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CREDIT AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 29, 1996
BETWEEN
DIONEX CORPORATION,
AND
BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS.............. 1
1.01 Definitions........................................................ 1
1.02 Financial Requirements............................................. 5
ARTICLE II
THE CREDIT FACILITIES......................... 5
2.01 The Revolving Facility............................................. 5
2.02 Advances Under the Revolving Facility.............................. 5
2.03 Commercial Letters of Credit under the Revolving Facility.......... 6
2.04 Standby Letters of Credit Under the Revolving Facility............. 7
2.05 Local Currency Advances............................................ 8
2.06 Mandatory Payment.................................................. 8
2.07 Commitment Fee..................................................... 8
2.08 Default Rate....................................................... 8
2.09 Early Termination of Commitment.................................... 8
ARTICLE III
EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT, PAYMENTS AND INTEREST CALCULATIONS...... 9
3.01 Requests for Credit................................................ 9
3.02 Disbursements and Payments......................................... 9
3.03 Branch Accounts.................................................... 9
3.04 Evidence of Indebtedness........................................... 9
3.05 Interest Calculation............................................... 9
3.06 Late Payments; Compounding......................................... 9
3.07 Business Day....................................................... 9
3.08 Taxes and Other Charges............................................ 9
3.09 Illegality......................................................... 10
3.10 Increased Costs.................................................... 10
3.11 Funding Losses..................................................... 11
3.12 Inability to Determine Rates....................................... 11
3.13 Certificate of the Bank............................................ 11
3.14 Debits to Borrower's Account....................................... 11
3.15 Survival........................................................... 11
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS TO AVAILABILITY OF CREDIT................ 11
4.01 Conditions to First Extension of Credit............................ 11
4.02 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit............................. 12
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES................... 12
5.01 Corporate Existence and Power...................................... 12
5.02 Authorization...................................................... 12
5.03 Enforceability..................................................... 13
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Section Page
5.04 Compliance with Laws.............................................. 13
5.05 Permits, Franchises............................................... 13
5.06 Litigation........................................................ 13
5.07 No Event of Default............................................... 13
5.08 Other Obligations................................................. 13
5.09 Tax Returns....................................................... 13
5.10 Information Submitted............................................. 13
5.11 No Material Adverse Effect........................................ 13
5.12 ERISA Compliance.................................................. 13
5.13 Environmental Matters............................................. 14
ARTICLE VI
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS....................... 14
6.01 Notices of Certain Events......................................... 14
6.02 Financial and Other Information................................... 14
6.03 Books, Records, Audits and Inspections............................ 15
6.04 Use of Facility................................................... 15
6.05 Insurance......................................................... 15
6.06 Compliance with Laws.............................................. 15
6.07 Change in Name, Structure or Location............................. 15
6.08 Existence and Properties.......................................... 15
6.09 Additional Acts................................................... 15
ARTICLE VII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS........................ 16
7.01 Liens ........................................................... 16
7.02 Acquisitions...................................................... 16
7.03 Loans ........................................................... 16
7.04 Liquidations and Mergers.......................................... 16
7.05 Sale of Assets.................................................... 16
7.06 Business Activities............................................... 16
7.07 Regulations G, T, U, and X........................................ 17
7.08 Tangible Net Worth................................................ 17
7.09 Total Liabilities to Tangible Net Worth........................... 17
7.10 Quick Ratio....................................................... 17
7.11 Maintenance of Profitability...................................... 17
ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT......................... 17
8.01 Events of Default................................................. 17
(a) Failure to Pay........................................ 17
(b) Breach of Representation or Warranty.................. 17
(c) Specific Defaults..................................... 17
(d) Other Defaults........................................ 18
(e) Judgments............................................. 18
(f) Failure to Pay Debts; Voluntary Bankruptcy............ 18
(g) Involuntary Bankruptcy................................ 18
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Section Page
(h) Default of Other Financial Obligations............... 18
(i) Default under other Credit Documents................. 18
(j) Default of Other Bank Obligations.................... 18
(k) Material Adverse Effect.............................. 18
(l) ERISA................................................ 18
(m) Change of Control.................................... 18
8.02 Remedies......................................................... 19
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS........................... 19
9.01 Successors and Assigns........................................... 19
9.02 Consents and Waivers............................................. 19
9.03 Governing Law.................................................... 19
9.04 Costs and Attorneys' Fees........................................ 19
9.05 Integration; Amendment........................................... 20
9.06 Borrower's Documents............................................. 20
9.07 Participations................................................... 20
9.08 General Indemnification.......................................... 20
9.09 Arbitration; Reference Proceeding................................ 20
9.10 Notices.......................................................... 21
9.11 Headings; Interpretation......................................... 21
9.12 Severability..................................................... 21
9.13 Counterparts..................................................... 22
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CREDIT AGREEMENT
(MULTICURRENCY-I)
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (MULTICURRENCY) (this "Agreement") is
entered into as of February 29, 1996, between DIONEX CORPORATION (the
"Borrower"), and BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION (the
"Bank").
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained
herein, the Borrower and the Bank agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS.
1.01 Definitions. The following terms (including plural and singular
versions thereof) have the meanings indicated:
"Acceptable Subsidiary": a Subsidiary of the Borrower acceptable to the
Bank in its sole discretion that (a) is specified as a "Borrower" on a
continuing guaranty executed by the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory
to the Bank, and (b) has executed such credit and related documentation with and
in favor of the Bank as the Bank may request.
"Advance": an advance hereunder.
"Availability Period": the period commencing on the date of this
Agreement and ending on the date that is the earlier to occur of (a) December
31, 1997, and (b) the date on which the Bank's commitment to extend credit
hereunder terminates.
"Business Day": any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or any other
day on which commercial banks in San Francisco, California, are authorized or
required by law to close and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any
Offshore Rate Advance, means such a day on which dealings are carried on in the
applicable offshore interbank market.
"CD Rate": for any CD Rate Interest Period, the rate of interest (
rounded upward to the next 1/100th of 1%) determined pursuant to the following
formula:
CD Rate = Certificate of Deposit Rate plus Assessment
---------------------------- Rate
1.00 - Reserve Percentage
Where:
"Assessment Rate" means, for any day of such CD Rate
Interest Period, the rate determined by the Bank as equal to the
annual assessment rate in effect on the first day of such CD
Rate Interest Period that is payable to the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") by a member of the Bank Insurance
Fund that is classified as adequately capitalized and within
supervisory subgroup "A" (or a comparable successor assessment
risk classification within the meaning of 12 C.F.R.
Section 327.3(d)) for insuring time deposits at offices of such
member in the United States, or, in the event that the FDIC
shall at any time hereafter cease to assess time deposits based
upon such classifications or successor classifications, equal to
the maximum annual assessment rate in effect on such day that is
payable to the FDIC by commercial banks (whether or not
applicable to the Bank) for insuring time deposits at offices of
such banks in the United States.
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"Certificate of Deposit Rate" means, for any CD Rate
Interest Period, the rate of interest per annum determined by
the Bank to be the arithmetic mean (rounded upward to the
nearest 1/100th of 1%) of the rates notified to the Bank as the
rates of interest bid by two or more certificate of deposit
dealers of recognized standing selected by the Bank for the
purchase at face value of dollar certificates of deposit issued
by major United States banks, for a maturity comparable to the
CD Rate Interest Period and in the approximate amount of the CD
Rate Advance to be made, at the time selected by the Bank on the
first day of such CD Rate Interest Period.
"Reserve Percentage" means, for any CD Rate Interest
Period the maximum reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal,
rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th of 1%), as determined by
the Bank, in effect on the first day of such interest period
(including any ordinary, marginal, emergency, supplemental,
special and other reserve percentages) prescribed by the FRB for
determining the maximum reserves to be maintained by member
banks of the Federal Reserve System with deposits exceeding
$1,000,000,000 for new non-personal time deposits for a period
comparable to the CD Rate Interest Period and in an amount of
$100,000 or more.
"CD Rate Advance": an Advance that bears interest based on the CD Rate.
