. The estimated market value is based on assumptions for future demand and related pricing. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, reductions in the value of inventory may be required.

 

Acquired intangibles. The Company’s business acquisitions typically result in goodwill and other intangible assets, which affect the amount of future period amortization expense and possible impairment expense that the Company will incur.  The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, the new accounting standard for goodwill, which requires that the Company, on an annual basis, calculate the fair value of the reporting units that contain the goodwill and compare that to the carrying value of the reporting unit to determine if impairment exists.  Impairment testing must take place more often if circumstances or events indicate a change in the impairment status. Management judgment is required in calculating the fair value of the reporting units.

 

Long-lived assets. The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to the future net cash flows expected to be generated by the assets.  If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value.  Judgments made by the Company relate to the expected useful lives of long-lived assets and its ability to realize undiscounted cash flows in excess of the carrying amounts of such assets and are affected by factors such as the ongoing maintenance and improvements of the assets, changes in the expected use of the assets, changes in economic conditions, changes in operating performance and anticipated future cash flows.  Since judgment is involved in determining the fair value of long-lived assets, there is risk that the carrying value of the Company’s long-lived assets may require adjustment in future periods.

 

Purchase accounting. In connection with its acquisitions, the Company assesses and formulates a plan related to the future integration of the acquired entity.  This process begins during the due diligence process and is concluded within twelve months of the acquisition.  The Company accrues estimates for certain costs, related primarily to personnel reductions and facility closures or restructurings, anticipated at the date of acquisition, in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 95-3, “Recognition of Liabilities in Connection with a Purchase Business

 

28



 

Combination.”  Adjustments to these estimates are made up to 12 months from the acquisition date as plans are finalized.  To the extent these accruals are not utilized for the intended purpose, the excess is recorded as a reduction of the purchase price, typically by reducing recorded goodwill balances.  Costs incurred in excess of the recorded accruals are expensed as incurred.

 

29



 

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS – SEE NOTE 6 OF ITEM 1

 

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The information required by this item is included under Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a)           As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e).  Based upon the required evaluation, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 

(b)           There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

30



 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(a)

Exhibits:

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Credit Agreement dated as of July 23, 2003 by and among Danaher Corporation, Bank of America, N.A. and the other lenders named therein.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2*

 

Amendment No. 2 to the Danaher Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3*

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of March 26, 2003 by and between Danaher Corporation and H. Lawrence Culp, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

On October 16, 2003, the Company issued a press release announcing earnings for the quarter ended September 26, 2003.  A copy of the release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.  The press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is being furnished by the Company pursuant to Item 12 of Form 8-K.

 


* Indicates management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement

 

(b)           Reports filed on Form 8-K:

 

NONE

 

31



 

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

DANAHER CORPORATION:

 

 

 

 

Date:

October 15, 2003

 

By:

/s/ Patrick W. Allender

 

 

 

Patrick W. Allender

 

 

Executive Vice President - Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

Date:

October 15, 2003

 

By:

/s/ Robert S. Lutz

 

 

 

Robert S. Lutz

 

 

Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

 

32


EX-10.1 3 a03-3858_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of July 23, 2003 (this “Agreement”), is entered into among DANAHER CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), certain Subsidiaries of the Company party hereto pursuant to Section 2.14 (each a “Designated Borrower” and, together with the Company, the “Borrowers” and, each a “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 and Swing Line Lender.

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, the Company 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; and

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree 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:

 

Absolute Rate” means a fixed rate of interest expressed in multiples of 1/100th of one percent.

 

Absolute Rate Loan” means a Bid Loan denominated in Dollars that bears interest at a rate determined with reference to an Absolute Rate.

 

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, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account with respect to such currency as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Company 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 10% 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 and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.

 

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

 

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

 

Alternative Currency” means each of Euro, Sterling, Yen and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.07.

 

Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.

 

Alternative Currency Sublimit” means, on any date of determination, an amount equal to the difference between (a) 90% of the Aggregate Commitments on such date and (b) the Outstanding Amount of Bid Loans denominated in a Requested Currency on such date.  The Alternative Currency Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 5.16.

 

Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Debt Ratings
S&P/Moody’s

 

Facility Fee

 

Eurocurrency
Rate

 

Utilization
Fee

 

1

 

³ AA-/Aa3

 

00.065

%

00.160

%

00.050

%

2

 

³ A+/A1

 

00.080

%

00.170

%

00.050

%

3

 

³  A/A2

 

00.090

%

00.210

%

00.100

%

4

 

³  A-/A3

 

00.100

%

00.300

%

00.100

%

5

 

³  BBB+/Baa1

 

00.125

%

00.375

%

00.125

%

6

 

< BBB+/Baa1

 

00.175

%

00.575

%

00.125

%

 

 

Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Moody’s (collectively, the “Debt Ratings”) of the Company’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; 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

 

2



 

for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 6 being the lowest), unless there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, in which case the Pricing Level that is one level higher than the Pricing Level of the lower Debt Rating shall apply.

 

Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the Debt Rating specified in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(vi).  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, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Company to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section 6.03(e) 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.

 

Applicable Time” means, with respect to (a) any borrowings and payments related to Committed Loans denominated in any Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by the Administrative Agent to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment and (b) any borrowings and payments related to the Bid Loans made by a Lender in any Alternative Currency or any Requested Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency or Requested Currency, as the case may be, as may be determined by such Lender to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.

 

Applicant Borrower” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14.

 

Approved Fund” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(g).

 

Arranger” means Banc of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as a co-lead arranger and sole book manager in respect of the Commitments hereunder.

 

Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

 

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 Off Balance Sheet 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 Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

 

3



 

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (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.

 

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 Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.

 

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.  All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.

 

Bid Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Bid Loans of the same Type from each of the Lenders whose offer to make one or more Bid Loans as part of such borrowing has been accepted under the auction bidding procedures described in Section 2.03.

 

Bid Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).

 

Bid Loan Lender” means, in respect of any Bid Loan, the Lender making such Bid Loan to the applicable Borrower.

 

Bid Loan Requested Currency Sublimit” means an amount equal to 40% of the Aggregate Commitments.  The Bid Loan Requested Currency Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

Bid Request” means a written request for one or more Bid Loans substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto.

 

Borrower” and “Borrowers” each has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing, a Bid 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 with respect to Obligations denominated in Dollars is located and:

 

4



 

(a) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market;

 

(b) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means a TARGET Day;

 

(c) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in the relevant currency are conducted by and between banks in the London or other applicable offshore interbank market for such currency; and

 

(d) if such day relates to any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in a currency other than Dollars or Euro in respect of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, or any other dealings in any currency other than Dollars or Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan (other than any interest rate settings), means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such currency.

 

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 (i) 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 and (ii) Steven M. Rales and Mitchell P. Rales) 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 30% or more of the equity securities of such Person entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such Person on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or

 

(b)                                 during any period of 12 consecutive 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

 

5



 

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 Committed Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01 and (b) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and 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.

 

Committed Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type, in the same currency and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

Committed Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

 

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.

 

Company” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Company Guaranty” means the Guaranty made by the Company in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, in respect of the Obligations of the Designated Borrowers pursuant to Article X of this Agreement.

 

Competitive Bid” means a written offer by a Lender to make one or more Bid Loans, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 hereto, duly completed and signed by a Lender.

 

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

 

6



 

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases and (c) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) and (b) above of Persons other than the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) the sum of such Consolidated Funded Indebtedness plus Shareholders’ Equity as of such date.

 

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.”

 

Debt Rating” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Applicable Rate.”

 

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 an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate and any Mandatory Cost) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Committed Loans or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded 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.

 

Designated Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Designated Borrower Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14.

 

7



 

Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14.

 

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.

 

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

 

Dollar Equivalent” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency or any Requested Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency or Requested Currency, as the case may be.

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

 

Eligible Assignee” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(g).

 

EMU” means the economic and monetary union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.

 

EMU Legislation” means the legislative measures of the European Council for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of a single or unified European currency.

 

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.

 

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 Company 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 Company 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 Company 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 Company or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

Euro” and “EUR” mean the lawful currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with the EMU Legislation.

 

Eurocurrency Bid Margin” means the margin above or below the Eurocurrency Rate to be added to or subtracted from the Eurocurrency Rate, which margin shall be expressed in multiples of 1/100th of one basis point.

 

Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loan” means a Bid Loan that bears interest at a rate based upon the Eurocurrency Rate.

 

Eurocurrency Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan:

 

(a)                                  the applicable Screen Rate for such Interest Period; or

 

(b)                                 if the applicable Screen Rate shall not be available, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the rate of interest at which deposits in the relevant currency for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in Same Day Funds in the approximate amount of the Eurocurrency 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 (or other Bank of America branch or Affiliate) to major banks in the London or other offshore interbank market for such currency at their request at approximately 4:00 p.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

 

Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Rate.  Eurocurrency Rate Loans may be denominated in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.  All Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency must be Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

 

Eurocurrency Rate Loan” means a Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loan or a Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loan.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

 

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 of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if

 

9



 

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 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 June 11, 2003, among the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.

 

Foreign Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 11.15(a)(i).

 

Foreign Obligor” has the meaning specified in Section 5.16.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States or a state thereof.

 

FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

Fund” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(g).

 

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.

 

Granting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(h).

 

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, any (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

 

10



 

protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any 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.

 

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01.

 

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 Off Balance Sheet Obligations; and

 

(g)                                 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) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, 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 Off Balance Sheet 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 set forth in Section 11.05.

 

Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.05.

 

11



 

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency 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; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.

 

Interest Period” means, (a) as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or (in the case of any Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loan) converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Company in its Committed Loan Notice or Bid Request, as the case may be; and (b) as to each Absolute Rate Loan, a period of not less than 14 days and not more than 180 days as selected by the Borrower in its Bid Request; 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, in the case of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                  any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

 

(iii)                               no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date for the applicable Loan.

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial 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, including, without limitation all Environmental Laws.

 

Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.

 

Lender Party” means the Administrative Agent and each 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 Company and the Administrative Agent.

 

12



 

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 in the nature of a security interest 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 a Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan, a Bid Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement (including the Company Guaranty), each Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement, each Note, each Request for Borrowing and the Fee Letter.

 

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Company and each Designated Borrower.

 

Mandatory Cost” means, with respect to any period, the percentage rate per annum determined in accordance with Schedule 1.01.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (d) a material adverse effect upon the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document.

 

Maturity Date” means the third anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

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 Company 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 Tangible Assets” means, as at any particular date of determination, the total amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items ) after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities (excluding any thereof which are by their terms extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed) and (b) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangible assets, as set forth in the most recent balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries and computed in accordance with GAAP.

 

Note” means a promissory note made by a Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender to such Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

13



 

Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, 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 any Loan Party 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.

 

Off Balance Sheet Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, (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) or (c) an agreement for the sale of receivables or like assets creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, could be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

 

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 Committed Loans and Bid Loans on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Committed Loans or Bid Loans occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Swing Line Loans occurring on such date.

 

Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the Federal Funds Rate, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits in the applicable Alternative Currency, in an amount approximately equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be offered for such day by a branch or Affiliate of Bank of America in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency to major banks in such interbank market.

 

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(d).

 

14



 

Participating Member State” means each state so described in any EMU Legislation.

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

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 Company or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Company 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.

 

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 Company or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

 

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 has 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.

 

Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.07(c).

 

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.

 

Requested Currency” means any currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency.

 

Request for Borrowing” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice and (b) with respect to a Bid Loan, a Bid Request.

 

Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, at least two Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, at least two 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 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.

 

15



 

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, corporate controller, any vice president or executive vice president of a Loan Party.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

 

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other equity interest of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other equity interest or of any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such capital stock or other equity interest.

