EX-4 3 ex412ndq.txt AMENDED SHELF AGREEMENT Exhibit 4.1 STANLEY FURNITURE COMPANY, INC. $30,000,000 PRIVATE SHELF FACILITY Dated as of September 8, 1999, as amended as of April 26, 2001 STANLEY FURNITURE COMPANY, INC. P.O. Box 30 Route 57 Stanleytown, Virginia 24168 As of September 8, 1999 The Prudential Insurance Company of America ("Prudential") Each Prudential Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) which becomes bound by certain provisions of this Agreement as hereinafter provided (together with Prudential (the "Purchasers") c/o Prudential Capital Group Two Ravinia Drive, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30346 Ladies and Gentlemen: The undersigned, Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. (herein called the "Company"), hereby agrees with you as follows: 1. AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUE OF NOTES. 1A. Intentionally Omitted. 1B. Authorization of Issue of Shelf Notes. The Company will authorize the issue of its senior promissory notes (the "Shelf Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000, to be dated the date of issue thereof, to mature, in the case of each Shelf Note so issued, no more than ten years after the date of original issuance thereof, to have an average life, in the case of each Shelf Note so issued, of no more than ten years after the date of original issuance thereof, to bear interest on the unpaid balance thereof from the date thereof at the rate per annum, and to have such other particular terms, as shall be set forth, in the case of each Shelf Note so issued, in the Confirmation of Acceptance with respect to such Shelf Note delivered pursuant to paragraph 2B(6) and to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 attached hereto. The terms "Note" and "Notes" as used herein shall include each Shelf Note delivered pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and each Note delivered in substitution or exchange for any such Note pursuant to any such provision. Notes which have (i) the same final maturity, (ii) the same principal prepayment dates, (iii) the same principal prepayment amounts (as a percentage of the original principal amount of each Note), (iv) the same interest rate, (v) the same interest payment periods and (vi) the same date of issuance (which, in the case of a Note issued in exchange for another Note, shall be deemed for these purposes the date on which such Note's ultimate predecessor Note was issued), are herein called a "Series" of Notes. 2. PURCHASE AND SALE OF NOTES. 2A. Intentionally Omitted. 2B. Purchase and Sale of Shelf Notes. 2B(1) Facility. Prudential is willing to consider, in its sole discretion and within limits which may be authorized for purchase by Prudential and Prudential Affiliates from time to time, the purchase of Shelf Notes pursuant to this Agreement. The willingness of Prudential to consider such purchase of Shelf Notes is herein called the "Facility". At any time, the aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes stated in paragraph 1B, minus the aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes purchased and sold pursuant to this Agreement prior to such time, minus the aggregate principal amount of Accepted Notes (as hereinafter defined) which have not yet been purchased and sold hereunder prior to such time, plus the aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes purchased and sold pursuant to this Agreement and thereafter retired prior to such time is herein called the "Available Facility Amount" at such time. NOTWITHSTANDING THE WILLINGNESS OF PRUDENTIAL TO CONSIDER PURCHASES OF SHELF NOTES, THIS AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO ON THE EXPRESS UNDERSTANDING THAT NEITHER PRUDENTIAL NOR ANY PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE SHALL BE OBLIGATED TO MAKE OR ACCEPT OFFERS TO PURCHASE SHELF NOTES, OR TO QUOTE RATES, SPREADS OR OTHER TERMS WITH RESPECT TO SPECIFIC PURCHASES OF SHELF NOTES, AND THE FACILITY SHALL IN NO WAY BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY PRUDENTIAL OR ANY PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE. 2B(2). Issuance Period. Shelf Notes may be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement until the earlier of: (i) the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement (or if any such anniversary is not a Business Day, the Business Day next preceding such anniversary), (ii) the thirtieth day after Prudential shall have given to the Company, or the Company shall have given to Prudential, a notice stating that it elects to terminate the issuance and sale of Shelf Notes pursuant to this Agreement (or if such thirtieth day is not a Business Day, the Business Day next preceding such thirtieth day), (iii) The last Closing Day after which there is no Available Facility Amount, (iv) The termination of the Facility under paragraph 7, and (v) The acceleration of any Note under paragraph 7A of this Agreement. The period during which Shelf Notes may be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement is herein called the "Issuance Period". 2B(3). Request for Purchase. The Company may from time to time during the Issuance Period make requests for purchases of Shelf Notes (each such request being herein called a "Request for Purchase"). Each Request for Purchase shall be made to Prudential by telecopier or overnight delivery service, and shall: (i) specify the aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes covered thereby, which shall not be less than $5,000,000 and not be greater than the Available Facility Amount at the time such Request for Purchase is made, (ii) specify the principal amounts, final maturities (which shall be no more than ten years from the date of issuance), principal prepayment dates and amounts and interest payment periods (quarterly or semi-annual in arrears) of the Shelf Notes covered thereby, (iii) specify the use of proceeds of such Shelf Notes, (iv) specify the proposed day for the closing of the purchase and sale of such Shelf Notes, which shall be a Business Day during the Issuance Period not less than 10 days and not more than 25 days after the making of such Request for Purchase (the "Closing Day"), (v) specify the number of the account and the name and address of the depository institution to which the purchase prices of such Shelf Notes are to be transferred on the Closing Day for such purchase and sale, (vi) certify that the representations and warranties contained in paragraph 8 are true on and as of the date of such Request for Purchase and that there exists on the date of such Request for Purchase no Event of Default or Default, (vii) specify the Designated Spread for such Shelf Notes, and (viii) be substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto. Each Request for Purchase shall be in writing and shall be deemed made when received by Prudential. 2B(4). Rate Quotes. Not later than five Business Days after the Company shall have given Prudential a Request for Purchase pursuant to paragraph 2B(3), Prudential may, but shall be under no obligation to, provide to the Company by telephone or telecopier, in each case between 9:30 A.M. and 1:30 P.M. New York City local time (or such later time as Prudential may elect) interest rate quotes for the several principal amounts, maturities, principal prepayment schedules, and interest payment periods of Shelf Notes specified in such Request for Purchase. Each quote shall represent the interest rate per annum payable on the outstanding principal balance of such Shelf Notes at which Prudential or a Prudential Affiliate would be willing to purchase such Shelf Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof. 2B(5). Acceptance. Within 30 minutes after Prudential shall have provided any interest rate quotes pursuant to paragraph 2B(4) or such shorter period as Prudential may specify to the Company (such period herein called the "Acceptance Window"), the Company may, subject to paragraph 2B(6), elect to accept such interest rate quotes as to not less than $5,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Shelf Notes specified in the related Request for Purchase. Such election shall be made by an Authorized Officer of the Company notifying Prudential by telephone or telecopier within the Acceptance Window (but not earlier than 9:30 a.m. or later than 2:00 p.m., New York City local time) that the Company elects to accept such interest rate quotes, specifying the Shelf Notes (each such Shelf Note being herein called an "Accepted Note") as to which such acceptance (herein called a "Acceptance") relates. The day the Company notifies Prudential of an Acceptance with respect to any Accepted Notes is herein called the "Acceptance Day" for such Accepted Notes. Any interest rate quotes as to which Prudential does not receive an Acceptance within the Acceptance Window shall expire, and no purchase or sale of Shelf Notes hereunder shall be made based on such expired interest rate quotes. Subject to paragraph 2B(6) and the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company agrees to sell to Prudential or a Prudential Affiliate, and Prudential agrees to purchase, or to cause the purchase by a Prudential Affiliate of, the Accepted Notes at 100% of the principal amount of such Notes. As soon as practicable following the Acceptance Day, the Company, Prudential and each Prudential Affiliate which is to purchase any such Accepted Notes will execute a confirmation of such Acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto (herein called a "Confirmation of Acceptance"). If the Company should fail to execute and return to Prudential within three Business Days following receipt thereof a Confirmation of Acceptance with respect to any Accepted Notes, Prudential may at its election at any time prior to its receipt thereof cancel the closing with respect to such Accepted Notes by so notifying the Company in writing. 2B(6). Market Disruption. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2B(5), if Prudential shall have provided interest rate quotes pursuant to paragraph 2B(4) and thereafter prior to the time an Acceptance with respect to such quotes shall have been notified to Prudential in accordance with paragraph 2B(5) the domestic market for U.S. Treasury securities or derivatives shall have closed or there shall have occurred a general suspension, material limitation, or significant disruption of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or in the domestic market for U.S. Treasury securities or derivatives, then such interest rate quotes shall expire, and no purchase or sale of Shelf Notes hereunder shall be made based on such expired interest rate quotes. If the Company thereafter notifies Prudential of the Acceptance of any such interest rate quotes, such Acceptance shall be ineffective for all purposes of this Agreement, and Prudential shall promptly notify the Company that the provisions of this paragraph 2B(6) are applicable with respect to such Acceptance. 2B(7). Facility Closings. Not later than 11:30 A.M. (New York City local time) on the Closing Day for any Accepted Notes, the Company will deliver to each Purchaser listed in the Confirmation of Acceptance relating thereto at the offices of the Prudential Capital Group, One Gateway Center, 11th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102-5311, the Accepted Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser in the form of one or more Notes in authorized denominations as such Purchaser may request for each Series of Accepted Notes to be purchased on the Closing Day, dated the Closing Day and registered in such Purchaser's name (or in the name of its nominee), against payment of the purchase price thereof by transfer of immediately available funds for credit to the Company's account specified in the Request for Purchase of such Notes. If the Company fails to tender to any Purchaser the Accepted Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser on the scheduled Closing Day for such Accepted Notes as provided above in this paragraph 2B(7), or any of the conditions specified in paragraph 3 shall not have been fulfilled by the time required on such scheduled Closing Day, the Company shall, prior to 1:00 P.M., New York City local time, on such scheduled Closing Day notify Prudential (which notification shall be deemed received by each Purchaser) in writing whether (i) such closing is to be rescheduled (such rescheduled date to be a Business Day during the Issuance Period not less than one Business Day and not more than 10 Business Days after such scheduled Closing Day (the "Rescheduled Closing Day") and certify to Prudential (which certification shall be for the benefit of each Purchaser) that the Company reasonably believes that it will be able to comply with the conditions set forth in paragraph 3 on such Rescheduled Closing Day and that the Company will pay the Delayed Delivery Fee in accordance with paragraph 2B(8)(iii) or (ii) such closing is to be canceled. In the event that the Company shall fail to give such notice referred to in the preceding sentence, Prudential (on behalf of each Purchaser) may at its election, at any time after 1:00 P.M., New York City local time, on such scheduled Closing Day, notify the Company in writing that such closing is to be canceled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary appearing in this Agreement, the Company may elect to reschedule a closing with respect to any given Accepted Notes on not more than one occasion, unless Prudential shall have otherwise consented in writing. 2B(8) . Fees. 2B(8)(i). Facility Fee. In consideration for the time, effort and expense involved in the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement, at the time of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Prudential, the Company will pay to Prudential in immediately available funds a fee (herein called the "Facility Fee") in the amount of $25,000. 2B(8)(ii) Issuance Fee. The Company will pay to Prudential in immediately available funds a fee (herein called the "Issuance Fee") on each Closing Day (other than a Closing Day occurring on or before March 8, 2000) in an amount equal to 1/8 of 1% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes sold on such Closing Day. 2B(8)(iii) Delayed Delivery Fee. If the closing of the purchase and sale of any Accepted Note is delayed for any reason beyond the original Closing Day for such Accepted Note, the Company will pay to Prudential (a) on the Cancellation Date or actual closing date of such purchase and sale and (b) if earlier, the next Business Day following 90 days after the Acceptance Day for such Accepted Note and on each Business Day following 90 days after the prior payment hereunder, a fee (herein called the "Delayed Delivery Fee") calculated as follows: (BEY - MMY) X DTS/360 X PA where "BEY" means Bond Equivalent Yield, i.e., the bond equivalent yield per annum of such Accepted Note, "MMY" means Money Market Yield, i.e., the yield per annum on a commercial paper investment of the highest quality selected by Prudential on the date Prudential receives notice of the delay in the closing for such Accepted Note having a maturity date or dates the same as, or closest to, the Rescheduled Closing Day or Rescheduled Closing Days (a new alternative investment being selected by Prudential each time such closing is delayed); "DTS" means Days to Settlement, i.e., the number of actual days elapsed from and including the original Closing Day with respect to such Accepted Note (in the case of the first such payment with respect to such Accepted Note) or from and including the date of the next preceding payment (in the case of any subsequent delayed delivery fee payment with respect to such Accepted Note) to but excluding the date of such payment; and "PA" means Principal Amount, i.e., the principal amount of the Accepted Note for which such calculation is being made. In no case shall the Delayed Delivery Fee be less than zero. Nothing contained herein shall obligate any Purchaser to purchase any Accepted Note on any day other than the Closing Day for such Accepted Note, as the same may be rescheduled from time to time in compliance with paragraph 2B(7). 