8-K
TREX CO INC false 0001069878 0001069878 2022-12-22 2022-12-22

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 22, 2022

 

 

TREX COMPANY, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-14649   54-1910453

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

160 Exeter Drive

Winchester, Virginia

  22603-8605
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (ZIP Code)

(540) 542-6300

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common stock   TREX   New York Stock Exchange LLC

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act ☐

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

As of December 22, 2022, Trex Company, Inc. (Company) entered into a First Amendment to Credit Agreement (First Amendment) by and among the Company, as borrower, the guarantors party thereto; Bank of America, N.A. (BOA), as a Lender, Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer; TD Bank, N.A. as lender and Syndication Agent; Regions Bank, PNC Bank, National Association, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (each, a Lender and collectively, the Lenders), arranged by BofA Securities, Inc. as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner, amending that certain Credit Agreement dated as of May 18, 2022, by and among the Company, as borrower, the guarantors party thereto, BOA, as a Lender, Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer and the other lenders identified therein (as so amended, the “Credit Agreement”). As a part of the First Amendment, the Credit Agreement was amended and restated to provide for an additional Revolving B Loan (as hereinafter defined).

First Amendment to Credit Agreement

Under the First Amendment, the Lenders agreed to provide the Company with a Revolving B Loan consisting of one or more revolving loans in a collective maximum principal amount of $150,000,000 (Revolving B Loan Limit) throughout the term, which ends December 22, 2024 (Revolving B Loan Term). Previously, under the Credit Agreement, there was no Revolving B Loan. The First Amendment also provided that TD Bank, N.A. would serve as Syndication Agent.

Credit Agreement

Prior to the First Amendment, the Credit Agreement provided that the Lenders agreed to provide the Company with one or more Loans in a collective maximum principal amount of $400,000,000 (Revolving A Loan Limit) through May 18, 2027 (Revolving A Loan Term). As of December 22, 2022, the Credit Agreement was amended and restated to refer to this loan as the Revolving A Loan. The amended and restated Credit Agreement was made an Exhibit A to the First Amendment. All of the terms of the Credit Agreement apply to the Revolving B Loan. The Credit Agreement continues to include sublimits under the Revolving A Loan for a Letter of Credit facility in an amount not to exceed $60,000,000; and Swing Line Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $20,000,000. The Revolving Loans, the Letter of Credit facility and the Swing Line Loans under Revolving A Loan are for the purpose of raising working capital and supporting general business operations.

The Notes and Interest Rates

The Notes provide the Company, in the aggregate, the ability to borrow an amount up to the Revolving A Loan Limit during the Revolving A Loan Term and Revolving B Loan Limit during the Revolving B Loan Term. The Company is not obligated to borrow any amount under the revolving loans. Within the respective loan limit, the Company may borrow, repay and reborrow at any time or from time to time while the Notes are in effect.

Base Rate Loans (as defined in the Credit Agreement) under the Revolving Loans and the Swing Line Loans accrue interest at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and Term SOFR Loans for the Revolving Loans accrue interest at the rate per annum equal to the sum of Term SOFR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

The Base Rate for any day is a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by BOA as its prime rate, and (c) the Term SOFR plus 1.0% subject to certain interest rate floors.

With respect to Revolving B Loans, for any day, the rate per annum set forth below opposite the applicable Pricing Tier then in effect (based upon the Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio), it being understood that the Applicable Rate for (i) Revolving B Loans that are Base Rate Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Base Rate Loans”, (ii) Revolving B Loans that are Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Term SOFR Loans / Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate / Letter of Credit Fee”, and (iii) the Commitment Fee shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Revolving B Commitment Fee”:


Pricing Tier  

Consolidated Debt to Consolidated
EBITDA Ratio

 

Term SOFR Loans / Term SOFR
Daily Floating Rate

 

Base Rate Loans

 

Revolving B

Commitment Fee

1   > 2.50:1.00   2.15%   1.15%   0.450%
2   < 2.50:1.00 but > 2.00:1.00   1.80%   0.80%   0.425%
3   < 2.00:1.00 but > 1.50:1.00   1.45%   0.45%   0.400%
4   < 1.50:1.0   1.20%   0.20%   0.375%

Repayment of all then outstanding principal, interest, fees and costs is due at the end of the at the end of the Revolving B Term for the Revolving B Loan.

ESG Option

The Company and BofA Securities, Inc. as a sustainability coordinator, shall be entitled to establish specified key performance indicators (KPIs) with respect to certain environmental, social and governance targets of the Company and its subsidiaries. The sustainability coordinator and the Company may amend the Credit Agreement and ancillary definitive agreement for the purpose of incorporating the KPIs and other related provisions, unless the Lenders object to such amendment on or prior to the date that is ten (10) business days after the date on which such amendment is posted for review by the Lenders. Based on the performance of the Company and its subsidiaries against the KPIs, certain adjustments (increase, decrease or no adjustment) to otherwise applicable pricing will be made; provided that the amount of such adjustments shall not exceed certain aggregate caps as in the definitive loan documentation.

Security and Pledge Agreement

The existing Security and Pledge Agreement remains unchanged except that in addition to the Revolving A Loan, it now also secures the Revolving B Loan.

Transaction Fees

As a result of the transaction and excluding legal and accounting fees payable as a result of the transaction, the Company incurred closing fees equal to $500,588.28.

All capitalized terms used in this section but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Credit Agreement. To the extent not defined herein or in the Credit Agreement, all capitalized terms shall have the meanings provided for by the Uniform Commercial Code.

This summary of the Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Trex Company, Inc. herewith files the following exhibits:

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

4.1    First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of December 22, 2022 to the Credit Agreement dated May 18, 2022 by and among the Company, as borrower; the guarantors party thereto; Bank of America, N.A. (BOA), as a Lender, Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer; TD Bank, N.A. as lender and Syndication Agent; Regions Bank, PNC Bank, National Association, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (each, a Lender and collectively, the Lenders), arranged by BofA Securities, Inc. as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner. FILED HEREWITH
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).


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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

    TREX COMPANY, INC.
Date: December 23, 2022      

/s/ Dennis C. Schemm

      Dennis C. Schemm
      Senior Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer
EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of December 22, 2022

among

TREX COMPANY, INC.,

as the Borrower,

THE SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER IDENTIFIED HEREIN,

as the Guarantors,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer,

TD BANK, N.A.,

as Syndication Agent,

and

THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO

Arranged By:

BofA SECURITIES, INC.,

as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner


FIRST AMENDMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT (this “Amendment”) dated as of December 22, 2022 (the “First Amendment Effective Date”) is entered into among TREX COMPANY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors party hereto, the Lenders party hereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Existing Credit Agreement (as defined below) or the Amended Credit Agreement (as defined below), as applicable.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, are parties that that certain Credit Agreement dated as of May 18, 2022 (as amended, modified, supplemented, increased, extended, restated, renewed, refinanced and replaced from time to time prior to the First Amendment Effective Date, the “Existing Credit Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that (a) each Revolving B Lender provide a Revolving B Commitment in the amount set forth opposite such Revolving B Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 attached hereto and (b) the Existing Credit Agreement be amended as set forth below, subject to the terms and conditions specified in this Amendment; and

WHEREAS, (a) each Revolving B Lender is willing to provide a Revolving B Commitment in the amount set forth opposite such Revolving B Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 attached hereto and (b) each party hereto is willing to amend the Existing Credit Agreement as set forth below, subject to the terms and conditions specified in this Amendment.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Establishment of Aggregate Revolving B Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Amended Credit Agreement, the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments are hereby established in an aggregate principal amount of $150 million. Each Revolving B Lender severally agrees to make Revolving B Loans in Dollars to the Borrower as set forth in, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in, the Amended Credit Agreement.

2. Amendments to Existing Credit Agreement. The Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

(a) The Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Existing Credit Agreement, as so amended, the “Amended Credit Agreement”).

(b) Schedule 2.01 to the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read in the form attached hereto as Schedule 2.01.

(c) Exhibits 2.02 and 2.05 to the Existing Credit Agreement are hereby amended in their entireties to read in the forms attached hereto as Exhibits 2.02 and 2.05, respectively.


(d) Except as set forth in Sections 2(b) and (c), all schedules and exhibits to the Existing Credit Agreement (as amended prior to the First Amendment Effective Date) shall not be modified or otherwise affected hereby.

3. Consent. The Required Lenders hereby consent to (a) the release of Trex Commercial Products, Inc. as a Guarantor and (b) the dissolution of Trex Commercial Products, Inc., in each case, following the disposition of all or substantially all of its assets pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement by and between Sightline Commercial Holdings LLC, as the buyer, the Borrower and Trex Commercial Products, Inc.

4. Conditions Precedent. This Amendment, and the obligation of each Revolving B Lender to make Revolving B Loans under the Amended Credit Agreement, shall be effective upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of counterparts of this Amendment duly executed by (i) a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party, (ii) the Required Lenders, and (iii) each Revolving B Lender.

(b) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of favorable opinions of legal counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(c) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certificate of each Loan Party, in each case, duly executed by a Responsible Officer of each such Loan Party, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby (including the establishment of the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments), and (ii) certifying as to the incumbency, identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer of such Loan Party authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party.

(d) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its state of organization or formation.

(e) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certificate, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions in Sections 4.02(a) and 4.02(b) of the Amended Credit Agreement.

(f) Upon the reasonable request of any Lender, the Borrower shall have provided to such Lender, and such Lender shall be reasonably satisfied with, the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act, and any Loan Party that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall have delivered to each Lender that so requests, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Loan Party.

(g) Receipt by the Arranger, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of all fees and expenses, if any, owing pursuant to the First Amendment Fee Letter.

 

2


(h) The Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the First Amendment Effective Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements 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).

For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4, each Lender that has signed this Amendment shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required hereunder 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 First Amendment Effective Date specifying its objections.

5. Miscellaneous.

(a) The Loan Documents and the obligations of the Loan Parties thereunder are hereby ratified and confirmed and shall remain in full force and effect according to their terms, as amended hereby.

(b) Each Loan Party (i) acknowledges and consents to all of the terms and conditions of this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby (including the establishment of the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments), (ii) affirms all of its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (iii) agrees that this Amendment and all documents executed in connection herewith do not operate to reduce or discharge its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party. Each Loan Party hereby acknowledges that, as of the First Amendment Effective Date, the security interests and Liens granted to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations under the Collateral Documents to secure the Obligations are in full force and effect, are properly perfected, and are enforceable in accordance with the terms of the Security Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(c) Each Loan Party hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:

(i) The execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party of this Amendment (A) are within such Loan Party’s organizational powers, (B) have been duly authorized by all necessary Organizational Action, (C) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority, (D) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable Law or of the Organization Documents of such Loan Party or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, and (E) do not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, except for a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

(ii) This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitutes such Loan Party’s legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to general principles of equity and to Debtor Relief Laws and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.

(iii) 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 or performance by, or enforcement against, such Loan Party of this Amendment or the Amended Credit Agreement.

 

3


(iv) After giving effect to this Amendment: (A) the representations and warranties of such Loan Party set forth in Article V of the Amended Credit Agreement and in each other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality) on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date with the same effect as if made on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality) as of such earlier date; and (B) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the transactions contemplated by this Amendment.

(v) The Persons signing this Amendment as Guarantors include all of the Subsidiaries existing as of the First Amendment Effective Date that are required to become Guarantors pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement on or prior to the First Amendment Effective Date.

(d) This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the various parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Amendment by telecopy or in any other electronic format (such as .pdf format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed original counterpart of this Amendment. Subject to Section 11.17 of the Amended Credit Agreement, execution of this Amendment shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper based recordkeeping system, as the case may be.

(e) This Amendment is a Loan Document. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, nor, except as expressly provided herein, constitute a waiver or amendment of any provision of any of the Loan Documents. Upon the effectiveness hereof, all references to the “Credit Agreement” set forth in any other agreement or instrument shall, unless otherwise specifically provided, be references to the Amended Credit Agreement.

(f) THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SECTIONS 11.14 AND 11.15 OF THE AMENDED CREDIT AGREEMENT, THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AS IF FULLY SET FORTH HEREIN.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this First Amendment to Credit Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer as of the date first above written.

 

BORROWER:    

TREX COMPANY, INC.,

   

a Delaware corporation

    By:  

/s/ Dennis C. Schemm

    Name:   Dennis C. Schemm
    Title:   CFO
GUARANTORS:    

TREX COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS, INC.,

   

a Delaware corporation

    By:  

/s/ Dennis C. Schemm

    Name:   Dennis C. Schemm
    Title:   CFO

[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]

TREX COMPANY, INC.

FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
    By:  

/s/ Priscilla Ruffin

    Name: Priscilla Ruffin
    Title: AVP
LENDERS:     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender, an L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender
    By:  

/s/ Louis J. Noppenberger

    Name: Louis J. Noppenberger
    Title: Senior Vice President
    WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ Barbara Angel

    Name: Barbara Angel
    Title: Director
    REGIONS BANK, as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ Mihai Savu

    Name: Mihai Savu
    Title: Director, Relationship Manager
    PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ David Nataro

    Name: David Nataro
    Title: Senior Vice President
    TD BANK, N.A., as a Lender
    By:  

/s/ Peter Echausse

    Name: Peter Echausse
    Title: Managing Director

TREX COMPANY, INC.

FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


Exhibit A

Amended Credit Agreement

[see attached]


Schedule 2.01

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

 

Lender

   Revolving A
Commitment
     Applicable Percentage
(Revolving A
Commitment)
    Revolving B
Commitment
     Applicable Percentage
(Revolving B
Commitment)
 

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 180,000,000.00        45.000000000   $ 45,000,000.00        30.000000000

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

   $ 120,000,000.00        30.000000000   $ 30,000,000.00        20.000000000

Regions Bank

   $ 40,000,000.00        10.000000000   $ 20,000,000.00        13.333333333

PNC Bank, National Association

   $ 30,000,000.00        7.5000000000   $ 10,000,000.00        6.666666667

TD Bank, N.A.

   $ 30,000,000.00        7.5000000000   $ 45,000,000.00        30.000000000
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 400,000,000.00        100.000000000   $ 150,000,000.00        100.000000000
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

L/C Issuer

   L/C Commitment  

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 60,000,000.00  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 60,000,000.00  
  

 

 

 


EXHIBIT 2.02

FORM OF LOAN NOTICE

Date: ___________, _____

To: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2022 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Credit Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Trex Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The undersigned hereby requests (select one):

 

 

A Borrowing of Revolving A Loans

 

 

A Borrowing of Revolving B Loans

 

 

A conversion or continuation of Revolving A Loans

 

 

A conversion or continuation of Revolving B Loans

 

  1.

On _______________ (a Business Day).

 

  2.

In the amount of $_______________.

 

  3.

Comprised of _________________.

[Type of Loan requested]

 

  4.

For Term SOFR Loans: with an Interest Period of ___ months.

[With respect to such Borrowing, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants that (i) such request complies with the requirements of Section 2.01 of the Credit Agreement and (ii) each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied on and as of the date of such Borrowing.]

Subject to Section 11.17 of the Credit Agreement, this Loan Notice may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures (including facsimile and .pdf) and shall be considered an original, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record.

 

TREX COMPANY, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

By:                                                                                                  
Name:
Title:


EXHIBIT 2.05

FORM OF NOTICE OF LOAN PREPAYMENT

Date: __________, ____

TO: Bank of America, N.A., as [Administrative Agent] [Swing Line Lender]

 

RE:

Credit Agreement (as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) dated as of May 18, 2022 among Trex Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders identified therein, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower hereby notifies the [Administrative Agent][Swing Line Lender] that on _____________ pursuant to the terms of Section 2.05 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower intends to prepay/repay the following Loans as more specifically set forth below:

 

Voluntary prepayment of [Revolving A] [Revolving B] Loans in the following amount(s):

 

 

Term SOFR Loans: $_________________

Applicable Interest Period:_________________

 

 

Base Rate Loans: $___________________

 

Voluntary prepayment of Swing Line Loans in the following amount: $_______________

Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this notice by fax transmission or other electronic mail transmission (e.g. “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this notice.

 

TREX COMPANY, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

By:                                                                                                  
Name:
Title:

 

10


EXHIBIT A

TO FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

Published Deal CUSIP Number: 89531UAF1

Published Revolver A CUSIP Number: 89531UAG9

Published Revolver B CUSIP Number: 89531UAH7

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of May 18, 2022

among

TREX COMPANY, INC.,

as the Borrower,

THE SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER IDENTIFIED HEREIN,

as the Guarantors,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Syndication Agent,

and

THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO

Arranged By:

BofA SECURITIES, INC.,

as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner


Table of Contents

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

     1  

1.01

  Defined Terms      1  

1.02

  Other Interpretive Provisions      30  

1.03

  Accounting Terms      30  

1.04

  Rounding      32  

1.05

  Times of Day; Rates      32  

1.06

  Letter of Credit Amounts      32  

1.07

  Limited Condition Transactions      32  

ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     34  

2.01

  Revolving Loans      34  

2.02

  Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans      35  

2.03

  Letters of Credit      36  

2.04

  Swing Line Loans      45  

2.05

  Prepayments      48  

2.06

  Optional Termination or Reduction of Aggregate Revolving Commitments      49  

2.07

  Repayment of Loans      50  

2.08

  Interest      50  

2.09

  Fees      51  

2.10

  Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate      52  

2.11

  Evidence of Debt      53  

2.12

  Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback      53  

2.13

  Sharing of Payments by Lenders      55  

2.14

  Cash Collateral      55  

2.15

  Defaulting Lenders      56  

2.16

  Incremental Facilities      59  

2.17

  ESG Adjustments      61  

ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

     62  

3.01

  Taxes      62  

3.02

  Illegality      66  

3.03

  Inability to Determine Rates      67  

3.04

  Increased Costs; Reserves on Term SOFR Loans      69  

3.05

  Compensation for Losses      70  

3.06

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      71  

3.07

  Survival      71  

ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     71  

4.01

  Conditions to Initial Credit Extension      71  

4.02

  Conditions to all Credit Extensions      73  

 

i


Table of Contents (continued)

 

     Page  

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     74  

5.01

   Existence and Power      74  

5.02

   Organizational and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention      74  