"CD Rate Interest Period": for each CD Rate Advance, the period
commencing on the date the CD Rate Advance begins to bear interest at a rate
based on the CD Rate and ending 30, 60, 90, or 180 days thereafter, as requested
by the Borrower; provided, however, that no such CD Rate Interest Period shall
extend beyond the Final Maturity Date.
"Closing Date": the date on which all conditions to the initial
extension of credit hereunder are satisfied.
"Code": the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder as from time to time in effect.
"Credit Documents": collectively, this Agreement and each other
agreement, documents and instrument now or hereafter delivered to the Bank
(including any Offshore Credit Provider) in connection with the credits
established herein and the transactions contemplated hereby.
"Credit Limit": the amount $10,000,000 or the Equivalent Amount
thereof.
"Default": any event or circumstance which, with the giving of notice,
the lapse of time, or both, would (if not cured or otherwise remedied during
such time) constitute an Event of Default.
"Dollars", "dollars" and "$": each, lawful money of the United States.
"Dollar Advances": specified in subsection 2.01(b).
"Environmental Laws": any foreign, federal, state, local, or municipal
laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes, decrees,
requirements of any governmental authority, any and all requirements of law and
any and all common law requirements, rules, and bases of liability regulating,
relating to, or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning pollution
or protection of human health or the environment, as now or may at any time
hereafter may be in effect.
"Equivalent Amount": (a) whenever this Agreement requires or permits a
determination on any date of the equivalent in dollars of an amount expressed in
a currency other than dollars, the equivalent amount in dollars of any amount
expressed in a currency other than dollars as determined by the Bank on such
date on the basis of the Spot Rate for the purchase of dollars with such other
currency on the relevant date; or (b)
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whenever this Agreement requires or permits a determination on any date of the
equivalent in a currency other than dollars of an amount expressed in dollars,
the equivalent amount in a currency other than dollars of an amount expressed in
dollars as determined by the Bank on such date on the basis of the Spot Rate for
the purchase of such other currency with dollars on the relevant date.
"ERISA": the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder as from time to
time in effect.
"ERISA Event": (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan;
(b) a withdrawal by the Borrower from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of
ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in
Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations which is treated as
such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) the filing of a notice of
intent to terminate, the treatment of a plan amendment as a termination under
Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to
terminate a Pension Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA; (d) a failure by the
Borrower to make required contributions to a Pension Plan or other Plan subject
to Section 412 of the Code; (e) an event or condition which might reasonably be
expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination
of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (f) the
imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than PBGC premiums
due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower; or (g) an
application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period
pursuant to Section 412 of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan.
"Event of Default": any event listed in Article VIII of this Agreement.
"FDIC": the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or any entity
succeeding to any of its principal functions.
"Final Maturity Date": (a) in respect of any Advances, December 31,
1997; (b) in respect of any commercial letters of credit, June 30, 1998; and (c)
in respect of any standby letters of credit, December 31, 1998.
"Floating Rate": specified in subsection 2.02(a).
"FRB": the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or any
entity succeeding to any of its principal functions.
"Hazardous Substance": any hazardous or toxic substance, material, or
waste, defined, listed, classified, or regulated as such in or under any
Environmental Laws, including asbestos, petroleum, or petroleum products
(including gasoline, crude oil, or any fraction thereof), polychlorinated
biphenyls, and urea-formaldehyde insulation.
"IRS": the Internal Revenue Service or any entity succeeding to any of
its principal functions under the Code.
"L/C Outstanding Amount": at any time, the undrawn amount at such time
of any letter of credit issued hereunder, plus the amount of all drafts or
drawings paid or accepted by the Bank which have not yet been reimbursed to the
Bank, plus any other obligation or liability of the Borrower or any Acceptable
Subsidiary to the Bank with respect to any letter of credit issued under this
Agreement.
"Local Currency": specified in subsection 2.01(b).
"Local Currency Advance": specified in subsection 2.01(b).
"Material Adverse Effect": (a) a material adverse change in, or a
material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, condition
(financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or the
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Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the
ability of the Borrower or any Acceptable Subsidiary to perform under any Credit
Document; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding
effect or enforceability of any Credit Document.
"Offshore Credit Provider": a foreign office, foreign branch or foreign
affiliate of the Bank, acceptable to the Bank.
"Offshore Rate": for each Offshore Rate Interest Period, the rate of
interest (rounded upward to the next 1/16th of 1%) determined pursuant to the
following formula:
Offshore Rate = Offered Rate
------------------------------------
1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage
Where:
"Offered Rate" means the rate of interest at
which deposits in the applicable currency in the approximate
amount of the Offshore Rate Advance to be made and having a
maturity comparable to such Offshore Rate Interest Period would
be offered by the Bank's Grand Cayman Branch, Grand Cayman,
British West Indies (or such other office as may be designated
for such purpose by the Bank), to major banks in the offshore
interbank market upon request of such banks at approximately
8:00 a.m. San Francisco time two Business Days prior to the
first day of such Offshore Rate Interest Period.
"Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means, for any
Offshore Rate Interest Period, the maximum reserve percentage
(expressed as a decimal, rounded upward to the next 1/100th of
1%) in effect on the first day of such Offshore Rate Interest
Period (whether or not applicable to the Bank) under regulations
issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum
reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or
other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency
funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency liabilities")
having a term comparable to such Offshore Rate Interest Period.
"Offshore Rate Advance": an Advance for which interest is based on the
Offshore Rate.
"Offshore Rate Interest Period": for each Offshore Rate Advance the
period commencing on the date the Offshore Rate Advance begins to bear interest
at a rate based on the Offshore Rate and ending one, two, three, or six months
thereafter, as requested by the Borrower; provided, however, that the last day
of each Offshore Rate Interest Period shall be determined in accordance with the
practices of the applicable offshore interbank markets as from time to time in
effect, and provided further that no such interest period shall extend beyond
the Final Maturity Date.
"PBGC": the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity
succeeding to any of its principal functions under ERISA.
"Pension Plan": a pension plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA)
subject to Title IV of ERISA which the Borrower sponsors, maintains, or to which
it makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions, or in the case of a
multiple employer plan (as described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA) has made
contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years.
"Plan": an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA)
which the Borrower sponsors or maintains or to which the Borrower makes, is
making, or is obligated to make contributions and includes any Pension Plan.
"Reference Rate": for any day, the rate of interest in effect for such
day as publicly announced from time to time by the Bank in San Francisco,
California, as its "reference rate." It is a rate set by the Bank
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based upon various factors including the Bank's costs and desired return,
general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point
for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced
rate. Any change in the reference rate announced by the Bank shall take effect
at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of
such change.
"Reference Rate Advance": an Advance that bears interest based on the
Reference Rate.
"Reportable Event": any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of
ERISA or the regulations thereunder, other than any such event for which the
30-day notice requirement under ERISA has been waived in regulations issued by
the PBGC.
"Revolving Facility": the line of credit described in Section 2.01.
"Spot Rate": for a currency, the rate quoted by the Bank as the spot
rate for the purchase by the Bank of such currency with another currency through
its Foreign Exchange Trading Center #5193, San Francisco, California, or such
other of the Bank's offices as it may designate from time to time, at
approximately 8:00 a.m. (San Francisco time) on the date two Business Days prior
to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made.
"Subsidiary": any corporation, association, partnership, joint venture,
or other business entity of which more than 50% of the voting stock or other
equity interests (in the case of entities other than corporations), is owned or
controlled directly or indirectly by the Borrower or one or more Subsidiaries of
the Borrower or a combination thereof.
1.02 Financial Requirements. Unless otherwise specified in this
Agreement, all accounting terms used in this Agreement shall be interpreted, all
financial computations required under this Agreement shall be made, and all
financial information required under this Agreement shall be prepared, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to
time in the United States, consistently applied.
ARTICLE II
THE CREDIT FACILITIES
2.01 The Revolving Facility. (a) From time to time during the
Availability Period, subject to the terms and provisions hereof, the Bank, on a
revolving basis, will (i) make Advances to the Borrower or an Acceptable
Subsidiary, and (ii) issue commercial and standby letters of credit for the
Borrower's or an Acceptable Subsidiary's account.