2B(8)(iv). Cancellation Fee. If the Company at any time notifies Prudential in writing that the Company is canceling the closing of the purchase and sale of any Accepted Note, or if Prudential notifies the Company in writing under the circumstances set forth in the last sentence of paragraph 2B(5) or the penultimate sentence of paragraph 2B(7) that the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is to be canceled, or if the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is not consummated on or prior to the last day of the Issuance Period (the date of any such notification, or the last day of the Issuance Period, as the case may be, being herein called the "Cancellation Date"), the Company will pay the Purchasers in immediately available funds an amount (the "Cancellation Fee") calculated as follows: PI X PA where "PI" means Price Increase, i.e., the quotient (expressed in decimals) obtained by dividing (a) the excess of the ask price (as determined by Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Note(s) on the Cancellation Date over the bid price (as determined by Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Notes(s) on the Acceptance Day for such Accepted Note by (b) such bid price; and "PA" has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph 2B(8)(iii). The foregoing bid and ask prices shall be as reported by Telerate Systems, Inc. (or, if such data for any reason ceases to be available through Bridge Telerate, any publicly available source of similar market data). Each price shall be based on a U.S. Treasury security having a par value of $100.00 and shall be rounded to the second decimal place. In no case shall the Cancellation Fee be less than zero. 3. CONDITIONS OF CLOSING. The obligation of any Purchaser to purchase and pay for any Notes is subject to the satisfaction, on or before the Closing Day for such Notes, of the following conditions: 3A. Certain Documents. Such Purchaser shall have received the following, each dated the date of the applicable Closing Day: (i) The Note(s) to be purchased by such Purchaser. (ii) Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance of the Notes, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to this Agreement and the Notes. (iii) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and one other officer of the Company certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Company authorized to sign this Agreement and the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder. (iv) Certified copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company. (v) A favorable opinion of McGuire Woods Battle & Boothe, L.L.P., special counsel to the Company (or such other counsel designated by the Company and acceptable to the Purchaser(s)) satisfactory to such Purchaser and substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto and as to such other matters as such Purchaser may reasonably request. The Company hereby directs each such counsel to deliver such opinion, agrees that the issuance and sale of any Notes will constitute a reconfirmation of such direction, and understands and agrees that each Purchaser receiving such an opinion will and is hereby authorized to rely on such opinion. (vi) A good standing certificate for the Company from the Secretary of State of Delaware dated of a recent date and good standing or other certificates of qualification to do business as a foreign corporation for the Company in the State of Virginia and North Carolina and such other evidence of the status of the Company as such Purchaser may reasonably request. (vii) Additional documents or certificates with respect to legal matters or corporate or other proceedings related to the transactions contemplated hereby as may be reasonably requested by such Purchaser. 3B. Opinion of Purchaser's Special Counsel. Such Purchaser shall have received from its in-house counsel a favorable opinion satisfactory to such Purchaser as to such matters incident to the matters herein contemplated as it may reasonably request. 3C. Representations and Warranties; No Default. The representations and warranties contained in paragraph 8 shall be true in all material respects on and as of such Closing Day, except to the extent of changes caused by the transactions herein contemplated; there shall exist on such Closing Day no Event of Default or Default; and the Company shall have delivered to such Purchaser an Officer's Certificate, dated such Closing Day, to both such effects. 3D. Purchase Permitted by Applicable Laws. The purchase of and payment for the Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser on the terms and conditions herein provided (including the use of the proceeds of such Notes by the Company) shall not violate any applicable law or governmental regulation (including, without limitation, Section 5 of the Securities Act or Regulation U, T or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and shall not subject such Purchaser to any tax, penalty, liability or other onerous condition under or pursuant to any applicable law or governmental regulation, and such Purchaser shall have received such certificates or other evidence as it may reasonably request to establish compliance with this condition. 3E. Payment of Fees. The Company shall have paid to Prudential any fees due it pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, including any Facility Fee due pursuant to paragraph 2B(8)(i), any Issuance Fee due pursuant to paragraph 2B(8)(ii) and any Delayed Delivery Fee due pursuant to paragraph 2B(8)(iii). 3F. No Material Adverse Change. Prudential shall have received a certificate from the chief financial officer of the Company, dated the applicable Closing Day, saying that no material adverse change in the financial condition, business, operations or prospects of the Company or its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, has occurred since December 31, 1998. 3G. Completion of NAIC Year 2000 Questionnaire. The Company shall have delivered to Prudential a copy of its response to the Year 2000 Due Diligence Questionnaire supplied by the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 4. PREPAYMENTS. Any Shelf Notes shall be subject to required prepayment as and to the extent provided in paragraphs 4B. Any Shelf Notes shall also be subject to prepayment under the circumstances set forth in paragraph 4C. Any prepayment made by the Company pursuant to any other provision of this paragraph 4 shall not reduce or otherwise affect its obligation to make any required prepayment as specified in paragraph 4B. 4A. Intentionally Omitted. 4B. Required Prepayments of Shelf Notes. Each Series of Shelf Notes shall be subject to required prepayments, if any, set forth in the Notes of such Series. 4C. Optional Prepayment With Yield-Maintenance Amount. The Notes of each Series shall be subject to prepayment, in whole at any time or from time to time in part (in integral multiples of $100,000 and in a minimum amount of $1,000,000), at the option of the Company, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid plus interest thereon to the prepayment date and the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each such Note. Any partial prepayment of a Series of the Notes pursuant to this paragraph 4C shall be applied in satisfaction of required payments of principal in inverse order of their scheduled due dates. 4D. Notice of Optional Prepayment. The Company shall give the holder of each Note of a Series to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4C irrevocable written notice of such prepayment not less than 5 Business Days prior to the prepayment date, specifying such prepayment date, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such Series to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of the Notes of such Series held by such holder to be prepaid on that date and that such prepayment is to be made pursuant to paragraph 4C. Notice of prepayment having been given as aforesaid, the principal amount of the Notes specified in such notice, together with interest thereon to the prepayment date and together with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, herein provided, shall become due and payable on such prepayment date. The Company shall use reasonable efforts, on or before the day on which it gives written notice of any prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4C, to give telephonic notice of the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid and the prepayment date to each Significant Holder which shall have designated a recipient for such notices in the Purchaser Schedule attached hereto or the applicable Confirmation of Acceptance or by notice in writing to the Company. 4E. Application of Required Prepayments. In the case of each prepayment of less than the entire unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Notes of any Series pursuant to paragraphs 4A, 4B or 4C, the amount to be prepaid shall be applied pro rata to all outstanding Notes of such Series (including, for the purpose of this paragraph 4E only, all Notes prepaid or otherwise retired or purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates other than by prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4A, 4B or 4C) according to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof. 4F. Retirement of Notes. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to, prepay or otherwise retire in whole or in part prior to their stated final maturity (other than by prepayment pursuant to paragraphs 4B or 4C or upon acceleration of such final maturity pursuant to paragraph 7A), or purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, Notes of any Series held by any holder unless the Company or such Subsidiary or Affiliate shall have offered to prepay or otherwise retire or purchase or otherwise acquire, as the case may be, the same proportion of the aggregate principal amount of Notes of such Series held by each other holder of Notes of such Series at the time outstanding upon the same terms and conditions. Any Notes so prepaid or otherwise retired or purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose under this Agreement, except as provided in paragraph 4E. 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. 5A. Reporting Requirements. 5A(1) General Information. The Company covenants that it will deliver to each Significant Holder in triplicate: (i) as soon as practicable and in any event within 45 days after the end of each quarterly period (other than the fourth quarterly period) in each fiscal year, (1) Consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such quarterly period, and (2) a Consolidated balance sheet as at the end of such quarterly period, setting forth in each case in comparative form figures for the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and satisfactory in form to the Required Holder(s) and certified by an authorized financial officer of the Company as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such period and the results of their operations for the period then ended in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, subject to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments and the inclusion of abbreviated footnotes; provided, however, that delivery pursuant to clause (iii) below of copies of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for such quarterly period filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this clause (i); (ii) as soon as practicable and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, (1) Consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for such year, and (2) a Consolidated balance sheet as at the end of such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form corresponding Consolidated figures from the preceding annual audit, all in reasonable detail and satisfactory in scope to the Required Holder(s) and reported on by independent public accountants of recognized standing selected by the Company whose report shall be without limitation as to the scope of the audit and reasonably satisfactory in substance to the Required Holder(s); provided, however, that delivery pursuant to clause (iii) below of copies of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for such year filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this clause (ii); (iii) promptly upon transmission thereof, copies of all such financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports as it shall send to its public stockholders and copies of all registration statements (without exhibits) and all reports (other than any registration statement filed on Form S-8) which it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions of the Securities and Exchange Commission); (iv) promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of each other report (including, without limitation, management letters) submitted to the Company or any Subsidiary by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit made by them of the books of the Company or any Subsidiary; (v) promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of each report, survey, study, evaluation, assessment or other document prepared by any consultant, engineer, Environmental Authority or other Person relating to compliance by the Company or any Subsidiary with any Environmental Requirements, if the cost of remediation, repair or compliance may be reasonably expected to exceed $500,000 in any one case or in the aggregate; (vi) with reasonable promptness, upon the request of the holder of any Note, provide such holder, and any qualified institutional buyer designated by such holder, such financial and other information as such holder may reasonably determine to be necessary in order to permit compliance with the information requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act in connection with the resale of Notes, except at such times as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. For the purpose of this clause (vii), the term "qualified institutional buyer" shall have the meaning specified in Rule 144A under the Securities Act; and (vii) with reasonable promptness, such other financial data as a Significant Holder may reasonably request; 5A(2) Quarterly Officer's Certificates. Together with each delivery of financial statements required by clauses 5A(1)(i) and (ii) above, the Company will deliver to each Significant Holder an Officer's Certificate demonstrating (with computations in reasonable detail) compliance with the provisions of paragraphs 6A, 6B and 6D and