Sonoco Products Company
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

     
For the Quarter Ended June 29, 2003   Commission File No. 0-516

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY


     
Incorporated under the laws   I.R.S. Employer Identification
of South Carolina   No. 57-0248420

One North Second Street

Post Office Box 160

Hartsville, South Carolina 29551-0160

Telephone: 843-383-7000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes [X]      No [   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes [X]      No [   ]

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock at August 3, 2003:

Common stock, no par value: 96,843,669

 


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

INDEX

             
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
       
 
Item 1. Financial Statements:
       
   
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets — June 29, 2003 (unaudited) and December 31, 2002
       
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income — Three Months and Six Months Ended June 29, 2003 (unaudited) and June 30, 2002 (unaudited)
       
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Six Months Ended June 29, 2003 (unaudited) and June 30, 2002 (unaudited)
       
   
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
       
   
Report of Independent Accountants
       
 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
       
 
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
       
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
       
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
       
 
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
       
 
Item 5. Other Information
       
 
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
       
SIGNATURE
       
CERTIFICATIONS
       

-2-


 

Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars and shares in thousands)

                       
          June 29,        
          2003   December 31,
          (unaudited)   2002*
         
 
Assets
               
Current Assets
               
   
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 43,981     $ 31,405  
   
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances
    359,633       314,429  
   
Other receivables
    44,989       32,724  
   
Inventories:
               
     
Finished and in process
    134,378       118,512  
     
Materials and supplies
    149,163       126,042  
   
Prepaid expenses and other
    54,726       40,155  
 
   
     
 
 
    786,870       663,267  
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
    972,866       975,368  
Goodwill
    376,807       359,418  
Other Assets
    432,730       438,386  
 
   
     
 
     
Total Assets
  $ 2,569,273     $ 2,436,439  
 
   
     
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
               
Current Liabilities
               
   
Payable to suppliers
  $ 268,229     $ 248,640  
   
Accrued expenses and other
    171,000       169,817  
   
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt
    150,332       134,500  
   
Taxes on income
    17,744       5,639  
 
   
     
 
 
    607,305       558,596  
Long-Term Debt
    696,830       699,346  
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
    133,838       121,176  
Deferred Income Taxes and Other
    198,299       189,896  
Shareholders’ Equity
               
 
Common stock, no par value
               
   
Authorized 300,000 shares
               
   
96,746 and 96,640 shares outstanding, of which 96,513 and 96,380 are issued at June 29, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively
    7,175       7,175  
 
Capital in excess of stated value
    326,004       324,295  
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (159,614 )     (212,164 )
 
Retained earnings
    759,436       748,119  
 
   
     
 
     
Total Shareholders’ Equity
    933,001       867,425  
 
   
     
 
     
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
  $ 2,569,273     $ 2,436,439  
 
   
     
 


*   The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles.

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

-3-


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data)

                                     
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
       
 
        June 29,   June 30,   June 29,   June 30,
        2003   2002   2003   2002
       
 
 
 
Net sales
  $ 730,847     $ 732,471     $ 1,432,611     $ 1,405,158  
Cost of sales
    601,649       587,181       1,173,447       1,124,659  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    71,449       74,842       145,053       145,455  
Restructuring charges (see Note 5)
    7,828       1,715       9,165       3,154  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income before interest and taxes
    49,921       68,733       104,946       131,890  
Interest expense
    13,979       13,154       26,709       26,661  
Interest income
    (509 )     (258 )     (956 )     (685 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income before income taxes
    36,451       55,837       79,193       105,914  
Provision for income taxes
    15,299       20,090       30,686       38,097  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates/Minority interest in subsidiaries
    21,152       35,747       48,507       67,817  
Equity in earnings of affiliates/Minority interest in subsidiaries
    1,681       1,980       3,324       3,457  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net income
  $ 22,833     $ 37,727     $ 51,831     $ 71,274  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Average common shares outstanding:
                               
 
Basic
    96,696       96,409       96,684       96,179  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Diluted
    96,956       97,775       96,957       97,298  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Per common share
                               
 
Net income:
                               
   
Basic
  $ 0.24     $ 0.39     $ 0.54     $ 0.74  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Diluted
  $ 0.24     $ 0.39     $ 0.53     $ 0.73  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Cash dividends
  $ 0.21     $ 0.21     $ 0.42     $ 0.41  
 
   
     
     
     
 

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

-4-


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

                     
        Six Months Ended
       
        June 29,   June 30,
        2003   2002
       
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
               
Net income
  $ 51,831     $ 71,274  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
 
Restructuring reserve (noncash)
    729       1,018  
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    79,149       79,004  
 
Equity in earnings of affiliates/Minority interest in subsidiaries
    (3,324 )     (3,457 )
 
Cash dividends from affiliated companies
    1,325       2,031  
 
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets
    (502 )     653  
 
Deferred taxes
    5,587       3,009  
 
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions, dispositions, and foreign currency adjustments
               
   
Receivables
    (43,846 )     (46,934 )
   
Inventories
    (29,002 )     11,236  
   
Prepaid expenses
    (12,476 )     (3,001 )
   
Payables and taxes
    8,783       17,325  
   
Other assets and liabilities
    26,196       (16,898 )
 
   
     
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    84,450       115,260  
 
   
     
 
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
               
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (52,787 )     (51,913 )
Cost of acquisitions, exclusive of cash acquired
    (1,275 )      
Proceeds from the sale of assets
    1,372       1,136  
 
   
     
 
Net cash used by investing activities
    (52,690 )     (50,777 )
 
   
     
 
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
               
Proceeds from issuance of debt
    20,938       25,138  
Principal repayment of debt
    (10,199 )     (11,244 )
Net (decrease) in commercial paper borrowings
    (1,500 )     (46,500 )
Net increase (decrease) in bank overdrafts
    10,469       (5,359 )
Cash dividends
    (40,514 )     (39,326 )
Common shares issued
    1,070       16,691  
 
   
     
 
Net cash used by financing activities
    (19,736 )     (60,600 )
 
   
     
 
Effects of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash
    552       313  
 
   
     
 
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    12,576       4,196  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    31,405       36,130  
 
   
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 43,981     $ 40,326  
 
   
     
 

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

-5-


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 1: Basis of Interim Presentation

In the opinion of the management of Sonoco Products Company (the “Company”), the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods reported herein. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 29, 2003, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2003. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.

Certain prior year amounts in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2002 have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation. Additionally, in the second quarter of 2003, the Company reclassified shipping and handling costs related to third-party shipments from net sales to cost of sales on the Consolidated Statements of Income in all periods presented. Although these reclassifications increased net sales and cost of sales by the same amount, they did not affect reported net income.

Note 2: Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

                                     
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
       
 
        June 29,   June 30,   June 29,   June 30,
        2003   2002   2003   2002
       
 
 
 
Numerator:
                               
 
Net income
  $ 22,833     $ 37,727     $ 51,831     $ 71,274  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Denominator:
                               
 
Average common shares outstanding
    96,696,000       96,409,000       96,684,000       96,179,000  
 
Dilutive effect of:
                               
   
Employee stock options
    201,000       931,000       163,000       849,000  
   
Contingent employee share awards
    59,000       435,000       110,000       270,000  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Diluted outstanding shares
    96,956,000       97,775,000       96,957,000       97,298,000  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Reported net income per common share:
                               
 
Basic
  $ 0.24     $ 0.39     $ 0.54     $ 0.74  
 
Diluted
  $ 0.24     $ 0.39     $ 0.53     $ 0.73  

Stock options to purchase approximately 8,119,950 and 2,212,000 shares at June 29, 2003 and June 30, 2002, respectively, were not dilutive and therefore are not included in the computations of diluted income per common share amounts. The increase in stock options that were not dilutive was primarily due to lower average stock prices in this year’s second quarter compared with last year’s second quarter. No adjustments were made to reported net income in the computations of earnings per share.

-6-


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 3: Comprehensive Income

The following table reconciles net income to comprehensive income:

                                   
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
     
 
      June 29,   June 30,   June 29,   June 30,
      2003   2002   2003   2002
     
 
 
 
Net income
  $ 22,833     $ 37,727     $ 51,831     $ 71,274  
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    37,487       14,535       51,584       9,560  
 
Other adjustments, net of tax
    (228 )     505       966       1,165  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Comprehensive income
  $ 60,092     $ 52,767     $ 104,381     $ 81,999  
 
   
     
     
     
 

The following table summarizes the components of the current period change in the accumulated other comprehensive loss balance:

                                 
    Foreign   Minimum           Accumulated
    Currency   Pension           Other
    Translation   Liability           Comprehensive
    Adjustments   Adjustment   Other   Loss
   
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2002
  $ (161,809 )   $ (50,423 )   $ 68     $ (212,164 )
Year to date change
    51,584             966       52,550  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Balance at June 29, 2003
  $ (110,225 )   $ (50,423 )   $ 1,034     $ (159,614 )
 
   
     
     
     
 

The Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment and Other Items presented above are shown net of tax. The cumulative deferred tax benefit of the Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment was $22,548 at June 29, 2003 and December 31, 2002. Additionally, the deferred tax liability of Other Items was $543 and $148 as of June 29, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively.

-7-


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 4: Financial Segment Information

Sonoco reports its results in two primary segments, Industrial Packaging and Consumer Packaging. The Industrial Packaging segment includes the following products: high performance paper, plastic and composite engineered carriers; paperboard; wooden, metal and composite reels for wire and cable packaging; fiber-based construction tubes and forms; custom designed protective packaging; and supply chain management capabilities. The Consumer Packaging segment includes the following products and services: round and shaped rigid packaging, both composite and plastic; printed flexible packaging; metal and plastic ends and closures; high density film products; specialty packaging; and packaging services.

FINANCIAL SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited)

                                     
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
       
 
        June 29,   June 30,   June 29,   June 30,
        2003   2002   2003   2002
       
 
 
 
Net Sales
                               
 
Industrial Packaging
  $ 381,523     $ 377,636     $ 738,569     $ 716,610  
 
Consumer Packaging
    349,324       354,835       694,042       688,548  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Consolidated
  $ 730,847     $ 732,471     $ 1,432,611     $ 1,405,158  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Operating Profit
                               
 
Industrial Packaging
  $ 32,673     $ 41,775     $ 63,378     $ 78,768  
 
Consumer Packaging
    25,076       28,673       50,733       56,276  
 
Restructuring charges
    (7,828 )     (1,715 )     (9,165 )     (3,154 )
 
Interest, net
    (13,470 )     (12,896 )     (25,753 )     (25,976 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Consolidated
  $ 36,451     $ 55,837     $ 79,193     $ 105,914  
 
   
     
     
     
 

-8-


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 5: Restructuring Charges

Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (FAS 146), which nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 94-3 (Issue 94-3), ‘Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).’ FAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under Issue 94-3, a liability for an exit cost as defined in Issue 94-3 was recognized at the date of an entity’s commitment to an exit plan. The provisions of FAS 146 are effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002. The adoption of FAS 146 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements except for the timing of the recognition of costs associated with future exit or disposal activities.

