Exhibit 10.8
Execution Version
LETTER OF CREDIT REIMBURSEMENT AND
COLLATERAL AGREEMENT, dated as of August 5, 2011, between
DYNEGY POWER, LLC, as account party (the “ Account
Party ”) and CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,
(“ Credit Suisse ”) as issuing lender (in such
capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such
capacity, the “ Issuing Lender ”).
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
WHEREAS, the Issuing Lender (or one
or more of its Affiliates) has issued the letters of credit
referred to on Schedule A hereto (the “ Existing Letters
of Credit ”) under the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement dated as of April 2, 2007 (as amended prior to the
date hereof, the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”)
among Dynegy Holdings Inc., as the borrower, Dynegy Inc., a
Delaware corporation, as the parent, Dynegy Inc., an Illinois
corporation, as the intermediate parent, the other guarantors party
thereto, the lenders party thereto, Citicorp USA, Inc. and JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agents, Citicorp USA, Inc., as
payment agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent, and
each letter of credit issuer party thereto and such Existing
Letters of Credit remain outstanding as of the date
hereof;
WHEREAS, on the Effective Date (as
herein defined), the Existing Credit Agreement will be terminated,
all indebtedness outstanding thereunder (other than certain
existing outstanding letters of credit) will be repaid, all
commitments will be terminated and all liens in respect thereof
will be released; and
WHEREAS, the Account Party has
requested that (i) the Issuing Lender maintain (either itself
or through one or more of its Affiliates) the Existing Letters of
Credit under this Agreement and (ii) the Issuing Lender
provide a letter of credit facility to the Account Party, and the
Issuing Lender is willing to maintain (either itself or through one
or more of its Affiliates) the Existing Letters of Credit under
this Agreement and provide the letter of credit facility to the
extent that the obligations of the Account Party with respect to
the Existing Letters of Credit and any other letter of credit
issued hereunder are cash collateralized by the Account Party upon
the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set
forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises and to induce the Issuing Lender to enter into this
Agreement, the Account Party hereby agrees with the Issuing Lender
as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Defined
Terms . (a) The following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“ Account Balance
”: shall mean, at any time, the aggregate Dollar amount of
Collateral on deposit in the Collateral Account.
“ Account Collateral
”: the collective reference to the Collateral and the
Collateral Account.
“ Account Control
Agreement ”: as defined in
Section 5.2(e).
“ Account Party
”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“ Affiliate ”:
with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly,
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is
Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified
means any other Person which directly or indirectly through one or
more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such specified Person. For the purposes of
this definition, “Control” (including, with correlative
meanings, the terms “Controlling”, “Controlled
by” and “under common Control with”), means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or
otherwise.
“ Agreement ”:
this Letter of Credit Reimbursement and Collateral Agreement, as
the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.
“ Applicable Margin
”: 7.75% per annum; provided that all past due amounts
shall bear interest at 9.75% per annum.
“ Application ”:
an application, in such form as the Issuing Lender may specify as
the form customarily used by the Issuing Lender for Letters of
Credit from time to time, requesting the Issuing Lender to issue,
extend or amend a Letter of Credit.
“ Bankruptcy Code
”: the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, as heretofore and
hereafter amended, and codified as 11 U.S.C. §§101 et
seq.
“ Base Rate ”:
for any day, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to
the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greater of (i) the Prime
Rate in effect on such day and (ii) the Federal Funds
Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. If the Issuing
Lender shall have determined (which determination shall be
conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain
the Federal Funds Effective Rate for any reason, including the
inability or failure of the Issuing Lender to obtain sufficient
quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof,
the Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause
(ii) of the first sentence of this definition until the
circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any
change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the
Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective on the effective
date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds
Effective Rate, as the case may be.
“ Business Day ”:
a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the
commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law
to close.
“ Change in Law
”: as defined in Section 3.8(a).
“ Code ”: means
the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the
State of New York; provided that, if by reason of mandatory
provisions of law, the perfection or the effect of perfection or
non-perfection of the security interests in any Account Collateral
is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a
jurisdiction other than New York, “Code” means the
Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for
purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or
effect of perfection or non-perfection.
