AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 28, 2015 among ACETO CORPORATION The Lenders Party Hereto JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as Administrative Agent and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Syndication Agent

EX-10.1 2 t83403_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

October 28, 2015

 

among

 

ACETO CORPORATION

 

The Lenders Party Hereto

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

as Administrative Agent

 

and

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Syndication Agent

 

 

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC and WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
   
ARTICLE I Definitions 1
   
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms 1
   
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings 25
   
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally 26
   
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP 26
   
SECTION 1.05. Pro Forma Calculations 27
   
SECTION 1.06. Amendment and Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement 27
   
SECTION 1.07. Status of Obligations 27
   
ARTICLE II The Credits 28
   
SECTION 2.01. Commitments 28
   
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings 28
   
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings 29
   
SECTION 2.04. [Intentionally Omitted] 29
   
SECTION 2.05. Swingline Loans 29
   
SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit 30
   
SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings 35
   
SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections 35
   
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments 36
   
SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt 37
   
SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans 38
   
SECTION 2.12. Fees 38
   
SECTION 2.13. Interest 39
   
SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest 40
   
SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs 40
   
SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments 42
   
SECTION 2.17. Taxes 42
   
SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs 46
   
SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders 48
   
SECTION 2.20. Defaulting Lenders 49
   
SECTION 2.21. Returned Payments 50
   
SECTION 2.22. Banking Services and Swap Agreements 51
   
SECTION 2.23. Expansion Option 51
   
ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties 52
   
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers 52

 

i

 

 

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceable Obligations 52
   
SECTION 3.03. Financial Condition; Solvency 53
   
SECTION 3.04. Taxes 53
   
SECTION 3.05. Title to Properties; Intellectual Property 53
   
SECTION 3.06. Litigation 53
   
SECTION 3.07. Labor Matters 54
   
SECTION 3.08. Compliance with ERISA 54
   
SECTION 3.09. Federal Reserve Regulations; Use of Proceeds 54
   
SECTION 3.10. Approval 54
   
SECTION 3.11. Subsidiaries 54
   
SECTION 3.12. Hazardous Materials 55
   
SECTION 3.13. Investment Company Act 55
   
SECTION 3.14. Collateral Documents; Liens 55
   
SECTION 3.15. No Default 55
   
SECTION 3.16. Permits and Licenses 55
   
SECTION 3.17. Material Contracts 55
   
SECTION 3.18. Compliance with Law 55
   
SECTION 3.19. Full Disclosure 55
   
SECTION 3.20. Insurance 56
   
SECTION 3.21. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions 56
   
ARTICLE IV Conditions 56
   
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date 56
   
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event 57
   
ARTICLE V Affirmative Covenants 58
   
SECTION 5.01. Existence; Properties; Insurance 58
   
SECTION 5.02. Payment of Obligations and Taxes 58
   
SECTION 5.03. Financial Statements; Other Information 58
   
SECTION 5.04. Books and Records; Access to Premises 60
   
SECTION 5.05. Notices of Material Events 60
   
SECTION 5.06. Compliance with Applicable Laws 61
   
SECTION 5.07. Environmental Laws 61
   
SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds 61
   
SECTION 5.09. Guarantors; Collateral; Further Assurances 62
   
ARTICLE VI Negative Covenants 63
   
SECTION 6.01. Liens 63
   
SECTION 6.02. Indebtedness 65

 

ii

 

 

SECTION 6.03. Guarantees 67
   
SECTION 6.04. Sale of Assets 67
   
SECTION 6.05. Sale of Receivables 68
   
SECTION 6.06. Loans; Investments and Acquisitions 68
   
SECTION 6.07. Nature of Business 68
   
SECTION 6.08. Sale and Leaseback Transactions 68
   
SECTION 6.09. Federal Reserve Regulations 68
   
SECTION 6.10. Accounting Policies and Procedures 69
   
SECTION 6.11. Limitations on Fundamental Changes 69
   
SECTION 6.12. Financial Covenants 69
   
SECTION 6.13. Subordinated Indebtedness 70
   
SECTION 6.14. Restricted Payments 70
   
SECTION 6.15. Transactions with Affiliates 71
   
SECTION 6.16. Governmental Regulation 71
   
SECTION 6.17. Hazardous Materials 71
   
SECTION 6.18. Restrictive Agreements 71
   
ARTICLE VII Events of Default 72
   
ARTICLE VIII The Administrative Agent 74
   
SECTION 8.01. Appointment 74
   
SECTION 8.02. Rights as a Lender 74
   
SECTION 8.03. Duties and Obligations 74
   
SECTION 8.04. Reliance 75
   
SECTION 8.05. Actions through Sub-Agents 75
   
SECTION 8.06. Resignation 75
   
SECTION 8.07. Non-Reliance 76
   
SECTION 8.08. Other Agency Titles 77
   
SECTION 8.09. Not Partners or Co-Venturers; Administrative Agent as Representative of the Secured Parties 77
   
ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous 77
   
SECTION 9.01. Notices 77
   
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments 79
   
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver 81
   
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns 83
   
SECTION 9.05. Survival 87
   
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution 87
   
SECTION 9.07. Severability 87
   
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff 87

 

iii

 

 

SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process 88
   
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 88
   
SECTION 9.11. Headings 88
   
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality 89
   
SECTION 9.13. Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law 90
   
SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act 90
   
SECTION 9.15. Disclosure 90
   
SECTION 9.16. Appointment for Perfection 90
   
SECTION 9.17. Interest Rate Limitation 90
   
SECTION 9.18. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility 90
   
SECTION 9.19. Marketing Consent 91
   
ARTICLE X Loan Guaranty 91
   
SECTION 10.01. Guaranty 91
   
SECTION 10.02. Guaranty of Payment 91
   
SECTION 10.03. No Discharge or Diminishment of Loan Guaranty 92
   
SECTION 10.04. Defenses Waived 92
   
SECTION 10.05. Rights of Subrogation 93
   
SECTION 10.06. Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration 93
   
SECTION 10.07. Information 93
   
SECTION 10.08. Termination 93
   
SECTION 10.09. Taxes 94
   
SECTION 10.10. Maximum Liability 94
   
SECTION 10.11. Contribution 94
   
SECTION 10.12. Liability Cumulative 95
   
SECTION 10.13. Keepwell 95

 

SCHEDULES:
 
Schedule 2.01 – Commitments
Schedule 2.06 – Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 3.05 – Intellectual Property
Schedule 3.06 – Litigation
Schedule 3.11 – Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.12 – Hazardous Materials
Schedule 3.17 – Material Contracts
Schedule 3.20 – Insurance
Schedule 6.01 – Existing Liens
Schedule 6.02 – Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.03 – Existing Guarantees
Schedule 6.18 – Existing Restrictive Agreements

 

iv

 

 

EXHIBITS:
 
Exhibit A – Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B-1 – U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships)
Exhibit B-2 – U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships)
Exhibit B-3 – U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships)
Exhibit B-4 – U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships)
Exhibit C – Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit D – Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit E – Form of Increasing Lender Supplement
Exhibit F – Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement
Exhibit G-1 – Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit G-2 – Form of Interest Election Request
Exhibit H – Form of Solvency Certificate
Exhibit I – List of Closing Documents
Exhibit J – Form of Revolving Loan Note

 

v

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 28, 2015 (as it may be amended or modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among ACETO CORPORATION, as Borrower, the other Loan Parties party hereto, the Lenders party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Syndication Agent.

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties party thereto, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent thereunder, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as syndication agent thereunder, are currently party to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2014 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Loan Parties, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent have agreed to enter into this Agreement in order to, among other things, (i) amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety; (ii) modify and re-evidence the “Secured Obligations” under, and as defined in, the Existing Credit Agreement, which shall be repayable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) set forth the terms and conditions under which the Lenders will, from time to time, make loans and extend other financial accommodations to or for the benefit of the Borrower.

 

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the parties hereto that this Agreement not constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities of the parties under the Existing Credit Agreement or be deemed to evidence or constitute full repayment of such obligations and liabilities, but that this Agreement amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement and modify and re-evidence the obligations and liabilities of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties outstanding thereunder, which shall be payable in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

WHEREAS, it is also the intent of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties to confirm that all obligations under the applicable “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) shall continue in full force and effect as modified or restated by the Loan Documents (as referred to and defined herein) and that, from and after the Effective Date, all references to the “Credit Agreement” contained in any such existing “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree that the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions

 

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to a Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

 

Adjusted Covenant Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.12(a).

 

1

 

 

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period or for any ABR Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

 

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affected Foreign Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent that the pledge of 662/3% or more of such Foreign Subsidiary’s Equity Interests as Collateral to secure the Secured Obligations could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary. For purposes of the definition of Affected Foreign Subsidiary, a Foreign Subsidiary shall include any Domestic Subsidiary substantially all of the assets of which consist of Equity Interests in one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are “controlled foreign corporations” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code, so long as such Domestic Subsidiary (i) does not conduct any business or activities other than the ownership of such Equity Interests and (ii) does not incur, and is not otherwise liable for, any Indebtedness or other liabilities.

 

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 specified Person.

 

Agent Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).

 

Aggregate Credit Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate Credit Exposure of all the Lenders at such time.

 

Aggregate Revolving Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate Revolving Exposure of all the Lenders at such time.

 

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the FRBNY Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1%, and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one-month Interest Period in Dollars on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day, subject to the interest rate floors set forth therein (without any rounding). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the FRBNY Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the FRBNY Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14 hereof, then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clause (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

 

Applicable Percentage” means, at any time with respect to any Lender, with respect to Revolving Loans, LC Exposure or Swingline Loans, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Revolving Commitment at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time (provided that, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon such Lender’s share of the Aggregate Revolving Exposure at such time); provided that, in accordance with Section 2.20, so long as any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment shall be disregarded in the calculations above.

 

2

 

 

Applicable Pledge Percentage” means 100% but 65% in the case of a pledge by the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary of its Equity Interests in an Affected Foreign Subsidiary.

 

Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, any ABR Loan or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Eurodollar Spread”, “ABR Spread” or “Commitment Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio applicable on such date:

 

   Senior Secured Net
Leverage Ratio:
  Eurodollar Spread   ABR
Spread
   Commitment Fee
Rate
 
Category 1:  < 0.75 to 1.00   1.00%   0%   0.20%
Category 2:  ≥ 0.75 to 1.00 but
< 1.50 to 1.00
   1.25%   0.25%   0.25%
Category 3:  ≥ 1.50 to 1.00 but
≤ 2.00 to 1.00
   1.50%   0.50%   0.30%
Category 4:  > 2.00 to 1.00   1.75%   0.75%   0.35%

 

For purposes of the foregoing, (a) the Applicable Rate shall be determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, based upon the Borrower’s annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.03 and (b) each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the period commencing on and including the third (3rd) Business Day following the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent of such consolidated financial statements indicating such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change, provided that if the Borrower fails to deliver the annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements required to be delivered by it pursuant to Section 5.03, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be in Category 4 for the period commencing three (3) Business Days after such required date of delivery and ending on the date which is three (3) Business Days after such statements or certificates are actually delivered, after which the Category shall be determined in accordance with the table above as applicable.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Category 2 shall be deemed to be applicable until the third (3rd) Business Day following the date of the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the applicable financial statements for the Borrower’s first fiscal quarter ending after the Effective Date and adjustments to the Category then in effect shall thereafter be effected in accordance with the preceding paragraph.

 

If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that the financial statements upon which the Applicable Rate was determined were incorrect (whether based on a restatement, fraud or otherwise), at the direction of the Administrative Agent the Borrower shall be required to retroactively pay any additional amount that the Borrower would have been required to pay if such financial statements had been accurate at the time they were delivered.

 

Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).

 

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

3

 

 

Augmenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23.

 

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments.

 

Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Borrower or any Subsidiary by any Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) credit cards for commercial customers (including, without limitation, “commercial credit cards” and purchasing cards), (b) stored value cards, (c) merchant processing services, and (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, any direct debit scheme or arrangement, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

Banking Services Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

 

Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, when such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business, appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, unless such ownership interest results in or provides such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the U.S. or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permits such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

 

Beneficial Owner” means, for purposes of any U.S. federal withholding Tax, the beneficial owner upon which the incidence of such tax is borne directly in whole or in part.

 

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the U.S.

 

Borrower” means Aceto Corporation, a New York corporation.

 

Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (b) a Swingline Loan.

 

Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-1.

 

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for general business in London.

 

4

 

 

Capital Expenditures” means, without duplication, any expenditure or commitment to expend money for any purchase or other acquisition of any asset which would be classified as a fixed or capital asset on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Capital Expenditures shall not include the following:

 

(a)          expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures of such person and that actually are paid for by a third party (excluding a Loan Party or Subsidiary thereof) and for which none of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof has provided or is required to provide or incur, directly or indirectly, any consideration or obligation to such third party or any other person (whether before, during or after such period);

 

(b)          the purchase price of equipment purchased during such period to the extent that the consideration therefor consists of any combination of (i) used or surplus equipment traded in at the time of such purchase and (ii) the proceeds of a concurrent sale of used or surplus equipment, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement; or

 

(c)          capital expenditures constituting the consideration paid by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in Permitted Acquisitions.

 

Capital Lease” shall mean any lease the obligations of which are required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Cash Deduction Amount” means, as of any date of determination, the lesser of (i) (a) Liquidity, minus (b) $5,000,000 and (ii) 50% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then most recently ended and for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(a) or (b) (or, if prior to the date of the delivery of the first financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(a) or (b), the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 3.03(a)).

 

Change in Control” shall mean any event which results in (i) any Person, or two or more Persons acting in concert, acquiring beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Borrower (or other securities convertible into such securities) representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of all securities of the Borrower entitled to vote in the election of directors; or (ii) during any period of up to 12 consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning of such 12-month period were directors of the Borrower, together with any director approved or nominated by the then majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower, ceasing for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower; or (iii) any Person, or two or more Persons acting in concert, acquiring by contract or otherwise, or entering into a contract or arrangement which upon consummation will result in its or their acquisition of, or control over, securities of the Borrower (or securities convertible into such securities) representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of all securities of the Borrower entitled to vote in the election of directors.

 

5

 

 

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rules, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the U.S. 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.

 

Charges” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.17.

 

Chase” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association, in its individual capacity, and its successors.

 

Class”, when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

Collateral” means any and all property owned by a Person covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become, subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Lenders and other Secured Parties, to secure the Secured Obligations; provided that the Collateral shall exclude Excluded Property.

 

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and any other agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection with this Agreement that are intended to create, perfect or evidence Liens to secure the Secured Obligations, including, without limitation, all other security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust, loan agreements, notes, guarantees, subordination agreements, pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, fee letters, notices, leases, financing statements and all other written matter whether theretofore, now or hereafter executed by the Borrower of any of its Subsidiaries and delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement.

 

Commercial LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding commercial Letters of Credit plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements relating to commercial Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower. The Commercial LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate Commercial LC Exposure at such time.

 

Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Commitment.

 

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

Communications” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).

 

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.