During the first six months of 2003, the Company recognized restructuring charges, net of adjustments, of $9,165 ($8,750 after tax). Of these charges, the Industrial Packaging segment recorded $8,465, primarily related to the Company’s recently initiated plant closing in Europe and the Consumer Packaging segment recorded adjustments of $700 related to additional lease termination and restoration costs associated with prior plant closings. These restructuring charges, net of adjustments, consisted of severance and termination benefits of $7,621, asset impairment charges of $729, and other exit costs of $815. The Company anticipates restructuring charges associated with the recently initiated 2003 activities in the Industrial Packaging segment to approximate a total of $13,000, including charges recorded in the second quarter of 2003, primarily attributed to approximately $11,000 in severance charges, $1,000 in asset impairment charges, and $1,000 in other miscellaneous charges. Remaining charges associated with the 2003 activities will be recorded in future periods in accordance with the guidelines of FAS 146. During 2002, the Company recognized restructuring charges of $12,647 ($8,095 after tax) as a result of restructuring actions announced during the year. Of this amount, charges of $3,154 ($2,019 after tax) were recognized during the first six months of 2002. At December 31, 2002, $14,376 remained accrued on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet related to plans announced during 2001 and 2002. The Company’s restructuring plans from 2001 through 2003 to-date include a global reduction of approximately 510 salaried positions (approximately 260 in the United States) and approximately 1,000 hourly positions (approximately 700 in the United States), including the closure of 20 plant locations. As of June 29, 2003, 18 plant locations have been closed, and approximately 1,370 employees have been terminated (approximately 460 salaried and 910 hourly).

The following table sets forth the activity in the restructuring accrual included in “Accrued expenses and other” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These costs are included in “Restructuring charges” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

-9-


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 5: Restructuring Charges continued,

                                 
    Severance and                        
    Termination   Asset   Other        
    Benefits   Impairment   Exit Costs   Total
   
 
 
 
Beginning liability
         December 31, 2002
  $ 9,162             $ 5,214     $ 14,376  
New charges
    8,686     $ 729       58       9,473  
Cash payments
    (6,734 )           (1,359 )     (8,093 )
Asset Impairment
          (729 )           (729 )
Adjustments
    (1,065 )           757       (308 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Ending liability June 29, 2003
  $ 10,049     $     $ 4,670     $ 14,719  
 
   
     
     
     
 

The Company expects to pay the remaining restructuring costs, with the exception of on-going pension subsidies and certain building lease termination expenses, by the end of the second quarter of 2004 using cash generated from operations.

During the first six months of 2003, the Company recognized write-offs of impaired facilities of $729 associated with one plant closing in Europe in the Industrial Packaging segment. The impaired facility was written down to estimated fair value. The facility impacted by the restructuring ceased operations during the period ended June 29, 2003 and is anticipated to be disposed of during the fourth quarter of 2003. The effect of suspending depreciation on assets held for disposition was not material to the Consolidated Statement of Income for the period ended June 29, 2003.

Note 6: Dividend Declarations

On April 16, 2003, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share. This dividend was paid June 10, 2003, to all shareholders of record as of May 16, 2003.

On July 16, 2003, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share, payable September 10, 2003 to all shareholders of record August 15, 2003.

-10-


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 7: Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the six months ended June 29, 2003, are as follows:

                         
    Industrial   Consumer        
    Packaging   Packaging        
    Segment   Segment   Total
   
 
 
Balance as of January 1, 2003
  $ 211,325     $ 148,093     $ 359,418  
2003 acquisitions
    975       1,602       2,577  
Goodwill purchase price adjustment
    363             363  
Foreign currency translation
    6,412       8,037       14,449  
 
   
     
     
 
Balance as of June 29, 2003
  $ 219,075     $ 157,732     $ 376,807  
 
   
     
     
 

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets for the period ended June 29, 2003, are as follows:

                         
    For the Period ended June 29, 2003
   
    Gross Carrying   Accumulated   Net Carrying
    Amount   Amortization   Amount
   
 
 
Amortizable intangibles
Patents
  $ 3,268     $ (2,414 )   $ 854  
Customer lists
    38,024       (3,213 )     34,811  
Land use rights
    5,873       (1,890 )     3,983  
Supply agreements
    4,761       (3,265 )     1,496  
Other
    3,275       (2,172 )     1,103  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
  $ 55,201     $ (12,954 )   $ 42,247  
 
   
     
     
 

Aggregate amortization expense on intangible assets was $1,058 and $2,029 for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 29, 2003, respectively. Amortization expense is expected to approximate $4,000 in 2003 and 2004, $3,000 in 2005, and $2,000 in 2006 and 2007. Intangible assets are included in “Other Assets” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

- 11 -


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 8: Stock Plans

As permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, ‘Accounting for Stock-based Compensation’ (FAS 123), the Company has chosen to continue to account for stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25 ‘Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,’ and its related interpretations. Accordingly, compensation cost for stock options is measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the Company’s stock at the date of the grant over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. Compensation cost for performance stock options is recorded based on the quoted market price of the Company’s stock at the end of the period.

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of FAS 123 to stock-based employee compensation.

                                   
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
     
 
      June 29,   June 30,   June 29,   June 30,
      2003   2002   2003   2002
     
 
 
 
Net income, as reported
  $ 22,833     $ 37,727     $ 51,831     $ 71,274  
 
Add: Stock-based employee compensation cost, net of related tax effects included in net income, as reported
    174       173       282       304  
 
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
    (1,319 )     (1,776 )     (2,628 )     (3,552 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Proforma net income
  $ 21,688     $ 36,124     $ 49,485     $ 68,026  
Earnings per share:
                               
 
Basic – as reported
  $ 0.24     $ 0.39     $ 0.54     $ 0.74  
 
Basic – proforma
  $ 0.22     $ 0.37     $ 0.51     $ 0.71  
 
Diluted – as reported
  $ 0.24     $ 0.39     $ 0.53     $ 0.73  
 
Diluted – proforma
  $ 0.22     $ 0.37     $ 0.51     $ 0.70  

Note 9: New Accounting Pronouncements

Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, ‘Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations’ (FAS 143), which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. The adoption of FAS 143 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 9: New Accounting Pronouncements, continued

In April 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.149, ‘Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities’ (FAS 149). FAS 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 133, ‘Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities’ (FAS 133). FAS 149 also amends certain other existing pronouncements. FAS 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, (except that provisions of FAS 149 that relate to FAS 133 implementation issues that have been effective for fiscal quarters that began prior to June 15, 2003, should continue to be applied in accordance with their respective effective dates) with certain exceptions and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. The Company does not expect the adoption of FAS 149 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

In May 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.150, ‘Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity’ (FAS 150). FAS 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within the scope of FAS 150 as a liability, which previously may have been classified as equity, consistent with the current definition of liabilities in FASB Concepts Statement No. 6, ‘Elements of Financial Statements’. FAS 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company does not expect the adoption of FAS 150 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46), ‘Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities’. FIN 46 addresses when a company should include in its financial statements the assets, liabilities and activities of a variable interest entity. It defines variable interest entities as those entities with a business purpose that either do not have any equity investors with voting rights, or have equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. FIN 46 also requires disclosures about variable interest entities that a company is not required to consolidate, but in which it has a significant variable interest. FIN 46 consolidation requirements are effective for all variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to pre-existing entities in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. Certain disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements issued after January 31, 2003. The Company does not expect the adoption of FIN 46 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

- 13 -


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

Note 10: Third Party Debt Guarantees

At June 29, 2003, the Company had third party debt guarantees, not included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, of approximately $4,000 related to debt of independent contractors supporting the Company’s forest operations and debt of equity affiliates.

- 14 -


 

Report of Independent Auditors

To the Shareholders and Directors of Sonoco Products Company

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Sonoco Products Company as of June 29, 2003, and the related condensed consolidated statements of income for each of the three-month and six-month periods ended June 29, 2003 and June 30, 2002, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six-month periods ended June 29, 2003 and June 30, 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We previously audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated January 29, 2003, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2002, is fairly stated in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

     
    /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
   
    PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Charlotte, North Carolina

July 16, 2003

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Statements included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, that are not historical in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as “forward looking statements” for purposes of the safe harbor provided by section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “objective,” “goal,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding offsetting high raw material costs, adequacy of income tax provisions, refinancing of debt, adequacy of cash flows, effects of acquisitions and dispositions, adequacy of provisions for environmental liabilities, financial strategies and the results expected from them, and producing improvements in earnings. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such information includes, without limitation, discussions as to estimates, expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies and objectives concerning our future financial and operating performance. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: availability and pricing of raw materials; success of new product development and introduction; ability to maintain or increase productivity levels; international, national and local economic and market conditions; fluctuations in obligations and earnings of pension and postretirement benefit plans; ability to maintain market share; pricing pressures and demand for products; continued strength of our paperboard-based engineered carrier and composite can operations; anticipated results of restructuring activities; resolution of income tax contingencies; ability to successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into the Company’s operations; currency stability and the rate of growth in foreign markets; use of financial instruments to hedge foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity price risk; actions of government agencies; loss of consumer confidence; and economic disruptions resulting from terrorist activities.

Second Quarter 2003 Compared with Second Quarter 2002

Results of Operations

Consolidated net sales for the second quarter of 2003 were $730.8 million, versus $732.5 million in the second quarter of 2002. Sales for the second quarter were basically flat, compared with the same period in 2002, primarily reflecting lower volumes in most of the Company’s businesses totaling approximately $36.0 million, partially offset by higher average selling prices of approximately $17.0 million, mainly attributed to the Company’s engineered carriers/paper operations and high density film business. Sales for the quarter were also impacted by favorable exchange rates of approximately $16.0 million as the dollar weakened against foreign currencies. Overall, volume was down approximately five percent during the second quarter of 2003 driven principally by weaker customer demand in served markets.

Net income for the second quarter of 2003 was $22.8 million, versus $37.7 million in the second quarter of 2002. Net income for the second quarter of 2003 included restructuring charges, primarily related to the Company’s recently initiated plant closing in Europe, of approximately $7.8 million (before and after tax).

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
continued

Second Quarter 2003 Compared with Second Quarter 2002

Results of Operations continued,

For the second quarter of 2002, net income included restructuring charges of $1.7 million ($1.1 million after tax). Second quarter 2003 results were adversely impacted by lower volumes of approximately $10.0 million and a negative price/cost relationship of approximately $4.0 million, primarily associated with higher resin costs in the Company’s high density film business. Additionally, higher pension and postretirement expense lowered pretax earnings approximately $6.0 million in the second quarter of 2003 when compared with 2002. Full year results for 2003 are expected to be impacted by an incremental increase in pension and postretirement expense of approximately $29.0 million when compared with 2002. Second quarter 2003 results were also favorably impacted by on-going productivity initiatives of approximately $7.0 million, partially offset by higher energy costs of approximately $3.0 million.

The Company reported earnings per diluted share of $0.24 and $0.39 in the second quarter of 2003 and 2002, respectively. Earnings for the second quarter included restructuring charges of $0.08 per share in 2003, compared with $0.01 in the second quarter of 2002.

Consumer Packaging Segment

The Consumer Packaging segment includes the following products and services: round and shaped rigid packaging, both composite and plastic; printed flexible packaging; metal and plastic ends and closures; high density film products; specialty packaging; and packaging services.

Second quarter 2003 sales were $349.3 million, compared with $354.8 million in the same quarter of 2002. Operating profit in the second quarter of 2003 for this segment was $25.1 million, versus $28.7 million in the second quarter of 2002.

The decrease in second quarter 2003 sales was primarily due to decreased volume of approximately $16.0 million mainly associated with rigid paper and plastic packaging, high density film, and flexible packaging, partially offset by higher average selling prices of approximately $4.0 million and favorable exchange rates of approximately $5.0 million as the dollar weakened against foreign currencies. Overall, volumes in the Consumer Packaging segment were down approximately five percent, compared with last year’s second quarter.

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
continued

Second Quarter 2003 Compared with Second Quarter 2002

Consumer Packaging Segment continued,

Second quarter 2003 operating profit in this segment was adversely impacted by lower volume of approximately $6.0 million and a negative price/cost relationship of approximately $3.0 million, primarily associated with higher resin costs in the Company’s high density film business. Additionally, higher pension and postretirement expense of approximately $3.0 million impacted second quarter 2003 profits. These costs were partially offset by on-going productivity initiatives of approximately $7.0 million.