stating that there exists no Event of Default or Default, or, if any Event of Default or Default exists, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto; 5A(3) Annual Accountant's Letter. Together with each delivery of financial statements required by clause 5A(1)(ii) above, the Company will deliver to each Significant Holder a certificate of the independent public accountants giving the report on such financial statements stating that, in making the audit necessary for their report, they have obtained no knowledge of any Event of Default or Default, or, if they have obtained knowledge of any Event of Default or Default, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof. The accountants, however, shall not be liable to anyone as a result of this provision by reason of their failure to obtain knowledge of any Event of Default or Default which would not be disclosed in the course of an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards; 5A(4) Special Information. The Company also covenants that within 5 Business Days after any Responsible Officer obtains knowledge of: (a) an Event of Default or Default; (b) a material adverse change in the financial condition, business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (c) legal proceedings filed against the Company and/or any Subsidiary, which reasonably could be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or which in any manner draws into question the validity of or reasonably could be expected to impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Notes; (d) a default under any agreement or note evidencing Debt for which the Company or any Subsidiary is liable, which individually or in the aggregate with all other agreements and notes in default for which the Company or any Subsidiary is liable, exceed $3,500,000; (e) the occurrence of any other event that reasonably could be expected to impair the ability of the Company to meet its obligations hereunder; (f) any (i) Environmental Liabilities, (ii) pending, threatened or anticipated Environmental Proceedings, (iii) Environmental Notices, (iv) Environmental Judgments and Orders, or (v) Environmental Releases at, on, in, under or in any way affecting the Properties which reasonably could be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (g) with respect to any Plan that is subject to the funding requirements of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, the Company (i) has given or is required to give notice to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation that a material reportable event has occurred with respect to such Plan, (ii) has delivered notice to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation of any intent to withdraw from or terminate any such Plan, or (iii) has failed to make timely a contribution to any such Plan; the Company will deliver to each Significant Holder an Officer's Certificate specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company or the Subsidiary has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. 5B. Inspection of Property. The Company covenants that, at such reasonable times and as often as a Significant Holder may reasonably request, it will permit any Person designated by a Significant Holder in writing, at such Significant Holder's expense unless a Default has occurred and is continuing in which case at the Company's expense, to: (i) visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and any Subsidiary; (ii) examine the corporate books and financial records of the Company and its Subsidiaries and make copies thereof or extracts therefrom; and (iii) discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of any of such corporations with the principal officers of the Company or any Subsidiary and independent public accountants to the Company. 5C. Covenant to Secure Notes Equally. The Company covenants that if it or any Subsidiary shall create or assume any Lien upon any of its property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Liens permitted by paragraph 6C(1) (unless prior written consent shall have been obtained under paragraph 11C), it will make or cause to be made effective provision whereby the Notes will be secured by such Lien equally and ratably with any and all other Debt thereby secured so long as any such other Debt shall be so secured. 5D. Guaranteed Obligations. The Company covenants that if any Person (other than the Company) guarantees or provides collateral in any manner for any Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary, it will simultaneously cause such Person to guarantee or provide collateral for the Notes equally and ratably with all Debt guaranteed or secured by such Person pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such holder. 5E. Maintenance of Insurance. The Company covenants that it and each Subsidiary will maintain, with responsible insurers, insurance with respect to its properties and business against such casualties and contingencies (including, but not limited to, public liability, larceny, embezzlement or other criminal misappropriation) and in such amounts as is customary in the case of similarly situated corporations engaged in the same or similar businesses. 5F. Maintenance of Corporate Existence/Compliance with Law/Preservation of Property. The Company covenants that, except as permitted under paragraph 6C(3) and 6D, it and each Subsidiary will do or cause to be done all things necessary to: (i) preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect the corporate existence of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than those Subsidiaries not material to the financial condition, business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole); (ii) comply with all laws and regulations (including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to equal employment opportunity and employee safety) applicable to it and any Subsidiary except where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (iii) maintain, preserve and protect all material intellectual property of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and (iv) preserve all the remainder of its property used or useful in the conduct of its business and keep the same in good repair, working order and condition excluding normal wear and tear. 5G. Compliance with Environmental Laws. The Company covenants that it and each Subsidiary will, comply in a timely fashion with, or operate pursuant to valid waivers of the provisions of, all applicable Environmental Requirements, including, without limitation, the emission of wastewater effluent, solid and hazardous waste and air emissions together with any other applicable Environmental Requirements for conducting, on a timely basis, periodic tests and monitoring for contamination of ground water, surface water, air and land and for biological toxicity of the aforesaid, and all applicable regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency or other relevant federal, state or local governmental authority, except where the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold you, your officers, agents and employees (each an "Indemnified Person") harmless from any loss, liability, claim or expense that you may incur or suffer as a result of a breach by the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, of this covenant other than as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person. The Company shall not be deemed to have breached or violated this paragraph 5G if the Company or any Subsidiary is challenging in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued the application or enforcement of such Environmental Requirements for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. 5H. No Integration. The Company covenants that it has taken and will take all necessary action so that the issuance of the Notes does not and will not require registration under the Securities Act. The Company covenants that no future offer and sale of debt securities of the Company of any class will be made if there is a reasonable possibility that such offer and sale would, under the doctrine of "integration", subject the issuance of the Notes to you to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. 5I. Financial Records. The Company covenants that it and each Subsidiary will, keep proper books of record and account in which full and correct entries (subject to normal year end adjustments and, as to interim statements, the absence of footnotes) will be made of the business and affairs of the Company or such Subsidiary under generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied (except for changes disclosed in the financial statements furnished to you pursuant to paragraph 5A and concurred in by the independent public accountants referred to in paragraph 5A). 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS. Unless the Required Holders otherwise agree in writing, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary, to take any of the following actions or permit the occurrence or existence of any of the following events or conditions: 6A. Fixed Charge Coverage and Debt Limits. The Company covenants that it will not at any time permit: (i) Consolidated Operating Income to be less than 200% of Consolidated Fixed Charges; or (ii) Consolidated Debt to exceed 55% of Consolidated Capitalization; or (iii) Consolidated Priority Debt to exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Worth. 6B. Dividend Limitation. The Company covenants that, except as otherwise permitted by the following sentence, it will not: (i) pay or declare any dividend on any class of its stock or make any other distribution on account of any class of its stock; or (ii) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its stock (all of the foregoing being herein called "Restricted Payments"); except out of Cumulative Amounts Available For Restricted Payments and so long as (1) at the time of declaration of such Restricted Payment, no Default or Event of Default exists or would exist; and (2) the Restricted Payment is made within 60 days after the declaration thereof. provided, however, that for purposes of (1) and (2) above, purchases of any shares of its stock made pursuant to a Stock Repurchase Plan shall be deemed to be declared on the date the Restricted Payment is made to acquire such stock. The calculation of Restricted Payments and Cumulative Amounts Available For Restricted Payments shall exclude: (x) stock splits, dividends paid, or distributions made, in stock of the Company; or (y) exchanges of stock of one or more classes of the Company, except to the extent cash or other value is involved in such exchange. The term "stock" as used in this paragraph 6B shall include warrants or options to purchase stock. 6C. Liens, Debt and Other Restrictions. The Company covenants that it will not and will not permit any Subsidiary to: 6C(1) Liens. Create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (whether or not provision is made for the equal and ratable securing of the Notes pursuant to paragraph 5C), except: (i) Liens for taxes (including ad valorem and property taxes) and assessments or governmental charges or levies not yet due or which are being actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (ii) other Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or the maintenance, operation, construction or ownership of its property and assets (including pledges or deposits in connection with workers' compensation and social security taxes, assessments and charges, and landlords, mechanics and materialmen Liens and survey exceptions or encumbrances, easements or reservations, rights-of-way, or zoning restrictions) provided that (A) such Liens were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money, or the obtaining of advances or credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of property and (B) the existence of such Lien does not materially detract from the value of such property or assets to the Company or any Subsidiary or unreasonably interfere with the ordinary conduct of business; (iii) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure (or to obtain letters of credit that secure) the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, performance bonds, purchase, construction or sales contracts and other similar obligations, in each case not incurred or made in connection with Debt; (iv) to the extent permitted under paragraphs 6A and 6C(2), any Lien created to secure all or any part of the purchase price incurred or assumed to pay all or any part of the purchase price of property acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement, provided that: (A) any such Lien shall be confined solely to the item or items of property so acquired and, if required by the terms of the instrument originally creating such Lien, other property which is an improvement to or for specific use with such acquired property; (B) the principal amount of the Debt secured by any such Lien shall at no time exceed 100% of the lesser of (1) the cost to the Company or the Subsidiary of the property acquired and (2) the Fair Market Value of such property (as determined in good faith by the Company's Board) at the time of such acquisition; and (C) any such Lien shall be created within 365 days after the acquisition of the property or completion of the improvements; (v) Liens securing Capitalized Lease Obligations, provided such Liens are limited to the property subject to such leases; (vi) other Liens securing Priority Debt permitted under paragraphs 6A and 6C(2); and (vii) any right of set off or banker's lien (whether by common law, statute, contract or otherwise) in favor of any Person to whom neither the Company nor Subsidiary owes any Debt. 6C(2) Debt. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Debt, except: (i) Debt of any Subsidiary to the Company or any Wholly- Owned Subsidiary; (ii) other Debt of Subsidiaries permitted under paragraph 6A; and (iii) other Debt of the Company (other than Debt owed to a Subsidiary) if after giving effect thereto, the Company is in compliance with the provisions of paragraph 6A. 6C(3) Merger or Consolidation. Merge, consolidate or exchange shares with any other Person, except that: (i) any Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with the Company or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; provided, in the case of a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, it remains a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary after the merger or consolidation; and (ii) the Company may merge or consolidate with any other corporation (including a Subsidiary) if the continuing or surviving corporation is the Company and immediately after such merger or consolidation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or exist. 6C(4) Sale or Discount of Receivables. Sell with recourse, or discount or otherwise sell for less than the face value thereof, any of its notes or accounts receivable. 6C(5) Change in Business. Enter into any business which is substantially different from the manufacturing of home furnishings. 