EXECUTION COPY
DEERE & COMPANY
JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION
$3,000,000,000
FIVE-YEAR
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of February 14, 2006
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
CITIBANK, N.A.,
as a Documentation Agent
CREDIT SUISSE
as a Documentation Agent
MERRILL LYNCH BANK USA,
as Co-Documentation Agent
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as a Syndication Agent
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,
as a Syndication Agent
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
as Lead Arranger and Bookrunner
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page |
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SECTION 1. |
DEFINITIONS |
1 |
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1.1 |
Defined Terms |
1 |
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1.2 |
Other Definitional Provisions |
14 |
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1.3 |
Currency Conversion. |
15 |
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SECTION 2. |
THE COMMITTED RATE LOANS; THE BID LOANS; THE NEGOTIATED RATE LOANS; AMOUNT AND TERMS |
15 |
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2.1 |
The Committed Rate Loans |
15 |
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2.2 |
The Bid Loans; the Negotiated Rate Loans |
16 |
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2.3 |
Loan Accounts |
19 |
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2.4 |
Fees |
19 |
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2.5 |
Termination or Reduction of Commitments; Cancellation of Capital Corporation as Borrower |
20 |
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2.6 |
Prepayments |
21 |
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2.7 |
Minimum Amount of Certain Loans |
21 |
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2.8 |
Committed Rate Loan Interest Rate and Payment Dates |
22 |
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2.9 |
Conversion and Continuation Options |
22 |
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2.10 |
Computation of Interest and Fees |
22 |
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2.11 |
Inability to Determine Interest Rate |
23 |
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2.12 |
Pro Rata Treatment and Payments |
24 |
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2.13 |
Requirements of Law |
26 |
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2.14 |
Indemnity |
30 |
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2.15 |
Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent |
30 |
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2.16 |
Extension of Termination Date |
31 |
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2.17 |
Foreign Taxes |
32 |
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2.18 |
Confirmations |
33 |
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2.19 |
Replacement of Cancelled Banks |
34 |
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2.20 |
Commitment Increases |
34 |
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2.21 |
Judgement Currency |
36 |
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2.22 |
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate |
36 |
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2.23 |
Letters of Credit |
36 |
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SECTION 3. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
39 |
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3.1 |
Financial Condition |
39 |
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3.2 |
Corporate Existence |
39 |
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3.3 |
Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations |
39 |
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3.4 |
No Legal Bar |
40 |
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3.5 |
No Material Litigation |
40 |
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3.6 |
Taxes |
40 |
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3.7 |
Margin Regulations |
40 |
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3.8 |
[Intentionally Omitted] |
40 |
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3.9 |
[Intentionally Omitted] |
40 |
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3.10 |
Use of Proceeds |
40 |
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SECTION 4. |
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
41 |
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4.1 |
Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit |
41 |
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4.2 |
Conditions to All Extensions of Credit |
42 |
ii
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SECTION 5. |
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
42 |
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5.1 |
Financial Statements |
42 |
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5.2 |
Certificates; Other Information |
43 |
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5.3 |
Company Indenture Documents |
43 |
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5.4 |
Capital Corporation Indenture Documents |
43 |
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5.5 |
Notice of Default |
43 |
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5.6 |
Ownership of Capital Corporation Stock |
44 |
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5.7 |
Employee Benefit Plans |
44 |
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SECTION 6. |
NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY |
44 |
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6.1 |
Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms |
44 |
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6.2 |
Limitation on Liens |
44 |
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6.3 |
Limitations on Sale and Lease-back Transactions |
47 |
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6.4 |
Equipment Operations Debt |
47 |
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SECTION 7. |
NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF THE CAPITAL CORPORATION |
48 |
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7.1 |
Fixed Charges Ratio |
48 |
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7.2 |
Consolidated Senior Debt to Consolidated Capital Base |
48 |
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7.3 |
Limitation on Liens |
48 |
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7.4 |
Consolidation; Merger |
49 |
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SECTION 8. |
EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
49 |
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SECTION 9. |
THE AGENTS |
52 |
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9.1 |
Appointment |
52 |
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9.2 |
Delegation of Duties |
52 |
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9.3 |
Exculpatory Provisions |
52 |
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9.4 |
Reliance by Agents |
52 |
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9.5 |
Notice of Default |
53 |
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9.6 |
Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Banks |
53 |
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9.7 |
Indemnification |
53 |
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9.8 |
Agents in their Individual Capacities |
54 |
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9.9 |
Successor Agents |
54 |
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SECTION 10. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
54 |
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10.1 |
Amendments and Waivers |
54 |
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10.2 |
Notices |
55 |
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10.3 |
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies |
56 |
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10.4 |
Payment of Expenses |
56 |
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10.5 |
Successors and Assigns; Participations; Purchasing Banks |
58 |
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10.6 |
Adjustments |
61 |
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10.7 |
Confidentiality |
62 |
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10.8 |
Counterparts |
62 |
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10.9 |
GOVERNING LAW |
62 |
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10.10 |
Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process |
62 |
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10.11 |
USA Patriot Act. |
63 |
iii
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SCHEDULES: |
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Schedule I |
Terms of Subordination |
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Schedule II |
Commitments |
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Schedule III |
Mandatory Costs |
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EXHIBITS: |
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Exhibit A |
Form of Borrowing Notice |
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Exhibit B |
Form of Bid Loan Request |
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Exhibit C |
Form of Bid Loan Offer |
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Exhibit D |
Form of Bid Loan Confirmation |
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Exhibit E |
Form of Loan Assignment |
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Exhibit F |
Form of Commitment Transfer Supplement |
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Exhibit G |
Form of Opinion of General Counsel to the Company |
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Exhibit H |
Form of Opinion of Special New York Counsel to the Borrowers |
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Exhibit I |
Form of Extension Request |
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Exhibit J |
Form of Form W-8BEN Tax Letter |
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Exhibit K |
Form of Form W-8ECI Tax Letter |
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Exhibit L |
Form of Agreement |
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Exhibit M |
Form of Promissory Note |
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Exhibit N |
Form of New Bank Supplement |
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Exhibit O |
Form of Commitment Increase Supplement |
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Exhibit P |
Form of Letter of Credit Application |
iv
CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of February 14, 2006, among (a) DEERE & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Company), (b) JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the Capital Corporation), (c) the several financial institutions parties hereto (collectively, the Banks, and individually, a Bank), (d) JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent hereunder (in such capacity, together with its successors and permitted assigns, the Administrative Agent), (e) CITIBANK, N.A. and CREDIT SUISSE, as documentation agents hereunder (in such capacity, the Documentation Agents), (f) MERRILL LYNCH BANK USA, as co-documentation agent hereunder (in such capacity, the Co-Documentation Agent), and (g) BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as syndication agents hereunder (in such capacity, the Syndication Agents).
The parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:
ABR: at any particular date, the higher of (a) the rate of interest per annum publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. for such date as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City and (b) 0.5% per annum above the rate set forth for such date or, if such date is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day, opposite the caption Federal Funds (Effective) in the weekly statistical release designated as H.15(519) (or any successor publication) published by the Board or, if such rate is not so published for such date, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal Funds dealers of recognized standing selected by it. The prime rate is not intended to be the lowest rate of interest charged by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in connection with extensions of credit to debtors.
ABR Loans: Committed Rate Loans at such time as they are made and/or being maintained at a rate of interest based upon the ABR.
Absolute Rate Bid Loan: any Bid Loan made pursuant to an Absolute Rate Bid Loan Request.
Absolute Rate Bid Loan Request: any Bid Loan Request requesting the Banks to offer to make Bid Loans at an absolute rate (as opposed to a rate composed of the Applicable Index Rate plus (or minus) a margin).
Act: as defined in subsection 10.11.
Administrative Agent: as defined in the preamble hereto. It is understood that matters concerning the Foreign Currency Loans will be administered by the Foreign Currency Agent as agent for the Administrative Agent.
Administrative Questionnaire: an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
Affected Foreign Currency: as defined in subsection 2.11(a).
Agent: the Administrative Agent, the Foreign Currency Agent, a Syndication Agent, a Documentation Agent or the Co-Documentation Agent, as the context shall require; together, the Agents.
Agreement: this Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.
Agreement Currency: as defined in subsection 2.21(b).
Applicable Creditor: as defined in subsection 2.21(b).
Applicable Index Rate: in respect of any Bid Loan requested pursuant to an Index Rate Bid Loan Request, the Eurocurrency Rate applicable to the Interest Period for such Bid Loan.
Applicable Margin: (a) for ABR Loans, 0% per annum and
(b) for Eurocurrency Loans, the rate per annum set forth below in the column corresponding to the Prevailing Rating of the Company:
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Greater than or |
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A/A2 |
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A-/A3 |
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BBB+/Baa1 |
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BBB/Baa2 |
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Lower than |
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0.150 |
% |
0.165 |
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0.180 |
% |
0.270 |
% |
0.400 |
% |
0.600 |
% |
Application: an application, in the form of Exhibit P, requesting the Issuing Bank to open a Letter of Credit.
Attributable Debt: as defined in subsection 6.2(b)(ii).
Australian Dollars: the lawful currency of Australia.
Bank and Banks: as defined in the preamble hereto.
benefitted Bank: as defined in subsection 10.6.
Bid Loan: each loan (other than Negotiated Rate Loans) made pursuant to subsection 2.2; the aggregate amount advanced by a Bid Loan Bank pursuant to subsection 2.2 on each Borrowing Date shall constitute one Bid Loan, or more than one Bid Loan if so specified by the relevant Loan Assignee in its request for promissory notes pursuant to subsection 10.5(c).
Bid Loan Banks: the collective reference to each Bank designated from time to time as a Bid Loan Bank by a Borrower (for purposes of Bid Loans to such Borrower) by written notice to the Administrative Agent and which has not been removed as a Bid Loan Bank by such Borrower by written notice to the Administrative Agent (each of which notices the Administrative Agent shall transmit to each such affected Bank).
Bid Loan Confirmation: each confirmation by the Company or the Capital Corporation of its acceptance of Bid Loan Offers, which Bid Loan Confirmation shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit D and shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent by facsimile transmission or by telephone, immediately confirmed by facsimile transmission.
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Bid Loan Offer: each offer by a Bid Loan Bank to make Bid Loans pursuant to a Bid Loan Request, which Bid Loan Offer shall contain the information specified in Exhibit C and shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent by facsimile transmission or by telephone, immediately confirmed by facsimile transmission.
Bid Loan Request: each request by a Borrower for Bid Loan Banks to submit bids to make Bid Loans, which shall contain the information in respect of such requested Bid Loans specified in Exhibit B and shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent by facsimile transmission or by telephone, immediately confirmed by facsimile transmission.
Board: the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).
Borrower: the Company or the Capital Corporation; collectively, the Borrowers.
Borrowing Date: in respect of any Loan, the date such Loan is made, and in respect of any Letter of Credit, the date such Letter of Credit is issued.
Business Day: a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close; provided, that (a) with respect to notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, Eurocurrency Loans, such day is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the interbank eurocurrency market in London, (b) when used in connection with a Foreign Currency Loan, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which commercial banks in London are authorized or required by law to close and (c) when used in connection with Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Euros, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer System (TARGET) (or, if such clearing system ceases to be operative, such other clearing system (if any) determined by the Foreign Currency Agent to be a suitable replacement) is not open for settlement of payment in Euros.
Calculation Date: with respect to each Foreign Currency, the last day of each calendar quarter (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) and such other days from time to time as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably designate as a Calculation Date; provided, that the fourth Business Day preceding each Borrowing Date with respect to, and preceding each date of any continuation of, any Foreign Currency Loan shall also be a Calculation Date with respect to the relevant Foreign Currency.
Canadian Dollars: the lawful currency of Canada.
Cancelled Bank: any Bank that has the whole or any part of its Commitment cancelled under subsection 2.13(a), (b) or (c), subsection 2.16(c) or subsection 2.17(b) or the Commitment of which has expired under subsection 2.16(a).
Capital Corporation: as defined in the preamble hereto.
Closing Date: the date on which each of the conditions precedent specified in subsection 4.1 shall have been satisfied (or compliance therewith shall have been waived by the Majority Banks hereunder).
Code: the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
3
Co-Documentation Agent: as defined in the preamble hereto.
Commitment: as to any Bank, the amount set opposite such Banks name on Schedule II or in any assignment pursuant to which such Bank becomes a party hereto with respect to any interest purchased therein, as such amount may be modified as provided herein; collectively, as to all Banks, the Commitments.
Commitment Expiration Date: as defined in subsection 2.16(a).
Commitment Increase Notice: as defined in subsection 2.20(a).
Commitment Increase Supplement: as defined in subsection 2.20(c).
Commitment Percentage: as to any Bank at any time, the percentage which such Banks Commitment at such time constitutes of all the Commitments at such time or, at any time after the Commitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Banks Extensions of Credit then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the Total Extensions of Credit then outstanding; collectively, as to all the Banks, the Commitment Percentages.
Commitment Period: as to any Bank at any time, the period from and including the Closing Date to but not including the Termination Date of such Bank or such earlier date on which the Commitments shall terminate as provided herein.
Commitment Transfer Supplement: a Commitment Transfer Supplement, substantially in the form of Exhibit F.
Committed Extensions of Credit: as to any Bank at any time, the amount equal to the sum of the Dollar Equivalent of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Committed Rate Loans held by such Bank then outstanding and (b) such Banks Commitment Percentage multiplied by the L/C Obligations then outstanding.
Committed Rate Loans: each loan made pursuant to subsection 2.1.
Commonly Controlled Entity: in relation to a Borrower, an entity, whether or not incorporated, which is under common control with such Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code.
Company: as defined in the preamble hereto.
Consolidated Capital Base: at a particular time for the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries, the sum of (a) the amount shown opposite the item Total Stockholders Equity on the consolidated balance sheet of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries plus (b) all indebtedness of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries for borrowed money subordinated (on terms no less favorable to the Administrative Agent and the Banks than the terms of subordination set forth on Schedule I) to the indebtedness which may be incurred hereunder by the Capital Corporation, provided that the sum of clauses (a) and (b) hereof as at the end of a fiscal quarter of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including the last quarter of a fiscal year of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries) shall be determined by reference to the publicly available consolidated balance sheet of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter and after such adjustments, if any, as may be required so that the sum of the
4
amounts referred to in clauses (a) and (b) is determined in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with subsection 7.2, adjustments resulting from any accumulated other comprehensive income as reflected on the most recent publicly available consolidated balance sheet of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of any fiscal quarter of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including the last quarter of any fiscal year of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries) shall be deemed not to be included in Consolidated Capital Base.
Consolidated Net Worth: as defined in subsection 6.2(b)(ii).
Consolidated Senior Debt: at a particular time for the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries, indebtedness for borrowed money other than any indebtedness for borrowed money that is subordinated, on terms no less favorable to the Administrative Agent and the Banks than the terms of subordination set forth on Schedule I, to the indebtedness which may be incurred hereunder by the Capital Corporation, provided that the amount of such indebtedness for borrowed money (other than such subordinated indebtedness) as at the end of a fiscal quarter of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including the last quarter of a fiscal year of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries) shall be determined by reference to the publicly available consolidated balance sheet of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter and after such adjustments, if any, as may be required so that such amount is determined in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with subsection 7.2, indebtedness for borrowed money in respect of any Securitization Indebtedness shall be deemed not included in Consolidated Senior Debt.
Contractual Obligation: as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
Credit Rating: as to any Person, the rating assigned to the relevant long term senior unsecured (and non-credit enhanced) Debt obligations of such Person by Moodys or S&P.
Currency: any Dollars and any Foreign Currency.
Deal Year: as defined in subsection 2.16(c).
Debt: as defined in subsection 6.2.
Default: any of the events specified in Section 8, whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any other condition, event or act has been satisfied.
Documentation Agents: as defined in the preamble hereto.
Dollar Equivalent: at any time as to any amount denominated in a Foreign Currency, the equivalent amount in Dollars as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent at such time on the basis of the Exchange Rate for the purchase of Dollars with such Foreign Currency on the most recent Calculation Date for such Foreign Currency.
Dollar Loan: any Committed Rate Loan denominated in Dollars.
Dollars and $: dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.
5
EMU: the Economic and Monetary Union as contemplated in the Treaty.
EMU Legislation: the legislative measures of the European Council (including the European Council regulations) for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of the Euro in one or more member states.
Equipment Operations: those business segments of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries that are primarily engaged in the manufacture and distribution of equipment, parts and related attachments.
Equipment Operations Debt: at a particular time, the sum of short-term and long-term indebtedness for borrowed money that is or would be shown on a balance sheet of Equipment Operations (with Financial Services reflected only on an equity basis), which balance sheet was or would be prepared on the basis of the most recent publicly available consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including the last quarter of any fiscal year of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries).