 

Revaluation Date” means with respect to any Loan, each of the following:  (i) each date of a Borrowing of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency or a Requested Currency, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency pursuant to Section 2.02; and (iii) such additional dates as (A) the Administrative Agent shall determine for the purposes of determining the Alternative Currency Equivalent or Dollar Equivalent amounts of Borrowings and Outstanding Amounts as contemplated hereunder or (B) the Required Lenders shall require.

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

Same Day Funds” means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Administrative Agent to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant Alternative Currency and (c) with respect to disbursements and payment in connection with a Bid Loan made by a Bid Loan Lender in any Requested Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by such Bid Loan Lender to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in such Requested Currency.

 

Screen Rate” means, for any Interest Period:

 

(a)                                the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate that appears on the page of the Telerate screen (or any successor thereto) that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in the relevant currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period; or

 

16



 

(b)                               if the rate referenced in the preceding clause (a) does not appear on such page or service or such page or service shall cease to be available, the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in the relevant currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

Shareholders’ Equity” means, as of any date of determination, consolidated shareholders’ equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of that date determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

SPC” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(h).

 

Special Notice Currency” means at any time an Alternative Currency, other than the currency of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development at such time located in North America or Europe.

 

Spot Rate” for a currency means the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in the capacity of a foreign exchange trader for the Administrative Agent hereunder as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent if the Person acting in the capacity of a foreign exchange trader for the Administrative Agent hereunder does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency.

 

Sterling” and “£” mean the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

 

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) 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 Company.

 

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

 

17



 

transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any 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 taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) 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), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

 

Swing Line” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing 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 A-2.

 

Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments.  The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

TARGET Day” means any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) payment system (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system (if any) determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

 

Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).

 

Threshold Amount” means $50,000,000.

 

Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

 

18



 

Type” means (a) with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or Eurocurrency Rate Loan, and (b) with respect to a Bid Loan, its character as an Absolute Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loan.

 

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.

 

Yen” and “¥” mean the lawful currency of Japan.

 

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.

 

(b)                                 (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.

 

(c)                                  In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

 

(d)                                 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.

 

(e)                                  All references to any Person shall also refer to the successors and assigns of such Person permitted hereunder.

 

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

 

19



 

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 would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (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 Company 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.

 

1.04                        Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Company 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 consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

 

1.06                        Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.  (a)  The Administrative Agent shall determine the Spot Rates as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating Dollar Equivalent amounts of Borrowings and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Alternative Currencies and Requested Currencies.  Such Spot Rates shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Revaluation Date to occur.  Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by Loan Parties hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                 Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Borrowing, or conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Borrowing or Eurocurrency Rate Loan is denominated in an Alternative Currency or a Requested Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency equivalent or Requested Currency equivalent, as the case may be, of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

20



 

1.07                        Additional Alternative Currencies.  (a)  The Company may from time to time request that Eurocurrency Rate Loans be made in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative Currency;” provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars.  In the case of any such request with respect to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

 

(b)                                 Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., 15 Business Days prior to the date of the desired Borrowing (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent).  In the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof.  Each Lender (in the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Loans) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., ten Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in such requested currency.

 

(c)                                  Any failure by a Lender to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Lender to permit Eurocurrency Rate Loans to be made in such requested currency.  If the Administrative Agent and all the Lenders consent to making Eurocurrency Rate Loans in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Company and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Committed Borrowings of Eurocurrency Rate Loans.  If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.07, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Company.

 

1.08                        Change of Currency.  (a)  Each obligation of the Borrowers to make a payment denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption (in accordance with the EMU Legislation).  If, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that if any Committed Borrowing in the currency of such member state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Committed Borrowing, at the end of the then current Interest Period.

 

(b)                                 Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.

 

(c)                                  Each provision of this Agreement also shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to

 

21



 

reflect a change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the change in currency.

 

1.09                        Times of Day.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWING

 

2.01                        Committed Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to the Company or a Designated Borrower in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies 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 Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment and (iii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Committed Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall not exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit.  Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

2.02                        Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                  Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the Company’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 12:00 noon (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars or of any conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars to Base Rate Committed Loans, (ii) four Business Days (or five Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (iii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Company pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company and, if applicable, any Designated Borrower.  Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Company is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation,

 

22



 

as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, (vi) the currency of the Committed Loans to be borrowed, and (vii) if applicable, the Designated Borrower; provided, however, that if as of the date of any Committed Loan Notice requesting a Committed Borrowing, there are Swing Line Loans outstanding, the Company shall be deemed to have requested that a portion of the requested Committed Loans in a principal amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Swing Line Loans be denominated in Dollars.  If the Company fails to specify a currency in a Committed Loan Notice requesting a Borrowing, then the Committed Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars.  If the Company fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Company fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans; provided, however, that in the case of a failure to timely request a continuation of Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, such Loans shall be continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans in their original currency with an Interest Period of one month.  Any 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 Eurocurrency Rate Loans.  If the Company requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.  No Committed Loan may be converted into or continued as a Committed Loan denominated in a different currency, but instead must be prepaid in the original currency of such Committed Loan and reborrowed in the other currency.

 

(b)                                 Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount (and currency) of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Company, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation of Committed Loans denominated in a currency other than Dollars, in each case as described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the applicable currency not later than 2:00 p.m., in the case of any Committed Loan denominated in Dollars, and not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of any Committed Loan in an Alternative Currency, in each case on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Borrowing, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Company or the other applicable Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of such 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 Company; provided, however, that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Company there are Swing Line Loans outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied, first, to the payment in full of such Swing Line Loans, and second, to the Borrowers as provided above.

 

23



 

(c)                                  Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loan.  During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans (whether in Dollars or any Alternative Currency) without the consent of the Required Lenders; provided, however, that without the consent of the Required Lenders any Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency may be continued only for a one month Interest Period at any time that a Default has occurred and is continuing and no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.  At any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency be prepaid, or redenominated into Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof, on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto.

 

(d)                                 The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans upon determination of such interest rate.  The determination of the Eurocurrency 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 Company 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 Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

(f)                                    On the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by payment or prepayment or otherwise, to less than $5,000,000, such Committed Loans shall, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, (A) if such Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans are denominated in Dollars, automatically be converted into Base Rate Committed Loans, and (B) if such Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans are denominated in any Committed Currency (other than Dollars), be repaid by the Borrower.

 

2.03                        Bid Loans.

 

(a)                                  General.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees that the Company may from time to time request the Lenders to submit offers to make loans (each such loan, a “Bid Loan”) to the Company or a Designated Borrower in Dollars, in one or more Alternative Currencies or in one or more Requested Currencies prior to the Maturity Date pursuant to this Section 2.03; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Bid Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Bid Loans denominated in a Requested Currency shall not exceed the Bid Loan Requested Currency Sublimit and (iii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency shall not exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit.  There shall not be more than five different Interest Periods in effect with respect to Bid Loans at any time.

 

24



 

(b)                                 Requesting Competitive Bids.  The Company may request the submission of Competitive Bids by delivering a Bid Request to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (i) one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, or (ii) five Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loans.  Each Bid Request shall specify (i) the requested date of the Bid Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Bid Loans requested, (iii) the Type of Bid Loans requested, (iv) the currency of the requested Bid Loans, (v) if applicable, the Designated Borrower requesting such Bid Loans, (vi) the account of the Company or the applicable Designated Borrower to which such Bid Loan should be funded, and (vii) the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, and shall be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company and, if applicable, the Designated Borrower requesting such Bid Loans.  Each Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans may only be denominated in Dollars.  No Bid Request shall contain a request for (i) more than one Type of Bid Loan or (ii) Bid Loans having more than three different Interest Periods.  Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agrees in its sole and absolute discretion, the Company may not submit a Bid Request if it has submitted another Bid Request within the prior five Business Days.

 

(c)                                  Submitting Competitive Bids.

 

(i)                                     The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of each Bid Request received by it from the Company and the contents of such Bid Request.

 

(ii)                                  Each Lender may (but shall have no obligation to) submit a Competitive Bid containing an offer to make one or more Bid Loans in response to such Bid Request.  Such Competitive Bid must be delivered to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:30 a.m. (A) on the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, and (B) four Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loans; provided, however, that any Competitive Bid submitted by Bank of America in its capacity as a Lender in response to any Bid Request must be submitted to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:15 a.m. on the date on which Competitive Bids are required to be delivered by the other Lenders in response to such Bid Request.  Each Competitive Bid shall specify (1) the proposed date of the Bid Borrowing; (2) the principal amount of each Bid Loan for which such Competitive Bid is being made, which principal amount (x) may be equal to, greater than or less than the Commitment of the bidding Lender, and (y) may not exceed the principal amount of Bid Loans for which Competitive Bids were requested; (3) if the proposed Bid Borrowing is to consist of Absolute Rate Bid Loans, the Absolute Rate offered for each such Bid Loan and the Interest Period applicable thereto; (4) if the proposed Bid Borrowing is to consist of Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loans, the Eurocurrency Bid Margin with respect to each such Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loan and the Interest Period applicable thereto; (5) the identity of the bidding Lender; (6) the account of such Lender to which payments of principal and interest in respect of such Bid Loan are to be paid, and (7) if applicable, the Applicable Time for borrowing and payment of such Bid Loan.

 

(iii)                               Any Competitive Bid shall be disregarded if it (A) is received after the applicable time specified in clause (ii) above, (B) is not substantially in the form of a

 

25



 

Competitive Bid as specified herein, (C) contains qualifying, conditional or similar language, (D) proposes terms other than or in addition to those set forth in the applicable Bid Request, or (E) is otherwise not responsive to such Bid Request.  Any Lender may correct a Competitive Bid containing a manifest error by submitting a corrected Competitive Bid (identified as such) not later than the applicable time required for submission of Competitive Bids.  Any such submission of a corrected Competitive Bid shall constitute a revocation of the Competitive Bid that contained the manifest error.  The Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, notify any Lender of any manifest error it detects in such Lender’s Competitive Bid.

 

(iv)                              Subject only to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.03 and 4.02 and clause (iii) above, each Competitive Bid shall be irrevocable.

 

(d)                                 Notice to Company of Competitive Bids.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, or (ii) four Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loans, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company of the identity of each Lender that has submitted a Competitive Bid that complies with Section 2.03(c) and of the terms of the offers contained in each such Competitive Bid.

 

(e)                                  Acceptance of Competitive Bids.  Not later than 11:30 a.m. (i) on the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, and (ii) four Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loans, the Company shall notify the Administrative Agent of its acceptance or rejection of the offers notified to it pursuant to Section 2.03(d) on behalf of itself or any applicable Designated Borrower.  The Company shall be under no obligation to accept any Competitive Bid and may choose to reject all Competitive Bids.  In the case of acceptance, such notice shall be in writing and shall specify the aggregate principal amount of Competitive Bids for each Interest Period that is accepted.  The Company may accept any Competitive Bid in whole or in part; provided that:

 

(i)                                     the aggregate principal amount of each Bid Borrowing may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Bid Request;

 

(ii)                                  the acceptance of offers may be made only on the basis of ascending Absolute Rates or Eurocurrency Bid Margins within each Interest Period; and

 

(iii)                               the Company may not accept any offer that is described in Section 2.03(c)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the requirements hereof.

 

(f)                                    Procedure for Identical Bids.  If two or more Lenders have submitted Competitive Bids at the same Absolute Rate or Eurocurrency Bid Margin, as the case may be, for the same Interest Period, and the result of accepting all of such Competitive Bids in whole (together with any other Competitive Bids at lower Absolute Rates or Eurocurrency Bid Margins, as the case may be, accepted for such Interest Period in conformity with the requirements of Section 2.03(e)(iii)) would be to cause the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the applicable Bid Borrowing to exceed the amount specified therefor in the related Bid Request, then, unless

 

26



otherwise agreed by the Company, the Administrative Agent and such Lenders, such Competitive Bids shall be accepted as nearly as possible in proportion to the amount offered by each such Lender in respect of such Interest Period.