5.03

   Binding Effect      74  

5.04

   Financial Information      75  

5.05

   Litigation      75  

5.06

   Compliance with ERISA      75  

5.07

   Payment of Taxes      76  

5.08

   Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      76  

5.09

   All Consents Required      76  

5.10

   Ownership of Property; Liens      76  

5.11

   No Default or Event of Default      77  

5.12

   Disclosure      77  

5.13

   Environmental Matters      77  

5.14

   Compliance with Laws      78  

5.15

   Solvency      78  

5.16

   Security Documents      78  

5.17

   Patents, Trademarks, Etc      78  

5.18

   Insurance      78  

5.19

   Affected Financial Institutions      78  

5.20

   Subsidiaries; Capital Securities      78  

5.21

   Covered Entities      79  

5.22

   Beneficial Ownership Certification      79  

5.23

   No Default or Event of Default      79  

5.24

   Sanctions Concerns and Anti-Corruption Laws      79  

ARTICLE VI COVENANTS

     80  

6.01

   Information      80  

6.02

   Inspection of Property, Books and Records      83  

6.03

   Financial Covenants      83  

6.04

   Acquisitions      83  

6.05

   Loans or Advances      84  

6.06

   Restricted Payments      84  

6.07

   Investments      85  

6.08

   Negative Pledge      86  

6.09

   Maintenance of Existence, etc      88  

6.10

   Fundamental Changes; Dispositions      88  

6.11

   Use of Proceeds      89  

6.12

   Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes      90  

6.13

   Insurance      90  

6.14

   Change in Fiscal Year      90  

6.15

   Maintenance of Property      90  

6.16

   Environmental Notices      90  

 

ii


Table of Contents (continued)

 

     Page  

6.17

   Environmental Matters      91  

6.18

   Environmental Release      91  

6.19

   Transactions with Affiliates      91  

6.20

   Joinder of Subsidiaries      91  

6.21

   No Restrictive Agreement      92  

6.22

   Additional Debt      92  

6.23

   Modifications of Organizational Documents      94  

6.24

   ERISA Exemptions      94  

6.25

   Prepayments and Amendments of Debt      94  

6.26

   Deposit Accounts      95  

6.27

   Anti-Corruption; OFAC      95  

6.28

   Further Assurances      95  

ARTICLE VII [RESERVED]

     95  

ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     95  

8.01

   Events of Default      95  

8.02

   Remedies Upon Event of Default      98  

8.03

   Application of Funds      98  

8.04

   Equity Cure      99  

ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     100  

9.01

   Appointment and Authority      100  

9.02

   Rights as a Lender      100  

9.03

   Exculpatory Provisions      101  

9.04

   Reliance by Administrative Agent      102  

9.05

   Delegation of Duties      102  

9.06

   Resignation of Administrative Agent      102  

9.07

   Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the Sustainability Coordinator and the Other Lenders      104  

9.08

   No Other Duties; Etc      104  

9.09

   Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding      105  

9.10

   Collateral and Guaranty Matters      106  

9.11

   Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements      107  

9.12

   Certain ERISA Matters      107  

9.13

   Recovery of Erroneous Payments      108  

ARTICLE X GUARANTY

     108  

10.01

   The Guaranty      108  

10.02

   Obligations Unconditional      109  

10.03

   Reinstatement      110  

10.04

   Certain Additional Waivers      110  

10.05

   Remedies      110  

 

iii


Table of Contents (continued)

 

     Page  

10.06

   Rights of Contribution      110  

10.07

   Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee      111  

10.08

   Keepwell      111  

ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS

     112  

11.01

   Amendments, Etc      112  

11.02

   Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications      114  

11.03

   No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement      116  

11.04

   Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      116  

11.05

   Payments Set Aside      118  

11.06

   Successors and Assigns      118  

11.07

   Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality      123  

11.08

   Rights of Setoff      124  

11.09

   Interest Rate Limitation      124  

11.10

   Integration; Effectiveness      125  

11.11

   Survival of Representations and Warranties      125  

11.12

   Severability      125  

11.13

   Replacement of Lenders      125  

11.14

   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc      127  

11.15

   Waiver of Jury Trial      128  

11.16

   No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      128  

11.17

   Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts      128  

11.18

   USA PATRIOT Act Notice      130  

11.19

   Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness      130  

11.20

   Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions      130  

11.21

   Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs      131  

 

iv


SCHEDULES

 

2.01    Commitments and Applicable Percentages
2.03    Existing Letters of Credit
5.17    Intellectual Property Matters
5.20(a)    Subsidiaries; Capital Securities
5.20(b)    Loan Parties
6.05    Loans and Advances
6.07    Investments
6.08    Liens
6.19    Affiliate Transactions
6.22    Additional Debt
11.02    Certain Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS   
1.01    Form of Secured Party Designation Notice
2.02    Form of Loan Notice
2.04    Form of Swing Line Loan Notice
2.05    Form of Notice of Loan Prepayment
2.11(a)    Form of Note
3.01    Forms of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates
6.01    Form of Compliance Certificate
6.20    Form of Joinder Agreement
11.06(b)    Form of Assignment and Assumption
11.06(b)(iv)    Form of Administrative Questionnaire

 

 

i


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT is dated as of May 18, 2022 among TREX COMPANY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors (defined herein), the Lenders (defined herein) and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

WHEREAS, the Loan Parties (defined herein) were party to that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of November 5, 2019, as amended (the “Prior Credit Agreement”) with the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent.

WHEREAS, the Loan Parties have requested that the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer make loans and other financial accommodations to the Loan Parties.

WHEREAS, the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer have agreed to amend and restate the Prior Credit Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

WHEREAS, this Agreement is given in amendment to, restatement of and substitution for the Prior Credit Agreement and the execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not constitute a novation of any indebtedness or other obligations owing to the lenders or the Administrative Agent under the Prior Credit Agreement based on facts or events occurring or existing prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE, 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:

Acquisition”, by any Person, means the acquisition by such Person, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of either (a) all or any substantial portion of the property of, or a line of business or division of, another Person or (b) at least a majority of the Voting Stock of another Person, in each case whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person.

Adjustment Acquisition” has the meaning specified in Section 6.03(b).

Adjustment Period” has the meaning specified in Section 6.03(b).

Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Agents Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

1


Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit 11.06(b)(iv) or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

Aggregate Revolving A Commitments” means the Revolving A Commitments of all the Lenders. The initial amount of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is $400 million.

Aggregate Revolving B Commitments” means the Revolving B Commitments of all the Lenders. The initial amount of the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date is $150 million.

Aggregate Revolving Commitments” means the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and/or the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, as applicable.

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, (a) with respect to such Lender’s Revolving A Commitment at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments represented by such Lender’s Revolving A Commitment at such time; provided that if the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving A Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender with respect to its Revolving A Commitment shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination and (b) with respect to such Lender’s Revolving B Commitment at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments represented by such Lender’s Revolving B Commitment at such time; provided that if the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving B Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender with respect to its Revolving B Commitment shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable. The Applicable Percentages shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15.

Applicable Rate” means (a) with respect to Revolving A Loans, for any day, the rate per annum set forth below opposite the applicable Pricing Tier then in effect (based upon the Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio), it being understood that the Applicable Rate for (i) Revolving A Loans that are Base Rate Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Base Rate Loans”, (ii) Revolving A Loans that are Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Term SOFR Loans / Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate / Letter of Credit Fee”, (iii) the Letter of Credit Fee shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Term SOFR Loans / Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate / Letter of Credit Fee”, and (iv) the Revolving A Commitment Fee shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Revolving A Commitment Fee”:

 

 

2


Pricing
Tier

   Consolidated Debt to
Consolidated EBITDA
Ratio
   Term SOFR Loans /
Term SOFR Daily
Floating Rate /
Letter of Credit
Fee
    Base Rate Loans     Revolving A
Commitment
Fee
 

1

   > 2.50:1.00      1.80     0.80     0.20

2

   < 2.50:1.00 but >
2.00:1.00
     1.45     0.45     0.16

3

   < 2.00:1.00 but >
1.50:1.00
     1.20     0.20     0.12

4

   < 1.50:1.0      0.80     0.00     0.08

(b) with respect to Revolving B Loans, for any day, the rate per annum set forth below opposite the applicable Pricing Tier then in effect (based upon the Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio), it being understood that the Applicable Rate for (i) Revolving B Loans that are Base Rate Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Base Rate Loans”, (ii) Revolving B Loans that are Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Term SOFR Loans / Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate / Letter of Credit Fee”, and (iii) the Commitment Fee shall be the percentage set forth under the column “Revolving B Commitment Fee”:

 

Pricing
Tier

   Consolidated Debt to
Consolidated EBITDA
Ratio
   Term SOFR Loans /
Term SOFR Daily
Floating Rate
    Base Rate Loans     Revolving B
Commitment
Fee
 

1

   > 2.50:1.00      2.15     1.15     0.450

2

   < 2.50:1.00 but >
2.00:1.00
     1.80     0.80     0.425

3

   < 2.00:1.00 but >
1.50:1.00
     1.45     0.45     0.400

4

   < 1.50:1.0      1.20     0.20     0.375

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(d); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Tier 1 shall apply, in each case, as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and in each case shall remain in effect until the first Business Day immediately following the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered in accordance with Section 6.01(d), whereupon the Applicable Rate shall apply. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, (i) the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) and (ii) the initial Applicable Rate for Revolving B Loans shall be set at Pricing Tier 4 until the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(d) for the first Fiscal Quarter to occur following the First Amendment Effective Date to the Administrative Agent. Any adjustment to the Applicable Rate shall be applicable to all Credit Extensions then existing or subsequently made or issued.

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.

 

3


Arranger” means BofA Securities, Inc., in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner.

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 11.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit 11.06(b) or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

Arkansas Revenue Bond Transaction” means (a) the issuance by the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas or another conduit bond issuer (the “Arkansas IDA”) of certain revenue bonds in one or more series at one time or from time to time (the “Bonds”) to finance construction, equipping, installing and supplying of the facility to be constructed on the Arkansas Sale Leaseback Property, the cost of issuance of said bonds, (b) the purchase of the Bonds by the Borrower, (c) the execution and delivery by the Borrower or any Guarantor or one or more obligations, promissory notes, bond purchase agreements, loan agreements, bond indentures, trust indentures, official statements and other documents related to the Bonds, (d) the sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance, encumbrance and/or lease of all or any portion of, or interest in the Arkansas Sale Leaseback Property and (e) all related transactions.

Arkansas Sale Leaseback Property” means the real property and fixtures thereon located in Port of Little Rock, Arkansas currently owned by the Borrower and expected to be involved in the Arkansas Revenue Bond Transaction and any personal property located thereon that is subject to the Arkansas Revenue Bond Transaction together with any insurance or condemnation proceeds for any of the foregoing.

Attributable Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, (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, (c) in respect of any Securitization Transaction, the outstanding principal amount of such financing, after taking into account reserve accounts and making appropriate adjustments, determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable judgment and (d) in respect of any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, the present value (discounted in accordance with GAAP at the debt rate implied in the applicable lease) of the obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the term of such lease.

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, including the notes thereto.

Availability Period” means, (a) with respect to the Revolving A Commitments, the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date for Revolving A Loans, (ii) the date of termination of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving A Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02 and (b) with respect to the Revolving B Commitments, the period from and including the First Amendment Effective Date to the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date for Revolving B Loans, (ii) the date of termination of the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving B Loans pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

4


Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (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” and (c) Term SOFR plus 1.0%, subject to the interest rate floors set forth therein; provided that if the Base Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement. 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 “prime 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. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, then the Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Term SOFR Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

5


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.

Capital Lease” means any lease or other arrangement conveying the right to use property that conveys the characteristics of ownership from the lessor to the lessee of such property or pursuant to which the lessee is compelled to purchase the property subject to such lease.

Capital Securities” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of one or more of the L/C Issuer or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer. “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date, (a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (b) Dollar denominated time deposits and certificates of deposit of (i) any Lender, (ii) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 or (iii) any bank whose short term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Bank”), in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition, (c) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s and maturing within six months of the date of acquisition, (d) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with a bank or trust company (including any of the Lenders) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States in which such Person shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least 100% of the amount of the repurchase obligations and (e) investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 which are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000 and the portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character described in the foregoing subdivisions (a) through (d).

Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement that is not prohibited by the terms hereof to provide treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overnight draft, credit cards, debit cards, p-cards (including purchasing cards and commercial cards), funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services.

 

6


Cash Management Bank” means any Person that (a) at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement, is a Lender or the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, (b) in the case of any Cash Management Agreement in effect on or prior to the Closing Date, is, as of the Closing Date or within 30 days thereafter, a Lender or the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent and a party to a Cash Management Agreement or (c) within 30 days after the time it enters into the applicable Cash Management Agreement, becomes a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case, in its capacity as a party to such Cash Management Agreement.

Change in Control” means 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 Capital Securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of Voting Stock of the Borrower representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of all Voting Stock of the Borrower 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

(b) during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Borrower 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.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, (b) any change in any Law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

Closing Date” means the date hereof.

 

7


CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.

Collateral” means a collective reference to all property with respect to which Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and the other holders of the Obligations, are purported to be granted pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Collateral Documents. “Collateral” shall not include the Arkansas Sale Leaseback Property, any other owned or leased real property or fixtures or Excluded Property (as defined in the Security Agreement).

Collateral Documents” means a collective reference to the Security Agreement and other security documents as may be executed and delivered by any Loan Party pursuant to the terms of Section 6.20 or any of the Loan Documents.

Collateral Document Amendments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16.

Commitment” means, as to each Lender, the Revolving A Commitment of such Lender and/or the Revolving B Commitment of such Lender.

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).

Communication” means this Agreement, any Loan Document and any document, any amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to any Loan Document.

Compliance Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(d).

Conforming Changes” means, with respect to the use, administration of or any conventions associated with SOFR or any proposed Successor Rate or Term SOFR, as applicable, any conforming changes to the definitions of “Base Rate”, “SOFR”, “Term SOFR”, “Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate” and “Interest Period”, the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the definitions of “Business Day” and “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices and length of lookback periods) as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such applicable rate(s) and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Document).

Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the total of all Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, (i) eliminating all offsetting debits and credits between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and all other items required to be eliminated in the course of the preparation of consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) subtracting an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate amount of unrestricted and unencumbered (other than liens permitted under Section 6.08(j)) cash and Cash Equivalents held by the Loan Parties on such date of determination and (B) the greater of (x) $125,000,000 and (y) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, all convertible debt shall be stated at its face amount and not the amount otherwise adjusted pursuant to the effect of FASB APB 14-1.

 

8


Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio” means the ratio of Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period of determination, the Consolidated Net Income plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis for such period.

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of measurement, the ratio of (i) the sum of Consolidated EBITDA for the four-quarter period ending on such date to (ii) the sum of consolidated interest expense for such four-quarter period, measured for Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding extraordinary non-cash gains and extraordinary non-cash losses as determined in accordance with GAAP) for such period; provided that Consolidated Net Income shall exclude (a) the net income of any Subsidiary during such period to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary of such income is not permitted by operation of the terms of its Organization Documents or any agreement, instrument or Law applicable to such Subsidiary during such period, (b) any income (or loss) for such period of any Person if such Person is not a Subsidiary, except that the Borrower’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period shall be included in Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Borrower or a Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (and in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not precluded from further distributing such amount to the Borrower as described in clause (b) of this proviso) and (c) non-cash items, including but not limited to warranty, lease and/or LIFO inventory reserves, the impact of convertible bonds, including non-cash interest expenses, fixed assets or other investments, offset by any cash actually paid for any of the foregoing items in clause (c) of this proviso.

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, managing general partners or the equivalent.

Covered Entity” means any of the following: (a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (c) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

Cure Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 8.04.

Daily Simple SOFR” with respect to any applicable determination date means the SOFR published on such date on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source).

 

9


Debt” 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 for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) the maximum amount available to be drawn under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(c) the Swap Termination Value of any Swap Contract;

(d) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

(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) all Attributable Indebtedness;

(g) all obligations to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment prior to the latest Maturity Date hereunder in respect of any Capital Securities or any warrant, right or option to acquire such Capital Security, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends;

(h) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing; and

(i) all Debt of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above 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 joint venturer, unless such Debt is expressly made non-recourse to such Person.

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.

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 (a) with respect to any Obligation for which a rate is specified, a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate otherwise applicable thereto and (b) with respect to any Obligation for which a rate is not specified or available, a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans, then in effect that are Base Rate Loans plus two percent (2%), in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

10


Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.15(d), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Capital Security in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.15(d)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition of any property by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction and any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith, but excluding any Recovery Event.

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the Laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

 

11


EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a Subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Electronic Record” and “Electronic Signature” shall have the meanings assigned to them, respectively, by 15 USC §7006, as it may be amended from time to time.

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Sections 11.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 11.06(b)(iii)).

Environmental Authority” means any foreign, federal, state, local or regional government that exercises any form of jurisdiction or authority under any Environmental Requirement.

Environmental Authorizations” means all licenses, permits, orders, approvals, notices, registrations or other legal prerequisites for conducting the business of a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party required by any Environmental Requirement.

Environmental Judgments and Orders” means all judgments, decrees or orders arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirements, whether or not entered upon consent or written agreements with an Environmental Authority or other entity arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirement, whether or not incorporated in a judgment, decree or order.

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 other governmental restrictions relating to the environment or to emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment, including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.

Environmental Liabilities” means any liabilities, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise, arising from and in any way associated with any Environmental Requirements.

Environmental Notices” means notice from any Environmental Authority or by any other person or entity, of possible or alleged noncompliance with or liability under any Environmental Requirement, including without limitation any complaints, citations, demands or requests from any Environmental Authority or from any other person or entity for correction of any violation of any Environmental Requirement or any investigations concerning any violation of any Environmental Requirement.

Environmental Proceedings” means any judicial or administrative proceedings arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirement.

 

12


Environmental Releases” means releases as defined in CERCLA or under any applicable federal, state or local environmental law or regulation and shall include, in any event and without limitation, any release of petroleum or petroleum related products.

Environmental Requirements” means any legal requirement relating to health, safety or the environment and applicable to a Loan Party, any Subsidiary of a Loan Party or the Properties, including but not limited to any such requirement under CERCLA or similar state legislation and all federal, state and local laws, ordinances, regulations, orders, writs, decrees and common law.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or any successor law and all rules and regulations from time to time promulgated thereunder. Any reference to any provision of ERISA shall also be deemed to be a reference to any successor provision or provisions thereof.

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Sections 414(b) or (c) of the Internal Revenue Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Internal Revenue Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code).

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity 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 insolvent; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any 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; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; (h) 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 or (i) a failure by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to meet all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of a Pension Plan, whether or not waived, or the failure by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan.

ESG” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(a).

ESG Amendment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(a).

ESG Applicable Rate Adjustments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(a).

ESG Pricing Provisions” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(a).

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

 

13


Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Guarantor of, or the grant under a Loan Document by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to Section 10.08 and any other “keepwell”, support or other agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) at the time the Guaranty of such Guarantor, or grant by such Guarantor of a security interest, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply to only the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swap Contracts for which such Guaranty or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the Laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a Law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 11.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

Existing Letters of Credit” means the Letters of Credit set forth on Schedule 2.03.

Facility Termination Date” means the date as of which all of the following shall have occurred: (a) all Commitments have terminated, (b) all Obligations arising under the Loan Documents have been paid in full (other than contingent indemnification obligations), and (c) all Letters of Credit have terminated or expired (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized).

FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the Closing Date (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the Closing Date (or any amended or successor version described above) and any intergovernmental agreement (and related fiscal or regulatory legislation, or related official rules or practices) implementing the foregoing.