“ Collateral ”:
the collective reference to all cash and funds deposited from time
to time in the Collateral Account and all interest and other
property received in respect of, or as proceeds of, or in
substitution or exchange for, any of the foregoing.
“ Collateral Account
”: Dynegy - Credit Suisse Cash Collateral Account - Account
No: 334697 established with The Bank of New York Mellon and any
substitute or successor account.
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“ Commitment Period
”: the period from and including the Effective Date to
August 5, 2014.
“ Credit Agreement
”: the Credit Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date,
among the Account Party, as borrower, Intermediate Holdings, the
lenders party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as
Administrative Agent and Collateral Trustee, Credit Suisse
Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, as
Joint Syndication Agents, and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, as Co-Documentation
Agents.
“ Credit Documents
”: this Agreement, all Applications relating to the Letters
of Credit, any Letter of Credit and the Account Control
Agreement.
“ Debtor Relief Laws
” shall mean the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of
America, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy,
assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement,
receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief
laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from
time to time in effect.
“ Default ”: any
of the events specified in Section 4.4 whether or not any
requirement set forth therein for the giving of notice, the lapse
of time, or both, has been satisfied.
“ Dollars ”,
“ $ ” and “ US$ ”: dollars in
lawful currency of the United States of America.
“ Effective Date
”: the date of satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section 5.2, which date is August 5, 2011.
“ Equity Interests
”: shares of capital stock, partnership interest, membership
interest in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a
trust or other equity interest in any Person, and any option,
warrant or other right entitling the holder thereof to purchase or
otherwise acquire any such equity interests.
“ Event of Default
”: as defined in Section 4.4.
“ Excluded Taxes
”: with respect to the Issuing Lender or any other recipient
of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the
Account Party hereunder or pursuant to any Credit Document,
(a) income or franchise taxes imposed on or measured by its
net income or net profits, however denominated, by the jurisdiction
under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its
principal office is located or, in the case of any Issuing Lender,
in which its applicable lending office is located, or that are
imposed by reason of any connection between the Issuing Lender or
other recipient and any taxing jurisdiction other than a connection
arising solely by executing or entering into any Credit Document,
receiving payments thereunder or having been a party to, performed
its obligations under, or enforced, any Credit Documents,
(b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of
America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction
described in clause (a) above, (c) in the case of a
Foreign Issuing Lender, any U.S. federal withholding tax or backup
withholding that is imposed pursuant to laws in effect at the time
such Foreign Issuing Lender or other recipient becomes a party to
this Agreement (or designates a new lending office), except to the
extent that such Foreign Issuing Lender (or its assignor, if any)
was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office
(or assignment), to receive additional amounts with respect to such
withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.10(a), (d) in the
case of a Foreign Issuing Lender, any U.S. federal withholding tax
or backup withholding that is attributable to such Foreign Issuing
Lender’s failure to comply with Section 3.10(e),
(e) any U.S. federal withholding tax imposed pursuant to FATCA
and (f) all penalties and interest on the foregoing
amounts.
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“ Existing Credit
Agreement ”: as defined in the Statement of
Purpose.
“ Existing Letters of
Credit ”: as defined in the Statement of
Purpose.
“ FATCA ”:
Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended from time to time (as of the date hereof or any
amended or successor provision that is substantively comparable and
not materially more onerous to comply with) and any regulations or
the official interpretations thereof.
“ Federal Funds Effective
Rate ”: for any day, the weighted average of the rates on
overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on
the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a
Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day of such
transactions received by the Issuing Lender from three Federal
funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
“ Financial Institution
”: The Bank of New York Mellon, or its permitted successor or
assigns, as party to the Account Control Agreement.
“ Foreign Issuing
Lender ”: an Issuing Lender that is not a “United
States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30)
of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“ GAAP ”: those
generally accepted accounting principals in the United States as in
effect from time to time.
“ Governing Documents
”: collectively, as to any Person, the articles or
certificate of incorporation and bylaws, any shareholders
agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company
agreement, partnership agreement, trust indenture or other
formation or constituent documents of such Person.
“ Governmental
Authority ”: the government of the United States of
America or any other nation, or any political subdivision thereof,
whether state or local, and any agency authority, instrumentality,
regulatory board, court, central bank or other entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or
administrative functions of, or pertaining to, government
(including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or
the European Central Bank).