ERISA: the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
Euro: the single currency of Participating Member States of the EMU introduced in accordance with the provisions of Article 123 of the Treaty and, in respect of all payments to be made under this Agreement in Euro, means immediately available, freely transferable funds in such currency.
Eurocurrency Loans: Committed Rate Loans at such time as they are made and/or being maintained at a rate of interest based upon a Eurocurrency Rate.
Eurocurrency Rate: with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to a Eurocurrency Loan and for each Index Rate Bid Loan, the rate per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars or the relevant Foreign Currency, as the case may be, for a period equal to such Interest Period commencing on the first day of such Interest Period appearing on Page 3740 or 3750 (or other relevant page) of the Telerate system as of 11:00 A.M., Local Time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period (or, in the case of any Eurocurrency Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling, on the first day of such Interest Period); provided that, in the case of any Eurocurrency Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling, such rate shall be increased to provide for the Mandatory Cost. In the event that such rate does not appear on Page 3740 or 3750 of the Telerate system (or otherwise on such system), the Eurocurrency Rate shall be determined by reference to such other comparable publicly available service for displaying eurocurrency rates as may be reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent or, in the absence of such availability, by reference to the rate at which the Administrative Agent is offered Dollar or the relevant Foreign Currency, as the case may be, deposits at or about 11:00 A.M., Local Time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period (or, in the case of a Eurocurrency Loan in Pounds Sterling, on the first day of such Interest Period) in the interbank eurocurrency market where its eurocurrency, foreign currency and exchange operations are then being conducted for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period for the number of days comprised therein; provided that, in the case of any Eurocurrency Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling, such rate shall be increased to provide for the Mandatory Costs as determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with its normal practices.
6
Event of Default: any of the events specified in Section 8, provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any other condition, event or act has been satisfied.
Exchange Rate: on any day, the rate at which the starting Currency may be exchanged into the other relevant Currency, as set forth at approximately 10:00 A.M., Local Time, on such date on the Reuters World Spots page for such starting Currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Spots page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent.
Exposure: (a) with respect to an Objecting Bank at any time, the aggregate amount of such Banks Extensions of Credit then outstanding and (b) with respect to any other Bank at any time, the Commitment of such Bank then in effect or, if the Commitments have been terminated, the amount of such Banks Extensions of Credit then outstanding.
Extension Request: each request by the Borrowers made pursuant to subsection 2.16 for the Banks to extend this Agreement, which shall contain the information in respect of such extension specified in Exhibit I and shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent in writing.
Extensions of Credit: as to any Bank at any time, the amount equal to the sum of the Dollar Equivalent of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Loans held by such Bank then outstanding and (b) such Banks Commitment Percentage multiplied by the L/C Obligations then outstanding.
Facility Fee Rate: the rate per annum set forth below in the column corresponding to the Prevailing Rating of the Company:
|
Greater than or |
|
A/A2 |
|
A-/A3 |
|
BBB+/Baa1 |
|
BBB/Baa2 |
|
Lower than |
|
|
0.050 |
% |
0.060 |
% |
0.070 |
% |
0.080 |
% |
0.100 |
% |
0.150 |
% |
Financial Services: the businesses of the Company (including the credit and health care businesses) that are not primarily engaged in Equipment Operations.
Fixed Charges: for any particular period for the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries, all of the Capital Corporations and its consolidated Subsidiaries consolidated interest on indebtedness for borrowed money, amortization of discounts of indebtedness for borrowed money, the portion of rentals under financing leases deemed to represent interest and rentals under operating leases; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, consolidated interest on Securitization Indebtedness and amortization of Securitization Indebtedness shall be deemed not included in Fixed Charges; provided, further, that such amounts (but not any amounts constituting consolidated interest on, or amortization of, Securitization Indebtedness) for a fiscal quarter of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including the last quarter of a fiscal year of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries) shall be determined by reference to the publicly available consolidated statement of income of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries for or covering such fiscal quarter and after such adjustments, if any, as may be required so that such amounts are determined in accordance with GAAP.
Foreign Currency: Euros, Pounds Sterling, Australian Dollars, Canadian Dollars, New Zealand Dollars and, as agreed by the Administrative Agent, any other Currency which is freely traded and convertible into Dollars in the London interbank market and for which the Dollar Equivalent thereof can be calculated from time to time.
7
Foreign Currency Agent: J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, or any successor appointed pursuant to this Agreement.
Foreign Currency Loan: each Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency.
Foreign Taxes: as defined in subsection 2.17(a).
GAAP: generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as applied in the preparation of financial statements of the Company or the Capital Corporation, respectively, as of the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005.
Governmental Authority: any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.
Hedging Transaction: any swap transaction, interest rate protection agreement (including any interest rate swap, interest cap or collar or any other interest rate hedging device entered into by the Capital Corporation or one or more of its Subsidiaries), option agreement, short or long position in equity or debt instruments, commodities, futures and forward transactions, outperformance agreement or other similar transaction, agreement or arrangement entered into by the Capital Corporation or one or more of its Subsidiaries.
Important Property: (a) any manufacturing plant, including land, all buildings and other improvements thereon, and all manufacturing machinery and equipment located therein, owned and used by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary primarily for the manufacture of products to be sold by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, (b) the executive office and administrative building of the Company in Moline, Illinois, and (c) research and development facilities, including land and buildings and other improvements thereon and research and development machinery and equipment located therein, in each case, owned and used by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; except in any case property of which the aggregate fair value as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company does not at the time exceed 1% of Consolidated Net Worth.
Increasing Bank: as defined in subsection 2.20(c).
Index Rate Bid Loan: any Bid Loan made at an interest rate based upon the Applicable Index Rate.
Index Rate Bid Loan Request: any Bid Loan Request requesting the Banks to offer to make Index Rate Bid Loans at an interest rate equal to the Applicable Index Rate plus (or minus) a margin.
Interest Payment Date: (a) as to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on the first of such days to occur after such ABR Loan is made or a Eurocurrency Loan is converted to an ABR Loan and (b) as to any Eurocurrency Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, provided that as to any Eurocurrency Loan in respect of which a Borrower has selected an Interest Period of six months, interest shall also be paid on the day which is three months after the beginning of such Interest Period.
Interest Period: (a) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, the period commencing on the Borrowing Date, the date any ABR Loan is converted to a Eurocurrency Loan or the date any Eurocurrency Loan is continued as a Eurocurrency Loan, as the case may be, with respect to such
8
Eurocurrency Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by a Borrower in its notice of borrowing, conversion or continuance as provided in subsection 2.1(c) or 2.9;
(b) with respect to any Bid Loan, the period commencing on the Borrowing Date with respect to such Bid Loan and ending on the date not less than seven days nor more than six months thereafter, as specified by a Borrower in its Bid Loan Request as provided in subsection 2.2(b); and
(c) with respect to any Negotiated Rate Loan, the period or periods commencing on the Borrowing Date with respect to such Negotiated Rate Loan or the last day of any Interest Period with respect thereto and ending on the dates as shall be mutually agreed upon between the relevant Borrower and the relevant Bank;
provided, that all of the foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following:
(i) if any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurocurrency Loan or an Index Rate Bid Loan would otherwise end on a day which is not a Working Day, that Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Working Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month in which event such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Working Day;
(ii) if any Interest Period pertaining to a Negotiated Rate Loan or an Absolute Rate Bid Loan would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day;
(iii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurocurrency Loan having an Interest Period of one, two, three or six months or an Index Rate Bid Loan having an Interest Period of one, two, three, four, five or six months, that begins on the last Working Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Working Day of a calendar month;
(iv) Interest Periods shall be deemed available only if the Required Banks shall not have advised the Administrative Agent that the Eurocurrency Rate determined by the Administrative Agent on the basis of the applicable quotes will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Banks of maintaining or funding their Committed Rate Loans bearing interest based on the Eurocurrency Rate determined for such Interest Period. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers and each Bank promptly after having been advised by the Required Banks that a Eurocurrency Rate will not so adequately and fairly reflect such Banks costs as aforesaid. If a requested Interest Period shall be unavailable in accordance with the foregoing sentence, the proposed Borrower may (A) in accordance with the provisions (including any requirements for notification) of subsection 2.1 request, at its option, that the requested Committed Rate Loans denominated in Dollars be made or maintained as ABR Loans or (B) withdraw the request for such Committed Rate Loans for which the Interest Period was unavailable by giving notice of such election to the Administrative Agent in accordance with subsection 2.11; provided, that if the Administrative Agent does not receive any notice hereunder with respect to requested Committed Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, such Borrower shall be deemed to have requested ABR Loans;
(v) with respect to Loans made by an Objecting Bank, no Interest Periods with respect to such Loans shall end after such Objecting Banks Commitment Expiration Date; and
(vi) no Interest Period shall end after the Termination Date.
9
Issuing Bank: (i) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as issuer of any Letter of Credit or (ii) any other Bank that a Borrower may select from time to time that is willing to act as issuer of Letters of Credit, in its capacity as issuer of any Letter of Credit.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national association.
Judgment Currency: as defined in subsection 2.21.
L/C Commitment: $500,000,000.
L/C Obligations: at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit that have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 2.23(e).
L/C Participants: the collective reference to all the Banks (other than, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank in its capacity as Issuing Bank).
Letter of Credit Fee: the rate per annum set forth below in the column corresponding to the Prevailing Rating of the Company:
|
Greater than or |
|
A/A2 |
|
A-/A3 |
|
BBB+/Baa1 |
|
BBB/Baa2 |
|
Lower than |
|
|
0.200 |
% |
0.215 |
% |
0.230 |
% |
0.370 |
% |
0.500 |
% |
0.700 |
% |
Letters of Credit: as defined in subsection 2.23(a).
Loan Account: as defined in subsection 2.3; collectively, the Loan Accounts.
Loan Assignees: as defined in subsection 10.5(c).
Loan Assignment: a Loan Assignment, substantially in the form of Exhibit E.
Loans: the collective reference to the Committed Rate Loans, the Bid Loans and the Negotiated Rate Loans.
Local Time: means (a) in the case of Foreign Currency Loans, London time and (b) in all other cases, New York time.
Majority Banks: at any particular time, Banks having Commitment Percentages aggregating more than fifty percent; provided that (a) at any time after the termination of all the Commitments, Majority Banks shall mean Banks holding Extensions of Credit aggregating more than fifty percent in principal amount of the Total Extensions of Credit and (b) at any time after the Commitment Expiration Date with respect to any Objecting Bank (but prior to the termination of all the Commitments), Majority Banks shall mean Banks whose Exposure aggregates more than fifty percent of the aggregate Exposure of all the Banks.
Mandatory Costs: the percentage rate per annum calculated by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Schedule III.
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Margin Stock: as defined in Regulation U of the Board.
Moodys: Moodys Investor Service, Inc.
Mortgage: as defined in subsection 6.2.
Negotiated Rate Loan: each Loan made to a Borrower by a Bank pursuant to a Negotiated Rate Loan Request in such principal amount, for such number of Interest Periods (subject to the proviso to the definition of Interest Period in this subsection 1.1) and having such interest rate(s) and repayment terms as shall, in each case, be mutually agreed upon between such Borrower and such Bank.
Negotiated Rate Loan Request: each request by a Borrower for a Bank to make Negotiated Rate Loans, which shall be delivered to such Bank in writing, by facsimile transmission, or by telephone, immediately confirmed in writing, and which shall specify the amount to be borrowed and the proposed Borrowing Date.
Net Earnings Available for Fixed Charges: for any particular period for the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries, consolidated net earnings of the Capital Corporation and such Subsidiaries for such period without deduction of Fixed Charges and without deduction of federal, state or other income taxes, provided that such net earnings for a fiscal quarter of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including the last quarter of a fiscal year of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries) shall be determined by reference to the publicly available statement of income of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries for or covering such fiscal quarter and after such adjustments, if any, as may be required so that such net earnings are determined in accordance with GAAP, except that earned investment tax credits may be included as revenue in the consolidated income statement of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries, rather than as an offset against the provision for income taxes.
New Bank: as defined in subsection 2.20(b).
New Bank Supplement: as defined in subsection 2.20(b).
New Zealand Dollars: the lawful currency of New Zealand.
Notes: the collective reference to any promissory note evidencing Loans.
Objecting Banks: as defined in subsection 2.16(a).
Offered Increase Amount: as defined in subsection 2.20(a).
Overnight Rate: for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the Federal Funds rate, as quoted by the Administrative Agent, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in a Foreign Currency, at a rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amounts.
Participants: as defined in subsection 10.5(b).
Participating Member State: any member state of the European Community that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Community relating to Economic and Monetary Union.
11
Person: an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature, provided that for purposes of Section 8(h), Person shall also include two or more entities acting as a syndicate or any other group for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities of the Company.
Plan: any pension plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA and in respect of which either Borrower or a Commonly Controlled Entity is an employer as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
Pounds or £ or Pounds Sterling: the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
Prevailing Rating: at any date of determination, the higher of (x) the Credit Rating of the Company assigned by S&P and (y) the Credit Rating of the Company assigned by Moodys.
Purchasing Banks: as defined in subsection 10.5(d).
Re-Allocation Date: as defined in subsection 2.20(e).
Register: as defined in subsection 10.5(e).
Reimbursement Obligation: the obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.23(e) for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit.
Report Period: as defined in subsection 2.18.
Reportable Event: any of the events set forth in Section 4043(b) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder.
Required Banks: at a particular time, Banks having Commitment Percentages aggregating at least 66-2/3%; provided that (a) at any time after the termination of all the Commitments, Required Banks means Banks holding Extensions of Credit aggregating at least 66-2/3% in principal amount of the Total Extensions of Credit and (b) at any time after the Commitment Expiration Date with respect to any Objecting Bank (but prior to the termination of all the Commitments), Required Banks means Banks whose Exposure aggregates at least 66-2/3% of the aggregate Exposure of all the Banks.
Requirement of Law: as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
Reserves: as defined in subsection 2.13(c).
Responsible Officer: of a Borrower, the Chairman, the President, any Executive, Senior or other Vice President, the Treasurer and any Assistant Treasurer of such Borrower.
Restricted Margin Stock: any Margin Stock, the sale, pledge or other disposition of which by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in any way restricted by an arrangement with any Bank or any affiliate thereof to the extent that the value thereof (determined in accordance with Regulation U of the Board) does not exceed 25% of the value (determined in accordance with such Regulation U) of all the assets subject to such restriction.
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Restricted Subsidiary: any Subsidiary of the Company incorporated in the United States of America or Canada (a) which is engaged in, or whose principal assets consist of property used by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in, the manufacture of products within the United States of America or Canada or in the sale of products principally to customers located in the United States of America or Canada except any corporation which is a retail dealer in which the Company has, directly or indirectly, an investment, or (b) which the Company shall designate as a Restricted Subsidiary in an officers certificate signed by two Responsible Officers of the Company and delivered to the Administrative Agent.
S&P: Standard and Poors Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Sale and Lease-back Transaction: as defined in subsection 6.3.
Securitization Indebtedness: the aggregate outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money, owner trust certificates (however classified) or credit enhancements incurred in connection with transactions involving (i) the sale, transfer or other disposition of receivables or leases (retail or wholesale) by the Capital Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) the issuance of commercial paper, medium term notes or any other form of financing by any structured bankruptcy-remote Subsidiary of the Capital Corporation or any related conduit lender (such transactions, Securitizations), provided, that the aggregate outstanding credit enhancements in the form of cash or letter(s) of credit provided by the Capital Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any structured bankruptcy-remote Subsidiary) in excess of 10% of the aggregate outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money and owner trust certificates (however classified) incurred in connection with such Securitizations shall not be deemed for the purposes of this Agreement to be Securitization Indebtedness, but shall be deemed for purposes of Section 7.2 to be Consolidated Senior Debt.
Significant Subsidiary: of a Borrower, any Subsidiary of such Borrower the assets, revenues or net worth of which is, at the time of determination, equal to or greater than ten percent of the assets, revenues or net worth, respectively, of such Borrower at such time.
Subsidiary: of a Person, a corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than securities or other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
Syndication Agents: as defined in the preamble hereto.
Termination Date: the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date or such later date as shall be determined pursuant to the provisions of subsection 2.16 with respect to non-Objecting Banks.
Total Commitments: at any time, the aggregate amount of the Commitments then in effect.
Total Extensions of Credit: at any time, the aggregate amount of the Extensions of Credit of the Banks outstanding at such time.
Total Stockholders Equity: at a particular time, the total stockholders equity, exclusive of adjustments resulting from any accumulated other comprehensive income of the Company
13
and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of any fiscal quarter (including the last quarter of any fiscal year) as determined in accordance with GAAP.