(b) Advances hereunder may be made in (i) dollars ("Dollar
Advances"), or (ii) in a lawful currency other than dollars which is available
at a branch or affiliate of the Bank located in a country other than the United
States and is the legal tender of that country where the branch or affiliate is
located (a "Local Currency") ("Local Currency Advances").
(c) The aggregate of (i) all Dollar Advances, (ii) the
Equivalent Amount of all Local Currency Advances, and (iii) the L/C Outstanding
Amount may not exceed at any one time the Credit Limit.
2.02 Advances Under the Revolving Facility. (a) Subject to the other
provisions of this Section , Dollar Advances under the Revolving Facility shall
bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Reference Rate (the Reference
Rate is referred to herein as the "Floating Rate"). The Borrower shall pay or
cause the applicable Acceptable Subsidiary to pay interest quarterly, on the
last day of each calendar quarter until the Final Maturity Date, on which date
all accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable. The Borrower shall
repay or cause the applicable Acceptable Subsidiary to repay the principal
amount of each Reference
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Rate Advance on the date such advance is converted into an Offshore Rate Advance
or a CD Rate Advance under subsections (b) or (c) below, and on the Final
Maturity Date.
(b) In lieu of the interest rate described above, the Borrower
or the applicable Acceptable Subsidiary may elect during the Availability Period
to have all or portions of Advances under the Revolving Facility be in dollars
and bear interest at the Offshore Rate plus 0.75% per annum during an Offshore
Rate Interest Period, subject to the following requirements:
(i) Each Offshore Rate Advance shall be for an amount
not less than $1,000,000.
(ii) The Borrower shall pay or shall cause the
applicable Acceptable Subsidiary to pay interest on each Offshore Rate
Advance on the last day of the Offshore Rate Interest Period for such
Advance; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Offshore
Rate Advance exceeds three months, interest shall also be payable on the
date which falls three months after the beginning of such Interest
Period and on each date which falls three months after any such interest
payment date. The Borrower shall repay or shall cause the applicable
Acceptable Subsidiary to repay the principal balance of each Offshore
Rate Advance on the last day of the Offshore Rate Interest Period for
such Advance, and (if sooner occurring) on the Final Maturity Date.
(iii) Any payment of an Offshore Rate Advance prior to
the last day of the Offshore Rate Interest Period for such Advance,
whether voluntary, by reason of acceleration or otherwise, including any
mandatory payments required under this Agreement and applied by the Bank
to an Offshore Rate Advance, shall be accompanied by the amount of
accrued interest on the amount repaid and by the amount (if any)
required by Section 3.11.
(c) In lieu of the interest rates described above in this
Section , the Borrower or the applicable Acceptable Subsidiary may elect during
the Availability Period to have all or portions of Advances under the Revolving
Facility be in dollars and bear interest at the CD Rate plus 0.75% per annum
during a CD Rate Interest Period, subject to the following requirements:
(i) Each CD Rate Advance shall be in an amount not
less than $1,000,000.
(ii) The Borrower shall pay or shall cause the
applicable Acceptable Subsidiary to pay interest on each CD Rate Advance
on the last day of the CD Rate Interest Period for such Advance;
provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a CD Rate Advance
exceeds 90 days, interest shall also be payable on the date which falls
90 days after the beginning of such Interest Period and on each date
which falls 90 days after any such interest payment date. The Borrower
shall repay or shall cause the applicable Acceptable Subsidiary to repay
the principal balance of each CD Rate Advance on the last day of the CD
Rate Interest Period for such Advance, and (if sooner occurring) on the
Final Maturity Date.
(iii) Any payment of a CD Rate Advance prior to the
last day of the CD Rate Interest Period for such Advance, whether
voluntary, by reason of acceleration or otherwise, including mandatory
payments required under this Agreement and applied by the Bank to a CD
Rate Advance, shall be accompanied by the amount of accrued interest on
the amount repaid and by the amount (if any) required by Section 3.11.
2.03 Commercial Letters of Credit under the Revolving Facility. (a) Each
commercial letter of credit shall be denominated in dollars and issued pursuant
to the terms and conditions hereof and of a Bank standard form Application and
Security Agreement for Commercial Letter of Credit (or such other form as the
Bank may require) executed by the Borrower or an Acceptable Subsidiary.
(b) Each commercial letter of credit shall:
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(i) expire on or before 180 days after the date such
letter of credit is issued, but in no event later than June 30, 1998;
(ii) require drafts payable in dollars at sight; and
(iii) be otherwise in form and substance and in favor
of beneficiaries and for purposes satisfactory to the Bank.
(c) The Borrower shall pay or cause the applicable Acceptable
Subsidiary to pay to the Bank issuance fees, negotiation fees, and other fees at
the times and in the amounts the Bank advises the Borrower from time to time as
being applicable to the Borrower's or the Acceptable Subsidiary's commercial
letters of credit.
(d) Each draft paid by the Bank under a commercial letter of
credit issued hereunder shall be reimbursed by the Borrower or the applicable
Acceptable Subsidiary to the Bank on the date such draft is paid by the Bank.
Any sum owed to the Bank with respect to a commercial letter of credit issued
for the Borrower's or any Acceptable Subsidiary's account which is not paid when
due shall, at the option of the Bank in each instance, be deemed to be an
Advance to the Borrower outstanding under the Revolving Facility and shall
thereafter bear interest at the Floating Rate.
(e) In addition to any other rights or remedies which the Bank
may have under this Agreement or otherwise, upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default, the Bank may require the Borrower to provide cash collateral in the
amount of the L/C Outstanding Amount of any commercial letters of credit
outstanding under this Agreement.
2.04 Standby Letters of Credit Under the Revolving Facility. (a) Each
standby letter of credit shall be denominated in dollars and issued pursuant to
the terms and conditions hereof and of a Bank standard form Application and
Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit (or such other form as the Bank may
require) executed by the Borrower or an Acceptable Subsidiary.
(b) Each standby letter of credit shall: (i) expire on or before
one year after the date such letter of credit is issued; provided, however, that
there may be outstanding at any one time an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 of
standby letters of credit which at the time of their issuance were to expire
more than one year but no more than two years after the date of their issuance,
but in no event shall any standby letter of credit expire later than December
31, 1998, and (ii) be otherwise in form and substance and in favor of
beneficiaries and for purposes satisfactory to the Bank.
(c) The Borrower shall pay to the Bank a non-refundable fee
equal to 0.75% per annum of the outstanding undrawn amount of each financial
standby letter of credit and a non-refundable fee of 0.50% per annum of the
outstanding undrawn amount of each performance standby letter of credit, payable
in both cases quarterly in advance, and calculated on the basis of the face
amount outstanding on the day the fee is calculated. However, if an Event of
Default exists, at the option of the Bank, the amount of the fee shall be
increased to 2.0% per annum, commencing on the day the Bank provides notice of
the increase to the Borrower. The Borrower shall also pay such other fees and
commissions at the times and in the amounts the Bank advises the Borrower from
time to time as being applicable to the Borrower's standby letters of credit.
(d) Each draft paid by the Bank under a standby letter of credit
issued hereunder shall be reimbursed by the Borrower or the Acceptable
Subsidiary to the Bank on the date such draft is paid by the Bank. Any sum owed
to the Bank with respect to a standby letter of credit issued for the Borrower's
account which is not paid when due shall, at the option of the Bank in each
instance, be deemed to be an Advance outstanding under the Revolving Facility
and shall thereafter bear interest at the Floating Rate.
(e) In addition to any other rights or remedies which the Bank
may have under this Agreement or otherwise, upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default, the Bank may require the Borrower to
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provide cash collateral in the amount of the L/C Outstanding Amount of any
standby letters of credit outstanding under this Agreement.
2.05 Local Currency Advances. (a) From time to time during the
Availability Period, the Bank or any Offshore Credit Provider may, in its sole
discretion, make Local Currency Advances to the Borrower and to Acceptable
Subsidiaries.