 

(g)                                 Notice to Lenders of Acceptance or Rejection of Bids.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender having submitted a Competitive Bid whether or not its offer has been accepted and, if its offer has been accepted, of the amount of the Bid Loan or Bid Loans to be made by it on the date of the applicable Bid Borrowing.  Any Competitive Bid or portion thereof that is not accepted by the Company by the applicable time specified in Section 2.03(e) shall be deemed rejected.

 

(h)                                 Notice of Eurocurrency Rate.  If any Bid Borrowing is to consist of Eurocurrency Margin Loans, the Administrative Agent shall determine the Eurocurrency Rate for the relevant Interest Period, and promptly after making such determination, shall notify the Company and the Lenders that will be participating in such Bid Borrowing of such Eurocurrency Rate.

 

(i)                                     Funding of Bid Loans.  Each Lender that has received (A) notice pursuant to Section 2.03(g) that all or a portion of its Competitive Bid has been accepted by the Company and (B) notice from the Administrative Agent that the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 have been satisfied, shall make the amount of its Bid Loan(s) available directly to the applicable Borrower in immediately available funds at such account as set forth in the related Bid Request not later than 1:00 p.m., in the case of Bid Loans denominated in Dollars, or the Applicable Time, in the case of Bid Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency or a Requested Currency, on the date of the requested Bid Borrowing.

 

(j)                                     Payment of Bid Loans.  Each Borrower which has received a Bid Loan from a Lender shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of such Bid Loan directly to such Lender as provided in Section 2.12(a)(v).

 

(k)                                  Notice of Range of Bids.  After each Competitive Bid auction pursuant to this Section 2.03, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender that submitted a Competitive Bid in such auction of the ranges of bids submitted (without the bidder’s name) and accepted for each Bid Loan and the aggregate amount of each Bid Borrowing.

 

2.04                        Swing Line Loans.

 

(a)                                  The Swing Line.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender may at its option make loans in Dollars (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Company 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 the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, 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 Company shall not

 

27



 

use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04.  Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan.  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.

 

(b)                                 Borrowing Procedures.  Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made only upon the Company’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 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, 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 a Responsible Officer of the Company.  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 2:00 p.m. 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 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 may, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Company at its office by (1) crediting the account of the Company on the books of the Swing Line Lender in Same Day Funds or (2) wire transfer of such funds in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Swing Line Lender by the Company.

 

(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 Company (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed 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 writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and 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 Company with a copy of the applicable Committed 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

 

28



 

Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed 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 Committed Loan to the Company in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

 

(ii)                                  If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Committed Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk 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 applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect.  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 Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk 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 set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Company 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; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02.  No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Company 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 risk 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 risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

 

29



 

(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 under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), 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 applicable Overnight Rate.  The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.

 

(e)                                  Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender.  The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Company for interest on the Swing Line Loans.  Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk 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 Company 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)  Each Borrower may, upon notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed 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 Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans denominated in Dollars, (B) four Business Days (or five, in the case of prepayment of Loans denominated in Special Notice Currencies) prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (C) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans denominated in Dollars shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; (iii) any prepayment Eurocurrency Rate Loans in Alternative Currencies shall be in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iv) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurocurrency Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans.  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 Company, the applicable Borrower shall irrevocably 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 Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.  Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

 

(b)                                 No Bid Loan may be prepaid without the prior consent of the applicable Bid Loan Lender.

 

30



 

(c)                                  The Company 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 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000.  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

 

(d)                                 If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrowers shall immediately prepay Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

 

(e)                                  If the Administrative Agent notifies the Company at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies at such time exceeds an amount equal to 105% of the Alternative Currency Sublimit then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrowers shall prepay Loans in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such Outstanding Amount as of such date of payment to an amount not to exceed 100% of the Alternative Currency Sublimit then in effect.

 

(f)                                    No optional prepayment of Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency may be made other than on the last day of the applicable Interest Period for such Committed Loans, unless the Lenders consent thereto.

 

2.06                        Termination or Reduction of Commitments.  The Company 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 Company 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 Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, the Swing Line Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.  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.  All facility and utilization 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 of Loans.  (a)  Each Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans made to such Borrower outstanding on such date.

 

(b)                                 Each Borrower shall repay each Bid Loan made to such Borrower on the last day of the Interest Period in respect thereof.

 

31



 

(c)                                  The Company shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date five Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date.

 

2.08                        Interest.  (a)  Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate plus (in the case of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan of any Lender which is lent from a Lending Office in the United Kingdom or a Participating Member State) the Mandatory Cost; (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate; (iii) each Bid Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for the Interest Period therefore at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus (or minus) the Eurocurrency Bid Margin, or at the Absolute Rate for such Interest Period, as the case may be; and (iv) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate.

 

(b)                                 If any amount payable by any Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (after giving effect 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, each Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the 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.  On each Interest Payment Date for a Base Rate Loan, interest accrued on such Loan to but excluding such Interest Payment Date shall be due and payable.  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.

 

(a)                                  Facility Fee.  The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a facility fee in Dollars 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 Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans), regardless of usage.  The facility fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period (and thereafter so long as any Committed Loans or Swing Line Loans remain outstanding), including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met.  The facility fee 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).  On each such payment date all facility fee which has accrued to but excluding any such payment date

 

32



 

shall be due and payable.  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)                                 Utilization Fee.  The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a utilization fee in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate times the Total Outstandings on each day that the Total Outstandings exceed 33% of the actual daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments then in effect (or, if terminated, in effect immediately prior to such termination).  The utilization fee 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.  On each such payment date all utilization fee which has accrued to but excluding any such payment date shall be due and payable.  The utilization fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate for each period during which such Applicable Rate was in effect.  The utilization fee shall accrue at all times, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met.

 

(c)                                  Other Fees.  (i)  The Company shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts, in Dollars, 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; provided, however, that such fees in respect of each Bid Request shall be fully earned and accrue upon the delivery of such Bid Request by the Company pursuant to Section 2.03(b).

 

(ii)                                  The Company shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, 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.  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), or, in the case of interest in respect of Committed Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies as to which market practice differs from the foregoing, in accordance with such market practice.  Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day.

 

2.11                        Evidence of Debt.  (a)  The Borrowings 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

 

33



 

Borrowings made by the Lenders to the Borrowers 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 Borrowers 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 to a Borrower made through the Administrative Agent, such Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans to such Borrower in addition to such accounts or records.  Each Lender may attach schedules to a Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its 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 Swing Line Loans.  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)  (i) All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  (ii) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and except with respect to principal of and interest on Bid Loans and any Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein.  (iii) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder with respect to principal and interest on Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in such Alternative Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent on the dates specified herein.  If, for any reason, any Borrower is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Alternative Currency, such Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the Alternative Currency payment amount.  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.  (iv) All payments received by the Administrative Agent (A) after 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (B) after the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency, shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  (v) All payments by each Borrower hereunder with respect to principal and interest on any Bid Loans made by a Lender shall be made directly to such Lender at the account of such Lender specified in such Lender’s Competitive Bid in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or the Applicable Time specified by such Lender in its Competitive Bid, in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency or a Requested Currency, on the dates specified herein.  All payments received by any such Lender (A) after 2:00 pm, in the case of payments in

 

34



 

Dollars, or (B) after the Applicable Time specified by such Lender, in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency or a Requested Currency, shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  Each such Lender which receives any such payment in respect of principal or interest on any Bid Loan shall promptly provide a written receipt thereof to both the Company and the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                 If any payment to be made by any 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.

 

(c)                                  Unless any 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 such Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such 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 Same Day Funds, then:

 

(i)                                     if any 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 Same Day 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 Same Day Funds at the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect; 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 Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to a Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan or Bid Loan, as the case may be, included in the applicable 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 applicable Borrower, and such 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 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 any 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 Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

35



 

(d)                                 If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender to any Borrower as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to such Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Borrowing 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.

 

(e)                                  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to fund participations in Swing Line Loans are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to fund any such participation 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 Committed Loan or purchase its participation.

 

(f)                                    Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any 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 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 Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in Swing Line Loans held by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Committed Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in 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 Committed 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 11.06 (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.  Each 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 11.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of such 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.

 

36



 

2.14                        Designated Borrowers(a)  The Company may at any time, upon not less than 15 Business Days’ notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), designate any Subsidiary of the Company (an “Applicant Borrower”) as a Designated Borrower to receive Loans hereunder by delivering to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly deliver counterparts thereof to each Lender) a duly executed notice and agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit F (a “Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement”).  The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that prior to any Applicant Borrower becoming entitled to utilize the credit facilities provided for herein the Administrative Agent shall have received such supporting resolutions, incumbency certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents or information, in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as may be required by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion (including, without, limitation, to evaluate (i) any withholding tax as may arise in respect of any Loans made to such Applicant Borrower and (ii) the manner in which Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans may be made available to such Applicant Borrower), and Notes signed by such new Borrowers to the extent any Lender so requires.  Promptly following receipt of all such requested resolutions, incumbency certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents or information from an Applicant Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall send a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit G (a “Designated Borrower Notice”) to the Company and the Lenders specifying the effective date upon which the Applicant Borrower shall constitute a Designated Borrower for purposes hereof, whereupon each of the Lenders agrees to permit such Designated Borrower to receive Loans hereunder, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and each of the parties agrees that such Designated Borrower otherwise shall be a Borrower for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that no Committed Loan Notice may be submitted by or on behalf of such Designated Borrower until the date five Business Days after such effective date.

 

(b)                                 The Obligations of each Designated Borrower which is a Foreign Subsidiary shall be several in nature.  The Obligations of each Designated Borrower shall be guaranteed by the Company pursuant to the Company Guaranty.

 

(c)                                  Each Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a “Designated Borrower” pursuant to this Section 2.14 hereby irrevocably appoints the Company as its agent for all purposes relevant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including (i) the giving and receipt of notices, (ii) the execution and delivery of all documents, instruments and certificates contemplated herein and all modifications hereto, and (iii) the receipt of the proceeds of any Loans made by the Lenders, to any such Designated Borrower hereunder.  Any acknowledgment, consent, direction, certification or other action which might otherwise be valid or effective only if given or taken by all Borrowers, or by each Borrower acting singly, shall be valid and effective if given or taken only by the Company, whether or not any such other Borrower joins therein.  Any notice, demand, consent, acknowledgement, direction, certification or other communication delivered to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been delivered to each Designated Borrower.

 

(d)                                 The Company may from time to time, upon not less than 5 Business Days’ notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), terminate a Designated Borrower’s status as such, provided that there are no outstanding Loans payable by such Designated Borrower, or other

 

37



 

amounts payable by such Designated Borrower on account of any Loans made to it, as of the effective date of such termination. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of any such termination of a Designated Borrower.

 

ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

3.01                        Taxes.

 

(a)                                  Any and all payments by the Borrowers 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, branch profits taxes, back-up withholding taxes, and franchise or other similar 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, maintains a lending office or does business (other than doing business solely as a result of entering into this Agreement, performing any obligations hereunder, receiving any payments hereunder or enforcing any rights hereunder) (all such non-excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”).  If any 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) such Borrower shall make such deductions, (iii) such Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (iv) to the extent reasonably practicable, within 30 days after the date of such payment, such 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, each 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 by such Borrower 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”).

 

(c)                                  If any 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, such 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.