Industrial Packaging Segment

The Industrial Packaging segment includes the following products: high performance paper, plastic and composite engineered carriers; paperboard; wooden, metal and composite reels for wire and cable packaging; fiber-based construction tubes and forms; custom designed protective packaging; and supply chain management capabilities.

Second quarter 2003 sales for the Industrial Packaging segment were $381.5 million, versus $377.7 million in the same period last year. Operating profit in the second quarter of 2003 for the segment was $32.7 million, versus $41.8 million in the second quarter of 2002.

The higher sales, compared to last year’s second quarter, were due primarily to higher average selling prices of approximately $13.0 million, primarily in the Company’s engineered carriers/paper operations, and favorable exchange rates of approximately $11.0 million as the dollar weakened against foreign currencies, partially offset by lower volume across the segment of approximately $20.0 million. Volumes in this segment were down approximately six percent, compared with last year’s second quarter.

Second quarter 2003 operating profit in this segment was adversely impacted by approximately $4.0 million due to the lower volume as discussed above. Increased old corrugated containers (OCC) prices negatively impacted the Company’s engineered carriers/paper operations but were virtually offset by higher average selling prices. Additionally, higher pension and postretirement expenses of approximately $3.0 million and higher energy costs of approximately $3.0 million were partially offset by lower fixed costs of approximately $2.0 million.

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
continued

Second Quarter 2003 Compared with Second Quarter 2002

Industrial Packaging Segment continued,

Restructuring charges of $7.8 million, recorded in the second quarter of 2003, included severance charges of $7.0 million, asset impairment charges of $0.7 million, and other charges of $0.1 million. The restructuring charges were primarily associated with a plant closing in Europe.

June 2003 Year-to-Date Compared with June 2002 Year-to-Date

Results of Operations

Consolidated net sales for the first six months of 2003 were $1.43 billion, versus $1.41 billion in the first six months of 2002. Sales for the period were higher than the same period in 2002, primarily reflecting higher average selling prices of approximately $23.0 million, mainly attributed to the Company’s engineered carriers/paper operations and high density film business, and favorable exchange rates of approximately $24.0 million as the dollar weakened against foreign currencies. Partially offsetting the revenue were lower volumes in most of the Company’s businesses of approximately $25.0 million. Overall, sales were up approximately two percent while volume was down approximately two percent during the period.

Net income for the first six months of 2003 was $51.8 million, versus $71.3 million during the first six months of 2002. Net income for the first six months of 2003 included restructuring charges of $9.2 million ($8.8 million after tax), compared with $3.2 million ($2.0 million after tax) in 2002. Results for the first six months were adversely impacted by a negative price/cost relationship of approximately $13.0 million, primarily associated with higher costs for OCC, the Company’s primary raw material; higher resin costs in the Company’s high density film business; and higher raw material costs in the Company’s rigid paper and plastic packaging operations. Additionally, higher pension and postretirement expense of approximately $14.0 million, lower volumes of approximately $5.0 million, and higher energy costs of approximately $6.0 million were partially offset by on-going productivity initiatives of approximately $17.0 million.

The Company reported earnings per diluted share of $0.53 and $0.73 in the first six months of 2003 and 2002, respectively. Earnings for the first six months included restructuring charges of $0.09 per share and $0.02 per share in 2003 and 2002, respectively.

- 19 -


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
continued

June 2003 Year-to-Date Compared with June 2002 Year-to-Date

Consumer Packaging Segment

Sales for the first six months of 2003 were $694.0 million, compared with $688.5 million in the same period of 2002. Operating profit during the first six months of 2003 for this segment was $50.7 million, versus $56.3 million in the first six months of 2002.

The slight increase in sales for the first six months of 2003 sales was primarily due to higher average selling prices of approximately $4.0 million and favorable exchange rates of approximately $7.0 million as the dollar weakened against foreign currencies, partially offset by decreased volume of approximately $8.0 million, mainly associated with rigid paper and plastic packaging, high density film, and flexible packaging. Overall, volumes in the Consumer Packaging segment were down approximately one percent, compared with last year’s first six months.

Operating profit for the first six months of 2003 in this segment was adversely impacted by a negative price/cost relationship of approximately $7.0 million, primarily associated with higher resin costs in the Company’s high density film business and rigid paper and plastic packaging operations, and by lower volume of approximately $4.0 million. Additionally, higher pension and postretirement expense of approximately $7.0 million impacted 2003 profits. These costs were partially offset by on-going productivity initiatives of approximately $14.0 million.

During the first six months of 2003, the segment recorded restructuring adjustments of $0.7 million, primarily attributed to lease termination and plant restoration costs associated with previously announced restructuring plans.

Industrial Packaging Segment

Sales for the first six months of 2003 in the Industrial Packaging segment were $738.6 million, versus $716.6 million in the same period last year. Operating profit in the first six months of 2003 for the segment was $63.4 million, versus $78.8 million in the first six months of 2002.

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
continued

June 2003 Year-to-Date Compared with June 2002 Year-to-Date

Industrial Packaging Segment continued,

The higher sales, compared to last year’s first six months, were due primarily to higher average selling prices of approximately $19.0 million, primarily in the Company’s engineered carriers/paper operations, and favorable exchange rates of approximately $17.0 million as the dollar weakened against foreign currencies, partially offset by lower volume across the segment of approximately $18.0 million. Volumes in this segment were down approximately three percent, compared with last year’s first six months.

Operating profit for the first six months of 2003 in this segment was adversely impacted by a negative price/cost relationship of approximately $6.0 million, primarily associated with higher costs for OCC in the Company’s engineered carrier/paper operations. Additionally, higher pension and postretirement expenses of approximately $7.0 million and higher energy costs of approximately $6.0 million were partially offset by approximately $4.0 million related to lower fixed costs and productivity initiatives.

Restructuring charges of $8.5 million, recorded during the first six months of 2003, included severance charges of $7.6 million, asset impairment charges of $0.7 million, and other charges of $0.2 million. The restructuring charges were primarily associated with a plant closing in Europe.

Corporate

General corporate expenses have been allocated as operating costs to each of the segments. Net interest expense remained flat year-over-year.

The effective tax rate for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 29, 2003, was 42.0 percent and 38.7 percent, respectively, compared with 36.0 percent for the same periods last year. Excluding the impact of certain non-deductible foreign restructuring charges in 2003, the effective tax rate would have been 34.4 percent and 35.2 percent for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 29, 2003, respectively. The drop in the effective tax rate, from 36.0 percent in the first six months of 2002 to 35.2 percent for the same period in 2003, is primarily attributed to the geographic mix of taxable earnings and the impact of favorable permanent book/tax differences on lower earnings.

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
continued

New Accounting Pronouncements

Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, ‘Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations’ (FAS 143), which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. The adoption of FAS 143 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

As of January 1, 2003, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146, ‘Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities’ (FAS 146), which nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 94-3 (Issue 94-3), ‘Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).’ FAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under Issue 94-3, a liability for an exit cost as defined in Issue 94-3 was recognized at the date of an entity’s commitment to an exit plan. The adoption of FAS 146 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements except for the timing of the recognition of costs associated with future exit or disposal activities.

In April 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.149, ‘Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities’ (FAS 149). FAS 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 133, ‘Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities’ (FAS 133). FAS 149 also amends certain other existing pronouncements. FAS 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, (except that provisions of FAS 149 that relate to FAS 133 implementation issues that have been effective for fiscal quarters that began prior to June 15, 2003, should continue to be applied in accordance with their respective effective dates) with certain exceptions and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. The Company does not expect the adoption of FAS 149 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

In May 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.150, ‘Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity’ (FAS 150). FAS 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within the scope of FAS 150 as a liability, which previously may have been classified as equity, consistent with the current definition of

- 22 -


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
continued

New Accounting Pronouncements continued,

liabilities in FASB Concepts Statement No. 6, ‘Elements of Financial Statements’. FAS 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company does not expect the adoption of FAS 150 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46), ‘Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities’. FIN 46 addresses when a company should include in its financial statements the assets, liabilities and activities of a variable interest entity. It defines variable interest entities as those entities with a business purpose that either do not have any equity investors with voting rights, or have equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. FIN 46 also requires disclosures about variable interest entities that a company is not required to consolidate, but in which it has a significant variable interest. FIN 46 consolidation requirements are effective for all variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to pre-existing entities in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. Certain disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements issued after January 31, 2003. The Company does not expect the adoption of FIN 46 to have a material effect on its financial statements.

Restructuring

During the first six months of 2003, the Company recognized restructuring charges, net of adjustments, of $9.2 million ($8.8 million after tax). These restructuring charges, net of adjustments, consisted of severance and termination benefits of $7.6 million, asset impairment charges of $0.7 million, and other exit costs of $0.9 million. The Company anticipates restructuring charges associated with the recently initiated 2003 activities in the Industrial Packaging segment to approximate a total of $13.0 million, including charges recorded in the second quarter of 2003, primarily attributed to approximately $11.0 million in severance charges, $1.0 million in asset impairment charges, and $1.0 million in other miscellaneous charges. Remaining charges associated with the 2003 activities will be recorded in future periods in accordance with the guidelines of FAS 146. During 2002, the Company recognized restructuring charges of $12.6 million ($8.1 million after tax) as a result of restructuring actions announced during the year. Of this amount, charges of $3.1 million ($2.0 million after tax) were recognized during the first six months of 2002. The objective of the restructuring actions from 2001 through 2003 to-date was to realign and centralize a number of staff functions and to eliminate excess plant capacity, and thereby to remove approximately $61.0 million (pretax) of annualized costs from the Company’s

- 23 -


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
continued

Restructuring continued,

cost structure. With the exception of on-going pension subsidies and certain building lease termination expenses, costs associated with the restructuring actions are expected to be paid by the end of the second quarter 2004 using cash generated by operations. The Company anticipates recording additional restructuring charges during the third quarter of 2003 associated with previously initiated restructuring activities as well as contemplated future actions. The Company recently announced that it is developing plans targeted to eliminate approximately $60.0 million in annualized costs including the closing of additional plants.

Financial Position, Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s financial position remained strong during the first six months of 2003. Total debt increased slightly during the first six months of 2003 to $847.2 million from $833.8 million at December 31, 2002. Net working capital (current assets less current liabilities) increased $74.9 million to $179.6 million during the first six months of 2003, driven by an increase in trade accounts receivable and inventory partially offset by an increase in trade accounts payable. The increase in accounts receivable is mainly attributed to the timing of certain customer remittances (despite an overall improved aging) and some extended customer terms. The inventory increase is primarily related to lower than expected sales in May and June 2003 resulting in higher inventory levels at the end of the period.

For the first six months of 2003, cash generated from operations totaled $84.5 million compared with $115.3 million for the same period in 2002. Cash flows were lower in 2003 primarily as a result of higher working capital as described above and lower net income. Cash generated from operations in the first six months of 2003 was used to partially fund capital expenditures of $52.8 million and to pay dividends of $40.5 million. The Company expects internally generated cash flows to be sufficient to meet operating and normal capital expenditure requirements on a short-term and long-term basis.

In July 2003, the Company renewed its $450.0 million backstop credit line for commercial paper, short-term borrowing under uncommitted facilities and future liquidity needs. The credit agreement matures in July 2004 unless the Company exercises a one-year term-out option.

Also, in July 2003, the Company entered into a swap to match the terms of a $150.0 million bond maturing in 2004. The swap qualified as a fair value hedge under FAS 133 and swapped fixed interest for floating.