(b) Neither the Bank nor any Offshore Credit Provider shall make
any Local Currency Advance unless, at a minimum, the following conditions are
satisfied:
(i) the Bank and the Borrower or the relevant
Acceptable Subsidiary agree, at the time of Borrower's or such Acceptable
Subsidiary's request for a Local Currency Advance, on the currency, the amount,
the principal payment date(s), the interest rate and payment date(s), the
prepayment and overdue payment terms, and the reserve, tax and other material
provisions for such Advance; and
(ii) The Borrower or such Acceptable Subsidiary shall
execute such additional documentation as the Bank or such Offshore Credit
Provider may require relating to each Local Currency Advance.
2.06 Mandatory Payment. If at any time and for any reason the total
amount of credit outstanding under this Agreement exceeds the limitations set
forth herein, the Borrower shall pay to the Bank, upon demand, the amount of the
excess provided, that if the foregoing applies due to a change in applicable
rates of exchange between Dollars and Local Currencies, the Borrower shall be
obligated to pay such amount only if the excess is greater than $500,000 or the
Equivalent Amount thereof. Payments under this Section may be applied to the
obligations of the Borrower to the Bank in the order and manner as the Bank in
its discretion may determine. Payments to be applied to outstanding letters of
credit may be used to prepay, or held as cash collateral to secure, the
Borrower's or any Acceptable Subsidiary's obligations to the Bank with respect
thereto.
2.07 Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Bank a commitment
fee at the rate of 0.25% per annum on the average daily unused portion of the
credit provided under this Agreement. For purposes of computing the unused
portion, the L/C Outstanding Amount shall be deemed to be usage. The commitment
fee shall be computed on a calendar quarter basis, except for the first period
which shall commence on the date of this Agreement and end on March 31, 1996.
The commitment fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each
successive calendar quarter thereafter, and on the last day of the Availability
Period.
2.08 Default Rate. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of
any Event of Default, and without constituting a waiver of any such Event of
Default, (a) Advances under the Revolving Facility shall at the option of the
Bank bear interest at a rate per annum which is 2.0% per annum higher than the
rate of interest otherwise provided under this Agreement, and (b) Local Currency
Advances shall at the option of the Bank be redenominated and converted into the
Equivalent Amount of Reference Rate Advances in Dollars.
2.09 Early Termination of Commitment. The Borrower may at any time
terminate the Bank's (including any Offshore Credit Provider's) commitment to
extend credit hereunder by paying in full the entire amount of credit
outstanding hereunder (including the L/C Outstanding Amount, together with any
sums due under Section 3.11. Payments to be applied to outstanding letters of
credit may, at the Bank's option, be used to prepay, or held as cash collateral
to secure, the Borrower's and Acceptable Subsidiaries' obligations to the Bank
with respect thereto.
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ARTICLE III
EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT, PAYMENTS AND INTEREST CALCULATIONS
3.01 Requests for Credit. Each request for an extension of credit shall
be made in writing on a form acceptable to the Bank or in any other manner
acceptable to the Bank.
3.02 Disbursements and Payments. Each disbursement by the Bank and each
payment by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made in the funds and at
such branch of the Bank as the Bank may from time to time select.
3.03 Branch Accounts. Each extension of credit under this Agreement
shall be made for the account of such branch, office, or affiliate of the Bank
as the Bank may from time to time select.
3.04 Evidence of Indebtedness. Principal, interest, and all other sums
due to the Bank (or any Offshore Credit Provider) under this Agreement shall be
evidenced by entries in records maintained by the Bank (or such Offshore Credit
Provider), and, if required by the Bank, by a promissory note or notes. Each
payment on and any other credits with respect to principal, interest, and all
other sums due under this Agreement shall be evidenced by entries to records
maintained by the Bank or such Offshore Credit Provider. The loan accounts or
records maintained by the Bank or any Offshore Credit Provider shall be
conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the credit extended hereunder
and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in
doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the
Borrower or any Acceptable Subsidiary hereunder to pay any amount owing.
3.05 Interest Calculation. Interest based on the Reference Rate shall
be computed on the basis of a 365/366-day year, actual days elapsed. All other
interest and fees payable under this Agreement shall be computed on the basis of
a 360 day year and actual days elapsed, which results in more interest or a
larger fee than if a 365-366 day year were used.
3.06 Late Payments; Compounding. Any sum payable by the Borrower
hereunder (including unpaid interest) if not paid when due shall bear interest
(payable on demand) from its due date until payment in full at a rate per annum
equal to the Reference Rate plus 2.0% per annum. At the option of the Bank, in
each instance, any sum payable hereunder which is not paid when due (including
unpaid interest) may be added to principal of the Revolving Facility and shall
thereafter bear interest at the rate applicable to principal.
3.07 Business Day. Any sum payable by the Borrower hereunder which
becomes due on a day which is not a Business Day shall be due on the next
Business Day after such due date, unless, in the case of an Offshore Rate Loan,
the result of such extension would be to carry such Offshore Rate Interest
Period into another calendar month, in which event such Offshore Rate Interest
Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day. Any payments
received by the Bank on a day which is not a Business Day shall be deemed to be
received on the next Business Day after such date of receipt.
3.08 Taxes and Other Charges. (a) (i) If any taxes (other than taxes on
net income (A) imposed by the country or any subdivision of the country in which
the Bank's principal office or actual lending office is located and (B) measured
by the United States taxable income the Bank would have received if all payments
under or in respect of this Agreement and any instrument or agreement required
hereunder were exempt from taxes levied by the Borrower's country) are at any
time imposed on any payments under or in respect of this Agreement or any
instrument or agreement required hereunder including, but not limited to,
payments made pursuant to this Section , the Borrower shall pay all such taxes
and shall also pay to the Bank, at the time interest is paid, all additional
amounts which the Bank specifies as necessary to preserve the after-tax yield
the Bank would have received if such taxes had not been imposed.
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(ii) The additional amounts necessary to
preserve the after-tax yield the Bank would have received if such taxes had not
been imposed shall be calculated pursuant to the formula:
(w)(t)(i)
y = ---------
1-w-t
where the terms are defined as follows:
y = additional payment to be made to the Bank
w = withholding tax rate levied by foreign government
t = the Bank's combined Federal and state tax rate
i = amount of interest to be paid on Credit
(computed by using the base rate plus quoted
spread)
1 = one
(b) The Borrower will provide the Bank with original tax
receipts, notarized copies of tax receipts, or such other documentation as will
prove payment of tax in a court of law applying the United States Federal Rules
of Evidence, for all taxes paid by the Borrower pursuant to subsection (a)
above. The Borrower will deliver receipts to the Bank within 30 days after the
due date for the related tax.
3.09 Illegality. (a) If the Bank determines that (i) the introduction
of any law, rule, regulation, treaty, or determination of an arbitrator or court
or other governmental authority or any change in or in the interpretation or
administration thereof has made it unlawful, or that any central bank or other
governmental authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for the Bank (directly
or through any Offshore Credit Provider) to make or extend any Advance or other
credit under this Agreement, or (ii) any order, judgment, or decree of any
governmental authority or arbitrator purports by its terms to enjoin or restrain
the Bank (or any Offshore Credit Provider) from making or extending any Advance
or other credit hereunder, then, on notice thereof by the Bank to the Borrower,
the obligation of the Bank to make or extend such Advance or other credit
(directly or through any Offshore Credit Provider) shall be suspended until the
Bank shall have notified the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such
determination no longer exist.
(b) If the Bank determines that it is unlawful for it or any
applicable Offshore Credit Provider to maintain any Offshore Rate Advance or
Local Currency Advance hereunder, the Borrower shall prepay in full all Offshore
Rate Advances or Local Currency Advances, as the case may be then outstanding,
together with interest accrued thereon, either on the last day of the applicable
Offshore Rate Interest Period or the interest period applicable to the Local
Currency Advance if the Bank or such Offshore Credit Provider may lawfully
continue to maintain such Advances to such day and such loans have an interest
period, or immediately, if the Bank may not lawfully continue to maintain such
Advances or such loans have no interest period, together with any amounts
required to be paid in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.11.
3.10 Increased Costs. The Borrower shall pay to the Bank, on demand,
the Bank's costs or losses arising from any statute or regulation, or any
request or requirement of a regulatory agency which is applicable to all
national banks or a class of all national banks. The costs and losses will be
allocated to this facility in a manner determined by the Bank, using any
reasonable method. The costs include the following:
(a) any reserve or deposit requirements; and
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(b) any capital requirements relating to the Bank's assets
and commitments for credit.
