EX-10.1 2 dex101.htm CREDIT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. Credit Agreement between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.1

LOGO

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

May 12, 2008

among

MATERIAL SCIENCES CORPORATION

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS    1

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms

   1

SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings

   13

SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally

   13

SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP

   13
ARTICLE II - THE CREDITS    14

SECTION 2.01. Commitments

   14

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings

   14

SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedures; Requests for Revolving Borrowings

   14

SECTION 2.04. Protective Advances

   15

SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit

   15

SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings

   17

SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections

   17

SECTION 2.08. Termination of Commitment

   18

SECTION 2.09. Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt

   19

SECTION 2.10. Prepayment of Loans

   19

SECTION 2.11. Fees

   20

SECTION 2.12. Interest

   21

SECTION 2.13. Alternate Rate of Interest

   22

SECTION 2.14. Increased Costs

   22

SECTION 2.15. Break Funding Payments

   23

SECTION 2.16. Taxes

   23

SECTION 2.17. Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs

   24

SECTION 2.18. Indemnity for Returned Payments

   25
ARTICLE III - Representations and Warranties    25

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers

   25

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability

   25

SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

   25

SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

   25

SECTION 3.05. Properties

   26

SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters

   26

SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements

   26

SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status

   26

SECTION 3.09. Taxes

   26

SECTION 3.10. ERISA

   27

SECTION 3.11. Disclosure

   27

SECTION 3.12. Material Agreements

   27

SECTION 3.13. Solvency

   27

SECTION 3.14. Insurance

   27

SECTION 3.15. Capitalization and Subsidiaries

   27

SECTION 3.16. Security Interest in Collateral

   28

SECTION 3.17. Employment Matters

   28

SECTION 3.18. Common Enterprise

   28
ARTICLE IV - CONDITIONS    28

SECTION 4.01. Effective Date

   28

SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event

   31
ARTICLE V - AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS    31

 

i


SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements; Borrowing Base and Other Information

   31

SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events

   33

SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business

   33

SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations

   34

SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties

   34

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights

   34

SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws

   34

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit

   34

SECTION 5.09. Insurance

   34

SECTION 5.10. Casualty and Condemnation

   34

SECTION 5.11. Appraisals

   35

SECTION 5.12. Depository Banks

   35

SECTION 5.13. Additional Collateral; Further Assurances

   35
ARTICLE VI - NEGATIVE COVENANTS    35

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness

   36

SECTION 6.02. Liens

   37

SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes

   37

SECTION 6.04. Intentionally Omitted

   38

SECTION 6.05. Asset Sales

   38

SECTION 6.06. Sale and Leaseback Transactions

   38

SECTION 6.07. Swap Agreements

   38

SECTION 6.08. Intentionally Omitted

   39

SECTION 6.09. Transactions with Affiliates

   39

SECTION 6.10. Restrictive Agreements

   39

SECTION 6.11. Amendment of Organizational Documents

   39
ARTICLE VII - EVENTS OF DEFAULT    39
ARTICLE VIII - MISCELLANEOUS    42

SECTION 8.01. Notices

   42

SECTION 8.02. Waivers; Amendments

   43

SECTION 8.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

   43

SECTION 8.04. Successors and Assigns

   44

SECTION 8.05. Survival

   45

SECTION 8.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

   46

SECTION 8.07. Severability

   46

SECTION 8.08. Right of Setoff

   46

SECTION 8.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

   46

SECTION 8.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

   47

SECTION 8.11. Headings

   47

SECTION 8.12. Confidentiality

   47

SECTION 8.13. Nonreliance; Violation of Law

   47

SECTION 8.14. USA PATRIOT Act

   47

SECTION 8.15. Disclosure

   48
ARTICLE IX - LOAN GUARANTY    48

SECTION 9.01. Guaranty

   48

SECTION 9.02. Guaranty of Payment

   48

SECTION 9.03. No Discharge or Diminishment of Loan Guaranty

   48

SECTION 9.04. Defenses Waived

   49

SECTION 9.05. Rights of Subrogation

   49

SECTION 9.06. Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration

   49

SECTION 9.07. Information

   49

SECTION 9.08. Termination

   49

 

ii


SECTION 9.09. Taxes

   50

SECTION 9.10. Maximum Liability

   50

SECTION 9.11. Contribution

   50

SECTION 9.12. Liability Cumulative

   1

SCHEDULES:

Schedule 3.05 - Properties

Schedule 3.06 - Disclosed Matters

Schedule 3.14 - Insurance

Schedule 3.15 - Capitalization and Subsidiaries

Schedule 6.01 - Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02 - Existing Liens

Schedule 6.09 - Transactions with Affiliates

Schedule 6.10 - Existing Restrictions

EXHIBITS:

Exhibit A - Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

Exhibit B - Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit C - Joinder Agreement

 

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CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 12, 2008 (as it may be amended or modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), by and among MATERIAL SCIENCES CORPORATION, a Delaware Corporation, and each of the other Loan Parties signatory hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

Account Debtor” means any Person obligated on an Account.

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next  1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified 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.

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus  1/2 of 1%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.04(b).

Availability” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a) the lesser of the Revolving Commitment and the Borrowing Base minus (b) the Revolving Exposure.

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitment.

Available Revolving Commitment” means, at any time, the Revolving Commitment then in effect minus the Revolving Exposure at such time.

Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to any Loan Party by the Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards and (c) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

Banking Services Obligations” of the Loan Parties means any and all obligations of the Loan Parties, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.


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

Borrower” means Material Sciences Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans made, converted or continued on the same date and as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, and (b) a Protective Advance.

Borrowing Base” means, at any time, 85% of the Loan Parties’ Eligible Accounts at such time minus Reserves. The Lender may, in its Permitted Discretion, reduce the advance rates set forth above or reduce one or more of the other elements used in computing the Borrowing Base.

Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate, signed and certified as accurate and complete by a Financial Officer of the Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit B or another form which is acceptable to the Lender in its sole discretion.

Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 utilizing Bank’s customary form.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by the Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.14(b), by any lending office of the Lender or by the Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Protective Advances.

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

Collateral” means any and all property owned, leased or operated by a Person covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Lender, to secure the Secured Obligations.

Collateral Access Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Mortgages and any other documents granting a Lien upon the Collateral as security for payment of the Secured Obligations.

Collection Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

Commitment” means the Revolving Commitment, as such Commitment may be reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to the Lender pursuant to Section 8.04.

 

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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.

Credit Exposure” means the sum of (a) the Revolving Exposure at such time, plus (b) an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Protective Advances outstanding at such time.

Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06.

Document” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.02).

Eligible Accounts” means, at any time, the Accounts of the Loan Parties which the Lender determines in its Permitted Discretion are eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder. Without limiting the Lender’s discretion provided herein, Eligible Accounts shall not include any Account:

(a) which is not subject to a first priority perfected security interest in favor of the Lender;

(b) which is subject to any Lien other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Lender and (ii) a Permitted Encumbrance which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Lender;

(c) which is unpaid more than 60 days after the original due date, or which has been written off the books of the Borrower or otherwise designated as uncollectible;

(d) which is owing by an Account Debtor for which more than 25% of the Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates are ineligible due to subsection (c) above;

(e) which is owing by an Account Debtor to the extent the aggregate amount of Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates to the Borrower exceeds 30% of the aggregate Eligible Accounts, but only such excess portion shall be deemed ineligible;

(f) with respect to which any covenant, representation, or warranty contained in this Agreement or in the Security Agreement has been breached or is not true;

(g) which (i) does not arise from the sale of goods or performance of services in the ordinary course of business, (ii) is not evidenced by an invoice or other documentation satisfactory to the Lender which has been sent to the Account Debtor, (iii) represents a progress billing, (iv) is contingent upon the Borrower’s completion of any further performance, (v) represents a sale on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-and-return, sale on approval, consignment, cash-on-delivery or any other repurchase or return basis, or (vi) relates to payments of interest;

 

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(h) for which the goods giving rise to such Account have not been shipped to the Account Debtor or for which the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by the Borrower or if such Account was invoiced more than once;

(i) with respect to which any check or other instrument of payment has been returned uncollected for any reason;

(j) which is owed by an Account Debtor which has (i) applied for, suffered, or consented to the appointment of any receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of its assets, (ii) has had possession of all or a material part of its property taken by any receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator, (iii) filed, or had filed against it, any request or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, adjudication as bankrupt, winding-up, or voluntary or involuntary case under any state or federal bankruptcy laws, (iv) has admitted in writing its inability, or is generally unable to, pay its debts as they become due, (v) become insolvent, or (vi) ceased operation of its business;

(k) which is owed by any Account Debtor which has sold all or substantially all of its assets;

(l) which is owed by an Account Debtor which (i) does not maintain its chief executive office in the U.S. or Canada or (ii) is not organized under applicable law of the U.S., any state of the U.S., Canada, or any province of Canada unless, in either case, such Account is backed by a Letter of Credit reasonably acceptable to the Lender which is in the possession of, has been assigned to and is directly drawable by the Lender;

(m) which is owed in any currency other than U.S. dollars;

(n) which is owed by (i) the government (or any department, agency, public corporation, or instrumentality thereof) of any country other than the U.S. unless such Account is backed by a Letter of Credit reasonably acceptable to the Lender which is in the possession of the Lender, or (ii) the government of the U.S., or any department, agency, public corporation, or instrumentality thereof, unless the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. § 3727 et seq. and 41 U.S.C. § 15 et seq.), and any other steps necessary to perfect the Lien of the Lender in such Account have been complied with to the Lender’s reasonable satisfaction;

(o) which is owed by any Affiliate, employee, officer, director, agent or stockholder of any Loan Party;

(p) RESERVED;