- 24 -


 

SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Information about the Company’s exposure to market risk was disclosed in its 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2003. There have been no material quantitative or qualitative changes in market risk exposures since the date of that filing.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a)  Based on their evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in 17 C.F.R. Sections 240.13a-14(c) and 240.15d-14(c)) as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing of this quarterly report, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the effectiveness of such controls and procedures was adequate.

(b)  There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

See Certifications provided at the end of this 10-Q pursuant to SEC Rules 13a-14, 15d-14, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Incorporated by reference to the information set forth under Part II, Item 4 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2003.

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 5. Other Information

In July 2003, it was announced that the Company’s Board of Directors unanimously elected James M. Micali, chairman and president of Michelin North America, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina, to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors effective July 16, 2003, until the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

     
(a)   Exhibit 10 — Credit Agreement 
    Exhibit 15 — Letter re unaudited interim financial information.
    Exhibit 99 — Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
    Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002.
     
(b)   Form 8-K filed April 16, 2003, pursuant to Item 9 of that form with respect to information provided pursuant to Item 12 of that form.

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

   
  SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
 
  (Registrant)
             
Date:   August 5, 2003   By:   /s/ C. J. Hupfer
   
     
            C. J. Hupfer
            Vice President and
            Chief Financial Officer

- 27 -


 

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Harris E. DeLoach, Jr., certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Sonoco Products Company;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

          a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

          b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

          c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

          a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

          b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

             
Date:   August 5, 2003   /s/ Harris E. DeLoach, Jr.    
   
 
   
        Harris E. DeLoach, Jr.    
        Chief Executive Officer    

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CERTIFICATIONS

I, Charles J. Hupfer, certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Sonoco Products Company;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

          a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

          b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

          c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

          a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

          b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

             
Date:   August 5, 2003   /s/ Charles J. Hupfer    
   
 
   
        Charles J. Hupfer    
        Vice President and Chief Financial Officer    

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SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
EXHIBIT INDEX

     
Exhibit    
Number   Description

 
10   Credit Agreement
     
15   Letter re: unaudited interim financial information.
     
99   Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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================================================================================ CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of July 9, 2003 among SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY, as the Borrower, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender and The Other Lenders Party Hereto BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager WACHOVIA BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and SUNTRUST BANK as Co-Syndication Agents and BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST COMPANY and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. as Co-Documentation Agents ================================================================================

TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page ------- ---- ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS..................................................................... 1 1.01 Defined Terms........................................................................................ 1 1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions........................................................................ 16 1.03 Accounting Terms..................................................................................... 17 1.04 Rounding............................................................................................. 17 1.05 References to Agreements and Laws.................................................................... 17 1.06 Times of Day......................................................................................... 17 ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS....................................................................... 17 2.01 Committed Loans...................................................................................... 17 2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans......................................... 18 2.03 Bid Loans............................................................................................ 19 2.04 Swing Line Loans..................................................................................... 22 2.05 Prepayments.......................................................................................... 25 2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.............................................................. 26 2.07 Repayment of Loans................................................................................... 26 2.08 Interest............................................................................................. 27 2.09 Fees................................................................................................. 27 2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees..................................................................... 28 2.11 Evidence of Debt..................................................................................... 28 2.12 Payments Generally................................................................................... 29 2.13 Sharing of Payments.................................................................................. 30 2.14 Term-Out Option...................................................................................... 31 ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY............................................................... 31 3.01 Taxes................................................................................................ 31 3.02 Illegality........................................................................................... 32 3.03 Inability to Determine Rates......................................................................... 33 3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans............... 33 3.05 Funding Losses....................................................................................... 34 3.06 Matters Applicable to all Requests for Compensation.................................................. 34 3.07 Survival............................................................................................. 35 ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS................................................................... 35 4.01 Conditions of Initial Borrowing...................................................................... 35 4.02 Conditions to all Borrowings......................................................................... 36 ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................................................... 37 5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws............................................. 37 5.02 Authorization; No Contravention...................................................................... 37 5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents........................................................... 37 5.04 Binding Effect....................................................................................... 38 5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect..................................................... 38 5.06 Litigation........................................................................................... 38 5.07 No Default........................................................................................... 38 5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens......................................................................... 39 5.09 Environmental Compliance............................................................................. 39 i

5.10 Insurance............................................................................................ 39 5.11 Taxes................................................................................................ 39 5.12 ERISA Compliance..................................................................................... 39 5.13 Subsidiaries......................................................................................... 40 5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act....................... 40 5.15 Disclosure. As of the Closing Date, t............................................................... 40 5.16 Compliance with Laws................................................................................. 41 5.17 Tax Shelter Regulations.............................................................................. 41 5.18 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc................................................................. 41 ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS................................................................................ 41 6.01 Financial Statements................................................................................. 41 6.02 Certificates; Other Information...................................................................... 42 6.03 Notices.............................................................................................. 43 6.04 Payment of Obligations............................................................................... 44 6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc....................................................................... 44 6.06 Maintenance of Properties............................................................................ 44 6.07 Maintenance of Insurance............................................................................. 44 6.08 Compliance with Laws................................................................................. 45 6.09 Books and Records.................................................................................... 45 6.10 Inspection Rights.................................................................................... 45 6.11 Use of Proceeds...................................................................................... 45 ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS................................................................................... 45 7.01 Liens................................................................................................ 45 7.02 Indebtedness......................................................................................... 47 7.03 Fundamental Changes.................................................................................. 47 7.04 Dispositions......................................................................................... 48 7.05 Transactions with Affiliates......................................................................... 48 7.06 Use of Proceeds...................................................................................... 48 7.07 Minimum Book Net Worth............................................................................... 48 ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES....................................................................... 49 8.01 Events of Default.................................................................................... 49 8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default....................................................................... 51 8.03 Application of Funds................................................................................. 51 ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT................................................................................. 52 9.01 Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent................................................ 52 9.02 Delegation of Duties................................................................................. 52 9.03 Liability of Administrative Agent.................................................................... 52 9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent..................................................................... 53 9.05 Notice of Default.................................................................................... 53 9.06 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Administrative Agent................................... 54 9.07 Indemnification of Administrative Agent.............................................................. 54 9.08 Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity...................................................... 55 9.09 Successor Administrative Agent....................................................................... 55 9.10 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim........................................................ 56 9.11 Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers................................................................. 56 ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS........................................................................................ 57 10.01 Amendments, Etc...................................................................................... 57 ii

10.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies................................................... 58 10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies....................................................................... 59 10.04 Attorney Costs, Expenses and Taxes................................................................... 59 10.05 Indemnification by the Borrower...................................................................... 60 10.06 Payments Set Aside................................................................................... 60 10.07 Successors and Assigns............................................................................... 61 10.08 Confidentiality...................................................................................... 64 10.09 Set-off.............................................................................................. 65 10.10 Interest Rate Limitation............................................................................. 66 10.11 Counterparts......................................................................................... 66 10.12 Integration.......................................................................................... 66 10.13 Survival of Representations and Warranties........................................................... 66 10.14 Severability......................................................................................... 66 10.15 Tax Forms............................................................................................ 67 10.16 Replacement of Lenders............................................................................... 68 10.17 Governing Law........................................................................................ 69 10.18 Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury..................................................................... 69 SIGNATURES.................................................................................................... S-1 iii

SCHEDULES 2.01 Commitments and Pro Rata Shares 7.01 Existing Liens 10.02 Administrative Agent's Office, Certain Addresses for Notices EXHIBITS FORM OF A Committed Loan Notice B-1 Bid Request B-2 Competitive Bid C Swing Line Loan Notice D Note E Compliance Certificate F Assignment and Assumption iv

CREDIT AGREEMENT This CREDIT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into as of July 9, 2003, among Sonoco Products Company, a South Carolina corporation (the "Borrower"), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the "Lenders" and individually, a "Lender"), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender. The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein. In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows: ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS 1.01 DEFINED TERMS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: "Absolute Rate" means a fixed rate of interest expressed in multiples of 1/100th of one basis point. "Absolute Rate Loan" means a Bid Loan that bears interest at a rate determined with reference to an Absolute Rate. "Additional Minimum Liability" has the meaning set forth is Section 7.07. "Administrative Agent" means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent. "Administrative Agent's Office" means the Administrative Agent's address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders. "Administrative Questionnaire" means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent. "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. "Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. "Controlling" and "Controlled" have meanings correlative thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to be Controlled by another Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 5% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person. 1

"Agent-Related Persons" means the Administrative Agent, together with its Affiliates (including, in the case of Bank of America in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, the Arranger), and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates. "Aggregate Commitments" means the Commitments of all the Lenders. "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement. "Applicable Rate" means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below: - ------------- ---------------- ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- Debt Ratings of Applicable Rate for Applicable Rate for Base Applicable Rate for Applicable Rate for Pricing Level S&P/Moody's Eurodollar Rate Loans Rate Loans Facility Fee Utilization Fee - ------------- ---------------- ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- I > or = A+/A1 0.235% 0 0.065% 0.100% - ------------- ---------------- ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- II A/A2 0.300% 0 0.075% 0.125% - ------------- ---------------- ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- III A-/A3 0.405% 0 0.095% 0.125% - ------------- ---------------- ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- IV BBB+/Baa1 0.500% 0 0.125% 0.125% - ------------- ---------------- ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- V BBB/Baa2 0.600% 0 0.150% 0.250% - ------------- ---------------- ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- VI < or = BBB-/Baa3 0.750% 0 0.250% 0.250% - ------------- ---------------- ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- "Debt Rating" means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Moody's (collectively, the "Debt Ratings") of the Borrower's non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that if a Debt Rating is issued by each of the foregoing rating agencies, then the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level I being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level VI being the lowest), unless there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, in which case the Pricing Level that is one level higher than the Pricing Level of the lower Debt Rating shall apply. Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the Debt Rating specified in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(vii). Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section 6.03(d) and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the Borrower exercises the term-out option pursuant to Section 2.14, (i) the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be increased during the term-out period (x) by 0.250% for each of Pricing Levels I through V, and (y) by 0.500% for Pricing Level VI and (ii) the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans shall be increased to 0.250% for Pricing Level VI. For purposes of the 2

foregoing, (a) if no Debt Rating shall be available, such rating agencies shall be deemed to have established a Debt Rating which is one rating grade higher than the subordinated debt rating grade of the Borrower, (b) if no Debt Rating or subordinated debt rating grade shall be available, the Applicable Rate shall be as set forth in Pricing Level VI. "Arranger" means Banc of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole book manager. "Assignment and Assumption" means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit F. "Attorney Costs" means and includes all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel and, without duplication, the reasonable and documented allocated cost of internal legal services and all expenses and disbursements of internal counsel. "Attributable Indebtedness" means, on any date, (a) in respect of any capital lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease. "Audited Financial Statements" means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto. "Availability Period" means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans pursuant to Section 8.02. "Bank of America" means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors. "Bankruptcy Code" means the Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from time to time. "Base Rate" means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its "prime rate." The "prime rate" is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America's costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. 3

"Base Rate Committed Loan" means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan. "Base Rate Loan" means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate. "Bid Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Bid Loans of the same Type from each of the Lenders whose offer to make one or more Bid Loans as part of such borrowing has been accepted under the auction bidding procedures described in Section 2.03. "Bid Loan" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a). "Bid Loan Lender" means, in respect of any Bid Loan, the Lender making such Bid Loan to the Borrower. "Bid Request" means a written request for one or more Bid Loans substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1. "Book Net Worth" means, at any time, consolidated net shareholders' equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP. "Borrower" has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto. "Borrowing" means a Committed Borrowing, a Bid Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require. "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent's Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market. "Change of Control" means, with respect to any Person, an event or series of events by which: (a) any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire (such right, an "option right"), whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the equity securities of such Person entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such Person on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or 4