3.11 Funding Losses. The Borrower shall reimburse the Bank and hold the
Bank harmless from any loss or expense which the Bank may sustain or incur as a
consequence of the failure of the Borrower (or any Acceptable Subsidiary) to
make any payment or prepayment of principal of any Advance hereunder made at a
rate of interest related to the Offshore Rate or the CD Rate (including payments
made after any acceleration thereof), or to borrow at such a rate, or the
prepayment of an Advance which bears interest at such a rate on a day which is
not the last day of the interest period with respect thereto (including payments
made after any acceleration thereof or because the total amount of credit
exceeds the limitations set forth herein), or the redenomination and conversion,
upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, of an Advance which bears interest
at such a rate; including any such loss or expense arising from the liquidation
or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain its Advances made at a rate
related to the Offshore Rate or the CD Rate hereunder or from fees payable to
terminate any deposits from which such funds were obtained or deemed obtained.
3.12 Inability to Determine Rates. The Bank has no obligation to accept
an election for an Offshore Rate Advance or a CD Rate Advance if (a) Dollar
deposits in the principal amount, and for the period equal to the interest
period, for such Advance are not available in the applicable funding market; or
(b) the Offshore Rate or CD Rate does not accurately reflect the cost of such
Advance. Nothing contained herein shall, however, obligate the Bank to obtain
the funds for any Advance in any particular manner.
3.13 Certificate of the Bank. If the Bank claims any reimbursement or
compensation pursuant to Section 3.10 or Section 3.11 hereof, then the Bank
shall deliver to the Borrower a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail
the amount payable to the Bank thereunder and such certificate shall be
conclusive and binding on the Borrower in the absence of manifest error.
3.14 Debits to Borrower's Account. The Borrower hereby authorizes the
Bank to debit the Borrower's deposit account number 14861-00388 at the Global
Payments Operations, Concord, CA, office of the Bank in the amount of principal,
interest, fees, or any other amount due under this Agreement or under any
instrument or agreement required under this Agreement. The Bank may, at its
option, debit the account on the date such amounts become due, or, if such due
date is not a Business Day, on the next Business Day after such due date. If
there are insufficient funds in the account to cover the amount debited to the
accounts in accordance with this Section , such debit may be reversed in whole
or in part, at the option of the Bank in its sole discretion, and the amount not
debited shall be deemed to remain unpaid.
3.15 Survival. The agreements and obligations of the Borrower under
Sections 3.08 through 3.11 hereof shall survive the payment of all other
obligations of the Borrower hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS TO AVAILABILITY OF CREDIT.
The Bank's obligation to extend credit under this Agreement is subject
to the Bank's receipt of the following, each in form and substance satisfactory
to the Bank:
4.01 Conditions to First Extension of Credit. Before the first
extension of credit:
(a) This Agreement, executed by the Borrower;
(b) Satisfactory evidence of due authorization of the
execution, delivery, and performance by the Borrower and any Acceptable
Subsidiary of this Agreement and any other Credit Documents, including certified
resolutions, incumbency certificate, articles of incorporation and bylaws;
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(c) Certificates of state officials showing that the Borrower
is in good standing or qualified to conduct business under the laws of the state
of its organization and, if requested by the Bank, in any other state in which
the Borrower is required to be so qualified;
(d) A certificate of an appropriate officer of the Borrower
as to the matters set forth in Section 4.02(a) and (b);
(e) Payment of any fee or expense required hereunder prior to
the first extension of credit; and
(f) A continuing guaranty in favor of the Bank, executed by
the Borrower, guaranteeing all debts and obligations (whether contingent or
otherwise) of any and all Acceptable Subsidiaries arising under or in connection
with this Agreement.
4.02 Conditions to Each Extension of Credit. Before each extension or
renewal of credit (including pursuant to any election under Section 2.02(b)),
including the first:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower
contained in this Agreement shall be true on and as of the date of each
extension of credit;
(b) Immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect
to such extension of credit, no Default or Event of Default shall exist; and
(c) Executed originals of all Credit Documents required under
Article II shall have been delivered to the Bank.
Each request for an extension of credit hereunder shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the Borrower, as of the date of each such request
and as of the date of each extension of credit, that the conditions in this
Section are satisfied.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants that:
5.01 Corporate Existence and Power. The Borrower, and each Acceptable
Subsidiary: (a) is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its organization; (b) has the power and authority and all
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents, and approvals to own its
assets, carry on its business, and to execute, deliver, and perform its
obligations under, the Credit Documents; and (c) is duly qualified and properly
licensed and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its
ownership, lease, or operation of property or the conduct of its business
requires such license or qualification.
5.02 Authorization. The execution, delivery, and performance by the
Borrower and each Acceptable Subsidiary of this Agreement and any other Credit
Document to which any of them is a party, have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action, and do not and will not:
(a) contravene the terms of any organizational or charter
documents;
(b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of,
or the creation of any lien, security interest, or charge under, any agreement,
contract, indenture, document, or instrument to which the Borrower or any
Acceptable Subsidiary is a party or by which any property is bound, or any
order, injunction, writ, or decree of any governmental authority to which the
Borrower or any Acceptable Subsidiary or any property is subject; or
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(c) violate any law, rule, regulation, or determination of an
arbitrator or of a court or other governmental authority, in each case
applicable to or binding upon the Borrower or any Acceptable Subsidiary or any
property.
5.03 Enforceability. This Agreement is a legal, valid, and binding
agreement of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with
its terms, and the other Credit Documents and any other instrument or agreement
required under this Agreement, when executed and delivered, will be legal,
valid, binding, and enforceable in accordance with its terms against the
Borrower or the Acceptable Subsidiary, as applicable
5.04 Compliance with Laws. Each of the Borrower and the Acceptable
Subsidiaries is in compliance with all foreign, federal, state and local laws,
rules, regulations and determinations of arbitrators, courts and other
governmental authorities materially affecting the business, operations or
property of the Borrower and the Acceptable Subsidiaries (including
Environmental Laws).
5.05 Permits, Franchises. The Borrower or its Subsidiaries possess all
permits, memberships, franchises, contracts, and licenses required and all
trademark rights, trade name rights, patent rights, and fictitious name rights
necessary to enable the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to conduct the businesses
in which they are now engaged.
5.06 Litigation. There is no litigation, tax claim, proceeding,
governmental or administrative action, arbitration proceeding or dispute
pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, against or affecting
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, the adverse
determination of which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
5.07 No Event of Default. There exists no Default or Event of
Default.
5.08 Other Obligations. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower is not in
default under any other agreement involving the borrowing of money, the
extension of credit, or the lease of real or personal property, to which the
Borrower is a party as borrower, guarantor, installment purchaser, or lessee,
except as disclosed in writing to the Bank prior to the Closing Date.
5.09 Tax Returns. The Borrower has no knowledge of any material pending
assessments or adjustments with respect to its income tax liabilities for any
year, except as disclosed in writing to the Bank prior to the Closing Date.
5.10 Information Submitted. All financial and other information that
has been submitted by the Borrower to the Bank, including the Borrower's
financial statement delivered to the Bank most recently prior to the Closing
Date: (a) in the case of financial statements, is prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied; and (b) is true
and correct in all material respects and is complete insofar as may be necessary
to give the Bank true and accurate knowledge of the subject matter thereof.
5.11 No Material Adverse Effect. Since June 30, 1995, there has been
no Material Adverse Effect.