Transferees: as defined in subsection 10.5(g).
Transfer Effective Date: as defined in each Commitment Transfer Supplement and each Loan Assignment.
Treaty: the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, being the Treaty of Rome of March 25, 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1987, the Maastricht Treaty (which was signed at Maastricht on February 7, 1992 and came into force on November 1, 1993), the Amsterdam Treaty (which was signed at Amsterdam on October 2, 1997 and came into force on May 1, 1999) and the Nice Treaty (which was signed on February 26, 2001), each as amended from time to time and as referred to in legislative measures of the European Union for the introduction of, changeover to or operating of the Euro in one or more member states.
Type: as to any Committed Rate Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan.
Utilization Fee: as defined in subsection 2.4(b).
Utilization Fee Rate: the rate per annum set forth below in the column corresponding to the Prevailing Rating of the Company:
|
Greater than or |
|
A/A2 |
|
A-/A3 |
|
BBB+/Baa1 |
|
BBB/Baa2 |
|
Lower than |
|
|
0.050 |
% |
0.050 |
% |
0.050 |
% |
0.100 |
% |
0.100 |
% |
0.100 |
% |
Utilization Percentage: on any day, the percentage equivalent of a fraction (a) the numerator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Extensions of Credit and (b) the denominator of which is the aggregate Commitments (or, on any day after termination of the Commitments, the aggregate Commitments in effect immediately preceding such termination).
Working Day: any Business Day on which dealings in foreign currencies and exchange between banks may be carried on in London, England and New York, New York.
1.2 Other Definitional Provisions. (a) All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto.
14
1.3 Currency Conversion.
SECTION 2. THE COMMITTED RATE LOANS; THE BID LOANS; THE NEGOTIATED RATE LOANS; AMOUNT AND TERMS
2.1 The Committed Rate Loans. (a) During the Commitment Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Bank severally agrees to make loans (individually, a Committed Rate Loan) to either Borrower in Dollars or in any Foreign Currency from time to time; provided that (i) after giving effect thereto, such Banks Committed Extensions of Credit then outstanding do not exceed the amount of such Banks Commitment and (ii) the Total Extensions of Credit then outstanding do not exceed the Total Commitments. During the Commitment Period, either Borrower may use the Commitments by borrowing, repaying and reborrowing, all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof.
15
2.2 The Bid Loans; the Negotiated Rate Loans. (a) Either Borrower may borrow Bid Loans or Negotiated Rate Loans denominated in Dollars from time to time on any Business Day (in the case of Bid Loans made pursuant to an Absolute Rate Bid Loan Request), any Working Day (in the case of Bid Loans made pursuant to an Index Rate Bid Loan Request) or, in the case of Negotiated Rate Loans, on such days as shall be mutually agreed upon between the relevant Borrower and the applicable Bank, in each case during the Commitment Period and in the manner set forth in this subsection 2.2 and in amounts such that the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate principal amount of Loans and L/C Obligations at any time outstanding shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments at such time. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Bid Loans and/or Negotiated Rate Loans made by any Bank may at any time (but shall not be required to) exceed the Commitment of such Bank so long as the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans and L/C Obligations does not at any time exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments.
16
17
18
2.3 Loan Accounts. Each Bank, with respect to its Committed Rate Loans, Bid Loans and Negotiated Rate Loans, and the Administrative Agent, with respect to all Committed Rate Loans, Negotiated Rate Loans and Bid Loans, shall open and maintain in the name of each Borrower loan accounts (as to each Bank, its Loan Account applicable to such Borrower) on its books and records setting forth the amounts of principal, interest and other sums paid and payable by such Borrower from time to time hereunder in respect of such Loans, and the obligation of such Borrower to pay or repay, as the case may be, such amounts to such Bank shall be evidenced by such Banks Loan Account. In case of any dispute, action or proceeding relating to any Committed Rate Loan, Bid Loan or Negotiated Rate Loan, the entries in such records shall constitute prima facie evidence of the accuracy of the information set forth therein. In case of discrepancy between the entries in the Administrative Agents books and records and any Banks, the entries in the Administrative Agents books and records shall constitute prima facie evidence of the accuracy of the information set forth therein.
2.4 Fees. (a) The Company and the Capital Corporation jointly and severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Bank a facility fee (i) from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the date on which the Commitment of such Bank terminates hereunder, computed at a per annum rate equal to the Facility Fee Rate on the average daily amount of the Commitment of such Bank in effect during the period for which payment is made and (ii) thereafter until all Committed Rate Loans of such Bank are paid in full, computed at a per annum rate equal to the Facility Fee Rate on the average daily amount of such Committed Rate Loans outstanding, in each case, payable quarterly in arrears on the first Business Day of each January, April, July and October of each
19
year and on the Termination Date or such earlier date on which the Commitments shall terminate as provided herein, commencing in April, 2006.
2.5 Termination or Reduction of Commitments; Cancellation of Capital Corporation as Borrower. (a) The Borrowers, acting jointly, shall have the right, upon not less than five Business Days notice to the Administrative Agent, to terminate the Commitments or, from time to time, reduce the amount of the Commitments, provided that (i) any such reduction shall be accompanied by prepayment of Committed Rate Loans and reduction of the L/C Obligations hereunder, together with accrued interest on the amount so prepaid to the date of such prepayment, to the extent, if any, that the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans and L/C Obligations exceeds the amount of the Commitments as then reduced and (ii) any such termination of the Commitments shall be accompanied by prepayment in full of the Loans then outstanding hereunder in accordance with subsection 2.6 and payment of all L/C Obligations (whether or not matured) together with accrued fees and interest thereon, and any termination of a Banks Commitment pursuant to subsection 2.13, 2.16 or 2.17 shall, with respect to each affected Loan, on the last day of the applicable Interest Period therefor or, if earlier, on such earlier date as shall be notified by the Borrowers, be accompanied by prepayment in full of such Loan, together with, in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of such prepayment, the payment of any Reimbursement Obligation owed to such Bank or unpaid facility fee then accrued hereunder, the payment of any Letter of Credit interest and fees then accrued hereunder, and the payment of any amounts then payable pursuant to subsections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 2.17. Upon receipt of such notice from the Borrowers the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank thereof. Any reduction of the Commitments pursuant to this subsection 2.5 shall be in an amount not less than $25,000,000, and shall be an amount which is a whole multiple of $5,000,000, and shall reduce permanently the amount of the Commitments then in effect.
20
2.6 Prepayments. (a) Either Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay its Committed Rate Loans in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, but subject to the provisions of subsection 2.14, upon at least three Working Days irrevocable notice (by 11:00 A.M. Local Time), in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, or same day irrevocable notice in the case of ABR Loans, in each case to the Administrative Agent, specifying the date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of its Eurocurrency Loans, ABR Loans, or a combination thereof, and if of a combination thereof, the amount of prepayment allocable to each. Upon receipt of such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank thereof. If such notice is given, the Borrower delivering such notice shall make such prepayment, and the payment of the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable, on the date specified therein, together with accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid and any amounts payable pursuant to subsections 2.14 and 2.15. Except as provided in the immediately following sentence, partial prepayments shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000, or a whole multiple thereof (or comparable amounts reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in the case of Foreign Currency Loans); provided, however, that after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of all Committed Rate Loans made on the same Borrowing Date shall not be less than $25,000,000 (or comparable amounts reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in the case of Foreign Currency Loans). Anything contained in this subsection 2.6 to the contrary notwithstanding, partial prepayments of a Cancelled Banks Loans in connection with the termination under subsection 2.13(a), (b) or (c), 2.16(c) or 2.17(b) of such Cancelled Banks Commitment (in whole or in part) shall be in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Loans of such Bank being prepaid, notwithstanding the amount thereof, and shall be permitted notwithstanding the provisions of the foregoing proviso. Either Borrower may prepay Negotiated Rate Loans or Bid Loans on such terms as shall be mutually agreed upon between the relevant Borrower and the relevant Bank.
2.7 Minimum Amount of Certain Loans. All borrowings, conversions, continuations, payments and, except as set forth in the penultimate sentence of subsection 2.6(a), prepayments in respect of Committed Rate Loans shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant to such elections that, after giving effect thereto, (a) the aggregate principal amount of Committed Rate Loans made on any Borrowing Date shall not be less than $25,000,000 or a whole multiple of $5,000,000 in excess thereof (or comparable amounts reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in the case of Foreign Currency Loans) and (b) the aggregate principal amount of Committed Rate Loans of any Type with the same Interest Period shall not be less than $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or comparable amounts reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in the case of Foreign Currency Loans).
21
2.8 Committed Rate Loan Interest Rate and Payment Dates. (a) The Eurocurrency Loans shall bear interest for the period from the date thereof until the stated maturity thereof on the unpaid principal amount thereof at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate determined for the Interest Period therefor plus the Applicable Margin.
(b) The ABR Loans shall bear interest for each day during the period from the date thereof until the payment in full thereof on the unpaid principal amount thereof at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the ABR for such day plus the Applicable Margin.
(c) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any of the Committed Rate Loans or Reimbursement Obligations shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) such overdue principal amount of such Committed Rate Loan and Reimbursement Obligations (i) shall bear interest at a rate per annum which is 1% above the rate which would otherwise be applicable pursuant to subsection 2.8(a) or (b) as the case may be, from the date when such principal amount is due until the date on which such amount is paid in full and (ii) shall, if such Committed Rate Loan is a Eurocurrency Loan denominated in Dollars, be converted to an ABR Loan at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
(d) Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date.
2.9 Conversion and Continuation Options. (a) The relevant Borrower may elect from time to time to convert Committed Rate Loans denominated in Dollars of one Type into Committed Rate Loans denominated in Dollars of another Type by giving to the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice of such conversion by the earliest time that they would have been required to give notice under subsection 2.1(c) if they had been borrowing Committed Rate Loans of each such Type on the conversion date specified in such notice, provided that any such conversion of Eurocurrency Loans may only be made on the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. Any such notice of conversion to Eurocurrency Loans shall specify the length of the initial Interest Period or Interest Periods therefor. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank thereof. All or any part of outstanding Eurocurrency Loans and ABR Loans denominated in Dollars may be converted as provided herein, provided that no Loan may be converted into a Eurocurrency Loan after the date that is one month prior to (i) in the case of a Loan made by an Objecting Bank, such Objecting Banks Commitment Expiration Date, and (ii) in the case of all Loans, the Termination Date.
(b) Any Eurocurrency Loans may be continued as such upon the expiration of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto by the relevant Borrower giving notice to the Administrative Agent or the Foreign Currency Agent, as the case may be, such notice to be given by the time it would have been required to give notice under subsection 2.1(c) if it had been borrowing Eurocurrency Loans on the last day of the then expiring Interest Period therefor, of the length of the next Interest Period to be applicable to such Loans, provided that no Eurocurrency Loan denominated in Dollars may be continued as such after the date that is one month prior to (i) in the case of a Loan made by an Objecting Bank, such Objecting Banks Commitment Expiration Date, and (ii) in the case of all Loans, the Termination Date. Upon receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent or the Foreign Currency Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly notify each Bank thereof.
2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. (a) Facility fees, Utilization Fees and interest in respect of ABR Loans based upon clause (a) of the definition of ABR shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366- as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed (including the first day and excluding the last day). Interest in respect of Eurocurrency Loans, Bid Loans and ABR Loans based upon clause (b) of the definition of ABR and Letter of Credit Fees shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed (including the first day and excluding the last day), provided,
22
that interest in respect of Foreign Currency Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling, shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366- as the case may be) day year for actual days elapsed. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Banks of each determination of a Eurocurrency Rate. Any change in the interest rate on a Committed Rate Loan resulting from a change in the ABR shall become effective as of the opening of business on the day on which such change in the ABR shall become effective. The Administrative Agent or the Foreign Currency Agent, as applicable, shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Banks of the effective date and the amount of each such change.
(b) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent or the Foreign Currency Agent, as applicable, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrowers and the Banks in the absence of manifest error.
2.11 Inability to Determine Interest Rate. (a) In the event that the Administrative Agent or the Foreign Currency Agent, as applicable, shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrowers) that (i) by reason of circumstances affecting the interbank eurodollar market generally, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to Committed Rate Loans that a Borrower has requested be made as, continued as or converted into Eurocurrency Loans or (ii) that deposits in the applicable Currency are not generally available, or cannot be obtained by the Banks, in the applicable market (any Foreign Currency affected by the circumstances described in clause (i) or (ii) is referred to as an Affected Foreign Currency), the Administrative Agent or the Foreign Currency Agent, as applicable, shall promptly give notice of such determination to such Borrower and the Banks prior to the first day of the requested Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Loans. If such notice is given, such Borrower may (A) in accordance with the provisions of subsection 2.1 or 2.9, as the case may be (including any requirements for notification), request that the affected Loans denominated in Dollars be made as, continued as or converted into, as the case may be, ABR Loans, (B) request that any outstanding Foreign Currency Loans in an Affected Foreign Currency be converted, on the last day of the then-current Interest Period, to Dollar Loans at the applicable Exchange Rate or (C) in the case of Loans denominated in an Affected Foreign Currency requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period, withdraw the notice given under subsection 2.1 or 2.9, as the case may be, by giving telephonic notice to the Administrative Agent or the Foreign Currency Agent, as applicable, no later than 10:00 A.M. (Local Time) one Business Day prior to the applicable Borrowing Date, confirmed in writing no later than one Business Day after such telephonic notice is given; provided that if the Administrative Agent or the Foreign Currency Agent, as applicable, does not receive any notice permitted from the relevant Borrower hereunder, such Borrower shall be deemed to have requested that the affected Loans be made as, continued as or converted into, as the case may be, ABR Loans or, in the case of Foreign Currency Loans, shall be deemed to have requested that the affected Loans be made as, continued as or converted into, as the case may be, Dollar Loans which are ABR Loans. Until the notice given pursuant to the first sentence of this paragraph has been withdrawn by the Administrative Agent or the Foreign Currency Agent, as applicable, no further Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Dollars (in the case of clause (i) above) or in an Affected Foreign Currency shall be made or continued as such, nor shall the Borrower have the right to convert ABR Loans to Eurocurrency Loans.
(b) In the event that the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrowers) that by reason of circumstances affecting the interbank eurodollar market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurocurrency Rate for any Interest Period with respect to a proposed Bid Loan to be made pursuant to an Index Rate Bid Loan Request, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice of such determination to the relevant Borrower and the Bid Loan Banks at least two Business Days prior to the proposed Borrowing Date, and such Bid Loans shall not be made on such Borrowing Date. Until any such notice
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has been withdrawn by the Administrative Agent, no further Index Rate Bid Loan Requests shall be submitted by either Borrower.
2.12 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments. (a) All payments (including prepayments), to be made by the Borrowers on account of principal, Reimbursement Obligations, interest and fees shall be made without defense, set-off or counterclaim and shall be made, in the case of fees and principal of, and interest on, Loans (other than Negotiated Rate Loans) and Reimbursement Obligations at the Administrative Agents office specified in subsection 10.2, in each case in the relevant Currency in which the Loan was made (and in dollars in the case of Reimbursement Obligations) and in immediately available funds not later than 11:00 A.M. (Local Time) on the date due. The Administrative Agent shall distribute such payments to the Banks entitled thereto on the day of receipt in like funds as received, provided that the Administrative Agent shall have received such payments not later than 11:00 A.M. (Local Time). If the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payments to the Banks entitled thereto on a date after the date on which such payments were received prior to 11:00 A.M. (Local Time), the Administrative Agent shall pay to each such Bank on demand an amount equal to the product of (i) the daily average applicable Overnight Rate, times (ii) the amount of such Banks share of such payment, times (iii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse from and including such date of receipt of payment by the Administrative Agent to but excluding the date on which such Banks share of such payment shall have become immediately available to such Bank and the denominator of which is 360. All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrowers on account of principal, interest and fees relating to Negotiated Rate Loans shall be made to the Bank with respect thereto on such terms, at such address and at such time as shall be mutually agreed upon between the relevant Borrower and the relevant Bank in lawful money of the United States of America on the date due.