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

14


Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated March 16, 2022 among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.

First Amendment Effective Date” means December 22, 2022.

First Amendment Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated November 14, 2022 among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.

Fiscal Quarter” means any fiscal quarter of the Borrower.

Fiscal Year” means any fiscal year of the Borrower.

Foreign Lender” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.

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 activities.

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 agencies with similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the accounting profession) including, without limitation, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied and subject to Section 1.03.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

15


Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Debt 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 Debt or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Debt or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Debt 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 Debt or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Debt 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 Debt or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Debt or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Debt to obtain any such Lien). 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.

Guarantors” means, collectively, (a) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower identified as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages hereto, (b) each Person that joins as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 6.20 or otherwise, (c) with respect to (i) Obligations under any Secured Hedge Agreement, (ii) Obligations under any Secured Cash Management Agreement and (iii) any Swap Obligation of a Specified Loan Party (determined before giving effect to Sections 10.01 and 10.08) under the Guaranty, the Borrower, and (d) the successors and permitted assigns of the foregoing.

Guaranty” means the Guaranty made by the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent and the other holders of the Obligations pursuant to Article X.

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Hedge Bank” means any Person that (i) at the time it enters into a Swap Contract, is a Lender or the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, (ii) in the case of any Swap Contract in effect on or prior to the Closing Date, is, as of the Closing Date or within 30 days thereafter, a Lender or the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent and a party to a Swap Contract or (iii) within 30 days after the time it enters into the applicable Swap Contract, becomes a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case, in its capacity as a party to such Swap Contract; provided, in the case of a Secured Hedge Agreement with a Person who is no longer a Lender (or Affiliate of a Lender), such Person shall be considered a Hedge Bank only through the stated termination date (without extension or renewal) of such Secured Hedge Agreement.

IFRS” means international accounting standards within the meaning of IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements delivered under or referred to herein.

Incremental Facility” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16.

Incremental Facility Amendment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16.

Incremental Revolving A Increase” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16.

Incremental Term Facility” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16.

 

16


Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.

Indemnitee” has the meaning specified in Section 11.04(b).

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

Intercompany Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 6.22.

Interest Payment Date” means (a) as to any Term SOFR 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 Term SOFR 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; (b) as to any Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan, the first Business Day of each month and the Maturity Date; and (c) 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 as to each Term SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date such Term SOFR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan and ending on the date one, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice (in each case, subject to availability); provided that:

(a) 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 such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Capital Securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person, or (c) an Acquisition. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

ISP” means the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).

 

17


Issuer Document” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 6.20 executed and delivered by a Domestic Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.20 or any other documents as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate for such purpose.

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.

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Revolving A Lender, such Revolving A Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Borrowing of Revolving A Loans.

L/C Commitment” means, with respect to the L/C Issuer, the commitment of the L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder. The initial amount of the L/C Issuer’s L/C Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01. The Letter of Credit Commitment of the L/C Issuer may be modified from time to time by agreement between the L/C Issuer and the Borrower, and notified to the Administrative Agent.

L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

L/C Issuer” means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

LCT Election” has the meaning specified in Section 1.07.

LCT End Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.07.

LCT Test Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.07.

Lenders” means each of the Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto, each other Person that becomes a “Lender” in accordance with this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each Revolving B Lender) and their successors and assigns and, unless the context requires otherwise, includes the Swing Line Lender.

 

18


Lender Party” and “Lender Recipient Party” means collectively, the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer.

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, which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires each references to a Lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.

Letter of Credit” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder providing for the payment of cash upon the honoring of a presentation thereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.

Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.

Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(l).

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and (b) $60 million. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments.

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 in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Limited Condition Transaction” means any Permitted Acquisition or permitted Investment, in each case for which the consummation thereof is not conditioned on the availability of financing.

Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving A Loan, a Revolving B Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, each Joinder Agreement, the Collateral Documents, each ESG Amendment, the Fee Letter and the First Amendment Fee Letter (but specifically excluding Secured Hedge Agreements and any Secured Cash Management Agreements).

Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing of Revolving Loans, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, in each case pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.02 or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent) appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.

Master Agreement” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Swap Contract.”

 

19


Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party 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 any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

Maturity Date” means, (a) with respect to Revolving A Loans, May 18, 2027, and (b) with respect to Revolving B Loans, December 22, 2024; provided, however, in each case, that if such date is not a Business Day, the applicable Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

Minimum Collateral Amount” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided to reduce or eliminate Fronting Exposure during the existence of a Defaulting Lender, an amount equal to 102% of the Fronting Exposure of the L/C Issuer with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time, (b) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.14(a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii), an amount equal to 102% of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, and (c) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer in their sole discretion.

Moodys” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

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.

Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 11.01 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

Note” has the meaning specified in Section 2.11(a).

Notice of Intent to Cure” has the meaning specified in Section 8.04.

Notice of Loan Prepayment” means a notice of prepayment with respect to a Loan, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.05 or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Borrower.

Obligations” means with respect to each Loan Party (i) all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, Letter of Credit, and (ii) all obligations of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary owing to a Cash Management Bank or a Hedge Bank in respect of Secured Cash Management Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, in each case identified in clauses (i) and (ii) whether direct or indirect (including those

 

20


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 any Loan Party 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; provided, however, that the “Obligations” of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party.

OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

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 or limited liability company agreement (or equivalent or comparable documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (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 (or equivalent or comparable documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction) and (d) with respect to all entities, any agreement, 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 (or equivalent or comparable documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction).

Organizational Action” means with respect to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other legally authorized incorporated or unincorporated entity, any corporate, organizational or partnership action (including any required shareholder, member or partner action), or other similar official action, as applicable, taken by such entity.

Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 3.06).

Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to any Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of any Loans occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(d).

Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(d).

 

21


PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA regarding minimum funding standards with respect to Pension Plans and set forth in Sections 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Internal Revenue Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.

Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Borrower and any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Permitted Acquisition” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04.

Permitted Liens” means, at any time, Liens in respect of property of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary permitted to exist at such time pursuant to the terms of Section 6.08.

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 within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (including a Pension Plan), maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

Pro Forma Basis” means, with respect to any transaction, that for purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.03, such transaction (including the incurrence of any Debt therewith) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the most recent four fiscal quarter period preceding the date of such transaction for which financial statements were required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b). In connection with the foregoing, (a) with respect to any Disposition or Recovery Event, (i) income statement and cash flow statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property disposed of shall be excluded to the extent relating to any period occurring prior to the date of such transaction and (ii) Debt which is retired shall be excluded and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of the applicable period and (b) with respect to any Acquisition, (i) income statement and cash flow statement items attributable to the Person or property acquired shall be included to the extent relating to any period applicable in such calculations to the extent (A) such items are not otherwise included in such income statement and cash flow statement items for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP or in accordance with any defined terms set forth in Section 1.01 and (B) such items are supported by financial statements or other information reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) any Debt incurred or assumed by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary (including the Person or property acquired) in connection with such transaction and any Debt of the Person or property acquired which is not retired in connection with such transaction (A) shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period and (B) if such Debt has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Debt as at the relevant date of determination.

Properties” means all real property owned, leased or otherwise used or occupied by a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party. “Property” means any one of such Properties.

 

22


PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01(n).

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning specified in Section 11.21.

Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, at any time, each Loan Party with total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or that qualifies at such time as an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Recipient” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

Recovery Event” means any loss of, damage to or destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking for public use of, any property of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary.

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(c).

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the FRB, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors, consultants, service providers and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the thirty day notice period has been waived.

Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Loans, a Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

Required Lenders” means, at any time, (a) when there are more than three unaffiliated Lenders that are not Defaulting Lenders, Lenders having Total Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders and (b) when there are three or fewer unaffiliated Lenders that are not Defaulting Lenders, at least two Lenders having Total Credit Exposure representing 65% of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders. The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; provided that the amount of any participation in any Swing Line Loan and Unreimbursed Amounts that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the Swing Line Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, in making such determination.

Rescindable Amount” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.12(b)(ii).

 

23


Resignation Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.06.

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party, and, solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party. To the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, each Responsible Officer will provide an incumbency certificate and appropriate authorization documentation, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Restricted Payment” means (i) any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Capital Securities of any Person (except dividends payable solely in shares of such Person’s Capital Securities); or (ii) any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of (a) any shares of Capital Securities of any Person (except shares acquired upon the conversion thereof into other shares of its Capital Securities) or (b) any option, warrant or other right to acquire shares of Capital Securities of any such Person.

Revolving A Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving A Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a), (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) 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 or in any documentation executed by such Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, as applicable as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Revolving A Commitment Fee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(a).

Revolving A Lender” means a Lender with a Revolving A Commitment.

Revolving A Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).

Revolving B Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving B Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b), 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.

Revolving B Commitment Fee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(c).

Revolving B Lender” means a Lender with a Revolving B Commitment.

Revolving B Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).

 

24


Revolving Commitment” means a Revolving A Commitment and/or a Revolving B Commitment, as applicable.

Revolving Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of its outstanding Revolving Loans and, with respect to each Revolving A Lender, such Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans at such time.

Revolving Loan” means a Revolving A Loan and/or a Revolving B Loan, as applicable.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to any Person, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby such Person shall sell or transfer any property used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred.

Sanction(s)” means any sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government, including OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant sanctions authority.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement that is entered into by and between any Loan Party or any Subsidiary and any Cash Management Bank with respect to such Cash Management Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, a holder of Obligations in respect of Secured Cash Management Agreements shall be subject to the last paragraph of Section 8.03 and Section 9.11.

Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract that is entered into by and between any Loan Party or any Subsidiary and any Hedge Bank with respect to such Swap Contract. For the avoidance of doubt, a holder of Obligations in respect of Secured Hedge Agreements shall be subject to the last paragraph of Section 8.03 and Section 9.11.

Secured Party Designation Notice” shall mean a notice from any Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender substantially in the form of Exhibit 1.01.

Securitization Transaction” means, with respect to any Person, any financing transaction or series of financing transactions (including factoring arrangements) pursuant to which such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person may sell, convey or otherwise transfer, or grant a security interest in, accounts, payments, receivables, rights to future lease payments or residuals or similar rights to payment to a special purpose subsidiary or affiliate of such Person.

Security Agreement” means the Security and Pledge Agreement dated as of even date herewith, by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, to be executed and delivered in connection herewith.

SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator).

 

25


SOFR Adjustment” with respect to Daily Simple SOFR means 0.10% (10.00 basis points); and with respect to Term SOFR means 0.10% (10.00 basis points) for an Interest Period of one-month’s duration, 0.15% (15.00 basis points) for an Interest Period of three-month’s duration, 0.25% (25.00 basis points) for an Interest Period of six-months’ duration.

Solvent” or “Solvency” means, with respect to any Person as of a particular date, that on such date (a) such Person is able to pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business, (b) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature in the ordinary course of business, (c) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute unreasonably small capital, (d) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person and (e) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Specified Equity Contribution” has the meaning specified in Section 8.04.

Specified Event of Default” means an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (g) or (h).

Specified Loan Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.08.

Subordinated Debt” means any other Debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary which by its terms is subordinated to the Obligations in a manner and to an extent reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Subsequent Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section 1.07.

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 Voting Stock is 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.

Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).

Supported QFC” has the meaning specified in Section 11.21.

Sustainability Coordinator” means BofA Securities, Inc., in its capacity as the sustainability coordinator.

Sustainability Linked Loan Principles” means the Sustainability Linked Loan Principles (as published in May 2021 by the Loan Market Association, Asia Pacific Loan Market Association and Loan Syndications & Trading Association).

Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward 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

 

26


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 Obligation” means with respect to any Guarantor any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

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) 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 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 Borrowing of Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.04 or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and (b) $20 million. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Revolving A 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 Person but which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Laws to such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term SOFR” means:

 

27


(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto, in each case, plus the SOFR Adjustment for such Interest Period; and

(b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate with a term of one month commencing that day;

provided that if Term SOFR determined in accordance with either of the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) of this definition would otherwise be less than zero, Term SOFR shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate” means a fluctuating rate of interest, which can change on each Business Day, equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate, two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, with a term equivalent to one (1) month beginning on that date; provided, that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then the SOFR Daily Floating Rate means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first (1st) U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto, in each case, plus the SOFR Adjustment; provided, further that if the SOFR Daily Floating Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this agreement.

Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate.

Term SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Term SOFR.

Term SOFR Screen Rate” means the forward-looking SOFR term rate administered by CME (or any successor administrator satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time).

Total Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Commitments of such Lender at such time, the outstanding Loans of such Lender at such time and such Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans at such time.

Total Revolving A Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving A Loans, all Swing Line Loans and all L/C Obligations.

Total Revolving B Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving B Loans.

Total Revolving Outstandings” means the sum of Total Revolving A Outstandings plus Total Revolving B Outstandings.

Type” means, with respect to any Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan, a Term SOFR Loan or a Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia; provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth of Virginia, “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

 

28


UCP” means the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).

UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person subject to IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(f).

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any Business Day, except any Business Day on which any of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the New York Stock Exchange or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is not open for business because such day is a legal holiday under the federal laws of the United States or the laws of the State of New York, as applicable.

U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code.

U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning specified in Section 11.21.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(B)(3).

Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, Capital Securities issued by such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Debt at any date, the number of years (and/or portion thereof) obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the product obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Debt.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

 

29


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 definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Loan Document or Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, modified, extended, restated, replaced or supplemented from time to time (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “hereto,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, Preliminary Statements of and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory rules, regulations, orders and provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such Law and any reference to any Law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such Law or regulation as amended, modified, extended, restated, replaced or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all assets and properties, tangible and intangible, real and personal, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

(b) 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.”

(c) 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.

(d) Any reference herein to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).

 

1.03

Accounting Terms.

 

30


(a) Generally. 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, (i) Debt of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded and (ii) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under FASB ASC Topic 825 “Financial Instruments” (or any other financial accounting standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein. For purposes of determining the amount of any outstanding Debt, no effect shall be given to any election by the Borrower to measure an item of Debt using fair value (as permitted by Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825–10–25 (formerly known as FASB 159) or any similar accounting standard).

(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP (including the adoption of IFRS) 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. Without limiting the foregoing, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with that reflected in the Audited Financial Statements for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding any change in GAAP relating thereto, unless the parties hereto shall enter into a mutually acceptable amendment addressing such changes, as provided for above.

(c) Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Borrower is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.

(d) Calculations. Notwithstanding the above, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that all calculations of the financial covenants in Section 6.03 (including for purposes of determining the Applicable Rate) shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to (i) any Disposition of all of the Capital Securities of, or all or substantially all of the assets of, a Subsidiary, (ii) any Disposition of a line of business or division of any Loan Party or Subsidiary, or (iii) any Acquisition, in each case, occurring during the applicable period.

 

31


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

Times of Day; Rates.

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable). The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to any reference rate referred to herein or with respect to any rate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the selection of such rate and any related spread or other adjustment) that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any such rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions or other activities that affect any reference rate referred to herein, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or any related spread or other adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any reference rate referred to herein or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing), in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or other action or omission related to or affecting the selection, determination, or calculation of any rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

 

1.06

Letter of Credit Amounts.

Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

1.07

Limited Condition Transactions.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in connection with any action required to be taken in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction (including for purposes of an Incremental Term Facility but expressly excluding (x) an Incremental Revolving A Increase or (y) Borrowing of Revolving Loans or Swing Line Loans), for purposes of (i) calculating the Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio and other financial calculations, (ii) determining compliance with representations, warranties, Defaults or Events of Default or (iii) testing availability under covenant baskets set forth in this Agreement (including covenant baskets measured as a percentage of Consolidated EBITDA), in each case, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination shall be deemed to be the date the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into (the “LCT Test Date”), and if, after giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to the Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions required to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence or repayment of Debt and the use of proceeds

 

32


thereof) as of the LCT Test Date, the Borrower or its Subsidiary would have been permitted to take such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with any applicable ratio, test or basket, such ratio, test or basket shall be deemed to have been complied with; provided, that the LCT Test Date shall not occur more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the closing date of the Limited Condition Transaction; provided, further, that with respect to any determination of whether a Default or Event of Default condition is satisfied, such condition shall only be satisfied if there is no continuing Default or Event of Default as of the LCT Test Date and no Specified Event of Default at the time the applicable Limited Condition Transaction is consummated. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has made an LCT Election and any of the ratios, tests or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such ratio, test or basket, including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such baskets, tests or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations. If the Borrower has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any calculation of any ratio, test or basket availability with respect to any transaction required to be entered into in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, for purposes of determining whether any such required transaction is permitted under this Agreement, any such ratio, test or basket shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and such other required transaction (including any incurrence of Debt and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated. If the Borrower has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any calculation of any other ratio, test or basket availability with respect to the incurrence of Debt or Liens, the making of Restricted Payments, the making of any permitted Investment, mergers, the conveyance, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Loan Parties, or the prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other satisfaction of Debt, in each case, not required to be entered into in connection with the applicable Limited Condition Transaction (a “Subsequent Transaction”) following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earlier of (x) the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated or (y) the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction (or the date on which the Borrower demonstrates to the Administrative Agent that it has elected not to pursue such Limited Condition Transaction) (such earlier date, the “LCT End Date”), for purposes of determining whether such Subsequent Transaction is permitted under this Agreement, any such ratio, test or basket shall be required to be satisfied on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Debt and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated (and, if such Subsequent Transaction is the making of a Restricted Payment, assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith have not been consummated).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the proceeds of any Incremental Term Facility will be used to consummate a Limited Condition Transaction and the Borrower has made an LCT Election with respect to such Limited Condition Transaction, (x) the condition set forth in Section 2.16(b), if agreed by the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Facility may be tested and satisfied as of the LCT Test Date so long as upon the effectiveness of such Incremental Term Facility, no Specified Event of Default shall exist, (y) the condition set forth in Section 2.16(c), if agreed by the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Facility, may be tested and satisfied as of the LCT Test Date so long as upon the effectiveness of such Incremental Term Facility, customary “specified representations” shall be true and correct in all material respects and, if such Limited Condition Transaction is a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment, the “specified purchase agreement representations” in respect of such acquisition or Investment, shall be true

 

33


and correct to the extent that the Borrower or any of its Affiliates has the right (taking into account any applicable cure provisions) to terminate its or such Affiliate’s obligations under the relevant acquisition agreement or to decline to consummate such Permitted Acquisition or Investment as a result of a breach of such specified purchase agreement representations, and (z) the condition set forth in Section 2.16(g)(iv) may, at the Borrower’s election, be tested and satisfied as of the LCT Test Date and will not be tested upon the effectiveness of such Incremental Term Facility (but may be recalculated and retested, at the option of the Borrower, at such time).

ARTICLE II

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

2.01

Revolving Loans.