(b) during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors). "Closing Date" means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 4.01 (or, in the case of Section 4.01(b), waived by the Person entitled to receive the applicable payment). "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. "Commitment" means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 and (b) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. "Committed Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01. "Committed Loan" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01. "Committed Loan Notice" means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A. "Competitive Bid" means a written offer by a Lender to make one or more Bid Loans, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2, duly completed and signed by a Lender. "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E. 5

"Consolidated Parties" means a collective reference to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and "Consolidated Party" means any one of them. "Contractual Obligation" means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound. "Control" has the meaning specified in the definition of "Affiliate." "Debt Rating" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "Applicable Rate." "Debtor Relief Laws" means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally. "Default" means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default. "Default Rate" means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. "Defaulting Lender" means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Committed Loans or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding. "Dollar" and "$" mean lawful money of the United States. "Domestic Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States. "Eligible Assignee" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g). "Environmental Laws" means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems. 6

"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code). "ERISA Event" means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate. "Eurodollar Bid Margin" means the margin above or below the Eurodollar Rate to be added to or subtracted from the Eurodollar Rate, which margin shall be expressed in multiples of 1/100th of one basis point. "Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan" means a Bid Loan that bears interest at a rate based upon the Eurodollar Rate. "Eurodollar Rate" means for any Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan: (a) the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate that appears on the page of the Telerate screen (or any successor thereto) that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or (b) if the rate referenced in the preceding clause (a) does not appear on such page or service or such page or service shall not be available, the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or 7

(c) if the rates referenced in the preceding clauses (a) and (b) are not available, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the rate of interest at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America (or, in the case of a Bid Loan, the applicable Bid Loan Lender) and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America's (or such Bid Loan Lender's) London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 4:00 p.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period. "Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan" means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate. "Eurodollar Rate Loan" means a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan or a Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan. "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 8.01. "Existing Credit Agreement" means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of July 10, 2002 among the Borrower, Bank of America, as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders. "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent. "Fee Letter" means the letter agreement, dated May 14, 2003, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger. "Foreign Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 10.15(a)(i). "FRB" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States. "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied. 8

"Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government. "Granting Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h). "Guarantee" means, as to any Person, any (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term "Guarantee" as a verb has a corresponding meaning. "Indebtedness" means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP: (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments; (b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers' acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments; (c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract; (d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business); 9

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse; (f) capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations; and (g) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing. For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any capital lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date. "Indemnified Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05. "Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05. "Interest Payment Date" means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date. "Interest Period" means (a) as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or (in the case of any Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan) converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice or Bid Request, as the case may be, or (in the case of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans) such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the Borrower and consented to by all the Lenders; provided that a twelve month Interest Period may only be elected by the Borrower in connection with an extension of the Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.14; and (b) as to each Absolute Rate Loan, a period of not less than 7 days and not more than 180 days as selected by the Borrower in its Bid Request; provided that: (i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day; (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Rate Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically 10

corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and (iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date. "IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service. "Laws" means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law. "Lender" has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender. "Lending Office" means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender's Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing). "Loan" means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan, a Bid Loan or a Swing Line Loan. "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, each Note and the Fee Letter. "Material Adverse Effect" means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of any Loan Document to which it is a party. "Maturity Date" means the later of (a) July 8, 2004 and (b) if maturity is extended pursuant to Section 2.14, such extended maturity date as determined pursuant to such Section. "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto. 11

"Multiemployer Plan" means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions. "Note" means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit D. "Obligations" means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding. "Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities" means, with respect to any Person as of any date of determination thereof, without duplication and to the extent not included as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP: (a) with respect to any asset securitization transaction (including any accounts receivable purchase facility) (i) the unrecovered investment of purchasers or transferees of assets so transferred and (ii) any other payment, recourse, repurchase, hold harmless, indemnity or similar obligation of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of assets transferred or payments made in respect thereof, other than limited recourse provisions that are customary for transactions of such type and that neither (x) have the effect of limiting the loss or credit risk of such purchasers or transferees with respect to payment or performance by the obligors of the assets so transferred nor (y) impair the characterization of the transaction as a true sale under applicable Laws (including Debtor Relief Laws); (b) the monetary obligations under any financing lease or so-called "synthetic," tax retention or off-balance sheet lease transaction which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Law to such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, would be characterized as indebtedness; (c) the monetary obligations under any sale and leaseback transaction which does not create a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries; and (d) any other monetary obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which (i) upon the application of any Debtor Relief Law to such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, would be characterized as indebtedness or (ii) is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries (for purposes of this clause (d), any transaction structured to provide tax deductibility as interest expense of any dividend, coupon or other periodic payment will be deemed to be the functional equivalent of a borrowing). "Organization Documents" means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, 12

instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity. "Outstanding Amount" means with respect to Committed Loans, Bid Loans, and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans, Bid Loans, and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date. "Participant" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d). "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. "Pension Plan" means any "employee pension benefit plan" (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years. "Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity. "Plan" means any "employee benefit plan" (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate. "Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to each Lender at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitment of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments at such time; provided that if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof. The initial Pro Rata Share of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable. "Register" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(c). "Reportable Event" means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived. 13

"Request for Borrowing" means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to a Bid Loan, a Bid Request, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice. "Required Lenders" means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings, excluding Bid Loans (with the aggregate amount of each Lender's risk participation and funded participation in Swing Line Loans being deemed "held" by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders. "Responsible Officer" means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of the Borrower. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower. "Restricted Payment" means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other equity interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other equity interest or of any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such capital stock or other equity interest. "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto. "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions. "SPC" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h). "Subsidiary" of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a "Subsidiary" or to "Subsidiaries" shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower. 14

"Swap Contract" means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward interest or exchange rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a "Master Agreement"), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement. "Swap Termination Value" means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) (i.e. the current fair market value) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender). "Swing Line" means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04. "Swing Line Borrowing" means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04. "Swing Line Lender" means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder. "Swing Line Loan" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a). "Swing Line Loan Notice" means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C. "Swing Line Sublimit" means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $15,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments. "Synthetic Lease Obligation" means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such 15

Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment). "Threshold Amount" means $50,000,000. "Total Assets" means at any time, all items which would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified as assets (other than intangible assets) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. "Total Outstandings" means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans. "Type" means (a) with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan, and (b) with respect to a Bid Loan, its character as an Absolute Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan. "Unfunded Pension Liability" means the excess of the present value of all vested and non-vested benefit liabilities of a Pension Plan (determined in accordance with then current funding assumptions) over the market value of that Pension Plan's assets. "United States" and "U.S." mean the United States of America. 1.02 OTHER INTERPRETIVE PROVISIONS. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document: (a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms. (b) (i) The words "herein," "hereto," "hereof" and "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof. (ii) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears. (iii) The term "including" is by way of example and not limitation. (iv) The term "documents" includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form. (c) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including;" the words "to" and "until" each mean "to but excluding;" and the word "through" means "to and including." (d) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. 16

1.03 ACCOUNTING TERMS. (a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. (b) If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. 1.04 ROUNDING. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number). 1.05 REFERENCES TO AGREEMENTS AND LAWS. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law. 1.06 TIMES OF DAY. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable). ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS 2.01 COMMITTED LOANS. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a "Committed Loan") to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender's Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount 17

of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender's Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. 2.02 BORROWINGS, CONVERSIONS AND CONTINUATIONS OF COMMITTED LOANS. (a) Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be made upon irrevocable notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone (provided that such telephonic notice complies with the information requirements of the form of Committed Loan Notice attached hereto as Exhibit A). Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans; provided, however, that if the Borrower wishes to request Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans having an Interest Period other than one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of "Interest Period", the applicable notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. four Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, whereupon the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them. Not later than 11:00 a.m., three Business Days before the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the Lenders. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(b) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Section 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed 18

Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. (b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent's Office not later than 3:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Borrowing, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are Swing Line Loans outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied, first, to the payment in full of any such Swing Line Loans, and second, to the Borrower as provided above. (c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders. (d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Eurodollar Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America's prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change. (e) After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans. 2.03 BID LOANS. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees that the Borrower may from time to time request the Lenders to submit offers to make loans (each such loan, a "Bid Loan") to the Borrower prior to the Maturity Date pursuant to this Section 2.03; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Bid Borrowing, the Total 19

Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments. There shall not be more than three different Interest Periods in effect with respect to Bid Loans at any time. (b) Requesting Competitive Bids. The Borrower may request the submission of Competitive Bids by delivering a Bid Request to the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. (i) one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, or (ii) four Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans. Each Bid Request shall (x) specify (i) the requested date of the Bid Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Bid Loans requested (which must be $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $2,000,000 in excess thereof), (iii) the Type of Bid Loans requested, and (iv) the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, and shall be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and (y) be accompanied by the Bid Request fee specified in Section 2.03(k). No Bid Request shall contain a request for (i) more than one Type of Bid Loan or (ii) Bid Loans having more than three different Interest Periods. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agrees in its sole and absolute discretion, the Borrower may not submit a Bid Request if it has submitted another Bid Request within the prior five Business Days. (c) Submitting Competitive Bids. (i) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of each Bid Request received by it from the Borrower and the contents of such Bid Request. (ii) Each Lender may (but shall have no obligation to) submit a Competitive Bid containing an offer to make one or more Bid Loans in response to such Bid Request. Such Competitive Bid must be delivered to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:30 a.m. (A) on the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, and (B) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans; provided, however, that any Competitive Bid submitted by Bank of America in its capacity as a Lender in response to any Bid Request must be submitted to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:15 a.m. on the date on which Competitive Bids are required to be delivered by the other Lenders in response to such Bid Request. Each Competitive Bid shall specify (A) the proposed date of the Bid Borrowing; (B) the principal amount of each Bid Loan for which such Competitive Bid is being made, which principal amount (x) may be equal to, greater than or less than the Commitment of the bidding Lender, (y) must be $1,000,000 or a whole multiple in excess thereof, and (z) may not exceed the principal amount of Bid Loans for which Competitive Bids were requested; (C) if the proposed Bid Borrowing is to consist of Absolute Rate Bid Loans, the Absolute Rate offered for each such Bid Loan and the Interest Period applicable thereto; (D) if the proposed Bid Borrowing is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans, the Eurodollar Bid Margin with respect to each such Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan and the Interest Period applicable thereto; and (E) the identity of the bidding Lender. (iii) Any Competitive Bid shall be disregarded if it (A) is received after the applicable time specified in clause (ii) above, (B) is not substantially in the form of a 20