 

6

 

 

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (ii) provisions for taxes based on income or profit for such period, including state, federal, franchise, gross receipts and margins and similar taxes, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization expense for such period, (iv) any extraordinary non-cash charges for such period, (v) any other non-cash charges for such period (including with respect to stock based compensation, but excluding any non-cash charge in respect of an item that was included in Consolidated Net Income in a prior period and any non-cash charge that relates to the write-down or write-off of inventory), (vi) cash transaction fees and expenses solely in respect of the consummation of acquisitions, dispositions and debt and equity issuances (including the Transactions), in each case permitted by the Loan Documents in an aggregate amount not to exceed 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period (calculated without giving effect to the add-back described in this clause (vi)), (vii) cash non-recurring expenses, costs, charges and losses in respect of restructurings, integration and other business optimization expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, retention, severance, systems establishment costs, systems conversion and integration costs, and contract termination costs) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, (1) income tax credits and refunds, (2) any cash payments made during such period in respect of non-cash charges described in clause (a)(v) taken in a prior period and (3) any extraordinary gains and any non-cash items of income for such period, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. For the purposes of calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (each such period, a “Reference Period”), (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference Period, and (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period. As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes (i) assets comprising all or substantially all or any significant portion of a business or operating unit of a business, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding common stock or other Equity Interests of a Person, and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000; and “Material Disposition” means any sale, transfer or disposition of property or series of related sales, transfers, or dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, total interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates, to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP), calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period in accordance with GAAP. In the event that the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have completed a Material Acquisition or a Material Disposition since the beginning of the relevant period, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be determined for such period on a pro forma basis as if such acquisition or disposition, and any related incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, had occurred at the beginning of such period.

 

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Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) determined for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than as provided in the definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Section 1.05), (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary) in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary, to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any contractual obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of the date of any determination thereof, total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis as of such date.

 

Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, all funded indebtedness (which shall include, without duplication, (a) all obligations for borrowed money, (b) all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations, (f) all obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (g) obligations under earn-outs and deferred acquisition consideration to the extent the Borrower accounts for such obligations as a liability on its balance sheet in accordance with GAAP and (h) any Off-Balance Sheet Liability to the extent consisting of any indebtedness, liability or obligation under any so-called “synthetic lease” transaction or any indebtedness, liability or obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of indebtedness for borrowed money but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet (other than operating leases and contingent liabilities), in each case determined for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Total Funded Senior Secured Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, (i) Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on any property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, plus (ii) obligations under earn-outs and deferred acquisition consideration to the extent the Borrower accounts for such obligations as a liability on its balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, minus (iii) all Subordinated Indebtedness, in each case determined for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

 

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.

 

Credit Event” means a Borrowing, the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, an LC Disbursement or any of the foregoing.

 

Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, such Lender’s Revolving Exposure at such time.

 

Credit Party” means the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender.

 

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Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a Loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by a Credit Party, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event.

 

Domestic Liquidity” means, as of any date of determination, the dollar amount of unrestricted and unencumbered (other than the Liens of the Lenders and any customary liens of depositary banks) cash and Eligible Investments maintained by the Borrower and its subsidiaries in the United States, as of such date.

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America.

 

dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the U.S.

 

ECP” means an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1(a)(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or the SEC.

 

Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

 

Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

 

Electronic System” means any electronic system, including e-mail, e-fax, Intralinks®, ClearPar® and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent and any Issuing Bank and any of its respective Related Parties or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.

 

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Eligible Investments” shall mean (a) direct obligations of the United States of America or any governmental agency thereof which are fully guaranteed by the United States of America, provided that such obligations mature within one year from the date of acquisition thereof; or (b) dollar denominated certificates of time deposit maturing within one year issued by any bank organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof and having aggregate capital and surplus in excess of $1,000,000,000; or (c) money market mutual funds having assets in excess of $2,500,000,000; or (d) commercial paper rated not less than P-1 or A-1 or their equivalent by Moody’s or S&P, respectively; or (e) tax exempt securities of a U.S. issuer rated A or better by S&P or Moody’s; or (f) in respect of any Foreign Subsidiary, the substantial equivalent (including in respect of credit quality thereof) of any of the foregoing in any jurisdiction in which such Foreign Subsidiary is organized or formed or doing business.

 

Environmental Laws” shall mean any law, ordinance, rule, regulation, or policy having the force of law of any Governmental Authority relating to pollution or protection of the environment or to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials, including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sections 9601, et seq.), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended (49 U.S.C. Sections 1801, et seq.) the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sections 6901, et seq.) and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

 

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) any violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) any exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

ETC Acquisition” means the acquisition by the Borrower of all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Target in accordance with the ETC Acquisition Agreement.

 

ETC Acquisition Agreement” means the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement among the Borrower, Rising, the Target, the Sellers named therein and the Sellers’ Representative named therein, dated as of March 26, 2014 (together with all exhibits, schedules and disclosure letter thereto), as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time with the consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, means that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

 

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Excluded Property” means:

 

(a) all fee owned real property and all leasehold interests in real property;

 

(b) assets subject to certificates of title (other than motor vehicles subject to certificates of title, provided that perfection of security interests in such motor vehicles, if not excluded entirely, as set forth below in clause (h), shall be limited to the filing of UCC financing statements);

 

(c) letter of credit rights (other than to the extent the security interest in such letter of credit rights may be perfected by the filing of UCC financing statements) with a value of less than $1,000,000;

 

(d) commercial tort claims with a value of less than $1,000,000;

 

(e) assets in respect of which pledges and security interests are prohibited by applicable U.S. law, rule or regulation or agreements with any U.S. Governmental Authority;

 

(f) Equity Interests in any Person other than wholly owned subsidiaries to the extent not permitted by the terms of such Person’s organizational or joint venture documents;

 

(g) voting Equity Interests in excess of the Applicable Pledge Percentage in any Foreign Subsidiary owned directly by the Borrower or another Loan Guarantor;

 

(h) any lease, license or other agreement or any property subject to a purchase money security interest or similar arrangement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or purchase money arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Borrower or a Loan Guarantor) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the UCC notwithstanding such prohibition;

 

(i) such assets as to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall reasonably agree that the costs of obtaining or perfecting a security interest therein are excessive in relation to the benefit to the Lenders of the security to be afforded thereby;

 

(j) Specified Accounts;

 

(k) cash to secure letter of credit reimbursement obligations to the extent such secured letters of credit are issued or permitted, and such cash collateral is permitted, hereunder;

 

(l) any application for registration of a trademark filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”), on an intent-to-use basis, if the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent to use trademark applications under applicable federal law until such time (if any) as a statement of use or amendment to allege use is accepted by the PTO, at which time such trademark shall automatically become part of the Collateral; and

 

(n) personal and real property located outside of the United States (other than Equity Interests of Foreign Subsidiaries as contemplated by this Agreement);

 

provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, “Excluded Property” shall not include any proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of Excluded Property (unless such proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would otherwise constitute Excluded Property).

 

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Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant 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 of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a 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 applicable 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, Letter of Credit or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(f) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Existing Credit Agreement” is defined in the recitals hereof.

 

Existing Letters of Credit” is defined in Section 2.06.

 

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the date of this Agreement (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, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any intergovernmental agreements to implement such Sections of the Code entered into between any relevant authorities on behalf of the United States and such jurisdiction.

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the FRBNY based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the FRBNY shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the FRBNY as the federal funds effective rate.

 

Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer or treasurer of the Borrower.

 

First Tier Foreign Subsidiary” means each Foreign Subsidiary with respect to which any one or more of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries directly owns or Controls more than 50% of such Foreign Subsidiary’s issued and outstanding Equity Interests.

 

Foreign Lender” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.

 

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Foreign Liquidity” means, as of any date of determination, the dollar amount of unrestricted and unencumbered cash and Eligible Investments (other than customary liens of depositary banks) maintained by the Borrower and its subsidiaries outside of the United States less the applicable combined federal and state marginal income tax due or payable (taking into account the federal deduction for state income taxes and any and all tax credits) that would be imposed on the Borrower or applicable subsidiary in the case of, and with respect to, the repatriation of such cash and cash equivalents to the United States of America, in each case as of such date.

 

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

 

FRBNY” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

FRBNY Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day; provided that if both such rates are not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “FRBNY Rate” means the rate quoted for such day for a federal funds transaction at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a Federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Funding Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(f).

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the U.S., any other nation or 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.

 

Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01.

 

Guarantors” means all Loan Guarantors, and the term “Guarantor” means each or any one of them individually.

 

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Hazardous Materials” shall mean any explosives, radioactive materials, or other materials, wastes, substances, or chemicals regulated as toxic, hazardous or as a pollutant, contaminant or waste under any applicable Environmental Law.

 

IDA Transaction” shall mean the conveyance by Aceto Realty LLC of its fee interest in the real property and improvements located at 4 Tri Harbor Court, Port Washington, New York to the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (the “Agency”) subject to a lease-back of such property pursuant to the terms of a lease (“Lease”) for a period of ten (10) years and a right of Aceto Realty LLC to repurchase such real property and improvements for $1.00 (i) upon expiration of the Lease from the Agency, or (ii) at any time Aceto Realty LLC determines to do so provided in connection therewith it reimburses the Agency for any benefits that it received from the Lease and the payment in lieu of taxes agreement executed in connection with the Lease, which reimbursement obligations are secured by a so-called “Pilot Mortgage” granted by Aceto Realty LLC in favor of the Agency (the “Pilot Mortgage”). The IDA Transaction shall include a sublease by Aceto Realty LLC of its rights under the Lease to the Borrower.

 

Immaterial Domestic Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary that is not a Material Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Immaterial Foreign Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Material Foreign Subsidiary.

 

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Immaterial Domestic Subsidiary or Immaterial Foreign Subsidiary.

 

Impacted Interest Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBO Rate”.

 

Increasing Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23.

 

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (j) obligations under any earn-out to the extent the Borrower accounts for such earn-out as a liability on its balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, (k) any other Off-Balance Sheet Liability and (l) net obligations under any and all Swap Agreements. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

 

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 the foregoing clause (a), Other Taxes.

 

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Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(b).

 

Ineligible Institution” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).

 

Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.12.

 

Intellectual Property” means (i) patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights, know-how and all rights thereunder or in respect thereof that are either owned by or licensed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including but not limited to those identified on Schedule 3.05, and (ii) including but not limited to, all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims, and payments for past, present, and future infringements thereof, and all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements of the foregoing, including the right to settle suits involving claims and demands for royalties owing, and rights of priority and protection of interests therein under the laws of any jurisdiction worldwide and all tangible embodiments thereof.

 

Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-2.

 

Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the first day of each calendar quarter and the Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the Maturity Date and (c) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the Maturity Date.

 

Interest Period” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Eurodollar Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months (or, solely in respect of the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending thirty (30) days thereafter, seven days) thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

 

Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded upward to four decimal places) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period and (b) the LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time. When determining the rate for a period which is less than the shortest period for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available, the LIBO Screen Rate for purposes of paragraph (a) above shall be deemed to be the overnight screen rate where “overnight screen rate” means the overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent from such service as the Administrative Agent may select.

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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Issuing Bank” means Chase and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, each in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i). Each Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by its Affiliates, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate (it being agreed that such Issuing Bank shall, or shall cause such Affiliate to, comply with the requirements of Section 2.06 with respect to such Letters of Credit).

 

Joinder Agreement” means a Joinder Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit D.

 

Knowledge” means knowledge of material information actually possessed, or which should in the reasonable course of business be possessed, by a managing executive or person in charge of Intellectual Property matters of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

LC Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(j).

 

LC Disbursement” means any payment made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

 

LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the Commercial LC Exposure and the Standby LC Exposure at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate LC Exposure at such time.

 

Lead Arranger” means each of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC in its capacity as a joint bookrunner and joint lead arranger for the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.

 

Lender Parent” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.

 

Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.23 or pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a Lender hereunder pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks.

 

Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement, and the term “Letter of Credit” means any one of them or each of them singularly, as the context may require.

 

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any applicable Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion (the “LIBO Screen Rate”) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that, (x) if any LIBO Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement and (y) if the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for a period equal in length to such Interest Period (an “Impacted Interest Period”), then the LIBO Rate shall be the Interpolated Rate at such time, subject to Section 2.14 in the event that the Administrative Agent shall conclude that it shall not be possible to determine such Interpolated Rate (which conclusion shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error); provided, that, if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the above, to the extent that “LIBO Rate” or “Adjusted LIBO Rate” is used in connection with an ABR Borrowing, such rate shall be determined as modified by the definition of Alternate Base Rate.

 

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LIBO Screen Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBO Rate”.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

 

Liquidity” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of Domestic Liquidity and Foreign Liquidity.

 

Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, each promissory note issued pursuant to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit applications, each Collateral Document, the Loan Guaranty and each other agreement, instrument, document and certificate identified in Section 4.01 executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any Lender and including each other pledge, power of attorney, consent, assignment, contract, notice, letter of credit agreement and each other written matter whether heretofore, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of any Loan Party, or any employee of any Loan Party, and delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement. Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.

 

Loan Guarantor” means each Loan Party.

 

Loan Guaranty” means Article X of this Agreement.

 

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower, the Borrower’s Material Domestic Subsidiaries and any other Person who becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to a Joinder Agreement and their successors and assigns, and the term “Loan Party” shall mean any one of them or all of them individually, as the context may require.

 

Loans” means the loans and advances made by the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement, including Swingline Loans.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, property or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) the validity or enforceability of (i) this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or (ii) the rights of or remedies available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents.

 

Material Contract” means each contract, instrument or agreement to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party which, if terminated, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Material Domestic Subsidiary” means each Domestic Subsidiary which is a Material Subsidiary.

 

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Material Foreign Subsidiary” means each Foreign Subsidiary which is a Material Subsidiary.

 

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), including, without limitation, obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $5,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

Material Obligation” means contractual obligations of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000,000.

 

Material Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary (i) which, as of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Borrower, for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended, for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(a) or (b) (or, if prior to the date of the delivery of the first financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(a) or (b), the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 3.03(a)), contributed greater than five percent (5%) of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period or (ii) which contributed greater than five percent (5%) of Consolidated Total Assets as of such date; provided that, if at any time the aggregate amount of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets attributable to all Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries exceeds ten percent (10%) of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for any such period or ten percent (10%) of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of any such fiscal quarter, the Borrower (or, in the event the Borrower has failed to do so within ten (10) days, the Administrative Agent) shall designate sufficient Subsidiaries as “Material Subsidiaries” to eliminate such excess, and such designated Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement constitute Material Subsidiaries.

 

Maturity Date” means October 28, 2020.

 

Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.17.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(d).

 

Non-U.S. Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

 

Obligated Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.02.

 

Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all LC Exposure, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations and indebtedness (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), obligations and liabilities of any of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to any of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any indemnified party, individually or collectively, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, arising or incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect of any of the Loans made or reimbursement or other obligations incurred or any of the Letters of Credit or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof.

 

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OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of Treasury.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Liability” of a Person means (a) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, (b) any indebtedness, liability or obligation under any so-called “synthetic lease” transaction entered into by such Person, or (c) any indebtedness, liability or obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person (other than operating leases and contingent liabilities).

 

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 Taxes (other than a connection 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, Letter of Credit, or any 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 2.19).

 

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions (as such composite rate shall be determined by the FRBNY as set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the FRBNY as an overnight bank funding rate (from and after such date as the FRBNY shall commence to publish such composite rate).

 

Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).