(a) Revolving A Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving A Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Revolving A Loan”) to the Borrower in Dollars from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period for the Revolving A Commitments in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Revolving A Lender’s Revolving A Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Borrowing of Revolving A Loans, (i) the Total Revolving A Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and (ii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving A Lender shall not exceed the lesser of such Revolving A Lender’s Revolving A Commitment and such Revolving A Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments. Within the limits of each Revolving A Lender’s Revolving A Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(a), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(a). Revolving A Loans may be Base Rate Loans, Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, or a combination thereof, as further provided herein; provided, however, any Borrowing made on the Closing Date or any of the two (2) Business Days following the Closing Date shall be made as Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans unless, in respect of Term SOFR Loans (with an Interest Period of one, three or six months) only, the Borrower delivers an appropriate funding indemnity letter not less than two (2) Business Days prior to the date of such Borrowing.

(b) Revolving B Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving B Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Revolving B Loan”) to the Borrower in Dollars from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period for the Revolving B Commitments in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Revolving B Lender’s Revolving B Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Borrowing of Revolving B Loans, (i) the Total Revolving B Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments and (ii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving B Lender shall not exceed the lesser of such Revolving B Lender’s Revolving B Commitment and such Revolving B Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments. Within the limits of each Revolving B Lender’s Revolving B Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(b), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(b). Revolving B Loans may be Base Rate Loans, Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, or a combination thereof, as further provided herein.

 

34


2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone, or (B) a Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Loan Notice. Each such Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) two Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of, Term SOFR Loans or of any conversion of Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Term SOFR 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 Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, and (vi) whether the Loans to be borrowed are Revolving A Loans or Revolving B Loans. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of a Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower fails to specify whether the Loans to be borrowed are Revolving A Loans or Revolving B Loans, then the applicable Loans shall be made as Revolving A 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 Term SOFR Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans in any 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 Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each applicable Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable 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 Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, 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 Loan Notice with respect to a Borrowing of Revolving Loans is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings and second, shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.

 

35


(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Term SOFR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of the Interest Period for such Term SOFR Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Term SOFR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the outstanding Term SOFR Loans be converted immediately to Base Rate Loans.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Term SOFR Loans upon determination of such interest rate. 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 Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than eight Interest Periods in effect with respect to all Loans.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all of the portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Lender.

(g) With respect to SOFR or Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

(h) This Section 2.02 shall not apply to Swing Line Loans.

 

2.03

Letters of Credit.

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, in addition to the Loans provided for in Section 2.01, the Borrower may request that the L/C Issuer, in reliance on the agreements of the Revolving A Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, issue, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period for the Revolving A Commitments, Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars for its own account or the account of any of its Subsidiaries in such form as is acceptable to the L/C Issuer in its reasonable determination. Letters of Credit issued hereunder shall constitute utilization of the Revolving A Commitments.

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Extension, Reinstatement or Renewal.

(i) To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment of the terms and conditions, extension of the terms and conditions, extension of the expiration date, or reinstatement of amounts paid, or renewal of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall deliver (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the L/C Issuer) to the L/C Issuer and to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two (2) Business Days (or such later date and time as the

 

36


Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, extended, reinstated or renewed, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with clause (d) of this Section 2.03), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, extend, reinstate or renew such Letter of Credit. If requested by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application and reimbursement agreement on the L/C Issuer’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application and reimbursement agreement or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the L/C Issuer relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

(ii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application (or the amendment of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit shall permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon by the Borrower and the L/C Issuer at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Revolving A Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiration date not later than the date permitted pursuant to Section 2.03(d); provided, that the L/C Issuer shall not (A) permit any such extension if (1) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its extended form under the terms hereof (except that the expiration date may be extended to a date that is no more than one year from the then-current expiration date) or (2) it has received notice (which may be in writing or by telephone (if promptly confirmed in writing)) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (B) be obligated to permit such extension if it has received notice (which may be in writing or by telephone (if promptly confirmed in writing)) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving A Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that permits the automatic reinstatement of all or a portion of the stated amount thereof after any drawing thereunder (each, an “Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit”). Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C

 

37


Issuer to permit such reinstatement. Once an Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit has been issued, except as provided in the following sentence, the Revolving A Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to reinstate all or a portion of the stated amount thereof in accordance with the provisions of such Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit permits the L/C Issuer to decline to reinstate all or any portion of the stated amount thereof after a drawing thereunder by giving notice of such non-reinstatement within a specified number of days after such drawing (the “Non-Reinstatement Deadline”), the L/C Issuer shall not permit such reinstatement if it has received a notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Reinstatement Deadline (A) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such reinstatement or (B) from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving A Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied (treating such reinstatement as an L/C Credit Extension for purposes of this clause) and, in each case, directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such reinstatement.

(c) Limitations on Amounts, Issuance and Amendment. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, extended, reinstated or renewed only if (and upon issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal (w) the aggregate amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer shall not exceed its L/C Commitment, (x) the aggregate L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit, (y) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving A Lender shall not exceed its Revolving A Commitment and (z) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

(i) The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing the Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

(B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $10,000;

 

38


(D) any Revolving A Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (in its reasonable discretion) with the Borrower or such Revolving A Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.15(b) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which the L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion; or

(E) the Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder.

(ii) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to the Letter of Credit.

(d) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall have a stated expiration date no later than the earlier of (ix) the date twelve months after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any extension of the expiration date thereof, whether automatic or by amendment, twelve months after the then current expiration date of such Letter of Credit) and (x) the date that is twelve months after the Maturity Date for Revolving A Loans.

(e) Participations.

(i) By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount or extending the expiration date thereof), and without any further action on the part of the L/C Issuer or the Revolving A Lenders, the L/C Issuer hereby grants to each Revolving A Lender, and each Revolving A Lender hereby acquires from the L/C Issuer, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving A Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. Each Revolving A Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this clause (e) in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving A Commitments.

(ii) In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving A Lender hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for account of the L/C Issuer, such Revolving A Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit made by the L/C Issuer not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the notice provided by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving A Lenders pursuant to Section 2.03(f) until such disbursement is reimbursed by the Borrower or at any time after any reimbursement payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason, including after the Maturity Date for Revolving A Loans. Such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each such payment shall be made in the same manner as provided in Section 2.02 with respect to Loans made by such Revolving A Lender (and Section 2.02 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders pursuant to this Section 2.03), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly

 

39


pay to the L/C Issuer the amounts so received by it from the Revolving A Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03(f), the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the L/C Issuer or, to the extent that the Revolving A Lenders have made payments pursuant to this clause (e) to reimburse the L/C Issuer, then to such Revolving A Lenders and the L/C Issuer as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving A Lender pursuant to this clause (e) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit shall not constitute a Revolving A Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such disbursement.

(iii) Each Revolving A Lender further acknowledges and agrees that its participation in each Letter of Credit will be automatically adjusted to reflect such Revolving A Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit at each time such Revolving A Lender’s Revolving A Commitment is amended pursuant to the operation of Section 2.16, as a result of an assignment in accordance with Section 11.06 or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement.

(iv) If any Revolving A Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Revolving A Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(e), then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving A 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 L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Revolving A Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Revolving A Lender’s Revolving A Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving A Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (e)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(f) Reimbursement. If the L/C Issuer shall make any disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer in respect of such disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such disbursement not later than 12:00 noon on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice of such disbursement, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m. or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time, the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.02 or Section 2.04 that such payment be financed with a Borrowing of Revolving A Loans that are Base Rate Loans or Swing Line Loan in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Borrowing of Revolving A Loans that are Base Rate Loans or Swing Line Loan. If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving A Lender of the applicable disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof (the “Unreimbursed Amount”) and such Revolving A Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, each Revolving A Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount pursuant to Section 2.03(e)(ii), subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments. Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(f) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

40


(g) Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse disbursements as provided in clause (f) of this Section 2.03 shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any Letter of Credit, or any term or provision herein or therein;

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement in such draft or other document being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv) waiver by the L/C Issuer of any requirement that exists for the L/C Issuer’s protection and not the protection of the Borrower or any waiver by the L/C Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice the Borrower;

(v) honor of a demand for payment presented electronically even if such Letter of Credit required that demand be in the form of a draft;

(vi) any payment made by the L/C Issuer in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under such Letter of Credit if presentation after such date is authorized by the UCC, the ISP or the UCP, as applicable;

(vii) payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply strictly with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

(viii) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.03, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.

 

41


(h) Examination. The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

(i) Liability. None of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, or any of their Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit by the L/C Issuer or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms, any error in translation or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the L/C Issuer; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the L/C Issuer from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the L/C Issuer’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the L/C Issuer (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the L/C Issuer shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination, and that:

(i) the L/C Issuer may replace a purportedly lost, stolen, or destroyed original Letter of Credit or missing amendment thereto with a certified true copy marked as such or waive a requirement for its presentation;

(ii) the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and may make payment upon presentation of documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit and without regard to any non-documentary condition in such Letter of Credit;

(iii) the L/C Issuer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to decline to accept such documents and to make such payment if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and

(iv) this sentence shall establish the standard of care to be exercised by the L/C Issuer when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof (and the parties hereto hereby waive, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, any standard of care inconsistent with the foregoing).

Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, or any of their Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of (A) any presentation that includes forged or fraudulent documents or that is otherwise affected by the fraudulent, bad faith, or illegal conduct of the beneficiary or other Person, (B) the L/C Issuer declining to take-up documents and make payment, (1) against documents that are fraudulent, forged, or for other reasons by which that it is entitled not to honor, or (2) following a Borrower’s waiver of discrepancies with respect to such documents or request for honor of such documents or (C) the L/C Issuer retaining proceeds of a Letter of Credit based on an apparently applicable attachment order, blocking regulation, or third-party claim notified to the L/C Issuer.

 

42


(j) Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued by it, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible to the Borrower for, and the L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against the Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the L/C Issuer required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where the L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade—International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

(k) Benefits. The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Revolving A Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.

(l) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving A Lender in accordance, subject to Section 2.15, with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate for Revolving A Loans that are Term SOFR Loans times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Maturity Date for Revolving A Loans and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

(m) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Maturity Date for Revolving A Loans and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of

 

43


Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

(n) Disbursement Procedures. The L/C Issuer for any Letter of Credit shall, within the time allowed by applicable Laws or the specific terms of the Letter of Credit following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under such Letter of Credit. The L/C Issuer shall promptly after such examination notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing of such demand for payment if the L/C Issuer has made or will make a disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the L/C Issuer and the Revolving A Lenders with respect to any such disbursement.

(o) Interim Interest. If the L/C Issuer for any Letter of Credit shall make any disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such disbursement in full on the date such disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to Base Rate Loans; provided that if the Borrower fails to reimburse such disbursement when due pursuant to clause (f) of this Section 2.03, then Section 2.08(b) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this clause (o) shall be for account of the L/C Issuer, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to clause (f) of this Section 2.03 to reimburse the L/C Issuer shall be for account of such Revolving A Lender to the extent of such payment.

(p) Replacement of the L/C Issuer. The L/C Issuer may be replaced at any time by written agreement between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced L/C Issuer and the successor L/C Issuer. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the L/C Issuer. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(m). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor L/C Issuer shall have all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued by it thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “L/C Issuer” shall be deemed to include such successor or any previous L/C Issuer, or such successor and all previous L/C Issuer, as the context shall require. After the replacement of the L/C Issuer hereunder, the replaced L/C Issuer shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

(q) Cash Collateralization.

(i) If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders demanding the deposit of Cash Collateral pursuant to this clause (q), the Borrower shall immediately deposit into an account established and maintained on the books and records of the Administrative Agent (the “Collateral Account”) an amount in cash equal to 102% of the total L/C Obligations as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, provided that the obligation to deposit such Cash Collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand

 

44


or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clauses (g) or (h) of Section 8.01. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing or clause (d) of this Section 2.03 or Section 2.14, if any L/C Obligations remain outstanding after the expiration date specified in said clause (d) or on the Maturity Date for Revolving A Loans, the Borrower shall immediately deposit into the Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to 102% of such L/C Obligations as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

(ii) The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over the Collateral Account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in the Collateral Account. Moneys in the Collateral Account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the L/C Issuer for disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, together with related fees, costs, and customary processing charges, and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the L/C Obligations at such time or, if the maturity of the Revolving A Loans has been accelerated, be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of Cash Collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

(r) Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse, indemnify and compensate the L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of the Borrower. The Borrower irrevocably waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

(s) Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

 

2.04

Swing Line Loans.

(a) Swing Line Facility. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving A Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, may in its sole discretion make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Borrower in Dollars from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period for the Revolving A Commitments 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 Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving A Loans and L/C Obligations of the Revolving A Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount

 

45


of such Revolving A Lender’s Revolving A Commitment; provided, however, that (i) after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (A) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, (B) the Total Revolving A Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and (C) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving A Lender shall not exceed such Revolving A Lender’s Revolving A Commitment and such Revolving A Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments, (ii) the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan and (iii) the Swing Line Lender shall not be under any obligation to make any Swing Line Loan if it shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that it has, or by such Credit Extension may have, Fronting Exposure. 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 Revolving A 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 Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Borrowing of Swing Line Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) by a Swing Line Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a Swing Line Loan Notice. Each such Swing Line Loan Notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum principal amount of $100,000 and integral multiples of $50,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any 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 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Borrowing of Swing Line Loans (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first 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 3:00 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.

(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving A Lender make a Revolving A Loan that is a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Revolving A Lender’s Applicable Percentage 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 Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the 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 Revolving A Commitments and the conditions set forth

 

46


in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving A Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swing Line Loan) 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 Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Revolving A Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Revolving A Loan that is a Base Rate 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 Borrowing of Revolving A Loans in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Revolving A Loans that are Base Rate 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 Revolving A Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Revolving A 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 Revolving A 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 Revolving A 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 Revolving A 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 greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Revolving A Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Revolving A Lender’s Revolving A Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Revolving A Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(iv) Each Revolving A Lender’s obligation to make Revolving A 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 setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that 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 Revolving A Lender’s obligation to make Revolving 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.

 

47


(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after any Revolving A 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 Revolving A Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof 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 11.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Revolving A Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage 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. The obligations of the Revolving A Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(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 Revolving A Lender funds its Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Revolving A Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage 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) Voluntary Prepayments of Loans.

(i) The Borrower may, upon delivery of a Notice of Loan Prepayment to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (A) such notice must be in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent and be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (1) two Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Term SOFR Loans and (2) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans; (B) any such prepayment of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding); and (C) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof (or, 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 Loans to be prepaid and, if Term SOFR Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans and whether the Revolving Loans to be prepaid are Revolving A Loans and/or Revolving B Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the

 

48


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 Term SOFR Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.15, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

(ii) Swing Line Loans. 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 $100,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal thereof then outstanding). 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.

(b) Mandatory Prepayments of Loans.

(i) Revolving A Commitments. If for any reason the Total Revolving A Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Revolving A Loans and/or Swing Line Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans the Total Revolving A Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments then in effect. All amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) shall be applied first, ratably to the L/C Borrowings and the Swing Line Loans, second, to the outstanding Revolving A Loans, and, third, to Cash Collateralize the remaining L/C Obligations.

(ii) Revolving B Commitments. If for any reason the Total Revolving B Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Revolving B Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

(iii) Application of Mandatory Prepayments. Within the parameters of the applications set forth above, prepayments shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans, second to Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans and then to Term SOFR Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities. All prepayments under this Section 2.05(b) shall be subject to Section 3.05, but otherwise without premium or penalty, and shall be accompanied by interest on the principal amount prepaid through the date of prepayment.

 

2.06

Optional Termination or Reduction of Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and/or the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and/or the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m.

 

49


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 (A) the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving A Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments or (B) the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving B Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Revolving A 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 Revolving A Commitments and/or Aggregate Revolving B Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments shall be applied to the Revolving A Commitment of each Revolving A Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. Any reduction of the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments shall be applied to the Revolving B Commitment of each Revolving B Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees in respect of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments or the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, as the case may be, shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

2.07

Repayment of Loans.

(a) Revolving Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Revolving A Lenders on the Maturity Date for the Revolving A Loans the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving A Loans outstanding on such date. The Borrower shall repay to the Revolving B Lenders on the Maturity Date for the Revolving B Loans the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving B Loans outstanding on such date.

(b) Swing Line Loans. The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten (10) Business Days after such Swing Line Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date for Revolving A Loans.

 

2.08

Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Term SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the sum of Term SOFR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; (iii) each Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate plus the Applicable Rate; 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 the sum of the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan 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.

 

50


(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) 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, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, 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.

(iii) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists (other than as set forth in clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above), 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.

(iv) 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.

In addition to certain fees described in subsections (h) and (i) of Section 2.03:

(a) Revolving A Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Revolving A Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee (the “Revolving A Commitment Fee”) equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Rate times (ii) the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments exceed the sum of (y) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving A Loans and (z) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15. For the avoidance of doubt, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans shall not be counted towards or considered usage of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments for purposes of determining the Revolving A Commitment Fee. The Revolving A Commitment Fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period for the Revolving A Commitments, 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 last day of the Availability Period for the Revolving A Commitments. The Revolving A Commitment Fee shall be calculated 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) Other Fees.

(i) 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 and the First Amendment Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

51


(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

(c) Revolving B Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Revolving B Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee (the “Revolving B Commitment Fee”) equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Rate times (ii) the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments exceed the Outstanding Amount of Revolving B Loans, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15. The Revolving B Commitment Fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period for the Revolving B Commitments, 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 First Amendment Effective Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period for the Revolving B Commitments. The Revolving B Commitment Fee shall be calculated 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.

 

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

(a) All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to Term SOFR) 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. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(b) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Borrower or for any other reason, the Borrower or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio as calculated by the Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after 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, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under this Agreement. The Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

52


2.11

Evidence of Debt.

(a) The Credit Extensions 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 Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register in accordance with Section 11.06(c). The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions 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 Register, the Register 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 promissory note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each such promissory note shall be in the form of Exhibit 2.11(a) (a “Note”). Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse 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) above, 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 Letters of Credit and 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; Administrative Agents Clawback.

(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made free and clear of and 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 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (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 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. 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.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and

 

53


the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. With respect to any payment that the Administrative Agent makes for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder as to which the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (1) the Borrower has not in fact made such payment; (2) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by the Borrower (whether or not then owed); or (3) the Administrative agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment; then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. 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 Credit Extension 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.

(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 11.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 11.04(c) 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 Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 11.04(c).

 

54


(e) Funding Source. 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 by Lenders.

If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (B) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.14, or (C) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

 

2.14

Cash Collateral.

(a) Certain Credit Support Events. If (i) the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, (ii) as of the Maturity Date for Revolving A Loans, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, (iii) the Borrower shall be required to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.03(q), 2.05 or 8.02(c) or (iv) there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower shall immediately (in the case of clause (iii) above) or within one Business Day (in all other cases) following any request by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer provide Cash Collateral in an amount not less than the applicable Minimum Collateral Amount (determined in the case of Cash Collateral provided pursuant to clause (iv) above, after giving effect to Section 2.15(b) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

 

55


(b) Grant of Security Interest. The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.14(c). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer as herein provided (other than Liens permitted under Section 6.08), or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency. All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America. The Borrower shall pay on demand therefor from time to time all customary account opening, activity and other administrative fees and charges in connection with the maintenance and disbursement of Cash Collateral.