5.12 ERISA Compliance. Except as specifically disclosed to the Bank in
writing prior to the Closing Date: (a) each Plan is in compliance in all
material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other
federal or state law; (b) there are no pending, or to the best knowledge of
Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any governmental
authority, with respect to any Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (c) there has been no
prohibited transaction or other violation of the fiduciary responsibility rule
with respect to any Plan which could reasonably result in a Material Adverse
Effect; (d) each Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the
Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue
Service and to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which
would cause the loss of such qualification; (e) as of the Closing Date, neither
the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to any Pension
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Plan or other Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code; and (f) neither the
Borrower or entity under common control with the Borrower in the preceding
sentence has ever contributed to any multiemployer plan within the meaning of
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
5.13 Environmental Matters. (a) The Borrower has no knowledge or reason
to believe (i) that the properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries contain
or have previously contained (at, under, or about any such property) any
Hazardous Substances or other contamination (A) in amounts or concentrations
that constitute or constituted a violation of, or could give rise to a material
liability under, any Environmental Laws, (B) which could materially interfere
with the continued operation of such property, or (C) which could materially
impair the fair market value thereof; or (ii) that there has been transportation
or disposal of Hazardous Substances from, nor any release or threatened release
of Hazardous Substances at or from, any property of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries in violation of or in any manner which could give rise to a
material liability under any Environmental Laws.
(b) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received or is aware of any material claim or notice of material violation,
alleged material violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability
regarding environmental matters or compliance with Environmental Laws with
regard to the properties or operations of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, nor does the Borrower have knowledge or reason to believe that any
such action is being contemplated, considered, or threatened.
ARTICLE VI
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as credit is available under this Agreement and until full and
final payment of all of the Borrower's and any Acceptable Subsidiaries'
obligations under this Agreement and any other Credit Document:
6.01 Notices of Certain Events. The Borrower shall promptly give
written notice to the Bank of:
(a) all litigation, proceedings or actions affecting the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries where the amount claimed is $2,000,000 or its
Equivalent Amount or more;
(b) any substantial dispute which may exist between the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries and any governmental regulatory body or law
enforcement authority;
(c) any Default or Event of Default;
(d) any of the representations and warranties in Article V
ceasing to be true and correct;
(e) any ERISA event, the adoption of any Pension Plan or any
other new Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code by the Borrower or any entity
under the control of or under common control with the Borrower, or the
commencement of contributions to such a Plan; and
(f) any other matter which has resulted or could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
6.02 Financial and Other Information. The Borrower shall deliver to
the Bank in form and detail satisfactory to the Bank, and in such number of
copies as the Bank may request:
(a) Within 95 days after the end of each fiscal year, the
Borrower's consolidated financial statements for such year audited by a
certified public accountant together with an unqualified opinion of such
certified public accountant;
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(b) Within 50 days after the end of each of the first three
quarterly accounting periods, of Borrower's fiscal year the Borrower's
consolidated financial statements for such period prepared by the Borrower and
certified by the Borrower as fairly presenting Borrower's financial condition
and results of operations;
(c) Within 15 days after the date of filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of any of the Borrower's Form 10-K
Annual Reports, Form 10-Q Quarterly Reports and Form 8-K Current Reports; and
(d) Promptly upon request, such other materials and
information relating to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries as the Bank may
request.
6.03 Books, Records, Audits and Inspections. The Borrower shall, and
shall cause its Subsidiaries to, maintain adequate books, accounts and records,
and prepare all financial statements required hereunder in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, and in compliance
with the regulations of any governmental regulatory body having jurisdiction
over the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, or the Borrower's or its Subsidiaries'
businesses, and permit employees or agents of the Bank at any reasonable time to
inspect the Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' properties, and to examine or audit
the Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' books, accounts, and records and make
copies and memoranda thereof.
6.04 Use of Facility. The Borrower shall use the credit facility
provided herein solely for working capital and other general corporate purposes
not in contravention of any requirement of law.
6.05 Insurance. The Borrower shall maintain and keep in force insurance
of the types and in amounts customarily carried in lines of businesses similar
to those of the Borrower, including fire, extended coverage, public liability
(including coverage for contractual liability), property damage (including use
and occupance), business interruption, and workers' compensation, all carried by
insurers and in amounts satisfactory to the Bank, with loss payable endorsements
on such types of insurance as the Bank may request, and deliver to the Bank from
time to time, at the Bank's request, a copy of each insurance policy, or if
permitted by the Bank, a certificate of insurance setting forth all insurance
then in effect.
6.06 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower shall at all times comply with,
and cause its Subsidiaries to comply with, all laws, statutes (including any
fictitious name statute), rules, regulations, orders, and directions of any
governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
(including ERISA and all Environmental Laws).
6.07 Change in Name, Structure or Location. The Borrower shall notify
the Bank in writing prior to any change in (a) the Borrower's name or the name
of any Acceptable Subsidiary, (b) the Borrower's or any Acceptable Subsidiary's
business or legal structure, or (c) the Borrower's or any Acceptable
Subsidiary's place of business or chief executive office if the Borrower has
more than one place of business.
6.08 Existence and Properties. The Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries shall maintain and preserve its existence and all rights,
privileges, and franchises now enjoyed, conduct its business in an orderly,
efficient, and customary manner, keep all the its properties in good working
order and condition, and from time to time make all needed repairs, renewals, or
replacements thereto and thereof so that the efficiency of such property shall
be fully maintained and preserved.
6.09 Additional Acts. The Borrower shall perform, on request of the
Bank, such acts as may be necessary or advisable to perfect any lien or security
interest contemplated hereby or otherwise to carry out the intent of this
Agreement, including the provision of opinions of counsel for the Borrower
addressing such matters as may reasonably be requested by the Bank.
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ARTICLE VII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as credit is available under this Agreement and until full and
final payment of all of the Borrower's and any Acceptable Subsidiary's
obligations under this Agreement and any other Credit Document:
7.01 Liens. The Borrower shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, create, assume, or suffer to exist any security
interest, deed of trust, mortgage, lien (including the lien of an attachment,
judgment, or execution), or encumbrance, securing a charge or obligation, on or
of any of its or their property, real or personal, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, except: (a) security interests and deeds of trust in favor
of the Bank; (b) liens, security interests, and encumbrances in existence as of
the date of this Agreement and disclosed to the Bank in writing prior to the
Closing Date; (c) liens for current taxes, assessments, or other governmental
charges which are not delinquent or remain payable without any penalty; (d)
liens in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, or other
social security obligations; (e) mechanics', worker's, materialmen's,
landlords', carriers', or other like liens arising in the ordinary and normal
course of business with respect to obligations which are not due; (f) purchase
money security interests in personal or real property (other than property
classified as inventory or current assets) hereafter acquired when the security
interest does not extend beyond the property purchased, does not exceed the
value of such property, and secures only obligations incurred to purchase such
property.
7.02 Acquisitions. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not acquire
or purchase control of, or the assets or business of, any other person, firm, or
corporation, unless such person, firm or corporation engages in the same general
line of business as the Borrower, the Borrower or its Subsidiary is the entity
which survives the transaction, and the transaction would not result in the
breach of any warranty or covenant hereunder.
7.03 Loans. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall make
any loans, advances, or other extensions of credit to any of the Borrower's or
such Subsidiary's executives, officers, or directors or shareholders (or any
relatives of any of the foregoing) except loans to employees made in the
ordinary course of their employment; or make loans, advances or other extensions
of credit to or invest in any other person, firm, corporation, or other entity
other than (a) investments in cash equivalents; (b) extensions of credit in the
nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the sale or lease
of goods or services in the ordinary course of business; (c) extensions of
credit by the Borrower to any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries or by any of its
wholly-owned Subsidiaries to another of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries; and (d)
investments made in the course of transactions permitted by Section 7.02.
7.04 Liquidations and Mergers. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall
not liquidate or dissolve or enter into any consolidation, merger, partnership,
joint venture, or other combination, except (i) consolidations or mergers of
Subsidiaries into Borrower, (ii) consolidations or mergers of Subsidiaries of
the Borrower when such a Subsidiary survives the transaction, and (iii)
transactions permissible pursuant to Section 7.02.
7.05 Sale of Assets. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
shall (a) sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of its business or assets as a whole
or such as in the opinion of the Bank constitutes a substantial portion of its
business or assets; (b) sell, encumber, or otherwise dispose of any of its
accounts receivable except accounts receivable in an aggregate amount not in
excess of $5,000,000 where the account debtor is located in Japan; (c) sell or
otherwise dispose of any of its assets except for full, fair and reasonable
consideration; or (d) enter into any sale and leaseback agreement covering any
of its fixed or capital assets, except sale and leaseback agreements entered
into solely for the purpose of financing the purchase of such assets at the time
of their purchase.