 

Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

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Permitted Acquisition” shall mean any acquisition (whether by merger or otherwise) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other similar ownership interests of a Person which is engaged in a line of business similar to the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary (or reasonable extensions thereof) or the purchase of all or substantially all of the assets owned by such Person; provided (a) the Administrative Agent shall have received, within thirty (30) days of the closing of such Permitted Acquisition (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent), (i) with respect to a Person which constitutes a Material Domestic Subsidiary, to the extent not previously received, a duly executed Joinder Agreement in accordance with Section 5.09 hereof, and (ii) with respect to a Person which constitutes a First-Tier Foreign Subsidiary, to the extent not previously received, a duly executed Pledge Agreement by the parent of such First-Tier Foreign Subsidiary, to the extent such documents are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.09 hereof; (b) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to them that the shares or other interests in the Person, or the assets of the Person, which is the subject of the Permitted Acquisition are, or will be promptly following the closing of such Permitted Acquisition, free and clear of all Liens, except Permitted Liens, including, without limitation, with respect to the acquisition of shares or other equity interests, free of any restrictions on transfer other than restrictions applicable to the sale of securities under federal and state securities laws and regulations generally or, with respect to the acquisition of any Foreign Subsidiary, restrictions applicable to the sale of securities under applicable laws or regulations of the applicable foreign jurisdiction; (c) the Administrative Agent shall have received not less than five (5) Business Days (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) preceding the closing of such Permitted Acquisition, the documentation governing the proposed acquisition, including, without limitation, the purchase agreement with respect thereto, together with such other additional documentation or information with respect to the proposed acquisition as the Lenders may reasonably require; (d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately prior to or would occur after giving effect to the acquisition on a pro forma basis; (e) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received projections and pro forma financial statements showing that, after giving effect to such acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred; (f) the acquisition has either (i) been approved by the Board of Directors or other governing body of the Person which is the subject of the acquisition or (ii) been recommended for approval by the Board of Directors or other governing body of such Person to the shareholders or other members of such Person and subsequently approved by the shareholders or such members if shareholder or such member approval is required under applicable law or the by-laws, certificate of incorporation or other governing instruments of such Person; and (g) (i) at the time of the making of such acquisition and immediately after giving effect (including pro forma effect) thereto, (1) the Loan Parties will be in compliance with the financial condition covenants of Section 6.12 hereof upon completion of such acquisition and (2) the Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to a ratio equal to (x) the numerator of the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under Section 6.12(a) at such time minus 0.25 to (y) 1.00 and (3) the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to a ratio equal to (x) the numerator of the maximum Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio permitted under Section 6.12(b) at such time minus 0.25 to (y) 1.00, and (ii) prior to the closing of any such acquisition, the Borrower shall have delivered evidence to the Administrative Agent in respect of all the requirements set forth in this clause (g).

 

Permitted Liens” shall mean the Liens specified in Section 6.01.

 

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

Pilot Mortgage” has the meaning set forth in the definition of the term “IDA Transaction”.

 

Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

Pledge Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement (including any and all supplements thereto), dated as of the date hereof, among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower listed on the signature pages thereto, and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and any other pledge agreement entered into, after the date of this Agreement by any other Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document) or any other Person for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Pledge Subsidiary” means (i) each Domestic Subsidiary and (ii) each First Tier Foreign Subsidiary which is a Material Foreign Subsidiary.

 

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by Chase as its prime rate in effect at its principal offices in New York City. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

 

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Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Loan Guaranty or grant of the relevant security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Recipient” means, as applicable, (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, or any combination thereof (as the context requires).

 

Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.

 

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

 

Related Swap Agreements” means, collectively, all Swap Agreements which are now or hereafter entered into or maintained with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender and with respect to which the Borrower and the Lender or other Person referred to above in this definition party thereto (except in the case of the Administrative Agent) shall have delivered written notice to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.22, at or prior to the time that the Swap Agreement relating to such Obligation (other than with respect to a foreign exchange transaction) is entered into or, if later, the time that such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, that such a transaction has been entered into and that it constitutes a Related Swap Agreement entitled to the benefits of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents.

 

Release” means any releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, migrating, disposing, or dumping of any substance into the environment.

 

Report” means reports prepared by the Administrative Agent or another Person showing the results of appraisals, field examinations or audits pertaining to the Borrower’s assets from information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower, after the Administrative Agent has exercised its rights of inspection pursuant to this Agreement, which Reports may be distributed to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent.

 

Reportable Event” is as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the thirty (30) day notice requirement is waived).

 

Required Lenders” means, at any time, at least two (2) Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders) having Credit Exposure and unused Commitments representing greater than 50% of the sum of the Aggregate Credit Exposure and unused Commitments at such time.

 

Requirement of Law” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the charter, articles or certificate of organization or incorporation and bylaws or operating, management or partnership agreement, or other organizational or governing documents of such Person and (b) any statute, law (including common law), treaty, rule, regulation, code, ordinance, order, decree, writ, judgment, injunction or determination of any arbitrator or court or other Governmental Authority (including Environmental Laws), in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

 

Restricted Payment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.14.

 

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Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate permitted amount of such Lender’s Revolving Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.23 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the applicable documentation pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment pursuant to the terms hereof, as applicable. The aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments as of the Effective Date is $150,000,000.

 

Revolving Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender, at any time, the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure at such time.

 

Revolving Lender” means, as of any date of determination, a Lender with a Revolving Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Exposure.

 

Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

 

Rising” means Rising Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business.

 

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby a Person shall sell or transfer any property or asset, real or personal, used or useful in its business 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 sold or transferred.

 

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions (as of the date of this Agreement, only Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria are Sanctioned Countries).

 

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person.

 

Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the U.S.

 

Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, together with all (i) Banking Services Obligations and (ii) Swap Agreement Obligations owing to one or more Lenders or their respective Affiliates; provided, however, that the definition of “Secured Obligations” shall not create any guarantee by any Guarantor of (or grant of security interest by any Guarantor to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor for purposes of determining any obligations of any Guarantor.

 

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Secured Parties” means (a) the Lenders, (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) each Issuing Bank, (d) each provider of Banking Services, to the extent the Banking Services Obligations in respect thereof constitute Secured Obligations, (e) each counterparty to any Swap Agreement, to the extent the obligations thereunder constitute Secured Obligations, (f) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (g) the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

 

Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933.

 

Security Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement (including any and all supplements thereto), dated as of the date hereof, among the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and any other security agreement entered into, after the date of this Agreement by any other Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document) or any other Person for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.12(b).

 

Solvent” means, with respect to any Person as of the date of determination, thereof that such Person has a reasonable basis to believe that (a) the amount of the “present fair saleable value” of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all “liabilities of such Person, contingent or otherwise,” as of such date, as such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required on its debts as such debts become absolute and matured, (c) such Person will not have as of such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct its business, and (d) such Person will be able to pay its debts as they mature. For such purposes, any contingent liability is valued at the amount that, in 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 Accounts” means trust accounts, payroll accounts and escrow accounts of the Loan Parties.

 

Standby LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all standby Letters of Credit outstanding at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements relating to standby Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The Standby LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate Standby LC Exposure at such time.

 

Statement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(g).

 

Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D of the Board. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D of the Board or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

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Subordinated Indebtedness” of a Person means any Indebtedness of such Person, the payment of which is subordinated to payment of the Secured Obligations.

 

subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, Controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

 

Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Borrower or of any other Loan Party, as applicable.

 

Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, spot, future, credit default or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

 

Swap Agreement Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any Swap Agreement permitted hereunder with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, and (b) any cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Swap Agreement transaction permitted hereunder with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.

 

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 or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate Swingline Exposure at such time.

 

Swingline Lender” means Chase, in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder. Any consent required of the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank shall be deemed to be required of the Swingline Lender and any consent given by Chase in its capacity as Administrative Agent or an Issuing Bank shall be deemed given by Chase in its capacity as Swingline Lender as well.

 

Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

Syndication Agent” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in its capacity as syndication agent for the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.

 

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Target” means Pack Pharmaceuticals, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company.

 

Taxes” means any and 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.

 

Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

Trigger Acquisition” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.12(a).

 

Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, or the Alternate Base Rate.

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or in any other state, the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.

 

Unfinanced Capital Expenditures” means all Capital Expenditures, other than Capital Expenditures to the extent financed with proceeds of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder or from the issuance of Equity Interests by the Borrower.

 

Unliquidated Obligations” means, at any time, any Secured Obligations (or portion thereof) that are contingent in nature or unliquidated at such time, including any Secured Obligation that is: (i) an obligation to reimburse a bank for drawings not yet made under a letter of credit issued by it; (ii) any other obligation (including any guarantee) that is contingent in nature at such time; or (iii) an obligation to provide collateral to secure any of the foregoing types of obligations.

 

U.S.” means the United States of America.

 

U.S. Person” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(B)(3).

 

USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.

 

SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing”).

 

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SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. 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 “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply) and all judgments, orders and decrees of all Governmental Authorities. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignments set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (f) any reference in any definition to the phrase “at any time” or “for any period” shall refer to the same time or period for all calculations or determinations within such definition, and (g) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if after the date hereof there occurs any change in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of any provision hereof and the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of such change in GAAP or in the application thereof (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, 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 (i) without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein, (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof and (iii) with respect to capital leases, the amounts of Capital Lease Obligations, any lease that was classified or accounted for as an operating lease as of (and any similar lease entered into after) the Effective Date in accordance with GAAP shall be classified or accounted for as an operating lease and not a capital lease, even though, as a result of a change in GAAP or the Borrower’s implementation of FASB ASC 840, such lease would be classified and accounted for as a capital lease under GAAP.

 

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SECTION 1.05. Pro Forma Calculations. All pro forma computations required to be made hereunder giving effect to any acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other transaction shall in each case be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto (and, in the case of any pro forma computation made hereunder to determine whether such acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other transaction is permitted to be consummated hereunder, to any other such transaction consummated since the first day of the period covered by any component of such pro forma computation and on or prior to the date of such computation) as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements shall have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(a) or 5.03(b) (or, prior to the delivery of any such financial statements, ending with the last fiscal quarter included in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.03(a)), and, to the extent applicable, to the historical earnings and cash flows associated with the assets acquired or disposed of (but without giving effect to any synergies or cost savings) and any related incurrence or reduction of Indebtedness, all in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Swap Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness).

 

SECTION 1.06. Amendment and Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement. The parties to this Agreement agree that, upon (i) the execution and delivery by each of the parties hereto of this Agreement and (ii) satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.01 (unless waived in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement), the terms and provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement shall be and hereby are amended, superseded and restated in their entirety by the terms and provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement is not intended to and shall not constitute a novation or termination of the Secured Obligations. All “Revolving Loans” made and “Secured Obligations” incurred under the Existing Credit Agreement which are outstanding on the Effective Date shall continue as Loans and Secured Obligations under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the foregoing, upon the effectiveness hereof: (a) all references in the “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) to the “Administrative Agent”, the “Credit Agreement” and the “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to the Administrative Agent, this Agreement and the Loan Documents, (b) the Existing Letters of Credit which remain outstanding on the Effective Date shall continue as Letters of Credit under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement, (c) all obligations constituting “Secured Obligations” with any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender which are outstanding on the Effective Date shall continue as Secured Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (d) the Administrative Agent shall administer such reallocations, sales, assignments or other relevant actions in respect of each Lender’s credit exposure under the Existing Credit Agreement as are necessary in order that each such Lender’s Credit Exposure and outstanding Loans hereunder reflect such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding aggregate Credit Exposures on the Effective Date and (e) the Borrower hereby agrees to compensate each Lender for any and all losses, costs and expenses incurred by such Lender in connection with the sale and assignment of any Eurodollar Loans (including the “Eurodollar Loans” under the Existing Credit Agreement) and such reallocation described above, in each case on the terms and in the manner set forth in Section 2.16 hereof.

 

SECTION 1.07. Status of Obligations. The Secured Obligations are hereby designated as “senior indebtedness” and as “designated senior indebtedness” and words of similar import under and in respect of any indenture or other agreement or instrument under which such Subordinated Indebtedness is outstanding and are further given all such other designations as shall be required under the terms of any such Subordinated Indebtedness in order that the Lenders may have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

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ARTICLE II

 

The Credits

 

SECTION 2.01. Commitments.

 

(a)          Prior to the Effective Date, certain “Revolving Loans” were made to the Borrower under the Existing Credit Agreement which remain outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (such outstanding loans being hereinafter referred to as the “Existing Loans”). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Borrower and each of the Lenders agree that on the Effective Date but subject to the reallocation and other transactions described in Section 1.06, the Existing Loans shall be reevidenced as Loans under this Agreement and the terms of the Existing Loans shall be restated in their entirety and shall be evidenced by this Agreement.

 

(b)          Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Lender severally (and not jointly) agrees to make Revolving Loans in dollars to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Lender’s Revolving Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

 

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings.

 

(a)          Each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the applicable Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required. Any Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05.

 

(b)          Subject to Section 2.14, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(c)          At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $2,500,000. At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the aggregate Revolving Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e). Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $50,000 and not less than $250,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of five (5) Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

 

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(d)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

 

SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(i)          the Class of Borrowing, the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

 

(ii)         the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

 

(iii)        whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing and whether such Borrowing is a Revolving Borrowing; and

 

(iv)        in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and

 

(v)         the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07.

 

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.04. [Intentionally Omitted]

 

SECTION 2.05. Swingline Loans.

 

(a)          Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender may in its sole discretion make Swingline Loans to the Borrower, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $5,000,000 or (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans. To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (confirmed by fax), not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a credit to the Funding Account(s) (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e), by remittance to the relevant Issuing Bank, and in the case of repayment of another Loan or fees or expenses as provided by Section 2.18(c), by remittance to the Administrative Agent to be distributed to the Lenders) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

 

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(b)          The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day require the Revolving Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which the Revolving Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

 

SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit.

 

(a)          General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in dollars as the applicant thereof for the support of its or its Subsidiaries’ obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. 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 or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the relevant Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. The letters of credit identified on Schedule 2.06 (collectively, the “Existing Letters of Credit”) shall be deemed to be “Letters of Credit” issued on the Effective Date by the relevant Issuing Bank for all purposes of the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuing Bank shall have no obligation hereunder to issue, and shall not issue, any Letter of Credit the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (i) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of any Sanctions or (ii) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement. The Borrower unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that, in connection with any Letter of Credit issued for the support of any Subsidiary’s obligations as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph, the Borrower will be fully responsible for the reimbursement of LC Disbursements in accordance with the terms hereof, the payment of interest thereon and the payment of fees due under Section 2.12(b) to the same extent as if it were the sole account party in respect of such Letter of Credit (the Borrower hereby irrevocably waiving any defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of the obligations of such Subsidiary that is an account party in respect of any such Letter of Credit).

 

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(b)          Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or fax (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the relevant Issuing Bank) to the relevant Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, but in any event no less than three Business Days) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by an Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on such Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed $7,000,000, (ii) the Standby LC Exposure shall not exceed $3,000,000 and (iii) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

 

(c)          Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination or non-renewal by notice from the relevant Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, including, without limitation, any automatic renewal provision, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date. Any Letter of Credit with a one-year tenor may contain customary automatic renewal provisions agreed upon by the Borrower and the relevant Issuing Bank that provide for the automatic renewal thereof for additional one-year periods so long as the final expiry date of such Letter of Credit occurs on or prior to the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date, subject to a right on the part of the relevant Issuing Bank to prevent any such renewal from occurring by giving notice to the beneficiary in advance of any such renewal.