(q) which is owed by an Account Debtor or any Affiliate of such Account Debtor to which the Borrower/any Loan Party is indebted, but only to the extent of such indebtedness or is subject to any security, deposit, progress payment, retainage or other similar advance made by or for the benefit of an Account Debtor, in each case to the extent thereof;

(r) which is subject to any counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute;

(s) which is evidenced by any promissory note, chattel paper, or instrument;

(t) which is owed by an Account Debtor located in any jurisdiction which requires filing of a “Notice of Business Activities Report” or other similar report in order to permit the Borrower to seek judicial enforcement in such jurisdiction of payment of such Account, unless the Borrower has filed such report or qualified to do business in such jurisdiction;

 

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(u) with respect to which the Borrower has made any agreement with the Account Debtor for any reduction thereof, other than discounts and adjustments given in the ordinary course of business, or any Account which was partially paid and the Borrower created a new receivable for the unpaid portion of such Account;

(v) which does not comply in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations, whether Federal, state or local, including without limitation the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, the Federal Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z of the Board;

(w) which is for goods that have been sold under a purchase order or pursuant to the terms of a contract or other agreement or understanding (written or oral) that indicates or purports that any Person other than the Borrower has or has had an ownership interest in such goods, or which indicates any party other than the Borrower as payee or remittance party;

(x) which was created on cash on delivery terms;

(y) for which the goods or services giving rise to such Account have been manufactured or processed (in the case of goods) or provided (in the case of services) by or at a Loan Party’s facilities in Morrisville, Pennsylvania or Middleton, Ohio; or

(z) which the Lender determines may not be paid by reason of the Account Debtor’s inability to pay or which the Lender otherwise determines is unacceptable for any reason whatsoever.

In the event that an Account which was previously an Eligible Account ceases to be an Eligible Account hereunder, the Borrower shall notify the Lender thereof on and at the time of submission to the Lender of the next Borrowing Base Certificate. In determining the amount of an Eligible Account, the face amount of an Account may, in the Lender’s Permitted Discretion, be reduced by, without duplication, to the extent not reflected in such face amount, (i) the amount of all accrued and actual discounts, claims, credits or credits pending, promotional program allowances, price adjustments, finance charges or other allowances (including any amount that the Borrower may be obligated to rebate to an Account Debtor pursuant to the terms of any agreement or understanding (written or oral)) and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect of such Account but not yet applied by the Borrower to reduce the amount of such Account.

Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.

 

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

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of the Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next  1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next  1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Lender from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer, corporate controller or director of finance of the Borrower.

Funding Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(h).

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

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Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01.

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (k) obligations under any liquidated earn-out and (l) obligations of such Person to purchase securities or other property arising out of or in connection with the sale of the same or substantially similar securities or property or any other Off-Balance Sheet Liability. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07.

Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the first Business Day of each calendar month and the Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period, and (c) the Maturity Date.

Interest Period” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two,

 

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three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Inventory” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

Joinder Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.

LC Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(h).

LC Disbursement” means a payment made by the Lender pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party at such time.

Lender” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Lender from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Lender in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to the Agreement, any Letter of Credit applications, the Collateral Documents, and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates identified in Section 4.01 executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Lender and including all other pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, notices, letter of credit agreements and all other written matter whether heretofore, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of any Loan Party, or any employee of any Loan Party, and delivered to the Lender in connection with the Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby. Any reference in the Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to the Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.

 

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Loan Guarantor” means each Loan Party (other than the Borrower) and as of the date hereof includes Material Sciences Corporation, Engineered Materials and Solutions Group, Inc., MSC Laminates and Composites, Inc., Material Sciences Service Corporation, MSC Pre Finish Metals (EGV), Inc., MSC Walbridge Coating, Inc., and MSC Laminates and Composites (EGV), Inc.

Loan Guaranty” means Article IX of this Agreement.

Loan Parties” means the Borrower, the Borrower’s domestic Subsidiaries who are party hereto and any other Person who becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to a Joinder Agreement and their successors and assigns.

Loans” means the loans and advances made by the Lender pursuant to this Agreement, including Protective Advances.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations, prospects or financial condition, of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of its material obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) the Collateral, or the Lender’s Liens on the Collateral or the priority of such Liens, or (d) the rights of or benefits available to the Lender hereunder.

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $250,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “obligations” of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

Maturity Date” means May 12, 2011 or any earlier date on which the Commitment is reduced to zero or otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

Maximum Liability” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.10.

Mortgages” means any mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement which conveys or evidences a Lien in favor of the Lender, on real property of a Loan Party, including any amendment, modification or supplement thereto.

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

Net Proceeds” means, with respect to any event, (a) the cash proceeds received in respect of such event including (i) any cash received in respect of any non-cash proceeds (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but excluding any interest payments), but only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a casualty, insurance proceeds and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, condemnation awards and similar payments, and, in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition, sale proceeds, in each case, net of (b) the sum of (i) all reasonable fees and out-of-pocket costs and expenses paid to third parties (other than Affiliates) in connection with such event, (ii) in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of an asset (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction or a casualty or a condemnation or similar proceeding), the amount of all payments required to be made as a result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than Loans) secured by such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or

 

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similar event, all money actually applied to repair or reconstruct the damaged property or property affected by the condemnation or taking, and (v) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) and the amount of any reserves established to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, that are directly attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer).

Non-Paying Guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.11.

Obligated Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02.

Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all LC Exposure, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations of the Loan Parties to the Lender or any indemnified party arising under the Loan Documents. Obligations shall also include (i) all Banking Services Obligations; and (ii) all Swap Obligations owing to the Lender or its Affiliates.

Off-Balance Sheet Liability” of a Person means (a) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, (b) any indebtedness, liability or obligation under any sale and leaseback transaction which is not a Capital Lease Obligation, (c) any indebtedness, liability or obligation under any so-called “synthetic lease” transaction entered into by such Person, or (d) any indebtedness, liability or obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheets of such Person (other than operating leases).

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

Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04.

Paying Guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.11.

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

Permitted Discretion” means a determination made in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable (from the perspective of a secured asset-based lender) business judgment.

Permitted Encumbrances” means:

(a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

(b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

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

 

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(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII; and

(f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

Prepayment Event” means:

(a) any sale, transfer or other disposition (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) of any property or asset of any Loan Party, other than dispositions described in Section 6.05(a); or

(b) any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of any Loan Party with a fair value immediately prior to such event equal to or greater than $250,000; or

(c) the issuance by the Borrower of any Equity Interests, or the receipt by the Borrower of any capital contribution (other than (i) the issuance by Borrower of any Equity Interests to management or employees of a Loan Party, (ii) the issuance by Borrower of Equity Interests to any equity holder of Borrower as of the Effective Date, (iii) the issuance by Borrower of any Equity Interests, the proceeds of which are used to make capital expenditures or to consummate acquisitions); or

(d) the incurrence by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01.

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Lender as its prime rate; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

Protective Advance” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04.

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

Report” means reports prepared by the Lender or another Person showing the results of appraisals, field examinations or audits pertaining to the Borrower’s assets from information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower, after the Lender has exercised its rights of inspection pursuant to this Agreement.

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

 

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Reserves” means any and all reserves which the Lender deems necessary, in its Permitted Discretion, to maintain with respect to the Collateral or any Loan Party.

Revolving Commitment” means the commitment of the Lender to make Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit hereunder. The initial amount of the Lender’s Revolving Commitment is Fifteen Million and NO/100 Dollars ($15,000,000.00).

Revolving Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans and LC Exposure at such time.

Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, together with all (i) Banking Services Obligations and (ii) Swap Obligations owing to the Lender or its Affiliates.

Security Agreement” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Borrower and the Lender, and any other pledge or security agreement entered into, concurrently with or after the date of this Agreement by any other Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), or any other Person, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Lender is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Borrower or a Loan Party, as applicable.

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

 

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Swap Obligations” of a Person means any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Swap Agreement transaction.

Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of Illinois or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.

“Underfunded Plan” means a Plan that has an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA).

Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing”).

SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Lender that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision

 

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hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Lender notifies the Borrower that the Lender request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

ARTICLE II

The Credits

SECTION 2.01. Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) the Revolving Exposure exceeding the lesser of (x) the Revolving Commitment or (y) the Borrowing Base, subject to the Lender’s authority, in its sole discretion, to make Protective Advances pursuant to the terms of Section 2.04. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type. Any Protective Advance shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.04.

(b) Subject to Section 2.13, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith, provided that all Borrowings made on the Effective Date must be made as ABR Borrowings. The Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of the Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000. ABR Revolving Borrowings may be in any amount. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of 5 Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings outstanding.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedures; Requests for Revolving Borrowings.

(a) Funding Account. Not later than 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, on each Business Day, the Lender shall, subject to the conditions of this Agreement (but without any further written notice required), make available to the Borrower, by a credit to the Funding Account, the proceeds of an ABR Borrowing to the extent necessary to pay items to be drawn on the Funding Account that day. All other Revolving Loans shall be made upon notice given in accordance with §2.03(b).

(b) Notices by the Borrower to the Lender of requests for Revolving Loans other than pursuant to §2.03(a). To request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Lender of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Chicago time,

 

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on the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e) may be given not later than 9:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, electronic (PDF) transmission, or facsimile to the Lender of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Lender and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.01:

 

  (i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period.”

If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

SECTION 2.04. Protective Advances. Subject to the limitations set forth below, the Lender is authorized by the Borrower, from time to time in the Lender’s sole discretion (but shall have absolutely no obligation to), to make Loans to the Borrower, which the Lender, in its Permitted Discretion, deems necessary or desirable (i) to preserve or protect the Collateral, or any portion thereof, (ii) to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Loans and other Obligations, or (iii) to pay any other amount chargeable to or required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including costs, fees, and expenses as described in Section 8.03) and other sums payable under the Loan Documents (any of such Loans are herein referred to as “Protective Advances”); provided that, the aggregate amount of Protective Advances outstanding at any time shall not at any time exceed $100,000; provided further that, the aggregate amount of outstanding Protective Advances plus the aggregate Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitment. Protective Advances may be made even if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have not been satisfied. The Protective Advances shall be secured by the Liens in favor of the Lender in and to the Collateral and shall constitute Obligations hereunder. All Protective Advances shall be ABR Borrowings.

SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account and for the account of any Subsidiaries that are Loan Parties, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Lender at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. Any Loan Party which shall hereafter apply for or obtain the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall pay to Lender all fees and costs which would otherwise be payable by Borrower hereunder. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the Lender relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Loan Party shall hand deliver or facsimile (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Lender) to the Lender (prior to 9:00 am, Chicago time, at least three Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or

 

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extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the Lender, the Loan Party also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Lender’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed $4,000,000 and (ii) the total Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the lesser of the total Revolving Commitment and the Borrowing Base.

(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date; provided, however, that any Letter of Credit with a term not exceeding one (1) year may provide for its renewal for additional periods not exceeding one (1) year as long as (x) each of the relevant Loan Party and Lender have the option to prevent such renewal before the expiration of such term or any such period and (y) neither Lender nor the relevant Loan Party shall permit any such renewal to extend such expiration date beyond the date set forth in clause (ii) above.

(d) Reimbursement. If the Lender shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Loan Parties jointly and severally agree to reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Lender an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 11:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 9:00 a.m., Chicago time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 11:00 a.m., Chicago time, on (i) the Business Day that the relevant Loan Party receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 9:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing.

(e) Obligations Absolute. The Loan Parties’ joint and several obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the Lender under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder. Neither the Lender nor any of its Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Lender; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Lender from liability to the relevant Loan Party to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Loan Parties to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the relevant Loan Party that are caused by the Lender’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Lender (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Lender shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality

 

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thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Lender may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

(f) Disbursement Procedures. The Lender shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Lender shall promptly notify the relevant Loan Party by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of such demand for payment and whether the Lender has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Loan Parties of their obligation to reimburse the Lender with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

(g) Interim Interest. If the Lender shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower or other Loan Party shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower or other Loan Party reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if the Borrower or other Loan Party fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.12(d) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the Lender.

(h) Cash Collateralization. If any Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Lender demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower or other Loan Party shall deposit in an account with the Lender, in the name and for the benefit of the Lender (the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to 105% of the LC Exposure as of such date plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. Such deposit shall be held by the Lender as collateral for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations. The Lender shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account and the Loan Parties hereby grant the Lender a security interest in the LC Collateral Account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Lender and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Lender for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Loan Parties for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, be applied to satisfy other Secured Obligations. If the Borrower or any other Loan Party is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of a Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Loan Party which had provided such cash collateral upon the earlier to occur of (i) the payment in full of all outstanding Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) and (ii) on the third Business Day after all such Events of Default have been cured or waived.

SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings. The Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts in immediately available funds, to the Funding Account; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e) or a Protective Advance shall be retained by the Lender.

SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving

 

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Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Protective Advances, which may not be converted or continued.

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Lender of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or facsimile to the Lender of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Lender and signed by the Borrower.

(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

(d) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if a Default has occurred and is continuing and the Lender so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as a Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

SECTION 2.08. Termination of Commitment. (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitment shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate the Commitment upon (i) the payment in full of all outstanding Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon and on any Letters of Credit, (ii) the cancellation and return of all outstanding Letters of Credit (or alternatively, with respect to each such Letter of Credit, the furnishing to the Lender of a cash deposit or a back-up standby letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, equal to 105% of the LC Exposure as of such date), (iii) the payment in full of the accrued and unpaid fees, and (iv) the payment in full of all reimbursable expenses then due and owing and other Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

 

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(c) The Borrower shall notify the Lender of any election to terminate the Commitment under paragraph (b) of this Section at least two Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitment delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Lender on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination of the Commitment shall be permanent.

SECTION 2.09. Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Lender for its account the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date, (ii) to the Lender the then unpaid amount of each Protective Advance on the earlier of the Maturity Date or demand by the Lender.

(b) At any time after (x) a Default has occurred and is continuing or (y) Availability has been less than $3,000,000 and Lender, in its Permitted Discretion, has elected to take full cash dominion over the Deposit Accounts each Business Day, the Lender shall apply all funds credited to the Collection Account the previous Business Day (whether or not immediately available) first to prepay any Protective Advances that may be outstanding and second to prepay the Revolving Loans and to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure.

(c) The Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lender resulting from each Loan made by the Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to the Lender from time to time hereunder.

(d) The Lender shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to the Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Lender hereunder.

(e) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (d) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein (absent demonstrable error); provided that the failure of the Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(f) The Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to the Lender a promissory note payable to the order of the Lender (or, if requested by the Lender, to the Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form consistent with the terms hereof. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 8.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

SECTION 2.10. Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section.

(b) In the event and on each occasion that the Revolving Exposure exceeds the lesser of (A) the Revolving Commitment or (B) the Borrowing Base, the Borrower shall prepay the Revolving Loans and LC Exposure in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

(c) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of any Loan Party in respect of any Prepayment Event, the Borrower shall, promptly after such Net Proceeds are

 

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received by any Loan Party, prepay the Obligations as set forth in Section 2.10(d) below in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds, provided that, in the case of any event described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition of the term “Prepayment Event”, if the Borrower shall deliver to the Lender a certificate of a Financial Officer to the effect that the Loan Parties intend to apply the Net Proceeds from such event (or a portion thereof specified in such certificate), within 180 days after receipt of such Net Proceeds, to acquire (or replace or rebuild) real property, equipment or other tangible assets (excluding inventory) to be used in the business of the Loan Parties, and certifying that no Default has occurred and is continuing, then either (i) so long as full cash dominion is not in effect, no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this paragraph in respect of the Net Proceeds specified in such certificate or (ii) if full cash dominion is in effect, if the Net Proceeds specified in such certificate are to be applied by (A) the Borrower, then such Net Proceeds shall be applied by the Lender to reduce the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Loans (without a permanent reduction of the Revolving Commitment) and upon such application, the Lender shall establish a Reserve against the Borrowing Base in an amount equal to the amount of such proceeds so applied and (B) any Loan Party that is not a Borrower, then such Net Proceeds shall be deposited in a cash collateral account and in either case, thereafter, such funds shall be made available to the applicable Loan Party as follows:

(1) Borrower shall request a Revolving Loan (specifying that the request is to use Net Proceeds pursuant to this Section) or the applicable Loan Party shall request a release from the cash collateral account be made in the amount needed;

(2) so long as the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 have been met, the Lender shall make such Revolving Loan or the Lender shall release funds from the cash collateral account; and

(3) in the case of Net Proceeds applied against the Revolving Loan, the Reserve established with respect to such insurance proceeds shall be reduced by the amount of such Revolving Loan;

provided that to the extent of any such Net Proceeds therefrom that have not been so applied by the end of such 180-day period, at which time a prepayment shall be required in an amount equal to such Net Proceeds that have not been so applied.

(d) All such amounts pursuant to Section 2.10(c) (as to any insurance or condemnation proceeds, to the extent they arise from casualties or losses to Equipment, Fixtures and real property) shall be applied, first to prepay any Protective Advances that may be outstanding, pro rata, second to prepay the Revolving Loans without a corresponding reduction in the Revolving Commitment and to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure. If the precise amount of insurance or condemnation proceeds allocable to Inventory as compared to Equipment, Fixtures and real property is not otherwise determined, the allocation and application of those proceeds shall be determined by the Lender, in its Permitted Discretion.

(e) The Borrower shall notify the Lender by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitment as contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.08. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12.

SECTION 2.11. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at a rate of one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of the Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the

 

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date on which the Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the first Business Day of each month and on the date on which the Revolving Commitment terminates, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed.

(b) The Borrower, and any Loan Party which applies for a Letter of Credit, agrees to pay to the Lender (i) a letter of credit fee with respect to Letters of Credit, at a per annum rate equal to 1.5% on the average daily amount of the Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which the Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which the Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) the Lender’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Letter of credit fees accrued through and including the last day of each calendar quarter shall be payable on the first Business Day of each month following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitment terminates and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitment terminates shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the Lender pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand.

(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Lender a closing fee in an aggregate amount equal to $10,000.00. The entire closing fee shall be deemed fully earned by the Lender and shall be due and payable in full on the Effective Date.

(d) Borrower agrees to pay Lender’s legal fees in the amount of $15,000.00, plus costs, and environmental and audit fees in the aggregate amount of $10,000.00.

(e) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Lender. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

SECTION 2.12. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate.

(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus one and one-half percent (1.50%).

(c) Each Protective Advance shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus 2%.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Lender may, at its option, by notice to the Borrower, declare that (i) all Loans shall bear interest at 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount outstanding hereunder, such amount shall accrue at 2% plus the rate applicable to such fee or other obligation as provided hereunder.

(e) Accrued interest on each Loan (for ABR Loans, accrued through the last day of the prior calendar month) shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon termination of the Commitment; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

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(f) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed. The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Lender, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

SECTION 2.13. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

(a) the Lender determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

(b) the Lender determines the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lender of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Lender shall give notice thereof to the Borrower by telephone or facsimile as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Lender notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

SECTION 2.14. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, the Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

(ii) impose on the Lender or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to the Lender of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to the Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) If the Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the Lender’s capital or on the capital of the Lender’s holding company, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, Letters of Credit issued by the Lender to a level below that which the Lender or the Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration the Lender’s policies and the policies of the Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to the Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Lender or the Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) A certificate of the Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate the Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error. The Borrower shall pay the Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of the Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of the Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall

 

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not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that the Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of the Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

SECTION 2.15. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto or (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.08 and is revoked in accordance therewith), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate the Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to the Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by the Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which the Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of the Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that the Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error. The Borrower shall pay the Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

SECTION 2.16. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (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) the Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

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

(c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender within 30 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Lender on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by the Lender shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.