(c) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.14 or Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.15 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

(d) Release. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or to secure other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 11.06(b)(vi))) or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, (x) any such release shall be without prejudice to, and any disbursement or other transfer of Cash Collateral shall be and remain subject to, any other Lien conferred under the Loan Documents and the other applicable provisions of the Loan Documents, and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the L/C Issuer may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

 

2.15

Defaulting Lenders.

(a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(i) Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and Section 11.01.

 

56


(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.14; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.14; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.15(b). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.15(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees.

(A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee payable under Section 2.09 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.14.

 

57


(C) With respect to any Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (B) above, the Borrower shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (b) below, (y) pay to the L/C Issuer the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

(b) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Revolving A Lenders that are Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages in respect of the Revolving A Commitments (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving A Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any such Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving A Commitment. Subject to Section 11.20, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

(c) Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Loans. If the reallocation described in clause (b) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under applicable Law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.14.

(d) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.15(b)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties (including the Borrower), no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

58


2.16

Incremental Facilities.

The Borrower may from time to time add one or more tranches of term loans or increase an outstanding tranche of term loan (each an “Incremental Term Facility”), and/or increase the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments (each such increase, an “Incremental Revolving A Increase”; each Incremental Term Facility and each Incremental Revolving A Increase are collectively referred to as, an “Incremental Facility”) to this Agreement at the option of the Borrower by an agreement in writing entered into by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and each Person (including any existing Lender) that agrees to provide a portion of such Incremental Facility (each an “Incremental Facility Amendment”); provided that:

(a) the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Facilities requested after the First Amendment Effective Date shall not exceed: (i) at any time Revolving B Commitments are outstanding or Total Revolving B Outstandings are greater than $0, $50,000,000 and (ii) after the Revolving B Commitments have been terminated and the Total Revolving B Outstandings are $0, the greater of (x) $200,000,000 and (y) 50% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b);

(b) subject to Section 1.07, no Default shall exist on the effective date of such Incremental Facility or would exist after giving effect to such Incremental Facility;

(c) subject to Section 1.07, the representations and warranties of each Loan Party 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 in all material respects on and as of the effective date of such Incremental Facility, 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;

(d) no existing Lender shall be under any obligation to provide any commitment to any Incremental Facility and any such decision whether to provide a commitment to an Incremental Facility hall be in such Lender’s sole and absolute discretion;

(e) each Incremental Facility shall be in an aggregate principal amount of at least $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof;

(f) each Person providing a commitment to an Incremental Facility shall qualify as an Eligible Assignee;

(g) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent:

(i) a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the date of such Incremental Facility signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (A) certifying and attaching resolutions adopted by the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such Loan Party approving such Incremental Facility and (B) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Incremental Facility, the conditions in clause (b) and (c) above are true and correct;

(ii) such amendments to the Collateral Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to cause the Collateral Documents to secure the Obligations after giving effect to such Incremental Facility (collectively “Collateral Document Amendments”);

 

59


(iii) opinions of legal counsel to the Loan Parties in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (including each Person providing a commitment to an Incremental Facility), dated as of the effective date of such Incremental Facility Amendment; and

(iv) subject to Section 1.07, evidence that after giving effect to the incurrence of such Incremental Facility on a Pro Forma Basis (and for purposes of the calculations under this clause (iv) assuming that any then proposed Incremental Revolving A Increase is fully drawn) the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.03 recomputed as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b);

(h) in the case of an Incremental Term Facility, the interest rate, interest rate margins, fees, discount, prepayment premiums, if any, amortization and final maturity date for such Incremental Term Facility shall be as agreed by the Loan Parties and the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Facility; provided that:

(i) the final maturity of such Incremental Term Facility shall not be earlier than the latest Maturity Date hereunder; and

(ii) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Incremental Term Facility shall not be shorter than the then remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any other then existing Incremental Term Facility; and

(iii) such Incremental Term Facility shall share ratably in any prepayments of any other then existing Incremental Term Facility (or otherwise provide for more favorable prepayment treatment for the then outstanding Incremental Term Facilities) and shall have ratable voting rights as the other then outstanding Incremental Term Facilities (or otherwise provide for more favorable voting rights for the then outstanding Incremental Term Facilities);

(i) in the case of any Incremental Revolving A Increase:

(i) such Incremental Revolving A Increase shall have the same terms (including interest rate and interest rate margins but excluding upfront fees payable solely to the Lenders under such Incremental Facility) applicable to the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments;

(ii) if any Revolving A Loans are outstanding on the date of such increase, (x) each Lender providing such Incremental Revolving A Increase shall make Revolving A Loans, the proceeds of which shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to prepay Revolving A Loans of the existing Revolving A Lenders, in an amount necessary such that after giving effect thereto the outstanding Revolving A Loans are held ratably among all of the Revolving A Lenders with a Revolving A Commitment and (y) the Borrower shall pay an amount required pursuant to Section 3.05 as a result of any such prepayment of Revolving A Loans of existing Revolving A Lenders; and

 

60


(iii) the existing Revolving A Lenders with a Revolving A Commitment shall on the effective date of such Incremental Revolving A Increase be deemed to have made such assignments (which assignments shall not be subject to the requirements set forth in Section 11.06(b)) of the outstanding participation interests in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to the Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving A Increase and the Administrative Agent may make such adjustments to the Register as are necessary so that, after giving effect to such assignments and adjustments, each Revolving A Lender with a Revolving A Commitment (including the Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving A Increase) will hold participation interests in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans equal to its pro rata share thereof.

The commitments under any Incremental Facility and credit extensions thereunder shall constitute Commitments and Credit Extensions under, and shall be entitled to all the benefits afforded by, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall, without limiting the foregoing, benefit equally and ratably from the Guarantees and security interests created by the Collateral Documents. The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into, and the Lenders agree that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended by, each Incremental Facility Amendment and any Collateral Documents Amendment to the extent the Administrative Agent and the Borrower deem necessary in order to establish the applicable Incremental Facility and to effect such other changes agreed by the Borrower and the Persons providing such Incremental Facility and approved by the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that the Incremental Facility Amendment shall not effect any change described in Section 11.01(a) without the consent of each Person required to consent to such change under such clause (it being agreed, however, that any Incremental Facility will not, of itself, be deemed to effect any of the changes described in Section 11.01(a) and that modifications to the definitions of “Commitments”, “Loans” and “Required Lenders” or other provisions relating to voting provisions to provide the Persons providing the applicable Incremental Facility with the benefit of such provisions will not, by themselves, be deemed to effect any of the changes described in Section 11.01(a)). The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Incremental Facility Amendment.

2.17 ESG Adjustments.

(a) After the Closing Date, the Borrower and the Sustainability Coordinator, shall be entitled to establish specified key performance indicators (“KPIs”) with respect to certain environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) targets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. The Sustainability Coordinator and the Borrower may amend this Agreement (such amendment, an “ESG Amendment”) solely for the purpose of incorporating the KPIs and other related provisions (the “ESG Pricing Provisions”) into this Agreement, and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the tenth (10th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Borrower) written notice that such Required Lenders object to such ESG Amendment. In the event that Required Lenders deliver a written notice objecting to any such ESG Amendment, an alternative ESG Amendment may be effectuated with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Borrower and the Sustainability Coordinator. Upon the effectiveness of any such ESG Amendment, based on the Borrower’s performance against the KPIs, certain adjustments (increase, decrease or no adjustment) (such adjustments, the “ESG Applicable Rate Adjustments”) to the otherwise applicable Applicable Rate for Term SOFR Loans, Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans and Letter of Credit Fees will be made; provided, that the amount of such adjustments shall not exceed in the case of the Applicable Rate for Term SOFR Loans, Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans, and Letter of Credit Fees, an increase and/or decrease 0.01% for any one KPI, or 0.02% in the aggregate for all KPIs; provided, further, that in no event shall the Applicable Rate for Term SOFR Loans, Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans, or Letter of Credit Fees be less than zero. The KPIs,

 

61


the Borrower’s performance against the KPIs, and any related ESG Applicable Rate Adjustments resulting therefrom, will be determined based on certain certificates, reports and other documents, in each case, setting forth the calculation and measurement of the KPIs in a manner that is aligned with the Sustainability Linked Loan Principles and to be mutually agreed between the Borrower and the Sustainability Coordinator (each acting reasonably). Following the effectiveness of an ESG Amendment, any modification to the ESG Pricing Provisions shall be subject only to the consent of the Required Lenders so long as such modification does not have the effect of reducing the Applicable Rate for Term SOFR Loans, Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans, or Letter of Credit Fees to a level not otherwise permitted by this Section 2.17(a).

(b) The Sustainability Coordinator will (i) assist the Borrower in determining the ESG Pricing Provisions in connection with the ESG Amendment and (ii) assist the Borrower in preparing informational materials focused on ESG to be used in connection with the ESG Amendment.

(c) This Section 2.17 shall supersede any provisions in Section 11.01 to the contrary.

ARTICLE III

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Laws. If any applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the applicable withholding agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

 

62


(c) Tax Indemnifications. (i) Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or the L/C Issuer for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii) below.

(ii) Each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, (x) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender or the L/C Issuer (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (y) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii).

(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable, after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.

(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably

 

63


requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A), 3.01(e)(ii)(B) and 3.01(e)(ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

(2) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 3.01-A to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable); or

 

64


(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 3.01-B or Exhibit 3.01-C, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 3.01-D on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Closing Date.

(iii) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered pursuant to this Section 3.01 expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be. If any Recipient determines, in its reasonable discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by any Loan Party or with respect to which any Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it

 

65


shall pay to the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a Loan Party under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Loan Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to the Loan Party pursuant to this subsection the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This subsection shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

(g) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

3.02 Illegality.

If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to SOFR, Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Term SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans shall be suspended and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender, shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, in each case 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, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate), either (1) in the case of Term SOFR Loans, on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Term SOFR may not lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loans or (2) immediately, in the case of Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.

 

66


3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.

(a) If in connection with any request for a Term SOFR Loan or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof, as applicable, (i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (A) no Successor Rate has been determined in accordance with Section 3.03(b), and the circumstances under clause (i) of Section 3.03(b) or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred or (B) adequate and reasonable means do not otherwise exist for determining Term SOFR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Term SOFR Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason that Term SOFR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Term SOFR Loan or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate 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, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Term SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans or Interest Periods), (y) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans) and (z) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Term SOFR component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in clause (ii) of this Section 3.03(a), until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans or Interest Periods) or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein, (ii) any outstanding Term SOFR Loans shall be deemed to have been converted to Base Rate Loans immediately at the end of their respective applicable Interest Period and (iii) any outstanding Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be deemed to have been converted to Base Rate Loans immediately upon receipt of such notice.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Borrower) that the Borrower or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:

(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR including, without limitation, because the Term SOFR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

(ii) CME or any successor administrator of the Term SOFR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator with respect to its publication of Term SOFR, in each case acting in such capacity, has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate shall or will no longer be made available, or permitted to be used for determining the

 

67


interest rate of Dollar denominated syndicated loans, or shall or will otherwise cease, provided that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that will continue to provide such interest periods of Term SOFR after such specific date (the latest date on which one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate are no longer available permanently or indefinitely, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”);

then, on a date and time determined by the Administrative Agent (any such date, the “Term SOFR Replacement Date”), which date shall be at the end of an Interest Period or on the relevant interest payment date, as applicable, for interest calculated and, solely with respect to clause (ii) above, no later than the Scheduled Unavailability Date, Term SOFR will be replaced hereunder and under any Loan Document with Daily Simple SOFR plus the SOFR Adjustment for any payment period for interest calculated that can be determined by the Administrative Agent, in each case, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (the “Successor Rate”).

If the Successor Rate is Daily Simple SOFR plus the SOFR Adjustment, all interest payments will be payable on a quarterly basis.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) if the Administrative Agent determines that Daily Simple SOFR is not available on or prior to the Term SOFR Replacement Date or (ii) if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(b)(i) or (ii) have occurred with respect to the Successor Rate then in effect, then in each case, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing Term SOFR or any then current Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 3.03 at the end of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, as applicable, with an alternative benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar Dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such alternative benchmark and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar Dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such benchmark which adjustment or method for calculating such adjustment shall be published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion and may be periodically updated. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments shall constitute a “Successor Rate”. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.

The Administrative Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Borrower and each Lender of the implementation of any Successor Rate.

Any Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

68


Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any Successor Rate as so determined would otherwise be less than zero, the Successor Rate will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

In connection with the implementation of a Successor Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement (but after consultation with the Borrower); provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

For purposes of this Section 3.03, those Lenders that either have not made, or do not have an obligation under this Agreement to make, the relevant Loans shall be excluded from any determination of Required Lenders.

3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Term SOFR Loans.

(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender or the L/C Issuer;

(ii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

(iii) impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement, Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of

 

69


Credit issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.

(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

3.05 Compensation for 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 Term SOFR 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 Term SOFR Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

(c) any assignment of a Term SOFR 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 11.13;

including any loss of anticipated profits and 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.

 

70


3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. Each Lender may make any Credit Extension to the Borrower through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender, the L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of the Borrower such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13.

3.07 Survival.

All of the Loan Parties’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

4.01 Conditions to Initial Credit Extension.

The obligation of the L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(i) Loan Documents. Executed counterparts of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of each signing Loan Party and, in the case of this Agreement, by each Lender.

(ii) Notes. For the account of each Lender requesting a Note, a Note executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

 

71


(iii) Opinions of Counsel. Favorable opinions of legal counsel to the Loan Parties addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, dated as of the Closing Date.

(iv) Organization Documents, Resolutions, Etc.

(A) copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

(B) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party 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 such Loan Party is a party; and

(C) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its state of organization or formation.

(v) Personal Property Collateral.

(A) (1) searches of UCC filings in the jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, as applicable, of each Loan Party and each jurisdiction where any Collateral is located or where a filing would need to be made in order to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, copies of the financing statements on file in such jurisdictions and evidence that no Liens exist other than Permitted Liens and (2) tax lien and judgment searches;

(B) searches of ownership of intellectual property in the appropriate governmental offices and such patent/trademark/copyright filings as requested by the Administrative Agent in order to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the United States registered intellectual property of the Loan Parties;

(C) completed UCC financing statements for each appropriate jurisdiction as is necessary, in the Administrative Agent’s discretion, to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral;

(D) all certificates evidencing any certificated Capital Securities pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with duly executed in blank, undated stock or transfer powers; and

(vi) Evidence of Insurance. Copies of insurance policies, declaration pages, certificates, and endorsements of insurance or insurance binders evidencing liability and property meeting the requirements set forth herein or in the Collateral Documents or as required by the Administrative Agent.

 

72


(vii) Closing Certificate. A certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the conditions specified in Sections 4.01(b), 4.01(c), 4.02(a) and 4.02(b) of the Agreement have been satisfied.

(b) Material Adverse Effect. There shall not have occurred since December 31, 2021 any event or condition that has had or could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Litigation. The absence of any suit, investigation or proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in any court or arbitrator or any Governmental Authority which has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Accrued Interest and Fees. All interest and fees which have accrued under the Prior Credit Agreement as of the date hereof shall be paid in full on or prior to the Closing Date.

(e) Anti-Money-Laundering; Beneficial Ownership. Upon the reasonable request of any Lender, the Borrower shall have provided to such Lender, and such Lender shall be reasonably satisfied with, the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act, and any Loan Party that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall have delivered to each Lender that so requests, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Loan Party.

(f) Fees. The Arranger, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all fees and expenses, if any, owing pursuant to the Fee Letter.

(g) Attorney Costs. The Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements 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).

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this 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.

4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions.

The obligation of each Lender and the L/C Issuer to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party 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 Credit Extension, 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.

 

73


(b) No Default shall exist or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Term SOFR 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 Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower and the Guarantors represent and warrant that:

5.01 Existence and Power.

The Borrower is a corporation, and each Guarantor is a corporation, limited liability company or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, is duly qualified to transact business in every jurisdiction where, by the nature of its business, such qualification is necessary, and has all organizational powers and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.

5.02 Organizational and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention.

The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of this Agreement, the Notes, the Collateral Documents and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party (i) are within such Loan Party’s organizational powers, (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary Organizational Action, (iii) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority, (iv) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable Law or of the Organization Documents of such Loan Party or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, and (v) do not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, except for a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

5.03 Binding Effect.

This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Loan Parties enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the Notes, the Collateral Documents and the other Loan Documents, when executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Loan Parties to such Loan Document enforceable in accordance with their respective terms; provided, that the enforceability hereof and thereof is subject in each case to general principles of equity and to Debtor Relief Laws and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.

 

74


5.04 Financial Information.

(a) The Audited Financial Statements, copies of which have been delivered to the Administrative Agent for delivery to each of the Lenders, fairly present, in conformity with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such dates and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such periods stated.

(b) Since December 31, 2021, there has been no event, act, condition or occurrence, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.05 Litigation.

As of the Closing Date, there is no action, suit or proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the Loan Parties threatened, against or affecting the Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any Governmental Authority which (a) in any manner draws into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Notes, the Collateral Documents or any of the other Loan Documents, (b) could impair the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their respective obligations under, this Agreement, the Notes, the Collateral Documents or any of the other Loan Documents, or (c) has, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

5.06 Compliance with ERISA.

(a) To the best knowledge of the Loan Parties, each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and other federal or state laws. Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has received a favorable determination letter or is subject to a favorable opinion letter from the IRS to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the IRS to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS. To the best knowledge of the Loan Parties, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.

(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could 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.

(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (ii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher and no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iii) no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (v) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.

 

75


(d) As of the Closing Date, the Borrower is not and will not be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to the Borrower’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement.

5.07 Payment of Taxes.

There have been filed on behalf of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries all Federal, state and local income, excise, property and other tax returns which are required to be filed by them and all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by or on behalf of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary have been paid. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries in respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the Loan Parties, adequate. There is no proposed tax assessment against any Loan Party or a Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect, nor is there any tax sharing agreement applicable to the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

5.08 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) Margin Regulations. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 6.08 or Section 6.10 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Debt and within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be margin stock.

(b) Investment Company Act. None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

5.09 All Consents Required.

All approvals, authorizations, consents, orders or other actions of any Person or of any Governmental Authority (if any) required in connection with the due execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and any Loan Document to which any Loan Party is a party, have been obtained.

5.10 Ownership of Property; Liens.

Each of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries has title or the contractual right to possess its properties sufficient for the conduct of its business and none of such properties is subject to any Lien except as permitted in Section 6.08.