 

(d)          Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the relevant Issuing Bank or the Revolving Lenders, the relevant Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from the relevant Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

 

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(e)          Reimbursement. If the relevant Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice of such LC Disbursement, if such notice is received prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received after 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day of receipt; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is greater than or equal to $1,000,000, the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.05 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount of such LC Disbursement and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof, and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the relevant Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the relevant Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the relevant Issuing Bank, as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

 

(f)          Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section 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 any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein or herein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) any payment by the relevant Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder. None of the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Lenders or the Issuing Banks, 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, 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 or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the relevant Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the relevant Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive 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 such Issuing Bank’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 any Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, each Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

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(g)          Disbursement Procedures. Each Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Each Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by fax) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC 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 Issuing Banks and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

 

(h)          Interim Interest. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans and such interest shall be due and payable on the date when such reimbursement is due; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

(i)           Replacement of any Issuing Bank. Any Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such replacement of any Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued by such successor Issuing Bank thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit then outstanding and issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

 

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(j)           Cash Collateralization. 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 (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the aggregate LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders (the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to 105% of the amount of the LC Exposure as of such date plus 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 or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clause (f) or (g) of Article VII. The Borrower also shall deposit cash collateral in accordance with this paragraph as and to the extent required by Section 2.11(b) or 2.20. Each such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over the LC Collateral Account and the Borrower hereby grants the Administrative Agent a security interest in the LC Collateral Account and all moneys or other assets on deposit therein or credited thereto. 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 such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the aggregate LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Secured Obligations. 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 such Events of Default have been cured or waived as confirmed in writing by the Administrative Agent.

 

(k)          LC Exposure Determination. For all purposes of this Agreement, the amount of a Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof 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 the time of determination.

 

(l)           Issuing Bank Agreements. Each Issuing Bank agrees that, unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the first Business Day of each week, the daily activity (set forth by day) in respect of Letters of Credit during the immediately preceding week, including all issuances, extensions, amendments and renewals, all expirations and cancellations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension occurred (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood that such Issuing Bank shall not permit any issuance, renewal, extension or amendment resulting in an increase in the amount of any Letter of Credit to occur without first obtaining written confirmation from the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement, (iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank pays any amount in respect of one or more drawings under Letters of Credit, the date of such payment(s) and the amount of such payment(s), (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrowers fail to reimburse any amount required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the amount and currency of such payment in respect of Letters of Credit and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

 

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SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings.

 

(a)          Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by such Lender hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 1:00 p.m., New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to the Funding Account(s); provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the relevant Issuing Bank.

 

(b)          Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing (or in the case of an ABR Borrowing, prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, 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 paragraph (a) of this Section 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 the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount 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 (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections.

 

(a)          Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.

 

(b)          To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or fax to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request signed by the Borrower. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to (i) elect an Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d) or (ii) convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing of a Type not available under the Class of Commitments pursuant to which such Borrowing was made.

 

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(c)          Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(i)          the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

 

(ii)         the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

 

(iii)        whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

 

(iv)        if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which Interest Period shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

 

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

 

(d)          Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the applicable Class of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

(e)          If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

 

(a)          Unless previously terminated, all the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

 

(b)          The Borrower may at any time terminate the Revolving Commitments upon (i) the payment in full of all outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Disbursements, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (ii) the cancellation and return of all outstanding Letters of Credit (or alternatively, with respect to each such Letter of Credit, the furnishing to the Administrative Agent of a cash deposit (or at the discretion of the Administrative Agent a backup standby letter of credit satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Banks) in an amount equal to 105% of the LC Exposure as of such date), (iii) the payment in full of the accrued and unpaid fees and (iv) the payment in full of all reimbursable expenses and other Obligations together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

 

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(c)          The Borrower may from time to time reduce the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the Aggregate Revolving Exposure would exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

 

(d)          The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments under paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other transactions specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments.

 

SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)          The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date, and (ii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th or last day of a calendar month and is at least two (2) Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Loan is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding.

 

(b)          Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

 

(c)          The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, if any, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(d)          The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the Obligations.

 

(e)          Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit J. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

 

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SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans.

 

(a)          The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section and, if applicable, payment of any break funding expenses under Section 2.16.

 

(b)          In the event and on such occasion that the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitments, the Borrower shall prepay the Revolving Loans, and/or LC Exposure and/or Swingline Loans (or, if no such Borrowings are outstanding, deposit cash collateral in the LC Collateral Account in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, in accordance with Section 2.06(j)).

 

(c)          The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by fax) of any prepayment under this Section: (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment or (iii) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02, except as necessary to apply fully the required amount of a mandatory prepayment. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16.

 

SECTION 2.12. Fees.

 

(a)          The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent a commitment fee for the account of each Revolving Lender, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily amount of the undrawn portion of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments terminate; it being understood that the LC Exposure of a Lender shall be included in the drawn portion of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender for purposes of calculating the commitment fee. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). It is understood and agreed that any Lender’s Swingline Exposure shall not be deemed to be a component of the Aggregate Revolving Exposure for purposes of calculating the commitment fee.

 

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(b)          The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to the relevant Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the third Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to any Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

(c)          The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)          All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to each Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the Lenders entitled thereto. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

 

SECTION 2.13. Interest.

 

(a)          The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(b)          The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision of Section 9.02 requiring the consent of “each Lender directly affected thereby” for reductions in interest rates), declare that (i) all Loans shall bear interest at 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount outstanding hereunder, such amount shall accrue at 2% plus the rate applicable to such fee or other obligation as provided hereunder.

 

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(d)          Accrued interest on each Loan (for ABR Loans, accrued through the last day of the prior calendar month) shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

(e)          All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year)], and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

 

(a)          the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining (including, without limitation, by means of an Interpolated Rate) the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

 

(b)          the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for the applicable Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by electronic communication as provided in Section 9.01 as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and any such Eurodollar Borrowing shall be repaid on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)          impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or any Issuing Bank; or

 

(ii)         impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or

 

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(iii)        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;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered as reasonably determined by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or other Recipient (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender, applicable Issuing Bank or other Recipient under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.15 after consideration of such factors as such Lender, such Issuing Bank or other Recipient then reasonably determines to be relevant).

 

(b)          If any Lender or any Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered as reasonably determined by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or other Recipient (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender, the applicable Issuing Bank or other Recipient under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.15 after consideration of such factors as such Lender, such Issuing Bank or other Recipient then reasonably determines to be relevant).

 

(c)          A certificate of a Lender or a Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)          Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or a Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, 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 such Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

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SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.09(d) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19 or 9.02(d), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Eurodollar Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Eurodollar Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

SECTION 2.17. Taxes.

 

(a)          Withholding Taxes; Gross-Up; Payments Free 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 law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17), the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

(b)          Payment of Other Taxes by Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for, Other Taxes.

 

(c)          Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, 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 the return reporting such payment, or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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(d)          Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) 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) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any 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 (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(e)          Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (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), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent 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 hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

 

(f)          Status of Lenders.

 

(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 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 2.17(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (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 originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

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(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 U.S. is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) 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 (or successor form) 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)         in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, executed originals 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 Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form); or

 

(4)         to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the Beneficial Owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 or Exhibit B-3, 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 B-4 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 originals 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

 

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(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 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 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 date of this Agreement.

 

Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered 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.

 

(g)          Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party 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 giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This paragraph (g) shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

(h)          Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

(i)           Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” includes each Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

 

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(j)           Certain FATCA Matters. For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after June 25, 2015, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) this Agreement and the Loans as not qualifying as “grandfathered obligations” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i) or 1.1471-2T(b)(2)(i).

 

SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs.

 

(a)          The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Sections 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 10 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, except payments to be made directly to an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

 

(b)          Any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent (i) not constituting either (A) a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrower), or (B) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.11) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks from the Borrower (other than in connection with Banking Services Obligations or Swap Agreement Obligations), second, to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrower (other than in connection with Banking Services Obligations or Swap Agreement Obligations), third, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans ratably, fourth, to prepay principal on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements and to pay any amounts owing with respect to Swap Agreement Obligations up to and including the amount most recently provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.22, ratably, fifth, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the aggregate LC Exposure, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations, and sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing in respect of Banking Services Obligations up to and including the amount most recently provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.22, and seventh, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower or any other Loan Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower, or unless a Default is in existence, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall apply any payment which it receives to any Eurodollar Loan of a Class, except (i) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or (ii) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding ABR Loans of the same Class and, in any such event, the Borrower shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.16. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, Secured Obligations arising under Banking Services Obligations or Swap Agreement Obligations shall be excluded from the application described above and paid in clause seventh if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may have reasonably requested from the applicable provider of such Banking Services or Swap Agreements.

 

(c)          At the election of the Administrative Agent, all payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including, without limitation, all reimbursement for fees, costs and expenses pursuant to Section 9.03), and other sums payable under the Loan Documents, may be paid from the proceeds of Borrowings made hereunder, whether made following a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03 or 2.05 or a deemed request as provided in this Section or may be deducted from any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes (i) the Administrative Agent to make a Borrowing for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents and agrees that all such amounts charged shall constitute Loans (including Swingline Loans), and that all such Borrowings shall be deemed to have been requested pursuant to Sections 2.03 or 2.05, as applicable, and (ii) the Administrative Agent to charge any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.

 

(d)          If, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other similarly situated Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by all such Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower 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 the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

(e)          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 relevant Lenders or the Issuing Banks 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 relevant Lenders or the relevant Issuing Banks, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the relevant Lenders or the relevant Issuing Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank 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 Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

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(f)          If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05, 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(e) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations hereunder until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender hereunder. Application of amounts pursuant to (i) and (ii) above shall be made in such order as may be determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

(g)          The Administrative Agent may from time to time provide the Borrower with account statements or invoices with respect to any of the Secured Obligations (the “Statements”). The Administrative Agent is under no duty or obligation to provide Statements, which, if provided, will be solely for the Borrower’s convenience. Statements may contain estimates of the amounts owed during the relevant billing period, whether of principal, interest, fees or other Secured Obligations. If the Borrower pays the full amount indicated on a Statement on or before the due date indicated on such Statement, the Borrower shall not be in default of payment with respect to the billing period indicated on such Statement; provided, that acceptance by the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, of any payment that is less than the total amount actually due at that time (including but not limited to any past due amounts) shall not constitute a waiver of the Administrative Agent’s or the Lenders’ right to receive payment in full at another time.

 

SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)          If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, 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 2.17, then such Lender 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, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Sections 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)          If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, 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 2.17, or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting 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 Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under this Agreement and other Loan Documents to an 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 received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and in circumstances where its consent would be required under Section 9.04, the Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, 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) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and 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.

 

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SECTION 2.20. Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

 

(a)          fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Revolving Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);

 

(b)          such Defaulting Lender shall not have the right to vote on any issue on which voting is required (other than to the extent expressly provided in Section 9.02(b)) and the Commitment and Revolving Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document; provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02, this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(c)          if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

 

(i)          all or any part of the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent that (x) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied at the time of such reallocation (and, unless the Borrower shall have otherwise notified the Administrative Agent at such time, the Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions are satisfied at such time) and (y) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Commitments;

 

(ii)         if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y) second, cash collateralize, for the benefit of each Issuing Bank only, the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

 

(iii)        if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized;

 

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(iv)        if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.12(a) and 2.12(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; and

 

(v)         if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the relevant Issuing Bank or any other Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to such Issuing Bank until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and

 

(d)          so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the relevant Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend, renew, extend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and such Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.20(c), and participating interests in any such newly made Swingline Loan or newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.20(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

 

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or the relevant Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

 

In the event that each of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and on the date of such readjustment such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

 

SECTION 2.21. Returned Payments. If, after receipt of any payment which is applied to the payment of all or any part of the Obligations (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff), the Administrative Agent or any Lender is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment or proceeds to any Person because such payment or application of proceeds is invalidated, declared fraudulent, set aside, determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, or a diversion of trust funds, or for any other reason (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion), then the Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued and this Agreement shall continue in full force as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent or such Lender. The provisions of this Section 2.21 shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in reliance upon such payment or application of proceeds. The provisions of this Section 2.21 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 2.22. Banking Services and Swap Agreements. Each Lender (other than Chase) or Affiliate thereof providing Banking Services for, or having Swap Agreements with, any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of a Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, promptly after entering into such Banking Services or Swap Agreements, written notice setting forth the aggregate amount of all Banking Services Obligations and Swap Agreement Obligations of such Loan Party or Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof to such Lender or Affiliate (whether matured or unmatured, absolute or contingent). In furtherance of that requirement, each such Lender or Affiliate thereof shall furnish the Administrative Agent, from time to time after a significant change therein or upon a request therefor, a summary of the amounts due or to become due in respect of such Banking Services Obligations and Swap Agreement Obligations. The most recent information provided to the Administrative Agent (or, with respect to Banking Services Obligations and/or Swap Obligation provided by Chase or an Affiliate thereof, the most recent information available to the Administrative Agent) shall be used in determining which tier of the waterfall, contained in Section 2.18(b), in which such Banking Services Obligations and/or Swap Agreement Obligations will be placed.

 

SECTION 2.23. Expansion Option. The Borrower may from time to time (but on no more than six (6) occasions) elect, with the consent of the Administrative Agent, to increase the Revolving Commitments in minimum increments of $10,000,000 (or such lesser amount as reasonably agreed to by the Borrower and Administrative Agent) so long as, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of all such increases does not exceed $100,000,000. The Borrower may arrange for any such increase to be provided by one or more Lenders (each Lender so agreeing to an increase in its Revolving Commitment, an “Increasing Lender”), or by one or more new banks, financial institutions or other entities (each such new bank, financial institution or other entity, an “Augmenting Lender”; provided that no Ineligible Institution may be an Augmenting Lender), which agree to increase their existing Revolving Commitments, or provide new Revolving Commitments, as the case may be; provided that (i) each Augmenting Lender, shall be subject to the approval of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Lender, the Borrower and such Increasing Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, and (y) in the case of an Augmenting Lender, the Borrower and such Augmenting Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto. No consent of any Lender (other than the Increasing Lenders and Augmenting Lenders participating in the increase) shall be required for any increase in Revolving Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.23. Increases and new Revolving Commitments created pursuant to this Section 2.23 shall become effective on the date agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the relevant Increasing Lenders or Augmenting Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Revolving Commitments (or in the Revolving Commitment of any Lender) shall become effective under this paragraph unless, (i) on the proposed date of the effectiveness of such increase, (A) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02 shall be satisfied or waived by the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower and (B) the Borrower shall be in compliance (on a pro forma basis) with the covenants contained in Section 6.12 and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received documents and opinions consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date as to the organizational power and authority of the Borrower to borrow hereunder after giving effect to such increase. On the effective date of any increase in the Revolving Commitments, (i) each relevant Increasing Lender and/or Augmenting Lender, as the case may be, shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds in dollars as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such increase and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Lenders, each Lender’s portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Lenders to equal its Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and (ii) the Borrower shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase in the Revolving Commitments (with such reborrowing to consist of the Types of Revolving Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the Borrower, in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03). The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be accompanied by payment of all accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, in respect of each Eurodollar Loan, shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods. Nothing contained in this Section 2.23 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to increase its Revolving Commitment hereunder at any time.

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ARTICLE III

 

Representations and Warranties

 

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Lenders that (and where applicable, agrees):

 

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each Loan Party and each Material Subsidiary (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, (b) has the power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted, (c) is duly qualified to do business in every jurisdiction wherein the conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties are such as to require such qualification except those jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (d) has the power to execute, deliver and perform each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party.

 

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of this Agreement, and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and the borrowings and the other extensions of credit to the Borrower hereunder, (a) have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate or limited liability company action, (b) will not violate (i) any provision of law applicable to any Loan Party, any rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to any Loan Party or (ii) the certificate of incorporation, by-laws, or other organizational documents, as applicable, of any Loan Party or (iii) any order of any court or other Governmental Authority binding on any Loan Party or any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which any Loan Party is a party, or by which any Loan Party or any of their respective properties are bound, and (c) will not be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice and/or lapse of time) a default under, any such indenture, agreement or other instrument, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien, of any nature whatsoever upon any of the property or assets of any Loan Party other than as contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. This Agreement and each other Loan Document to which each Loan Party is a party constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable, as the case may be, against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms except to the extent that enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles of general application, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

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SECTION 3.03. Financial Condition; Solvency.