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2.13 Requirements of Law. (a) If any Bank shall determine that by reason of (i) the introduction after the date hereof of any applicable law, regulation or guideline or any change after the date hereof in any applicable law, regulation or guideline (including the phasing-in of a provision of any applicable law, regulation or guideline) or in the interpretation thereof by any governmental or other regulatory authority charged with the administration thereof or any court of competent jurisdiction and/or (ii) compliance by such Bank with any requirement adopted after the date hereof or directive adopted after the date hereof from any central bank or other fiscal, monetary or other regulatory authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost of such Bank of maintaining or giving effect to its obligations with respect to Committed Rate Loans or Letters of Credit under this Agreement or maintaining its Commitment with respect to Committed Rate Loans or Letters of Credit or making or maintaining any Eurocurrency Loans or any reduction in any amount receivable by such Bank in respect of Eurocurrency Loans under this Agreement, notwithstanding the reasonable efforts (such reasonable efforts not to result in the incurrence of additional costs or expenses) of such Bank to mitigate such increase or reduction (excluding for purposes of this subsection 2.13 any such increased costs resulting from (x) Foreign Taxes (as to which subsection 2.17 shall govern) and (y) changes in the basis of taxation of overall net income or overall gross income by the United States or by the foreign jurisdiction or state under the laws of which such Bank is organized or has its applicable lending office or any political subdivision thereof), then the relevant Borrower shall from time to time on receipt (whenever occurring) of a certificate from such Bank (which shall be executed by an officer thereof and a copy of which shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent) pay to such Bank such amounts as are stated therein to be required to indemnify such Bank against such increased costs or reduction; provided, however, that if such Borrower becomes obligated to pay any Bank any additional amount pursuant to this subsection 2.13(a), such Borrower shall have the right, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, upon giving notice to the Administrative Agent and such Bank in accordance with subsection 2.6, to prepay in full the Loans of such Bank, together with accrued interest thereon, any amounts payable to such Bank pursuant to subsections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 2.17 and any accrued and unpaid facility fee, Letter of Credit Fee, Utilization Fee, Reimbursement Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit or other amount payable to such Bank hereunder and/or, upon giving not less than three Business Days notice to any such Bank and the Administrative Agent, to cancel the whole or part of the Commitment of any such Bank (and upon such cancellation, such Banks participation in any then outstanding undrawn Letters of Credit shall terminate) (it being understood that any partial cancellation of the Commitment shall result in a corresponding reduction of such Banks participating interest in respect of Letters of Credit); provided, further, that such Borrower shall not be obligated to pay any Bank any additional amount pursuant to this subsection 2.13(a) (A) which constitutes a present or future income, stamp or other tax, levy, impost, duty, charge, fee, deduction or withholding referred to in subsection 2.17(a) or (B) as a result of any law, rule, guideline, regulation, request or directive regarding capital adequacy referred to in subsection 2.13(b). A certificate of such Bank as to the amount of such increased costs or reduction shall set forth in reasonable detail the computation of such increased costs or reduction, and shall be binding and conclusive in the absence of manifest error. A Bank which demands indemnification hereunder as a result of an increased cost or reduction referred to herein shall deliver the certificate referred to above to the relevant Borrower demanding indemnification no later than the later of (y) the thirtieth day immediately following each payment or realization by such Bank of such
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increased cost or reduction (and such certificate shall certify that the amounts set forth therein were paid or realized within such thirty-day period) and (z) the thirtieth day immediately following such Banks knowledge of the incurrence or realization by such Bank of such increased cost or reduction (and such certificate shall so certify).
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In the event any Bank shall exercise its rights under (i) or (ii) above, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise have been applied to repay the converted Foreign Currency Loans of such Bank shall instead be applied to repay the ABR Loans or Loans denominated in Dollars, as the case may be, made by such Bank resulting from such conversion.
2.14 Indemnity. Each Borrower agrees to indemnify each Bank and to hold each Bank harmless from any loss or expense which such Bank may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) default by such Borrower in payment of the principal amount of or interest on any Loan by such Bank, including, but not limited to, any such loss or expense arising from interest or fees payable by such Bank to lenders of funds obtained by it in order to maintain its Loans hereunder, (b) default by such Borrower in making a borrowing, conversion or continuance after such Borrower has given a notice in accordance with subsection 2.1, 2.2 or 2.9, (c) default by such Borrower in making any prepayment after such Borrower has given a notice in accordance with subsection 2.5 or 2.6 or (d) the making by such Borrower of a prepayment of a Committed Rate Loan (other than an ABR Loan), a Bid Loan or, to the extent agreed to by the relevant Borrower and the relevant Bank with respect to a Negotiated Rate Loan, a Negotiated Rate Loan on a day which is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto (with respect to Committed Rate Loans) or the maturity date therefor (with respect to Bid Loans) or any agreed date (with respect to Negotiated Rate Loans), including, but not limited to, any such loss or expense arising from interest or fees payable by such Bank to lenders of funds obtained by it in order to maintain its Loans hereunder. This covenant shall survive termination of this Agreement and payment of the outstanding Loans. A certificate as to any amount payable pursuant to the foregoing shall be submitted by such Bank (and executed by an officer thereof) to the relevant Borrower, setting forth the computation of such amounts in reasonable detail, and shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
2.15 Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent. With respect to all Loans except Negotiated Rate Loans, unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by the relevant Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due from it hereunder (which notice shall be effective upon receipt) that such Borrower does not intend to make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment when due, and the Administrative Agent may in reliance upon such assumption (but shall not be required to) make available to each Bank on such payment date an amount equal to the portion of such assumed payment to which such Bank is entitled hereunder, and if such Borrower has not in fact made such payment to the Administrative Agent, such Bank shall, on demand, repay to the Administrative Agent the amount made available to such Bank
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together with interest thereon in respect of each day during the period commencing on the date such amount was made available to such Bank and ending on (but excluding) the date such Bank repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to the relevant Bank with respect to any amount owing under this subsection 2.15 shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
2.16 Extension of Termination Date. (a) No later than one year prior to the Termination Date then in effect, provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrowers may request an extension of such Termination Date by submitting to the Administrative Agent an Extension Request containing the information in respect of such extension specified in Exhibit I, which the Administrative Agent shall promptly furnish to each Bank. If, within 30 days of their receipt of an Extension Request, the Majority Banks shall approve in writing the extension of the Termination Date requested in such Extension Request, the Termination Date shall automatically and without any further action by any Person be extended for the period specified in such Extension Request; provided that (i) each extension pursuant to this subsection 2.16 shall be for a maximum of one year, (ii) after giving effect to any extension, the Termination Date shall not be more than five years after the date such extension is approved by the Majority Banks and (iii) the Commitment of any Bank which does not consent in writing to such extension within 30 days of its receipt of such Extension Request (an Objecting Bank) shall, unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement, expire on the Termination Date in effect on the date of such Extension Request (such Termination Date, if any, referred to as the Commitment Expiration Date with respect to such Objecting Bank). If, within 30 days of their receipt of an Extension Request, the Majority Banks shall not approve in writing the extension of the Termination Date requested in an Extension Request, the Termination Date shall not be extended pursuant to such Extension Request. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify (y) the Banks and the Borrowers of any extension of the Termination Date pursuant to this subsection 2.16 and (z) the Borrowers and any other Bank of any Bank which becomes an Objecting Bank.
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2.17 Foreign Taxes. (a) All payments made under this Agreement shall be made without set-off or counterclaim and free and clear of, and without reduction for or on account of, any present or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions, withholdings or restrictions or conditions of any nature whatsoever, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any country (or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) from or through which any amount is paid under this Agreement excluding, in the case of each Bank, (i) income and franchise taxes (including, without limitation, branch taxes imposed by the United States or similar taxes imposed by a political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein but excluding, in the case of any Bank not organized under the laws of the United States, any taxes imposed by the United States by means of withholding at the source), (ii) in the case of any Bank not organized under the laws of the United States, any taxes imposed by the United States by means of withholding at the source unless such Bank has provided the Company, the Capital Corporation and the Administrative Agent with the documents it is required to provide to them under subsection 2.17(c) and (iii) taxes that would not have been imposed on such Bank but for the existence of a connection between such Bank and the jurisdiction imposing such taxes (other than a connection arising principally by virtue of this Agreement) (such non-excluded taxes being called Foreign Taxes). If any Foreign Taxes are required to be withheld from any amounts so payable to any Bank hereunder, the amounts so payable to such Bank shall be increased to the extent necessary to yield to such Bank (after payment of all Foreign Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this Agreement. Whenever any Foreign Taxes are payable by the Company or the Capital Corporation, as the case may be, as promptly as possible thereafter the Company or the Capital Corporation, as the case may be, shall send to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the affected Bank, a certified copy of the original official receipt, if any, received by the Company or the Capital Corporation, as the case may be, showing payment thereof. If the Company or the Capital Corporation, as the case may be, fails to pay any Foreign Taxes when due to the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the affected Banks, the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Company or the Capital Corporation, as the case may be, shall indemnify such Banks for any incremental taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable by such Banks as a result of any such failure.
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2.18 Confirmations. The Administrative Agent shall, within 15 days following the last day of each calendar quarter (each such period being a Report Period), furnish to the Borrowers a written account with respect to all amounts outstanding under the Loan Accounts as at the last day of such Report Period, including an accounting setting forth, for such Report Period the amounts of principal, interest and other sums paid and payable hereunder. The Borrowers shall, within 15 days following receipt of such written account, notify the Administrative Agent of any discrepancies between
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such written account and the Borrowers records or, if no such discrepancies exist, furnish written confirmation to the Administrative Agent of the accuracy of such written account. Upon any Banks request, the Administrative Agent shall furnish to each Bank a copy of such written account together with the Borrowers response thereto.
2.19 Replacement of Cancelled Banks. The Borrowers may designate one or more financial institutions to act as a Bank hereunder in place of any Cancelled Bank, and upon the Borrowers, each such financial institution and the Administrative Agent executing a writing substantially in the form of Exhibit L, such financial institution shall become and be a Bank hereunder with all the rights and obligations it would have had if it had been named on the signature pages hereof, and having for all such financial institutions an aggregate Commitment no greater than the whole, or such cancelled part, of the Commitment of the Cancelled Bank in place of which such financial institutions were designated; provided, however, that all rights and obligations of such Cancelled Bank relating to the Loans made by such Cancelled Bank that are outstanding on the date of such cancellation shall be the rights and obligations of such Cancelled Bank and not of any such financial institution. The Administrative Agent shall execute any such writing presented to it and shall notify the Banks of the execution thereof, the name of the financial institution executing such writing and the amount of its Commitment.
2.20 Commitment Increases. (a) At any time after the Closing Date, provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrowers may request an increase of the aggregate Commitments by notice to the Administrative Agent in writing of the amount (the Offered Increase Amount) of such proposed increase (such notice, a Commitment Increase Notice). Any such Commitment Increase Notice must offer each Bank the opportunity to subscribe for its pro rata share of the increased Commitments; provided, however, the Borrowers may, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), without offering to each Bank the opportunity to subscribe for its pro rata share of the increased Commitments, offer to any bank or other financial institution that is not an existing Bank the opportunity to provide a new Commitment pursuant to paragraph (b) below if the aggregate amount of all Commitments made hereunder pursuant to this proviso which will be in effect when such new Commitment becomes effective does not exceed $1,000,000,000 subject to subsection 2.20(f). If any portion of the increased Commitments offered to the Banks as contemplated in the immediately preceding sentence is not subscribed for by the Banks, the Borrowers may, with the consent of the Administrative Agent as to any bank or financial institution that is not at such time a Bank (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), offer to any existing Bank or to one or more additional banks or financial institutions the opportunity to provide all or a portion of such unsubscribed portion of the increased Commitments pursuant to paragraph (b) below.
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2.21 Judgment Currency. (a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction, the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.
2.22 Foreign Currency Exchange Rate. (a) No later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on each Calculation Date with respect to a Foreign Currency, the Administrative Agent (or the Foreign Currency Agent) shall determine the Exchange Rate as of such Calculation Date with respect to such Foreign Currency (it being acknowledged and agreed that the Administrative Agent or the Foreign Currency Agent, as the case may be, shall use such Exchange Rate for the purposes of determining compliance with subsection 2.1 with respect to such borrowing request). The Exchange Rates so determined shall become effective on the relevant Calculation Date, shall remain effective until the next succeeding Calculation Date and shall for all purposes of this Agreement (other than subsection 2.13(e) and subsection 2.21(a)) be the Exchange Rates employed in converting any amounts between Dollars and Foreign Currencies.
2.23 Letters of Credit. (a) L/C Obligations. (i) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Issuing Bank, in reliance on the agreements of the other Banks set forth in subsection 2.23(d)(i), agrees to issue letters of credit (Letters of Credit) for the account of a Borrower on any Business Day during the Commitment Period in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing Bank; provided that the Issuing Bank shall have no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (A) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Commitment or (B) the Total Extensions of Credit would be greater than the Total Commitments. Each Letter of Credit shall (1) be denominated in Dollars, and (2) expire no later than the earlier of (x) the first anniversary of its date of issuance and (y) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Termination Date, 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).
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(d) L/C Participations. (i) The Issuing Bank irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from the Issuing Bank, on the terms and conditions set forth below, for such L/C Participants own account and risk an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participants Commitment Percentage in the Issuing Banks obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit and the amount of each draft paid by the Issuing Bank thereunder. Each L/C Participant agrees with the Issuing Bank that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit for which the Issuing Bank is not reimbursed in full by the Borrowers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Bank upon demand at the Issuing Banks address for notices specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participants Commitment Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof, that is not so reimbursed. Each L/C Participants obligation to pay such amount shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such L/C Participant may have against the Issuing Bank, the Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Section 4, (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrowers, (iv) any breach of this Agreement by the Borrowers
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or any other L/C Participant or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
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SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and to each Bank that:
3.1 Financial Condition. The consolidated balance sheet of such Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at October 31, 2005 and the related consolidated statements of income and of cash flow for the fiscal year then ended (including the related schedules and notes) reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, copies of which have heretofore been furnished to each Bank, fairly present the consolidated financial condition of such Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at such date, and the consolidated results of their operations and changes in financial position for the fiscal year then ended. All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America applied consistently throughout the periods involved (except as approved by such accountants or Responsible Officer, as the case may be, and as disclosed therein).
3.2 Corporate Existence. Such Borrower is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has the corporate power and authority to own its properties and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged.
3.3 Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. Such Borrower has the corporate power and authority and the legal right to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to borrow hereunder and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize its borrowings on the terms
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and conditions of this Agreement and to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. No consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority, is required in connection with the borrowings hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement other than any such consents, authorizations, filings or acts as have been obtained, taken or made and are in full force and effect. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Borrower, and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Borrower enforceable against such Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by general equity principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).
3.4 No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the issuance of the Letters of Credit, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof, will not violate any Requirement of Law or any Contractual Obligation of such Borrower, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien on any of its properties or revenues pursuant to any Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation.
3.5 No Material Litigation. No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of such Borrower, threatened by or against such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of its or their respective properties or revenues except actions, suits or proceedings which will not materially adversely affect the ability of such Borrower to perform its obligations hereunder. All of the defaults, if any, of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any order of any Governmental Authority do not, and will not collectively, have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, property or financial or other condition of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
3.6 Taxes. Each of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries has filed or caused to be filed all tax returns which, to the knowledge of such Borrower, are required to be filed (except where the failure to file such tax returns would not have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, property or financial or other condition of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole), and has paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on said returns or on any assessments made against it or any of its property and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority (other than assessments, taxes, fees and other charges the amount or validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of such Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be).
3.7 Margin Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder will be used for any purpose which violates the provisions of Regulation U of the Board as now and from time to time hereafter in effect.
3.8 [Intentionally Omitted].
3.9 [Intentionally Omitted].
3.10 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used by such Borrower for its general corporate purposes, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, any purchase or other acquisition of all or a portion of the debt or stock or other evidences of ownership of such Borrower or the assets or stock or other evidences of ownership of any other Person or Persons.
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SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
4.1 Conditions to Initial Extensions of Credit. The obligation of each Bank to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
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4.2 Conditions to All Extensions of Credit. The obligation of each Bank to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit (which shall include the initial Loan to be made by it hereunder but shall not include any Loan made pursuant to subsection 2.20(e)(ii) or (iii) if, after the making of such Loan and the application of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Committed Rate Loans would not be increased) to be made by it hereunder on any Borrowing Date is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
Each acceptance by either Borrower of a Loan, each issuance of a Letter of Credit and each increase in the drawable amount of any Letter of Credit for the account of a Borrower, shall constitute a representation and warranty by the relevant Borrower as of the date of such Loan or issuance of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, that the applicable conditions in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection 4.2 have been satisfied.
SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Each of the Borrowers (except as otherwise specified) hereby agrees that, so long as there is any obligation by any Bank to make Loans to it hereunder, any obligation of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, any Loan of such Borrower remains outstanding and unpaid, any Letter of Credit remains outstanding or any other amount is owing by such Borrower to any Bank, the Issuing Bank or any Agent hereunder (unless the Majority Banks shall otherwise consent in writing):
5.1 Financial Statements. Such Borrower shall furnish to each Bank:
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all such financial statements to present fairly the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of such Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries and to be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America applied consistently throughout the periods reflected therein (except as approved by such accountants or officer, as the case may be, and disclosed therein). Such Borrower shall be deemed to have furnished such financial statements to each Bank when they are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and posted on its EDGAR system.