6C(6) Transactions with Related Party. Effect any transaction with any Affiliate or Subsidiary (other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) by which any assets or services of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company is transferred to such Affiliate or Subsidiary (other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary), or from such Affiliate or Subsidiary (other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) or enter into any other transaction with an Affiliate or Subsidiary (other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary), on terms more favorable than would be reasonably expected to be given in a similar transaction with an unrelated entity. 6C(7) Investments. Make, or permit to remain, an Investment except: (i) any Investment in a Subsidiary or an entity that becomes a Subsidiary simultaneously with such Investment, (ii) any evidence of debt, maturing not more than one year after the date of issue, issued by the United States of America, or any instrumentality or agency thereof and guaranteed fully as to principal, interest and premium, if any, by the United States of America, (iii) any repurchase agreement or certificate of deposit, maturing not more than one year after the date of purchase, issued by the National Bank of Canada or a commercial bank, bank holding company or trust company which is located within the United States of America, organized under the laws of the United States of America or the laws of any State thereof, is a member of the Federal Reserve System, has a Thompson Bank Watch Rating (or if no longer available, a comparable rating system), at the time of determination, of "B" (or higher), and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of at least $500,000,000, (iv) commercial paper, maturing not more than 270 days after the date of purchase, issued by a corporation (other than the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) organized and existing under the laws of any state within the United States of America with a rating, at the time as of which any determination thereof is to be made, of "P-1" (or higher) according to Moody's Investors Service (or if no longer available, a comparable rating system), or "A-1" (or higher) according to Standard & Poor's Corporation (or if no longer available, a comparable rating system), (v) property or assets acquired solely in exchange for capital stock of the Company, and (vi) any other Investment of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries so long as the amount of all such Investments, other than investments specified in clauses (i) through (v) above shall not exceed an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated Net Worth. 6D. Sale of Property. The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, Dispose of any property or assets, except: (i) The Company or any Subsidiary may sell inventory in the ordinary course of business for Fair Market Value; (ii) any Subsidiary may Dispose of its assets to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; (iii) the Company or any Subsidiary may Dispose of its assets (whether or not leased back) so long as, immediately after giving effect to such proposed Disposition: (A) the consideration for such assets represents the Fair Market Value of such assets (as determined in good faith by the Company's Board) at the time of such Disposition; and (B) the net book value of all assets so Disposed of by the Company and its Subsidiaries during the prior 12 months, does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Assets; and (C) the amount of Consolidated Operating Income produced by all assets so Disposed of by the Company and its Subsidiaries during the prior 12 months, does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Operating Income at the end of the most recently completed 12 months; and (D) no Default or Event of Default shall exist; provided, however, if after any Disposition, the net book value of all assets Disposed of during the prior 12 months exceeds 15% of Consolidated Assets or the Consolidated Operating Income produced by all assets Disposed of during the prior 12 months exceeds 15% of Consolidated Operating Income, the Company shall, within 12 months of the date of such Disposition, apply the proceeds (net of reasonable expenses) from such Disposition (or such portion thereof as is necessary to cause compliance with the provisions of this paragraph 6D(iii)) to acquire operating assets and equipment to be used in the furniture manufacturing business of the Company and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries. For purposes of this paragraph 6D: (i) "Disposition" means the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of property, and "Disposed of" has a corresponding meaning to Disposition; (ii) Calculation of net book value/Consolidated Operating Income. The net book value of any assets shall be determined as of the respective date of Disposition of those assets and the Consolidated Operating Income produced by any assets shall be determined using Consolidated Operating Income for the 12 month period before the respective date of Disposition of those assets; and (iii) Sales of less than all the stock of a Subsidiary. In the case of the sale or issuance of the stock of a Subsidiary, the amount of Consolidated Operating Income, or amount of Consolidated Assets, as the case may be, contributed by the stock Disposed of shall be assumed to be the percentage of outstanding stock sold or to be sold. 6E. Subsidiary Stock and Debt. The Company will not: (i) directly or indirectly sell, assign, pledge or otherwise dispose of any Debt of or any shares of stock of (or warrants, rights or options to acquire stock of) any Subsidiary except to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and except as permitted pursuant to paragraph 6D; (ii) permit any Subsidiary directly or indirectly to sell, assign, pledge or otherwise dispose of any Debt of the Company or any other Subsidiary, or any shares of stock of (or warrants, rights or options to acquire stock of) any other Subsidiary, except to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and except pursuant to paragraph 6D; (iii) permit any Subsidiary to have outstanding any shares of Preferred Stock other than Preferred Stock owned by the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; (iv) permit any Subsidiary directly or indirectly to issue or sell any shares of its stock (or warrants, rights or options to acquire its stock) except to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and except as permitted pursuant to paragraph 6C(3) and 6D; or (v) permit any Subsidiary to enter into or otherwise be bound by or subject to any contract or agreement (including, without limitation, any provision of its certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws) that restricts its ability to pay dividends or other distributions on account of its stock; or (vi) permit any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or maintain any Debt except as permitted by paragraphs 6A and 6C(2). 6F. ERISA. The Company covenants that it will not nor permit any Subsidiary to: (i) terminate or withdraw from any Plan resulting in the incurrence of any material liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; (ii) engage in or permit any Person to engage in any prohibited transaction (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which would subject the Company or any Subsidiary to any material tax, penalty or other liability; (iii) incur or suffer to exist any material accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in section 302 of ERISA and section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, involving any Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan); or (iv) allow or suffer to exist any risk or condition which presents a risk of incurring a material liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. 6G. Environmental Matters. The Company covenants that it will not, and will not permit any Third Party to, use, produce, manufacture, process, generate, store, dispose of, manage at, or ship or transport to or from the Properties any Hazardous Materials except for Hazardous Materials used, produced, released or managed in the ordinary course of business in compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and except for Hazardous Materials released in amounts which do not require remediation pursuant to applicable Environmental Requirements or if remediation is required, such remediation could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. 6H. Specified Laws. Neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf will take any action which could reasonably be expected to cause this Agreement or the Notes to violate Regulation U, Regulation T or any other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to violate the Exchange Act, in any case as in effect now or as the same may hereafter be in effect. 7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. 7A. Acceleration. If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing for any reason whatsoever (and whether such occurrence shall be voluntary or involuntary or come about or be effected by operation of law or otherwise): (i) the Company defaults in the payment of any principal of or Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to any Note when the same shall become due, either by the terms thereof or otherwise as herein provided; or (ii) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Note for more than 5 calendar days after the date due; or (iii) the Company or any Subsidiary defaults (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) in any payment of principal of or interest on any other obligation for money borrowed (or any Capitalized Lease Obligation, any obligation under a conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any obligation (other than a current trade payable which does not constitute Debt) issued or assumed as full or partial payment for property whether or not secured by a purchase money mortgage or any obligation under notes payable or drafts accepted representing extensions of credit) beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto; or the Company or any Subsidiary fails to perform or observe any other agreement, term or condition contained in any agreement under which any such obligation is created (or if any other event thereunder or under any such agreement shall occur and be continuing) and the effect of such failure or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such obligation (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, such obligation to become due (or to be repurchased by the Company or any Subsidiary) prior to any stated maturity, provided that the aggregate amount of all obligations as to which such a payment default shall occur and be continuing or such a failure or other event causing or permitting acceleration (or resale to the Company or any Subsidiary) shall occur and be continuing exceeds $3,500,000; or (iv) any representation or warranty made by the Company herein or by the Company or any of its officers in any writing furnished in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be false in any material respect on the date as of which made; or (v) the Company fails to perform or observe any agreement contained in paragraph 6 (other than paragraphs 6C(6), 6F, 6G and 6H and solely to the extent that a commercial bank, bank holding company or trust company shall fail to meet the standards specified in clause (iii) of paragraph 6C(7) after the date of an Investment by the Company under such clause (iii), paragraphs 6C(7)(iii) and solely to the extent a corporation shall fail to meet the standards specified in clause (iv) of paragraph 6C(7) after the date of an Investment by the Company under such clause (iv), paragraph 6C(7)(iv)); or (vi) the Company fails to perform or observe any other agreement contained herein and such failure shall not be remedied within 30 days after any Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge thereof or after receipt by the Company of written notice from a holder of a Note of such failure; or (vii) the Company or any Subsidiary makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or is generally not paying its debts as such debts become due; or (viii) any decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary is entered under any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar law, whether now or hereafter in effect (herein called the "Bankruptcy Law"), of any jurisdiction; or (ix) the Company or any Subsidiary petitions or applies to any tribunal for, or consents to, the appointment of, or taking possession by, a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of any substantial part of the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or commences a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Law of the United States or any proceedings (other than proceedings for the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a Subsidiary) relating to the Company or any Subsidiary under the Bankruptcy Law of any other jurisdiction; or (x) any such petition or application is filed, or any such proceedings are commenced, against the Company or any Subsidiary and the Company or such Subsidiary by any act indicates its approval thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein; or an order, judgment or decree is entered appointing any such trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or similar official, or approving the petition in any such proceedings, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days; or (xi) any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings against the Company decreeing the dissolution of the Company and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days; or (xii) any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings against the Company or any Subsidiary decreeing a split-up of the Company or such Subsidiary which requires the divestiture of assets representing a substantial part (being an amount equal to 15% of Consolidated Assets), or the divestiture of the stock of a Subsidiary whose assets represent a substantial part, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) or which requires the divestiture of assets, or stock of a Subsidiary, which shall have contributed at least 15% of Consolidated Operating Income for any of the three fiscal years then most recently ended, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days; or (xiii) a final judgment or judgments in an amount in excess of $3,500,000, individually or in the aggregate, shall be rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary (for which no insurer has acknowledged, in writing, responsibility for liability, subject to customary deductible) and, within 60 days after entry thereof, such judgment is not discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or within 60 days after the expiration of any such stay, such judgment is not discharged; or (xiv) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, in its capacity as an employer under a Multiemployer Plan, makes a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan resulting in the incurrence by such withdrawing employer of a withdrawal liability in an amount exceeding $3,500,000; or then: (a) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph 7A, the holder of any Note (other than the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) may at its option, by written notice to the Company, terminate the Facility and/or declare such Note to be, and such Note shall thereupon be and become, immediately due and payable at par together with interest accrued and unpaid thereon, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind (including, without limitation, notice of intent to accelerate), all of which are hereby waived by the Company, (b) if such event is an Event of Default specified in any of clauses (vii), (viii), (ix) or (x) of this paragraph 7A with respect to the Company, the Facility shall automatically terminate and all of the Notes at the time outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable at par together with interest accrued and unpaid thereon, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind (including, without limitation, notice of intent to accelerate and notice of acceleration of maturity), all of which are hereby waived by the Company, and (c) if such event is any Event of Default other than specified in clauses (vii) (viii), (ix) or (x) of this paragraph 7A with respect to the Company, the Required Holder(s) may, at its or their option, by written notice to the Company, terminate the Facility and declare all of the Notes to be, and all of the Notes shall thereupon be and become, immediately due and payable, together with interest accrued and unpaid thereon and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each Note, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind (including, without limitation, notice of intent to accelerate), all of which are hereby waived by the Company, provided that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each Note shall be due and payable upon such declaration only if: (x) such Event of Default does not arise under clause (vii), (viii), (ix) or (x) of this paragraph 7A with respect to the Company, (y) the Required Holder(s) shall have given to the Company, at least 10 Business Days before such declaration, written notice stating its or their intention so to declare the Notes to be immediately due and payable and identifying one or more such Events of Default whose occurrences on or before the date of such notice permits such declaration, and (z) one or more of the Events of Default so identified shall be continuing at the time of such declaration. 