 

38



 

(d)                                 Each 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.  Payment under this subsection (d) shall be made within 30 days after the date the Lender or the Administrative Agent makes a written demand therefor, which demand shall be made within 90 days of the date such Lender or the Administrative Agent pays such Taxes of Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority.

 

(e)                                  Without limiting the obligations of the Lenders under Section 11.15 regarding delivery of certain forms and documents to establish such Lender’s status for U.S. withholding tax purposes, each Lender agrees promptly to deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Company, as the Administrative Agent or the Company shall reasonably request, on or prior to the Closing Date, and in a timely fashion thereafter, such other documents and forms required by any relevant taxing authorities under the Laws of any other jurisdiction, duly executed and completed by such Lender, as are required under such Laws to confirm such Lender’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender outside of the U.S. by the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding tax purposes in such other jurisdiction.  Each Lender shall promptly (i) notify the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any such claimed exemption or reduction, and (ii) 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 of any such jurisdiction that any Borrower make any deduction or withholding for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.  Additionally, each of the Borrowers shall promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall reasonably request, on or prior to the Closing Date, and in a timely fashion thereafter, such documents and forms required by any relevant taxing authorities under the Laws of any jurisdiction, duly executed and completed by such Borrower, as are required to be furnished by such Lender or the Administrative Agent under such Laws in connection with any payment by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of Taxes or Other Taxes, or otherwise in connection with the Loan Documents, with respect to such jurisdiction.

 

(f)                                    If and to the extent that any Lender or the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion (exercised in good faith), determines that it has received or been granted a credit against, relief from, a refund or remission of, or a repayment of, any Taxes or Other Taxes in respect of which it has received additional payments under this Section 3.01, and such credit, refund, relief or remission has been obtained, utilized and fully retained by such Lender or the Administrative Agent on an affiliated group basis, then such Lender or the Administrative Agent shall pay to the Borrowers an amount which such Lender or the Administrative Agent determines, in its sole discretion (exercised in good faith) will leave it, after the payments, in the same after-tax position as it would have been in had the payments required under this Section 3.01 not been required to be made by the Borrowers; provided however that (i) such Lender or the Administrative Agent shall be the sole judge of the amount of such credit, refund, relief or remission and the date on which it is received; (ii) such Lender or the Administrative Agent shall

 

39



 

not be obliged to disclose information regarding its tax affairs or tax computations; (iii) nothing in this Section 3.01(f) shall interfere with such Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s right to manage its tax affairs in whatever manner it sees fit; and (iv) if such Lender or the Administrative Agent shall subsequently determine that it has lost all or a portion of such tax credit, refund, relief or remission, the Borrowers shall promptly remit to such Lender or the Administrative Agent the amount certified by such Lender or the Administrative Agent to be the amount necessary to restore such Lender or the Administrative Agent to the position it would have been in if no payment had been made pursuant to this section.

 

(g)                                 The Borrowers’ obligations to indemnify a Foreign Lender or pay additional amounts to a Foreign Lender under this Section 3.01 are subject to Section 11.15(a)(iii).

 

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 its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurocurrency Rate Loans (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency), or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars or any Alternative Currency in the applicable interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Company through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in Dollars, to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all such Eurocurrency Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.  Each Lender 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, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

 

3.03                        Inability to Determine Rates.  (a) If the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (i) deposits (whether in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loan, (ii) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loan (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency), or (iii) the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender.  Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain

 

40



 

Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans in the affected currency or currencies shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Committed Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

(b)                                 If the Administrative Agent or any Bid Loan Lender determines that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loan that (i) deposits (whether in Dollars or an Alternative Currency or a Requested Currency) are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loan, (ii) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loan (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency or a Requested Currency), or (iii) the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lender of funding such Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each such Lender.  Thereafter, the obligation of such Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loans in the affected currency or currencies shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of such Lenders) revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Margin Bid Loans in the affected currency or currencies.

 

3.04                        Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurocurrency 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 Eurocurrency Rate 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, (iii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.04(c) and (iv) the requirements of the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank reflected in the Mandatory Cost, other than as set forth below) or the Mandatory Cost, as calculated hereunder, does not represent the cost to such Lender of complying with the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank in relation to its making, funding or maintaining of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, then from time to time upon demand of such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction or, if applicable, the portion of such cost that is not represented by the Mandatory Cost.

 

41



 

(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 Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction.

 

(c)                                  The Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to 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 Eurocurrency Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Company 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                        Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Company shall promptly compensate (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to 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 Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

 

(b)                                 any failure by any Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Company or the applicable Designated Borrower; or

 

(c)                                  any assignment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 11.16;

 

including any loss of anticipated profits, any foreign exchange losses and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan, from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract.  The Company shall also pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Company (or the applicable Designated Borrower) to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded

 

42



 

each Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it at the the Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the offshore interbank market for such currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency 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 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 Company may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.16.

 

3.07                        Survival.  All of the Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS

 

4.01                        Conditions of Initial Borrowing.  The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Loan hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(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 Company, 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 Company;

 

(ii)                                  Notes executed by the Company in favor of each Lender requesting Notes;

 

(iii)                               such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Company as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

 

(iv)                              such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Company is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing in its jurisdiction of organization, including certified copies of the Company’s Organization Documents, and certificates of good standing and tax clearance certificates;

 

43



 

(v)                                 a favorable opinion of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, special counsel to the Company, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in the form set forth in Exhibit H;

 

(vi)                              a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) the current Debt Ratings; and

 

(vii)                           such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                 Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                  Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Company 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 Company and the Administrative Agent).

 

(d)                                 The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before August 11, 2003.

 

4.02                        Conditions to all Borrowings.   The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Borrowing (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  The representations and warranties of the Borrowers contained in Article V or any representations and warranties of any Loan Party in 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 Borrowing, 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 for purposes of this Section 4.02, (i) the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 and (ii) the representations and warranties in subsection (c) of Section 5.05, need only be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.

 

(b)                                 No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Borrowing.

 

(c)                                  The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Borrowing in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

44



 

(d)                                 If the applicable Borrower is a Designated Borrower, then the conditions of Section 2.14 to the designation of such Borrower as a Designated Borrower shall have been met to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.

 

(e)                                  In the case of a Committed Borrowing to be denominated in an Alternative Currency, there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (in the case of any Loans to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) would make it impracticable for such Borrowing to be denominated in the relevant Alternative Currency.

 

Each Request for Borrowing (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) submitted by the Company 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 Borrowing.

 

ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

5.01                        Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.  Each Loan Party (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 could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.02                        Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’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 such Person is a party contemplating payments in excess of the Threshold Amount to, or to be due from, the Company and its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

 

5.03                        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, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan

 

45



 

Document other than any thereof as have been obtained, taken or made on or prior to the Closing Date and remain in full force and effect.

 

5.04                        Binding Effect.  This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto.  This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms.

 

5.05                        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 Company and its 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 Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent required to be reflected thereon pursuant to GAAP consistently applied.

 

(b)                                 The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries dated March 31, 2003, 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, (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its 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, and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date of such financial statements, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent required to be reflected thereon pursuant to GAAP consistently applied.

 

(c)                                  As of the Closing Date, since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.06                        Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Company after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) except as set forth on Schedule 5.06, for which there is (based on facts and circumstances known to the Borrower after due inquiry on any date of determination) a reasonable likelihood of an adverse determination and which, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

46



 

5.07                        No Default.  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.

 

5.08                        Ownership of Property; Liens.  Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has good record 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 could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The property of the Company and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

 

5.09                        Environmental Compliance.  The Company and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Company has reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.09, such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.10                        Insurance.  The properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Company, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Company or the applicable Subsidiary operates (it being understood that a program of self-insurance for first or other loss layers may be utilized).

 

5.11                        Taxes.  The Company and its 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 by the Company.  To the Company’s knowledge, there is no proposed tax assessment against the Company or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.12                        ERISA Compliance.

 

(a)                                  The Company 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 Company, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could 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 could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                  (i)  No ERISA Event likely to result in material liability for the Company has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability in any material amount; (iii) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has

 

47



 

incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any material liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any material 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; and (v) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could reasonably be expected to be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

5.13                        Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act.

 

(a)                                  No Borrower is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, 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.

 

(b)                                 None of the Company, any Person Controlling the Company, 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.

 

5.14                        Disclosure.  No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party 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 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.

 

5.15                        Tax Shelter Regulations.  The Company does not intend to treat the Loans and related transactions as being a “reportable transaction” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4).  If the Company determines to take any action inconsistent with such intention, it will promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof.  If the Company so notifies the Administrative Agent, the Company acknowledges that one or more of the Lenders may treat its Committed Loans, Bid Loans and/or its interest in Swing Line Loans as a part of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 301.6112-1, and such Lender or Lenders, as applicable, will maintain the lists and other records required by such Treasury Regulations.

 

5.16                        Foreign Obligor Representations.  (a)  Each Loan Party that is a Foreign Subsidiary (a “Foreign Obligor”) is subject to civil and commercial law with respect to its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Foreign Obligor is a party (collectively, the “Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents”), and the execution, delivery and performance by such Foreign Obligor of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents constitute and will constitute private and commercial acts and not public or

 

48



 

governmental acts.  Neither such Foreign Obligor nor any of its property has any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Obligor is organized and existing in respect of its obligations under the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents.

 

(b)                                 The Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents are in proper legal form under the law of the jurisdiction in which any Foreign Obligor is organized and existing for the enforcement thereof against such Foreign Obligor under the law of such jurisdiction, and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents.  It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents that the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents be filed, registered or recorded with, or executed or notarized before, any court or other authority in the jurisdiction in which any Foreign Obligor is organized and existing or that any registration charge or stamp or similar tax be paid on or in respect of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents or any other document, except for any such filing, registration or recording, or execution or notarization, as has been made or is not required to be made until the Applicable Foreign Obligor Document or any other document is sought to be enforced and for any charge or tax as has been timely paid.

 

(c)                                  There is no tax, levy, impost, duty, fee, assessment or other governmental charge, or any deduction or withholding, imposed by any Governmental Authority in or of the jurisdiction in which the Foreign Obligor is organized and existing either (A) on or by virtue of the execution or delivery of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents to which the Foreign Obligor is a party or (B) on any payment to be made by the Foreign Obligor pursuant to the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents, except as has been disclosed to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)                                 The execution, delivery and performance of the Applicable Foreign Obligor Documents executed by any Foreign Obligor are, under applicable foreign exchange control regulations of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Obligor is organized and existing, not subject to any notification or authorization except (A) such as have been made or obtained or (B) such as cannot be made or obtained until a later date (provided that any notification or authorization described in immediately preceding clause (B) shall be made or obtained as soon as is reasonably practicable).

 

ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Company shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:

 

6.01                        Financial Statements.  Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

49



 

(a)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within 100 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of Ernst & Young or another independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; and

 

(b)                                 as soon as available, but in any event within 50 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Company’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Company as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(d), the Company 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 Company 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 and each Lender, 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 Section 6.01(a), a certificate of its independent certified public accountants certifying such financial statements and stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default or, if any such Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such event;

 

(b)                                 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 Company;

 

(c)                                  promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any final management letter submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Company by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

 

50



 

(d)                                 promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Company, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports which the Company may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(e)                                  promptly after the Company has notified the Administrative Agent of any intention by the Company to treat the Loans as being a “reportable transaction” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4), a duly completed copy of IRS Form 8886 or any successor form; and

 

(f)                                    promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Company 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(d) (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 Company posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Company’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Company’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 Company shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Company 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 Company 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 Company shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(c) to the Administrative Agent.  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 Company 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.