5.2 Certificates; Other Information. Such Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall make available to each Bank:
5.3 Company Indenture Documents. The Company shall, contemporaneously with the delivery thereof to the Trustee, furnish to each Bank a copy of any information, document or report required to be filed with the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.03 of the Indenture dated October 1, 1998 between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association)), as trustee.
5.4 Capital Corporation Indenture Documents. The Capital Corporation shall, contemporaneously with the delivery thereof to the trustee, furnish to each Bank a copy of any information, document or report required to be filed with the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.03 of the Indenture dated March 15, 1997, between the Capital Corporation and The Bank of New York, as trustee.
5.5 Notice of Default. Such Borrower shall promptly give notice to the Administrative Agent of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, which notice shall be given in writing as soon as possible, and in any event within 10 days after a Responsible Officer of such Borrower obtains knowledge of such occurrence, with a description of the steps being taken to remedy the same (provided that such Borrower shall not be obligated to give notice of any Default or Event of Default which is
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remedied prior to or within 10 days after a Responsible Officer of such Borrower first acquires such knowledge). Upon receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank thereof.
5.6 Ownership of Capital Corporation Stock. The Company shall continue to own, directly or through one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries, free and clear of any lien or other encumbrance, 51% of the voting stock of the Capital Corporation; provided, however, that the Capital Corporation may merge or consolidate with, or sell or convey substantially all of its assets to, the Company as provided in subsection 7.4.
5.7 Employee Benefit Plans. The Company shall maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, each Plan as to which it may have liability, in compliance with all applicable requirements of law and regulations.
SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
The Company hereby agrees that, so long as there is any obligation by any Bank to make Loans hereunder, any obligation of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, any Loan remains outstanding and unpaid, any Letter of Credit remains outstanding or any other amount is owing to any Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Bank hereunder, it shall not, nor in the case of subsections 6.2 and 6.3 shall it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to (unless the Majority Banks shall otherwise consent in writing):
6.1 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms . Consolidate with or merge with or into any other corporation or convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:
6.2 Limitation on Liens. (a) Issue, incur, assume or guarantee any debt (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as Debt) secured by any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or other encumbrance (hereinafter called Mortgage or Mortgages) upon any Important Property, or upon any shares of stock or indebtedness issued or incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary (whether such Important Property, shares of stock or indebtedness is now owned or hereafter acquired) without in any such case
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effectively providing, concurrently with the issuance, incurrence, assumption or guaranty of any such Debt, that the Loans and all other amounts hereunder (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other indebtedness of or guaranty by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary ranking equally with the Loans then existing or thereafter created) shall be secured equally and ratably with or prior to such Debt; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:
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6.3 Limitations on Sale and Lease-back Transactions. Enter into any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Important Property owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (except for temporary leases for a term, including any renewal thereof, of not more than three years and except for leases between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries), which Important Property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person (herein referred to as a Sale and Lease-back Transaction) unless the net proceeds of such sale are at least equal to the fair value (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable) of such property and either (a) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled, pursuant to the provisions of (1) subsection 6.2(a)(i) or (2) subsection 6.2(b), to incur Debt secured by a Mortgage on the Important Property to be leased without equally and ratably securing the Loans, or (b) the Company shall, and in any such case the Company covenants that it will, within 120 days of the effective date of any such arrangement, apply an amount equal to the fair value (as so determined) of such property to the reduction of the Commitments (to be accompanied by prepayment of the Loans in accordance with subsection 2.6 to the extent that the principal amount thereof outstanding prior to such prepayment would exceed the Commitments as so reduced) or to the payment or other retirement of funded debt for money borrowed, incurred or assumed by the Company which ranks senior to or pari passu with the Loans or of funded debt for money borrowed, incurred or assumed by any Restricted Subsidiary (other than, in either case, funded debt owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary). For this purpose, funded debt means any Debt which by its terms matures at or is extendable or renewable at the sole option of the obligor without requiring the consent of the obligee to a date more than twelve months after the date of the creation of such Debt.
6.4 Equipment Operations Debt. Permit Equipment Operations Debt as at the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including the last quarter of any fiscal
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year of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries) to exceed 65% of the sum, at the end of each such fiscal quarter, of (i) Equipment Operations Debt plus (ii) Total Stockholders Equity.
The Capital Corporation hereby agrees that, so long as there is any obligation by any Bank to make Loans to the Capital Corporation hereunder, any obligation of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, any Loan of the Capital Corporation remains outstanding and unpaid, any Letter of Credit remains outstanding or any other amount is owing by the Capital Corporation to any Bank, the Issuing Bank or any Agent hereunder, the Capital Corporation shall not, nor in the case of the agreements set forth in subsection 7.3 shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly (unless the Majority Banks shall otherwise consent in writing):
7.1 Fixed Charges Ratio. Permit the ratio of Net Earnings Available for Fixed Charges to Fixed Charges for any fiscal quarter of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including the last quarter of any fiscal year of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries) to be less than 1.05 to 1.
7.2 Consolidated Senior Debt to Consolidated Capital Base. Permit the ratio of Consolidated Senior Debt to Consolidated Capital Base as at the end of any fiscal quarter of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including the end of any fiscal year of the Capital Corporation and its consolidated Subsidiaries) to be more than 8.5 to 1.
7.3 Limitation on Liens. Issue, incur, assume or guarantee any Debt secured by any Mortgage upon any of its property or assets, or any of the property or assets of any of its Subsidiaries (whether any such property or assets is now owned or hereafter acquired) without in any such case effectively providing, concurrently with the issuance, incurrence, assumption or guaranty of any such Debt, that the Loans and all other amounts hereunder (together with, if the Capital Corporation shall so determine, any other indebtedness of or guaranty by such Borrower or such Subsidiary ranking equally with the Loans then existing or thereafter created) shall be secured equally and ratably with or prior to such Debt; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:
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7.4 Consolidation; Merger. Merge or consolidate with, or sell or convey (other than a conveyance by way of lease) all or substantially all of its assets to, any other corporation, unless (a) the Capital Corporation shall be the surviving corporation in the case of a merger or the surviving, resulting or transferee corporation (the successor corporation) shall be a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume the due and punctual performance of all of the agreements, covenants and obligations of the Capital Corporation under this Agreement by supplemental agreement satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent by the successor corporation and (b) the Capital Corporation or such successor corporation, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such merger, consolidation, sale or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any such agreements, covenants or obligations; provided, however, that the Capital Corporation may merge or consolidate with, or sell or convey substantially all of its assets to, the Company, if (i) the Company is the successor corporation (as defined above) and (ii) subclause (b) above is complied with. Upon any such merger, consolidation, sale or conveyance, the successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of and shall be subject to all the obligations of, the Capital Corporation under this Agreement, with the same effect as if the successor corporation had been named as the Capital Corporation herein and therein.
SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any of the following events:
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then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified in paragraph (f) above, automatically the Commitments shall immediately terminate and the Loans hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement (including all amounts of L/C Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented the documents required thereunder) and the Loans shall immediately become due and payable, and (B)(1) if such event is any Event of Default specified in paragraph (a) or (e), then with the consent of the Majority Banks, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Majority Banks, the Administrative Agent shall, or (2) if such Event is an Event of Default specified in paragraph (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h), then with the consent of the Required Banks, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Banks, the Administrative Agent shall, take either or both of the following actions: (i) by notice to the Borrowers, declare the Commitments to be terminated forthwith, whereupon the Commitments shall immediately terminate; and (ii) by notice of default to the Borrowers, declare the Loans hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement (including all amounts of L/C Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented the documents required thereunder) to be due and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable. With respect to all Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrowers shall at such time deposit in a cash collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit. Amounts held in such cash collateral account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay other obligations of the Borrowers hereunder. After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, all Reimbursement Obligations shall have been satisfied and all other obligations of the Borrowers hereunder shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such cash collateral account shall be returned to the Borrowers (or such other Person as may be lawfully entitled thereto). Except as
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expressly provided above in this Section, presentment, demand, protest and all other notices of any kind are hereby expressly waived with respect to this Agreement by the Borrowers.
9.1 Appointment. (a) Each Bank hereby irrevocably designates and appoints JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the Administrative Agent of such Bank under this Agreement, and each Bank hereby irrevocably authorizes JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the Administrative Agent for such Bank, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
9.2 Delegation of Duties. Each Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. Each Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.
9.3 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither any Agent nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall be (i) liable to any Bank for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in connection with this Agreement (except for its or such Persons own gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Banks for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by the Borrowers or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or for any failure of the Borrowers to perform their obligations hereunder. No Agent shall be under any obligation to any Bank to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement, or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Borrowers.
9.4 Reliance by Agents. Each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any Loan, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, facsimile, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Borrowers), independent accountants and other experts selected by such Agent. Each Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Loan as the owner thereof for all purposes except as provided in subsections 10.5(c) and 10.5(d). Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any discretionary action under this Agreement unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Majority Banks as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Banks against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any
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such action. Each Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement in accordance with a request of the Majority Banks, the Required Banks or all of the Banks (if the consent of the Majority Banks, the Required Banks or all of the Banks, respectively, is required), and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Banks.
9.5 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from a Bank or either Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a notice of default. In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Banks. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Majority Banks, the Required Banks, or all Banks, as applicable; provided that, unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Banks.
9.6 Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Banks. Each Bank expressly acknowledges that neither any Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by such Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Borrowers, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by such Agent to any Bank. Each Bank represents to each Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon such Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of each Borrower and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Bank also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon each Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrowers. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Banks by any Agent hereunder, such Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Bank with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of either Borrower which may come into the possession of such Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.
9.7 Indemnification. The Banks agree to indemnify each Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrowers and without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so), ratably (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever which may at any time (including without limitation at any time following the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement, or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or the transactions contemplated hereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Bank shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Agents gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this subsection 9.7 shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
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9.8 Agents in their Individual Capacities. Each Agent and its respective affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrowers as though such Agent were not an Agent hereunder. With respect to its Loans made by it and with respect to any Letter of Credit issued or participated in by it, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any Bank and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the terms Bank and Banks shall include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity.
9.9 Successor Agents. Each Agent may resign as Agent upon 30 days notice thereof to the Borrowers and the Banks. If any Agent shall resign as Agent under this Agreement, then the Majority Banks shall appoint from among the Banks a successor agent for the Banks which successor agent shall be approved by the Borrowers, whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the Administrative Agent and the term Administrative Agent shall mean such successor agent effective upon its appointment, and the former Agents rights, powers and duties as Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such former Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement. After any retiring Agents resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Section 9 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.
10.1 Amendments and Waivers. With the written consent of the Majority Banks, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers may, from time to time, enter into written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or changing in any manner the rights of the Banks or of the Borrowers hereunder, and with the consent of the Majority Banks the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Banks may execute and deliver to the Borrowers a written instrument waiving, on such terms and conditions as the Administrative Agent may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided, however, that no such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification shall (a) extend the maturity of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate of any fee payable hereunder or extend the time of payment thereof, in each case, without the written consent of (i) with respect to any such change to any Committed Rate Loan, each Bank directly affected thereby and (ii) with respect to any such change to any Bid Loan, the Bank which made such Bid Loan, or (b) change the amount of any Banks Commitment or the terms of its obligation to make Loans hereunder (other than in accordance with subsection 2.20), or amend, modify or waive the pro rata treatment and payment provisions of subsection 2.12(b), or amend, modify or waive any provision of this subsection 10.1 or reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Majority Banks or Required Banks, or consent to the assignment or transfer by either Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, in each case without the written consent of each Bank, or (c) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 9 without the written consent of the then Administrative Agent and, if applicable, any other Agent affected by such amendment, modification or waiver, or (d) extend the Termination Date with respect to any Bank without the written consent of such Bank; and provided, further, however, that no such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification shall waive, amend, supplement or otherwise modify subsection 2.16 or Section 8(B)(2) without the written consent of the Required Banks or (e) amend, modify or waive any provision of subsection 2.23 without the written consent of the Issuing Bank. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each of the Banks and shall be binding upon the Borrowers, the Banks and the Agents. In the case of any waiver, the Borrowers, the Banks and the Agents shall be restored to their former position and rights hereunder, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon. Anything contained in the foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, the
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relevant Borrower and the relevant Bank with respect to a Negotiated Rate Loan may, from time to time, enter into amendments, supplements or modifications for the purpose of adding any provisions to such Negotiated Rate Loans or changing in any manner the rights of such Bank and such Borrower thereunder and such Bank may waive any of the requirements of such Negotiated Rate Loan; provided, however, that such Borrower and such Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any extension of the maturity of such Negotiated Rate Loan or reduction of the principal amount thereof; provided, further, that such Borrower and such Bank shall not extend the maturity of such Negotiated Rate Loan beyond the last day of the Commitment Period.
10.2 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing, by facsimile transmission, by telephone confirmed in writing and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered by hand, or when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of facsimile transmission, when received, addressed as follows in the case of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, or to such address or other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto:
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The Company: |
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Deere & Company |
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The Capital Corporation: |
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John Deere Capital
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with a copy to: |
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Deere & Company |
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The Administrative Agent: |
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JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
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with a copy to: |
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JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
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The Foreign Currency
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J.P. Morgan Europe Limited |
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To any other Bank: |
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To it at its address (or facsimile number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire |
provided that any notice, request or demand to or upon the Administrative Agent or the Banks pursuant to subsections 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 2.6, 2.9, 2.11, 2.20 and 9.9 shall not be effective until received (including receipt by telephone if permitted hereby).
10.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of either Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Bank, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
10.4 Payment of Expenses. (a) The Company agrees (i) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all its out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation and execution of, and any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement and any other documents prepared in connection herewith, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby in such manner and in such amounts as shall be agreed to in writing by the Company and the Administrative Agent, (ii) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with the preparation and execution of, and any amendment, supplement, modification to, this Agreement and other documents prepared in connection herewith, and the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby and thereby, and (iii) to pay or reimburse each Bank and each Agent for all its out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under this Agreement and any such other documents, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel to each Agent and one counsel representing the Banks.
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10.5 Successors and Assigns; Participations; Purchasing Banks. (a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrowers, the Banks, the Agents and their respective successors and assigns (including any affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that the Borrowers may not assign or transfer any of their rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of each Bank.
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10.6 Adjustments. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if any Bank (a benefitted Bank) shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of its Committed Rate Loans or L/C Obligations, or interest thereon or facility fee or letter of credit fee hereunder, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in clause (e) of Section 8, or otherwise) in a greater proportion than any such payment to and collateral received by any other Bank, if any, in respect of such other Banks Committed Rate Loans or L/C Obligations, or interest thereon, or facility fee or letter of credit fee hereunder, such benefitted Bank shall purchase for cash from the other Banks such portion of each such other Banks Committed Rate Loans or L/C Obligations, or shall provide such other Banks with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such benefitted Bank to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of such other Banks; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such benefitted Bank, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest. The Borrowers agree that each Bank so purchasing a portion of another Banks Committed Rate Loans or L/C Obligations may exercise
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all rights of payment (including, without limitation, rights of set-off) with respect to such portion as fully as if such Bank were the direct holder of such portion.
10.7 Confidentiality. (a) Each of the Agents and the Banks shall, subject as hereinafter provided, keep confidential from any third party any data or information received by them from the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement which, if provided in writing, is designated in writing as such, and if provided orally, is designated orally as such by the Borrowers except:
10.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.
10.9 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
10.10 Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process. All judicial proceedings brought against the Borrowers with respect to this Agreement may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New York, and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Borrowers accept, for themselves and in connection with their properties, generally and unconditionally, the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and irrevocably agree to be bound by any final judgment rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement from which no appeal has been taken or is available. The Borrowers irrevocably agree that all process in any such proceedings in any such court may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to them at their addresses set forth in subsection 10.2 or at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto, such service being hereby acknowledged by the Borrowers to be effective and binding service in every respect. Each of the
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Borrowers, the Agents and the Banks irrevocably waives any objection, including without limitation, any objection to the laying of venue or based on the grounds of forum non conveniens which it may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any such action or proceeding in any such jurisdiction. Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of any Agent or any Bank to bring proceedings against the Borrowers in the courts of any other jurisdiction.