“ Immaterial Subsidiary
”: any Subsidiary that has assets with a book value not in
excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate for all Immaterial
Subsidiaries.
“ Indemnified Taxes
”: (a) Taxes other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or
with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation
of the Account Party hereunder or under any other Credit Document
and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other
Taxes.
“ Intermediate Holdings
”: Dynegy Gas Investments Holdings, LLC.
“ Issuing Lender
”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“ L/C Disbursement
”: a payment or disbursement made by the Issuing Lender
pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
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“ L/C Fee Payment Date
”: the last Business Day of each March, June, September and
December and the Termination Date.
“ L/C Obligation
”: as defined in Section 3.3(a).
“ Letters of Credit
”: any standby letter of credit issued pursuant to
Section 3.1 (which in any event shall include the Existing
Letters of Credit), as any such letter of credit may be amended,
renewed or extended from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof.
“ Letter of Credit
Commitment ”: as of the Effective Date, $215,000,000, as
the same may be decreased in accordance with
Section 3.1.
“ Lien ” with
respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien,
pledge, encumbrance, charge or security interest in or on such
asset and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any
conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention
agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same
economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such
asset.
“ Material Adverse
Effect ”: (a) materially adverse effect on the
business, assets, liabilities, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or operating results of the Account Party and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of
the ability of the Account Party or its Subsidiaries to perform any
of their material obligations under any Credit Document or
(c) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of or
benefits available to the Issuing Lender under any Credit
Document.
“ Material Indebtedness
”: as defined in Section 4.4(e).
“ Obligations ”:
(a) the L/C Obligations and (b) all other reasonable and
document out of pocket expenses (including reasonable
attorney’s fees, disbursements and other charges of the
Issuing Lender), charges, obligations, covenants and duties owing
by the Account Party to the Issuing Lender which may arise under,
out of, or in connection with this Agreement, the Letters of
Credit, any of the other Credit Documents or any other document
made, delivered or given in connection herewith or therewith or in
any way relating to the Account Collateral, of every kind, nature
and description, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or
to become due, now existing or hereafter incurred, liquidated or
unliquidated.
“ Other Taxes ”:
any and all present or future stamp or documentary Taxes or any
other excise or property Taxes, charges or similar levies arising
from any payment made under any Credit Document or from the
execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect
to, any Credit Document (except any such Taxes imposed with respect
to an assignment, other than an assignment made at the Account
Party’s request).
“ Outside Date ”:
the earlier of (x) the last day of the Commitment Period and
(y) the date upon which the Letter of Credit Commitment shall
have been terminated by the Account Party pursuant to either
Section 3.1(c) or by the Issuing Lender following the exercise
of remedies pursuant to Section 4.4.
“ Outstanding Amount
”: shall mean, at any time, the sum of, without duplication,
(a) the Dollar amount of the aggregate Stated Amount of all
outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the Dollar
amount of the aggregate principal amount of all L/C Disbursements
at such time for which the Issuing Lender has not been
reimbursed.
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“ Person ”: any
natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust,
joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental
Authority or other entity.
“ Prime Rate ”:
the rate of interest per annum determined from time to time by
Credit Suisse as its prime rate in effect at its principal office
in New York City and notified to the Account Party. The prime rate
is a rate set by Credit Suisse based upon various factors including
Credit Suisse’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
rate.
“ Property ”: of
any Person means, any right or interest in or to any type of real,
personal, tangible, intangible or mixed property or asset of any
kind whether or not included in the most recent consolidated
balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries under GAAP,
including Equity Interests.
“ Register ”: as
defined in Section 7.14.
“ Related Person
”: each of the Issuing Lender’s Affiliates, Issuing
Lender’s successors and assigns and the partners, directors,
officers, employees, agents, members, Controlling Persons,
trustees, administrators, managers and representatives of Issuing
Lender and of Issuing Lender’s Affiliates.
“ Requirement of Law
”: as to any Person, the Governing Documents of such Person,
and any law, statute, treaty, rule, regulation, official directive,
order, decree, or determination of an arbitrator or a court or
other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding
upon such Person or any of its Property or to which such Person or
any of its Property is subject.