Competitive Bid as specified herein, (C) contains qualifying, conditional or similar language, (D) proposes terms other than or in addition to those set forth in the applicable Bid Request, or (E) is otherwise not responsive to such Bid Request. Any Lender may correct a Competitive Bid containing a manifest error by submitting a corrected Competitive Bid (identified as such) not later than the applicable time required for submission of Competitive Bids. Any such submission of a corrected Competitive Bid shall constitute a revocation of the Competitive Bid that contained the manifest error. The Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, notify any Lender of any manifest error it detects in such Lender's Competitive Bid. (iv) Subject only to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.03 and 4.02 and clause (iii) above, each Competitive Bid shall be irrevocable. (d) Notice to Borrower of Competitive Bids. Not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, or (ii) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of the identity of each Lender that has submitted a Competitive Bid that complies with Section 2.03(c) and of the terms of the offers contained in each such Competitive Bid. (e) Acceptance of Competitive Bids. Not later than 11:30 a.m. (i) on the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, and (ii) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of its acceptance or rejection of the offers notified to it pursuant to Section 2.03(d). The Borrower shall be under no obligation to accept any Competitive Bid and may choose to reject all Competitive Bids. In the case of acceptance, such notice shall specify the aggregate principal amount of Competitive Bids for each Interest Period that is accepted. The Borrower may accept any Competitive Bid in whole or in part; provided that: (i) the aggregate principal amount of each Bid Borrowing may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Bid Request; (ii) the principal amount of each Bid Loan must be $1,000,000 or a whole multiple in excess thereof; (iii) the acceptance of offers may be made only on the basis of ascending Absolute Rates or Eurodollar Bid Margins within each Interest Period; and (iv) the Borrower may not accept any offer that is described in Section 2.03(c)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the requirements hereof. (f) Procedure for Identical Bids. If two or more Lenders have submitted Competitive Bids at the same Absolute Rate or Eurodollar Bid Margin, as the case may be, for the same Interest Period, and the result of accepting all of such Competitive Bids in whole (together with any other Competitive Bids at lower Absolute Rates or Eurodollar Bid Margins, as the case may 21

be, accepted for such Interest Period in conformity with the requirements of Section 2.03(e)(iii)) would be to cause the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the applicable Bid Borrowing to exceed the amount specified therefor in the related Bid Request, then, unless otherwise agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Lenders, such Competitive Bids shall be accepted as nearly as possible in proportion to the amount offered by each such Lender in respect of such Interest Period, with such accepted amounts being rounded to the nearest whole multiple of $1,000,000. (g) Notice to Lenders of Acceptance or Rejection of Bids. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender having submitted a Competitive Bid whether or not its offer has been accepted and, if its offer has been accepted, of the amount of the Bid Loan or Bid Loans to be made by it on the date of the applicable Bid Borrowing. Any Competitive Bid or portion thereof that is not accepted by the Borrower by the applicable time specified in Section 2.03(e) shall be deemed rejected. (h) Notice of Eurodollar Rate. If any Bid Borrowing is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Loans, the Administrative Agent shall determine the Eurodollar Rate for the relevant Interest Period, and promptly after making such determination, shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that will be participating in such Bid Borrowing of such Eurodollar Rate. (i) Funding of Bid Loans. Each Lender that has received notice pursuant to Section 2.03(g) that all or a portion of its Competitive Bid has been accepted by the Borrower shall make the amount of its Bid Loan(s) available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent's Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the requested Bid Borrowing. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent. (j) Notice of Range of Bids. After each Competitive Bid auction pursuant to this Section 2.03, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender that submitted a Competitive Bid in such auction of the ranges of bids submitted (without the bidder's name) and accepted for each Bid Loan and the aggregate amount of each Bid Borrowing. (k) Bid Request Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for each Bid Request an administration fee in the amount set forth in the Fee Letter concurrently with delivery of any Bid Request (whether or not any Competitive Bid is offered by a Lender or accepted by the Borrower and whether or not any Bid Loan is extended by any Lender in connection with such Bid Request). 2.04 SWING LINE LOANS. (a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees to make loans (each such loan, a "Swing Line Loan") to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding 22

Amount of Committed Loans of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender's Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment, and provided, further, that the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender's Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Swing Line Loan. (b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower's irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone (provided that such telephonic notice complies with the informational requirements of the form of Swing Line Loan Notice attached hereto as Exhibit C). Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $500,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 5:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 6:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds. (c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans. (i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the 23

requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent's Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender. (ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Committed Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender's payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation. (iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error. (iv) Each Lender's obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender's obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein. 24

(d) Repayment of Participations. (i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender's risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender. (ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. (e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender's Pro Rata Share of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Pro Rata Share shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender. (f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender. 2.05 PREPAYMENTS. (a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment 25

shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares. (b) No Bid Loan may be prepaid without the prior consent of the applicable Bid Loan Lender. (c) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. (d) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess. 2.06 TERMINATION OR REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Pro Rata Share. All facility and utilization fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination. 2.07 REPAYMENT OF LOANS. (a) The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date. (b) The Borrower shall repay each Bid Loan on the last day of the Interest Period in respect thereof. (c) The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the maturity date agreed to by the Swing Line Lender and the Borrower with respect to such Loan 26

(which maturity date shall not be a date more than thirteen (13) days from the date of advance thereof) and (ii) the Maturity Date. 2.08 INTEREST. (a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; (iii) each Bid Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for the Interest Period therefor at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus (or minus) the Eurodollar Bid Margin, or at the Absolute Rate for such Interest Period, as the case may be; and (iv) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to (x) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate or (y) a quoted rate mutually agreeable to the Swing Line Lender and the Borrower. (b) If any amount payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. Furthermore, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand. (c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law. 2.09 FEES. (a) Facility Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a facility fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments (or, if the Aggregate Commitments have terminated, on the Outstanding Amount of all Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans), regardless of usage. The facility fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period (and thereafter so long as any Committed Loans or Swing Line Loans remain outstanding), including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the Maturity Date (and, if applicable, thereafter on demand). The facility fee shall be calculated 27

quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. (b) Utilization Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a utilization fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the Total Outstandings on each day that the Total Outstandings exceed 33% of the actual daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments. The utilization fee shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the Maturity Date. The utilization fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate for each period during which such Applicable Rate was in effect. The utilization fee shall accrue at all times, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met. (c) Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever. 2.10 COMPUTATION OF INTEREST AND FEES. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America's "prime rate" shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. 2.11 EVIDENCE OF DEBT. (a) The Borrowings made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Borrowings made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender's Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse 28

thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto. (b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. 2.12 PAYMENTS GENERALLY. (a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent's Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 4:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender's Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after such time shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. (b) If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be. (c) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds, then: (i) if the Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect; and (ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made 29

available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the "Compensation Period") at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender's Committed Loan or Bid Loan, as the case may be, included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent's demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Borrowing. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. (d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Borrowing set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest. (e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans and to fund participations in Swing Line Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to fund any such participation on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan or purchase its participation. (f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner. 2.13 SHARING OF PAYMENTS. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in Swing Line Loans held by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Committed Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in Swing Line Loans held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Committed Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in 30

Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender's ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender's required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased. 2.14 TERM-OUT OPTION. If (i) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a written notice requesting a one-year term-out extension of the Maturity Date then in effect at least three (3) Business Days prior to such Maturity Date and (ii) no Default exists on such Maturity Date, as certified by a Responsible Officer in a certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent, then such Maturity Date shall be extended to the first anniversary thereof; provided, however, that the Commitments shall terminate on such Maturity Date (prior to giving effect to such extension), and any amounts repaid on Loans outstanding during such extension period may not be reborrowed. ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY 3.01 TAXES. (a) Any and all payments by the Borrower to or for the account of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, is organized or maintains a lending office (all such non-excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the Borrower shall be required by any Laws to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to 31

the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section), each of the Administrative Agent and such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (iv) within 30 days after the date of such payment, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall forward the same to such Lender) the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof. (b) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes or charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes"). (c) If the Borrower shall be required to deduct or pay any Taxes or Other Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Borrower shall also pay to the Administrative Agent or to such Lender, as the case may be, at the time interest is paid, such additional amount that the Administrative Agent or such Lender specifies is necessary to preserve the after-tax yield (after factoring in all taxes, including taxes imposed on or measured by net income) that the Administrative Agent or such Lender would have received if such Taxes or Other Taxes had not been imposed. (d) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent and such Lender, (ii) amounts payable under Section 3.01(c) and (iii) any liability (including additions to tax, penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Payment under this subsection (d) shall be made within 30 days after the date the Lender or the Administrative Agent makes a demand therefor. 3.02 ILLEGALITY. If any Lender determines that the adoption of or change in any Law or in the interpretation or application thereof occurring after the Closing Date has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful as a result of any such adoption or change, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest 32

Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. Each Lender agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender. 3.03 INABILITY TO DETERMINE RATES. If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan, or that the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein. 3.04 INCREASED COST AND REDUCED RETURN; CAPITAL ADEQUACY; RESERVES ON EURODOLLAR RATE LOANS. (a) If any Lender determines that as a result of the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any Law, or such Lender's compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this subsection (a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 3.01 shall govern), (ii) changes in the basis of taxation of overall net income or overall gross income by the United States or any foreign jurisdiction or any political subdivision of either thereof under the Laws of which such Lender is organized or has its Lending Office, and (iii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.04(c)), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction. (b) If any Lender determines that the introduction of any Law regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, or compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender's obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender's desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction. 33

(c) The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as "Eurocurrency liabilities"), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least 15 days' prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 15 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 15 days from receipt of such notice. 3.05 FUNDING LOSSES. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of: (a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise); (b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or (c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.16; including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing. For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan was in fact so funded. 3.06 MATTERS APPLICABLE TO ALL REQUESTS FOR COMPENSATION. (a) A certificate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III and setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, the Administrative Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods. (b) Upon any Lender's making a claim for compensation under Section 3.01 or 3.04, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.16. 34

3.07 SURVIVAL. All of the Borrower's obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder. ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS 4.01 CONDITIONS OF INITIAL BORROWING. The occurrence of the Closing Date, the effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligation of each Lender to make its initial Loan hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent: (a) The Administrative Agent's receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel: (i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, in the number requested by the Administrative Agent or its legal counsel; (ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note; (iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party; (iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in (A) the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and (B) each other jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (v) a favorable opinion of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A., counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, covering enforceability of the Loan Documents and such other matters to be agreed upon; (vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and the validity against the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and certifying that such consents, licenses and 35

approvals are in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required; (vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) the current Debt Ratings; (viii) evidence that the Existing Credit Agreement has been or concurrently with the Closing Date is being terminated and any and all Liens securing obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being released; and (ix) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require. (b) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid. (c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all Attorney Costs of the Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of Attorney Costs as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of Attorney Costs incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent). (d) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained n Article V and in any other Loan Document, and those which are contained in any other document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date. (e) No Default shall exist and be continuing as of the Closing Date. (f) The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before July 31, 2003. 4.02 CONDITIONS TO ALL BORROWINGS. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Borrowing (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent: (a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that 36

for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01. (b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Borrowing. (c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Borrowing in accordance with the requirements hereof. Each Request for Borrowing (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Borrowing. ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that: 5.01 EXISTENCE, QUALIFICATION AND POWER; COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Each Consolidated Party (a) is a corporation duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license, and (d) is in compliance with all Laws; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i), (c) or (d), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.02 AUTHORIZATION; NO CONTRAVENTION. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of the Borrower's Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, (i) any Contractual Obligation to which the Borrower is a party or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which the Borrower or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law, except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i), (b)(ii) or (c), to the extent that such result could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.03 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION; OTHER CONSENTS. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery 37

or performance by, or enforcement against, the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. 5.04 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms. 5.05 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; NO MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT. (a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Consolidated Parties as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Consolidated Parties as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness. (b) The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Consolidated Parties dated March 30, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Consolidated Parties as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments. (c) From the date of the Audited Financial Statements through the Closing Date, (i) no Consolidated Party has incurred any material Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities and (ii) there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.06 LITIGATION. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Consolidated Party or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.07 NO DEFAULT. No Consolidated Party is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document. 38

5.08 OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY; LIENS. Each Consolidated Party has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Consolidated Parties is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01. 5.09 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Borrower has reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.10 INSURANCE. The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates. 5.11 TAXES. The Consolidated Parties have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against any Consolidated Party that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.12 ERISA COMPLIANCE. (a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan. (b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could be reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. 39