 

76


5.11 No Default or Event of Default.

No Loan Party nor any of its respective Subsidiaries is in default under or with respect to any agreement, instrument or undertaking to which it is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound, except where such default, alone or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

5.12 Disclosure.

The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party is subject, and all other 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 any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case 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, each Loan Party represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

5.13 Environmental Matters.

(a) No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary of a Loan Party is subject to any Environmental Liability which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and no Loan Party nor any Subsidiary of a Loan Party has been designated as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA. None of the Properties (or to the knowledge of the Loan Parties with respect to Properties not owned by the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party) has been identified on any current or proposed (i) National Priorities List under 40 C.F.R. § 300, (ii) CERCLIS list or (iii) any list arising from a state statute similar to CERCLA.

(b) To the best knowledge of the Loan Parties and except as could not otherwise reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Hazardous Materials have been or are being used, produced, manufactured, processed, treated, recycled, generated, stored, disposed of, managed or otherwise handled at, or shipped or transported to or from the Properties or are otherwise present at, on, in or under the Properties, or, to the best of the knowledge of the Loan Parties, at or from any adjacent site or facility, except for Hazardous Materials, such as petroleum products, cleaning solvents, pesticides and other materials used, produced, manufactured, processed, treated, recycled, generated, stored, disposed of, and managed or otherwise handled in the ordinary course of business of such Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party in compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements.

(c) Each of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries has procured all Environmental Authorizations necessary for the conduct of their business contemplated on such Property, and is in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Requirements in connection with the operation of the Loan Party’s, and each of their respective Subsidiary’s, respective businesses.

 

77


5.14 Compliance with Laws.

Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of a Loan Party is in compliance with all applicable Laws, regulations and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except where such compliance is being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings or where non-compliance, alone or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.15 Solvency.

After giving effect to the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of the Credit Extensions under this Agreement, the Borrower, together with its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, is Solvent.

5.16 Security Documents.

The Collateral Documents create legal, valid and enforceable security interests in, and Liens on, the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, which security interests and Liens are currently perfected security interests and Liens, prior to all other Liens other than Permitted Liens.

5.17 Patents, Trademarks, Etc.

The Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries own, or are licensed to use, all patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, technology, know-how and processes, service marks and rights with respect to the foregoing that are material to the businesses, assets, operations, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.17, the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries conduct their business without infringement or claim of infringement of any material license, patent, trademark, trade name, service mark, copyright, trade secret or any other intellectual property right of others and there is no infringement or claim of infringement by others of any material license, patent, trademark, trade name, service mark, copyright, trade secret or other intellectual property right of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, in each case which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.18 Insurance.

The Loan Parties and each of their Subsidiaries has (either in the name of such Loan Party or in such Subsidiary’s name), with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (including on all its property, and public liability and worker’s compensation) as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business.

5.19 Affected Financial Institutions.

No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.

5.20 Subsidiaries; Capital Securities.

(a) Subsidiaries. Set forth on Schedule 5.20(a), is the following information which is true and complete in all respects as of the Closing Date: (i) a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date, (ii) the number of shares of each class of Capital Securities in each Subsidiary outstanding, (iii) the number and percentage of outstanding shares of each class of Capital Securities owned by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and (iv) the class or nature of such Capital Securities (i.e., voting, non-voting, preferred, etc.). The outstanding Capital Securities

 

78


in all Subsidiaries are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are owned free and clear of all Liens. There are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units granted to employees or directors and directors’ qualifying shares) of any nature relating to the Capital Securities of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, except as contemplated in connection with the Loan Documents.

(b) Loan Parties. Set forth on Schedule 5.20(b) is a complete and accurate list of all Loan Parties, showing as of the Closing Date and as of the last date such Schedule was required to be updated in accordance with Sections 6.02 (as to each Loan Party) (i) the exact legal name, (ii) any former legal names of such Loan Party in the five years prior to the Closing Date, (iii) the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as applicable, (iv) the type of organization, (v) the address of its chief executive office, (vi) U.S. federal taxpayer identification number; and (vii) the organization identification number.

5.21 Covered Entities.

No Loan Party is a Covered Entity.

5.22 Beneficial Ownership Certification.

The information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification, if applicable, is true and correct in all respects.

5.23 No Default or Event of Default.

No event has occurred and is continuing and no condition exists, or would result from any Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, which constitutes or would reasonably be expected to constitute a Default or Event of Default.

5.24 Sanctions Concerns and Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a) Anti-Corruption Laws. The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have conducted their business in compliance in all material respects with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions, and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

(b) Sanctions Concerns. No Loan Party, nor any Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by one or more individuals or entities that are (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals or HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority or (iii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with all applicable Sanctions and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Sanctions.

 

79


ARTICLE VI

COVENANTS

The Borrower and Guarantors hereby agree, jointly and severally, that, so long as any Lender has any Commitment hereunder or any Obligation remains unpaid:

6.01 Information.

The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent, who will then promptly deliver to each of the Lenders:

(a) as soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) calendar days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ 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 satisfactory in form to the Administrative Agent, all as audited by Ernst & Young, LLP, or other independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and certified by such independent public accountants to be free of any “going concern” or like exceptions and qualifications not acceptable to the Required Lenders; provided, that the Borrower may deliver, in lieu of the foregoing consolidated annual financial statements only, the annual report of the Borrower for the applicable Fiscal Year on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, but only so long as the consolidated financial statements contained in such annual report are substantially the same in content as the consolidated financial statements required by this Section 6.01(a);

(b) as soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) calendar days after the end of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related statement of income and statement of cash flows for such Fiscal Quarter and for the portion of the Fiscal Year ended at the end of such Fiscal Quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding Fiscal Quarter and the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and satisfactory in form to the Administrative Agent, and all reviewed by Ernst & Young, LLP or other independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and certified (subject to normal year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation, GAAP and consistency by the chief financial officer of the Borrower; provided, that the Borrower may deliver, in lieu of the foregoing quarterly consolidated financial statements only, the quarterly report of the Borrower for the applicable Fiscal Quarter on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, but only so long as the consolidated financial statements contained in such quarterly report are substantially the same in content as the consolidated financial statements required by this Section 6.01(b).

(c) [reserved];

(d) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clause (a) above for each Fiscal Year and each set of financial statements referred to in clause (b) above for each Fiscal Quarter, a certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit 6.01 and with compliance calculations in form and content satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (a “Compliance Certificate”), of the chief financial officer or other authorized officer of the Borrower (i) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Loan Parties

 

80


were in compliance with the requirements of Section 6.03 on the date of such financial statements, (ii) setting forth the identities of the respective Subsidiaries on the date of such financial statements, (iii) stating whether any Default or Event of Default exists on the date of such certificate and, if any Default or Event of Default then exists, setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Loan Parties are taking or propose to take with respect thereto, and (iv) stating whether, since the date of the most recent previous delivery of financial statements pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) above, any event has occurred or condition exists that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and, if so, the nature of such event or condition;

(e) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of annual financial statements referred to in paragraph (a) above, a statement of the firm of independent public accountants which reported on such statements to the effect that nothing has come to their attention to cause them to believe that the Borrower has failed to comply with the requirements of Section 6.03(b) or (c) as of the date of such financial statements;

(f) within five (5) Business Days after the Borrower becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, or any event that results in a Material Adverse Effect, a certificate of the chief financial officers or authorized officers of the Borrower setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

(g) promptly after the same become publicly available, but only upon request of the Administrative Agent, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

(h) promptly, but in any event within five Business Days after any Loan Party has knowledge or notice thereof, notify the Administrative Agent of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

(i) promptly, but in any event within two Business Days, notify the Administrative Agent of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b);

(j) promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of each report submitted to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries by independent public accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit made by them of the books of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, each report submitted to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries concerning its accounting practices and systems and any final comment letter submitted by such accountants to management in connection with the annual audit of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;

(k) promptly following any request therefor, information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Act;

(l) to the extent any Loan Party qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, an updated Beneficial Ownership Certification promptly following any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to any Lender in relation to such Loan Party that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification;

 

81


(m) as soon as available and in any event within thirty (30) calendar days after the beginning of each Fiscal Year, an annual operating budget of the Borrower for such Fiscal Year, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

(n) from time to time such additional information regarding the assets, financial position or business of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, and each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent, at the request of any Lender, may reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b) or Section 6.01(g) (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 11.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet 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 upon its request to 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 the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by facsimile or electronic mail) 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. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper 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 by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or an Affiliate thereof may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that so long as the Borrower is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities it will identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, any Affiliate thereof, the Arranger, the Sustainability Coordinator, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities Laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and any Affiliate thereof, the Sustainability Coordinator and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated as “Public Side Information.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

 

82


6.02 Inspection of Property, Books and Records.

The Borrower will (i) keep, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities; and (ii) permit, and will cause each Subsidiary to permit, representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, to visit and inspect any of their respective properties, to examine and make abstracts from any of their respective books and records and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers, employees 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.

6.03 Financial Covenants.

(a) Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than 3.00 to 1.0, measured as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ended June 30, 2022.

(b) Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio to exceed 3.75 to 1.0 measured as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter (and in the case of Consolidated EBITDA, for the four-quarter period ending on such date), commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ended June 30, 2022; provided that if in connection with any Acquisition permitted under Section 6.04 (an “Adjustment Acquisition”) (x) for which the cash consideration (including assumed or acquired Debt) for such Acquisition, together with the cash consideration (including assumed or acquired Debt) for all other Acquisitions permitted under Section 6.04 consummated during the then current Fiscal Quarter, equals or exceeds $75,000,000 and (y) the Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio equals or exceeds 3.50 to 1.0 on a Pro Forma Basis, then the maximum Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio permitted by this Section 6.03(b) for the Fiscal Quarter in which the Adjustment Acquisition occurs and each of the following four Fiscal Quarters (the “Adjustment Period”) shall be automatically increased to 4.25 to 1.0; provided, further that there shall be no more than two (2) Adjustment Periods during the term of this Agreement. Following the expiration of any Adjustment Period, the maximum Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio cannot be subsequently increased again as provided in the first proviso above (and a subsequent Adjustment Period cannot commence) until the Borrower has delivered a quarterly Compliance Certificate evidencing that the maximum Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio does not exceed 3.75 to 1.0 for at least four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters.

6.04 Acquisitions.

No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary of a Loan Party shall make any Acquisition, unless (a) the line or lines of business of the Person to be acquired are substantially the same as or similar to one or more line or lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (or any reasonable extensions or expansions thereof); (b) the board of directors (or other comparable governing body) of such other Person shall have duly approved such Acquisition; and (c) subject to Section 1.07, after giving effect to such

 

83


Acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a Compliance Certificate demonstrating that the Loan Parties would be in pro-forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6.03 (as calculated as of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which the Borrower is then required to have delivered quarterly financial statements in accordance with Section 6.01(a) or (b)) (any such Acquisition, a “Permitted Acquisition”); provided that the aggregate amount of consideration (including any assumed liabilities but excluding consideration paid in Capital Securities of the Borrower) paid for the Acquisition of Persons that do not become Loan Parties and assets that do not become part of the “Collateral” shall not exceed the greater of $50,000,000 and 10% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement.

6.05 Loans or Advances.

No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary of a Loan Party shall make loans or advances to any Person except: (a) deposits required by government agencies or public utilities; (b) loans or advances to the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a Guarantor; (c) loans and advances, if any, outstanding on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.05; (d) loans and advances made in connection with the Arkansas Revenue Bond Transaction; and (e) loans or advances not otherwise permitted under this Section 6.05, which when aggregated with all other loans and advances made by the Loan Parties and Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties under this clause (e) and the total Investments made by the Loan Parties and Subsidiaries of Loan Parties under Section 6.07(h) do not exceed the greater of (i) $125,000,000 or (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), in the aggregate outstanding at any one time; provided, that after giving effect to the making of any loans, advances or deposits permitted by clause (b) or (e) of this Section, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

6.06 Restricted Payments.

The Loan Parties shall not, nor shall they permit any Subsidiary to, declare or make any Restricted Payment except:

(a) each Subsidiary of a Loan Party may make Restricted Payments to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly-owned Subsidiary, to any Loan Party and any other Subsidiary of any Loan Party and to each other owner of Capital Securities of such Subsidiary based on their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Capital Securities (or on a more than pro rata basis in favor of any Loan Party or a Subsidiary of a Loan Party));

(b) each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of a Loan Party may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the Capital Securities of such Person;

(c) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $125,000,000 and 25% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b); provided, that, after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and the Loan Parties would be in pro-forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6.03 (as calculated as of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which the Borrower is then required to have delivered quarterly financial statements in accordance with Section 6.01(a) or (b));

 

84


(d) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount in each fiscal year not to exceed up to 6% per annum of its market capitalization as of the last day of the prior fiscal year; provided, that, after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and the Loan Parties would be in pro-forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6.03 (as calculated as of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which the Borrower is then required to have delivered quarterly financial statements in accordance with Section 6.01(a) or (b)); and

(e) the Borrower may make any additional Restricted Payment, provided, that, (i) at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio is less than 3.5:1.0 as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b).

6.07 Investments.

No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary of a Loan Party shall make Investments in any Person except:

(a) Investments permitted by Sections 6.04 and Section 6.05;

(b) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

(c) advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

(d) (i) Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in their respective Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof, (ii) additional Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in Loan Parties, (iii) additional Investments by Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Loan Parties in other Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties and (iv) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such Investment, additional Investments by the Loan Parties in wholly-owned Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties in an aggregate amount invested from the date hereof, together with any Investments made pursuant to Section 6.07(i), not to exceed the greater of (A) $50,000,000 or (B) 15% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b);

(e) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

(f) Investments existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.07;

(g) Investments in Swap Contracts permitted under 6.22(h);

 

85


(h) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing or would result from such Investment, other Investments not otherwise permitted under this Section 6.07, which when aggregated with all other Investments made by the Loan Parties and Subsidiaries of Loan Parties pursuant to this clause (h) and the aggregate outstanding loans and advances made by the Loan Parties and Subsidiaries of Loan Parties under Section 6.05(e) do not exceed the greater of (i) $125,000,000 or (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), in the aggregate outstanding at any one time;

(i) Investments made by the any Loan Party in or to any non-wholly owned Subsidiary or joint venture, including Guarantees of Debt of such Subsidiaries and any joint ventures; provided that the aggregate amount of such Investments by the Loan Parties, together with Investments pursuant to Section 6.07(d)(iv), shall not exceed the greater of (i) $50,000,000 or (ii) 15% of the Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), in the aggregate outstanding at any one time;

(j) to the extent constituting an Investment, all or any portion of the Arkansas Revenue Bond Transaction;

(k) other Investments so long as after giving effect to such Acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a Compliance Certificate demonstrating that the Loan Parties would be in pro-forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6.03 (as calculated as of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which the Borrower is then required to have delivered quarterly financial statements in accordance with Section 6.01(a) or (b)).

6.08 Negative Pledge.

No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary of a Loan Party will create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

(a) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement and set forth on Schedule 6.08;

(b) Liens for taxes, assessments or similar charges, incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith and with due diligence by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(c) pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure payment of workers’ compensation, to participate in any fund in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions or other social security programs, or for other similar purposes, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

(d) Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers or other like liens, securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business that: (1) are not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days; or (2) are being contested diligently in good faith pursuant to appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

 

86


(e) good faith pledges or deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Debt), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (other than Debt) incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(f) any Lien (x) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (y) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person is merged with or into the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, or (z) existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries; provided that (i) any such Lien was not created in the contemplation of any of the foregoing and (ii) any such Lien secures only those obligations which it secures on the date that such Person becomes a Subsidiary or the date of such merger or the date of such acquisition

(g) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any Debt secured by any Lien permitted by any of clauses (a) through (f) of this Section; provided that (i) such Debt is not secured by any additional assets, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 6.22(b), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 6.22(b);

(h) any Lien imposed as a result of a taking under the exercise of the power of eminent domain by any governmental body or by any Person acting under governmental authority;

(i) minor survey exceptions or minor encumbrances, easements or reservations, or rights of others for rights-of-way, utilities and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties, which are necessary for the conduct of the activities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or which customarily exist on properties of corporations engaged in similar activities and similarly situated and which do not in any event materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and other easements, covenants, restrictions, reservations, exceptions and other matters shown on any title insurance commitment or survey provided to the Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof and not objected to by the Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof;

(j) Liens securing the Obligations created or arising under the Loan Documents;

(k) Liens securing Debt incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with the Arkansas Revenue Bond Transaction and Liens on all or any portion of the Arkansas Sale Leaseback Property;

(l) Liens securing Debt permitted under Section 6.22(e); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Debt and (ii) the Debt secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;

(m) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money (or appeal or other surety bonds relating to such judgments) not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(j);

(n) other Liens on real property not to exceed the greater of (i) $125,000,000 or (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b); and

 

87


(o) other Liens securing Debt and other obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $125,000,000 or (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b).

6.09 Maintenance of Existence, etc.

(a) Except as otherwise permitted by Section 6.10, each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of a Loan Party shall preserve, renew and maintain its organizational existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization;

(b) Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of a Loan Party shall (i) 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 (ii) 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;

(c) Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of a Loan Party shall carry on its business in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same lines of business or line or lines of business reasonably related to the business now carried on and maintained.

6.10 Fundamental Changes; Dispositions.

No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary of a Loan Party to, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate or merge with or into another Person, or sell, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any substantial part of its assets to, any other Person, or discontinue or eliminate any business line or segment, provided, that so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom:

(a) pursuant to the consummation of an Acquisition permitted under Section 6.04 the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into or consolidate with another Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided, that, (i) in the case of any such merger to which the Borrower is a party, the Borrower is the surviving Person, (ii) in the case of any such merger to which any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) is a party, such Loan Party is the surviving Person or (iii) in any other case, the Person surviving such merger is or becomes a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower;

(b) Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries may merge with one another, provided that (i) if the Borrower merges with another Subsidiary, the Borrower is the Person surviving such merger and (ii) if the Borrower is not party to such merger but another Loan Party is party to such merger, a Loan Party is the Person surviving such merger;

(c) any Loan Party may dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Loan Party;

(d) any Subsidiary of a Loan Party that is not a Loan Party may dispose of all or substantially all its assets (including any disposition that is in the nature of a liquidation) to (i) another Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or (ii) to a Loan Party;

 

88


(e) the foregoing limitation on the sale, lease or other transfer of assets and on the discontinuation or elimination of a business line or segment shall not prohibit (i) sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business and for fair value; (ii) dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof; (iii) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (iv) the sale or disposition of Cash Equivalents for fair market value; or (v) dispositions of equipment or real property to the extent that (A) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (B) the proceeds of such disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(f) the sale, lease, transfer or other Disposition of the Arkansas Sale Leaseback Property or other assets in connection with the Arkansas Revenue Bond Transaction are permitted;

(g) Dispositions in any fiscal year in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $125,000,000 and 25% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b); provided, that, after giving effect to such Disposition on a Pro Forma Basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and the Loan Parties would be in pro-forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6.03 (as calculated as of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which the Borrower is then required to have delivered quarterly financial statements in accordance with Section 6.01(a) or (b)); and

(h) any other Disposition; provided (i) at least 75% of the consideration paid in connection therewith for all dispositions with a fair market value in excess of $25,000,000 shall be cash or Cash Equivalents paid contemporaneously with consummation of the transaction, (ii) such transaction does not involve the sale or other disposition of a minority Capital Securities in any Subsidiary, (iii) such transaction does not involve a sale or other disposition of receivables other than receivables owned by or attributable to other property concurrently being disposed of in a transaction otherwise permitted under this Section 6.10 and (iv) after giving effect to such transfer of assets or other disposition on a Pro Forma Basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and the Loan Parties would be in pro-forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6.03 (as calculated as of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which the Borrower is then required to have delivered quarterly financial statements in accordance with Section 6.01(a) or (b)).