“ Responsible Officer
”: of any Person shall mean any executive officer or chief
financial officer of such Person and any other officer or similar
official thereof responsible for the administration of the
obligations of such Person in respect of this Agreement.
“ Stated Amount
”: of any Letter of Credit shall mean the maximum Dollar
amount from time to time available to be drawn thereunder,
determined without regard to whether any conditions to drawing
could then be met.
“ Subsidiary ”:
with respect to any Person, with respect to any Person (herein
referred to as the “ parent ”), any
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or
other business entity (a) of which securities or other
ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or
more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or more than 50% of the
general partnership interests are, at the time any determination is
being made, owned, owned or held (directly or indirectly through
one or more subsidiaries) or (b) which is a partnership with
respect to which such parent is the sole general partner of and
Controls such partnership. Unless otherwise qualified all reference
to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in
this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the
Account Party.
“ Taxes ”: any
and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties,
deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges
imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest,
additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“ Termination Date
”: the later of (x) the Outside Date and (y) the
date upon which the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full
in cash (other than contingent indemnification obligations) and the
Outstanding Amount is $0.
(b) Rules of Interpretation
.
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(i) The words “hereof,”
“herein” and “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 section and paragraph references are to this
Agreement unless otherwise specified.
(ii) The meanings given to terms
defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and
plural forms of such terms.
ARTICLE II
COLLATERAL ACCOUNT
SECTION 2.1. Establishment
of Collateral Account . (a) The Account Party agrees that,
as a condition to maintaining the Existing Letters of Credit and
issuing Letters of Credit hereunder and as security for the
payments of its obligations under this Agreement, it shall, on the
Effective Date (i) establish the Collateral Account for the
purpose of holding the Collateral to be deposited into the
Collateral Account by or on behalf of the Account Party and
(ii) deposit into the Collateral Account, Dollars in
immediately available funds, in an amount equal to $221,450,000.
After the Effective Date, the Account Party agrees that at all
times thereafter that it shall promptly cause additional funds to
be deposited and held in the Collateral Account from time to time
in order that the Account Balance shall at least equal 103% of the
Outstanding Amount.
(b) The Collateral Account shall be
maintained until the Termination Date.
(c) The Account Collateral shall be
subject to the exclusive dominion and control of the Issuing
Lender, which shall hold the Collateral and administer the
Collateral Account subject to the terms and conditions of the
Account Control Agreement. Except as expressly set forth in
Section 2.5(b), the Account Party shall have no right of
withdrawal from the Collateral Account nor any other right or power
with respect to the Account Collateral, nor any right to convey or
encumber any of the Account Collateral, except as expressly
provided therein.
(d) All funds on deposit in the
Collateral Account will be maintained by Bank of New York Mellon
(or another financial institution acceptable to the Issuing Lender
and the Account Party) and will bear interest at the rate from time
to time applicable to “The Bank of New York Mellon Cash
Reserve”. Funds on deposit therein shall not be invested in
any investments. Any interest received in respect of the Collateral
Account shall accrue for the benefit of the Account Party and shall
be deposited into the Collateral Account.
(e) The Issuing Lender shall have no
responsibility for any loss of funds or liability arising out of
the Collateral Account, except to the extent such losses are found
by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable
judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct of the Issuing Lender.
SECTION 2.2. Grant of
Security Interest . As collateral security for the prompt and
complete payment and performance when due (whether by acceleration
or otherwise) of the Obligations, the Account Party hereby grants
to the Issuing Lender, a continuing security interest in and to all
of the Account Party’s right, title and interest in and to
the Account Collateral and all proceeds of the
foregoing.
SECTION 2.3. Covenants as
to Account Collateral . The Account Party covenants and agrees
with the Issuing Lender that:
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(a) The Account Party will not
(i) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, or otherwise dispose of,
or grant any option with respect to, the Account Collateral (except
as otherwise permitted hereunder), or (ii) create, incur or
permit to exist any Lien or option in favor of, or any claim of any
Person with respect to, any of the Account Collateral, or any
interest therein, except for the Lien created by this Agreement,
the Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent in connection with the
Credit Agreement and the banker’s lien and right of setoff of
The Bank of New York Mellon in the Collateral Account.