(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Lender the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

(e) If the Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid

 

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additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.16, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 2.16 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Lender in the event the Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section shall not be construed to require the Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

SECTION 2.17. Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16, or otherwise) prior to 2:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Lender, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Lender at its offices at 10 South Dearborn, Chicago, Illinois 60603. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars. At all times that full cash dominion is in effect pursuant to Section 7.3 of the Security Agreement, solely for purposes of determining the amount of Loans available for borrowing purposes, checks (in addition to immediately available funds applied pursuant to Section 2.09(b)) from collections of items of payment and proceeds of any Collateral shall be applied in whole or in part against the Obligations, on the Business Day after receipt, subject to actual collection.

(b) Any proceeds of Collateral received by the Lender (i) not constituting either (A) a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrower), (B) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.10) or (C) amounts to be applied from the Collection Account when full cash dominion is in effect (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.09(b)) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Lender so elects such funds shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Lender from the Borrower, second, to pay interest due in respect of the Protective Advances, third, to pay the principal of the Protective Advances, fourth, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans (other than the Protective Advances), fifth, to prepay principal on the Loans (other than the Protective Advances) and unreimbursed LC Disbursements, sixth, to pay an amount to the Lender equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and the aggregate amount of any unpaid LC Disbursements, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations, seventh, to payment of any amounts owing with respect to Banking Services and Swap Obligations, eighth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Lender by the Borrower, and ninth, any remainder shall be for the account of, and paid to, the Loan Party lawfully entitled thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower, or unless a Default is in existence, the Lender shall not apply any payment which it receives to any Eurodollar Loan of a Class, except (a) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Eurodollar Loan or (b) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding ABR Loans of the same Class and, in any such event, the Borrower shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.15. The Lender shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations.

(c) At the election of the Lender, all payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including, without limitation, all reimbursement for fees and expenses pursuant to Section 8.03), and other sums payable under the Loan Documents, may be paid from the proceeds of Borrowings made hereunder whether made following a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03 or a deemed request as provided in this Section or may be deducted from any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Lender.

 

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The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes (i) the Lender to make a Borrowing for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents and agrees that all such amounts charged shall constitute Loans (but such a Borrowing may only constitute a Protective Advance if it is to reimburse costs, fees and expenses as described in Section 8.03) and that all such Borrowings shall be deemed to have been requested pursuant to Sections 2.03 or 2.04, as applicable and (ii) the Lender to charge any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Lender for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.

SECTION 2.18. Indemnity for Returned Payments. If after receipt of any payment which is applied to the payment of all or any part of the Obligations, the Lender is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment or proceeds to any Person because such payment or application of proceeds is invalidated, declared fraudulent, set aside, determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, or a diversion of trust funds, or for any other reason, then the Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued and this Agreement shall continue in full force as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Lender and the Borrower shall be liable to pay to the Lender. The provisions of this Section 2.18 shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by the Lender in reliance upon such payment or application of proceeds. The provisions of this Section 2.18 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Lender that:

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of the Loan Parties is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required except to the extent the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within each Loan Party’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions. The Loan Documents to which each Loan Party is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except for filings necessary to perfect Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate any Requirement of Law applicable to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in any material respect or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, except Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents.

SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lender its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2007, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal month and the

 

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portion of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, certified by its chief financial officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

(b) No event, change or condition has occurred that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, since February 29, 2008.

SECTION 3.05. Properties. (a) As of the date of this Agreement, Schedule 3.05 sets forth the address of each parcel of real property that is owned or leased by each Loan Party. Each of such leases and subleases is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect, and no default by any party to any such lease or sublease exists. Each of the Loan Parties has good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property, free of all Liens other than those permitted by Section 6.02.

(b) Each Loan Party owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property necessary to its business as currently conducted, a correct and complete list of which, as of the date of this Agreement, is set forth on Schedule 3.05, and, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, the use thereof by the Loan Parties and its Subsidiaries does not infringe in any material respect upon the rights of any other Person, and the Loan Parties’ rights thereto are not, except as set forth on Schedule 3.05, subject to any licensing agreement or similar arrangement.

SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against or affecting the Loan Parties (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than as set forth on Schedule 3.06) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.06, (i) no Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice of any claim with respect to any material Environmental Liability or knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability and (ii) and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries (1) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law or (2) has become subject to any Environmental Liability.

(c) Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the matters disclosed on Schedule 3.06 that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each Loan Party is in compliance with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status. No Loan Party is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

SECTION 3.09. Taxes. Each Loan Party has timely filed or caused to be filed all federal, state and other material Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all federal, state or other material Taxes required to have been paid by it, except Taxes that are being contested in good faith by

 

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appropriate proceedings and for which such Loan Party has set aside on its books adequate reserves. No federal or state tax liens are currently of record against any Loan Party and no material claims are being asserted with respect to any such taxes.

SECTION 3.10. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158) did not, as of the date of the financial statements most recently preceding the Effective Date that reflect such amounts, exceed by more than $1,350,000, the fair market value of the assets of such Plan. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all Underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.158) did not, as of the date of the financial statements most recently preceding the date of this Agreement that reflect such amounts, exceed by more than $0, the fair market value of the assets of all such Underfunded Plans.

SECTION 3.11. Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Lender all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any other Loan Party is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Lender in writing in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (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 materially misleading when taken as a whole; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time delivered and, if such projected financial information was delivered prior to the Effective Date, as of the Effective Date.

SECTION 3.12. Material Agreements. No Loan Party is in default in any material respect in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in (i) any material agreement to which it is a party or (ii) any agreement or instrument evidencing or governing Indebtedness.

SECTION 3.13. Solvency. (a) Immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Effective Date, (i) the fair value of the assets of each Loan Party, at a fair valuation, will exceed its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of each Loan Party will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) each Loan Party will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured, and (iv) each Loan Party will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted after the Effective Date.

(b) No Loan Party intends to or believes that it will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by it and the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness.

SECTION 3.14. Insurance. Schedule 3.14 sets forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties as of the Effective Date. As of the Effective Date, all premiums in respect of such insurance have been paid. The Borrower believes that the insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties is adequate.

SECTION 3.15. Capitalization and Subsidiaries. As of the Effective Date, Schedule 3.15 sets forth a correct and complete list of the name of each and all of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests owned by any Loan Party has been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) duly authorized and issued and fully paid and non-assessable

 

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SECTION 3.16. Security Interest in Collateral. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents create legal and valid Liens on all the Collateral in favor of the Lender, and such Liens constitute perfected and continuing Liens on the Collateral, securing the Obligations, enforceable against the applicable Loan Party and all third parties, and having priority (subject to Permitted Encumbrances and other Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 hereof) over all other Liens on the Collateral subject for the following Collateral to the following occurrences (i) in the case of all Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing a financing statement under the UCC, the completion of such filings in the appropriate jurisdictions set forth on Exhibit A of the Security Agreements, (ii) with respect to any deposit account not maintained with Lender, the execution of Deposit Account Control Agreements, (iii) in the case of all Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents for which UCC filings are insufficient, all appropriate filings having been made with the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as applicable, (iv) in the case of a letter-of-credit rights that are not supporting obligations of Collateral, the execution of a contractual obligation granting control to Lender over such letter-of-credit rights, (v) in the case of electronic chattel paper, the completion of all steps necessary to grant control to Lender over such electronic chattel paper, (vi) in the case of motor vehicles, proper notations on the applicable certificates of title and (vii) in the case of Collateral constituting real property, the filing of Mortgages in the appropriate jurisdictions.

SECTION 3.17. Employment Matters. As of the Effective Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against any Loan Party pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Loan Parties have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such matters except for such violations which would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All payments due from any Loan Party or for which any claim may be made against any Loan Party, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Loan Party.

SECTION 3.18. Common Enterprise. Each Loan Party expects to derive benefit (and its board of directors or other governing body has determined that it may reasonably be expected to derive benefit), directly and indirectly, from the credit extended by the Lender to the Borrower hereunder, both in their separate capacities and as members of the group of companies. Each Loan Party has determined that execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and any other Loan Documents to be executed by such Loan Party is within its purpose, will be of direct and indirect benefit to such Loan Party, and is in its best interest.

ARTICLE IV

Conditions

SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lender to make Loans and to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.02):

(a) Credit Agreement and Loan Documents. The Lender (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto either (A) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (B) written evidence satisfactory to the Lender (which may include facsimile transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement and (ii) duly executed copies of the Loan Documents and such other certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as the Lender shall reasonably request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including a written opinion of the Loan Parties’ counsel, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lender.

 

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(b) Financial Statements and Projections. The Lender shall have received (i) audited consolidated financial statements of Borrower for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 fiscal years, (ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Borrower for each fiscal month and quarter ended after the date of the latest applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph as to which such financial statements are available, and such financial statements shall not, in the reasonable judgment of the Lender, reflect any material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition of Borrower, as reflected in the financial statements or projections contained in the Confidential Information Memorandum and (iii) satisfactory projections through the 2009 fiscal year.

(c) Closing Certificates; Certified Certificate of Incorporation; Good Standing Certificates. The Lender shall have received (i) a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Effective Date and executed by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, which shall (A) certify the resolutions of its Board of Directors, members or other body authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (B) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the Financial Officers and any other officers of such Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (C) contain appropriate attachments, including the certificate or articles of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party and a true and correct copy of its by-laws or operating, management or partnership agreement, and (ii) a long form good standing certificate for each Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization.