(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability (except with respect to certain non-qualified Pension Plans where the estimated amount of such Unfunded Pension Liability is reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of the Consolidated Parties); (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA; except in each case referred to above, to the extent that such occurrence could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.13 SUBSIDIARIES. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has no material equity investments in any Subsidiary or other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Exhibit 21 to Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. 5.14 MARGIN REGULATIONS; INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT; PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT. (a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. (b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary (i) is a "holding company," or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, or (ii) is or is required to be registered as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940. 5.15 DISCLOSURE. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time. 40

5.16 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Each Consolidated Party is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.17 TAX SHELTER REGULATIONS. The Borrower does not intend to treat the Loans and related transactions as being a "reportable transaction" (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4). In the event the Borrower determines to take any action inconsistent with such intention, it will promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof. If the Borrower so notifies the Administrative Agent, the Borrower acknowledges that one or more of the Lenders may treat its Committed Loans, Bid Loans and/or its interest in Swing Line Loans as part of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 301.6112-1, and such Lender or Lenders, as applicable, will maintain the lists and other records required by such Treasury Regulation. 5.18 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; LICENSES, ETC. Each Consolidated Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person except for those rights, the loss of which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person. No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03 and 6.11) cause each Subsidiary to: 6.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders: (a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Consolidated Parties as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' 41

equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or another independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any "going concern" or like qualification, exception, assumption or explanatory language or any qualification, exception, assumption or explanatory language as to the scope of such audit; and (b) as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Consolidated Parties as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower's fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(d), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in subsections (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein. 6.02 CERTIFICATES; OTHER INFORMATION. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders: (a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), a certificate of its independent certified public accountants certifying such financial statements and stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default under the financial covenants set forth herein or, if any such Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such event; (b) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower; (c) promptly after any written request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them; (d) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, 42

and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto; (e) promptly after the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent of any intention by the Borrower to treat the Loans and related transactions as being a "reportable transaction" (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4), a duly completed copy of IRS Form 8886 or any successor form; and (f) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request. Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower's website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower's behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent and each Lender of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower, if it initially provides for electronic delivery of the Compliance Certificates required pursuant to Section 6.02(b), must, contemporaneously therewith, provide to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of such Compliance Certificates via facsimile and shall, within ten Business Days thereafter, provide paper copies of such Compliance Certificates to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents. 6.03 NOTICES. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent: (a) of the occurrence of any Default; (b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a 43

Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws; or (iv) the occurrence of any ERISA Event; (c) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and (d) of any announcement by Moody's or S&P of any change or possible change in a Debt Rating. Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached. 6.04 PAYMENT OF OBLIGATIONS. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness; unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary. 6.05 PRESERVATION OF EXISTENCE, ETC. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.03 or 7.04; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 6.06 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 6.07 MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self- 44

insurance compatible with the following standards) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons. 6.08 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, write, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 6.09 BOOKS AND RECORDS. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be. 6.10 INSPECTION RIGHTS. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice. 6.11 USE OF PROCEEDS. Use the proceeds of the Borrowings for (i) commercial paper backup, (ii) working capital, (iii) capital expenditures and (iv) general corporate purposes, in each case not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document. ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly: 7.01 LIENS. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to: (a) Liens on any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 7.01. (b) Liens on any assets of any corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a Domestic Subsidiary (and not incurred in contemplation thereof); 45

(c) Liens on any assets existing at the time of acquisition of such assets by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary, or Liens to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price of such assets upon the acquisition of such assets by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary or to secure any Indebtedness incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary prior to, at the time of, or within 180 days after such acquisition (or in the case of real property, the completion of construction (including any improvements on an existing asset) or commencement of full operation of such asset, whichever is later) which Indebtedness is incurred, assumed or guaranteed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof or, in the case of real property, construction or improvements thereon; provided, however, that in the case of any such acquisition, construction or improvement, the Lien shall not apply to any assets theretofore owned by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary, other than, in the case of any such construction or improvement, any real property on which the property so constructed, or the improvement, is located; (d) Liens on any assets to secure Indebtedness of a Subsidiary to the Borrower or to any wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary; (e) Liens on any assets of a corporation existing at the time such corporation is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary or at the time of a purchase, lease or other acquisition of the assets of a corporation or firm as an entirety or substantially as an entirety by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary (and not incurred in contemplation thereof); (f) Liens on any assets of the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary in favor of the United States of America or any State thereof, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States of America or any State thereof, or in favor of any other country, or any political subdivision thereof, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any Indebtedness incurred or guaranteed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price (or, in the case of real property, the cost of construction) of the assets subject to such Liens (including, but not limited to, Liens incurred in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue or similar financings); (g) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements) in whole or in part of any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) to (f), inclusive; provided, however, that the principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the assets which secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements and construction on real property); and (h) Liens not permitted by clauses (a) through (g) above if at the time of, and after giving effect to, the creation or assumption of any such Lien, the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries secured by all such Liens not so permitted by clauses (a) through (g) above does not exceed 10% of Total Assets. 46

7.02 INDEBTEDNESS. As to the Subsidiaries only, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except: (a) Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries existing as of the Closing Date as referenced in the financial statements referred to in Section 5.05 and renewals, refinancings or extensions thereof in a principal amount not in excess of that outstanding as of the date of such renewal, refinancing or extension; (b) Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries incurred after the Closing Date consisting of capital leases or Indebtedness incurred to provide all or a portion of the purchase price or cost of construction of an asset provided that (i) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price or cost of construction of such asset; (ii) no such Indebtedness shall be refinanced for a principal amount in excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such refinancing; and (iii) the total amount of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding; (c) unsecured intercompany Indebtedness among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (d) Indebtedness and obligations owing under any Swap Contracts, provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a "market view;" and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party; (e) Indebtedness and obligations of the Subsidiaries owing under documentary letters of credit for the purchase of goods or other merchandise (but not under standby, direct pay or other letters of credit) generally; (f) Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries incurred in connection with acquisitions provided that (i) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price for such acquisition and (ii) if the aggregate amount of any such Indebtedness (whether anticipated to be funded at one time or over a series of fundings) exceeds $100,000,000, then (A) the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prior written notice of such Indebtedness and (B) prior to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness the Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent such evidence as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request demonstrating pro forma covenant compliance and the maintenance of an investment grade Debt Rating from S&P and Moody's (defined for purposes hereof as BBB- or better by S&P and Baa3 or better by Moody's); and (g) other non-acquisition-related Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries which does not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding. 7.03 FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES. 47

As to the Borrower only, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person. 7.04 DISPOSITIONS. Sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties and assets (including without limitation any capital stock in any of its Subsidiaries) except: (a) sales or leases in the ordinary course of business; and (b) other non-ordinary course of business sales, provided that (i) the aggregate net book value of the assets sold by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in all such transactions after the Closing Date does not exceed 25% of Total Assets as of the Closing Date and (ii) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any such sale or shall result upon giving effect thereto. 7.05 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Except (i) as otherwise specifically permitted in this Agreement, (ii) in regards to intercompany transactions among Subsidiaries and (iii) in regards to intercompany transactions between the Borrower and any Subsidiary (to the extent, in the case of this clause (iii), the Borrower is advantaged), enter into any transactions or series of transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, with any officer, director, shareholder or Affiliate other than on terms and conditions substantially as favorable as would be obtainable in a comparable arm's length transaction with a Person other than an officer, director, shareholder or Affiliate. 7.06 USE OF PROCEEDS. Use the proceeds of any Borrowing, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose. 7.07 MINIMUM BOOK NET WORTH. Permit Book Net Worth to be less than $758,900,000 (which represents approximately 85% of Book Net Worth as of March 30, 2003) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2003); provided, however, (i) such amount shall be increased at the end of each fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2003) by an amount equal to 25% of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries' net income for the fiscal quarter then ending (computed on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and with no deduction for a net loss in any such fiscal quarter), such increases to be cumulative; (ii) such amount shall be decreased Dollar for Dollar by the aggregate cumulative amount of all payments made by the Borrower on and after the Closing Date for the redemption, retirement or other repurchase of any shares of the capital stock of the Borrower so long as the Borrower's Debt Rating is A- or higher by S&P and A3 or higher by Moody's at the time of such payments; and (iii) for the purpose of calculating Book Net Worth with respect to this Section 7.07, the 48

calculation shall exclude (i.e., there will be added back to Book Net Worth) any year-end non-cash adjustment (on an after-tax basis) to other comprehensive income to reflect any Additional Minimum Liability (as defined below). With respect to clause (ii) of the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence, if, as a result of the payments made by the Borrower for such redemption, retirement or other repurchase of any shares of the capital stock of the Borrower, the Debt Rating of the Borrower is lowered by either S&P or Moody's below the applicable level set forth in the preceding sentence within forty-five (45) days of the last of such payments, then any reduction in the minimum Book Net Worth amount previously made pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 7.07 in connection with such payments shall be reversed. For purposes hereof, "Additional Minimum Liability" means, as of any date, with respect to the Borrower's U.S. defined benefit Pension Plans, the sum of the absolute values of (x) the unfunded accumulated benefit obligation existing as of the end of the fiscal year then ending or the most recently ended fiscal year, as applicable, plus (y) the Borrower's prepaid pension asset position existing as of the end of the fiscal year then ending or the most recently ended fiscal year, as applicable. ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES 8.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default: (a) Non-Payment. The Borrower fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within three days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan, or any facility, utilization or other fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or (b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Sections 6.03, 6.11, 7.02 or 7.07; or (c) Other Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after written notice thereof being received from the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or (d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or (e) Payment Cross-Default. The Borrower or any Subsidiary fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, and such 49

failure shall continue for more than the period of grace, if any, applicable thereto and shall not have been waived; provided, however, the occurrence of any of the foregoing events with respect to any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall not constitute an Event of Default unless such occurrence could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; provided, however, the occurrence of any of the foregoing events with respect to any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall not constitute an Event of Default unless such occurrence could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; provided, however, the occurrence of any of the foregoing events with respect to any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall not constitute an Event of Default unless such occurrence could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (h) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 60 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; provided, however, the occurrence of any of the foregoing events with respect to any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall not constitute an Event of Default unless such occurrence could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any 50

installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or (j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or the Borrower or any other Person acting by or on behalf of the Borrower contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or the Borrower denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or (k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control with respect to the Borrower. 8.02 REMEDIES UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions: (a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated; (b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and (c) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable law; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate and the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender. 8.03 APPLICATION OF FUNDS. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order: First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such; Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney 51

Costs and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them; Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them; Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and Swap Contracts between the Borrower and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law. ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT 9.01 APPOINTMENT AND AUTHORIZATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term "agent" herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties. 9.02 DELEGATION OF DUTIES. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct. 9.03 LIABILITY OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its 52

own gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b) be responsible in any manner to any Lender or participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by the Borrower or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for any failure of the Borrower or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof. 9.04 RELIANCE BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. (a) The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement 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 counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders. (b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto. 9.05 NOTICE OF DEFAULT. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a "notice of default." The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such 53

Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders in accordance with Article VIII; provided, however, that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders. 9.06 CREDIT DECISION; DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person 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 the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person. 9.07 INDEMNIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. The Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities to the extent determined in a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent-Related Person's own gross negligence or willful misconduct; provided, however, that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or 54

otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower. The undertaking in this Section shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent. 9.08 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY. Bank of America and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrower and its Affiliates as though Bank of America were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Bank of America or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Borrower or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Borrower or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, Bank of America shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the terms "Lender" and "Lenders" include Bank of America in its individual capacity. 9.09 SUCCESSOR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. The Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon 30 days' notice to the Lenders; provided that any such resignation by Bank of America shall also constitute its resignation as Swing Line Lender. If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor administrative agent for the Lenders, which successor administrative agent shall be consented to by the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default (which consent of the Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor administrative agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower, a successor administrative agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor administrative agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor administrative agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender and the respective terms "Administrative Agent" and "Swing Line Lender" shall mean such successor administrative agent and swing line lender and the retiring Administrative Agent's appointment, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated and the retiring Swing Line Lender's rights, powers and duties as such shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such retiring Swing Line Lender or any other Lender. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article IX and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement. If no successor administrative agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date which is 30 days following a retiring Administrative Agent's notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent's resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of 55

the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above. 9.10 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise (a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and (b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding. 9.11 OTHER AGENTS; ARRANGERS AND MANAGERS. None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a "syndication agent," "documentation agent," "co-agent," "book manager," "lead manager," "arranger," "lead arranger" or "co-arranger" shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than, in the case of such Lenders, those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder. 56

ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS 10.01 AMENDMENTS, ETC. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall: (a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender; (b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender; (c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) or any mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; (d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause (iii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of "Default Rate" or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate; (e) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender; (f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of "Required Lenders" or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; or (g) modify the pro rata distribution of payments, proceeds, or fees payable to Lenders under this Agreement without the written consent of each Lender; and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything 57

to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that (x) the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended and (y) Section 2.13 and Section 8.03 may not be changed in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, in each case without the consent of such Lender. 10.02 NOTICES AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS; FACSIMILE COPIES. (a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or (subject to subsection (c) below) electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows: (i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and (ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender. All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of subsection (c) below), when delivered; provided, however, that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person. In no event shall a voicemail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder. (b) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures. Loan Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile. The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable Law, have the same force and effect as manually-signed originals and shall be binding on the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. The Administrative Agent may also require that any such documents and signatures be confirmed by a manually-signed original thereof; provided, however, that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any facsimile document or signature. 58

(c) Limited Use of Electronic Mail. Electronic mail and Internet and intranet websites may be used only to distribute routine communications, such as financial statements and other information as provided in Section 6.02, and to distribute Loan Documents for execution by the parties thereto, and may not be used for any other purpose. (d) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify each Agent-Related Person and each Lender from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording. 10.03 NO WAIVER; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, 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. 10.04 ATTORNEY COSTS, EXPENSES AND TAXES. The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including all Attorney Costs, and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and each Lender for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or preservation of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any "workout" or restructuring in respect of the Obligations and during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law), including all Attorney Costs. The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all reasonable search, filing, recording, title insurance and appraisal charges and fees and taxes related thereto, and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the reasonable cost of independent public accountants and other outside experts retained by the Administrative Agent or any Lender. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable within ten Business Days after demand therefor. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. 59

10.05 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE BORROWER. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lender and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents and attorneys-in-fact (collectively the "Indemnitees") from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment or Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, or (c) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the "Indemnified Liabilities"); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available (i) to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee and (ii) with respect to a dispute among two or more Indemnitees which does not arise as a result of the action or inaction of the Borrower. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, nor shall any Indemnitee have any liability for any indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date). Nothing contained in this Section 8.5 shall be deemed to restrict the Borrower's right to pursue any and all legal remedies available to the Borrower for breach of any representation, covenant, warranty or other agreement set forth in any Loan Document. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be payable within ten Business Days after demand therefor. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. 10.06 PAYMENTS SET ASIDE. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable 60

share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. 10.07 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) or (i) of this Section, or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement. (b) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that (i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (as defined in subsection (g) of this Section) with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if "Trade Date" is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); (ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to rights in respect of Bid Loans or Swing Line Loans; (iii) any assignment of a Commitment must be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender unless the Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender (whether or not the proposed assignee would otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee); and (iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and 61

obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section. (c) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent's Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. (d) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a "Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender's Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that directly affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. 62

(e) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower's prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 10.15 as though it were a Lender. (f) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. (g) As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings: "Eligible Assignee" means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender, and (ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, "Eligible Assignee" shall not include the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries. "Fund" means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business. "Approved Fund" means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender. (h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an "SPC") the option to provide all or any part of any Committed Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Committed Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Committed Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Committed Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.04), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any 63

provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Committed Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Committed Loan were made by such Granting Lender. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Committed Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Committed Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC. (i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities, provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise. (j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, upon 5 Business Days' notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). 10.08 CONFIDENTIALITY. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates' directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority; (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) in connection with the exercise of any 64

remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any direct or indirect contractual counterparty or prospective counterparty (or such contractual counterparty's or prospective counterparty's professional advisor) to any credit derivative transaction relating to obligations of the Borrower; (g) with the consent of the Borrower; (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower; or (i) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments and the Borrowings. For purposes of this Section, "Information" means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or any of its businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified in writing at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, "Information" shall not include, and the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower may disclose without limitation of any kind, any information with respect to the "tax treatment" and "tax structure" (in each case, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4) of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Borrower relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided that with respect to any document or similar item that in either case contains information concerning the tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction as well as other information, this sentence shall only apply to such portions of the document or similar item that relate to the tax treatment or tax structure of the Loans and transactions contemplated hereby. 10.09 SET-OFF. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being waived by the Borrower to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan 65

Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or indebtedness. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. 10.10 INTEREST RATE LIMITATION. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the "Maximum Rate"). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder. 10.11 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 10.12 INTEGRATION. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof. 10.13 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Borrowing, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied. 10.14 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or 66

impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. 10.15 TAX FORMS. (a) (i) Each Lender that is not a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a "Foreign Lender") shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, prior to receipt of any payment subject to withholding under the Code (or upon accepting an assignment of an interest herein), two duly signed completed copies of either IRS Form W-8BEN or any successor thereto (relating to such Foreign Lender and entitling it to an exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax on all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or IRS Form W-8ECI or any successor thereto (relating to all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or such other evidence satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such Foreign Lender is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. withholding tax, including any exemption pursuant to Section 881(c) of the Code. Thereafter and from time to time, each such Foreign Lender shall (A) promptly submit to the Administrative Agent such additional duly completed and signed copies of one of such forms (or such successor forms as shall be adopted from time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may then be available under then current United States laws and regulations to avoid, or such evidence as is satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any available exemption from or reduction of, United States withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, (B) promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (C) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws that the Borrower make any deduction or withholding for taxes from amounts payable to such Foreign Lender. (ii) Each Foreign Lender, to the extent it does not act or ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any sums paid or payable to such Lender under any of the Loan Documents (for example, in the case of a typical participation by such Lender), shall deliver to the Administrative Agent on the date when such Foreign Lender ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any such sums paid or payable, and at such other times as may be necessary in the determination of the Administrative Agent (in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), (A) two duly signed completed copies of the forms or statements required to be provided by such Lender as set forth above, to establish the portion of any such sums paid or payable with respect to which such Lender acts for its own account that is not subject to U.S. withholding tax, and (B) two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor thereto), together with any information such Lender chooses to transmit with such form, and any other certificate or statement of exemption required under the Code, to establish that such Lender is not acting for its own account with respect to a portion of any such sums payable to such Lender. 67

(iii) The Borrower shall not be required to pay any additional amount to any Foreign Lender under Section 3.01 (A) with respect to any Taxes required to be deducted or withheld on the basis of the information, certificates or statements of exemption such Lender transmits with an IRS Form W-8IMY pursuant to this Section 10.15(a) or (B) if such Lender shall have failed to satisfy the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.15(a); provided that if such Lender shall have satisfied the requirement of this Section 10.15(a) on the date such Lender became a Lender or ceased to act for its own account with respect to any payment under any of the Loan Documents, nothing in this Section 10.15(a) shall relieve the Borrower of its obligation to pay any amounts pursuant to Section 3.01 in the event that, as a result of any change in any applicable law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any change in the interpretation, administration or application thereof, such Lender is no longer properly entitled to deliver forms, certificates or other evidence at a subsequent date establishing the fact that such Lender or other Person for the account of which such Lender receives any sums payable under any of the Loan Documents is not subject to withholding or is subject to withholding at a reduced rate. (iv) The Administrative Agent may, without reduction, withhold any Taxes required to be deducted and withheld from any payment under any of the Loan Documents with respect to which the Borrower is not required to pay additional amounts under this Section 10.15(a). (b) Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Lender that is a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Administrative Agent two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-9. If such Lender fails to deliver such forms, then the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Lender an amount equivalent to the applicable back-up withholding tax imposed by the Code, without reduction. (c) If any Governmental Authority asserts that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold or backup withhold, as the case may be, any tax or other amount from payments made to or for the account of any Lender, such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent therefor, including all penalties and interest, any taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to the Administrative Agent under this Section, and costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs) of the Administrative Agent. The obligation of the Lenders under this Section shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and the resignation of the Administrative Agent. 10.16 REPLACEMENT OF LENDERS. Under any circumstances set forth herein providing that the Borrower shall have the right to replace a Lender as a party to this Agreement, the Borrower may, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, replace such Lender by causing such Lender to assign its Commitment (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrower in such instance) pursuant to Section 10.07(b) to one or more other Lenders or Eligible Assignees procured by the Borrower; provided, however, that if the Borrower elects to exercise such right with respect to any Lender pursuant to Section 3.06(b), it shall be obligated to replace all Lenders that have made similar requests for compensation pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04. The Borrower shall (x) pay in full all principal, accrued interest, accrued fees and other amounts owing to such Lender through the date of replacement (including any amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.05), (y) provide appropriate assurances and indemnities to the Swing Line Lender as 68

each may reasonably require with respect to any continuing obligation to fund participation interests in any Swing Line Loans then outstanding, and (z) release such Lender from its obligations under the Loan Documents. Any Lender being replaced shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender's Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in Swing Line Loans. 10.17 GOVERNING LAW. (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, the LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE; PROVIDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE Agent AND EACH LENDER SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW. (b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING 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 ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS, WHICH MAY BE MADE BY ANY OTHER MEANS PERMITTED BY THE LAW OF SUCH STATE. 10.18 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. 69

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written. SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY By: ________________________ Name: Vicki B. Arthur Title: Treasurer 70

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent By: _______________________ Name: _____________________ Title: ____________________ 71

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and Swing Line Lender By: _______________________ Name: _____________________ Title: ____________________ 72

[OTHER LENDERS] 73

Letter re: unaudited interim financial information
 

Exhibit 15

August 5, 2003

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

Commissioners:

We are aware that our report dated July 16, 2003 on our review of interim financial information of Sonoco Products Company for the period ended June 29, 2003 and included in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter then ended is incorporated by reference in its Registration Statements on Forms S-8 (filed September 4, 1985; February 6, 1992, file No. 33-45594; June 7, 1995, File No. 33-60039; September 25, 1996, File No. 333-12657; December 30, 1998, File No. 333-69929; October 28, 2002, File No. 333-100799; and October 28, 2002, File No. 333-100798).

Yours very truly,

     
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
   

Section 906 Certification for C.E.O. & C.F.O.
 

Exhibit 99

Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002

     The undersigned, who are the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Sonoco Products Company, each hereby certifies that, to the best of his knowledge, the accompanying Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 29, 2003, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in the report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the issuer.

August 5, 2003

     
    /s/ Harris E. DeLoach, Jr.
   
    Harris E. DeLoach, Jr.
    Chief Executive Officer
     
     
    /s/ Charles J. Hupfer
   
    Charles J. Hupfer
    Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Sonoco Products Company (the “Company”) and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request. This certification accompanies the Form 10-Q and shall not be treated as having been filed as part of the Form 10-Q.