(b) The Account Party will maintain
the Lien created by this Agreement as a first priority, perfected
security interest and defend the right, title and interest of the
Issuing Lender in and to the Account Collateral against the claims
and demands of all Persons whomsoever. At any time and from time to
time, upon the written request of the Issuing Lender, and at the
sole expense of the Account Party, the Account Party will promptly
and duly execute and deliver such further instruments and documents
and take such further actions as the Issuing Lender may reasonably
request for the purposes of obtaining or preserving the full
benefits of this Agreement and of the rights and powers herein
granted, including without limitation, the filing of financing
statements under the Code.
(c) If at any time the Issuing
Lender determines that the Account Balance is less than 103% of the
Outstanding Amount, the Account Party will cause to be deposited
into the Collateral Account, as additional funds to be held in the
Collateral Account, an amount, in Dollars and in funds immediately
available to the Issuing Lender, equal to the Dollar amount of any
such deficiency and shall do so not later than the Business Day
immediately following the day that the Account Party receives such
notice.
SECTION 2.4. Remedies;
Application of Collateral . (a) In addition to the rights
of the Issuing Lender provided in Section 3.3(b) with respect
to reimbursements of L/C Disbursements and the provisions of
Section 4.4, during the continuance of an Event of Default,
the Issuing Lender shall without notice of any kind, except for
notices required by law which may not be waived, apply or allocate
the Account Collateral, for the payment in whole or in part of the
Obligations then due and payable, and any other amount required by
a provision of law, including, without limitation,
Section 9-608(a)(1)(C) of the UCC. The Issuing Lender agrees
to notify the Account Party promptly after such application or
allocation of the Account Collateral.
(b) In addition to the rights,
powers and remedies granted to it under this Agreement and in any
other Credit Document, the Issuing Lender shall have all the
rights, powers and remedies available at law, including, without
limitation, the rights and remedies of a secured party under the
Code. To the extent permitted by law, the Account Party waives
presentment, demand, protest and all notices of any kind, except
for notices referred to in this Section, and all claims, damages
and demands it may acquire against the Issuing Lender arising out
of the exercise by either of them of any rights hereunder on or
after the Effective Date.
(c) The Account Party shall remain
liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other
disposition of the Account Collateral are insufficient to pay the
Obligations.
SECTION 2.5. Release of
Collateral . (a) This Agreement shall remain in effect
from the Effective Date through and including the Termination Date.
Upon the Termination Date, (i) the Liens granted on the
Account Collateral hereby shall terminate and all rights to the
Account Collateral shall revert to the Account Party, (ii) the
Issuing Lender shall promptly assign, release, transfer and deliver
to the Account Party the Account Collateral held by it hereunder,
all instruments of assignment executed in connection therewith,
together with all monies held by the Issuing Lender hereunder, free
and clear of the Liens hereof and (iii) the Issuing Lender
will promptly execute and deliver to the Account Party such
documents and instruments (including but not limited to appropriate
Code termination statements) as the
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Account Party shall reasonably request to
evidence such termination in each such case at the sole expense of
the Account Party.
(b) In addition, so long as no Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon at least
three Business Days’ prior written notice to the Issuing
Lender, the Account Party may, request the release of and payment
to the Account Party (and the Issuing Lender agrees to release and
pay to the Account Party) any Collateral on deposit in the
Collateral Account so long as after giving effect to any such
release the Account Balance shall equal or exceed 103% of the
Outstanding Amount. Upon any such release, the Issuing Lender shall
promptly assign, release, transfer and deliver to the Account Party
the Account Collateral so released and all instruments of
assignment executed in connection therewith, free and clear of the
Liens hereof.
(c) All payments to the Account
Party under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 2.5 shall be paid to the account specified in writing
to the Issuing Lender by the Account Party.
(d) The Account Party agrees that it
will not request or be entitled to a release of Collateral, except
as expressly provided for herein.