6.11 Use of Proceeds.

No portion of the proceeds of any Credit Extension will be used by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (a) directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose or (b) for any purpose in violation of any applicable law or regulation. Except as otherwise provided herein, the proceeds of the Credit Extensions shall be used: (i) to refinance certain existing indebtedness of the Borrower, including the Borrower’s indebtedness under the Prior Credit Agreement; (ii) for working capital, capital expenditures, permitted acquisitions and other lawful corporate purposes, (iii) for the issuance of Letters of Credit, and/or (iv) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement. No part of the proceeds of any Credit Extension will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that would violate any rule or regulation of the FRB, including Regulations T, U or X.

 

89


6.12 Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes.

Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary of a Loan Party to, comply in all material respects with applicable laws (including but not limited to Environmental Laws, ERISA and the Patriot Act), regulations and similar requirements of governmental authorities (including but not limited to the PBGC), except where the necessity of such compliance is being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings diligently pursued. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary of a Loan Party to, pay promptly when due all taxes, assessments, governmental charges, claims for labor, supplies, rent and other obligations which, if unpaid, might become a Lien against the property of a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, except liabilities being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and with respect to which (a) the Borrower shall have set up reserves in accordance with GAAP, and (b) the Administrative Agent is satisfied that, while any such contest is pending, there will be no impairment of the enforceability, validity, or priority of any of the Administrative Agent’s Liens.

6.13 Insurance.

(a) Maintain in full force and effect insurance (including worker’s compensation insurance, liability insurance, casualty insurance and business interruption insurance) with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where such Loan Party or such Subsidiary operates.

(b) Cause the Administrative Agent and its successors and assigns to be named as lender’s loss payee or mortgagee, as its interest may appear, and/or additional insured with respect to any such insurance providing liability coverage or coverage in respect of any Collateral, and cause each provider of any such insurance to agree, by endorsement upon the policy or policies issued by it or by independent instruments furnished to the Administrative Agent, that it will give the Administrative Agent thirty days (or such lesser amount as the Administrative Agent may agree) prior written notice before any such policy or policies shall be altered or canceled.

6.14 Change in Fiscal Year

No Loan Party will make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or change its Fiscal Year without the consent of the Required Lenders.

6.15 Maintenance of Property.

Each Loan Party shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary of a Loan Party to, maintain all of its properties and assets in good condition, repair and working order, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except as otherwise provided herein or in any of the Collateral Documents.

6.16 Environmental Notices.

Each Loan Party shall furnish to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of all material Environmental Liabilities, pending or threatened Environmental Proceedings, Environmental Notices, Environmental Judgments and Orders, and Environmental Releases at, on, in, under or in any way affecting the Properties of which any Loan Party has notice.

 

90


6.17 Environmental Matters.

No Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party will, nor will any Loan Party permit any third party to, use, produce, manufacture, process, treat, recycle, generate, store, dispose of, manage at, or otherwise handle or ship or transport to or from the Properties any Hazardous Materials except for Hazardous Materials such as cleaning solvents, pesticides, petroleum products and other materials used, produced, manufactured, processed, treated, recycled, generated, stored, disposed, managed or otherwise handled in the ordinary course of business in strict compliance with all applicable Environmental Requirements.

6.18 Environmental Release.

Each Loan Party agrees that, upon the occurrence of an Environmental Release at, under or on any of the Properties owned by any Loan Party, it will act immediately to investigate the extent of, and to take appropriate remedial action to eliminate, such Environmental Release, whether or not ordered or otherwise directed to do so by any Environmental Authority.

6.19 Transactions with Affiliates.

No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary of a Loan Party shall enter into, or be a party to, any transaction with any officer, director or Affiliate of a Loan Party or such Subsidiary (which Affiliate is not a Loan Party or an Subsidiary of a Loan Party), except as permitted by law and in the ordinary course of business and pursuant to reasonable terms which are no less favorable to the Loan Party or such Subsidiary than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person which is not an Affiliate, and except for the transactions described in Schedule 6.19.

6.20 Joinder of Subsidiaries.

(a) The Loan Parties shall cause any Person which becomes a Subsidiary of a Loan Party after the Closing Date to become a party to, and agree to be bound by the terms of, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including without limitation the Collateral Documents) as a Guarantor pursuant to a Joinder Agreement, satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in all respects and executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days after the day on which such Person became a Subsidiary (or such longer period of time as agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided, however, that no Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to become a Guarantor hereunder if, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent based on information provided by the Borrower, doing so would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower. In connection therewith, the Loan Parties shall give notice to the Administrative Agent not less than ten (10) days prior to creating a Subsidiary (or such shorter period of time as agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), or acquiring the Capital Securities of any other Person. The Loan Parties shall also cause such Organization Documents, resolutions, favorable opinions of counsel and such other documents or agreements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to be delivered to the Administrative Agent concurrently with the instrument referred to above.

(b) Each Loan Party shall pledge: (a) the lesser of 65% or the entire interest owned by such Loan Party, of the Capital Securities or equivalent equity interests in any Person which becomes a first tier Foreign Subsidiary after the Closing Date; and (b) the entire interest owned by the Loan Parties of the Capital Securities or equivalent equity interests in any Person which becomes a Domestic Subsidiary after the Closing Date, in each case pursuant to the Security Agreement within thirty (30) days after the day on which such Person became a Subsidiary (or such

 

91


longer period of time as agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), and shall deliver to the Administrative Agent such shares of the Capital Securities together with stock powers executed in blank. The Loan Parties shall also cause such Organization Documents, resolutions and favorable opinions of counsel, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to be delivered to the Administrative Agent concurrently with such pledge.

(c) Once any Subsidiary becomes a party to this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.20(a) or any Capital Securities (or equivalent equity interests) of a Subsidiary are pledged to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 6.20(b), such Subsidiary thereafter shall remain a party to this Agreement and the Capital Securities (or equivalent equity interests) in such Subsidiary (including, without limitation, all initial Subsidiaries) shall remain subject to the pledge to the Administrative Agent except to the extent such Subsidiary or the Capital Securities of such Subsidiary are permitted to be released pursuant to a transaction not prohibited by the terms of the Loan Documents. For purposes of clarification, if a Subsidiary ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower as a result of the Borrower’s transfer or sale of a majority of the Capital Securities of such Subsidiary in accordance with and to the extent not prohibited by the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree to release such Subsidiary from this Agreement and release the Capital Securities of such Subsidiary from the Security Agreement.

6.21 No Restrictive Agreement.

No Loan Party will, nor will any Loan Party permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into, after the date of this Agreement, any indenture, agreement, instrument or other arrangement that, directly or indirectly, (a) prohibits or restrains, or has the effect of prohibiting or restraining, or imposes materially adverse conditions upon, any of the following by the Loan Party or any such Subsidiary: (i) the ability to act as a Loan Party, (ii) the incurrence or payment of Debt, (iii) the granting of Liens, (iv) the declaration or payment of Restricted Payments or other distributions in respect of Capital Securities of the Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or (v) the making of loans, advances or Investments or the sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of property, real, personal, intangible or tangible, except (in respect of any of the matters referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above) for (1) for any document or instrument governing Debt incurred pursuant to Sections 6.22(e) or 6.22 (k); provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (2) any agreement in effect at the time any Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such agreement was not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower, or (3) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any property permitted under Section 6.10 pending the consummation of such sale; or (b) requires the grant of any Lien on property for any obligation if a Lien on such property is given as security for the Obligations.

6.22 Additional Debt.

No Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party shall directly or indirectly issue, assume, create, incur or suffer to exist any Debt or the equivalent (including obligations under Capital Leases), except for:

(a) the Debt owed to the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

(b) the Debt existing and outstanding on the Closing Date described on Schedule 6.22 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Debt is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of or in connection with such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension;

 

92


(c) Debt subordinated to the Obligations by subordination agreement(s) satisfactory to Administrative Agent in its sole discretion;

(d) intentionally omitted;;

(e) Debt in respect of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 6.08(l); provided, that the aggregate amount of all such Debt at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the greater of (i) $125,000,000 or (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b);

(f) unsecured Debt of a Subsidiary of the Borrower owed to the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, which Debt shall (i) to the extent required by the Administrative Agent, be evidenced by promissory notes which shall be pledged to the Administrative Agent as Collateral for the Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Security Agreement and (ii) be otherwise permitted under the provisions of Section 6.05 or Section 6.07 (“Intercompany Debt”);

(g) Guarantees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in respect of Debt otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower;

(h) obligations (contingent or otherwise) existing or arising under any Swap Contract, 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 fluctuations in interest rates or foreign exchange rates 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; and

(i) Debt assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, provided, such Debt is not created in contemplation thereof, so long as after giving effect to the assumption of such Debt on a Pro Forma Basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and the Borrower shall be in pro-forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6.03 (as calculated as of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which the Borrower is then required to have delivered quarterly financial statements in accordance with Section 6.01(a) or (b)); and

(j) unsecured Debt not otherwise permitted under this Section 6.22, so long as (i) after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and the Borrower shall be in pro-forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6.03 (as calculated as of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which the Borrower is then required to have delivered quarterly financial statements in accordance with Section 6.01(a) or (b)), (ii) such Debt is not at any time guaranteed by any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor; and (iii) no such Debt shall (A) have a scheduled maturity or require any regularly scheduled amortization payment to be made prior to the date that is 91 days after the Maturity Date or (B) be subject to any mandatory redemption, mandatory repurchase or other mandatory prepayments of principal (including early conversion triggers) other than those that, in the Borrower’s good faith judgment, are customary for such unsecured Debt;

 

93


(k) any Debt or the equivalent (including obligations under Capital Leases) related to the Arkansas Revenue Bond Transaction; and

(l) other Debt not otherwise permitted under this Section 6.22, provided, that the aggregate amount of all such Debt at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the greater of (i) $125,000,000 or (ii) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b);

provided, however, the aggregate amount of Debt incurred or assumed by Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties pursuant to clauses (i), (j) or (k) above, at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the greater of (i) $35,000,000 or (ii) 10% of Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b).

6.23 Modifications of Organizational Documents.

The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Loan Party or Subsidiary thereof to, amend, supplement, restate or otherwise modify its Organization Documents which modification is adverse to the interests of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Lenders under the Loan Documents.

6.24 ERISA Exemptions.

The Loan Parties shall not permit any of their respective assets to become or be deemed to be “plan assets” within the meaning of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or the respective regulations promulgated thereunder.

6.25 Prepayments and Amendments of Debt.

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, (a) redeem, purchase prior to maturity, pay, or prepay any Subordinated Debt in violation of the subordination agreement applicable thereto, (b) amend, modify, waive or extend or permit the amendment, modification, waiver or extension of any term of any document governing or relating to any Subordinated Debt or (c) designate any Debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as “Senior Indebtedness,” “Senior Debt” or any similar designation under any agreement governing any Subordinated Debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, other than the Obligations; provided, that the Borrower shall be permitted to repay Subordinated Debt with the proceeds of additional Subordinated Debt (the “Substitute Subordinated Debt”) incurred contemporaneously with such repayment, provided: (1) such Substitute Subordinated Debt is in a principal amount no less than the principal amount of the Subordinated Debt being repaid; (2) the Borrower provides the Administrative Agent with written notice of such repayment no less than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to such repayment; (3) such repayment is made no less than sixty (60) calendar days prior to the maturity date of the Subordinated Debt being repaid; and (4) prior to such repayment, the holder of such Substitute Subordinated Debt executes and delivers to the Administrative Agent a subordination agreement satisfactory to the Required Lenders in their sole discretion.

 

94


6.26 Deposit Accounts.

The Loan Parties shall maintain their primary demand deposit and cash management accounts with the Administrative Agent.

6.27 Anti-Corruption; OFAC.

(a) The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries conduct its businesses in compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and Sanctions.

(b) The Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of their Subsidiaries to directly or indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 or other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.

(c) The Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of their Subsidiaries to directly or indirectly, use any Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension to any Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, the Sustainability Coordinator, Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender, or otherwise) of Sanctions.

6.28 Further Assurances.

Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties will execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such further instruments, documents and certificates, and do and cause to be done such further acts, in each case as the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or advisable to maintain in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, Liens and insurance rights on the Collateral that are duly perfected in accordance with the requirements of, or the obligations of the Loan Parties under, the Loan Documents and all applicable Laws.

ARTICLE VII

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01 Events of Default.

If one or more of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall have occurred and be continuing:

(a) the Borrower (i) shall fail to pay when due any principal of any Credit Extension, (ii) shall fail to pay when due any L/C Obligations with respect to any Letter of Credit, or (iii) shall fail to pay any interest on any Credit Extension within three (3) Business Days after such interest shall become due; or any Loan Party shall fail to pay any fee or other amount payable hereunder within three (3) Business Days after such fee or other amount becomes due; or

 

95


(b) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant contained in Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.04, 6.05, 6.06, 6.07, 6.08, 6.09, 6.10, 6.11, 6.14, 6.19, 6.21, 6.22, 6.23, 6.25, 6.27(b), 6.27(c), or 6.29; or

(c) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained or incorporated by reference in this Agreement (other than those covered by clause (a) or (b) above or clauses (n) or (p) below); provided, that such failure continues for thirty (30) calendar days after the earlier of (i) the first day on which any Loan Party has knowledge of such failure or (ii) written notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent at the request of any Lender; or

(d) any representation, warranty, certification or statement made or deemed made by the Loan Parties in Article V of this Agreement or in any financial statement, material certificate or other material document or report delivered pursuant to this Agreement by any Loan Party shall prove to have been untrue or misleading in any material respect when made (or deemed made); or

(e) any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party shall fail to make any payment in respect of Debt (other than Debt hereunder) having an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 after expiration of any applicable cure or grace period; or

(f) any event or condition shall occur which results in the acceleration of the maturity of Debt outstanding of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 or the mandatory prepayment or purchase of such Debt by any Loan Party (or its designee) or such Subsidiary of a Loan Party (or its designee) prior to the scheduled maturity thereof, or enables the holders of such Debt or commitment to provide such Debt or any Person acting on such holders’ behalf to accelerate the maturity thereof, terminate any such commitment or require the mandatory prepayment or purchase thereof prior to the scheduled maturity thereof; or

(g) any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to itself or its debts under any Debtor Relief Laws now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, administrator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally, or shall admit in writing its inability, to pay its debts as they become due, or shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the foregoing; or

(h) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to it or its debts under any Debtor Relief Laws now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, administrator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of sixty (60) calendar days; or an order for relief shall be entered against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Laws now or hereafter in effect; or

 

96


(i) (1) 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 any Loan Party under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the $5,000,000, or (2) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $5,000,000; or

(j) (1) one or more judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000 shall be rendered against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer is rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of the potential claim and does not dispute coverage), or (2) 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, shall be rendered against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, and, in either case, (i) said Loan Party has failed to make payment of such judgment or order and enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (ii) there is a period of thirty (30) calendar days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

(k) a Change in Control shall occur; or

(l) the Administrative Agent, as agent for the holders of the Obligations, shall fail for any reason to have a valid first priority security interest in any of the Collateral (other than as a direct result of any action or inaction on the part of the Administrative Agent) or any Loan Party shall assert the invalidity of such security interest; or

(m) a default or event of default shall occur and be continuing under any of the Collateral Documents, any Letter of Credit or any Issuer Document or any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any obligation to be observed or performed by it under any Collateral Document, any Letter of Credit or any Issuer Document, and such default, event of default or failure to perform or observe any obligation continues beyond any applicable cure or grace period provided in such Collateral Document, any Letter of Credit or any Issuer Document; or

(n) (i) any of the Guarantors shall fail to pay when due any Obligations or shall fail to pay any fee or other amount payable hereunder when due (in either case after giving effect to any applicable grace period); or (ii) any Guarantor shall disaffirm, contest or deny its obligations under Article X; or

(o) if the Borrower, except as permitted by Section 6.09 or 6.10, at any time fails to own (directly or indirectly, through wholly-owned Subsidiaries) 100% of the outstanding shares of the voting stock, voting membership interests or equivalent equity interests of each Guarantor that was a wholly-owned Subsidiary at the time it became a Guarantor under this Agreement; or

(p) any Loan Party shall (or shall attempt to) disaffirm, contest or deny its obligations under any Loan Document.

 

97


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 and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions 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;

(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the Minimum Collateral Amount with respect thereto); and

(d) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under the Loan Documents or applicable Law or at equity;

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 and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, 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 and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.14 and 2.15, 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 reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent 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, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to (a) payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, (b) payment of Obligations then owing under any Secured Hedge Agreements, (c) payment of Obligations then owing under any Secured Cash Management Agreements and (d) Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit, ratably among the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, the Hedge Banks and the Cash Management Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them; and

 

98


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.

Subject to Sections 2.03(c) and 2.14, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above. Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Guarantor shall not be paid with amounts received from such Guarantor or such Guarantor’s assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties to preserve the allocation to Obligations otherwise set forth above in this Section.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received a Secured Party Designation Notice, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be. Each Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

8.04 Equity Cure.

In the event the Loan Parties fail to comply with the financial covenant set forth in Section 6.03 as of the last day of any fiscal period of the Borrower, any cash equity contribution to the Borrower (funded with proceeds of common equity issued by the Borrower) after the last day of such fiscal period and on or prior to the day that is ten (10) Business Days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered for such fiscal period (the “Cure Expiration Date”) will, at the irrevocable election of the Borrower, be included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA solely for the purposes of determining compliance with such covenant at the end of such fiscal quarter and any subsequent period that includes such fiscal quarter (any such equity contribution so included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA, a “Specified Equity Contribution”); provided that (a) notice of the Borrower’s intent to make a Specified Equity Contribution shall be delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent no later than the day on which financial statements are required to be delivered for the applicable fiscal quarter (the “Notice of Intent to Cure”), (b) in each consecutive four (4) fiscal quarter period there will be at least two (2) fiscal quarters in which no Specified Equity Contribution is made, (c) the amount of any Specified Equity Contribution will be no greater than the amount required to cause the Loan Parties to be in compliance with such covenants, (d) all Specified Equity Contributions will be disregarded for purposes of the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for all other purposes, including calculating basket levels, pricing and other items governed by reference to Consolidated EBITDA, and shall not be treated as reducing outstanding Debt for such fiscal period (if applied to repay Debt) or increasing cash or Cash Equivalents for purposes of cash netting in the Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio (provided that such limitations shall not apply in subsequent fiscal quarters), (e) there shall be no more than three (3) Specified Equity Contributions made in the aggregate after the Closing Date. Upon delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Intent to Cure, (x) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may not exercise any rights or remedies under Section 8.02 or under any other Loan Document on the basis of any actual or purported Event of Default under Section 6.03 until and unless the Cure Expiration Date has occurred without the receipt by the Borrower of the Specified Equity Contribution and (y) the Borrower shall not be permitted to request or receive any Credit Extension until receipt by the Borrower of the Specified Equity Contribution.