7B. Rescission of Acceleration. At any time after any or all of the Notes shall have been declared immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, the Required Holder(s) may, by notice in writing to the Company, rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company shall have paid all accrued and unpaid overdue interest on the Notes, the principal of and Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, payable with respect to any Notes which have become due otherwise than by reason of such declaration, and accrued and unpaid interest on such overdue interest and overdue principal and Yield-Maintenance Amount at the rate specified in the Notes, (ii) the Company shall not have paid any amounts which have become due solely by reason of such declaration, (iii) all Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts which have become due solely by reason of such declaration, shall have been cured or waived pursuant to paragraph 11C, and (iv) no judgment or decree shall have been entered for the payment of any amounts due pursuant to the Notes or this Agreement. No such rescission or annulment shall extend to or affect any subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right arising therefrom. 7C. Notice of Acceleration or Rescission. Whenever any Note shall be declared immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A or any such declaration shall be rescinded and annulled pursuant to paragraph 7B, the Company shall forthwith give written notice thereof to the holder of each Note at the time outstanding. 7D. Other Remedies. If any Event of Default or Default shall occur and be continuing, the holder of any Note may proceed to protect and enforce its rights under this Agreement and such Note by exercising such remedies as are available to such holder in respect thereof under applicable law, either by suit in equity or by action at law, or both, whether for specific performance of any covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement. No remedy conferred in this Agreement upon the holder of any Note is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy conferred herein or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise. 8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Company represents and warrants as follows: 8A. Organization. The Company is a corporation duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and each Subsidiary is duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated. Schedule 8A hereto is an accurate and complete list of all Subsidiaries as of the Date of Closing, including the jurisdiction of incorporation and ownership of all such Subsidiaries, and as of December 31, 1998, the percentage of such Subsidiary's contribution to Consolidated Operating Income. The Company and each Subsidiary has the corporate power to own its respective properties and to carry on its respective businesses as now being conducted and is duly qualified and authorized to do business in each other jurisdiction in which the character of its respective properties or the nature of its respective businesses require such qualification or authorization except where the failure to be so qualified or authorized could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. 8B. Financial Statements. The Company has furnished you with the following financial statements, identified by a principal financial officer of the Company: (i) a Consolidated balance sheet as at the last day of the fiscal year in each of the years 1994 to 1998, inclusive, a Consolidated statement of income for each such year, and Consolidated statements of stockholder's equity and cash flows for 1994 to and including 1998, all reported on by Coopers and Lybrand or its successor, PriceWaterhouseCoopers; and (ii) a Consolidated balance sheet as at June 26, 1999 and Consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the six-month period ended on each such date, prepared by the Company. Those financial statements (including any related schedules and/or notes) fairly present in all material respects (subject, as to interim statements, to the absence of footnotes or to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments) the financial condition of the Company and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved and show all liabilities, direct and contingent, of the Company and its Subsidiaries required to be shown in accordance with such principles. The balance sheets fairly present, in all material respects, the Consolidated financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof, and the statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows fairly present, in all material respects, the Consolidated results of the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, the changes in the Company's stockholders' equity and their Consolidated cash flows for the periods indicated. There has been no material adverse change in the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole since December 31, 1998. 8C. Actions Pending. There is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary, or any properties or rights of the Company or any Subsidiary, by or before any court, arbitrator or administrative or governmental body which could reasonably be expected result in any material adverse change in the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. 8D. Outstanding Debt. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any Debt outstanding except as permitted by paragraphs 6A and 6C(2). There is no default under the provisions of any instrument evidencing any Debt or of any agreement relating thereto. Schedule 8D hereto is an accurate and complete list of Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries on the Date of Closing. 8E. Title to Properties. The Company and each Subsidiary have good and indefeasible title to their respective real properties (other than leased properties or which individually or in the aggregate are not material to the Company) and good title to all of their other respective properties and assets, including the properties and assets reflected in the balance sheet as at June 26, 1999 referred to in paragraph 8B (other than properties and assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business or which individually or in the aggregate are not material to the Company), subject to no Lien of any kind except Liens permitted by paragraph 6C(1). All leases necessary in any material respect for the conduct of the respective business of the Company and its Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect. 8F. Taxes. The Company has and each Subsidiary has filed all federal, state and other income tax returns which, to the best knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Company, are required to be filed (giving effect to any extensions granted), and each has paid all taxes as shown on such returns and on all assessments received by it to the extent that such taxes have become due (including any extensions granted), except such taxes as are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. 8G. Conflicting Agreements and Other Matters. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any contract or agreement or subject to any charter or other corporate restriction which materially and adversely affects its business, property or assets, or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement or the Notes, nor the offering, issuance and sale of the Notes, nor fulfillment of nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof and of the Notes will conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in any violation of, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to, the charter or by-laws of the Company or any Subsidiary, any award of any arbitrator or any agreement (including any agreement with stockholders), instrument, order, judgment, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation to which the Company or any Subsidiary is subject. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject to any provision contained in, any instrument evidencing Debt of the Company or such Subsidiary, any agreement relating thereto or any other contract or agreement (including its charter) which limits the amount of, or otherwise imposes restrictions on the incurring of, Debt of the Company of the type to be evidenced by the Notes except as set forth in the agreements listed in Schedule 8G attached hereto. 8H. Offering of Notes. Neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has, directly or indirectly, offered the Notes or any similar security of the Company for sale to, or solicited any offers to buy the Notes or any similar security of the Company from, or otherwise approached or negotiated with respect thereto with, any Person other than accredited investors, and neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has taken any action which would reasonably be expected to subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the provisions of section 5 of the Securities Act or to the provisions of any securities or Blue Sky law of any applicable jurisdiction. The Company hereby represents and warrants to you that, within the preceding twelve months, neither the Company nor any other Person acting on behalf of the Company has offered or sold to any Person (other than accredited investors) any Notes, or any securities of the same or a similar class as the Notes, or any other substantially similar securities of the Company. 8I. Use of Proceeds. Margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 CFR 221) does not constitute more than 10% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Company does not have any present intention that margin stock will constitute more than 10% of the value of such assets. The proceeds of sale of the Notes will be used for general corporate purposes. None of such proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for the purpose of maintaining, reducing or retiring any Debt which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any stock that is currently a margin stock or for any other purpose which might constitute this transaction a "purpose credit" within the meaning of such Regulation U. Neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has taken any action which might cause this Agreement or the Notes to violate Regulation U, Regulation T or any other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to violate the Exchange Act. 8J. ERISA. No accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in section 302 of ERISA and section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, exists with respect to any Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan). No liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has been or is expected by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to be incurred with respect to any Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) by the Company, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate which is or would be materially adverse to the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or presently expects to incur any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Multiemployer Plan which is or would be materially adverse to the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes will be exempt from, or will not involve any transaction which is subject to, the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA and will not involve any transaction in connection with which a penalty could be imposed under section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975 of the Code. The representation by the Company in the next preceding sentence is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of your representation in paragraph 9B. 8K. Governmental Consent. Assuming the representations made by you in paragraph 9 are accurate, neither the nature of the Company or of any Subsidiary, nor any of their respective businesses or properties, nor any relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary and any other Person, nor any circumstance in connection with the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Notes is such as to require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice to or filing with any court or administrative or governmental body (other than those which are made or obtained prior to Closing and routine filings after the date of any Closing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or state Blue Sky authorities) in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Notes or fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or of the Notes. 