 

(a)          The Loan Parties have heretofore furnished to the Administrative Agent and each Lender the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the related audited consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flow of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries audited by BDO Seidman LLP, independent certified public accountants, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. Such financial statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis, and fairly present the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date of such financial statements and for the periods to which they relate and, since June 30, 2015, no event or condition has occurred which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Effective Date, other than obligations and liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, since June 30, 2015, there are no material obligations or liabilities contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries which are not reflected or disclosed on such audited statements (other than obligations of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business (which shall be deemed to exclude acquisitions by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the business or assets (including without limitation stock or membership units) of any Person).

 

(b)          Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis is Solvent and immediately after giving effect to each Loan and each other extension of credit contemplated by this Agreement will be Solvent.

 

SECTION 3.04. Taxes. All assessed deficiencies resulting from IRS examinations of the federal income tax returns of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries have been discharged or reserved against in accordance with GAAP. Each Loan Party has filed or caused to be filed all federal and material state and local tax returns which are required to be filed and has paid or has caused to be paid all taxes as shown on said returns or on any assessment received by them, to the extent that such taxes have become due, except taxes which are being contested in good faith and which are reserved against in accordance with GAAP.

 

SECTION 3.05. Title to Properties; Intellectual Property.

 

(a)          The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has good title to their respective properties and assets, except for such properties and assets as have been disposed of in accordance with Sections 6.04 or 6.05. Each of the Loan Parties and each Subsidiary has good and indefeasible title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all of its real and personal property, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.

 

(b)          Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary owns, or is licensed to use, all Intellectual Property necessary to its business as currently conducted, a correct and complete list of the owned Intellectual Property (described in clause (i) of such definition), as of the date of this Agreement, is set forth on Schedule 3.05. Such Intellectual Property is valid, subsisting, unexpired (where registered) and enforceable and has not been abandoned or adjudged invalid or unenforceable. There are no assertions or claims challenging the validity of any of the foregoing, and the business of each Loan Party and each Subsidiary as now conducted does not, to the Knowledge of these Parties, infringe in any material respect the rights of any other Person.

 

SECTION 3.06. Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.06 hereto, there are no actions, suits or proceedings (whether or not purportedly on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) pending or, to the knowledge of each Loan Party, threatened against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at law or in equity or before or by any Governmental Authority, which involve any of the transactions contemplated herein or which, if adversely determined against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction, decree, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority which default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 3.07. Labor Matters. As of the Effective Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened. Except for violations that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such matters. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, all payments due from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or for which any claim may be made against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 3.08. Compliance with ERISA. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) each Plan is in compliance with ERISA; (ii) no Multiemployer Plan is insolvent or in reorganization; (iii) no Plan has failed to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any material liability to or on account of a Plan or Multiemployer Plan pursuant to Section 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA or expects to incur any liability under any of the foregoing sections on account of the prior termination of participation in, or contributions to, any such Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (v) no proceedings have been instituted to terminate any Plan; and (vi) no lien imposed under the Code or ERISA on the assets of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its ERISA Affiliates exists or is likely to arise on account of any Plan.

 

SECTION 3.09. Federal Reserve Regulations; Use of Proceeds.

 

(a)          Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally in, nor has as one of its important activities, the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any “margin stock” (within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board, as amended from time to time).

 

(b)          No part of the proceeds of any Loan and no other extension of credit hereunder will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (i) to purchase or to carry margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purposes, or (ii) for any purpose which violates or is inconsistent with the provisions of Regulation T, U, or X.

 

SECTION 3.10. Approval. No registration with or consent or approval of, or other action by, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Loan Parties, or with the execution and delivery of other Loan Documents to which it is a party or with respect to the Loan Parties, the Borrowings and each other extension of credit hereunder, other than (a) registration, consents and approvals received prior to the date hereof and disclosed to the Lenders and which are in full force and effect and (b) filings to be made in connection with the Liens contemplated by this Agreement or the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 3.11. Subsidiaries. Attached hereto on Schedule 3.11 is the correct and complete list of each of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date identifying as to each such Subsidiary its name, the jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, each member or shareholder or other owner of an interest in such Subsidiary, the number of outstanding shares or other ownership interest owned by each such shareholder, member or other owner, and indicating those Subsidiaries which are Material Domestic Subsidiaries, which are Material Foreign Subsidiaries and which are Immaterial Subsidiaries.

 

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SECTION 3.12. Hazardous Materials. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12 hereto and except for violations that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary has used Hazardous Materials on, from, or affecting any property now owned or occupied or previously owned or occupied by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in any manner, which violates any applicable Environmental Law. To the knowledge of the Loan Party, no prior owner of any such property or any tenant, subtenant, prior tenant or prior subtenant have used Hazardous Materials on, from, or affecting such property in any manner which violates any applicable Environmental Law.

 

SECTION 3.13. Investment Company Act. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

SECTION 3.14. Collateral Documents; Liens. Each Collateral Document executed by each Loan Party shall constitute a valid and continuing lien on and security interest in the collateral referred to in such Collateral Document in favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties and, upon completion of filing and recording of financing statements in the offices in the applicable jurisdictions (to the extent filing of financing statements under the UCC are permissible methods of perfection) or otherwise upon taking all necessary action to perfect such Lien and security interest in the collateral referred to in the Collateral Document, shall be prior to all other Liens, claims and right of all other Persons, other than Permitted Liens, and shall be enforceable as such against all other Persons.

 

SECTION 3.15. No Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

SECTION 3.16. Permits and Licenses. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has all permits, licenses, certifications, authorizations and approvals required for it lawfully to own and operate their respective businesses except those the failure of which to have could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.17. Material Contracts. All Material Contracts are identified on Schedule 3.17 hereto. To each Loan Party’s knowledge, all other parties thereto in accordance with its terms and there exists no default under any Material Contract by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or by any other party thereto which has not been fully cured or waived.

 

SECTION 3.18. Compliance with Law. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance, with all laws, rules, regulations, orders and decrees which are applicable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, or to any of their respective properties, which the failure to comply with could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.19. Full Disclosure. Neither this Agreement, any other Loan Document, nor any other document, certificate or written statement furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, when taken as a whole, contains any untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made.

 

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SECTION 3.20. Insurance. Schedule 3.20 sets forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date. As of the Effective Date, all premiums in respect of such insurance have been paid. The Loan Parties believe that the insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is adequate and is customary for companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.

 

SECTION 3.21. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. Each Loan Party has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees and to the knowledge of such Loan Party its directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of any such Loan Party or Subsidiary, any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of any such Loan Party or Subsidiary, any agent of such Loan Party or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other Transactions will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Conditions

 

SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):

 

(a)          The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto either (A) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (B) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement and (ii) duly executed copies of the Loan Documents and such other legal opinions, certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit I.

 

(b)          The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of Lowenstein Sandler LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties, covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinion.

 

(c)          The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the initial Loan Parties, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to such Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit I.

 

(d)          The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, certifying (i) that the representations and warranties contained in Article III are true and correct as of such date and (ii) that no Default has occurred and is continuing as of such date.

 

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(e)          The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.

 

(f)          The Administrative Agent shall have received a notice setting forth the deposit account of the Borrower (the “Funding Account”) to which the Lender is authorized by the Borrower to transfer the proceeds of any Borrowings requested or authorized pursuant to this Agreement.

 

For purpose of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have accepted, and to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required under this Section 4.01 unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Effective Date specifying its objection thereto. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02).

 

SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Banks to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit (other than on the Effective Date), is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a)          The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) with the same effect as though made on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable (it being understood and agreed that any representation or warranty which by its terms is made as of a specified date shall be required to be true and correct only as of such specified date).

 

(b)          At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

(c)          After giving effect to any Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, the Aggregate Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

 

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit after the Effective Date shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

 

Notwithstanding the failure to satisfy the conditions precedent set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, continue to make Loans and an Issuing Bank may, but shall have no obligation to, issue, amend, renew or extend, or cause to be issued, amended, renewed or extended, any Letter of Credit for the ratable account and risk of Lenders from time to time if the Administrative Agent believes that making such Loans or issuing, amending, renewing or extending, or causing the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of, any such Letter of Credit is in the best interests of the Lenders.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

Until the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated in each case without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each Loan Party executing this Agreement covenants and agrees, jointly and severally with all of the other Loan Parties, with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 5.01. Existence; Properties; Insurance. Subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 6.11, each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate, partnership or limited liability existence as applicable, rights, qualifications, licenses, permits, franchises, governmental authorizations, intellectual property rights, licenses and permits material to the conduct of its business and comply in all material respect with all laws applicable to; at all times maintain, preserve and protect all franchises and trade names material to its business and preserve all of its property used or useful in and material to the conduct of its business, and keep the same in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear excepted, and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereto so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted in the ordinary course at all times; and at all times maintain insurance covering its assets and its businesses with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or associations in such amounts and against such risks (including, without limitation, hazard, business interruption, public liability and product liability) as are usually carried by companies engaged in the same or similar business. Each such policy of insurance of the Loan Parties shall name the Administrative Agent as loss payee and additional insured and shall provide for at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent of any modification or cancellation of such policies. Each Loan Party shall provide to the Administrative Agent promptly upon receipt thereof evidence of the annual renewal of each such policy.

 

SECTION 5.02. Payment of Obligations and Taxes. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, pay all Material Obligations, now existing or hereafter arising, as and when due and payable in accordance with customary trade practices, and pay and discharge or cause to be paid and discharged promptly all taxes, assessments and government charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income and profits, or upon any of its property, real, personal or mixed, or upon any part thereof, before the same shall become in default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies or otherwise which, if unpaid, might become a lien or charge upon such properties or any part thereof; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay and discharge or cause to be paid and discharged any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as the validity thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP with respect to any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so contested; further, provided that, subject to the foregoing proviso, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries shall pay or cause to be paid all such taxes, assessments, charges, levies or claims upon the commencement of proceedings to foreclose any lien which has attached as security therefor.

 

SECTION 5.03. Financial Statements; Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender:

 

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(a)          as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such year and the related audited consolidated statements of income, shareholders equity and cash flow for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the respective figures as of the end of and for the previous fiscal year, and accompanied by a report thereon of BDO Seidman LLP or other independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Borrower and acceptable to the Required Lenders (the “Auditor”), which report shall be unqualified and which statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis and (ii) the corresponding consolidating balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the consolidating statements of income for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all prepared under the supervision of the chief financial officer of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP;

 

(b)          as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after the end of the first, second and third fiscal quarters of the Borrower, the unaudited interim consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of each such quarter and the related unaudited interim consolidated and consolidating statements of income for such quarter and the portion of the fiscal year through such date and setting forth in each case in comparative form the respective figures for the corresponding date and period in the previous fiscal year, in each case prepared by the chief financial officer of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis;

 

(c)          certificates prepared and signed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, in each case substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with each delivery required by clause (a) and clause (b), as to whether or not, as of the close of such preceding period and all times during such preceding period, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries were in compliance with all the provisions in this Agreement, showing computation of financial covenants and quantitative negative covenants, and if the chief financial officer of the Borrower shall have obtained knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, it shall disclose in such certificate such Default or Event of Default and the nature thereof;

 

(d)          at all times indicated in clauses (a) above a copy of the management letter, if any, prepared by the Auditor;

 

(e)          within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Loan Parties’ annual operating/business plans for the upcoming fiscal year, in form, substance and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;

 

(f)          within forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal year an updated organization chart of the Borrower including information as to ownership of all Subsidiaries;

 

(g)          within forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, a calculation of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and Consolidated Total Assets of the Immaterial Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter ended;

 

(h)          promptly after submission to any government or regulatory agency, all documents and information furnished to such government or regulatory agency other than such documents and information prepared in the normal course of business and which could not result in any adverse action to be taken by such agency which action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(i)           promptly, from time to time, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Loan Parties or the Subsidiaries as any Lender may reasonably request.

 

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SECTION 5.04. Books and Records; Access to Premises. Maintain financial records in accordance with GAAP and permit representatives of any Lender, in coordination with the Administrative Agent, to have access during normal business hours to the premises of each Loan Party and the Subsidiaries upon prior written request, and to examine and make excerpts from the minute books, books of accounts, reports and other records and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of each Loan Party and the Subsidiaries with their respective principal officers or with their respective independent accountants, and permit representatives of the Administrative Agent to conduct such audits (including, without limitation, field audits of each Loan Party and each Subsidiary’s accounts receivable and inventory) as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary.

 

SECTION 5.05. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender:

 

(a)          Notice of Adverse Change. (i) prompt written notice of any change in the business or the operations of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) any information which indicates that any financial statements which are the subject of any representation contained in this Agreement, or which are furnished to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement, fail, in any material respect, to present fairly, the financial condition and results of operations purported to be presented therein, disclosing the nature thereof;

 

(b)          Notice of Default. prompt written notice of any Default or Event of Default which shall have occurred, which notice shall include a written statement as to such occurrence, specifying the nature thereof and the action, if any, which is proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

 

(c)          Notice of Litigation. prompt written notice of any action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity or by or before any governmental instrumentality or other agency which, if adversely determined against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary on the basis of the allegations and information set forth in the complaint or other notice of such action, suit or proceeding, or in the amendments thereof, if any, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(d)          Notice of Default in Other Agreements. prompt written notice of any default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any agreement or instrument to which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary is a party which default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(e)          Notice of ERISA Event. a certificate of the chief financial officer of each Loan Party setting forth details as to such occurrence and such action, if any, which a Loan Party, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate is required or proposes to take, together with any notices received from any Governmental Authority or required or proposed to be given to or filed with or by such Loan Party, such Subsidiary, such ERISA Affiliate, the PBGC, a Plan participant or the Plan administrator, with respect thereto: that a Reportable Event has occurred with respect to a Plan, that a failure to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” has occurred or an application may be or has been made to the Secretary of the Treasury for a waiver or modification of the minimum funding standard (including any required installment payments) or an extension of any amortization period under Section 412 of the Code with respect to a Plan, that a Plan has been or may be terminated, reorganized, partitioned or declared insolvent under Title IV of ERISA, that one or more Plans have a funding failure giving rise to a Lien under ERISA, that the Loan Party has been notified that proceedings may be or have been instituted to terminate a Multi-Employer Plan, that a proceeding has been instituted pursuant to Section 515 of ERISA against the Loan Party to collect a delinquent contribution to a Plan, or that any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate will or may incur any liability (including any contingent or secondary liability) to or on account of the termination of or withdrawal from a Plan under Section 4062, 4063, 4064, or to a Multi-Employer Plan under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA. Upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent, each Loan Party will deliver to the Administrative Agent a complete copy of the annual report (Form 5500) of each Plan required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service. In addition to any certificates or notices delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the first sentence hereof, copies of annual reports and any other notices received by each Loan Party or such Subsidiary required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent no later than ten days after the later of the date such report or notice has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC, given to Plan participants or received by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary;

 

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(f)          Notice of Environmental Law Violations. prompt written notice of the receipt of (a) any notice of an action, suit, and proceeding before any court or governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, pending against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary relating to any alleged violation of any Environmental Law which, if adversely determined against such Loan Party or such Subsidiary (i) could reasonably be expected to result in a fine, judgment or claim against, or cash expenditures by, such Loan Party or Subsidiary of more than $500,000 or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(g)          Notice regarding FDA Matters. prompt written notice of any warning letter (or letter of similar effect or import) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received by any Person (to the knowledge of the Borrower in the case of a Person that is not the Borrower or a Subsidiary) that provides any product(s) that are part of the Borrower or any Subsidiary’s business and which product(s), either individually or in the aggregate, account for equal to or greater than 10% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then most recently ended and for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(a) or (b) (or, if prior to the date of the delivery of the first financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(a) or (b), the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 3.03(a)).