SECTION 2.6. Issuing
Lender’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact . (a) After
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default
under this Agreement, to permit the Issuing Lender to exercise it
rights and remedies under this Agreement, the Account Party hereby
irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Issuing Lender and any
officer of the Issuing Lender, with full power of substitution, as
its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power
and authority in the place and stead of the Account Party and in
the name of the Account Party or in the Issuing Lender’s own
name, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement,
to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all
documents and instruments which may be necessary or reasonably
desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including
without limitation, any financing statements, endorsements,
assignments or other instruments of transfer; provided that in no
event shall any such appointment extend beyond the Termination
Date.
(b) The Account Party hereby
ratifies all that said attorneys shall lawfully do or cause to be
done pursuant to the power of attorney granted in
Section 2.6(a). All powers, authorizations and agencies
contained in this Agreement are coupled with an interest and are
irrevocable until the Termination Date.
SECTION 2.7. Duty of
Issuing Lender . The Issuing Lender’s sole duty with
respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of
the Account Collateral in its possession, under Section 9-207
of the Code or otherwise, shall be to comply with the specific
duties and responsibilities set forth herein. The powers conferred
on the Issuing Lender in this Agreement are solely for the
protection of the Issuing Lender’s interests in the Account
Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Issuing Lender to
exercise any such powers. Neither the Issuing Lender nor any of its
Related Persons shall be liable for any action lawfully taken or
omitted to be taken by any of them on or after the Effective Date
under or in connection with the Account Collateral or this
Agreement, except to the extent of losses to the Account Party
found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final
non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct of the Issuing Lender.
SECTION 2.8. Authorization
of Financing Statements . Pursuant to the Code, the Account
Party authorizes the Issuing Lender to file financing statements
without the signature of the Account Party in such form and in such
filing offices as the Issuing Lender reasonably determines
appropriate to perfect the Liens in the Collateral of the Issuing
Lender under this Agreement.
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ARTICLE III
LETTERS OF CREDIT
SECTION 3.1. Letters of
Credit . (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
the Issuing Lender agrees to issue, amend, renew or extend Letters
of Credit denominated in Dollars during the Commitment Period
(i) in a minimum amount of $10,000 on the date of such
issuance, amendment, renewal or extension and (ii) for the
account of the Account Party on any Business Day during the
Commitment Period in such forms as may be approved from time to
time by the Issuing Lender; provided that the Issuing Lender shall
not issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit if, after
giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension,
(i) the Stated Amount of which, when added to the Outstanding
Amount at such time, would exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment
at such time or (ii) the Account Balance would be less than
103% of the Outstanding Amount at such time. Each Letter of Credit
shall (i) be denominated in Dollars, and (ii) expire on
the earlier of (x) one year after the date of issuance and
(y) the last day of the Commitment Period; provided that any
Letter of Credit with a one year term may provide for the renewal
thereof for additional one year periods (which shall in no event
extend beyond the date referred to in clause
(y) above).
(b) Any Letter of Credit, which by
its terms is automatically renewable for a given period of time
will provide that notice from the Issuing Lender may be given to
the beneficiary thereof that such Letter of Credit will not be
renewed at its maturity upon, at Issuing Lender’s discretion,
60 days prior written notice. On the Outside Date, the Account
Party shall pay in cash all Obligations that are then due and
payable and, if any obligations under any Letter of Credit, whether
or not then due and payable, are outstanding on such date, the
Account Party will cause all such Letters of Credit to either be
(i) cancelled and returned on or prior to the Outside Date or
(ii) cash collateralized or otherwise backstopped in a manner
satisfactory to the Issuing Lender in its reasonable
discretion.
(c) The Account Party shall have the
right, upon not less than three Business Days’ notice to the
Issuing Lender, to terminate the Letter of Credit Commitment or,
from time to time, to reduce the aggregate amount of the Letter of
Credit Commitment; provided that no such termination or
reduction of the Letter of Credit Commitment shall be permitted if,
after giving effect thereto, (i) the Account Balance would be
less than 103% of the Outstanding Amount at such time or
(ii) the Stated Amount would exceed the Letter of Credit
Commitment. Any such reduction shall be in a minimum amount equal
to $500,000, or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof,
and shall reduce permanently the Letter of Credit Commitment then
in effect.
(d) Letters of Credit shall be used
solely to fund the working capital needs and general corporate
purposes of the Account Party and its Subsidiaries (including,
without limitation, to support any interest rate, currency,
commodity or other hedging agreements or other derivative
obligations of such Persons).