 

99


ARTICLE IX

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

9.01 Appointment and Authority.

Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and no Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) 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 as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender, Swing Line Lender (if applicable), potential Hedge Banks and potential Cash Management Banks) and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and the L/C Issuer for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.05 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent, shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article XI (including Section 11.04(c), as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

9.02 Rights as a Lender.

The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial, advisory, underwriting or other business with any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or to provide notice to or consent of the Lenders with respect thereto.

 

100


9.03 Exculpatory Provisions.

The Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator or the Arranger, as applicable, shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator or the Arranger, as applicable, and its Related Parties:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

(c) shall not have any duty or responsibility to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, to any Lender or the L/C Issuer any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to, or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator, Arranger or any of their Related Parties in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein.

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. Any such action taken or failure to act pursuant to the foregoing shall be binding on all Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties have any duty or obligation to any Lender or participant or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

101


9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, communication, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall be fully protected in relying and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Loan Parties), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

9.05 Delegation of Duties.

The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent.

(a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above, provided that in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

102


(b) If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

(c) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (ii) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 11.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them (i) while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and (ii) after such resignation or removal for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including (A) acting as collateral agent or otherwise holding any collateral security on behalf of any of the Lenders and (B) in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Agent.

(d) Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. If Bank of America resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c). 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 Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment by the Borrower of a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights,

 

103


powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, (ii) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents from and after the date of such resignation and (iii) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.

9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the Sustainability Coordinator and the Other Lenders.

Each Lender and the L/C Issuer expressly acknowledges that none of the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator nor the Arranger has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator or the Arranger hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator or the Arranger to any Lender or the L/C Issuer as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator or the Arranger have disclosed material information in their (or their Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer represents to the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator and the Arranger that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator, the Arranger, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their 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 and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator, the Arranger, any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder, 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 Loan Parties. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender or L/C Issuer for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or L/C Issuer, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.

9.08 No Other Duties; Etc.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunners, arrangers, sustainability coordinators, syndication agents, documentation agents or co-agents shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.

 

104


9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding.

In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation 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, L/C Obligations 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, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h), 2.03(i), 2.09 and 11.04) 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 and the L/C Issuer 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 and the L/C Issuer, 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 11.04.

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 or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

The holders of the Obligations hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, or any similar Laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, (b) at any other sale or foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable Law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the holders thereof shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that would vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) in the asset or assets so purchased

 

105


(or in the Capital Securities or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (ii) to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Capital Securities thereof shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in clauses (a)(i) through (a)(vi) of Section 11.01), and (ii) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of debt credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Lenders pro rata and the Capital Securities and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of the Obligations that had been assigned to the acquisition vehicle shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Lender or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action.

9.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters.

Without limiting the provisions of Section 9.09, each of the Lenders (including in its capacities as a potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Hedge Bank) and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion,

(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon the Facility Termination Date, (ii) that is sold or otherwise disposed of as part of or in connection with any sale or other disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any Recovery Event, or (iii) as approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders in accordance with Section 11.01;

(b) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted to be senior to the Obligations pursuant to Section 6.10; and

(c) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, pursuant to this Section 9.10.

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon, or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

 

106


9.11 Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements.

No Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefit of Section 8.03, the Guaranty or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) (or to notice of or to consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of the provisions hereof or of the Guaranty or any Collateral Document) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements except to the extent expressly provided herein and unless the Administrative Agent has received a Secured Party Designation Notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be. The Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements in the case of the Facility Termination Date.

9.12 Certain ERISA Matters.

(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, or this agreement,

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

 

107


(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

(b) In addition, unless either (1) clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

9.13 Recovery of Erroneous Payments.

Without limitation of any other provision in this Agreement, if at any time the Administrative Agent makes a payment hereunder in error to any Lender Recipient Party, whether or not in respect of an Obligation due and owing by the Borrower at such time, where such payment is a Rescindable Amount, then in any such event, each Lender Recipient Party receiving a Rescindable Amount severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount received by such Lender Recipient Party in immediately available funds in the currency so received, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount is received by it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. Each Lender Recipient Party irrevocably waives any and all defenses, including any “discharge for value” (under which a creditor might otherwise claim a right to retain funds mistakenly paid by a third party in respect of a debt owed by another) or similar defense to its obligation to return any Rescindable Amount. The Administrative Agent shall inform each Lender Recipient Party promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Lender Recipient Party comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount.

ARTICLE X

GUARANTY

10.01 The Guaranty.

Each of the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally guarantees to each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each other holder of Obligations as hereinafter provided, as primary obligor and not as surety, the prompt payment of the Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof. The Guarantors hereby further agree that if any of the Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise), the Guarantors will, jointly and severally, promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

 

108


Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan Documents or the other documents relating to the Obligations, the obligations of each Guarantor under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not exceed an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under applicable Debtor Relief Laws.

10.02 Obligations Unconditional.

The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 10.01 are joint and several, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations, or any substitution, release, impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 10.02 that the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against the Borrower or any other Loan Party for amounts paid under this Article X until such time as the Obligations have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or terminated. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of any Guarantor hereunder, which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:

(a) at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(b) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations shall be done or omitted;

(c) the maturity of any of the Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Obligations or any security therefor shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

(d) any Lien granted to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any other holder of the Obligations as security for any of the Obligations shall fail to attach or be perfected; or

(e) any of the Obligations shall be determined to be void or voidable (including for the benefit of any creditor of any Guarantor) or shall be subordinated to the claims of any Person (including any creditor of any Guarantor).

With respect to its obligations hereunder, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Administrative Agent or any other holder of the Obligations exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against any Person under any of the Loan Documents or any other document relating to the Obligations, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Obligations.

 

109


10.03 Reinstatement.

The obligations of each Guarantor under this Article X shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Obligations, whether as a result of any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, and each Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each other holder of the Obligations on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such holder of the Obligations in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any Debtor Relief Law.

10.04 Certain Additional Waivers.

Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of recourse to security for the Obligations, except through the exercise of rights of subrogation pursuant to Section 10.02 and through the exercise of rights of contribution pursuant to Section 10.06.

10.05 Remedies.

The Guarantors agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other holders of the Obligations, on the other hand, the Obligations may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as specified in Section 10.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances specified in Section 10.02) for purposes of Section 10.01 notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing the Obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or the Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), the Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 10.01. The Guarantors acknowledge and agree that their obligations hereunder are secured in accordance with the terms of the Collateral Documents and that the holders of the Obligations may exercise their remedies thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof.

10.06 Rights of Contribution.

The Guarantors hereby agree as among themselves that, if any Guarantor shall make an Excess Payment (as defined below), such Guarantor shall have a right of contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s Contribution Share (as defined below) of such Excess Payment. The payment obligations of any Guarantor under this Section 10.06 shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Obligations until such time as the Obligations have been paid-in-full and the Commitments have terminated, and none of the Guarantors shall exercise any right or remedy under this Section 10.06 against any other Guarantor until such Obligations have been paid-in-full and the Commitments have terminated. For purposes of this Section 10.06, (a) “Excess Payment” shall mean the amount paid by any Guarantor in excess of its Ratable Share of any Obligations; (b) “Ratable Share” shall mean, for any Guarantor in respect of any payment of Obligations, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such payment of Obligations of (i) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of all debts and liabilities of such Guarantor (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder) to (ii) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all assets and other properties of all of the Loan Parties exceeds the amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Loan Parties hereunder) of the Loan Parties; provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the

 

110


Ratable Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any payment of Obligations, any Guarantor that became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such payment shall be deemed to have been a Guarantor on the date of such payment and the financial information for such Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be utilized for such Guarantor in connection with such payment; and (c) “Contribution Share” shall mean, for any Guarantor in respect of any Excess Payment made by any other Guarantor, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such Excess Payment of (i) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of all debts and liabilities of such Guarantor (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder) to (ii) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all assets and other properties of the Loan Parties other than the maker of such Excess Payment exceeds the amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Loan Parties) of the Loan Parties other than the maker of such Excess Payment; provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Contribution Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any Excess Payment, any Guarantor that became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such Excess Payment shall be deemed to have been a Guarantor on the date of such Excess Payment and the financial information for such Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be utilized for such Guarantor in connection with such Excess Payment. This Section 10.06 shall not be deemed to affect any right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution that any Guarantor may have under Law against the Borrower in respect of any payment of Obligations.

10.07 Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee.

The guarantee in this Article X is a guaranty of payment and not of collection, is a continuing guarantee, and shall apply to the Obligations whenever arising.

10.08 Keepwell.

Each Loan Party that is a Qualified ECP Guarantor at the time the Guaranty in this Article X by any Loan Party that is not then an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (a “Specified Loan Party”) or the grant of a security interest under the Loan Documents by any such Specified Loan Party, in either case, becomes effective with respect to any Swap Obligation, hereby jointly and severally, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support to each Specified Loan Party with respect to such Swap Obligation as may be needed by such Specified Loan Party from time to time to honor all of its obligations under the Loan Documents in respect of such Swap Obligation (but, in each case, only up to the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s obligations and undertakings under this Article X voidable under applicable Debtor Relief Laws, and not for any greater amount). The obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full. Each Loan Party intends this Section to constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each Specified Loan Party for all purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

111


ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

11.01 Amendments, Etc.

Subject to Section 3.03, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, 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

(a) no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(i) 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 (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 or of any Default or a mandatory reduction in Commitments is not considered an extension or increase in Commitments of any Lender);

(ii) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) or any scheduled reduction of the Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such payment or whose Commitments are to be reduced;

(iii) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (i) of the final proviso to this Section 11.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such amount; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (A) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate or (B) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

(iv) change Section 8.03 or Section 2.13 in a manner that would have the effect of altering the ratable reduction of Commitments, pro rata payments or pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(v) change any provision of this Section 11.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” without the written consent of each Lender;

(vi) release all or substantially all of the Collateral without the written consent of each Lender whose Obligations are secured by such Collateral;

(vii) release the Borrower without the consent of each Lender, or, except in connection with a transaction permitted under Section 6.09 or Section 6.10, all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty without the written consent of each Lender whose Obligations are guaranteed thereby, except to the extent such release is permitted pursuant to Section 9.10 (in which case such release may be made by the Administrative Agent acting alone); or

(b) unless also signed by the L/C Issuer, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it;

 

112


(c) unless also signed by the Swing Line Lender, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; and

(d) unless also signed by the Administrative Agent, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;

provided, further, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) the Fee Letter and/or the First Amendment Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto, (ii) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States supersedes the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein, (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine whether or not to allow a Loan Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding and such determination shall be binding on all of the Lenders, (iv) an Incremental Facility Amendment shall be effective if signed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and each Person that agrees to provide a portion of the applicable Incremental Facility and (v) any Collateral Document Amendments shall be effective if signed by the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent.

No Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects such Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties (i) to add one or more additional revolving credit or term loan facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit and all related obligations and liabilities arising in connection therewith from time to time outstanding to share ratably (or on a basis subordinated to the existing facilities hereunder) in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the obligations and liabilities from time to time outstanding in respect of the existing facilities hereunder, and (ii) in connection with the foregoing, to permit, as deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent and approved by the Required Lenders, the Lenders providing such additional credit facilities to participate in any required vote or action required to be approved by the Required Lenders or by any other number, percentage or class of Lenders hereunder.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any other Loan Document to cure or correct administrative errors or omissions, any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency or to effect administrative changes, and such amendment shall become effective without any further consent of any other party to such Loan Document so long as (i) such amendment, modification or supplement does not adversely affect the rights of any Lender or other holder of Obligations in any material respect and (ii) the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment.

 

113


11.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.

(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile as follows, 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 any Loan Party, to the address, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02;

(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02; and

(iii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e mail, FpML messaging, and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to an electronic communications agreement (or such other procedures approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement) and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

114


(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or through the Internet.

(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities Laws.

(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic notices, Loan Notices, Letter of Credit Applications, Notice of Loan Prepayment and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party 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 Loan Parties shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of a Loan Party. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

115


11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.

No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including the imposition of the Default Rate) 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, and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuer; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

11.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Loan Parties shall pay (i) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent) in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

116


(b) Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including any Loan Party) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby (including, without limitation, the Indemnitee’s reliance on any Communication executed using an Electronic Signature, or in the form of an Electronic Record), the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by any Loan Party against an Indemnitee for material breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(c), this Section 11.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by them to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought), provided, further that, the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

 

117


(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives, and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.

(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

11.05 Payments Set Aside.

To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Loan Party is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff 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, the L/C Issuer 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 setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) 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. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

11.06 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an 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 or (iii) by way of

 

118


pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e) 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 Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts.

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the related Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender 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 in the case of any assignment in respect of a Revolving Commitment (and the related Revolving Loans thereunder) 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) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s Loans and Commitments, and rights and obligations with respect thereto, assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;

(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

119


(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of any Revolving Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect of the applicable credit facility subject to such assignment, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and

(C) the consent of the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender shall be required for any assignment in respect of Revolving A Loans and Revolving A Commitments.

(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural Person).

(vi) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

120


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 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 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 and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment); provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties (including the Borrower), no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. 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) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall 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. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender (with respect to such Lender’s interest only), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) Participations. 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 a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural Person), a Defaulting Lender 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 participations in L/C Obligations and/or 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, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.

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 Section 11.01(a) that affects such Participant. 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 (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by

 

121


assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(e) Certain Pledges. 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.

(f) Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Revolving A Commitment and Revolving A Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (i) upon thirty days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon thirty days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or 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 L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). 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 Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (1) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring

 

122


L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (2) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.

11.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates, to its auditors and to its Related Parties (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 required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any 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 assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to become a Lender pursuant to Section 2.16 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the provider of any Platform or other electronic delivery service used by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and/or the Swing Line Lender to deliver Borrower Materials or notices to the Lenders, (h) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (i) with the consent of the Borrower or (j) 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, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. 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 of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.

For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from a Loan Party or any Subsidiary relating to the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by such Loan Party or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from a Loan Party or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date, such information is clearly identified 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.

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning a Loan Party or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

123


The Loan Parties and their Affiliates agree that they will not in the future issue any press releases or other public disclosure using the name of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or their respective Affiliates or referring to this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, unless (and only to the extent that) the Loan Parties or such Affiliate is required to do so under law and then, in any event the Loan Parties or such Affiliate will consult with such Person before issuing such press release or other public disclosure.

The Loan Parties consent to the use of the name, product, photographs, logo or trademark of the Loan Parties by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in customary marketing material relating to the transaction contemplated hereby; provided the Administrative Agent and the Lenders will not issue any press release or make other public disclosures or advertisements to the public without the consent of the Borrower.

11.08 Rights of Setoff.

If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, the L/C Issuer or such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office or Affiliate of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

11.09 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.

 

124


11.10 Integration; Effectiveness.

This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

11.11 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 Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

11.12 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 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. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

11.13 Replacement of Lenders.

(a) If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b);

 

125


(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and

(v) in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.

(b) A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

(c) Each party hereto agrees that (i) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 11.13 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and (ii) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the terms thereof; provided, that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender; provided, further that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11.13 to the contrary, (i) the Lender that acts as the L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements satisfactory to such Lender (including the furnishing of a backstop standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer, reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer or the depositing of Cash Collateral into a Cash Collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to such outstanding Letter of Credit and (ii) the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.06.

 

126


11.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO, OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA SITTING IN ARLINGTON COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH VIRGINIA STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE COLLATERAL IS LOCATED.

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

127


11.15 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

11.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.

In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of the Loan Parties acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator, the Arranger and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator, the Arranger and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates, on the other hand, (B) each of the Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) each of the Loan Parties is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator, the Arranger and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator, the Arranger, nor any Lender nor any of their respective Affiliates has any obligation to the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator, the Arranger, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator, the Arranger, nor any Lender nor any of their respective Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator, the Arranger or any Lender and their respective Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

11.17 Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts.

This Agreement, any Loan Document and any other Communication, including Communications required to be in writing, may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures. Each of the Loan Parties and each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender, and each Lender (collectively, each a “Credit Party”) agrees that any Electronic Signature on or

 

128


associated with any Communication shall be valid and binding on such Person to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that any Communication entered into by Electronic Signature, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with the terms thereof to the same extent as if a manually executed original signature was delivered. Any Communication may be executed in as many counterparts as necessary or convenient, including both paper and electronic counterparts, but all such counterparts are one and the same Communication. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Administrative Agent and each of the Credit Parties may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record (“Electronic Copy”), which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document. All Communications in the form of an Electronic Record, including an Electronic Copy, shall be considered an original for all purposes, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer nor Swing Line Lender is under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Credit Parties shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party and/or any Credit Party without further verification and (b) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Credit Party, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.

Neither the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer nor Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s, L/C Issuer’s or Swing Line Lender’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means). The Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any Communication (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution or signed using an Electronic Signature) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone (but with regard to oral or telephonic notices or statements only to the extent expressly permitted hereunder) and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

Each of the Loan Parties and each Credit Party hereby waives (i) any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document, and (ii) waives any claim against the Administrative Agent, each Credit Party and each Related Party for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Credit Party’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Loan Parties to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

 

129


11.18 USA PATRIOT Act Notice.

Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of the Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the Act. The Loan Parties shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

11.19 Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness.

Each Loan Party (a “Subordinating Loan Party”) agrees that the payment of all obligations and indebtedness, whether principal, interest, fees and other amounts and whether now owing or hereafter arising, owing to such Subordinating Loan Party by any other Loan Party is expressly subordinated to the payment in full in cash of the Obligations. If the Administrative Agent so requests, any such obligation or indebtedness shall be enforced and performance received by the Subordinating Loan Party as trustee for the holders of the Obligations and the proceeds thereof shall be paid over to the holders of the Obligations on account of the Obligations, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of the Subordinating Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. Without limitation of the foregoing, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, the Loan Parties may make and receive payments with respect to Intercompany Debt, provided, that in the event that any Loan Party receives any payment of any Intercompany Debt at a time when such payment is prohibited by this Section, such payment shall be held by such Loan Party, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to the Administrative Agent.

11.20 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions.

Solely to the extent any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an Affected Financial Institution is a party to this Agreement and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender or L/C Issuer that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

 

130


11.21 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs.

To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States): In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

[SIGNATURE PAGES PURPOSELY OMITTED]

 

131