 

SECTION 5.06. Compliance with Applicable Laws. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority, the breach of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Loan Party will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by such Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

SECTION 5.07. Environmental Laws. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply and use its best efforts to ensure compliance, in all material respects, by all tenants and subtenants of their respective properties with the requirements of all Environmental Laws; provide to the Lenders all documentation in connection with such compliance that the Lenders may reasonably request.

 

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only to finance the working capital needs, for general corporate purposes, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, to finance Permitted Acquisitions and acquisitions of abbreviated new drug applications and fees and expenses related thereto. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X. The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

 

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SECTION 5.09. Guarantors; Collateral; Further Assurances.

 

(a)          As promptly as possible but in any event within thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) after any Person becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary or any Subsidiary qualifies independently as, or is designated by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as, a Loan Guarantor pursuant to the definition of “Material Subsidiary” and related definitions, the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with written notice thereof setting forth information in reasonable detail describing the material assets of such Person and shall cause each such Subsidiary which also qualifies as a Material Domestic Subsidiary to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Joinder Agreement pursuant to which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and upon execution and delivery thereof such Subsidiary shall automatically become a Loan Guarantor hereunder and thereupon shall have all of the rights, benefits, duties, and obligations in such capacity under the Loan Documents, such Joinder Agreement to be accompanied by appropriate corporate resolutions, other corporate documentation and legal opinions in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(b)          The Borrower will cause, and will cause each other Loan Party to cause, all of its owned property (whether personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed (other than Excluded Property)) to be subject at all times to first priority, perfected Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents, subject in any case to Liens permitted by Section 6.01. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower will cause the Applicable Pledge Percentage of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests (other than Excluded Property) of each Pledge Subsidiary directly or indirectly owned by the Borrower or any other Loan Party to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents or such other pledge and security documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request, such pledge agreement or similar pledge document to be accompanied by appropriate corporate resolutions, other corporate documentation and legal opinions in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no such pledge agreement in respect of the Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary shall be required hereunder (A) until the date that occurs sixty (60) days after the Effective Date or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in the exercise of its reasonable discretion with respect thereto, (B) to the extent the Administrative Agent or its counsel reasonably determines that such pledge would not provide material credit support for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to legally valid, binding and enforceable pledge agreements or (C) in the case of Aceto Pharmaceutical Shanghai Ltd., unless such pledge may be obtained pursuant to applicable law and is requested by the Administrative Agent upon not less than 30 days’ prior notice to the Borrower, (ii) no control or similar arrangements shall be required with respect to deposit or securities accounts unless so requested by the Administrative Agent and in such case the Loan Parties shall only be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such agreements, (iii) the Borrower and the Loan Parties shall not be required to take any action with respect to the creation or perfection of Liens under foreign law with respect to any Collateral other than foreign law governed pledge agreements described in clause (i) above, (iv) no landlord lien waivers and warehouse agreements, estoppels or collateral access letters shall be required and (v) in respect of motor vehicles subject to certificates of title, no steps other than filing of UCC financing statements shall be required.

 

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(c)          Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent such documents, agreements and instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 4.01, as applicable), which may be required by any Requirement of Law or which the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, all at the expense of the Borrower.

 

(d)          If any assets (other than Excluded Property) are acquired by a Loan Party after the Effective Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement that become subject to the Lien under the Security Agreement upon acquisition thereof), the Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Secured Obligations and will take, and cause the other Loan Parties to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (c) of this Section, all at the expense of the Borrower.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Negative Covenants

 

Until the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable under any Loan Document shall have been paid in full (other than contingent indemnification Obligations to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated, in each case without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each Loan Party executing this Agreement covenants and agrees, jointly and severally with all of the other Loan Parties, with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 6.01. Liens. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

 

(a)          Liens existing on the date hereof as set forth on Schedule 6.01 attached hereto including any renewals or extensions thereof; provided that no such Lien is extended to cover any additional property after the Effective Date and that the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;

 

(b)          Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Loan Parties or the Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP;

 

(c)          carriers’, warehousemens’, mechanics’, suppliers’ or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and, to the extent the aggregate of such Liens secure obligations in excess of $600,000 in the aggregate, such Liens are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings in a manner which will not jeopardize or diminish the interest of the Administrative Agent in any of the Collateral subject to the Collateral Documents;

 

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(d)          Liens incurred or deposits to secure the performance of tenders, bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety, performance and appeal bonds, and other obligations of similar nature incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices prior to the Effective Date;

 

(e)          easements, rights of way, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances which in the aggregate do not interfere in any material respect with the occupation, use and enjoyment by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of the property or assets encumbered thereby in the normal course of their respective business or materially impair the value of the property subject thereto;

 

(f)          deposits under workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance and social security laws;

 

(g)          Liens granted to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;

 

(h)          purchase money liens for fixed or capital assets acquired in the ordinary course of business, including obligations with respect to Capital Leases; provided in each case (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall occur after giving effect to such lien, (ii) such purchase money lien does not exceed 100% of the purchase price of and encumbers only, the asset acquired and (iii) such purchase money Lien does not secure any Indebtedness other than in respect of the purchase price of the asset acquired;

 

(i)           Liens granted to a Lender to secure the Loan Parties obligations under such Related Swap Agreements permitted pursuant to Section 6.02(n); provided the priority of such liens are pari passu with the priority of the liens referred to in clause (g) above;

 

(j)           Liens granted to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. on the real property acquired with the proceeds of the mortgage indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.02(j);

 

(k)          Liens granted to a Lender to secure the Loan Parties obligations under such Related Swap Agreements permitted pursuant to Section 6.02(o); provided that the priority of such liens are subordinate to the priority of the liens referred to in clause (i) above;

 

(l)           the Pilot Mortgage;

 

(m)          Liens on Equity Interests in joint ventures arising solely under the organizational documents for such joint ventures and not debt for borrowed money;

 

(n)          Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

(o)          any Lien existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts and Inventory (each as defined in the Security Agreement)) prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts and Inventory (each as defined in the Security Agreement)) of any Person that becomes a Loan Party after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Loan Party; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Loan Party, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Loan Party and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Loan Party, as the case may be;

 

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(p)          mechanics, suppliers and other like Liens in connection with the renovations of the premises at 4 Tri Harbor Court, Port Washington, New York, provided that such Liens secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than 30 days and such Liens do not materially impair the use of such premises;

 

(q)          judgment liens (other than for the payment of taxes, assessments or other governmental charges) securing judgments and other proceedings not constituting an Event of Default under clause (h) of Article VII; and

 

(r)          other Liens which do not secure Indebtedness for borrowed money or letters of credit and as to which the aggregate amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed $1,000,000.

 

SECTION 6.02. Indebtedness. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)          Indebtedness incurred prior to the date hereof as described in Schedule 6.02 attached hereto including any renewals, refinancings or extensions thereof; provided such renewals, refinancings or extensions do not result in an increase in the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness;

 

(b)          the Secured Obligations;

 

(c)          Indebtedness for trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business provided such payables shall be paid or discharged when due;

 

(d)          Indebtedness consisting of guarantees permitted pursuant to Section 6.03;

 

(e)          Subordinated Indebtedness approved in writing by the Required Lenders; provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur after giving effect to the incurrence of such Subordinated Indebtedness;

 

(f)          Indebtedness secured by purchase money liens as permitted under Section 6.01(h); provided that such Indebtedness incurred in any fiscal year of the Borrower shall not exceed $2,000,000;

 

(g)          unsecured Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries to (i) Deutsche Bank, in an amount not to exceed 14,000,000 Euros, in the aggregate, at any time, and (ii) ING Bank, in an amount not to exceed 500,000 Euros, in the aggregate, at any time;

 

(h)          Indebtedness assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, provided that such Indebtedness shall be unsecured (or secured solely to the extent permitted by Section 6.01(o)) and shall not exceed $15,000,000, in the aggregate, with respect to all Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(i)           Indebtedness arising under Capital Leases; provided that the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness incurred in any fiscal year of the Borrower shall not exceed $2,000,000;

 

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(j)           commercial mortgage indebtedness owing to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in an amount not to exceed $4,000,000 secured by the premises located at 4 Tri Harbor Court, Port Washington, New York;

 

(k)          Indebtedness owing from one Loan Party to another Loan Party and other Indebtedness to the extent the corresponding Investment is permitted under Section 6.06;

 

(l)           Indebtedness consisting of loans and advances permitted pursuant to Sections 6.06(d) and 6.06(f);

 

(m)          unsecured Indebtedness, not to exceed $6,000,000 in the aggregate (exclusive of the portion thereof for which Arsynco is entitled to reimbursement from BASF Corporation pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement dated July 19, 2009 by and between Arsynco and BASF Corporation), with respect to performance bonds or surety bonds required under the “ISRA Remediation Approval” under Industrial Site Recovery Act Case No. E93024 and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval of a Risk Based Clean Up/Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Remediation Waste. Both approvals are in reference to Asrynco Inc.’s property at 511 13th Street, Carlstadt, New Jersey also being known and designated as Block 91, Lot 1 on the Tax Map of the borough of Carlstadt, New Jersey;

 

(n)          Indebtedness under Related Swap Agreements entered into with a Lender incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to the Obligations arising in connection with this Agreement;

 

(o)          Indebtedness under Related Swap Agreements entered into with a Lender incurred for the purpose of hedging currency values in the normal course of business, consistent with past practices, and not for speculative purposes;

 

(p)          Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, custom bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations, in each case outstanding on the Effective Date or otherwise provided in the ordinary course of business of the Loan Parties or consistent with past practices prior to the Effective Date, including those incurred to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practices prior to the Effective Date;

 

(q)          unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower (including unsecured Subordinated Indebtedness to the extent subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), to the extent not otherwise permitted under this Section 6.02; provided that (i) both immediately prior to and after giving effect (including pro forma effect) thereto, (1) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or would result therefrom, and (2) the Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to a ratio equal to (x) the numerator of the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under Section 6.12(a) at such time minus 0.25 to (y) 1.00 (and the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to such effect in respect of the requirements set forth in this clause (i), together with all relevant financial information and calculations requested by the Administrative Agent in respect thereof), (ii) such Indebtedness matures after, and does not require any scheduled amortization or other scheduled payments of principal prior to, the date that is 181 days after the Maturity Date (it being understood that any provision requiring an offer to purchase such Indebtedness as a result of change of control or asset sale or other fundamental change shall not violate the foregoing restriction), (iii) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than the Loan Guarantors (which guarantees, if such Indebtedness is subordinated, shall be expressly subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms not less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness), (iv) the covenants applicable to such Indebtedness are not more onerous or more restrictive in any material respect (taken as a whole) than the applicable covenants set forth in this Agreement and (v) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (q) shall not exceed $200,000,000 at any time;

 

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(r)          other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not in excess of $3,000,000 at any time; and

 

(s)          unsecured Indebtedness in the form of seller financing, deferred compensation and/or earn-out obligations which may become due and payable in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or any other acquisition consented to by the Required Lenders in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement; provided that at the time such Indebtedness is reflected as a liability on the balance sheet of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP,(1) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or would result therefrom and (2) the Total Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to a ratio equal to (x) the numerator of the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under Section 6.12(a) at such time minus 0.25 to (y) 1.00 (and the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to such effect in respect of the requirements set forth in this proviso, together with all relevant financial information and calculations requested by the Administrative Agent in respect thereof).

 

SECTION 6.03. Guarantees. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, make any Guarantee, except:

 

(a)          Guarantees executed on or prior to the date hereof as described on Schedule 6.03 attached hereto but not including any renewals or extension thereof;

 

(b)          endorsements of negotiable instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)          Guarantees of any Indebtedness under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;

 

(d)          Guarantees by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clauses (a), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (m), (n), (o), (p) and (q) of Section 6.02 hereof;

 

(e)          Guarantees of the obligations of Aceto Realty LLC under the Lease and the Pilot Mortgage; and

 

(f)          other Guarantees not to exceed $1,500,000 at any one time outstanding.

 

SECTION 6.04. Sale of Assets. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, sell, assign, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of their now owned or hereafter acquired respective properties and assets, whether or not pursuant to an order of a federal agency or commission, except for (a) the sale of inventory disposed of in the ordinary course of business, (b)  the sale or other disposition of used, obsolete, worn out or surplus equipment or property in the ordinary course of their business, (c) the sale (including any option for purchase) or lease of Arsynco Inc.’s real property and improvements located at Carlstadt, New Jersey, (d) dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements. and (e) sales, transfers and other dispositions of assets (other than Equity Interests in a Subsidiary unless all Equity Interests in such Subsidiary are sold) that are not permitted by any other clause of this Section 6.04, provided that the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in reliance upon this clause (e) shall not exceed $10,000,000 during any fiscal year of the Borrower.

 

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SECTION 6.05. Sale of Receivables. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, sell, transfer, discount or otherwise dispose of notes, accounts receivable or other obligations owing to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, with or without recourse, except for sales, transfers and dispositions of accounts (excluding sales or dispositions in a factoring arrangement) in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof, in each case in the ordinary course of business.

 

SECTION 6.06. Loans; Investments and Acquisitions. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, make or commit to make any advance, loan, extension of credit, or capital contribution to, or purchase or hold beneficially any stock or other securities, or evidence of Indebtedness of, purchase or acquire all or a substantial part of the assets of, make or permit to exist any interest whatsoever in, any other Person except for (a) the ownership of stock of any Subsidiaries existing as of the Effective Date or acquired or created after the date hereof, provided the Loan Parties has complied with its obligations under Section 5.09 with respect to such Subsidiary, (b) Eligible Investments, (c) Permitted Acquisitions, (d) investments, loans or advances made on or after the Effective Date by the Loan Parties in Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7,500,000 at any time outstanding, (e) investments, loans or advances made on or after the Effective Date by the Loan Parties in Subsidiaries that are Loan Parties, (f) loans and advances to customers, suppliers and/or vendors of any Loan Party, provided the aggregate principal amount of all such loans and advances shall not exceed $3,000,000 at any time outstanding, (g) investments, loans and advances by Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties to other Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties, (h) the ETC Acquisition, (i) investments in joint ventures not in excess of $10,000,000 million in the aggregate at any time outstanding; provided that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (i) is made in any person that is not a Subsidiary of Borrower at the date of the making of such Investment and such person becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (i) and (j) other investments, loans and advances in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

SECTION 6.07. Nature of Business. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, change or alter, in any material respect, the nature of its business from the nature of the business engaged in by it on the date hereof, and businesses ancillary or reasonably related thereto.

 

SECTION 6.08. Sale and Leaseback Transactions. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, except as contemplated by the IDA Transaction, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, whether real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, of it or any of its Subsidiaries, if the aggregate sales price of all such assets sold or transferred during the term of this Agreement exceeds $250,000, and at the time of such sale or disposition it intends to lease or otherwise acquire the right to use or possess (except by purchase) such property or like property for a substantially similar purpose.