 

6.03                        Notices.  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)                                  of the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)                                 of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Company or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any

 

51



 

litigation, investigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws, to the extent such matters in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)                                  of the occurrence of any ERISA Event which may result in material liability for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(d)                                 of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Company or any Subsidiary; and

 

(e)                                  of any announcement by Moody’s or S&P of any change or possible change in a Debt Rating.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Company setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Company 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, and cause its Subsidiaries to make funds available to it in amounts sufficient to pay and discharge, as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all 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, if any, in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary; (b) all material 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, if any, in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary; and (c) all material Indebtedness, 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 (or equivalent status) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.02; (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 in a transaction permitted by Section 7.02 or to the extent that failure to do so could 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 could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.06                        Maintenance of Properties.  (a)  Maintain, preserve and protect all of its properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) make all necessary repairs

 

52



 

thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could 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 Company, 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 (it being understood that a program of self-insurance for first loss or other loss layers may be utilized).

 

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, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.09                        Books and Records.  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 Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

6.10                        Inspection Rights.  Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender 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 directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company; 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 Company at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

6.11                        Compliance with ERISA.  Do, and cause each of its ERISA Affiliates to do, each of the following: (a) maintain each Plan in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state law; (b) cause each Plan which is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code to maintain such qualification; and (c) make all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code except where the failure to comply with this Section 6.11 could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.12                        Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of the Borrowings for general corporate purposes (including acquisitions) not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

53



 

ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

 

7.01                        Liens.  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:

 

(a)                                  Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)                                 Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01;

 

(c)                                  Liens for taxes not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted by the Company;

 

(d)                                 carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves, if any, with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

 

(e)                                  pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

 

(f)                                    deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than for money borrowed), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (including deposits to secure letters of credit issued to secure any such obligation);

 

(g)                                 easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(h)                                 Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h) or securing appeal or other surety bonds related to such judgments;

 

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

 

(j)                                     licenses, operating leases or subleases permitted hereunder granted to other Persons in the ordinary course of business not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

54



 

(k)                                  Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statement filings with respect to operating leases or consignment arrangements entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)                                     Liens in favor of banking institutions arising by operation of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) held by such banking institutions incurred in the ordinary course of business and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

(m)                               Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary or becomes a Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were not created in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person so merged into or consolidated with the Company or such Subsidiary or acquired by the Company or such Subsidiary;

 

(n)                                 other Liens securing Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount on any date not to exceed 10% of Net Tangible Assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Company prior to such date; and

 

(o)                                 the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by clause (b) or (m) above upon or in the same property theretofore subject thereto or the replacement, extension or renewal (without increase in the amount or change in any direct or contingent obligor) of the Indebtedness secured thereby.

 

7.02                        Fundamental Changes.  Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  the Company may merge or consolidate with or into another Person if either (i) the Company is the surviving Person or (ii) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged (any such Person, the “Successor”) shall be organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, in a writing executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent for delivery to each Lender, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which writing shall include, without limitation, a certification as to pro forma compliance with Section 7.06), the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on the Loans and the performance of the other Obligations under this Agreement (including the Company Guaranty) and the other Loan Documents on the part of the Company to be performed or observed, as fully as if such Successor were originally named as the initial Borrower in this Agreement;

 

(b)                                 any Subsidiary may merge with (or dissolve into) (i) the Company, provided that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more Subsidiaries; and

 

(c)                                  any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise), (i) to the Company, (ii) to another Subsidiary or (iii) to another Person; provided, that no Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to another Person

 

55



 

(other than the Company or another Subsidiary) in a transaction or series of related transactions in which all or substantially all of the assets of all material Subsidiaries of the Company (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) are Disposed of.

 

7.03                        Burdensome Agreements.  Enter into any agreement prohibiting or limiting the ability of any Subsidiary of any Borrower to make payments, directly or indirectly, to such Borrower by way of dividends, advances, repayments of loans or advances, reimbursement of intercompany expenses or accruals or other returns on investment, or any other agreement or arrangement which restricts the ability of any such Subsidiary to make any payment, directly or indirectly, to such Borrower, except for restrictions imposed in connection with an agreement which has been entered into for the Disposition of a Subsidiary or its assets otherwise permitted by Section 7.02.

 

7.04                        Transactions with Affiliates.  Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than terms substantially as favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to transactions between or among the Company and any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries or between and among any wholly-owned Subsidiaries.

 

7.05                        Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of any Borrowing, 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.

 

7.06                        Consolidated Leverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company to be greater than 0.575:1

 

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.  Any Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, and in the currency required hereunder, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within three days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any commitment facility, utilization or other fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

 

(b)                                 Specific Covenants.  The Company fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(a), 6.05 or 6.11 or Article VII; or

 

(c)                                  Other Defaults.  Any Loan Party 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 any Lender shall

 

56



 

have given written notice thereof to the Company (through the Administrative Agent) or the Company shall have otherwise become aware of such default; or

 

(d)                                 Representations and Warranties.  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Company or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

 

(e)                                  Cross-Default.  (i) The Company or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise but after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) 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 the Threshold Amount, or (B) 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 occurs, the effect of which default or other event 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 (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Company or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Company or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Company or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(f)                                    Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.  Any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries which, in the case of any such Subsidiary, as of the most recently ended fiscal year of the Company contributed or was accountable for at least 5% of the revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis for such year, 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

 

(g)                                 Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment.  (i) The Company or any Subsidiary which, in the case of any such Subsidiary, as of the most recently ended fiscal year of the Company

 

57



 

contributed or was accountable for at least 5% of the revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis for such year, becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied 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)                                 Judgments.  There is entered against the Company or any Subsidiary (i) a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 15 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(i)                                     ERISA.  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Company under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Company 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 the Threshold Amount; 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 any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party 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 Company.

 

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 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 Borrowers; and

 

(c)                                  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;

 

58



 

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any event specified in subsection (f) of Section 8.01, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, and the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

8.03                        Application of Funds.  (a) After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received by the Administrative Agent 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 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 and interest) payable to the Lenders (including 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 interest on the Loans and other Obligations, 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, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and

 

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Company or as otherwise required by Law.

 

(b)                                 For purposes of calculating the portion of any such amount received by the Administrative Agent in any currency to be applied as provided in Section 8.03(a), the Administrative Agent may designate the date of such receipt as a Revaluation Date for purposes of determining the Spot Rates of the currency in which such amount is denominated and the Spot Rates of any currencies in which any applicable Obligations are denominated.  The Administrative Agent shall so apply any such amount by making payments denominated in the same currency as the amount so received by the Administrative Agent is denominated.

 

(c)                                  The obligation of each Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any such application in a currency (the “Application Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following the date of any such application by the Administrative Agent of any such amount in the Application Currency, (i) in the case of any such application to Obligations in respect of a Bid Loan made by a Bid Loan Lender, such Bid Loan Lender, or (ii) in the case of any such application to any other Obligations, the Administrative Agent, may, in accordance with normal

 

59



 

banking procedures, purchase the Agreement Currency with the Application Currency.  If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the Obligations originally due to the Administrative Agent or any applicable Lender from any Borrower in the Agreement Currency, such Borrower acknowledges that the applicable Obligations shall remain outstanding to the extent of such difference.  If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any applicable Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to such Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).

 

ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

9.01                        Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent.  Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law.  Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

 

9.02                        Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact, including, for the purposes of any Borrowings or payments in Alternative Currencies, such sub-administrative agents as shall be deemed necessary by the Administrative Agent, and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Any such agent, sub-agent or other Person retained or employed pursuant to this Section 9.02 shall have all the benefits and immunities provided to the Administrative Agent in this Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such Person in connection herewith or therewith, as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in this Article IX and in the definition of “Agent-Related Person” included such additional Persons with respect to such acts or omissions.

 

9.03                        Liability of Administrative Agent.  No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this

 

60



 

Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b) be responsible in any manner to any Lender or participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for any failure of any Loan Party or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.  No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof.

 

9.04                        Reliance by Administrative Agent.

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.  The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.

 

(b)                                 For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

9.05                        Notice of Default.  The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Company referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.”  The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice.  The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such

 

61



 

Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders in accordance with Article VIII; provided, however, that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.

 

9.06                        Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Administrative Agent.  Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent hereafter taken, including any confirmation of any Applicant Borrower as a Designated Borrower pursuant to Section 2.14(c) or any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have disclosed material information in their possession.  Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement, to extend credit to the Company and to extend credit to any Designated Borrower, which credit is supported by the Company Guaranty.  Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of each Borrower.  Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person.

 

9.07                        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 any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it; 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, nonappealable 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,

 

62



 

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 Company.  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.

 

9.08                        Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity.  Bank of America and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with each of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates as though Bank of America were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders.  The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Bank of America or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them.  With respect to its Loans, Bank of America shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include Bank of America in its individual capacity.

 

9.09                        Successor Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon 30 days’ notice to the Lenders; provided that any such resignation of Bank of America shall also constitute its resignation as Swing Line Lender.  If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor administrative agent for the Lenders, which successor administrative agent shall be consented to by the Company at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default (which consent of the Company shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).  If no successor administrative agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Company, a successor administrative agent from among the Lenders.  Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor administrative agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor administrative agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender and the respective terms “Administrative Agent” and “Swing Line Lender” shall mean such successor administrative agent and swing line lender and the retiring Administrative Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated and the retiring Swing Line Lender’s rights, powers and duties as such shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such retiring Swing Line Lender or any other Lender.  After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article IX and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement.  If no successor administrative agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date which is 30 days following a retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above.

 

63



 

9.10                        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 any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan 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 any 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 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 and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 11.04) 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 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, 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 11.04.

 

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 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.

 

9.11                        Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers.  None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “syndication agent,” “documentation agent,” “co-agent,” “book manager,” “lead manager,” “arranger,” “lead arranger” or “co-arranger” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than, in the case of such Lenders, those applicable to all Lenders as such.  Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

 

64



 

ARTICLE X.
COMPANY GUARANTY

 

10.01                 Guaranty.  The Company hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at scheduled maturity or on any date of a required prepayment or by acceleration, demand or otherwise, of all Obligations of each Designated Borrower now or hereafter existing under or in respect of the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, any extensions, modifications, substitutions, amendments or renewals of any or all of the foregoing Obligations), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, and whether for principal, interest, premiums, fees, indemnities, contract causes of action, costs, expenses or otherwise (such Obligations being the “Guaranteed Obligations”), and agrees to pay any and all expenses (including, without limitation, Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any other Lender Party in enforcing any rights under this Company Guaranty or any other Loan Document.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company’s liability shall extend to all amounts that constitute part of the Guaranteed Obligations and would be owed by any Designated Borrower to any Lender Party under or in respect of the Loan Documents but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law involving such Designated Borrower.