7.06 Business Activities. The Borrower shall not engage in any
business activities or operations substantially different from or unrelated to
present business activities and operations.
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7.07 Regulations G, T, U, and X. The Borrower shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, use any portion of the proceeds of any
Advances or extensions of credit hereunder, directly or indirectly, (i) to
purchase or carry margin stock (within the meanings of Regulations G, T, U, and
X of the FRB), (ii) to repay or otherwise refinance indebtedness of the Borrower
or others incurred to purchase or carry any such margin stock, (iii) to extend
credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such margin stock, or (iv)
to acquire any security in any transaction that is subject to Section 13 or 14
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
7.08 Tangible Net Worth. The Borrower shall not permit as of the last
day of any fiscal quarter on a consolidated basis its Tangible Net Worth to be
less than $88,000,000 plus (i) 75% of net income after income taxes (without
subtracting losses) earned in each quarterly accounting period commencing after
June 30, 1995, plus (ii) the net proceeds from any equity securities issued
after June 30, 1995, less (iii) the amount of equity securities repurchased
after June 30, 1995, where:
"Tangible Net Worth" means the gross book value of the assets
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (exclusive
of goodwill, patents, trademarks, trade names, organization expense,
treasury stock, unamortized debt discount and expense, deferred charges,
and other like intangibles) less (a) reserves applicable thereto, and
(b) all liabilities (including accrued and deferred income taxes).
7.09 Total Liabilities to Tangible Net Worth. The Borrower shall not
permit as of the last day of any fiscal quarter on a consolidated basis the
ratio of the Borrower's total liabilities to Tangible Net Worth to exceed the
ratio of 1.00 to 1.00, where Tangible Net Worth has the meaning specified in
Section 7.08.
7.10 Quick Ratio. The Borrower shall not permit as of the last day of
any fiscal quarter on a consolidated basis the sum of cash, short-term cash
investments, marketable securities not classified as long-term investments and
accounts receivable to be less than 1.50 times current liabilities, including
the dollar or Equivalent Amount of all outstanding Advances and of the L/C
Outstanding Amount.
7.11 Maintenance of Profitability. The Borrower on a consolidated basis
shall not incur (a) any quarterly net or operating loss in any two consecutive
fiscal quarters or (b) any quarterly net or operating loss in excess of 5.0% of
Tangible Net Worth, where, Tangible Net Worth has the meaning specified in
Section 7.08.
ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
8.01 Events of Default. The occurrence of any of the following events
shall constitute an "Event of Default" under this Agreement:
(a) Failure to Pay. The Borrower or any Acceptable Subsidiary
fails to pay any installment of principal when due, or fails to pay within five
days after the same becomes due any interest, fee or any other sum due under
this Agreement or any other Credit Document in accordance with the terms hereof
or thereof.
(b) Breach of Representation or Warranty. Any representation
or warranty herein or in any other Credit Document proves to have been false or
misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made hereunder.
(c) Specific Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or
observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.03
or Article VII hereof.
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(d) Other Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or observe
any other term or covenant contained in this Agreement or any Credit Document
and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after the
earlier of (i) the date upon which an officer of the Borrower knew or reasonably
should have known of such failure or (ii) the date upon which written notice
thereof is given to the Borrower by the Bank.
(e) Judgments. One or more judgments or arbitration awards are
entered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries enters into any settlement agreement with respect to any
litigation or arbitration, in the aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or an
Equivalent Amount or more on a claim or claims not covered by insurance.
(f) Failure to Pay Debts; Voluntary Bankruptcy. The Borrower
or any Acceptable Subsidiary (i) fails to pay the Borrower's or such
Subsidiary's debts generally as they come due, or (ii) files any petition,
proceeding, case, or action for relief under any bankruptcy, reorganization,
insolvency, or moratorium law, or any other law or laws for the relief of, or
relating to, debtors.
(g) Involuntary Bankruptcy. An involuntary petition is filed
under any bankruptcy or similar statute against the Borrower or any Acceptable
Subsidiary, or a receiver, trustee, liquidator, assignee, custodian,
sequestrator, or other similar official is appointed to take possession of the
properties of the Borrower or any Acceptable Subsidiary.
(h) Default of Other Financial Obligations. Any default occurs
under any other agreement involving the borrowing of money or the extension of
credit having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or
available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any
combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than $1,000,000 or an
Equivalent Amount to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary may be a party as
borrower, guarantor, or installment purchaser, if such default consists of the
failure to pay any obligation when due or if such default gives to the holder of
the obligation concerned the right to accelerate the obligation.
(i) Default under other Credit Documents. Any Credit Document
(other than this Agreement), guaranty, subordination agreement, or other
agreement or instrument required hereunder or executed in connection herewith is
breached or becomes ineffective or any default occurs under any such agreement
or instrument.
(j) Default of Other Bank Obligations. Any default occurs
under any other obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Bank or to
any subsidiary or affiliate of the Bank.
(k) Material Adverse Effect. There occurs a Material Adverse
Effect.
(l) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a
Pension Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in
liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan or PBGC in
an aggregate amount in excess of $500,000; or (ii) any of the representations
and warranties contained in Section 5.12 shall cease to be true and correct
which, individually or in combination, has resulted or could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Change of Control. (i) any person or two or more persons
acting in concert shall acquire beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Borrower (or other securities convertible into such
securities) representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of all
securities of the Borrower entitled to vote in the election of directors; or
(ii) during any period of up to 12 consecutive months, commencing after the
Closing Date, individuals who at the beginning of such 12-month period were
directors of the Borrower shall cease for any reason to constitute a majority of
the Board of Directors of the Borrower unless the persons replacing such
individuals were nominated by the Board of Directors of the Borrower; or (iii)
any person or two or more persons acting in concert acquiring by contract or
otherwise, or entering into a contract or arrangement which upon consummation
will result in its or their acquisition of, or control over, securities of the
Borrower (or other securities convertible into such securities) representing 25%
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or more of the combined voting power of all securities of the Borrower entitled
to vote in the election of directors.
8.02 Remedies. If any Event of Default occurs,
(a) any indebtedness of the Borrower or of any Acceptable
Subsidiary under any of the Credit Documents, any term thereof to the contrary
notwithstanding, shall at the Bank's option (but automatically upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default described in subsection 8.01(f)(ii) or
subsection 8.01(g)) and without notice become immediately due and payable
without presentment, demand, protest, or notice of dishonor, or any other
notice, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower to the full
extent permitted by law, and the Bank may declare an amount equal to the maximum
aggregate amount that is or at any time thereafter may become available for
drawing under any then-outstanding letters of credit, (whether or not any
beneficiary shall have presented, or be entitled at such time to present, the
drafts or other documents required to draw under such letters of credit) to be
immediately due and payable;
(b) the obligation, if any, of the Bank (including through any
Offshore Credit Provider) to make further loans or extensions of credit or to
issue further letters of credit hereunder shall immediately cease and terminate;
and
(c) the Bank and each Offshore Credit Provider shall have all
rights, powers, and remedies available under each of the Credit Documents, or
accorded by law, including the right to resort to any or all security for any
credit accommodation described herein, and to exercise any or all of the rights
of a beneficiary or secured party pursuant to applicable law.
All rights, powers, and remedies of the Bank and each Offshore Credit Provider
may be exercised at any time by the Bank or such Offshore Credit Provider and
from time to time after the occurrence of an Event of Default. All rights,
powers, and remedies of the Bank and any Offshore Credit Provider in connection
with each of the Credit Documents are cumulative and not exclusive and shall be
in addition to any other rights, powers, or remedies provided by law or equity.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.01 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns;
provided, however, that the Borrower shall not assign this Agreement or any
other Credit Document or any of the rights, duties or obligations of the
Borrower hereunder without the prior written consent of the Bank.