 

SECTION 6.09. Federal Reserve Regulations. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, permit any Loan or the proceeds of any Loan to be used for any purpose which violates or is inconsistent with the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board.

 

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SECTION 6.10. Accounting Policies and Procedures. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, except as required by applicable law, rule or regulation, permit any change in the accounting policies and procedures of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, including a change in fiscal year; provided that any Foreign Subsidiary may change its fiscal year to reflect a fiscal year ending on June 30th of each year; provided, further, that any policy or procedure required to be changed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or other board or committee thereof) in order to comply with GAAP may be so changed.

 

SECTION 6.11. Limitations on Fundamental Changes. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, merge or consolidate with, or sell, assign, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now or hereafter acquired) to, any Person, acquire all of the stock or all or substantially all of the assets or the business of any Person (except pursuant to the ETC Acquisition or a Permitted Acquisition) or liquidate, wind up or dissolve or suffer any liquidation or dissolution, except if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (i) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Subsidiary into or with any Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving or resulting entity is or becomes a Loan Party, (ii) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party into or with any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, and (iii) the liquidation or dissolution or change in form of entity of any Subsidiary, if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation, dissolution or change in form is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and the assets of such Subsidiary, if a Loan Party, are distributed solely to one or more Loan Parties.

 

SECTION 6.12. Financial Covenants.

 

(a)          Maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the ratio (the “Total Net Leverage Ratio”), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters ending on and after September 30, 2015, of (i) (a) Consolidated Total Funded Indebtedness, minus (b) the Cash Deduction Amount to (ii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be greater than 4.00 to 1.00; provided that if (x) any Permitted Acquisition (for the avoidance of doubt, other than the ETC Acquisition) is consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (y) the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition exceeds $20,000,000 (such acquisition, the “Trigger Acquisition”), then the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.12(a) shall increase to 4.50 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter in which such acquisition is consummated and the three consecutive fiscal quarters following such quarter (such four consecutive fiscal quarter period, an “Adjusted Covenant Period”); provided, further, that it is understood and agreed that (x) a new Adjusted Covenant Period may not commence for at least two fiscal quarters following the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period and (y) at the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period, the maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.12(a) shall revert to 4.00 to 1.00 as of the end of such Adjusted Covenant Period and thereafter until another Adjusted Covenant Period (if any) commences pursuant to the terms and conditions described above.

 

(b)          Maximum Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the ratio (the “Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio”), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters ending on and after September 30, 2015, of (i) (a) Consolidated Total Funded Senior Secured Indebtedness, minus (b) the Cash Deduction Amount to (ii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be greater than 3.00 to 1.00; provided that if any Trigger Acquisition is consummated, then the maximum Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.12(b) shall increase to 3.25 to 1.00 for the Adjusted Covenant Period in respect of such Trigger Acquisition; provided, further, that it is understood and agreed that (x) a new Adjusted Covenant Period may not commence for at least two fiscal quarters following the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period and (y) at the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period, the maximum Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.12(b) shall revert to 3.00 to 1.00 as of the end of such Adjusted Covenant Period and thereafter until another Adjusted Covenant Period (if any) commences pursuant to the terms and conditions described above.

 

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(c)          Minimum Debt Service Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the ratio (the “Debt Service Coverage Ratio”), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters ending on and after September 30, 2015, of (i) (a) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, plus, without duplication, non-cash unrealized losses in connection with Swap Agreements, minus (b) the sum of (1) Unfinanced Capital Expenditures, plus (2) dividends, distributions, stock repurchases and redemptions, in each case paid in cash, plus (3) cash taxes paid with respect to income or profit for such period, including state, federal, franchise, gross receipts and margins and similar taxes, plus (4) non-cash unrealized gains in connection with Swap Agreements, in each case for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, to (ii) the sum of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, plus (b) the scheduled installments of principal on all Indebtedness (including Capital Leases) having a final maturity of one year or more from the date of incurrence thereof, plus (c) earn-outs and deferred acquisition consideration and payments in respect thereof, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (b) and (c) of this clause (ii), for the period of the immediately succeeding four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be less than (x) 1.25 to 1.00 as of the end of its fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2015 and (y) 3.50 as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters ending on and after December 31, 2015.

 

SECTION 6.13. Subordinated Indebtedness. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly prepay, defease, purchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any Subordinated Indebtedness or amend, supplement or otherwise modify any of the terms thereof without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.

 

SECTION 6.14. Restricted Payments. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, declare any dividend on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of, any shares of any class of stock of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any warrant to purchase any class of stock of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash, securities or property or in obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or in any combination thereof, or permit any Affiliate to make any payment on account of, or purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of any class of the stock of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any warrant to purchase any class of stock of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from any Person (any of the foregoing, a “Restricted Payment”); provided (a) if (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would arise after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) thereto, and (ii) at the time of and immediately after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) thereto the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.12(a), (b) and (c), the Borrower may make quarterly dividends and distributions to its shareholders which have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower, consistent with past practices of the Borrower prior to the Effective Date, (b) any wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower may make dividends or distributions to its shareholders or members, and (c) any Foreign Subsidiary at least 70% of the outstanding Equity Interests of which is owned by the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries may make dividends or distributions to its shareholders or members.

 

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SECTION 6.15. Transactions with Affiliates. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, or exchange of property or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate (other than any Loan Party), except in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries’ business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than they would obtain in a comparable arms-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate (other than any Loan Party).

 

SECTION 6.16. Governmental Regulation. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, (i) be or become subject at any time to any law, regulation, or list of any government agency (including, without limitation, the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control list) that prohibits or limits any Lender from making any advance or extension of credit to the Borrower or from otherwise conducting business with the Loan Parties, or (ii) fail to provide documentary and other evidence of the Loan Parties’ identity as may be requested by Lender at any time to enable Lender to verify any Loan Party’s identity or to comply with any applicable law or regulation, including, without limitation, the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

SECTION 6.17. Hazardous Materials. Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, cause or permit any of its properties or assets to be used to generate, manufacture, refine, transport, treat, store, handle, dispose of, transfer, produce or process Hazardous Materials, except in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws or regulations, or cause or permit, a release of Hazardous Materials onto such property or asset or onto any other property in violation of any such local laws or regulations.

 

SECTION 6.18. Restrictive Agreements. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of such Loan Party or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by any Requirement of Law or by any Loan Document, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.18 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder and customary provisions in joint venture agreements, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness and (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.

 

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ARTICLE VII

 

Events of Default

 

If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:

 

(a)          the Borrower shall fail to pay the principal of, or interest on, any Loan, any reimbursement obligations with respect to any LC Disbursement, or any fee or other amount due under this Agreement, as and when due and payable;

 

(b)          any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform (i) any covenant, condition or agreement of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to be performed pursuant to Section 5.01 (with respect to a Loan Party’s existence), 5.05(b), 5.08, 5.09 or Article VI of this Agreement or (ii) any other covenant, condition or agreement of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to be performed pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than those specified in clause (a) of this Article VII) and, in the case of this clause (b)(ii), such default, if capable of cure, shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such default;

 

(c)          any representation or warranty made or deemed made in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall prove to be false or misleading in any material respect when made or given or when deemed made or given;

 

(d)          any Loan Party or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;

 

(e)          any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice but after the expiration of any applicable grace or cure periods provided for in the applicable agreement or instrument under which such Indebtedness was created) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (e) shall not apply to (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

(f)          an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of a Loan Party or Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

 

(g)          any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (f) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for such Loan Party or Material Subsidiary of any Loan Party or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (v), or (vii) become unable or admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

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(h)          one or more orders, judgments or decrees for the payment of money in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate (not fully covered, but subject to customary deductibles, by insurance coverage provided by a creditworthy unaffiliated insurer that has not denied coverage) shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and the same shall not have been paid in accordance with such judgment, order or decree or settlement and either (i) an enforcement proceeding shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment, order or decree, or (ii) there shall have been a period of forty-five (45) consecutive days with respect to the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary or ninety (90) consecutive days with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, order or decree, by reason of pending appeal or otherwise, was not in effect;

 

(i)          (I) any Plan shall fail to maintain the minimum funding standard required for any Plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standard or extension of any amortization period is applied for or granted under Section 412 of the Code, (II) any Plan is terminated by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or the subject of termination proceedings under ERISA, (III) a Reportable Event shall have occurred with respect to a Plan, or (IV) the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate shall have incurred a liability to or on account of a Plan under Section 515, 4062, 4063, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA; and the occurrence of any such event described in the foregoing clauses (I) through (IV), when taken together with all other events described in the foregoing clauses (I) through (IV) that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(j)          any material provision of any Loan Document shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect in accordance with its terms or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall so assert in writing;

 

(k)          (i) a Change of Control shall have occurred;

 

(l)          any of the Liens purported to be granted pursuant to any Collateral Document shall fail or cease for any reason to be legal, valid and enforceable liens on the Collateral purported to be covered thereby or shall fail or cease to have the priority purported to be created thereby; or

 

(m)          the occurrence or existence of any default or other similar condition or event (however described) with respect to any Related Swap Agreement;

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to any Loan Party described in clause (f) or (g) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, whereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, but ratably as among the Classes of Loans and the Loans of each Class at the time outstanding, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), whereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in the case of any event with respect to any Loan Party described in clause (f) or (g) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, increase the rate of interest applicable to the Loans and other Obligations as set forth in this Agreement and exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

The Administrative Agent

 

SECTION 8.01. Appointment. Each of the Lenders, on behalf of itself and any of its Affiliates that are Secured Parties and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf, including execution of the other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the U.S., each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby grants to the Administrative Agent any required powers of attorney to execute any Collateral Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s behalf. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (including the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks), and the Loan Parties shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” as used herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any 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 independent contracting parties.

 

SECTION 8.02. Rights as a Lender. The bank 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 such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or any Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

 

SECTION 8.03. Duties and Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the 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 necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), and, (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral or the existence of the Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

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SECTION 8.04. Reliance. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent 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 be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), 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.

 

SECTION 8.05. Actions through Sub-Agents. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers 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 through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs 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 the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 8.06. Resignation. Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by its successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor, unless otherwise agreed by the Borrower and such successor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Collateral Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this paragraph (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duly or obligation to take any further action under any Collateral Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (b) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, provided that (i) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (ii) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall also directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article, Section 2.17(d) and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring 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 while it was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (a) above.

 

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SECTION 8.07. Non-Reliance.

 

(a)          Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and letters of credit and not investments in a business enterprise or securities. Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder and in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a Lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.

 

(b)          Each Lender hereby agrees that (i) it has requested a copy of each Report prepared by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent; (ii) the Administrative Agent (A) makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the completeness or accuracy of any Report or any of the information contained therein or any inaccuracy or omission contained in or relating to a Report and (B) shall not be liable for any information contained in any Report; (iii) the Reports are not comprehensive audits or examinations, and that any Person performing any field examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Loan Parties and will rely significantly upon the Loan Parties’ books and records, as well as on representations of the Loan Parties’ personnel and that the Administrative Agent undertakes no obligation to update, correct or supplement the Reports; (iv) it will keep all Reports confidential and strictly for its internal use, not share the Report with any Loan Party or any other Person except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this Agreement; and (v) without limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in this Agreement, (A) it will hold the Administrative Agent and any such other Person preparing a Report harmless from any action the indemnifying Lender may take or conclusion the indemnifying Lender may reach or draw from any Report in connection with any extension of credit that the indemnifying Lender has made or may make to the Borrower, or the indemnifying Lender’s participation in, or the indemnifying Lender’s purchase of, a Loan or Loans; and (B) it will pay and protect, and indemnify, defend, and hold the Administrative Agent and any such other Person preparing a Report harmless from and against, the claims, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and other amounts (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any such other Person as the direct or indirect result of any third parties who might obtain all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.

 

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SECTION 8.08. Other Agency Titles. None of the Lenders, if any, identified in this Agreement as a Syndication Agent shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of such Lenders shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgments with respect to the relevant Lenders in their respective capacities as Syndication Agent as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in the preceding paragraph.

 

SECTION 8.09. Not Partners or Co-Venturers; Administrative Agent as Representative of the Secured Parties.

 

(a)          The Lenders are not partners or co-venturers, and no Lender shall be liable for the acts or omissions of, or (except as otherwise set forth herein in case of the Administrative Agent) authorized to act for, any other Lender. The Administrative Agent shall have the exclusive right on behalf of the Lenders to enforce the payment of the principal of and interest on any Loan after the date such principal or interest has become due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)          In its capacity, the Administrative Agent is a “representative” of the Secured Parties within the meaning of the term “secured party” as defined in the UCC. Each Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent to enter into each of the Collateral Documents to which it is a party and to take all action contemplated by such documents. Each Lender agrees that no Secured Party (other than the Administrative Agent) shall have the right individually to seek to realize upon the security granted by any Collateral Document, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties upon the terms of the Collateral Documents. In the event that any Collateral is hereafter pledged by any Person as collateral security for the Secured Obligations, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, and hereby granted a power of attorney, to execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties any Loan Documents necessary or appropriate to grant and perfect a Lien on such Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 9.01. Notices.

 

(a)          Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone or Electronic Systems (and subject in each case to paragraph (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 fax, as follows:

 

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(i)          if to the Borrower, to it at 4 Tri Harbor Court, Port Washington, New York 11050, Attention of Douglas Roth, Chief Financial Officer (Telecopy No.  ###-###-####; Telephone No.  ###-###-####);

 

(ii)         if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 S. Dearborn St., Floor 7, Chicago, IL 60603, Attention of Duyanna Goodlet (Telecopy No. (888) 303-9732; Email: ***@***), with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 395 Service Road, Melville, New York 11747, Attention of Eileen Van der Waag (Telecopy No. (631) 755-0136);

 

(iii)        if to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as an Issuing Bank, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Sarjapur Outer Ring Rd., Vathur Hobli, Floor 04, Bangalore, 560 087, India, Attention of Sudeep Kalakkar (Email: ***@***);

 

(iv)        if to the Swingline Lender, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 S. Dearborn St., Floor 7, Chicago, IL 60603, Attention of Duyanna Goodlet (Telecopy No. (888) 303-9732; Email: ***@***); and

 

(v)         if to any other Lender or Issuing Bank, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

All such notices and other communications (i) sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received, (ii) sent by fax shall be deemed to have been given when sent, provided that if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day of the recipient, or (iii) delivered through Electronic Systems to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below shall be effective as provided in such paragraph.

 

(b)          Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by Electronic Systems pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (on behalf of the Loan Parties) may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by Electronic Systems 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 proscribes, all such notices and other communications (i) 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), provided that if not given during the normal business hours of the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) 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) above, if such notice, e-mail or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day of the recipient.

 

(c)          Any party hereto may change its address, facsimile number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

 

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(d)          Electronic Systems.

 

(i)          Each Loan Party agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make Communications (as defined below) available to the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar Electronic System.

 

(ii)         Any Electronic System used by the Administrative Agent is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. 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 Communications or any Electronic System. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower or the other Loan Parties, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s, any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through an Electronic System. “Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Electronic System.

 

SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments.