(e) The Issuing Lender shall not at
any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if
such issuance would conflict with, or cause the Issuing Lender to
exceed any limits imposed by, any applicable Requirement of
Law.
SECTION 3.2. Procedure for
Issuance of Letter of Credit . (a) The Account Party may
from time to time request that the Issuing Lender issue, amend,
renew or extend a Letter of Credit on behalf of the Account Party
or its Subsidiaries by delivering to the Issuing Lender at its
address for notices specified herein an Application therefor,
completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the Issuing Lender, and
such other certificates, documents and other papers and information
as the Issuing Lender may reasonably request. Upon receipt of any
Application, the Issuing Lender will process such Application and
the certificates, documents and other papers and information
delivered to it in connection
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therewith in accordance with its customary
procedures and shall promptly issue, amend, extend or renew the
Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall the
Issuing Lender be required to issue, amend, extend or renew any
Letter of Credit earlier than two Business Days after its receipt
of the Application therefor and all such other certificates,
documents and other papers and information relating thereto unless
the Issuing Lender agrees in its sole discretion) by issuing,
amending, renewing, or extending the original of such Letter of
Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed to
by the Issuing Lender and the Account Party. The Issuing Lender
shall furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to the Account Party
promptly following the issuance thereof.
(b) On the Effective Date, the
Existing Letters of Credit will be deemed to be Letters of Credit
issued hereunder for all purposes hereof.
(c) The Issuing Lender may, in its
discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued
by one or more of its Affiliates (and such Affiliate shall be
deemed to be the “Issuing Lender” for all purposes of
this Agreement and the Credit Documents),
(d) This Section shall not be
construed to impose an obligation upon the Issuing Lender to issue,
amend, extend or renew any Letter of Credit that is inconsistent
with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
SECTION 3.3. L/C
Obligations of the Account Party . (a) The Account Party
agrees to reimburse the Issuing Lender no later than 1:00 p.m.(New
York City time) on the next Business Day after which the Issuing
Lender notifies the Account Party of the date and amount of an L/C
Disbursement for the amount of (x) the draft so paid and
(y) any documented taxes, fees, charges or other reasonable
costs or expenses incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with
such L/C Disbursement (the amounts described in the foregoing
clauses (x) and (y) in respect of any L/C Disbursement,
collectively, the “L/C Obligation ”);
provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such
notice shall not relieve the Account Party of its obligation to
reimburse the Issuing Lender with respect to such L/C Obligations.
Each such payment shall be made to the Issuing Lender either
(i) at its address for notices specified herein (or via wire
transfer instructions provided by the Issuing Lender as set forth
on Schedule B, as such Schedule may be updated from time to time by
the Issuing Lender) in Dollars and in immediately available funds
or (ii) so long as after giving effect to the withdrawal the
Account Balance equals or exceeds 103% of the Outstanding Amount,
by instructing the Account Party to withdraw from the Collateral
Account the Dollar Amount of L/C Disbursement for the period from
the date such L/C Disbursement is made until the date of
withdrawal. Until an L/C Obligation shall have been reimbursed in
full, interest shall be payable on such unreimbursed L/C Obligation
at the rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable
Margin. All such interest shall be payable on demand.
(b) If the Issuing Lender makes any
L/C Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, then, unless the
Account Party shall reimburse all L/C Obligations in full on the
date reimbursement thereof is required in accordance with paragraph
(a) above, the Issuing Lender, without prior notice to the
Account Party (with any such prior notice being expressly waived by
the Account Party) shall be entitled to withdraw from the
Collateral Account the Dollar amount of the L/C Obligation plus any
interest payable on such L/C Disbursement for the period from the
date such L/C Disbursement is made until the date of withdrawal.
The Issuing Lender agrees to notify the Account Party promptly
after such withdrawal.
(c) The responsibility of the
Issuing Lender to the Account Party in connection with any draft
presented for payment under any Letter of Credit shall, in addition
to any payment obligation expressly provided for in such Letter of
Credit, be limited to determining that the documents
(including
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each draft) delivered under such Letter of
Credit in connection with such presentment are substantially in
conformity with such Letter of Credit.
SECTION 3.4. Obligations
Absolute . The Acco