9.02 Consents and Waivers. No failure to exercise and no delay in
exercising, on the part of the Bank or any Offshore Credit Provider, any right,
remedy, power, or privilege hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power, or privilege
hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right, remedy, power, or privilege. No consent or waiver under this
Agreement shall be effective unless in writing. No waiver of any breach or
default shall be deemed a waiver of any breach or default thereafter occurring.
9.03 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
under the laws of the State of California.
9.04 Costs and Attorneys' Fees. The Borrower shall, whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, pay or reimburse the Bank
on demand for all costs and expenses incurred by the Bank in connection with the
development, preparation, delivery, administration, and execution of, and any
amendment, supplement, waiver or modification to, this Agreement and any other
Credit Document and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, including reasonable attorney fees and disbursements and the allocated
cost of internal counsel and disbursements, incurred by the Bank with respect
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thereto; and in connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement or
preservation of any rights or remedies hereunder or under any Credit Document,
including any "workout" or restructuring under this Agreement, including
attorney fees and disbursements and the allocated cost of internal counsel and
disbursements.
9.05 Integration; Amendment. This Agreement, together with the other
Credit Documents, embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the
Borrower and the Bank. This Agreement may be amended or modified only in
writing, signed by the Borrower and the Bank.
9.06 Borrower's Documents. The Bank shall be under no obligation to
return any schedules, invoices, statements, budgets, forecasts, reports or other
papers delivered by the Borrower and shall destroy or otherwise dispose of same
at such time as the Bank, in its discretion, deems appropriate.
9.07 Participations. The Bank may at any time sell, assign, grant
participations in, or otherwise transfer to any other person, firm, corporation
or other entity (a "Participant") all or part of the obligations of the Borrower
and any Acceptable Subsidiary under this Agreement and any other Credit
Document. The Borrower authorizes the Bank and each Participant, upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default, to proceed directly by right of setoff,
banker's lien, or otherwise, against any assets of the Borrower and any
Acceptable Subsidiary which may be in the hands of the Bank or such Participant,
respectively. The Borrower authorizes the Bank to disclose to any prospective
Participant and any Participant any and all information in the Bank's possession
concerning the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, this Agreement or any other Credit
Document.
9.08 General Indemnification. The Borrower shall pay and indemnify the
Bank, the Offshore Credit Providers, the Bank's parent company, and each of
their respective officers, directors, employees, counsel, agents and
attorneys-in-fact (each, an "Indemnified Person") harmless from and against any
and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, charges, expenses, or disbursements (including
attorneys' fees and disbursements and the allocated costs of internal counsel)
of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery,
enforcement, performance, and administration of this Agreement and any other
Credit Documents, or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and with
respect to any investigation, litigation, or proceeding related to this
Agreement, any violation of any Environmental Law by the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries, any release of a Hazardous Substance at or from any property of
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or the loans and other extensions of
credit hereunder or the use of the proceeds thereof, whether or not any
Indemnified Person is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the
"Indemnified Liabilities"); provided, that the Borrower shall have no obligation
hereunder to any Indemnified Person with respect to Indemnified Liabilities
arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified
Person. The agreements in this Section shall survive payment of all other
obligations of the Borrower or any Acceptable Subsidiary hereunder or under the
other Credit Documents.
9.09 Arbitration; Reference Proceeding. (a) Any controversy or claim
between or among the parties, including but not limited to those arising out of
or relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document or other agreements
or instruments relating hereto or delivered in connection herewith and any claim
based on or arising from an alleged tort, shall at the request of any party be
determined by arbitration. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with
the United States Arbitration Act (Title 9, U.S. Code), notwithstanding any
choice of law provision in this Agreement, and under the Commercial Rules of the
American Arbitration Association ("AAA"). The arbitrator(s) shall give effect to
statutes of limitation in determining any claim. Any controversy concerning
whether an issue is arbitrable shall be determined by the arbitrator(s).
Judgment upon the arbitration award may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction. The institution and maintenance of an action for judicial relief
or pursuit of a provisional or ancillary remedy shall not constitute a waiver of
the right of any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the controversy or
claim to arbitration if any other party contests such action for judicial
relief.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section , no controversy or claim shall be submitted to arbitration without the
consent of all parties if, at the time of the proposed submission, such
controversy or claim arises from or relates to an obligation to the Bank which
is secured by real property
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collateral located in California. If all parties do not consent to submission of
such a controversy or claim to arbitration, the controversy or claim shall be
determined as provided in subsection (c) of this Section .
(c) A controversy or claim which is not submitted to
arbitration as provided and limited in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section
shall, at the request of any party, be determined by a reference in accordance
with California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 638 et seq. If such an election
is made, the parties shall designate to the court a referee or referees selected
under the auspices of the AAA in the same manner as arbitrators are selected in
AAA-sponsored proceedings. The presiding referee of the panel, or the referee if
there is a single referee, shall be an active attorney or retired judge.
Judgment upon the award rendered by such referee or referees shall be entered in
the court in which such proceeding was commenced in accordance with California
Code of Civil Procedure Sections 644 and 645.
(d) No provision of this paragraph shall limit the right of
any party to this Agreement to exercise self-help remedies such as setoff, to
foreclose against or sell any real or personal property collateral or security,
or to obtain provisional or ancillary remedies from a court of competent
jurisdiction before, after, or during the pendency of any arbitration or other
proceeding. The exercise of a remedy does not waive the right of either party to
resort to arbitration or reference. At the Bank's option, foreclosure under a
deed of trust or mortgage may be accomplished either by exercise of power of
sale under the deed of trust or mortgage or by judicial foreclosure.
9.10 Notices. (a) All notices, requests and other communications
provided for hereunder shall be in writing and mailed or delivered to a party at
its address specified on the signature pages hereof, or to such other address as
shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties.
(b) All such notices and communications shall, when
transmitted by overnight delivery, be effective when delivered for overnight
delivery, or if personally delivered, upon such personal delivery, except that
notices pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by
the Bank.
(c) The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that any agreement of
the Bank pursuant to Article II hereof to receive notices by telephone or
facsimile is solely for the convenience and at the request of the Borrower.
Telephone requests may be made by any individual identified in writing to the
Bank on a form acceptable to the Bank as being authorized to make such requests.
The Bank shall be entitled to rely upon any written or telephone request from
persons it reasonably believes to be authorized by the Borrower to make such
requests without making independent inquiry. The Borrower assumes the full risk
of, and the Bank shall not be responsible for, any delays or errors in
transmission, and the obligation of the Borrower to repay the loans and other
extensions of credit hereunder shall not be affected in any way or to any extent
by any failure by the Bank to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or
facsimile notice or the receipt by the Bank of a confirmation which is at
variance with the terms understood by the Bank to be contained in the telephonic
or facsimile notice.
9.11 Headings; Interpretation. Article, section, and paragraph headings
are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation or meaning of any
provisions of this Agreement. The meaning of defined terms shall be equally
applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms. The words
"hereof", "herein", "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in this
Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
provision of this Agreement; and subsection, section, schedule and exhibit
references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. The term
"including" is not limiting and means "including without limitation." In the
computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date,
the word "from" means "from and including"; the words "to" and "until" each mean
"to but excluding", and the word "through" means "to and including."
9.12 Severability. The illegality or unenforceability of any provision
of this Agreement or any instrument or agreement required hereunder shall not in
any way affect or impair the legality or enforceability of the remaining
provisions of this Agreement or any instrument or agreement required hereunder.
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9.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in as many
counterparts as may be deemed necessary or convenient, and by the different
parties hereto on separate counterparts each of which, when so executed, shall
be deemed an original but all such counterparts shall constitute but one and the
same agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.
DIONEX CORPORATION
By: /s/ Michael Pope
-------------------------------------
Typed Name: MICHAEL POPE
-----------------------------
Title: Vice President
----------------------------------
By:
-------------------------------------
Typed Name:
-----------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
Address where notices to
Borrower are to be sent:
1228 Titan Way
Sunnyvale, California 94086
BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION
By: /s/ John Cinderey
-------------------------------------
Typed Name: JOHN CINDEREY
-----------------------------
Title: Managing Director
----------------------------------
Address where notices to
Bank are to be sent:
530 Lytton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Attn: The Mid-Cap Technology
Group (#3537)
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