10.11 USA Patriot Act.
Each Bank hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the Act), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrowers, which information includes the name and address of the Borrowers and other information that will allow such Bank to identify the Borrowers in accordance with the Act. The Borrowers shall promptly provide such information upon request by any Bank.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective proper and duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
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DEERE & COMPANY |
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TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS)
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BNP PARIBAS, |
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MELLON BANK, N.A., |
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BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA
ARGENTARIA, S.A., |
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK, |
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BARCLAYS BANK PLC, |
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BANCO SANTANDER CENTRAL
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WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL
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BANCA NAZIONALE DEL LAVORO
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THE BANK OF
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FIFTH THIRD BANK, |
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NORDEA BANK FINLAND PLC, |
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U.S. BANK, NATIONAL
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WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL
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WESTPAC BANKING
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SCHEDULE I
TERMS OF SUBORDINATION
Senior Indebtedness means the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest, Utilization Fee, facility fee and letter of credit fees on (a) indebtedness (including matured and contingent reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit) of John Deere Capital Corporation (the Capital Corporation) (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Capital Corporation), other than the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities [such term to be defined as the debt to be issued under the indenture or agreement to which this Schedule relates] and [specify any other indebtedness of the Capital Corporation (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Capital Corporation)], provided that indebtedness of the Capital Corporation under the credit agreement to which these Terms of Subordination are attached may not be so specified, whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed, unless in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such indebtedness is not senior or prior in right of payment to the Securities, and (b) renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness.
SUBORDINATION
Section 1. Agreement to Subordinate.
The Capital Corporation, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each holder of Securities, by such holders acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on each and all of the Securities is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.
Section 2. Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities.
Upon any distribution of assets of the Capital Corporation upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Capital Corporation, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Capital Corporation or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provisions reflecting the rights conferred in this Agreement upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Securities by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law),
(a) the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal thereof (and premium if any) and the interest, Utilization Fee, facility fee and letter of credit fees due on the Senior Indebtedness before the holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on indebtedness evidenced by the Securities; and
(b) any payment or distribution of assets of the Capital Corporation of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the holders of the Securities or any trustee therefor would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under
any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, Utilization Fee, facility fee and letter of credit fees on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; and
(c) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Capital Corporation of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by any trustee for the holders of the Securities or the holders of the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over, upon written notice to any trustee for the holders of the Securities, to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as aforesaid, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Capital Corporation applicable to Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to the holders of the Securities of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Capital Corporation, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Capital Corporation to or on account of the Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article are, and are intended, solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Agreement or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Capital Corporation, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Capital Corporation, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the holders of the Securities and creditors of the Capital Corporation other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or in the instruments or other evidence of the Securities prevent any trustee for the holders of the Securities or the holder of any Securities from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Agreement or such instrument or other evidence, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Capital Corporation received upon the exercise of any such remedy.
2
Section 3. No Payment on Securities in Event of Non-Payment When Due of Senior Indebtedness.
No payment by the Capital Corporation on account of principal (or premium, if any), sinking funds, or interest on the Securities shall be made unless full payment of amounts then due for principal, premium, if any, sinking funds and interest and letter of credit fees on Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or moneys worth.
SCHEDULE II
COMMITMENTS
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Bank |
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Commitment |
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JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
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$ |
300,000,000 |
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Bank of America, N.A. |
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$ |
260,000,000 |
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Citicorp USA |
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$ |
260,000,000 |
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Credit Suisse |
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$ |
260,000,000 |
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Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch |
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$ |
260,000,000 |
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Merrill Lynch Bank USA |
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$ |
260,000,000 |
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Royal Bank of Canada |
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$ |
200,000,000 |
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HSBC Bank USA, National Association |
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$ |
200,000,000 |
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Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC (as successor in interest to Toronto Dominion (Texas), Inc.) |
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$ |
175,000,000 |
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BNP Paribas |
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$ |
100,000,000 |
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Mellon Bank, N.A. |
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$ |
100,000,000 |
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Wachovia Bank, National Association |
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$ |
100,000,000 |
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Wells Fargo Bank, National Association |
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$ |
100,000,000 |
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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. |
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$ |
75,000,000 |
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Barclays Bank PLC |
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$ |
75,000,000 |
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The Bank of New York |
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$ |
75,000,000 |
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Banco Santander Central Hispano, SA , New York Branch |
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$ |
30,000,000 |
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The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd., Chicago Branch |
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$ |
30,000,000 |
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Fifth Third Bank |
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$ |
30,000,000 |
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U.S. Bank, National Association |
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$ |
30,000,000 |
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Westpac Banking Corporation |
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$ |
30,000,000 |
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Banca Nazionale del Lavoro S.P.A., New York Branch |
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$ |
25,000,000 |
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Nordea Bank Finland PLC |
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$ |
25,000,000 |
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TOTAL |
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$ |
3,000,000,000 |
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SCHEDULE III
MANDATORY COSTS
1. Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate Banks for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank.
2. On the first day of each Interest Period (or as soon as possible thereafter) the Administrative Agent shall calculate, as a percentage rate, a rate (the Additional Cost Rate) for each Bank, in accordance with the paragraphs set out below. The Mandatory Cost will be calculated by the Administrative Agent as a weighted average of the Banks Additional Cost Rates (weighted in proportion to the percentage participation of each Bank in the relevant Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum.
3. The Additional Cost Rate for any Bank lending from a Facility Office in a Participating Member State will be the percentage notified by that Bank to the Administrative Agent. This percentage will be certified by that Bank in its notice to the Administrative Agent to be its reasonable determination of the cost (expressed as a percentage of that Banks participation in all Loans made from that Facility Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that Facility Office.
4. The Additional Cost Rate for any Bank lending from a Facility Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Administrative Agent as follows:
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AB + C(B D)+E x 0.01 |
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per cent. per annum |
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100 (A + C) |
Where:
A is the percentage of Eligible Liabilities (assuming these to be in excess of any stated minimum) which that Bank is from time to time required to maintain as an interest free cash ratio deposit with the Bank of England to comply with cash ratio requirements.
B is the percentage rate of interest (excluding the Applicable Margin and the Mandatory Cost) payable for the relevant Interest Period on the Loan.
C is the percentage (if any) of Eligible Liabilities which that Bank is required from time to time to maintain as interest bearing Special Deposits with the Bank of England.
D is the percentage rate per annum payable by the Bank of England to the Administrative Agent on interest bearing Special Deposits.
E is designed to compensate Banks for amounts payable under the Fees Rules and is calculated by the Administrative Agent as being the average of the most recent rates of
charge supplied by the Reference Banks to the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph 7 below and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000.
5. For the purposes of this Schedule:
(a) Eligible Liabilities and Special Deposits have the meanings given to them from time to time under or pursuant to the Bank of England Act 1998 or (as may be appropriate) by the Bank of England;
(b) Facility Office means, as to any Bank, the office or offices of such Bank through which it is making or has made Loans under this Agreement denominated in Pounds Sterling;
(c) Fees Rules means the rules on periodic fees contained in the FSA Supervision Manual or such other law or regulation as may be in force from time to time in respect of the payment of fees for the acceptance of deposits;
(d) Fee Tariffs means the fee tariffs specified in the Fees Rules under the activity group A.1 Deposit acceptors (ignoring any minimum fee or zero rated fee required pursuant to the Fees Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate);
(e) Reference Banks means the principal London offices of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG or such other banks as may be appointed by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrowers. and
(f) Tariff Base has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules.
6. In application of the above formulae, A, B, C and D will be included in the formulae as percentages (i.e. 5 per cent. will be included in the formula as 5 and not as 0.05). A negative result obtained by subtracting D from B shall be taken as zero. The resulting figures shall be rounded to four decimal places.
7. If requested by the Administrative Agent, each Reference Bank shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Administrative Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Reference Bank to the Financial Services Authority pursuant to the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by that Reference Bank as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Reference Bank for that financial year) and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000 of the Tariff Base of that Reference Bank.
8. Each Bank shall supply any information required by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of calculating its Additional Cost Rate. In particular, but without limitation, each Bank shall supply the following information on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Bank:
(a) the jurisdiction of its Facility Office; and
A-2
(b) any other information that the Administrative Agent may reasonably require for such purpose.
Each Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any change to the information provided by it pursuant to this paragraph.
9. The percentages of each Bank for the purpose of A and C above and the rates of charge of each Reference Bank for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Administrative Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 7 and 8 above and on the assumption that, unless a Bank notifies the Administrative Agent to the contrary, each Banks obligations in relation to cash ratio deposits and Special Deposits are the same as those of a typical bank from its jurisdiction of incorporation with a Facility Office in the same jurisdiction as its Facility Office.
10. The Administrative Agent shall have no liability to any person if such determination results in an Additional Cost Rate which over or under compensates any Bank and shall be entitled to assume that the information provided by any Bank or Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above is true and correct in all respects.
11. The Administrative Agent shall distribute the additional amounts received as a result of the Mandatory Cost to the Banks on the basis of the Additional Cost Rate for each Bank based on the information provided by each Bank and each Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above.
12. Any determination by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Schedule in relation to a formula, the Mandatory Cost, an Additional Cost Rate or any amount payable to a Bank shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties.
13. The Administrative Agent may from time to time, after consultation with the Borrowers and the Banks, determine and notify to all parties any amendments which are required to be made to this Schedule in order to comply with any change in law, regulation or any requirements from time to time imposed by the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank (or, in any case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) and any such determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties.
A-2
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF BORROWING NOTICE]
, 20
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent under the
Credit Agreement referred to below
1111 Fannin Street, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Danette Espinoza
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to subsection 2.1(c) of the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006, among DEERE & COMPANY, JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION, the Banks parties thereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, CITIBANK, N.A. and CREDIT SUISSE, as Documentation Agents, MERRILL LYNCH BANK USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Syndication Agents (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), the undersigned hereby requests that the following Committed Rate Loans be made on , 20 as follows:
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(1) Total Amount of Committed Rate Loans |
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$ |
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(2) Requested Currency |
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(3) Amount of (1) to be allocated to Eurocurrency Loans |
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$ |
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(4) Amount of (1) to be allocated to ABR Loans |
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$ |
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(5) Interest Periods and amounts to be allocated thereto in respect of Eurocurrency Loans (amounts must total (3)): |
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(i) one month |
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$ |
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(ii) two months |
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$ |
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(iii) three months |
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$ |
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(v) six months |
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$ |
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Total Eurocurrency Loans |
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$ |
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NOTE: THE AMOUNT APPEARING IN LINE (1) ABOVE MUST BE AT LEAST EQUAL TO $25,000,000 AND IN A WHOLE MULTIPLE OF $5,000,000 (OR THE FOREIGN CURRENCY EQUIVALENT IN THE CASE OF FOREIGN CURRENCY LOANS) AND THE AMOUNTS APPEARING IN EACH OTHER LINE ABOVE MUST BE AT LEAST EQUAL
TO $10,000,000 AND IN A WHOLE MULTIPLE OF $1,000,000 (OR THE FOREIGN CURRENCY EQUIVALENT IN THE CASE OF FOREIGN CURRENCY LOANS).
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein.
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Very truly yours, |
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[DEERE & COMPANY] |
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[JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION] |
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By: |
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A-2
EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF BID LOAN REQUEST]
, 20
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent under the Credit
Agreement referred to below
1111 Fannin Street, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Danette Espinoza
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006, among DEERE & COMPANY, JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION, the Banks parties thereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, CITIBANK, N.A. and CREDIT SUISSE, as Documentation Agents, MERRILL LYNCH BANK USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Syndication Agents (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
This is an [Index Rate] [Absolute Rate] Bid Loan Request pursuant to subsection 2.2 of the Credit Agreement requesting quotes for the following Bid Loans:
|
Aggregate Principal Amount |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Borrowing Date |
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Interest Period |
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Maturity Period |
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Interest Payment Dates |
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Interest Rate Basis |
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360 day year |
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NOTE: THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNTS APPEARING ABOVE MUST BE IN THE AGGREGATE AT LEAST EQUAL TO $25,000,000 AND IN A WHOLE MULTIPLE OF $5,000,000.
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Very truly yours, |
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[DEERE & COMPANY] |
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[JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION] |
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By: |
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Title: |
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Note: Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, a Bid Loan Request may be transmitted by facsimile transmission, or by telephone, immediately confirmed by facsimile transmission. In any case, a Bid Loan Request shall contain the information specified in the second paragraph of this form.
B-2
EXHIBIT C
[FORM OF BID LOAN OFFER]
, 20
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative
Agent under the Credit Agreement referred to below
1111 Fannin Street, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Danette Espinoza
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006, among DEERE & COMPANY, JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION, the Banks parties thereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, CITIBANK, N.A. and CREDIT SUISSE, as Documentation Agents, MERRILL LYNCH BANK USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Syndication Agents (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
In accordance with subsection 2.2 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned Bid Loan Bank offers to make Bid Loans thereunder in the following amounts with the following maturity dates:
Borrowing Date: , 20
Aggregate Maximum Amount: $
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Maturity Date 1: |
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Maturity Date 2: |
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Maturity Date 3: |
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Maximum Amount |
$ |
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Maximum Amount |
$ |
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Maximum Amount |
$ |
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Rate* Amount |
$ |
|
Rate* Amount |
$ |
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Rate* Amount |
$ |
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Rate* Amount |
$ |
|
Rate* Amount |
$ |
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Rate* Amount |
$ |
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Very truly yours, |
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[NAME OF BID LOAN BANK] |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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Telephone: |
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Facsimile: |
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* If Index Rate Bid Loan, insert percentage above or below Eurocurrency Rate.
C-2
EXHIBIT D
[FORM OF BID LOAN CONFIRMATION]
, 20
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
under the Credit Agreement referred to below
1111 Fannin Street, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Danette Espinoza
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006, among DEERE & COMPANY, JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION, the Banks parties thereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, CITIBANK, N.A. and CREDIT SUISSE, as Documentation Agents, MERRILL LYNCH BANK USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Syndication Agents (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
In accordance with subsection 2.2 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned accepts and confirms the offers by Bid Loan Bank(s) to make Bid Loans to the undersigned on , 20 [Borrowing Date] under said subsection 2.2 in the (respective) amount(s) set forth on the attached list of Bid Loans offered.
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Very truly yours, |
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[DEERE & COMPANY] |
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[JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION] |
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By: |
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Title: |
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[Borrower to attach Bid Loan Offer list prepared by Administrative Agent with accepted amount entered by the Borrower to right of each Bid Loan Offer].
EXHIBIT E
[FORM OF LOAN ASSIGNMENT]
LOAN ASSIGNMENT
LOAN ASSIGNMENT, dated as of the date set forth in Item 1 of Schedule I hereto, among the Assignor Bank set forth in Item 2 of Schedule I hereto (the Assignor Bank), the Loan Assignee set forth in Item 3 of Schedule I hereto (the Loan Assignee), and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent for the Banks under the Credit Agreement described below (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, this Loan Assignment is being executed and delivered in accordance with subsection 10.5(c) of the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006 among DEERE & COMPANY (the Company), JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION (the Capital Corporation), the Banks parties thereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, CITIBANK, N.A. and CREDIT SUISSE, as Documentation Agents, MERRILL LYNCH BANK USA, as Co-Documentation, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as Syndication Agents (as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms thereof, the Credit Agreement; terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined); and
WHEREAS, the Assignor Bank has advanced to [the Company] [the Capital Corporation] the Bid Loan or Negotiated Rate Loan or portion thereof described in Item 5 of Schedule I hereto (the Loan), and the Assignor Bank is assigning the Loan to the Loan Assignee pursuant to this Loan Assignment;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. The Assignor Bank acknowledges receipt from the Loan Assignee of an amount equal to the purchase price, as agreed between the Assignor Bank and the Loan Assignee, of the outstanding principal amount of, and accrued interest on, the Loan. The Assignor Bank hereby irrevocably sells, assigns and transfers to the Loan Assignee without recourse, representation or warranty, and the Loan Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases, takes and acquires from the Assignor Bank, the Loan, together with all instruments, documents and collateral security pertaining thereto.
2. (a) From and after the date set forth in Item 4 of Schedule I hereto (the Transfer Effective Date), principal and interest that would otherwise be payable to or for the account of the Assignor Bank pursuant to the Loan shall, instead, be payable to or for the account of the Loan Assignee.
(b) If Item 6 of Schedule I hereto contains payment instructions for the Loan Assignee and if the Loan Assignee delivers a copy of this Loan Assignment to the Administrative Agent in accordance with subsection 10.5(f) of the Credit Agreement at least 5 Business Days prior to the due date of any payment to the Loan Assignee, the Loan Assignee hereby instructs the Administrative Agent to pay all such amounts payable to it pursuant to the provision of subparagraph (a) of this paragraph 2 in accordance with such payment instructions. If Item 6 of Schedule I hereto does not contain payment instructions for the Loan Assignee (or a copy hereof is not delivered to the Administrative Agent as aforesaid), the Assignor Bank and the Loan Assignee agree that, notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this paragraph 2, the Assignor Bank is hereby appointed by the Loan Assignee as its
collection agent to receive from the Administrative Agent, for and on behalf of and for the account of the Loan Assignee, all amounts payable to or for the account of the Loan Assignee under the Loan; the Assignor Bank will immediately pay over to the Loan Assignee any such amounts received by it, in like funds as received.