8L. Environmental Compliance. (i) The Company and its Subsidiaries and all of their respective Properties have complied at all times and in all respects with all Environmental Requirements where failure to comply could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. (ii) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to any Environmental Liability or Environmental Requirement which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. (iii) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has been designated as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or under any state statute similar to CERCLA. Except as specified on Schedule 8L, none of the Properties has been identified on any current or proposed National Priorities List under 40 C.F.R. ss. 300 or any list arising from a state statute similar to CERCLA. None of the Properties has been identified on any CERCLIS list. (iv) No Hazardous Materials have been or are being used, produced, manufactured, processed, generated, stored, disposed of, released, managed at or shipped or transported to or from the Properties or are otherwise present at, on, in or under the Properties or, to the actual knowledge of the Company, at or from any adjacent site or facility, except for Hazardous Materials used, produced, manufactured, processed, generated, stored, disposed of, released and managed in the ordinary course of business in compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements and except for Hazardous Materials present in amounts which have not required and do not require remediation, pursuant to applicable law or regulation, or if remediation is required, such remediation could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. (v) The Company and each Subsidiary have procured all permits necessary under Environmental Requirements for the conduct of their respective businesses or is otherwise in compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements, except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. 8M. Disclosure. Neither this Agreement nor any other document, certificate or statement furnished to you by or on behalf of the Company in connection herewith contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein and therein not misleading. There is no fact peculiar to the Company or any Subsidiary which materially adversely affects or in the future may (so far as the Company can now reasonably foresee) materially adversely affect the business, property or assets, or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and which has not been set forth in this Agreement or in the other documents, certificates and statements furnished to you by or on behalf of the Company prior to the date hereof in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. 8N. Hostile Tender Offers. None of the proceeds of the sale of any Notes will be used to finance a Hostile Tender Offer. 8O. Year 2000. The Company's disclosure with respect to Year 2000 contained in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 26, 1996 does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. 9. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASER. You represent as follows: 9A. Nature of Purchase. You are acquiring the Notes to be purchased by you hereunder for your own account and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act, provided that the disposition of your property shall at all times be and remain within your control. 9B. Source of Funds. No part of the funds being used by you to pay the purchase price of the Notes being purchased by you hereunder constitutes assets allocated to any separate account maintained by you in which any employee plan, other than employee benefit plans identified on a list which has been furnished by you to the Company, participates to the extent of 10% or more. For the purpose of this paragraph 9B, the terms "separate account" and "employee benefit plan" shall have the respective meanings specified in section 3 of ERISA. 10. DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this Agreement, the terms defined in the introductory sentence and in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall have the respective meanings specified therein, and the following terms shall have the meanings specified with respect thereto below: 10A. Yield-Maintenance Terms. "Called Principal" shall mean, with respect to any Note, the principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4C or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, as the context requires. "Designated Spread" shall mean 0% in the case of each Note of any Series unless the Confirmation of Acceptance with respect to the Notes of such Series specifies a different Designated Spread in which case it shall mean, with respect to each Note of such Series, the Designated Spread so specified. "Discounted Value" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on the Note is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal. "Reinvestment Yield" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the Designated Spread over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported, as of 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the Y-M Business Day next preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as "Page 678" on the Telerate (or such other display as may replace Page 678 on the Telerate) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or (ii) if such yields shall not be reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time shall not be ascertainable, the Treasury Constant Maturity Series yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields shall have been so reported as of the Y-M Business Day next preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. Such implied yield shall be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond-equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between yields reported for various maturities. "Remaining-Average Life" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) each Remaining Scheduled Payment of such Called Principal (but not of interest thereon) by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) which will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment. "Remaining Scheduled Payments" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due on or after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date. "Settlement Date" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4B or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, as the context requires. "Telerate" shall mean Bridge Telerate, Inc. or such other nationally recognized service providing comparable services as you may select as a substitute therefor. "Yield-Maintenance Amount" shall mean, with respect to any Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Called Principal of such Note over the sum of (i) such Called Principal plus (ii) interest accrued thereon as of (including interest due on) the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal. The Yield-Maintenance Amount shall in no event be less than zero. "Y-M Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed. 10B. Other Terms. "Acceptance" is defined in paragraph 2B(5) of this Agreement. "Acceptance Day" is defined in paragraph 2B(5) of this Agreement. "Acceptance Window" is defined in paragraph 2B(5) of this Agreement. "Accepted Note" is defined in paragraph 2B(5) of this Agreement. "Affiliate" shall mean with respect to any Person, any other Person (a) directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person, (b) which other Person beneficially owns or holds 5% or more of the shares of any class of Voting Stock of such Person or (c) 5% or more of any class of the Voting Stock of which is beneficially owned or held by such designated entity. For purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any entity, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock or by contract or otherwise. Affiliate shall not include Subsidiaries. "Authorized Officer" shall mean (i) in the case of the Company, its chief executive officer, its chief financial officer, any vice president of the Company designated as an "Authorized Officer" of the Company in the Information Schedule attached hereto or any vice president of the Company designated as an "Authorized Officer" of the Company for the purpose of this Agreement in an Officer's Certificate executed by the Company's chief executive officer or chief financial officer and delivered to Prudential, and (ii) in the case of Prudential, any officer of Prudential designated as its "Authorized Officer" in the Information Schedule or any officer of Prudential designated as its "Authorized Officer" for the purpose of this Agreement in a certificate executed by one of its Authorized Officers. Any action taken under this Agreement on behalf of the Company by any individual who on or after the date of this Agreement shall have been an Authorized Officer of the Company and whom Prudential in good faith believes to be an Authorized Officer of the Company at the time of such action shall be binding on the Company even though such individual shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer of the Company, and any action taken under this Agreement on behalf of Prudential by any individual who on or after the date of this Agreement shall have been an Authorized Officer of Prudential and whom the Company in good faith believes to be an Authorized Officer of Prudential at the time of such action shall be binding on Prudential even though such individual shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer of Prudential. "Available Facility Amount" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2(B)(1) of this Agreement. "Bankruptcy Law" is defined in clause (viii) of paragraph 7A of this Agreement. "Board" shall mean, for any Person, its Board of Directors or equivalent governing body. "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City or Charlotte, North Carolina are required or authorized to be closed. "Cancellation Date" is defined in paragraph 2B(8)(iv) of this Agreement. "Cancellation Fee" is defined in paragraph 2B(8)(iv) of this Agreement. "Capitalized Lease Obligation" shall mean any rental obligation which, under generally accepted accounting principles, would be required to be capitalized on the books of the Company or any Subsidiary, taken at the amount thereof accounted for as indebtedness (net of interest expense) in accordance with such principles. "CERCLA" shall mean the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. "CERCLIS" shall mean the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Inventory System established pursuant to CERCLA. "Closing Day" is defined in paragraph 2B(3)(iv). "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. "Confirmation of Acceptance" is defined in paragraph 2B(5) of this Agreement. "Consolidated" shall mean the consolidated financial information of the Company and its Subsidiaries under generally accepted accounting principles. "Consolidated Assets" shall mean, as at any date of determination, the total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries appearing on a Consolidated balance sheet prepared under generally accepted accounting principles as of the date of determination, after deducting any reserves applicable thereto and after eliminating all intercompany transactions and all amounts properly attributable to minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of Subsidiaries. "Consolidated Capitalization" shall mean, at any time, the sum of (i) Consolidated Debt at such time plus (ii) Consolidated Net Worth at such time. "Consolidated Fixed Charges" shall mean, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, the sum (without duplication) of: (i) all Rentals (excluding all principal components of Rentals under Capitalized Lease Obligations) paid during the most recently completed four fiscal quarters (the "Prior Period"); and (ii) all Consolidated Interest Charges for the Prior Period. "Consolidated Interest Charges" shall mean, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for the four fiscal quarters most recently ended, all interest expense (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) on all Debt (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) net of interest income. "Consolidated Net Earnings" shall mean, for any applicable period, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, the excess of (a) gross revenues over (b) all expenses and charges of a proper character (including current and deferred taxes on income and current additions to reserves) each for the applicable period, but not including in gross revenues: (i) any gains (net of expenses and taxes applicable thereto) in excess of losses resulting from the sales, conversions or other dispositions of capital assets outside the ordinary course of business, (ii) any gains resulting from the write-up of assets, (iii) any earnings or deferred credit (or amortization of a deferred credit) of any Person acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary through purchase, merger or consolidation or otherwise for any year prior to the year of acquisition not included in gross revenues under generally accepted accounting principles, or (iv) any deferred credit representing the excess of equity in any Subsidiary of the Company at the date of acquisition over the cost of the investment in such Subsidiary, (v) proceeds of life insurance policies on any Responsible Officer exceeding $250,000 for such period, (vi) gains arising from the acquisition of debt securities for a cost less than the principal amount and accrued interest, (vii) extraordinary items or transactions of a non-recurring or non-operating and material nature or arising from gains or sales relating to the discontinuance of operations, or (viii) any portion of the net earnings (included in the determination of such Consolidated Net Earnings or such Consolidated Net Loss) of any Subsidiary which for any reason shall be unavailable for payment of dividends to the Company, all as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. If the above calculation results in an amount less than zero, then for such period there shall be a "Consolidated Net Loss" as determined below. "Consolidated Net Loss" shall mean, for any applicable period, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, the excess of (a) expenses and charges of a proper character (including current and deferred taxes on income, provision for taxes an unremitted foreign earnings which are included in gross revenues, and current additions to resources) over (b) gross revenues for the same period, but not including in gross revenues those items listed in clauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, in the definition Consolidated Net Earnings above, all as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. If the above calculation results in an amount of zero or more, then for such period there shall be "Consolidated Net Earnings" as determined above. "Consolidated Net Worth" shall mean, at any time, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis shareholders' equity at such time determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. "Consolidated Operating Income" shall mean, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for the four fiscal quarters most recently ended, Consolidated Net Earnings, or Consolidated Net Loss, as the case may be, for such period, plus to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Earnings or Consolidated Net Loss, taxes, Consolidated Interest Charges and Rentals. "Consolidated Priority Debt" shall mean, on a Consolidated basis on any date of determination, the sum (without duplication) of: (i) the aggregate amount of Debt of all Subsidiaries, plus (ii) Debt of any Person which is secured by, or otherwise benefitting from, a Lien on any property, tangible