 

10.02                 Guaranty Absolute.  The Company guarantees that the Guaranteed Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, regardless of any Law now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of any Lender Party with respect thereto.  The Obligations of the Company under or in respect of this Company Guaranty are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Obligations of any other Loan Party under or in respect of the Loan Documents, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Company to enforce this Company Guaranty, irrespective of whether any action is brought against any applicable Designated Borrower or any other Loan Party or whether such Designated Borrower or any other Loan Party is joined in any such action or actions.  This Company Guaranty is an absolute and unconditional guaranty of payment when due, and not of collection, by the Company of the Guaranteed Obligations.  The liability of the Company under this Company Guaranty shall be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional irrespective of, and the Company hereby irrevocably waives any setoffs, counterclaims or defenses it may now have or hereafter acquire in any way relating to, any or all of the following:

 

(a)                                  any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument relating thereto;

 

(b)                                 any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Obligations of any other Loan Party under or in respect of the Loan Documents, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any Loan Document, including, without limitation, any increase in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from the extension of additional credit to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise;

 

65



 

(c)                                  any taking, exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any taking, release or amendment or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any other guaranty, for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations;

 

(d)                                 any manner of application of any collateral, or proceeds thereof, to all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any manner of sale or other disposition of any collateral for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Obligations of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents or any other assets of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(e)                                  any change, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting any applicable Designated Borrower or any other Loan Party or its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any Guaranteed Obligation;

 

(f)                                    the existence of any claim, set-off or other right which the Company may have at any time against any Designated Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or any unrelated transaction;

 

(g)                                 any invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any applicable Designated Borrower or any other Loan Party for any reason of the whole or any provision of any Loan Document, or any provision of applicable Law purporting to prohibit the payment or performance by any applicable Loan Party of the Guaranteed Obligations;

 

(h)                                 any failure of any Lender Party to disclose to any Loan Party any information relating to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of any other Loan Party now or hereafter known to such Lender Party (the Company waiving any duty on the part of the Lender Parties to disclose such information);

 

(i)                                     the failure of any other Person to execute or deliver any other guaranty or agreement or the release or reduction of liability of any such other guarantor or surety with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations; or

 

(j)                                     any other circumstance (including, without limitation, any statute of limitations) whatsoever (in any case, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory) or any existence of or reliance on any representation by any Lender Party that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable defense available to, or a discharge of, the Company, any other Loan Party or surety.

 

This Company Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any Lender Party or any other Person upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization under any applicable Debtor Relief Law of any applicable Designated Borrower or any other Loan Party or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

 

10.03                 Waivers and Acknowledgments.

 

(a)                                  The Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives promptness, diligence, notice of acceptance, presentment, demand for performance, notice of nonperformance, default, acceleration, protest or dishonor and any other notice with respect to

 

66



 

any of the Guaranteed Obligations and this Company Guaranty and any requirement that any Lender Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien or any property subject thereto or exhaust any right or take any action against any Loan Party or any other Person or any collateral.

 

(i)                                     The Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any right to revoke this Company Guaranty and acknowledges that this Company Guaranty is continuing in nature and applies to all Guaranteed Obligations, whether existing now or in the future.

 

(ii)                                  The Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives (i) any defense arising by reason of any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by any Lender Party that in any manner impairs, reduces, releases or otherwise adversely affects the subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification rights of the Company or other rights of the Company to proceed against any of the other Loan Parties or any other Person or any collateral and (ii) any defense based on any right of set-off or counterclaim against or in respect of the Obligations of the Company under this Company Guaranty.

 

(iii)                               The Company acknowledges that the Administrative Agent may, without notice to or demand upon the Company and without affecting the liability of the Company under this Company Guaranty, foreclose under any mortgage as may secure any Obligation by nonjudicial sale, and the Company hereby waives any defense to the recovery by the Administrative Agent and the other Lender Parties against the Company of any deficiency after such nonjudicial sale and any defense or benefits that may be afforded by applicable Law.

 

(iv)                              The Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any duty on the part of any Lender Party to disclose to the Company any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of any other Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries now or hereafter known by such Lender Party.

 

(v)                                 The Company acknowledges that it will receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Loan Documents and that the waivers set forth in Section 11.02 and this Section 11.03 are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

 

10.04                 Subrogation.  The Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees not to exercise any rights that it may now have or hereafter acquire against any applicable Designated Borrower, or any other insider guarantor that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of the Company Obligations under or in respect of this Company Guaranty or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of any Lender Party against such Designated Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other insider guarantor or any collateral for the Obligations, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from such Designated Borrower, any other Loan Party or

 

67



 

any other insider guarantor, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right, unless and until the date (the “Termination Date”) which is the later of (a) the date of the termination of the Availability Period and (b) the date of the indefeasible payment in full of all the Obligations in cash.  If any amount shall be paid to the Company in violation of the immediately preceding sentence at any time prior to the Termination Date, such amount shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of the Lender Parties, shall be segregated from other property and funds of the Company and shall forthwith be paid or delivered to the Administrative Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement or assignment) to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Company Guaranty, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, or to be held as collateral for any Guaranteed Obligations or other amounts payable under this Company Guaranty thereafter arising.  If the Termination Date shall have occurred, the Administrative Agent will, at the Company’s request and expense, execute and deliver to the Company appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to the Company of an interest in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from such payment made by the Company pursuant to this Company Guaranty.

 

ARTICLE XI.
MISCELLANEOUS

 

11.01                 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 Company or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Company or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, 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 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;

 

(d)                                 reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 11.01) 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 any Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;

 

68



 

(e)                                  change Section 2.06, Section 2.12(a), Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments or commitment reductions required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                    amend Section 1.07 or the definition of “Alternative Currency” without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)                                 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; or

 

(h)                                 release the Company from the Company Guaranty 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 Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (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) Section 11.07(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; 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 (x) the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) Section 2.06, Section 2.12(a), Section 2.13 and Section 8.03 may not be changed in any manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the consent of such Lender.

 

11.02                 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.

 

(a)                                  General.  Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission).  All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or (subject to subsection (c) below) electronic mail address, 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 Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and

 

(ii)                                  if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such

 

69



 

other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender.

 

All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (A) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (B) (1) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (2) if delivered by mail, four Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (3) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (4) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of subsection (c) below), when delivered; provided, however, that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person.  In no event shall a voicemail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder.

 

(b)                                 Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures.  Loan Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile.  The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable Law, have the same force and effect as manually-signed originals and shall be binding on all Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.  The Administrative Agent may also require that any such documents and signatures be confirmed by a manually-signed original thereof; provided, however, that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any facsimile document or signature.

 

(c)                                  Limited Use of Electronic Mail.  Electronic mail and Internet and intranet websites may be used only to distribute routine communications, such as financial statements and other information as provided in Section 6.02, and to distribute Loan Documents for execution by the parties thereto, and may not be used for any other purpose.

 

(d)                                 Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of any 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 Company shall indemnify each Agent-Related Person and each Lender from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

11.03                 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.

 

70



 

11.04                 Costs and Expenses.  The Company agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred 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 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 recording, documentary and similar taxes related thereto, and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the cost of independent public accountants and other outside experts retained by the Administrative Agent or any Lender.  All amounts due under this Section 11.04 shall be paid promptly and, in any case under clause (b) of this Section 11.04, within 20 Business Days after demand therefor.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations.

 

11.05                 Indemnification by the Company.  Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Company 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 (a) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (b) any Commitment or Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, or (c) any actual or prospective 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 claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available 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 nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.  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).  All amounts due under this Section 11.05 shall be payable within 20 Business Days after demand therefor.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the

 

71



 

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.

 

11.06                 Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any 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 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 applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment.

 

11.07                 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 no Borrower may 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, (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) or (i) of this Section, or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of subsection (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 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 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) 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

 

72



 

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 Company otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); (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 rights in respect of Swing Line Loans; (iii) any assignment of a Commitment must be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender (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); and (iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500.  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 (A) entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 11.04 and 11.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment and (B) subject to obligations in Section 3.01 (e) and (f)).  Upon request, each Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a 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.  An Eligible Assignee of a Lender shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 than such Lender would have been entitled to receive as of the date such Eligible Assignee became a party to this Agreement; provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to any Eligible Assignee designated by the Company pursuant to Section 11.16; and provided, further, that this limitation shall also not apply with respect to Loans to Borrowers not a party to this Agreement as of the date such Eligible Assignee became a party to this Agreement.

 

(c)                                  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, 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 Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, 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 Borrowers and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                 Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a

 

73



 

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 Swing Line Loans) 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 Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement 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 11.01 that directly affects such Participant.  Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, each 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 11.09 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 Company’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 Company is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers, to comply with Section 11.15 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 Note(s), 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 the Swing Line Lender, and (ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the Company or any of the Company’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.

 

74



 

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 (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Company (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Committed Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Committed Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Committed Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Committed Loan pursuant to the terms hereof or, if it fails to do so, to make such payment to the Administrative Agent as is required under Section 2.12(c)(ii).  Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement (including its obligations under Sections 3.01 and 3.04), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder.  The making of a Committed Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Committed Loan were made by such Granting Lender.  In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee of $3,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Committed Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Committed Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

 

(i)                                     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 Loans owing to it and the 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 11.07, (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.

 

(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

 

75



 

America may, upon 30 days’ notice to the Company, resign as Swing Line Lender.  In the event of any such resignation as Swing Line Lender, the Company shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Company to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as Swing Line Lender.  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 Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).

 

11.08                 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 it, its Affiliates and their respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required by any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to a Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the prior written consent of the Company or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company; provided, however, that the source of such information was not known by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from any Loan Party relating to any Loan Party or any of its businesses, other than any such information that is publicly available or otherwise available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as the case may be, on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party; provided, however, that the source of such information was not known by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other legal or contractual obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information.  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.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, “Information” shall not include, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and each Lender (and each employee, representative or other agent of such Person) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, any information with respect to the Tax Treatment and Tax Structure (in each case, as defined below) of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the

 

76



 

Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or such Lender relating to such Tax Treatment and Tax Structure; provided that with respect to any document or similar item that in either case contains information concerning the Tax Treatment or Tax Structure of the transaction as well as other information, this sentence shall only apply to such portions of the document or similar item that relate to the Tax Treatment or Tax Structure of the transactions contemplated hereby.  For purposes of this Section, “Tax Treatment” means the purported or claimed tax treatment of a transaction and “Tax Structure” means any fact that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed tax treatment of a transaction.  The Company acknowledges that one or more of the Lenders may treat its Committed Loans and/or its interest in Swing Line Loans as part of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4 or Section 301.6112-1, and that the Administrative Agent and such Lender or Lenders, as applicable, may file such IRS forms or maintain such lists and other records as they may determine are required by such Treasury Regulations.  In addition, the Administrative Agent may disclose to any agency or organization that assigns standard identification numbers to loan facilities such basic information describing the facilities provided hereunder as is necessary to assign unique identifiers (and, if requested, supply a copy of this Agreement), it being understood that the Person to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to make available to the public only such Information as such person normally makes available in the course of its business of assigning identification numbers.

 

11.09                 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 is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Company or any other Loan Party, any such notice being waived by the Company (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party) to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent or such Lender 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 agrees promptly to notify the Company 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.

 

11.10                 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 exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Company.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum 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

 

77



 

equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

11.11                 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

11.12                 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.

 

11.13                 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 Borrowing, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

11.14                 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.

 

11.15                 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 Borrowers 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 Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement) or such other evidence satisfactory to the Company 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

 

78



 

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 Company 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 Borrowers 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 any 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.

 

(iii)                               No Borrower shall be required to indemnify any Foreign Lender or 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 11.15(a), (B) if such Lender shall have failed to satisfy the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.15(a); provided that if such Lender shall have satisfied the requirement of this Section 11.15(a) on the date such Lender became a Lender and any date such Lender has ceased to act for its own account with respect to any payment under any of the Loan Documents, nothing in this Section 11.15(a) shall relieve any 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 official 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, (C) if the obligation to withhold or to pay such additional amounts existed under the Laws of the United

 

79



 

States on the date such Foreign Lender became a party to this Agreement, (D) with respect to any SPC, to the extent provided in Section 11.07(h), (E) with respect to any Participant, to the extent provided in Section 11.07(e), (F) with respect to any Eligible Assignee, to the extent provided in Section 11.07(b), or (G) if the obligation to indemnify or pay such additional amounts arose after the date such Foreign Lender became a party to this Agreement and is in respect of any payment under this Agreement made by the Company (or any other Borrower which is a Domestic Subsidiary and which became a party to this Agreement prior to the date such Foreign Lender became a party to this Agreement), for any reason other than a change in any applicable law, rule, regulation or order of the United States or any subdivision thereof or any change in the official interpretation administration or application thereof after the date such Foreign Lender became a party to this Agreement.