(d) No Default Certificate. The Lender shall have received a certificate, signed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, on the initial Borrowing date (i) stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing, and (ii) stating that the representations and warranties contained in Article III are true and correct in all material respects as of such date.

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

(f) Lien Searches. The Lender shall have received the results of a recent lien search in each relevant jurisdiction where assets of the Loan Parties are located, and such search shall reveal no liens on any of the assets of the Loan Parties except for liens permitted by Section 6.02 or discharged on or prior to the Effective Date pursuant to a pay-off letter or other documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

(g) Pay-Off Letter. The Lender shall have received satisfactory pay-off letters for all existing Indebtedness to be repaid from the proceeds the initial Borrowing, confirming that all Liens upon any of the property of the Loan Parties constituting Collateral (except for Liens permitted by Section 6.02 hereof) will be terminated concurrently with such payment and all letters of credit issued or guaranteed as part of such Indebtedness shall have been cash collateralized or supported by a Letter of Credit.

(h) Funding Account. The Lender shall have received a notice setting forth the deposit account of the Borrower (the “Funding Account”) to which the Lender is authorized by the Borrower to transfer the proceeds of any Borrowings requested or authorized pursuant to this Agreement.

(i) Customer List. The Lender shall have received a true and complete Customer List.

(j) Collateral Access and Control Agreements. The Lender shall have received each Collateral Access Agreement required to be provided pursuant to Section 4.13 of the Security Agreement.

(k) Solvency. The Lender shall have received a solvency certificate from a Financial Officer.

 

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(l) Borrowing Base Certificate. The Lender shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate which calculates the Borrowing Base as of the end of the week immediately preceding the Effective Date.

(m) Pledged Stock; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes. The Lender shall have received the certificates representing the shares of Capital Stock, if any, pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof.

(n) Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by the Collateral Documents or under law or reasonably requested by the Lender to be filed, registered or recorded in order to perfect in favor of the Lender, the Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

(o) Environmental Reports. The Lender shall have received an environmental review reports with respect to the real properties of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties specified by the Lender from firm(s) satisfactory to the Lender, which review reports shall be acceptable to the Lender. Any environmental hazards or liabilities identified in any such environmental review reports shall indicate the Loan Parties’ plans with respect thereto.

(p) Mortgages, etc. The Lender shall have received, with respect to each parcel of real property which is required to be subject to a Lien in favor of the Lender, each of the following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender:

(i) a Mortgage on such property;

(ii) evidence that a counterpart of the Mortgage has been recorded in the place necessary, in the Lender’s judgment, to create a valid and enforceable first priority Lien in favor of the Lender;

(iii) ALTA or other mortgagee’s title policy;

(iv) a survey acceptable to the Lender;

(v) an opinion of counsel in the state in which such parcel of real property is located in form and substance and from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Lender; and

(vi) such other information, documentation, and certifications as may be reasonably required by the Lender.

(q) Insurance. The Lender shall have received evidence of insurance coverage in form, scope, and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender and otherwise in compliance with the terms of Section 5.09 and Section 4.12 of the Security Agreement.

(r) Letter of Credit Application. The Lender shall have received a properly completed letter of credit application if the issuance of a Letter of Credit will be required on the Effective Date.

(s) Other Documents. The Lender shall have received such other documents as the Lender or its counsel may have reasonably requested.

The Lender shall notify the Borrower of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lender to make Loans and to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 8.02 hereto.

 

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SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of the Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable.

(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(c) After giving effect to any Borrowing or the issuance of any Letter of Credit, Availability is not less than zero.

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

ARTICLE V

Affirmative Covenants

Until the Commitment has expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated or been cash collaterized in accordance with the terms hereof and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each Loan Party executing this Agreement covenants and agrees, jointly and severally with all of the Loan Parties, with the Lender that:

SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements; Borrowing Base and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Lender:

(a) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the form 10-K for such fiscal year filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

(b) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of the Borrower, the form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

(c) within 30 days after the end of each fiscal month of the Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal month and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers, as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(d) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) or (c) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit C (i) certifying, in

 

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the case of the financial statements delivered under clause (b) or (c), as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, (ii) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred during the respective period and, if a Default has occurred during the respective period, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

(e) as soon as available but in any event within 25 days of the end of each calendar month, and at such other times as may be necessary to re-determine availability of Advances hereunder, as of the period then ended, a Borrowing Base Certificate and supporting information in connection therewith, together with any additional reports with respect to the Borrowing Base as the Lender may reasonably request;

(f) as soon as available but in any event within 20 days of the end of each calendar month and at such other times as may be requested by the Lender, as of the period then ended, all delivered electronically in a text formatted file acceptable to the Lender:

(i) a detailed aging of the Borrower’s Accounts (1) including all invoices aged by invoice date and due date (with an explanation of the terms offered), (2) reconciled to the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered as of such date prepared in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Lender, together with a summary specifying the name, address, and balance due for each Account Debtor, and (3) separately identifying all accounts arising from the sale of goods or services provided by the Morrisville, Pennsylvania and/or the Middleton, Ohio plants operated by certain of the Loan Parties;

(ii) a worksheet of calculations prepared by the Borrower to determine Eligible Accounts, such worksheets detailing the Accounts excluded from Eligible Accounts and the reason for such exclusion;

(iii) a reconciliation of the Borrower’s Accounts between the amounts shown in the Borrower’s general ledger and financial statements and the reports delivered pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above; and

(iv) a reconciliation of the loan balance per the Borrower’s general ledger to the loan balance under this Agreement;

(g) as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days of filing thereof, copies of all tax returns filed by any Loan Party with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service;

(h) if requested by Lender, promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and

(i) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Lender may reasonably request.

 

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(j) provided, however, that so long as no Revolving Loans have been outstanding during a particular month, then Borrower need not produce the items otherwise required by Section 5.01 (c), (e) or (f) unless specifically requested by Lender in connection with a proposed Borrowing.

SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Lender prompt (and in any event, no later than five Business Days after an executive officer becomes aware thereof) written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

(b) receipt of any notice of any governmental investigation or any litigation commenced or threatened against any Loan Party that (i) seeks damages in excess of $500,000.00, (ii) seeks injunctive relief, (iii) is asserted or instituted against any Plan, its fiduciaries (with respect to the exercise of such fiduciaries’ duties) or its assets, (iv) alleges criminal misconduct by any Loan Party, (v) alleges the violation of any law regarding, or seeks remedies in connection with, any Environmental Laws; (vi) contests any tax, fee, assessment, or other governmental charge in excess of $100,000.00, or (vii) involves any product recall;

(c) any Lien (other than a Lien permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 hereof) or claim made or asserted against any of the Collateral;

(d) any loss, damage, or destruction to the Collateral in the amount of $250,000.00 or more, whether or not covered by insurance;

(e) any and all default notices received under or with respect to any leased location or public warehouse where Collateral in the amount of $250,000.00 or more is located (which shall be delivered within two Business Days after receipt thereof);

(f) all material amendments to real estate leases, together with a copy of each such amendment;

(g) the fact that a Loan Party has entered into a Swap Agreement or an amendment to a Swap Agreement, together with copies of all agreements evidencing such Swap Agreement or amendments thereto (which shall be delivered within two Business Days);

(h) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $100,000; and

(i) any other development that results in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. Each Loan Party will (a) do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, qualifications, licenses, permits, franchises, governmental authorizations, intellectual property rights, licenses and permits material to the conduct of its business, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation,

 

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liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03 and (b) carry on and conduct its business in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same fields of enterprise as it is presently conducted and reasonable extensions thereof.

SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations. Each Loan Party will pay or discharge all Material Indebtedness and all other material liabilities and obligations, including Taxes, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) such Loan Party or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties. Each Loan Party will keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (i) keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (ii) permit any representatives designated by the Lender (including employees of the Lender, or any consultants, accountants, lawyers and appraisers retained by the Lender), upon reasonable prior notice during normal business hours, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, including environmental assessment reports and Phase I or Phase II studies, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as reasonably requested. The Loan Parties acknowledge that the Lender, after exercising its rights of inspection, may prepare certain Reports pertaining to the Loan Parties’ assets for internal use by the Lender. Each Loan Party will permit the Lender to conduct field audit examinations of the Loan Party’s assets, liabilities, books and records once per year at such Loan Party’s expense (so long as any Loan has been outstanding in the prior fiscal year); provided further that the Loan Party will permit the Lender to conduct such examinations at any time and with any reasonable frequency during the existence of a Default. In connection with such field audits, or in a manner consistent with Lender’s customary practice, the Loan Party will permit the Lender to make test verifications of the Accounts with the Loan Party’s customers.

SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party will comply with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only for proper business purposes. No part of the proceeds of any Loan and no Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, or for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.

SECTION 5.09. Insurance. Each Loan Party will maintain with financially sound and reputable carriers having a financial strength rating of at least A+ by A.M. Best Company (a) insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks (including (i) loss or damage by fire and loss in transit; (ii) theft, burglary, pilferage, larceny, embezzlement, and other criminal activities; (iii) business interruption; (iv) general liability and (v) and such other hazards, as is customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (b) all insurance required pursuant to the Collateral Documents. Lender hereby agrees that the insurance in place on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 3.14 hereof satisfies the foregoing requirements as of the Effective Date. At Lender’s reasonable written request, the Borrower will furnish to the Lender, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.

SECTION 5.10. Casualty and Condemnation. The Borrower (a) will furnish to the Lender prompt written notice of any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion of the Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral or interest

 

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therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding and (b) will ensure that the Net Proceeds of any such event (whether in the form of insurance proceeds, condemnation awards or otherwise) are collected and applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents.