or intangible, of the Company or any Subsidiary, whether or not the Company or such Subsidiary has assumed or become liable for the payment of such Debt, plus (iii) the present value of the rental obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary as lessee under a Capitalized Lease Obligation (discounted according to generally accepted accounting principles at the debt rate implicit in the lease). "Cumulative Amounts Available For Restricted Payments" shall mean for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on January 1, 1999, and ending as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter before any proposed Restricted Payment: (1) $25,000,000; plus (2) 50% of Consolidated Net Earnings or 100% of the Consolidated Net Loss, as the case may be, during such period; plus (3) the total net cash proceeds received by the Company from the sale of its stock during such period; less (4) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made during such period. "Debt" shall mean with respect to any Person, at any date of determination, (i) all indebtedness for borrowed money which such Person has directly or indirectly created, incurred or assumed (including, without limitation, all Capitalized Lease Obligations); and (ii) all indebtedness, whether or not for borrowed money, secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by such Person subject thereto, whether or not the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by such Person; and (iii) any indebtedness, whether or not for borrowed money, with respect to which such Person has become directly or indirectly liable and which represents or has been incurred to finance the purchase price (or a portion thereof) of any property or services or business acquired by such Person, whether by purchase, consolidation, merger or otherwise other than any trade payable in the ordinary course of business that is a current liability under generally accepted accounting principles; and (iv) any indebtedness of the character referred to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this definition deemed to be extinguished under generally accepted accounting principles but for which such Person remains legally liable to the extent the market value of any assets such Person has placed in trust for the benefit of the holders of that indebtedness is less than the aggregate amount of that indebtedness; and (v) any indebtedness of any other Person of the character referred to in subdivision (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this definition with respect to which the Person whose Debt is being determined has become liable by way of a Guarantee; all as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, provided, however, Debt shall not include endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business. "Delay Delivery Fee" is defined in paragraph 2B(8)(iii) of this Agreement. "Disposition" is defined in paragraph 6D of this Agreement. "Environmental Authority" shall mean any foreign, federal, state, local or regional government that exercises any form of jurisdiction or authority under any Environmental Requirement. "Environmental Judgments and Orders" shall mean all judgments, decrees or orders arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirements, whether or not entered upon consent or written agreements with an Environmental Authority or other entity arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirement, whether or not incorporated in a judgment, degree or order. "Environmental Liabilities" shall mean any liabilities, whether accrued or contingent, arising from or relating in any way to any Environmental Requirements. "Environmental Notices" shall mean any written communication from any Environmental Authority stating possible or alleged noncompliance with or possible or alleged liability under any Environmental Requirement, including without limitation any complaints, citations, demands or requests from any Environmental Authority for correction of any purported violation of any Environmental Requirements or any investigation concerning any purported violation of any Environmental Requirements. Environmental Notices also shall mean (i) any written communication from any other Person threatening litigation or administrative proceedings against or involving the Company relating to alleged violation of any Environmental Requirements and (ii) any complaint, petition or similar documents filed by any other Person commencing litigation or administrative proceedings against or involving the Company relating to alleged violation of any Environmental Requirements. "Environmental Proceedings" shall mean any judicial or administrative proceedings arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirement. "Environmental Releases" shall mean releases (as defined in CERCLA or under any applicable state or local environmental law or regulation) of Hazardous Materials. Environmental Releases does not include releases for which no remediation or reporting is required by applicable Environmental Requirements and which do not present a danger to health, safety or the environment. "Environmental Requirements" shall mean any applicable local, state or federal law, rule, regulation, permit, order, decision, determination or requirement relating in any way to Hazardous Materials or to health, safety or the environment. "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. "ERISA Affiliate" shall mean any corporation which is a member of the same controlled group of corporations as the Company within the meaning of section 414(b) of the Code, or any trade or business which is under common control with the Company within the meaning of section 414(c) of the Code. "Event of Default" shall mean any of the events specified in paragraph 7A, provided that there has been satisfied any requirement in connection with such event for the giving of notice, or the lapse of time, or the happening of any further condition, event or act, and "Default" shall mean any of such events, whether or not any such requirement has been satisfied. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "Facility" is defined in paragraph 2B(1) of this Agreement. "Facility Fee" is defined in paragraph 2B(8)(i) of this Agreement. "Fair Market Value" shall mean at any time, the sale value of property that would be realized in an arm's-length sale at such time between an informed and willing buyer, and an informed and willing seller, under no compulsion to buy or sell, respectively. "Guarantee" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of such Person with respect to any Debt, lease, dividend or other obligation of another, including, without limitation, any such obligation directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed (otherwise than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business) or discounted or sold with recourse by such Person, or in respect of which such Person is otherwise directly or indirectly liable, including, without limitation, any such obligation in effect guaranteed by such Person through any agreement (contingent or otherwise) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such obligation or any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or discharge of such obligation (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital contributions or otherwise), or to maintain the solvency or any balance sheet or other financial condition of the obligor of such obligation, or to make payment for any products, materials or supplies or for any transportation or services regardless of the non-delivery or non-furnishing thereof, in any such case if the purpose or intent of such agreement is to provide assurance that such obligation will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such obligation will be protected against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Guarantee shall be equal to the outstanding principal amount of the obligation guaranteed or such lesser amount to which the maximum exposure of the guarantor shall have been specifically limited. "Hazardous Materials" shall mean (a) hazardous waste as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, or in any applicable federal, state or local law or regulation, (b) hazardous substances, as defined in CERCLA, or in any applicable state or local law or regulation, (c) gasoline, or any other petroleum product or by-product, (d) toxic substances, as defined in the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, or in any applicable federal, state or local law or regulation or (e) insecticides, fungicides, or rodenticides, as defined in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1975, or in any applicable federal, state or local law or regulation, as each such Act, statute or regulation may be amended from time to time. "Hedge Treasury Note(s)" shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Note, the United States Treasury Note or Notes whose duration (as determined by Prudential) most closely matches the duration of such Accepted Note. "Hostile Tender Offer" shall mean, with respect to the use of proceeds of any Note, any offer to purchase, or any purchase of, shares of capital stock of any corporation or equity interests in any other entity, or securities convertible into or representing the beneficial ownership of, or rights to acquire, any such shares or equity interests, if such shares, equity interests, securities or rights are of a class which is publicly traded on any securities exchange or in any over-the-counter market, other than purchases of such shares, equity interests, securities or rights representing less than 5% of the equity interests or beneficial ownership of such corporation or other entity for portfolio investment purposes, and such offer or purchase has not been duly approved by the board of directors of such corporation or the equivalent governing body of such other entity prior to the date on which the Company makes the Request for Purchase of such Note. "Investment" shall mean, when used with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect advance, loan or other extension of credit (other than the creation of receivables in the ordinary course of business) or capital contribution by such Person (by means of transfers of property to others or payments for property or services for the account or use of others, or otherwise) to any other Person, or any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by such Person of, or of a beneficial interest in, capital stock, partnership interests, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities issued by any other Person. "Issuance Fee" is defined in paragraph 2B(8)(ii) of this Agreement. "Issuance Period" is defined in paragraph 2B(2) of this Agreement. "Lien" shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, and the filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction) or any other type of preferential arrangement for the purpose, or having the effect, of protecting a creditor against loss or securing the payment or performance of an obligation, including any rights of setoff (whether by statute, common law, contract or otherwise). "Multiemployer Plan" shall mean any Plan which is a "multiemployer plan" (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA). "Notes" is defined in paragraph 1B of this Agreement. "Officer's Certificate" shall mean a certificate signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman, President, one of its Vice Presidents or its Treasurer. "Person" shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof. "Plan" shall mean any "employee pension benefit plan" (as such term is defined in section 3 of ERISA) which is or has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or have been made, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate. "Preferred Stock", as applied to any corporation, shall mean shares of stock of such corporation which are entitled to preference or priority over any other shares of such corporation in respect of the payment of dividends or distribution of assets upon liquidation or both. "Properties" shall mean all real property owned, leased or otherwise used or occupied by the Company or any Subsidiary, wherever located. "Prudential" is defined in the Introduction of this Agreement. "Prudential Affiliate" shall mean (i) any corporation or other entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, Prudential and (ii) any managed account or investment fund which is managed by Prudential or a Prudential Affiliate described in clause (i) of this definition. For purposes of this definition the terms "control", "controlling" and "controlled" shall mean the ownership, directly or through subsidiaries, of a majority of a corporation's or other entity's voting stock or equivalent voting securities or interests. "Purchasers" is defined in the Introduction of this Agreement. "Rentals" shall mean for any period of determination all fixed rents or charges (including as such all payments during any such period of determination which the lessee is obligated to make on termination of the lease or surrender of the property) payable by the Company or a Subsidiary (as lessee, sublessee, license, franchisee or the like) for such period under a lease, license, or other agreement for the use or possession of real or personal property, tangible or intangible, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. "Request for Purchase" is defined in paragraph 2B(3) of this Agreement. "Required Holder(s)" shall mean the holder or holders of at least 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes from time to time outstanding. "Rescheduled Closing Day" is defined in paragraph 2B(7) of this Agreement. "Responsible Officer" shall mean the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of the Company or any other senior executive officer of the Company involved principally in its financial administration or its controllership function. "Restricted Payments" is defined in paragraph 6B of this Agreement. "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. "Series A Closing Day" is defined in paragraph 2A of this Agreement. "Shelf Notes" is defined in paragraph 1B of this Agreement. "Significant Holder" shall mean (i) you, so long as you shall hold (or be committed under this Agreement to purchase) any Note, or (ii) any other Person which holds at least $5,000,000 of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes from time to time outstanding. "Stock Repurchase Plan" shall mean a plan approved by the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing the appropriate officers of the Company to purchase shares of stock of the Company, from time to time, on the open market through negotiated purchases or otherwise. "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation or partnership organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America which conducts the major portion of its business in and makes the major portion of its sales to Persons located in the United States or Canada, whose accounts are or are required to be consolidated with the Company's under generally accepted accounting principles. "Third Party" shall mean all lessees, sublessees, licensees and other users of the Properties, excluding those users of the Properties in the ordinary course of the Company's business (consistent with its practices on the Date of Closing) and on a temporary basis. "Transferee" shall mean any direct or indirect transferee of all or any part of any Note purchased by you under this Agreement. "Voting Stock" shall mean, with respect to any corporation, any shares of stock of such corporation whose holders are entitled under ordinary circumstances to vote for the election of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency). "Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" shall mean any Subsidiary, all of the Voting Stock of which shall, at the time of determination, be owned by the Company or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary. 10C. Accounting Principles, Terms and Determinations. All references in this Agreement to "generally accepted accounting principles" shall be deemed to refer to generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States at the time of application thereof. Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all unaudited financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to clause (ii) of paragraph 5A or, if no such statements have been so delivered, the most recent audited financial statements referred to in clause (i) of paragraph 8B, subject in the case of, interim statements to normal year end adjustments and to the absence of footnotes. 11. MISCELLANEOUS. 11A. Note Payments. The Company agrees that, so long as you shall hold any Note, it will make payments of principal of, interest on, and any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to such Note, which comply with the terms of this Agreement, by wire transfer of immediately available funds for credit (not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date due) to your account or accounts as specified in the Purchaser Schedule attached hereto, or such other account or accounts in the United States as you may designate in writing, notwithstanding any contrary provision herein or in any Note with respect to the place of payment. You agree (and any Transferee shall agree as a condition to the transfer of any Note or part thereof) that, before disposing of any Note, you (and any such Transferee) will make a notation thereon (or on a schedule attached thereto) of all principal payments previously made thereon and of the date to which interest thereon has been paid. The Company agrees to afford the benefits of this paragraph 11A to any Transferee which shall have made the same agreement as you have made in this paragraph 11A. 11B. Expenses. The Company agrees, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, to pay, and save you and any Transferee harmless against liability for the payment of, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred (including without limitation legal fees) arising in connection with such transactions, including: (i) all taxes (together in each case with interest and penalties, if any), other than state or federal income taxes or franchise taxes, including without limitation, all stamp, intangibles, recording and other taxes, which may be payable with respect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the execution, delivery or acquisition of any Note; (ii) all reasonable document production and duplication charges and the reasonable fees and expenses of any special counsel engaged by you or any Transferee after the Date of Closing in connection with this Agreement or the Notes and any subsequent proposed modification or waiver of, or proposed consent under, this Agreement or the Notes, whether or not such proposed modification or waiver shall be effected or proposed consent granted, and (iii) the reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, actually incurred by you or such Transferee in connection with the restructuring, refinancing or "work out" of this Agreement or the Notes or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or in enforcing (or determining whether or how to enforce) any rights under this Agreement or the Notes or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement or the Notes or the transactions contemplated hereby or by reason of your or any Transferee's having acquired any Note, including without limitation costs and expenses incurred in any bankruptcy case. The obligations of the Company under this paragraph 11B shall survive the transfer of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein by you or any Transferee and the payment of any Note. 11C. Consent to Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, if the Company shall obtain the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required Holder(s) except that, without the written consent of the holder or holders of all Notes at the time outstanding, no amendment to this Agreement shall change: (i) the maturity of any Note, (ii) the principal of, or the rate or time of payment of interest on or any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable on any Note, (iii) the time, amount or allocation of any prepayments, or (iv) the proportion of the principal amount of the Notes required for any consent, amendment, waiver or declaration. Each holder of any Note at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any consent authorized by this paragraph 11C, whether or not such Note shall have been marked to indicate such consent, but any Notes issued thereafter may bear a notation referring to any such consent. No course of dealing between the Company and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of such Note. As used herein and in the Notes, the term "this Agreement" and references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from be amended or supplemented time to time. 11D. Form, Registration, Transfer and Exchange of Notes; Lost Notes. The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of at least $1,000,000, except as may be necessary to reflect any principal amount not evenly divisible by $1,000,000. The Company shall keep at its principal office a register in which the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and a record of transfers of the Notes. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the principal office of the Company, the Company shall, at its expense, execute and deliver one or more new Notes of like tenor and of a like aggregate principal amount, registered in the name of such transferee or transferees. At the option of the holder of any Note, such Note may be exchanged for other Notes of like tenor and of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Note to be exchanged at the principal office of the Company. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall, at its expense, execute and deliver the Notes which the holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Every Note surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the holder of such Note or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Any Note or Notes issued in exchange for any Note or upon transfer thereof shall carry the rights to unpaid interest and interest to accrue which were carried by the Note so exchanged or transferred, so that neither gain nor loss of interest shall result from any such transfer or exchange. Upon receipt of written notice from the holder of any Note of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of such Note and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of such holder's unsecured indemnity agreement, or in the case of any such mutilation upon surrender and cancellation of such Note, the Company will make and deliver a new Note, of like tenor, in lieu of the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note. 11E. Persons Deemed Owners; Participations. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company shall treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the owner and holder of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, interest on and any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note shall be overdue, and the Company shall not be affected by notice to the contrary. Subject to the preceding sentence, the holder of any Note may from time to time grant participations in such Note to any Person (other than any Person not an institutional investor) on such terms and conditions as may be determined by such holder in its sole and absolute discretion. 11F. Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire Agreement. All representations and warranties contained herein or made in writing by or on behalf of the Company in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes, the transfer by you of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may be relied upon by any Transferee, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of you or any Transferee. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement and the Notes embody the entire agreement and understanding between you and the Company and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. 11G. Successors and Assigns; Transfer Provisions. All covenants and other agreements in this Agreement contained by or on behalf of either of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto (including, without limitation, any Transferee) whether so expressed or not. 11H. Disclosure to Other Persons; Confidentiality. The Company acknowledges that the holder of any Note may deliver copies of any financial statements and other documents or information delivered to such holder, and disclose any other information disclosed to such holder, by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement only to: (i) such holder's directors, officers, employees, agents and professional consultants, (ii) any other holder of any Note, (iii) any Person to which such holder offers to sell such Note or any part thereof, provided that each such Person agrees in writing to observe the confidentiality standards described in this paragraph 11H, (iv) any Person to which such holder sells or offers to sell a participation in all or any part of such Note, provided that each such Person agrees in writing to observe the confidentiality standards described in this paragraph 11H, (v) any Person from which such holder offers to purchase any security of the Company, provided that each such Person agrees in writing to observe the confidentiality standards described in this paragraph 11H, (vi) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such holder, (vii) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization or (viii) any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be necessary or reasonably appropriate (a) in compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such holder, (b) in response to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand or (c) in connection with any litigation to which such holder is a party. Subject to the foregoing, each holder of a Note hereby agrees to use its best efforts to hold in confidence and not to disclose any Confidential Information; provided, that such holder will be free, after notice to the Company, to correct any false or misleading information which may become public concerning its relationship to the Company. For the purpose of this paragraph 11H, the term "Confidential Information" shall mean information about the Company or any Subsidiary furnished by the Company or any Subsidiary to such holder, but does not include any information (i) which as publicly known, or otherwise known to such holder, at the time of disclosure, (ii) which subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by such holder, or (iii) which otherwise becomes known to such holder other than through disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary. 11I. Notices. All written communications provided for hereunder shall be sent by first class mail or nationwide overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid) and (i) if to you, addressed to you at the address specified for such communications in the Purchaser Schedule attached hereto, or at such other address as you shall have specified to the Company in writing, (ii) if to any other holder of any Note, addressed to such other holder at such address as such other holder shall have specified to the Company in writing or, if any such other holder shall not have so specified an address to the Company, then addressed to such other holder in care of the last holder of such Note which shall have so specified an address to the Company, and (iii) if to the Company, addressed to it at 1641 Fairystone Park Highway, Stanleytown, Virginia 24168, Telephone: (540) 627-2000, Telecopy: (540) 629-5114, Attention: Mr. Douglas I. Payne, Senior Vice President - Finance and Administration, or at such other address as the Company shall have specified to the holder of each Note in writing. 11J. Payments Due on Non-Business Days. Anything in this Agreement or the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding, any payment of principal of or interest on any Note that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day. If the date for any payment is extended to the next succeeding Business Day by reason of the preceding sentence, the period of such extension shall not be included in the computation of the interest payable on such Business Day. 11K. Satisfaction Requirement. If any agreement, certificate or other writing, or any action taken or to be taken, is by the terms of this Agreement required to be satisfactory to you or to the Required Holder(s), the determination of such satisfaction shall be made by you or the Required Holder(s), as the case may be, in the sole and exclusive judgment (exercised in good faith) of the Person or Persons making such determination. 11L. Independence of Covenants. All covenants of the Company hereunder shall be of independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any one of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or otherwise be within the other limitations of, another covenant, shall not avoid the occurrence of an Event of Default or Default if such action is taken or condition exists. 11M. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York. THE COMPANY HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT, SUBJECT TO THE SOLE AND ABSOLUTE ELECTION OF THE REQUIRED HOLDER(S) AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE NOTES SHALL BE LITIGATED IN SUCH COURTS, AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE BASED ON IMPROPER VENUE OR FORUM NON CONVENIENS TO THE CONDUCT OF ANY PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURTS. 11N. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. 11O. Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of the several paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement. 11P. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. If you agree to the foregoing, please sign the form of acceptance on the enclosed counterpart of this letter and return the same to the Company, whereupon this letter shall become a binding agreement between the Company and you. Very truly yours, STANLEY FURNITURE COMPANY, INC. By: s/Douglas I. Payne ---------------------------------------------- Title: Senior Vice President Finance and administration The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted as of the date first above written. THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA By: s/Robert Derrick ----------------------------------------- Title: Vice President