3. Each of the parties to this Loan Assignment agrees that at any time and from time to time upon the written request of any other party, it will execute and deliver such further documents and do such further acts and things as such other party may reasonably request in order to effect the purposes of this Loan Assignment.
4. By executing and delivering this Loan Assignment, the Assignor Bank and the Loan Assignee confirm to and agree with each other and the Administrative Agent and the Banks as follows: (i) other than the representation and warranty that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned hereby free and clear of any adverse claim, the Assignor Bank makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (ii) the Assignor Bank makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Company or the Capital Corporation or the performance or observance by the Company or the Capital Corporation of any of its obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (iii) the Loan Assignee confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in subsection 3.1 of the Credit Agreement (unless financial statements referred to in subsection 5.1(a) of the Credit Agreement have become available), the financial statements delivered pursuant to subsection 5.1 of the Credit Agreement, if any, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Loan Assignment; (iv) the Loan Assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Assignor Bank or any other Bank and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in respect of the Credit Agreement; and (v) the Loan Assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, all in accordance with Section 9 of the Credit Agreement.
5. If the Loan Assignee is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any State thereof, the Loan Assignee (i) represents to the Assignor Bank (for the benefit of the Assignor Bank, the Administrative Agent and [the Company] [the Capital Corporation]) that under applicable law and treaties no taxes will be required to be withheld by the Administrative Agent, [the Company] [the Capital Corporation] or the Assignor Bank with respect to any payments to be made to the Loan Assignee in respect of the Loan, (ii) will furnish to the Assignor Bank, the Administrative Agent and [the Company] [the Capital Corporation], on or prior to the Transfer Effective Date, a letter in duplicate in the form of Exhibit J or Exhibit K, as appropriate, to the Credit Agreement and two duly completed copies of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (wherein the Loan Assignee claims entitlement to complete exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax on all interest payments under the Loan), (iii) will furnish to the Assignor Bank, the Administrative Agent and [the Company] [the Capital Corporation], on or prior to the Transfer Effective Date U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (wherein the Loan Assignee claims entitlement to complete exemption from U.S. federal backup withholding tax on all interest payments under the Loan) and (iv) agrees (for the benefit of the Assignor Bank, the Administrative Agent and [the Company] [the Capital Corporation]) to provide the Assignor Bank, the Administrative Agent and [the Company] [the Capital Corporation] a new Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI or successor applicable form
E-2
or other manner of certification on or before the expiration or obsolescence of, or after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in, any previously delivered letter or form and comparable statements in accordance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations and amendments duly executed and completed by the Loan Assignee, and comply from time to time with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations with regard to such withholding tax exemption and such backup withholding tax exemption.
6. The Loan Assignee agrees to be bound by subsection 10.7 of the Credit Agreement relating to confidentiality.
7. This Loan Assignment shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Loan Assignment to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers on Schedule I hereto as of the date set forth in Item 1 of Schedule I hereto.
E-3
SCHEDULE I
TO LOAN
ASSIGNMENT
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Item 1 |
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(Date of Loan Assignment): |
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[Insert date of Loan Assignment] |
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Item 2 |
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(Assignor Bank): |
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[Insert name of Assignor Bank] |
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Item 3 |
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(Loan Assignee): |
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[Insert name, address, telephone and telex numbers and name of contact party of Loan Assignee] |
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Item 4 |
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(Transfer Effective Date): |
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[Insert Transfer Effective Date] [To be a date not less than five Business Days after date of Loan Assignment] |
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Item 5 |
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(Description of Loan): |
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a. Borrowing Date and Maturity Date: |
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[Bid Loan or Negotiated Rate Loan] |
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b. Principal Amount of Loan: |
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Item 6 |
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(Payment Instructions): |
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[Complete only if payments are to be made by Administrative Agent to Loan Assignee rather than to Assignor Bank as collection agent for Loan Assignee; leave blank if Assignor Bank is to act as such collection agent] |
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Item 7 |
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(Signatures): |
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Assignor Bank |
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By: |
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Title: |
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Loan Assignee |
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By: |
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Title: |
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ACCEPTED FOR RECORDATION |
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IN REGISTER: |
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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., |
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as Administrative Agent |
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By: |
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I-2
EXHIBIT F
[FORM OF COMMITMENT TRANSFER SUPPLEMENT]
COMMITMENT TRANSFER SUPPLEMENT
COMMITMENT TRANSFER SUPPLEMENT, dated as of the date set forth in Item 1 of Schedule I hereto, among the Transferor Bank set forth in Item 2 of Schedule I hereto (the Transferor Bank), each Purchasing Bank set forth in Item 3 of Schedule I hereto (each, a Purchasing Bank), [DEERE & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Company), JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the Capital Corporation)], and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent for the Banks under the Credit Agreement described below (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, this Commitment Transfer Supplement is being executed and delivered in accordance with subsection 10.5(d) of the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006, among the Company, the Capital Corporation, the Transferor Bank and the other Banks party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Citibank, N.A. and Credit Suisse, as Documentation Agents, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Syndication Agents (as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms thereof, the Credit Agreement; terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined);
WHEREAS, each Purchasing Bank (if it is not already a Bank party to the Credit Agreement) wishes to become a Bank party to the Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Transferor Bank is selling and assigning to each Purchasing Bank, rights, obligations and commitments under the Credit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. From and after the Transfer Effective Date set forth in Item 4 of Schedule I hereto (the Transfer Effective Date), each Purchasing Bank shall be a Bank party to the Credit Agreement for all purposes thereof with respect to the interest purchased hereunder.
2. The Transferor Bank acknowledges receipt from each Purchasing Bank of an amount equal to the purchase price, as agreed between the Transferor Bank and such Purchasing Bank (the Purchase Price), of the portion being purchased by such Purchasing Bank (such Purchasing Banks Purchased Percentage) of the outstanding Commitment of such Transferor Bank and/or Committed Rate Loans and other amounts owing to the Transferor Bank under the Credit Agreement (other than any Bid Loans and Negotiated Rate Loans owing to the Transferor Bank). The Transferor Bank hereby irrevocably sells, assigns and transfers to each Purchasing Bank, without recourse, representation or warranty, and each Purchasing Bank hereby irrevocably purchases, takes and assumes from the Transferor Bank, such Purchasing Banks Purchased Percentage of the Commitments and the presently outstanding Committed Rate Loans and other amounts owing to the Transferor Bank under the Credit Agreement (other than any Bid Loans and Negotiated Rate Loans owing to the Transferor Bank) together with all instruments, documents and collateral security pertaining thereto.
3. The Transferor Bank has made arrangements with each Purchasing Bank with respect to (i) the portion, if any, to be paid, and the date or dates for payment, by the Transferor Bank to such Purchasing Bank of any fees heretofore received by the Transferor Bank pursuant to the Credit Agreement prior to the Transfer Effective Date and (ii) the portion, if any, to be paid, and the date or dates for payment, by such Purchasing Bank to the Transferor Bank of fees or interest received by such Purchasing Bank pursuant to the Credit Agreement from and after the Transfer Effective Date.
4. (a) From and after the Transfer Effective Date, principal, interest, fees and other amounts that would otherwise be payable to or for the account of the Transferor Bank pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the Committed Rate Loans (other than any Bid Loans and Negotiated Rate Loans owing to the Transferor Bank) shall, instead, be payable to or for the account of the Transferor Bank and the Purchasing Banks, as the case may be, in accordance with their respective interests as reflected in this Commitment Transfer Supplement, whether such amounts have accrued prior to the Transfer Effective Date or accrue subsequent to the Transfer Effective Date.
(b) The Transferor Bank and each Purchasing Bank hereby agree and instruct the Administrative Agent that, notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this paragraph 4, on each date hereafter on which interest or fees are payable under the Credit Agreement and the Committed Rate Loans in respect of any period (an Accrual Period) ending on or prior to the Transfer Effective Date, any such interest or fees payable to the Purchasing Bank on account of such Accrual Period in respect of its interests as reflected in this Commitment Transfer Supplement shall be paid over to the Transferor Bank (and, if such interest or fees are not paid in full when due, the payment over to the Transferor Bank shall be ratable), and the Transferor Bank and such Purchasing Bank will make appropriate arrangements for the payment to such Purchasing Bank of the portion thereof owing to it to reflect the amount, if any, included in the Purchase Price for interest and fees in respect of any Accrual Period.
5. On or promptly after the Transfer Effective Date specified in this Commitment Transfer Supplement, the Purchasing Bank and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of such Purchasing Bank, shall open and maintain in the name of each Borrower a Loan Account with respect to such Purchasing Banks Committed Rate Loans and Bid Loans to such Borrower.
6. Concurrently with the execution and delivery hereof, the Administrative Agent will, at the expense of the Transferor Bank, provide to each Purchasing Bank (if it is not already a Bank party to the Credit Agreement) conformed copies of all documents delivered to the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date in satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in the Credit Agreement.
7. Each of the parties to this Commitment Transfer Supplement agrees that at any time and from time to time upon the written request of any other party, it will execute and deliver such further documents and do such further acts and things as such other party may reasonably request in order to effect the purposes of this Commitment Transfer Supplement.
8. By executing and delivering this Commitment Transfer Supplement, the Transferor Bank and each Purchasing Bank confirm to and agree with each other and the Administrative Agent and the Banks as follows: (i) other than the representation and warranty that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned hereby free and clear of any adverse claim, the Transferor Bank makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement, the Committed Rate Loans or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (ii) the Transferor Bank makes no representation or warranty and
F-2
assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Company or the Capital Corporation or the performance or observance by the Company or the Capital Corporation of any of its obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (iii) each Purchasing Bank confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in subsection 3.1 of the Credit Agreement, the financial statements delivered pursuant to subsection 5.1 of the Credit Agreement, if any, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Commitment Transfer Supplement; (iv) each Purchasing Bank will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Transferor Bank or any other Bank and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (v) each Purchasing Bank appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, all in accordance with Section 9 of the Credit Agreement; and (vi) each Purchasing Bank agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Bank with respect to the interest purchased hereunder.
9. If the Purchasing Bank is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any State thereof, the Purchasing Bank (i) represents to the Transferor Bank (for the benefit of the Transferor Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers) that under applicable law and treaties no taxes will be required to be withheld by the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers or the Transferor Bank with respect to any payments to be made to the Purchasing Bank in respect of the Loans, (ii) will furnish to the Transferor Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, on or prior to the Transfer Effective Date, a letter in duplicate in the form of Exhibit J or Exhibit K, as appropriate, to the Credit Agreement and two duly completed copies of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (wherein the Purchasing Bank claims entitlement to complete exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax on all interest payments in respect of the Loans), (iii) will furnish to the Transferor Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, on or prior to the Transfer Effective Date U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (wherein the Purchasing Bank claims entitlement to complete exemption from U.S. federal backup withholding tax on all interest payments under the Loan) and (iv) agrees (for the benefit of the Transferor Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers), to provide the Transferor Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers a new Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI or successor applicable form or other manner of certification on or before the expiration or obsolescence of, or after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in, any previously delivered letter or form and comparable statements in accordance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations and amendments duly executed and completed by the Purchasing Bank, and comply from time to time with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations with regard to such withholding tax exemption and such backup withholding tax exemption.
10. The Purchasing Bank agrees to be bound by subsection 10.7 of the Credit Agreement relating to confidentiality.
11. Schedule II hereto sets forth the revised Commitments and Commitment Percentages of the Transferor Bank and each Purchasing Bank as well as administrative information with respect to each Purchasing Bank. After giving effect to the transfers contemplated hereby, Schedule II to the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be amended by Schedule II hereto to show the revised Commitment of the Transferor Bank and each Purchasing Bank.
12. This Commitment Transfer Supplement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
F-3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Commitment Transfer Supplement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers on Schedule I hereto as of the date set forth in Item 1 of Schedule I hereto.
F-4
SCHEDULE I
TO
COMMITMENT
TRANSFER
SUPPLEMENT
COMPLETION OF INFORMATION AND
SIGNATURES FOR COMMITMENT
TRANSFER SUPPLEMENT
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Item 1 |
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(Date of Commitment) |
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[Insert date of Commitment Transfer Supplement] |
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Item 2 |
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(Transferor Bank): |
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[Insert name of Transferor Bank] |
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Item 3 |
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(Purchasing Bank[s]): |
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[Insert name[s] of Purchasing Bank[s]] |
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Item 4 |
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(Transfer Effective Date): |
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[Insert Transfer Effective Date:] [To be a date not less
than five Business Days after date of |
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Item 5 |
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(Signatures of Parties to |
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Transferor Bank |
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a Purchasing Bank |
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CONSENTED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED: |
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[DEERE & COMPANY |
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By: |
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Title: |
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JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By: |
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[ISSUING BANK] |
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By: |
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Title:] |
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ACCEPTED FOR RECORDATION |
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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., |
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* To the extent such consent is required by Section 10.5 of the Credit Agreement.
I-2
SCHEDULE II
TO COMMITMENT
TRANSFER
SUPPLEMENT
LIST OF LENDING OFFICES,
ADDRESSES
FOR NOTICES AND COMMITMENT AMOUNTS
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Revised Commitment Amount: |
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$ |
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Revised Commitment Percentage: |
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[Name of Purchasing Bank] |
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New Commitment Amount: |
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Address for Notices:
Attn: Telephone: Facsimile: |
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New Commitment Percentage: |
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[Name of Purchasing Bank] |
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New Commitment Amount: |
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Address for Notices:
Attn: Telephone: Facsimile: |
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New Commitment Percentage: |
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EXHIBIT G
[FORM OF OPINION OF GENERAL COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY]
[Closing Date]
To each of the Banks parties to
the Credit Agreement referred to
below and to JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
Deere & Company and
John Deere Capital Corporation
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to subsection 4.1(c) of the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of February 14, 2006 (the Credit Agreement) among Deere & Company (the Company), John Deere Capital Corporation (the Capital Corporation, the Company and the Capital Corporation being referred to herein individually as a Borrower and collectively as the Borrowers), the Banks parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Citibank, N.A. and Credit Suisse, as Documentation Agents, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Syndication Agents. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
I am General Counsel of the Company and have acted as counsel for the Capital Corporation in this matter. I am familiar with the corporate history and organization of each Borrower and of its Subsidiaries and the proceedings relating to the authorization, execution and delivery by each Borrower of the Credit Agreement. In that connection I have examined or caused to have examined:
1. The Credit Agreement;
2. The documents furnished by each of the Borrowers pursuant to Section 4 of the Credit Agreement;
3. The Certificates of Incorporation of the Borrowers and all amendments thereto (the Charters);
4. The bylaws of the Borrowers and all amendments thereto (the Bylaws); and
5. Certificates of the Secretary of State of Delaware, each dated a recent date, attesting to the continued corporate existence and good standing of the Borrowers in that State.
In addition, I have reviewed or caused to have reviewed such of the corporate proceedings of the Borrowers, and have examined or caused to have examined such documents, corporate records, and other instruments relating to the organization of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries and such other agreements and instruments to which the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries are parties, as I consider necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. I have assumed the due execution and delivery, pursuant to due authorization, of the Credit Agreement by the Banks, the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agents, the Documentation Agents and the Co-
Documentation Agent, and the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to the original documents of all documents submitted to me as certified, conformed or photostatic copies.
I am qualified to practice law in the State of Illinois and the State of Michigan and do not purport to be an expert on, and do not express any opinion herein concerning, any laws other than the laws of the State of Illinois and the State of Michigan, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Federal laws of the United States.
Based upon the foregoing and upon such investigation as I have deemed necessary, I am of the following opinion:
1. Each Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted and to own its properties.
2. The execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of the Credit Agreement are within such Borrowers corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not (i) contravene, or constitute a default under the Charter or the Bylaws of such Borrower, any judgment, law, rule or regulation applicable to such Borrower, or any Contractual Obligation by which such Borrower is bound or (ii) result in the creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of its property or assets. The Credit Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of each Borrower.