 

(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 any Borrower is not required to pay additional amounts under Section 3.01 or this Section 11.15(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 certifying that such Lender is not subject to back-up withholding.  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.

 

(d)                                 The Administrative Agent shall provide the Company with a copy of any forms or other documents provided by any Lender to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.01(e) and this Section 11.15.

 

11.16                 Replacement of Lenders.  Under any circumstances set forth herein providing that the Company shall have the right to replace a Lender as a party to this Agreement, the Company may, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, replace such Lender by causing such Lender to assign its Commitment (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Company in such instance) pursuant to Section 11.07(b) to one or more other Lenders or Eligible Assignees procured by the Company; provided, however, that if the Company 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; and provided further that in the case of any Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative

 

80



 

Currency, no such assignment shall be required other than on the last day of the applicable Interest Period for such Committed Loans, unless the affected Lenders consent thereto.  The Borrowers shall pay in full all principal, accrued interest, accrued fees and other amounts owing to such Lender through the date of replacement (including any amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.05); and the Company shall (x) provide appropriate assurances and indemnities (which may include letters of credit) to the Swing Line Lender as the Swing Line Lender may reasonably require with respect to any continuing obligation to fund participation interests in any Swing Line Loans then outstanding, and (y) 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 Loans and participations in Swing Line Loans.

 

11.17                 Governing Law.

 

(a)                                  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 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 NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH OF THE BORROWERS, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND LENDERS CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS.  EACH 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 CONVENIENS, 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.  EACH 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.

 

11.18                 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

 

81



 

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.

 

11.19                 Judgment Currency.  If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary for any Lender Party to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures such Lender Party could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given.  The obligation of each Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to such Lender Party hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender Party of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, such Lender Party may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency.  If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Lender Party from any Borrower in the Agreement Currency, such Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Lender Party against such loss.  If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to such Lender Party in such currency, such Lender Party agrees to return the amount of any excess to such Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).

 

[Signature pages follow.]

 

82



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

DANAHER CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Frank T. McFaden

 

 

Name:

Frank T. McFaden

 

Title:

Vice President & Treasurer

 

S - 1



 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John W. Pocalyko

 

 

Name:

John W. Pocalyko

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

S - 2



 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and
Swing Line Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John W. Pocalyko

 

 

Name:

John W. Pocalyko

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

S - 3



 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Steven P. Cavaluzzo

 

 

Name:

Steven P. Cavaluzzo

 

Title:

Vice President

 

S - 4



 

 

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Todd S. Meller

 

 

Name:

Todd S. Meller

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

S - 5



 

 

BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST
COMPANY
, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ A. Bernstein

 

 

Name:

A. Bernstein

 

Title:

Assistant Vice President

 

S - 6



 

 

BANK ONE, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James w. Peterson

 

 

Name:

James w. Peterson

 

Title:

Director

 

S - 7



 

 

BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Nicholas Bell

 

 

Name:

Nicholas Bell

 

Title:

Director

 

S - 8



 

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stuart G. Miller

 

 

Name:

Stuart G. Miller

 

Title:

Vice President

 

S - 9



 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK
BRANCH
, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Dr. Michael Dietz

 

 

Name:

Dr. Michael Dietz

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Oliver Schwarz

 

 

Name:

Oliver Schwarz

 

Title:

Vice President

 

S - 10



 

 

HSBC BANK USA, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Sarah McClintock

 

 

Name:

Sarah McClintock

 

Title:

First Vice President

 

S - 11



 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Randolph Cates

 

 

Name:

Randolph Cates

 

Title:

Vice President

 

S - 12



 

 

LEHMAN BROTHERS BANK, FSB,

as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gary T. Taylor

 

 

Name:

Gary T. Taylor

 

Title:

Vice President

 

S - 13



 

 

MERRILL LYNCH BANK USA, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Louis Alder

 

 

Name:

Louis Alder

 

Title:

Vice President

 

S - 14



 

 

MORGAN STANLEY BANK, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jaap L. Tonckens

 

 

Name:

Jaap L. Tonckens

 

Title:

Vice President

 

S - 15



 

 

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY,

as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Christopher McKean

 

 

Name:

Christopher McKean

 

Title:

Second Vice President

 

S - 16



 

 

SANPAOLO IMI S.p.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert Wurster

 

 

Name:

Robert Wurster

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Luca Sacchi

 

 

Name:

Luca Sacchi

 

Title:

Vice President

 

S - 17



 

 

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORP.,
NEW YORK
, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter R.C. Knight

 

 

Name:

Peter R.C. Knight

 

Title:

Joint General Manager

 

S - 18



 

 

SUNTRUST BANK, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael Pugsley

 

 

Name:

Michael Pugsley

 

Title:

Director

 

S - 19



 

 

UBS AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,

as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Patricia O’Kicki

 

 

Name:

Patricia O’Kicki

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Wilfred V. Saint

 

 

Name:

Wilfred V. Saint

 

Title:

Associate Director

 

S - 20



 

 

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
, as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Bruce T. Vestal

 

 

Name:

Bruce T. Vestal

 

Title:

Associate

 

S - 21



 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lori Ross

 

 

Name:

Lori Ross

 

Title:

Vice President

 

S - 22


EX-10.2 4 a03-3858_1ex10d2.htm EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

DANAHER CORPORATION

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE

1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

WHEREAS, the Danaher Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) was made effective as of May 5, 1998 and was amended as of May 1, 2001; and

 

WHEREAS, the Plan provides that the Board may amend the Plan at any time, without the consent of the optionees or their beneficiaries, provided that such amendment does not deprive any optionee or beneficiary of any previously declared option; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Danaher Corporation on July 23, 2003 approved an amendment to the Plan pursuant to the foregoing provision.

 

NOW THEREFORE, this Amendment is hereby adopted to evidence the amendment to the Plan approved by the Board of Directors.

 

1.             The following sentence is inserted immediately prior to the last paragraph in the section of the Plan titled “Adjustments Upon Changes in Capital Stock”:

 

In the event of a declaration of an extraordinary dividend on the Common Stock payable in a form other than Common Stock in an amount that has a material effect on the price of the Common Stock, the Administrator shall make such adjustments as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate in the outstanding Options and the maximum number of shares provided in the Stock Subject to Plan section.

 

2.             All other provisions of the Plan shall not be affected hereby and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

 

 

DANAHER CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James H. Ditkoff

 

 

Name:

James H. Ditkoff

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

— Finance and Tax

 

 


EX-10.3 5 a03-3858_1ex10d3.htm EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


pursuant to the

 

DANAHER CORPORATION

1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

 

            AGREEMENT dated as of this 26th day of March, 2003 between Danaher Corporation (“Danaher”), and H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. (the “Optionee”).

 

                WHEREAS, the Optionee is now in the employ of Danaher as Chief Executive Officer and Danaher desires to have the Optionee remain in such employ and to afford the Optionee the opportunity to acquire or enlarge the Optionee’s stock ownership in Danaher so that the Optionee may have a direct proprietary interest in Danaher’s success; and

 

                WHEREAS, Danaher and its stockholders have approved the Danaher Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to which Danaher may, from time to time, enter into stock option agreements with certain of its Eligible Employees as therein defined; and

 

                WHEREAS, unless otherwise indicated, all capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such capitalized term in the Plan.

 

                NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby mutually covenant and agree as follows:

 

1.                             Grant of Option

 

                Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and pursuant to the Plan, Danaher hereby awards to the Optionee 575,000 non-qualified stock options under the Plan, of which 143,750 options are granted effective March 26, 2003 (“Installment 1”), 143,750 options are granted effective June 27, 2003 (“Installment 2”), 143,750 are granted effective September 26, 2003 (“Installment 3”) and 143,750 options are granted effective December 2, 2003 (“Installment 4”).  Each of Installments 1, 2, 3 and 4 is individually referred to as an “Installment.”  With respect to any Installment, the per-share exercise price of such Installment (the “Exercise Price”) shall be the “Fair Market Value” (as defined in the Plan) of one share of Danaher’s common stock on the date of grant of such option Installment (the “Grant Date”), and the period from the Grant Date to the date of termination or exercise of such option Installment is hereafter referred to as the “Option Period.”

 

2.                             Exercise of Option

 

The options granted in Paragraph 2 of the Agreement may be exercised as follows:

 

a)              The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock optioned by the Agreement shall be exercisable as to 20% of the shares in each of Installments 1, 2, 3 and 4 on December 1, 2006, an additional 30% of the shares in each of Installments 1, 2, 3 and 4 on December 1, 2007 and the remaining 50% of the shares in each of Installments 1, 2, 3 and 4 on December 1, 2008.

 

b)             Notwithstanding Paragraph 2 a), in the case that the Optionee’s employment is terminated by Danaher on account of Disability, is terminated by Danaher without Cause, or the Optionee resigns for Good Reason or dies, this option shall instead become exercisable as to 20% of the shares in each of Installments 1, 2, 3 and 4 on March 26, 2004, and as to an additional 20% of the shares in each of Installments 1, 2, 3 and 4 on each of the first four anniversaries of March 26, 2004; provided, further, that all shares shall be exercisable in the event of a Change of Control if the Optionee is employed by Danaher at the time of the Change of Control.

 



 

c)              For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability,” “Cause,” “Good Reason” and “Change of Control” shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the employment agreement between the Optionee and Danaher dated October 13, 2000 (the “Employment Agreement”) except that Good Reason shall be limited to the terms outlined under paragraphs (i), (iii) and (vi) of Section 9(c) of the Employment Agreement.

 

d)             To the extent not exercised, the option shares shall accumulate and be exercisable by the Optionee, in whole or in part, in any subsequent year included in the Option Period but not later than the expiration of the Option Period.

 

e)              No less than 1,000 shares may be purchased upon any one exercise of the option granted hereby unless the number of shares purchased at such time is the total number of shares in respect of which the option hereby granted is then exercisable.

 

f)                In no event shall any option granted hereby be exercisable for a fractional share.

 

3.                             Method of Exercising Option and Payment of Exercise Price

 

a)              The option hereby granted shall be exercised by the Optionee by delivering to the Secretary of Danaher, from time to time, on any business day during the Option Period (the “Exercise Date”), written notice specifying the number of shares the Optionee then desires to purchase and the Grant Date for such shares (the “Notice”), and either (i) a cashier’s or certified check for an amount in United States Dollars equal to the Exercise Price for the number of shares specified in the Notice (the “Total Exercise Price”), such payment to be delivered with the Notice, or (ii) in the discretion of the Administrator, shares of Common Stock of Danaher with a value (determined in accordance with subparagraph (d) below) equal to or less than the Total Exercise Price plus a cashier’s or certified check for an amount in United States dollars equal to the amount, if any, by which the Total Exercise Price exceeds the value of such shares of Danaher Common Stock (determined in accordance with subparagraph (d) below).  Payment of income tax withholding obligations, in accordance with Section 14, is due at the same time as the payment of the Total Exercise Price.  If the Optionee tenders shares of Common Stock of Danaher in exercise of an Option pursuant to this subsection (a), six months must have elapsed between the date on which the Optionee acquired the Common Stock tendered in connection with such exercise and the date on which the Optionee tenders the shares of Common Stock.  In the case of payment in shares, such payment shall be made by delivery of the necessary shares certificates, with executed stock powers attached, to the Secretary of Danaher.

 

b)             The Notice, at the option of Danaher, shall also state the following:

 

“I hereby represent and warrant that I will dispose of said shares only in compliance with the applicable laws or regulations relating to the sale of securities.” 