SECTION 5.11. Appraisals. Not more than once per year if requested by Lender, the Loan Parties will provide the Lender with appraisals or updates thereof of their Inventory, Equipment and real property from an appraiser selected and engaged by the Lender, and prepared on a basis reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, such appraisals and updates to include, without limitation, information required by applicable law and regulations. Absent an Event of Default, no appraisals of real estate shall be required to be conducted prior to the Maturity Date. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, additional such appraisals may be obtained from time to time at the sole expense of the Loan Parties.

SECTION 5.12. Depository Banks. Except for accounts maintained at Northern Trust Bank (which accounts will be closed within 90 days following the Effective Date), the Borrower and each Loan Party will maintain the Lender as its principal depository bank, including for the maintenance of operating, administrative, cash management, collection activity, and other deposit accounts for the conduct of its business.

SECTION 5.13. Additional Collateral; Further Assurances. (a) Subject to applicable law, the Borrower and each other Loan Party shall, unless the Lender otherwise consents, cause each Subsidiary of the Borrower (excluding any foreign Subsidiary) formed or acquired after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to become a Loan Party by executing the Joinder Agreement set forth as Exhibit D hereto (the “Joinder Agreement”). Upon execution and delivery thereof, each such Person (i) shall automatically become a Loan Guarantor hereunder and thereupon shall have all of the rights, benefits, duties, and obligations in such capacity under the Loan Documents and (ii) will grant Liens to the Lender, in any property (other than any real property) of such Loan Party which constitutes Collateral.

(b) The Borrower and each other Loan Party will pledge 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each of its domestic Subsidiaries to the Lender pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents or other security documents as the Lender shall reasonably request.

(c) Without limiting the foregoing, each Loan Party will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Lender such documents, agreements and instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 4.01, as applicable), which may be required by law or which the Lender may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

(d) If any material assets (including any real property or improvements thereto or any interest therein) are acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party after the Effective Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement that become subject to the Lien in favor of the Security Agreement upon acquisition thereof), the Borrower will notify the Lender, and, if requested by the Lender, the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Secured Obligations and will take, and cause the Subsidiary Loan Parties to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Lender to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (c) of this Section, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

ARTICLE VI

Negative Covenants

Until the Commitment has expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts (other than contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no claim

 

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giving rise thereto has been asserted) payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated or been cash collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Loan Parties covenant and agree, jointly and severally, with the Lender that:

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness. No Loan Party will create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) the Secured Obligations;

(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness in accordance with clause (f) hereof;

(c) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, provided that (i) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party shall be evidenced by a Promissory Note pledged to Lender pursuant to a Security Agreement, such pledge to be made not more than 90 days after the earlier of (x) the execution hereof or (y) the execution of such Promissory Note and (ii) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Lender;

(d) Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, provided that (i) the Indebtedness so Guaranteed is permitted by this Section 6.01 and (ii) Guarantees permitted under this clause (d) shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations of the applicable Subsidiary on the same terms as the Indebtedness so Guaranteed is subordinated to the Secured Obligations;

(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets (whether or not constituting purchase money Indebtedness), including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness in accordance with clause (f) hereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) shall not exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(f) Indebtedness which represents an extension, refinancing, or renewal of any of the Indebtedness described in clauses (b) and (e) hereof; provided that, (i) the principal amount or interest rate of such Indebtedness is not increased other than as a result of the capitalization of interest, (ii) any Liens securing such Indebtedness are not extended to any additional property of any Loan Party, (iii) no Loan Party that is not originally obligated with respect to repayment of such Indebtedness is required to become obligated with respect thereto except in accordance with clause (d) of this Section 6.01, (iv) such extension, refinancing or renewal does not result in a shortening of the average weighted maturity of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced or renewed, (v) the terms of any such extension, refinancing, or renewal are not materially less favorable to the obligor thereunder than the original terms of such Indebtedness and (vi) if the Indebtedness that is refinanced, renewed, or extended was subordinated in right of payment to the Secured Obligations, then the terms and conditions of the refinancing, renewal, or extension Indebtedness must include subordination terms and conditions that are at least as favorable to the Lender as those that were applicable to the refinanced, renewed, or extended Indebtedness;

(g) Indebtedness owed to any person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(h) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and similar obligations, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business;

(i) other unsecured Indebtedness not to exceed $500,000.00 in the aggregate at any time outstanding.

SECTION 6.02. Liens. No Loan Party will create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

(a) Liens created pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Permitted Encumbrances;

(c) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

(d) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(e) hereof;

(e) any Lien existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts and Inventory) prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts and Inventory) of any Person that becomes a Loan Party after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Loan Party; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Loan Party, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Loan Party and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Loan Party, as the case may be and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

(f) Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-208 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the relevant jurisdiction covering only the items being collected upon;

(g) Liens arising out of sale and leaseback transactions permitted by Section 6.06; and

(h) Liens granted by a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in favor of the Borrower or another Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness owed by such Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Liens permitted pursuant to this Section 6.02 may at any time attach to any Loan Party’s (1) Accounts, other than those permitted under clause (a) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrance and clause (a) above and (2) Inventory, other than those permitted under clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrance and clause (a) above.

SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes. (a) No Loan Party will merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve, except that any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) may merge into any Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Loan Party.

 

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(b) No Loan Party will engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto and reasonable extensions thereof.

SECTION 6.04. Intentionally Omitted.

SECTION 6.05. Asset Sales. No Loan Party will sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest owned by it, nor will the Borrower permit any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party to issue any additional Equity Interest in such Subsidiary (other than to the Borrower or another Subsidiary), except:

(a) sales, transfers and dispositions of (i) inventory in the ordinary course of business and (ii) used, obsolete, worn out or surplus equipment or property in the ordinary course of business;

(b) sales, transfers and dispositions to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that any such sales, transfers or dispositions to a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be made in compliance with Section 6.09;

(c) sales, transfers and dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof;

(d) the sale of Equipment to the extent such Equipment is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of a similar replacement thereof, or the proceeds of such sale are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such Equipment;

(e) sale and leaseback transactions permitted by Section 6.06;

(f) dispositions resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(g) sales, transfers and other dispositions of assets (other than Equity Interests in a Subsidiary unless all Equity Interests in such Subsidiary are sold) that are not permitted by any other paragraph of this Section, provided that the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in reliance upon this paragraph (g) shall not exceed $500,000 during any fiscal year of the Borrower; and

(h) licenses of patents, technology and know-how associated therewith to joint ventures in connection with the start-up of a joint venture.

provided that all sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted hereby (other than those permitted by paragraphs (b) and (f) above) shall be made for fair value and for at least 75% cash consideration.

SECTION 6.06. Sale and Leaseback Transactions. No Loan Party will enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred, except for any such sale of any fixed or capital assets by the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is made for cash consideration in an amount not less than the fair value of such fixed or capital asset and is consummated within 90 days after the Borrower or such Subsidiary acquires or completes the construction of such fixed or capital asset.

SECTION 6.07. Swap Agreements. No Loan Party will enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

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SECTION 6.08. Intentionally Omitted.

SECTION 6.09. Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.09, no Loan Party will sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions that (i) are in the ordinary course of business and (ii) are at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party, (c) any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(c), (d) the payment of reasonable fees to directors of the Borrower or any Subsidiary who are not employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and compensation and employee benefit arrangements paid to, and indemnities provided for the benefit of, directors, officers or employees of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and (e) any issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Borrower’s board of directors.

SECTION 6.10. Restrictive Agreements. No Loan Party will directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of such Loan Party to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any shares of its capital stock or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by any Loan Document, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.10 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness and (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases [and other contracts] restricting the assignment thereof.

SECTION 6.11. Amendment of Organizational Documents. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, amend, modify or waive any of its rights under its certificate of incorporation, by-laws, operating, management or partnership agreement or other organizational documents, to the extent any such amendment, modification or waiver would be materially adverse to the Lender.

ARTICLE VII

Events of Default

If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:

(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or the Borrower or any other Loan Party shall fail to pay any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable;

(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days;

 

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(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in or in connection with this Agreement or any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been materially incorrect when made or deemed made;

(d) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02(a), 5.03 (with respect to a Loan Party’s existence) or 5.08 or in Article VI;

(e) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those which constitute a default under another Section of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of (i) 5 days after the earlier of knowledge of such breach or written notice thereof from the Lender if such breach relates to terms or provisions of Section 5.01, 5.02 (other than Section 5.02(a)), 5.03 through 5.07, 5.09, 5.10 or 5.12 of this Agreement or (ii) 15 days after the earlier of knowledge of such breach or notice thereof from the Lender if such breach relates to terms or provisions of any other Section of this Agreement;

(f) any Loan Party shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure continues after the applicable grace or notice period, if any, specified in the documents related thereto on the date of such failure;

(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i) any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for such Loan Party or Subsidiary of any Loan Party or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

(j) any Loan Party shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

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(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $250,000 shall be rendered against any Loan Party and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of any Loan Party to enforce any such judgment or any Loan Party shall fail within 30 days to discharge one or more non-monetary judgments or orders which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which judgments or orders, in any such case, are not stayed on appeal or otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith by proper proceedings diligently pursued;

(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Lender, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect ;

(m) the occurrence of any “default”, as defined in any Loan Document (other than this Agreement) or the breach of any of the terms or provisions of any Loan Document (other than this Agreement), which default or breach continues beyond any period of grace therein provided;

(n) the Loan Guaranty shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of the Loan Guaranty, or any Loan Guarantor shall fail to comply with any of the terms or provisions of the Loan Guaranty to which it is a party, or any Loan Guarantor shall deny that it has any further liability under the Loan Guaranty to which it is a party, or shall give notice to such effect;

(o) any Collateral Document shall for any reason fail to create a valid and perfected first priority security interest in any Collateral purported to be covered thereby, except as permitted by the terms of any Collateral Document, or any Collateral Document shall fail to remain in full force or effect (other than as a result of the failure of the Lender to take any action within its control) or any action shall be taken by a Loan Party to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any Collateral Document, or any Loan Party shall fail to comply with any of the terms or provisions of any Collateral Document;

(p) any material provision of any Loan Document for any reason ceases to be valid, binding and enforceable (other than a result of the failure of the Lender to take any action within its control) in accordance with its terms (or any Loan Party shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or shall assert in writing, or engage in any action or inaction based on any such assertion, that any provision of any of the Loan Documents has ceased to be or otherwise is not valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms); or

(q) any Loan Party is criminally indicted or convicted under any law that may reasonably be expected to lead to a forfeiture of any property of such Loan Party having a fair market value in excess of $100,000;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Lender may, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitment, and thereupon the Commitment shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitment shall automatically terminate and the

 

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principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. Upon the occurrence and the continuance of an Event of Default, the Lender may increase the rate of interest applicable to the Loans and other Obligations as set forth in this Agreement and exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Lender under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC.