3. No authorization, approval, or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of the Credit Agreement.
4. There is no pending or, to the best of my knowledge, threatened action or proceeding against either Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator which is likely to have a materially adverse effect upon the financial condition or operations of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Very truly yours,
James R. Jenkins
G-2
EXHIBIT H
[FORM OF OPINION OF SPECIAL NEW YORK COUNSEL
TO THE BORROWERS]
[Closing Date]
To each of the Banks parties to the
Credit Agreement referred to below and
to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as
Administrative Agent
Deere & Company
John Deere Capital Corporation
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as New York counsel to Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation (the Company) and John Deere Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Capital Corporation, the Company and the Capital Corporation being referred to herein as the Borrowers), in connection with the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006 (the Credit Agreement), among the Banks parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Citibank, N.A. and Credit Suisse, as Documentation Agents, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Syndication Agents. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
In that connection, we have reviewed an execution copy of the Credit Agreement. We have also reviewed originals or copies of such other records of the Borrowers, certificates of officers of the Borrowers and agreements and other documents, as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.
In our review of the Credit Agreement and other documents, we have assumed:
(A) The genuineness of all signatures.
(B) The authenticity of the originals of the documents submitted to us.
(C) The conformity to authentic originals of any documents submitted to us as copies.
(D) That the Credit Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party thereto, other than the Borrowers, enforceable against each such party in accordance with its terms.
(E) That:
(1) Each Borrower is an entity duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.
(2) Each Borrower has full power to execute, deliver and perform, and has duly executed and delivered, the Credit Agreement.
(3) The execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of the Credit Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action (corporate or otherwise) and do not:
(a) contravene its certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents;
(b) except with respect to Generally Applicable Law, violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to it; or
(c) result in any conflict with or breach of any agreement or document binding on it of which any addressee hereof has knowledge, has received notice or has reason to know.
(4) Except with respect to Generally Applicable Law, no authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or (to the extent the same is required under any agreement or document binding on it of which an addressee hereof has knowledge, has received notice or has reason to know) any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by either Borrower of the Credit Agreement or, if any such authorization, approval, action, notice or filing is required, it has been duly obtained, taken, given or made and is in full force and effect.
We have not independently established the validity of the foregoing assumptions.
Generally Applicable Law means the federal law of the United States of America, and the law of the State of New York (including the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or pursuant thereto) that a New York lawyer exercising customary professional diligence would reasonably be expected to recognize as being applicable to either Borrower or the Credit Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing definition of Generally Applicable Law, the term Generally Applicable Law does not include any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to a Borrower or the Credit Agreement solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to the specific assets or business of any party to the Credit Agreement or any of its affiliates due to the specific assets or business of such party or such affiliate.
Based upon the foregoing and upon such other investigation as we have deemed necessary and subject to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that the Credit Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Borrower, enforceable against each Borrower in accordance with its terms.
Our opinion expressed above is subject to the following qualifications:
H-2
A copy of this opinion letter may be delivered by any of you to any person that becomes a Bank in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement. Any such person may rely on the opinions expressed above as if this opinion letter were addressed and delivered to such person on the date hereof.
This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you or any person entitled to rely on this opinion pursuant to the preceding paragraph for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise you of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact, that may occur after the date of this opinion letter even though such development or circumstance may affect the legal analysis, a legal conclusion or any other matter set forth in or relating to this opinion letter.
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H-3
EXHIBIT I
[FORM OF EXTENSION REQUEST]
, 20
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
1111 Fannin, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Danette Espinoza
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006, among Deere & Company, John Deere Capital Corporation, the Banks parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Citibank, N.A. and Credit Suisse, as Documentation Agents, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Syndication Agents (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
This is an Extension Request pursuant to subsection 2.16 of the Credit Agreement requesting an extension of the Termination Date to [INSERT REQUESTED TERMINATION DATE]. Please transmit a copy of this Extension Request to each of the Banks.
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EXHIBIT J
[FORM OF W-8BEN TAX LETTER]
[To be sent in DUPLICATE and accompanied
by TWO executed copies of Form W-8BEN of
the Internal Revenue Service]
[Banks Letterhead]
, 20
Deere & Company
One John Deere Place
Moline, Illinois 61265
Attention: Treasurer
John Deere Capital Corporation
First National Bank Building
1 East First Street
Reno, Nevada 89501
Attention: Manager
Re: $3,000,000,000
Five-Year Credit Agreement
dated as of February 14, 2006 with Deere &
Company and John Deere Capital Corporation
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006, among Deere & Company, John Deere Capital Corporation, the Banks parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Citibank, N.A. and Credit Suisse, as Documentation Agents, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch as Syndication Agents, we hereby represent and warrant that [name of Bank, address] is a [name of Country] corporation and is currently exempt from any U.S. federal withholding tax on payments to it from U.S. sources by virtue of compliance with the provisions of the Income Tax Convention between the United States and [name of Country] signed [date], [as amended]. Our fiscal year is the twelve months ending [ ].
The undersigned (a) is a [corporation] organized under the laws of [ ] whose [registered] business is managed or controlled in [ ], (b) [does not have a permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States] [does have a permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States but the above Agreement is not effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base], (c) is not exempt from tax on the income in [ ] and (d) is the beneficial owner of the income.
We enclose herewith two copies of Form W-8BEN of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
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cc: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
J-2
EXHIBIT K
[FORM OF W-8ECI TAX LETTER]
[To be sent in DUPLICATE and accompanied
by TWO executed copies of Form W-8ECI of
the Internal Revenue Service]
[Banks Letterhead]
, 20
Deere & Company
One John Deere Place
Moline, Illinois 61265
Attention: Treasurer
John Deere Capital Corporation
First National Bank Building
1 East First Street
Reno, Nevada 89501
Attention: Manager
Re: $3,000,000,000
Five-Year Credit Agreement
dated as of February 14, 2006 with Deere &
Company and John Deere Capital Corporation
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the above $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006, among Deere & Company, John Deere Capital Corporation, the Banks parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Citibank, N.A. and Credit Suisse, as Documentation Agents, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Syndication Agents, we hereby represent and warrant that [name of Bank, address] is a [corporation] and is entitled to exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax on payments to it under the Agreement by virtue of Section 1441(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States of America and Treasury Regulation Section 1.1441-4(a) thereunder.
We enclose herewith two copies of Form W-8ECI of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
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cc: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
EXHIBIT L
[FORM OF AGREEMENT]
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of , 20 (Agreement), among Deere & Company (the Company), John Deere Capital Corporation (the Capital Corporation), (New Bank) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Existing Banks referred to below.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Company, the Capital Corporation, the several financial institutions parties thereto (the Existing Banks), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Citibank, N.A. and Credit Suisse, as Documentation Agents, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Syndication Agents are parties to the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006 (as the same may have been or may hereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the Credit Agreement; terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined);
WHEREAS, subsection 2.19 of the Credit Agreement provides that one or more financial institutions (which may be Existing Banks) may be added as a Bank or Banks for purposes of the Credit Agreement upon the cancellation of all or a portion of the Commitments pursuant to subsection 2.13(a), (b) or (c), 2.16(c) or 2.17(b) of the Credit Agreement or the expiration of all or a portion of the Commitments pursuant to subsection 2.16(b) of the Credit Agreement and the execution of an agreement in substantially the form of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Borrowers have cancelled or there have expired an aggregate principal amount of Commitments equal to $ which have not heretofore been replaced (the Cancelled Commitments; the Banks that are maintaining or have maintained the Cancelled Commitments being collectively referred to as Cancelled Banks); such Cancelled Commitments being on the date hereof, or on the date of notice of cancellation hereof having been, utilized as follows:
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WHEREAS, the cancellation of the Cancelled Commitments is effective in accordance with the Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, [the Borrowers desire the New Bank to become, and the New Bank is agreeable, to becoming, a Bank for purposes of the Credit Agreement] [the New Bank is an Existing Bank and the Borrowers desire the New Bank to increase, and the New Bank is agreeable to increasing, its Commitment]* on the terms contained herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Benefits of Agreement. The Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the New Bank hereby [agree that on and as of the date hereof the New Bank shall be] [confirm that the New Bank is] a Bank for all purposes and shall [continue to] be bound by and entitled to the benefits of the Credit Agreement [as if the New Bank had been named on the signature pages thereof], provided that the New Bank shall not assume and shall, except as herein provided, have no obligations in respect of any Loans outstanding on the date hereof and made by any [Existing Bank.] [Cancelled Bank.]*
2. Commitment of New Bank. The Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the New Bank hereby agree that on and as of the dates set forth below the New Bank shall replace, as specified herein, % (such percentage being referred to as the New Banks Percentage) of each utilization of the Cancelled Commitments [set forth in the third recital hereof] [set forth under the caption Committed Rate Loans] and that the aggregate Commitment of the New Bank shall on and as of the date hereof be $ **. In connection therewith, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the New Bank hereby agree as follows***:
(i) for purposes of determining such New Banks pro rata share of each Committed Rate Loan borrowing advanced on or after the date hereof such Banks Commitment shall be equal to $[same as above];
* As appropriate for New or Existing Banks.
** Insert amount equal to sum of New Banks existing Commitment, if any, plus New Banks Percentage of Cancelled Commitments.
*** The following clauses (ii)-(iii) may be altered to reflect the agreements among the Cancelled Bank, the New Bank and the Borrowers provided such agreements do not adversely affect any Existing Bank or the Administrative Agent.
L-2
(ii) the unused and available portion of such New Banks Commitment shall be deemed utilized by its Percentage of the Committed Rate Loans made by the Cancelled Banks and listed in the third recital hereof. In furtherance thereof, the unused and available portion of such New Banks Commitment shall, on the earlier of (x) the last day of each Interest Period specified for each outstanding Committed Rate Loan in the third recital hereof (and the payment in full to the Cancelled Banks of the principal thereof and accrued interest thereon) and (y) the prepayment of the principal of such Loans together with accrued interest thereon, automatically and without any further action by any party increase by an amount equal to the New Banks Percentage of such Loan; and
(iii) [(A)] [concurrently with the execution hereof the New Bank shall disburse to each Borrower in immediately available funds such amount as shall be necessary so that the ratio which each Banks outstanding ABR Loans bears to all of the outstanding ABR Loans equals the ratio which each Banks Commitment (determined, for the New Bank, in accordance with clause (i) above) bears to all of the Commitments (determined, for the New Bank, in accordance with the immediately foregoing parenthetical);]
[(B)] [on the last day of each Interest Period for each outstanding Eurocurrency Loan, automatically and without any further action by either Borrower, the New Bank shall disburse to each Borrower in immediately available funds such amounts as shall be necessary so that the ratio which each Banks outstanding Eurocurrency Loans, bears to all of the outstanding Eurocurrency Loans, equals the ratio which each Banks Commitment (determined, for the New Bank, in accordance with clause (i) hereof) bears to all of the Commitments (determined, for the New Bank, in accordance with the immediately foregoing parenthetical);]
[(C)] [Funding of outstanding Bid Loans of Cancelled Banks]*
[(D)] [Funding of outstanding Negotiated Rate Loans of Cancelled Banks].*
3. Representation and Warranty of Borrowers. The Borrowers hereby represent and warrant that after giving effect to the provisions of paragraph 2 hereof the aggregate principal amount of the Commitments of all Banks (including, without limitation, the Commitment of the New Bank but excluding the cancelled or expired portion of the Commitments of the Cancelled Banks) under the Credit Agreement do not exceed the aggregate principal amount of the Commitments in effect immediately prior to the cancellation referred to in the third recital hereof.
4. Confidentiality. The New Bank agrees to [continue to] be bound by the provisions of subsection 10.7 of the Credit Agreement.
[5. Taxes. The New Bank (i) represents to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers that [it is incorporated under the laws of the United States or a state thereof][under applicable law and treaties no taxes will be required to be withheld by the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers with respect to any payments to be made to such New Bank in respect of the Loans], (ii) represents that it has furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers (A) [a statement that it is incorporated under the laws of the United States or a state thereof][a letter in duplicate in the form of Exhibit [J][K] to the Credit Agreement and two duly completed copies of United States Internal Revenue Service Form [W-8BEN] [W-8ECI] [successor applicable form], certifying that such New Bank is entitled to receive payments under the Credit Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes], and (B) [an Internal Revenue Service Form [W-8BEN] [successor applicable form] to establish an
* To be completed upon agreement of Borrowers and New Bank.
L-3
exemption from United States backup withholding tax, and (iii) agrees to provide the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers a new Form [W-8BEN] and Form [W-8ECI], or successor applicable form or other manner of certification, on or before the date that any such letter or form expires or becomes obsolete or after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent letter and form previously delivered by it, certifying in the case of a Form [W-8BEN] [W-8ECI] that it is entitled to receive payments under the Credit Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States federal income tax, and in the case of a Form [W-8BEN] establishing exemption from United States backup withholding tax.]*
[5][6]. Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts and all of the counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument and shall be effective only upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of all of the counterparts.
(b) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
* Use for non-Existing Banks.
L-4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.
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L-5
EXHIBIT M
[FORM OF BID LOAN OR NEGOTIATED RATE LOAN NOTE]
PROMISSORY NOTE
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FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, [DEERE & COMPANY] [JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION], a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), hereby promises to pay on [insert maturity date or dates] to the order of (the Bank) at the office of [JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 for Bid Loan Note] [Name and address of Bank for Negotiated Rate Loan Note], in lawful money of [the United States of America] and in immediately available funds, the principal sum of [DOLLARS ($ )]. The undersigned further agrees to pay interest in like money at such office on the unpaid principal amount hereof from time to time from the date hereof [at the rate of % per annum for Bid Loan Note] [specify rate for Negotiated Rate Loan Note] (calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) until the due date hereof (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration, or otherwise) and thereafter at the rates determined or agreed in accordance with subsection 2.2(e) of the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of February 14, 2006 (the Credit Agreement), among the Borrower, [Deere & Company] [John Deere Capital Corporation], the Bank, the other financial institutions parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Citibank, N.A. and Credit Suisse, as Documentation Agents, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Syndication Agents. Interest shall be payable on . This Note may be prepaid pursuant to the provisions of subsection 2.6 of the Credit Agreement.
This Note is one of the [Bid] [Negotiated Rate Loan] Notes referred to in, is subject to and is entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement, which Credit Agreement, among other things, contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the occurrence of any one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Credit Agreement.
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with their defined meanings unless otherwise defined herein. This Note shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
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EXHIBIT N
FORM OF
NEW BANK SUPPLEMENT
SUPPLEMENT, dated , to the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof, the Credit Agreement) dated as of February 14, 2006, among Deere & Company (the Company), John Deere Capital Corporation, the banks and other financial institutions from time to time party thereto (each a Bank, and together, the Banks), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent) for the Banks, Citibank, N.A. and Credit Suisse, as Documentation Agents, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Syndication Agents. Unless the context otherwise requires, all capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement provides in subsection 2.20 thereof that any bank or financial institution, although not originally a party thereto, may become a party to the Credit Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof by executing and delivering to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent a supplement to the Credit Agreement in substantially the form of this Supplement; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned was not an original party to the Credit Agreement but now desires to become a party thereto;
NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby agrees as follows:
The undersigned agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and agrees that it shall, on the date this Supplement is accepted by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, become a Bank for all purposes of the Credit Agreement to the same extent as if originally a party thereto, with a Commitment of $ .
The undersigned (a) represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into this Supplement; (b) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.1 thereof and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Supplement; (c) agrees that it has made and will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Bank and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement or any instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (d) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as administrative agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement or any instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are incidental thereto; and (e) agrees that it will be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and will perform in accordance with its terms all the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Bank including, without limitation, its obligation pursuant to subsection 2.17(c) of the Credit Agreement.
The undersigneds address for notices for the purposes of the Credit Agreement is as follows:
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Supplement to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on the date first above written.
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DEERE & COMPANY |
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JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., |
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N-3
EXHIBIT O
FORM OF
COMMITMENT INCREASE SUPPLEMENT
SUPPLEMENT, dated 20 , to the $3,000,000,000 Five-Year Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof, the Credit Agreement) dated as of February 14, 2006, among Deere & Company (the Company), John Deere Capital Corporation, the banks and other financial institutions from time to time party thereto (each a Bank, and together, the Banks), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent), Citibank, N.A. and Credit Suisse, as Documentation Agents, Merrill Lynch Bank USA, as Co-Documentation Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as Syndication Agents. Unless the context otherwise requires, all capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of subsection 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned may increase the amount of its Commitment in accordance with the terms thereof by executing and delivering to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent a supplement to the Credit Agreement in substantially the form of this Supplement; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned now desires to increase the amount of its Commitment under the Credit Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby agrees as follows:
1. The undersigned agrees, subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, that on the date this Supplement is accepted by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent it shall have its Commitment increased by $ , thereby making the amount of its Commitment $ .
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Supplement to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on the date first above written.
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DEERE & COMPANY |
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JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., |
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EXHIBIT P
Please see attached Letter of Credit Application.