 

c)              Within three business days after the Exercise Date, Danaher shall, subject to the receipt of withholding tax, issue to the Optionee the number of shares with respect to which such option shall be so exercised, and shall deliver to the Optionee a certificate (or certificates) thereof.

 

2



 

 

d)             For purposes of this Paragraph 3, the value of shares of Common Stock tendered to exercise an option shall be the Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date.

 

e)              The Optionee may elect to conduct a “cashless exercise” with respect to all or any portion of the option in accordance with the procedures for “cashless exercise” then in effect under the Plan, including any restrictions imposed on the use of cashless exercise by officers or directors of the Company.

 

4.                             Termination

 

The option granted hereby shall terminate and be of no force or effect upon the expiration of 10 years from the date of this Agreement unless terminated prior to such time as provided in this paragraph or in the Plan.  In the event the Optionee terminates employment with Danaher or an Eligible Subsidiary, such Optionee’s option shall terminate in accordance with the Plan; provided, that, notwithstanding the termination provisions in the Plan the option shall remain exercisable for a period of six months following the termination of the Optionee’s employment without Cause or his resignation for Good Reason unless the Plan would otherwise provide for a longer post-termination of employment exercise period (but no later than the expiration of 10 years from Grant Date).  Unvested shares subject to this option shall terminate immediately following the Optionee’s termination of employment with Danaher.

 

5.                             Optionee.

 

Whenever the word “Optionee” is used in any provision of the Agreement under circumstances where the provision should logically be construed to apply to the estate, personal representative, or beneficiary to whom this option may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, it shall be deemed to include such person.

 

6.                             Assignability.

 

This option is not assignable or transferable by the Optionee except as provided in the Plan.

 

7.                             Rights of a Stockholder.

 

The Optionee shall not be deemed for any purpose to be a stockholder of Danaher with respect to any shares as to which this option shall not have been exercised and payment and issue made as herein provided.

 

8.                             The Corporation’s Rights.

 

The existence of this option shall not affect in any way the right or power of Danaher or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in Danaher’s capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of Danaher, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or other stocks with preference ahead of or convertible into, or otherwise affecting the Common Stock or the rights thereof, or the dissolution or liquidation of Danaher, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

 

9.                             Adjustments Upon Changes In Capital Stock.

 

If  the outstanding shares of Danaher Common Stock increase or decrease or change into or are exchanged for a different number or kind of security by reason of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock  split, combination of shares, exchange of shares, stock dividend, or other distribution payable in capital stock, or some other increase or decrease in such Common Stock occurs without Danaher receiving consideration, a proportionate and appropriate adjustment will be made in accordance with, and to the extent required by, the Plan in the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the option and the Exercise Price per share.  In the event of a declaration of an extraordinary dividend on the Common Stock payable in a form other than Common Stock in an amount that has a material effect on the price of the Common Stock, the Administrator shall make such adjustments in the option as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

10.                           Substantial Corporate Change.

 

Upon a Substantial Corporate Change (as defined in the Plan), the option will be adjusted, and the Option Period

 

3



 

may be shortened, as provided for in the Plan.

 

11.                           Legal Compliance.

 

Danaher will not issue any shares of Common Stock under the option until all applicable requirements imposed by Federal and state securities and other laws, rules, and regulations, and by any applicable regulatory agencies or stock exchanges, have been fully met. To that end, Danaher may require the Optionee to take any reasonable action to comply with such requirements before issuing such shares. No provision in this Agreement or action taken under it authorizes any action that is otherwise prohibited by Federal or state laws.

 

12.                           Resolution of Disputes.

 

Any dispute or disagreement which shall arise under, or as a result of, or pursuant to, this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

13.                           Notice.

 

Any notice which either party hereto may be required or permitted to give to the other shall be in writing, and may be delivered personally or by mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows to Danaher at: 2099 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20006, Attention:  Office of the Secretary, or at such other address as Danaher, by notice to the Optionee, may designate in writing from time to time, to the Optionee, at his address as shown on the records of Danaher, or at such other address as the Optionee, by notice to the Secretary of Danaher, may designate in writing from time to time.

 

14.                           Tax Withholding.

 

The Optionee must satisfy all applicable Federal, state, and local income and employment tax withholding requirements before Danaher will deliver stock certificates upon the exercise of the option. Danaher may decide to satisfy the withholding obligations through additional withholding on salary or wages.  If Danaher does not or cannot withhold from other compensation, the Optionee must pay Danaher, with a cashier’s check or certified check, the full amounts required for withholding.  Payment of withholding obligations is due at the same time as is payment of the Total Exercise Price. Notwithstanding the above, the Optionee may instead satisfy the withholding obligations by directing Danaher to retain shares from the option exercise, by tendering previously owned shares, or by attesting to his ownership of shares (with the distribution of net shares), or by having a broker tender to Danaher cash equal to the withholding taxes.

 

15.                           Fractional Shares.

 

Any fractional shares concerning this option shall be eliminated at the time of exercise by rounding down for fractions of less than one-half, and rounding up for fractions of equal to, or more than, one-half.  No cash settlements shall be made with respect to fractional shares eliminated by rounding.

 

16.                           Governing Law.

 

All matters relating to this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws.

 

17.                           Construction.

 

This Agreement has been entered into in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and wherever a conflict may arise between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

4



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Danaher has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer, and the Optionee has hereunto set his hand and seal, all on the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

 

DANAHER CORPORATION:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ James H. Ditkoff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE OPTIONEE:

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ H. Lawrence Culp, Jr.

 

5


EX-31.1 6 a03-3858_1ex31d1.htm EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

 

Certification

I, H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., certify that:

 

1.                                     I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Danaher Corporation;

 

2.                                     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                                     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)                                  designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)                                 evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(c)                                disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial

 



 

reporting; and

 

5.                                     The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)                                  all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)                               any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

October 15, 2003

 

/s/  H. Lawrence Culp, Jr.

 

 

 

Name:

H. Lawrence Culp, Jr.

 

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive
Officer

 

2


EX-31.2 7 a03-3858_1ex31d2.htm EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

Certification

 

I, Patrick W. Allender, certify that:

 

1.                                     I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Danaher Corporation;

 

2.                                     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                                     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)                                  designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)                                 evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(c)                                disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial

 



 

reporting; and

 

5.                                     The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)                                  all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)                                 any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

October 15, 2003

 

/s/  Patrick W. Allender

 

 

 

Name:

Patrick W. Allender

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President -
Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary

 

2


EX-32.1 8 a03-3858_1ex32d1.htm EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge, Danaher Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 26, 2003 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Danaher Corporation.

 

Date:

October 15, 2003

By:

/s/ H. Lawrence Culp, Jr.

 

 

 

Name:

H. Lawrence Culp, Jr.

 

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive
Officer

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Danaher Corporation and will be retained by Danaher Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its Staff upon request.

 


EX-32.2 9 a03-3858_1ex32d2.htm EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Patrick W. Allender, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge, Danaher Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 26, 2003 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Danaher Corporation.

 

Date:

October 15, 2003

By:

/s/ Patrick W. Allender

 

 

 

Name:

Patrick W. Allender

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President -
Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Danaher Corporation and will be retained by Danaher Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its Staff upon request.

 


EX-99.1 10 a03-3858_1ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

DANAHER CORPORATION

2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.

12TH FLOOR

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006

TELEPHONE (202)-828-0850   FAX (202)-828-0860

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                             CONTACT: Andy Wilson

                                                                                                                                                       0;                VP, Investor Relations

                                                                                                                                                       0;                             (202) 828-0850

 

DANAHER CORPORATION ANNOUNCES RECORD

THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

 

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 16, 2003 – Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) announced today that net earnings for its third quarter ended September 26, 2003 were $138.6 million, 19% above the corresponding 2002 period earnings of $116.0 million.  Diluted earnings per share for the 2003 quarter were $0.87, an increase of 18% over the $0.74 reported for the 2002 third quarter.  Sales for the 2003 third quarter were $1,309.5 million, 14% higher than the $1,151.7 million for the quarter ended September 27, 2002.

 

For the nine month period ended September 26, 2003, net earnings were $366.9 million, up 21% from the $302.4 million reported in 2002 before the effect of a change in accounting related to goodwill.  Diluted earnings per share for the 2003 nine month period of $2.31 increased 18% from the $1.95 in 2002 before the effect of the accounting change.  Net earnings for the 2002 nine month period, after the effect of a first quarter $173.8 million non-cash charge for impairment of goodwill, were $128.7 million, or $0.85 per diluted share.  Sales of $3,805.1 million for the 2003 nine month period were 15% higher than the $3,302.3 million reported in 2002.

 

H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are again pleased to report record third quarter results.  Although we continue to operate in a challenging economic environment, we achieved an 18% increase in earnings per share for the quarter.  Sales for the quarter grew 14% compared to last year’s third quarter, driven primarily by revenues from recent acquisitions.  Operating cash flow was a record $619 million for the 2003 nine month period and 10% higher than in 2002.  Organic growth remains a priority.  We have recently seen some encouraging developments in our businesses, but we will continue to drive cost reductions to fund our targeted growth opportunities.”

 

Danaher Corporation is a leading manufacturer of Process/Environmental Controls and Tools and Components.  (www.danaher.com)

Statements in this release that are not strictly historical may be “forward-looking” statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These include risks and uncertainties relating to customer and supplier relationships and prices, competition, market demand, litigation and other contingent liabilities, the integration and operation of acquired businesses, and economic, political, governmental and technological factors affecting the Company’s operations, markets, products, services and prices, among others, as set forth in the Company’s SEC filings.

 



 

DANAHER CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(000’s omitted except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 26,

 

September 27,

 

September 26,

 

September 27,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

Net sales

 

$

1,309,451

 

$

1,151,721

 

$

3,805,098

 

$

3,302,254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

766,948

 

691,648

 

2,270,310

 

2,021,740

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

326,831

 

275,317

 

951,687

 

791,493

 

Gains on sale of real estate,net

 

(93

)

(2,674

)

(868

)

(5,205

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

1,093,686

 

964,291

 

3,221,129

 

2,808,028

 

Operating profit

 

215,765

 

187,430

 

583,969

 

494,226

 

Interest expense

 

(14,520

)

(14,788

)

(44,003

)

(39,429

)

Interest income

 

2,605

 

4,501

 

7,148

 

6,926

 

Earnings before income taxes and effect of accounting change

 

203,850

 

177,143

 

547,114

 

461,723

 

Income taxes

 

(65,232

)

(61,114

)

(180,226

)

(159,294

)

Net earnings, before effect of accounting change

 

138,618

 

116,029

 

366,888

 

302,429

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of accounting change, net of tax

 

 

 

 

(173,750

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

138,618

 

$

116,029

 

$

366,888

 

$

128,679

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings before effect of accounting change

 

$

0.90

 

$

0.76

 

$

2.39

 

$

2.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:  Effect of accounting change

 

 

 

 

(1.16

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

0.90

 

$

0.76

 

$

2.39

 

$

0.86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings before effect of accounting change

 

$

0.87

 

$

0.74

 

$

2.31

 

$

1.95

 

Less:  Effect of accounting change

 

 

 

 

(1.10

)

Net earnings

 

$

0.87

 

$

0.74

 

$

2.31

 

$

0.85

 

Average common stock and common equivalent shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

153,538

 

151,842

 

153,200

 

149,432

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted

 

161,771

 

159,611

 

161,213

 

157,868

 

 

A complete copy of Danaher’s Form 10-Q financial statement is available on the Company’s website.  (www.danaher.com)

 


-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----