ARTICLE VIII

Miscellaneous

SECTION 8.01. Notices. (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile, as follows:

 

  (i) if to any Loan Party, to the Borrower at:

Material Sciences Corporation

2200 East Pratt Boulevard

Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile No: 847-439-0737

 

  (ii) if to the Lender, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. at:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Chase Business Credit

Mail Code IL1-1458

10 South Dearborn, 22nd Floor

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Attention: David A. Lehner

Facsimile No: 312-732-7593

All such notices and other communications (i) sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received or (ii) sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent, provided that if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.

(b) Notices and other communications to the Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications (including e-mail and internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Lender. The Lender or the Borrower (on behalf of the Loan Parties) may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. All such notices and other communications (i) sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if not given during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (b)(i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

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(c) Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

SECTION 8.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Lender hereunder and under any other Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Event of Default, regardless of whether the Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Event of Default at the time.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except (i) in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Lender, or (ii) in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Lender and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto.

SECTION 8.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Lender (whether outside counsel or the allocated costs of its internal legal department), in connection with the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions of the Loan Documents (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Lender (whether outside counsel or the allocated costs of its internal legal department), in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit. Expenses being reimbursed by the Borrower under this Section include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but subject to the limitations set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, costs and expenses incurred in connection with:

(i) appraisals (but reimbursement shall only be due for appraisals obtained during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default hereunder) and insurance reviews;

(ii) field examinations and the preparation of Reports based on the fees charged by a third party retained by the Lender or the internally allocated fees for each Person employed by the Lender with respect to each field examination;

(iii) background checks regarding senior management and/or key investors, as deemed necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the Lender;

(iv) taxes, fees and other charges for (A) lien and title searches and title insurance and (B) recording the Mortgages, filing financing statements and continuations, and other actions to perfect, protect, and continue the Lender’s Liens;

 

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(v) sums paid or incurred to take any action required of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents that such Loan Party fails to pay or take; and

(vi) forwarding loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment, and establishing and maintaining the accounts and lock boxes, and costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the Collateral.

All of the foregoing costs and expenses may be charged to the Borrower as Revolving Loans or to another deposit account, all as described in Section 2.17(c).

(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender, and each Related Party of the Lender (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities or related expenses resulted from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

(c) The relationship between any Loan Party on the one hand and the Lender on the other hand shall be solely that of debtor and creditor. The Lender (i) shall not have any fiduciary responsibilities to any Loan Party or (ii) does not undertake any responsibility to any Loan Party to review or inform such Loan Party of any matter in connection with any phase of any Loan Party’s business or operations. To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.

(d) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly within thirty days after written demand therefor.

SECTION 8.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent 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 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Lender) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) The Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that, except in the case of an assignment to an Affiliate of the Lender or an Approved Fund, the Borrower must give its prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably

 

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withheld); and provided further that any consent of the Borrower otherwise required under this paragraph shall not be required if an Event of Default under clause (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing. Subject to notification of an assignment, the assignee shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned, have the rights and obligations of the Lender under this Agreement, and the Lender shall, to the extent of the interest assigned, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an assignment covering all of the Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, the Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 8.03). The Borrower hereby agrees to execute any amendment and/or any other document that may be necessary to effectuate such an assignment, including an amendment to this Agreement to provide for multiple lenders and an administrative agent to act on behalf of such lenders. Any assignment or transfer by the Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by the Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

For the purposes of this Section 8.04(b), the term “Approved Fund” has the following meaning:

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

(c) The Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of the Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) the Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) the Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower shall continue to deal solely and directly with the Lender in connection with the Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Subject to paragraph (d) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16 to the same extent as if it were the Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.

(d) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.14 or 2.15 than the Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent.

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

SECTION 8.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Lender, the Lender or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Event of Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding (other than contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitment has not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitment or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

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SECTION 8.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Lender entered into with a Loan Party constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Lender and when the Lender shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

SECTION 8.07. Severability. Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 8.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, 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 and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or such Loan Guarantor against any of and all the Secured Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

SECTION 8.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) The Loan Documents (other than those containing a contrary express choice of law provision) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (including, without limitation, 735 ILCS Section 105/5-1 et seq, but otherwise without regard to the conflict of laws provisions) of the State of Illinois, but giving effect to federal laws applicable to national banks.

(b) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any U.S. Federal or Illinois State court sitting in Chicago, Illinois in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such Illinois State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Lender, the Lender or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

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(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 8.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

SECTION 8.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 8.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 8.12. Confidentiality. The Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or 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 the Loan Parties and their obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Lender, on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower. 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.

SECTION 8.13. Nonreliance; Violation of Law. The Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin stock for the repayment of the Borrowings provided for herein. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Lender shall not be obligated to extend credit to the Borrower in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any applicable statute or regulation.

SECTION 8.14. USA PATRIOT Act. The Lender is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”) and hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

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SECTION 8.15. Disclosure. Each Loan Party hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Lender and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with any of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates.

ARTICLE IX

Loan Guaranty

SECTION 9.01. Guaranty. Each Loan Guarantor (other than those that have delivered a separate Guaranty) hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to the Lender the prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations and all reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses including, without limitation, all court costs and reasonable attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees (including allocated costs of in-house counsel and paralegals) and reasonable expenses paid or incurred by the Lender in endeavoring to collect all or any part of the Secured Obligations from, or in prosecuting any action against, the Borrower, any Loan Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations (such costs and expenses, together with the Secured Obligations, collectively the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Loan Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. All terms of this Loan Guaranty apply to and may be enforced by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of any Lender that extended any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 9.02. Guaranty of Payment. This Loan Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each Loan Guarantor waives any right to require the Lender to sue the Borrower, any Loan Guarantor, any other guarantor, or any other person obligated for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations (each, an “Obligated Party”), or otherwise to enforce its payment against any collateral securing all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 9.03. No Discharge or Diminishment of Loan Guaranty. (a) Except as otherwise provided for herein, the obligations of each Loan Guarantor hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration, or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower or any other guarantor of or other person liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting any Obligated Party, or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which any Loan Guarantor may have at any time against any Obligated Party, Lender, or any other person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transactions.

(b) The obligations of each Loan Guarantor hereunder are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit payment by any Obligated Party, of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.

(c) Further, the obligations of any Loan Guarantor hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection, or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for the obligations of the Borrower for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations

 

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or any obligations of any other guarantor of or other person liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Lender with respect to any collateral securing any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Loan Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Loan Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations).

SECTION 9.04. Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Loan Guarantor hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Borrower or any Loan Guarantor or the unenforceability of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Borrower or any Loan Guarantor, other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Loan Guarantor irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any person against any Obligated Party, or any other person. The Lender may, at its election, foreclose on any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any Obligated Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such Loan Guarantor under this Loan Guaranty except to the extent the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully and indefeasibly paid in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Loan Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Loan Guarantor against any Obligated Party or any security.

SECTION 9.05. Rights of Subrogation. No Loan Guarantor will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification that it has against any Obligated Party, or any collateral, until the Loan Parties and the Loan Guarantors have fully performed all their obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) to the Lender.

SECTION 9.06. Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Borrower or otherwise, each Loan Guarantor’s obligations under this Loan Guaranty with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made and whether or not the Lender is in possession of this Loan Guaranty. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the Loan Guarantors forthwith on demand by the Lender.

SECTION 9.07. Information. Each Loan Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Loan Guarantor assumes and incurs under this Loan Guaranty, and agrees that the Lender shall not have any duty to advise any Loan Guarantor of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.

SECTION 9.08. Termination. The Lender may continue to make loans or extend credit to the Borrower based on this Loan Guaranty until five days after it receives written notice of termination from any Loan Guarantor. Notwithstanding receipt of any such notice, each Loan Guarantor will continue to be liable to the Lender for any Guaranteed Obligations created, assumed or committed to prior to the fifth day after receipt of the notice, and all subsequent renewals, extensions, modifications and amendments with respect to, or substitutions for, all or any part of that Guaranteed Obligations.

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

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SECTION 9.09. Taxes. All payments of the Guaranteed Obligations will be made by each Loan Guarantor free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if any Loan Guarantor shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (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) the Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Loan Guarantor shall make such deductions and (iii) such Loan Guarantor shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

SECTION 9.10. Maximum Liability. The provisions of this Loan Guaranty are severable, and in any action or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Loan Guarantor under this Loan Guaranty would otherwise be held or determined to be avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such Loan Guarantor’s liability under this Loan Guaranty, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Loan Guaranty to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Loan Guarantors or the Lender, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant Loan Guarantor’s “Maximum Liability”. This Section with respect to the Maximum Liability of each Loan Guarantor is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Lender to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no Loan Guarantor nor any other person or entity shall have any right or claim under this Section with respect to such Maximum Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of any Loan Guarantor hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law. Each Loan Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum Liability of each Loan Guarantor without impairing this Loan Guaranty or affecting the rights and remedies of the Lender hereunder, provided that, nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any Loan Guarantor’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum Liability.