 

(a)          No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under any other Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

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(b)          Except as provided in Section 2.23 with respect to an increase in the Revolving Commitments in accordance with the terms of Section 2.23, neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (A) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender), (B) reduce or forgive the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce or forgive any interest or fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby (except that any amendment or modification of the financial covenants in this Agreement (or defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (B)), (C) postpone any scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any date for the payment of any interest, fees or other Obligations payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender (including any such Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby, (D) change Section 2.18(b) or (d) in a manner that would alter the manner in which payments are shared, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (E) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Class) required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender) directly affected thereby, (F) change Section 2.20, without the consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), (G) release any Loan Guarantor from its obligation under its Loan Guaranty (except as otherwise permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents), without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), or (H) except as provided in clause (c) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral without the written consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender); provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be (it being understood that any amendment to Section 2.20 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks). The Administrative Agent may also amend Schedule 2.01 to reflect assignments entered into pursuant to Section 9.04. Any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of the Lenders of one or more Classes (but not the Lenders of any other Class), may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the requisite number or percentage in interest of each affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under this Section if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders hereunder at the time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clause (A), (B) or (C) of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly affected by such amendment, waiver or other modification.

 

(c)          The Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its sole discretion, to release any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (i) upon the termination of all of the Commitments, payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations), and the cash collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations in a manner satisfactory to each affected Lender, (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if the Loan Party disposing of such property certifies to the Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), and to the extent that the property being sold or disposed of constitutes 100% of the Equity Interests of a Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to release any Loan Guaranty provided by such Subsidiary, (iii) constituting property leased to a Loan Party under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or (iv) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article VII. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent will not release any Liens on Collateral without the prior written authorization of the Required Lenders. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral. Any execution and delivery by the Administrative Agent of documents in connection with any such release shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.

 

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(d)          If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender directly affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but has not been obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrower may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 9.04, and (ii) the Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (x) to add one or more credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Revolving Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Lenders.

 

(f)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency.

 

SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)          The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents and their Affiliates (limited, in the case of counsel, to the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel and one additional local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates) in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a service such as Intralinks) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation 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 Issuing Banks 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 Agents, the Issuing Banks or any Lender (limited, in the case of counsel, to the fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel and one additional local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks and one additional counsel for all of the Lenders and additional counsel in light of actual or potential conflicts of interest or the availability of different claims or defenses) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including its rights under this Section, or 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. Expenses being reimbursed by the Loan Parties under this Section include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with:

 

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(A)         appraisals and insurance reviews;

 

(B)         field examinations and the preparation of Reports based on the fees charged by a third party retained by the Administrative Agent or the internally allocated fees for each Person employed by the Administrative Agent with respect to each field examination;

 

(C)         background checks regarding senior management and/or key investors, as deemed necessary or appropriate in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent;

 

(D)         Taxes, fees and other charges for (i) lien and title searches and title insurance and (ii)  filing financing statements and continuations, and other actions to perfect, protect, and continue the Administrative Agent’s Liens;

 

(E)         sums paid or incurred to take any action required of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents that such Loan Party fails to pay or take; and

 

(F)         forwarding loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment, and establishing and maintaining the accounts and lock boxes, and costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the Collateral.

 

All of the foregoing fees, costs and expenses may be charged to the Borrower as Revolving Loans or to another deposit account, all as described in Section 2.18(c).

 

(b)          The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and each Lender, 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 or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank 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 the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) the failure of a Loan Party to deliver to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence with respect to a payment made by such Loan Party for Taxes pursuant to Section 2.17 or (v) 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 the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from (x) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) a material breach in bad faith by such Indemnitee of its express obligations under the Loan Documents pursuant to a claim initiated by the Borrower. This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

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(c)          To the extent that any Loan Party fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank (or any Related Party of any of the foregoing) under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank (or any Related Party of any of the foregoing), as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (it being understood that the Borrower’s failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, penalty, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank in its capacity as such.

 

(d)          To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, (i) for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), or (ii) 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 or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.

 

(e)          All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than fifteen (15) days after written demand therefor.

 

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. 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 (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)          (i)          Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:

 

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(A)       the Borrower; 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, and provided, further that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;

 

(B)        the Administrative Agent; and

 

(C)        the Swingline Lender.

 

(ii)         Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(A)       except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or 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) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(B)        each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

 

(C)        the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and

 

(D)        the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including federal and state securities laws.

 

For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the terms “Approved Fund” and “Ineligible Institution” have the following meanings:

 

Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and 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.

 

Ineligible Institution” means a (a) natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof; provided that, such company, investment vehicle or trust shall not constitute an Ineligible Institution if it (x) has not been established for the primary purpose of acquiring any Loans or Commitments, (y) is managed by a professional advisor, who is not such natural person or a relative thereof, having significant experience in the business of making or purchasing commercial loans, and (z) has assets greater than $25,000,000 and a significant part of its activities consist of making or purchasing commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business; provided that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, any Person (other than a Lender) shall be an Ineligible Institution if after giving effect to any proposed assignment to such Person, such Person would hold more than 25% of the then outstanding Aggregate Credit Exposure or Commitments, as the case may be or (d) a Loan Party or a Subsidiary or other Affiliate of a Loan Party.

 

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(iii)        Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto 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 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 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 paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

(iv)        The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks 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, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(v)         Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05, 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

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(c)          Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Banks, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) other than an Ineligible Institution in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the 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 Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Sections 2.17(f) and (g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender and the information and documentation required under Section 2.17(g) will be delivered to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 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 2.15 or 2.17 with respect to any participation than its participating Lender 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 2.19(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(d) 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 this Agreement or any other Loan Document (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.

 

(d)          Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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SECTION 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.

 

SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution. (a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent 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 which, 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.

 

(b)          Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries 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, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

SECTION 9.07. Severability. Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any of and all the Secured Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured. The applicable Lender shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such set-off or application, provided that any failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such set-off or application under this Section. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

 

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SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

 

(a)          The Loan Documents (other than those containing a contrary express choice of law provision) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (and not the law of conflicts) of the State of New York.

 

(b)          Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan, and of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action 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 any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender 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.

 

(c)          Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, 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 law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(d)          Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY 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, 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 OR OTHER AGENT (INCLUDING ANY ATTORNEY) OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY 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 BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

SECTION 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by any Requirement of Law or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (x) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (y) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Loan Parties and their obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, 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 LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWER OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW.

 

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SECTION 9.13. Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law. The respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and the failure of any Lender to make any Loan or perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder. Each Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board) for the repayment of the Borrowings provided for herein. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, neither any Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the Borrower in violation of any Requirement of Law.

 

SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

SECTION 9.15. Disclosure. Each Loan Party, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with, any of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates.

 

SECTION 9.16. Appointment for Perfection. Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable law can be perfected only by possession or control. Should any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent) obtain possession or control of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Administrative Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s instructions.

 

SECTION 9.17. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

 

SECTION 9.18. 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), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lenders and their Affiliates, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower 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) each of the Lenders and their Affiliates 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 Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except, in the case of a Lender, those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against each of the Lenders and their Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

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SECTION 9.19. Marketing Consent. The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent and their respective affiliates (including without limitation J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC) (collectively, the “Agent Parties”), at their respective sole expense, but without any prior approval by the Borrower, to include the Borrower’s name and logo in advertising slicks posted on its internet site, in pitchbooks or sent in mailings to prospective customers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Agent Parties shall not publish the Borrower’s name in a newspaper or magazine without obtaining the Borrower’s prior written approval. The foregoing authorization shall remain in effect unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent in writing that such authorization is revoked.

 

ARTICLE X

 

Loan Guaranty

 

SECTION 10.01. Guaranty. Each Loan Guarantor (other than those that have delivered a separate Guaranty) hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and, as a primary obligor and not merely as surety, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Secured Parties, the prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations and all costs and expenses including, without limitation, all court costs and reasonable attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees (including allocated costs of in-house counsel and paralegals) and expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders in endeavoring to collect all or any part of the Secured Obligations from, or in prosecuting any action against, the Borrower, any Loan Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations (such costs and expenses, together with the Secured Obligations, collectively the “Guaranteed Obligations”); provided, however, that the definition of “Guaranteed Obligations” shall not create any guarantee by any Loan Guarantor of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Guarantor to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Guarantor for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Guarantor). Each Loan Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. All terms of this Loan Guaranty apply to and may be enforced by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of any Lender that extended any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

SECTION 10.02. Guaranty of Payment. This Loan Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each Loan Guarantor waives any right to require the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to sue the Borrower, any Loan Guarantor, any other guarantor of, or any other Person obligated for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations (each, an “Obligated Party”), or otherwise to enforce its payment against any collateral securing all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

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SECTION 10.03. No Discharge or Diminishment of Loan Guaranty.

 

(a)          Except as otherwise provided for herein, the obligations of each Loan Guarantor hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration, or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower or any other Obligated Party liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting any Obligated Party, or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which any Loan Guarantor may have at any time against any Obligated Party, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender, or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transactions.

 

(b)          The obligations of each Loan Guarantor hereunder are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit payment by any Obligated Party, of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.

 

(c)          Further, the obligations of any Loan Guarantor hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection, or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for the obligations of the Borrower for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any obligations of any other Obligated Party liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender with respect to any collateral securing any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Loan Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Loan Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations).

 

SECTION 10.04. Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Loan Guarantor hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Borrower or any Loan Guarantor or the unenforceability of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Borrower, any Loan Guarantor or any other Obligated Party, other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Loan Guarantor irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any Obligated Party, or any other Person. Each Loan Guarantor confirms that it is not a surety under any state law and shall not raise any such law as a defense to its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any Obligated Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such Loan Guarantor under this Loan Guaranty, except to the extent the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully and indefeasibly paid in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Loan Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Loan Guarantor against any Obligated Party or any security.

 

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SECTION 10.05. Rights of Subrogation. No Loan Guarantor will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification that it has against any Obligated Party, or any collateral, until the Loan Parties and the Loan Guarantors have fully performed all their obligations to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders.

 

SECTION 10.06. Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a Secured Party in its discretion), each Loan Guarantor’s obligations under this Loan Guaranty with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders are in possession of this Loan Guaranty. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the Loan Guarantors forthwith on demand by the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 10.07. Information. Each Loan Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Loan Guarantor assumes and incurs under this Loan Guaranty, and agrees that none of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender shall have any duty to advise any Loan Guarantor of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.

 

SECTION 10.08. Termination. Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks may continue to make loans or extend credit to the Borrower based on this Loan Guaranty until five (5) days after it receives written notice of termination from any Loan Guarantor. Notwithstanding receipt of any such notice, each Loan Guarantor will continue to be liable to the Lenders for any Guaranteed Obligations created, assumed or committed to prior to the fifth day after receipt of the notice, and all subsequent renewals, extensions, modifications and amendments with respect to, or substitutions for, all or any part of such Guaranteed Obligations. Nothing in this Section 10.08 shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of, or eliminate, limit, reduce or otherwise impair any rights or remedies the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have in respect of, any Default or Event of Default that shall exist under clause (k) of Article VII hereof as a result of any such notice of termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Loan Documents, this Loan Guaranty and the provisions of this Section 10.08 shall terminate with respect to each Loan Guarantor on the date such Loan Guarantor is released from its obligations in respect of this Loan Guaranty in accordance with Section 9.02 or upon (i) the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guarantor Payment and the Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) the cash collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations that have not yet arisen), (iii) the termination (or expiration) of all Commitments and Letters of Credit have terminated or expired and (iv) all Letters of Credit are cash collateralized on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Banks.

 

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SECTION 10.09. Taxes. Each payment of the Guaranteed Obligations will be made by each Loan Guarantor without withholding for any Taxes, unless such withholding is required by law. If any Loan Guarantor determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it is so required to withhold Taxes, then such Loan Guarantor may so withhold and shall timely pay the full amount of withheld Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. If such Taxes are Indemnified Taxes, then the amount payable by such Loan Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that, net of such withholding (including such withholding applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section), the Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank (as the case may be) receives the amount it would have received had no such withholding been made.

 

SECTION 10.10. Maximum Liability. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Loan Guaranty, the amount guaranteed by each Loan Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the extent, if any, required so that its obligations hereunder shall not be subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law. In determining the limitations, if any, on the amount of any Loan Guarantor’s obligations hereunder pursuant to the preceding sentence, it is the intention of the parties hereto that any rights of subrogation, indemnification or contribution which such Loan Guarantor may have under this Loan Guaranty, any other agreement or applicable law shall be taken into account.

 

SECTION 10.11. Contribution.

 

(a)          To the extent that any Loan Guarantor shall make a payment under this Loan Guaranty (a “Guarantor Payment”) which, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Loan Guarantor, exceeds the amount which otherwise would have been paid by or attributable to such Loan Guarantor if each Loan Guarantor had paid the aggregate Guaranteed Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion as such Loan Guarantor’s “Allocable Amount” (as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Loan Guarantors as determined immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guarantor Payment and the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations that have not yet arisen), and all Commitments and Letters of Credit have terminated or expired or, in the case of all Letters of Credit, are collateralized on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Banks, and this Agreement, the Swap Agreement Obligations and the Banking Services Obligations have terminated, such Loan Guarantor shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Loan Guarantor for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.

 

(b)          As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of any Loan Guarantor shall be equal to the excess of the fair saleable value of the property of such Loan Guarantor over the total liabilities of such Loan Guarantor (including the maximum amount reasonably expected to become due in respect of contingent liabilities, calculated, without duplication, assuming each other Loan Guarantor that is also liable for such contingent liability pays its ratable share thereof), giving effect to all payments made by other Loan Guarantors as of such date in a manner to maximize the amount of such contributions.

 

(c)          This Section 10.11 is intended only to define the relative rights of the Loan Guarantors, and nothing set forth in this Section 10.11 is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Loan Guarantors, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Loan Guaranty.

 

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(d)          The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Loan Guarantor or Loan Guarantors to which such contribution and indemnification is owing.

 

(e)          The rights of the indemnifying Loan Guarantors against other Loan Guarantors under this Section 10.11 shall be exercisable upon the full and indefeasible payment of the Guaranteed Obligations in cash (other than Unliquidated Obligations that have not yet arisen) and the termination or expiry (or, in the case of all Letters of Credit, full cash collateralization), on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Banks, of the Commitments and all Letters of Credit issued hereunder and the termination of this Agreement, the Swap Agreement Obligations and the Banking Services Obligations.

 

SECTION 10.12. Liability Cumulative. The liability of each Loan Party as a Loan Guarantor under this Article X is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other Loan Parties, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.

 

SECTION 10.13. Keepwell. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Loan Party to honor all of its obligations under this Guarantee in respect of a Swap Obligation (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 10.13 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 10.13 or otherwise under this Loan Guaranty voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). Except as otherwise provided herein, the obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 10.13 shall remain in full force and effect until the termination of all Swap Obligations. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 10.13 constitute, and this Section 10.13 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

  ACETO CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Salvatore Guccione
  Name: Salvatore Guccione
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  ACETO AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Douglas Roth
  Name: Douglas Roth
  Title: Secretary
   
  RISING PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Douglas Roth
  Name: Douglas Roth
  Title: Secretary
   
  PACK PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Douglas Roth
  Name: Douglas Roth
  Title: Secretary
   
  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually as a Lender, and as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and an Issuing Bank
   
  By: /s/ Eileen Van der Waag
  Name: Eileen Van der Waag
  Title: Authorized Officer

 

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  WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
   
  By: /s/ Michael Zick
  Name: Michael Zick
  Title: Vice President
   
  CITIBANK, N.A.
   
  By: /s/ Stuart N. Berman
  Name: Stuart N. Berman
  Title: Vice President
   
  CAPITAL ONE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
   
  By: /s/ Paul Darrigo
  Name: Paul Darrigo
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

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