SECTION 9.11. Contribution. In the event any Loan Guarantor (a “Paying Guarantor”) shall make any payment or payments under this Loan Guaranty or shall suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any collateral granted by it to secure its obligations under this Loan Guaranty, each other Loan Guarantor (each a “Non-Paying Guarantor”) shall contribute to such Paying Guarantor an amount equal to such Non-Paying Guarantor’s “Applicable Percentage” of such payment or payments made, or losses suffered, by such Paying Guarantor. For purposes of this Article IX, each Non-Paying Guarantor’s “Applicable Percentage” with respect to any such payment or loss by a Paying Guarantor shall be determined as of the date on which such payment or loss was made by reference to the ratio of (i) such Non-Paying Guarantor’s Maximum Liability as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder) or, if such Non-Paying Guarantor’s Maximum Liability has not been determined, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Non-Paying Guarantor from the Borrower after the date hereof (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means) to (ii) the aggregate Maximum Liability of all Loan Guarantors hereunder (including such Paying Guarantor) as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder), or to the extent that a Maximum Liability has not been determined for any Loan Guarantor, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Loan Guarantors from the Borrower after the date hereof (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means). Nothing in this provision shall affect any Loan Guarantor’s several liability for the entire amount of the Guaranteed Obligations (up to such Loan Guarantor’s Maximum Liability). Each of the Loan Guarantors covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution under this Loan Guaranty from a Non-Paying Guarantor shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations. This provision is for the benefit of the Lender and the Loan Guarantors and may be enforced by any one, or more, or all of them in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Credit Agreement

50


SECTION 9.12. Liability Cumulative. The liability of each Loan Party as a Loan Guarantor under this Article IX is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Loan Party to the Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other Loan Parties, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWER:

Material Sciences Corporation, a Delaware corporation
By:  

/s/ James M. Froisland

Name:  

James M. Froisland

Title:   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer and Corporate Secretary

LOAN PARTIES:

Material Sciences Corporation, Engineered Materials and Solutions Group, Inc., an Illinois corporation,
By:   /s/ James M. Froisland
Name:  

 

James M. Froisland

Title:   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer and Corporate Secretary
MSC Laminates and Composites, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
By:  

/s/ James M. Froisland

Name:  

James M. Froisland

Title:   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer and Corporate Secretary
Material Sciences Service Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
By:  

/s/ James M. Froisland

Name:  

James M. Froisland

Title:   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer and Corporate Secretary
MSC Pre Finish Metals (EGV), Inc., a Delaware corporation
By:  

/s/ James M. Froisland

Name:  

James M. Froisland

Title:   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer and Corporate Secretary

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Credit Agreement


MSC Walbridge Coatings, Inc.
a Delaware corporation
By:  

/s/ James M. Froisland

Name:  

James M. Froisland

Title:   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer and Corporate Secretary
MSC Laminates and Composites (EGV), Inc., a Delaware corporation
By:  

/s/ James M. Froisland

Name:  

James M. Froisland

Title:   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer and Corporate Secretary

LENDER:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
By:  

/s/ David A. Lehner

Name:  

David A. Lehner

Title:   Vice President

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Credit Agreement


EXHIBIT A

BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE

 

LOGO

  BORROWING BASE REPORT        
        Rpt #    
Obligor Number:         Date:    
Loan Number:           Period Covered:                      to                      
     

COLLATERAL CATEGORY

 

 

A/R

 

 

Inventory

 

 

Total Eligible Collateral

 

Description              
1   Beginning Balance (Previous report - Line 8)              
2   Additions to Collateral (Gross Sales or Purchases)              
3   Other Additions (Add back any non-A/R cash in line 3)              
4   Deductions to Collateral (Cash Received)              
5   Deductions to Collateral (Discounts, other)              
6   Deductions to Collateral (Credit Memos, all)              
7   Other non-cash credits to A/R              
8   Total Ending Collateral Balance              
9   Less Ineligible - Past Due              
10   Less Ineligible - Cross-age (        %)              
11   Less Ineligible - Foreign              
12   Less Ineligible - Contra              
13   Less Ineligible - Other (attached schedule)              
14   Total Ineligibles - Accounts Receivable              
                   
15   Less Ineligible – Inventory Slow-moving              
16   Less Ineligible – Inventory Offsite not covered              
17   Less Ineligible – Inventory WIP              
18   Less Ineligible – Consigned              
19   Less Ineligible – Other (attached schedule)              
20   Total Ineligible Inventory              
                   
21   Total Eligible Collateral              
22   Advance Rate Percentage   %   %      
23   Net Available - Borrowing Base Value              
24   Reserves (other)              
25   Total Borrowing Base Value              
25A   Total Availability/CAPS                
26   Revolver Line           Total Revolver Line    
27   Maximum Borrowing Limit (Lesser of 25 or 26)*           Total Available    
27A   Suppressed Availability              
LOAN STATUS                
28   Previous Loan Balance (Previous Report Line 31)              
29  

Less: A. Net Collections (Same as line 4)

          B. Adjustments/Other                     

             
30  

Add: A. Request for Funds

          B. Adjustments/Other                     

             
31   New Loan Balance              
32   Letter of Credit/BA’s outstanding              
33   Availability Not Borrowed (Lines 27 less 31 & 32)                
34   Term Loan           Total New Loan Balance:
35   OVERALL EXPOSURE (lines 31 & 34)          
               
Pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms and provisions of that certain Credit Agreement (“Agreement”), among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase”), the Loan Parties and                          (“Borrower”), Borrower is executing and delivering to Chase this Collateral Report accompanied by supporting data (collectively referred to as the “Report”). Borrower represents and warrants to Chase that this Report is true and correct in all material respects, and is based on information contained in Borrower’s own financial accounting records. Borrower, by the execution of this Report, hereby ratifies, confirms and affirms all of the terms, conditions and provisions of the Agreement, and further certifies on this          day of                 , 20    , that the Borrower is in compliance with said Agreement.

BORROWER NAME:

 

 

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE:

 

 

Exhibit A


EXHIBIT B

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

To: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

This Compliance Certificate is furnished pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of May     , 2008 (as amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time, the “Agreement”) among Material Sciences Corporation (the “Borrower”), the other Loan Parties and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Lender. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Compliance Certificate have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY CERTIFIES ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER AND NOT IN MY INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY THAT:

1. I am the duly elected                                           of the Borrower;

2. I have reviewed the terms of the Agreement and I have made, or have caused to be made under my supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and conditions of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements [for quarterly or monthly financial statements add: and such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes];

3. The examinations described in paragraph 2 did not disclose, except as set forth below, and I have no knowledge of (i) the existence of any Default during or at the end of the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements or as of the date of this Certificate or (ii) any change in GAAP or in the application thereof that has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 of the Agreement;

4. I hereby certify that no Loan Party has changed (i) its name, (ii) its chief executive office, (iii) principal place of business, (iv) the type of entity it is or (v) its state of incorporation or organization without having given the Lender the notice required by Section 4.15 of the Security Agreement; and

5. Described below are the exceptions, if any, to paragraph 3 by listing, in detail, the (i) nature of the Default, the period during which it has existed and the action which the Borrower has taken, is taking, or proposes to take with respect to each such Default or (ii) the change in GAAP or the application thereof and the effect of such change on the attached financial statements:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B


The foregoing certifications and the financial statements delivered with this Certificate in support hereof, are made and delivered this          day of                 .

 

MATERIAL SCIENCES CORPORATION
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

Exhibit C


EXHIBIT C

JOINDER AGREEMENT

THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of                 ,     , 200    , is entered into between                                         , a                              (the “New Subsidiary”) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (the “Lender”) under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of                 ,     , 200     among                          (the “Borrower”), the Loan Parties party thereto, and the Lender (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”). All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

The New Subsidiary and the Lender, hereby agree as follows:

1. The New Subsidiary hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Agreement, the New Subsidiary will be deemed to be a Loan Party under the Credit Agreement and a “Loan Guarantor” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and shall have all of the obligations of a Loan Party and a Loan Guarantor thereunder as if it had executed the Credit Agreement. The New Subsidiary hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Credit Agreement, including without limitation (a) all of the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in Article III of the Credit Agreement, *[and]* (b) all of the covenants set forth in Articles V and VI of the Credit Agreement *[and (c) all of the guaranty obligations set forth in Article X of the Credit Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing terms of this paragraph 1, the New Subsidiary, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.10 of the Credit Agreement, hereby guarantees, jointly and severally with the other Loan Guarantors, to the Lender and the Lender, as provided in Article X of the Credit Agreement, the prompt payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof and agrees that if any of the Guaranteed Obligations are not paid or performed in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise), the New Subsidiary will, jointly and severally together with the other Loan Guarantors, promptly pay and perform the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.]* *[The New Subsidiary has delivered to the Lender an executed Loan Guaranty.]*

2. If required, the New Subsidiary is, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, executing and delivering such Collateral Documents (and such other documents and instruments) as requested by the Lender in accordance with the Credit Agreement.

3. The address of the New Subsidiary for purposes of Section 8.01 of the Credit Agreement is as follows:

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

4. The New Subsidiary hereby waives acceptance by the Lender of the guaranty by the New Subsidiary upon the execution of this Agreement by the New Subsidiary.

 

Exhibit C


5. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

6. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by its authorized officer, and the Lender, has caused the same to be accepted by its authorized officer, as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NEW SUBSIDIARY]
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

Acknowledged and accepted:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

Exhibit C