Term Loan Agreement, dated August 26, 2022, by and among Conagra Brands, Inc., Farm Credit Services of America, PCA, as administrative agent and a lender, and the other lenders party thereto

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Loan Agreements
EX-10.1 2 d398576dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

Published CUSIP Number:

Deal:

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

dated as of August 26, 2022

among

CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.,

The Lenders That Have Signed This Agreement,

FARM CREDIT SERVICES OF AMERICA, PCA

as Administrative Agent,

 

 

 

FARM CREDIT SERVICES OF AMERICA, PCA,

and

FARM CREDIT BANK OF TEXAS

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS

     1  

1.01

  Defined Terms      1  

1.02

  Other Interpretive Provisions      15  

1.03

  Accounting Terms      16  

1.04

  Rounding      17  

1.05

  [Reserved]      17  

1.06

  Times of Day      17  

1.07

  Interest Rates      17  

ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS

     17  

2.01

  Loans      17  

2.02

  Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans      18  

2.03

  [Reserved]      19  

2.04

  Prepayments      19  

2.05

  [Reserved]      19  

2.06

  Repayment of Loans      19  

2.07

  Interest      19  

2.08

  Fees      20  

2.09

  Computation of Interest and Fees      20  

2.10

  Evidence of Debt      21  

2.11

  Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback      21  

2.12

  Sharing of Payments by Lenders      23  

2.13

  [Reserved]      23  

2.14

  [Reserved]      23  

2.15

  [Reserved]      23  

2.16

  Defaulting Lenders      23  

2.17

  Use of Proceeds      25  

ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

     25  

3.01

  Taxes      25  

3.02

  Illegality      29  

3.03

  Inability to Determine Rates      30  

3.04

  Increased Costs      31  

3.05

  Compensation for Losses      32  

3.06

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      32  

3.07

  Rate Replacement      33  

3.08

  Survival      34  

ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS.

     35  

4.01

  Conditions to Effective Date      35  

 

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4.02

  Conditions to Each Borrowing      36  

ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

     36  

5.01

  Corporate Existence and Standing      36  

5.02

  Authorization and Validity      36  

5.03

  Compliance with Laws and Contracts      36  

5.04

  Financial Statements      37  

5.05

  Taxes      37  

5.06

  Litigation      37  

5.07

  Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974      37  

5.08

  Defaults      37  

5.09

  Accuracy of Information      37  

5.10

  Regulation U      38  

5.11

  Legal Authority      38  

5.12

  Investment Company Status      38  

5.13

  Status as an Affected Financial Institution      38  

5.14

  OFAC      38  

5.15

  Anti-Corruption Laws      38  

ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

     38  

6.01

  Financial Statements, Reports, Returns and Other Financial Data      38  

6.02

  Officer’s Certificate      40  

6.03

  Farm Credit Equity and Security.      40  

ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

     41  

7.01

  Interest Coverage Ratio      41  

7.02

  Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio      41  

7.03

  Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance      41  

7.04

  Liens      41  

7.05

  Sanctions      43  

7.06

  Anti-Corruption Laws      43  

ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES.

     43  

8.01

  Events of Default      43  

8.02

  Rights and Duties After Default      45  

8.03

  Application of Funds      45  

ARTICLE IX. THE AGENTS.

     46  

9.01

  Appointment and Authority      46  

9.02

  Rights as a Lender      46  

9.03

  Exculpatory Provisions      46  

9.04

  Reliance by Administrative Agent      47  

9.05

  Delegation of Duties      47  

 

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9.06

  Resignation of Administrative Agent      48  

9.07

  Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders      49  

9.08

  Arrangers, Syndication Agent, Documentation Agents      50  

9.09

  ERISA      50  

9.10

  Recovery of Erroneous Payments      51  

ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS.

     51  

10.01

  Amendments, Etc.      51  

10.02

  Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication      52  

10.03

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement      55  

10.04

  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      55  

10.05

  Payments Set Aside      57  

10.06

  Successors and Assigns      58  

10.07

  Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality      63  

10.08

  Right of Setoff      63  

10.09

  Integration; Effectiveness      64  

10.10

  Survival of Representations and Warranties      64  

10.11

  Severability      64  

10.12

  Replacement of Lenders      64  

10.13

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.      65  

10.14

  Waiver of Jury Trial      66  

10.15

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      66  

10.16

  Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts      67  

10.17

  USA PATRIOT Act      68  

10.18

  [Reserved]      68  

10.19

  Governmental Regulation      68  

10.20

  ENTIRE AGREEMENT      68  

10.21

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions      69  

 

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           EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1    -   Commitments and Applicable Percentages
SCHEDULE 7.04    -   Existing Liens
SCHEDULE 10.02    -   Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
SCHEDULE 10.06(e)    -   Voting Participants
EXHIBIT A    -   Form of Note
EXHIBIT B    -   Form of Loan Notice
EXHIBIT C-1    -   Form of Assignment and Assumption
EXHIBIT C-2    -   Form of Administrative Questionnaire
EXHIBIT D    -   Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Company
EXHIBIT E-1    -   Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates (Foreign Lenders that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT E-2    -   Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates (Foreign Participants that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT E-3    -   Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates (Foreign Participants that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT E-4    -   Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates (Foreign Lenders that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

 

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CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of August 26, 2022

This Term Loan Agreement (as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time hereafter, the “Agreement”) is entered into by and among Conagra Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and permitted assigns, the “Company”), the banks and other financial institutions that have signed this Agreement and Farm Credit Services of America, PCA (together with its successors and permitted assigns, “FCSA”), as administrative agent for such lenders.

The parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Administrative Agent” means FCSA, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders pursuant to Article IX, and not in its individual capacity as a Lender, together with its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity.

Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Company and the Lenders.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit C-2 or any other form approved (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) by the Administrative Agent.

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

Affiliate” means any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control a corporation if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such corporation, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Agents” means each of the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers.

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders. The amount of the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the Effective Date is $500,000,000.00.

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


Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time prior to the funding of the Loans, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time. After the funding of the Loans, the Applicable Percentage means with respect to any Lender, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Outstanding Amount of the Loans of all of the Lenders represented by such Lender’s Outstanding Amount of the Loans. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 1 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the then applicable Debt Rating, as set forth below:

 

Pricing

Level

  

Debt Ratings

S&P/Moody’s

   Term SOFR +    Base Rate +

1

   A-/A3 or better    0.900%    0.000%

2

   BBB+/Baa1    1.000%    0.000%

3

   BBB/Baa2    1.125%    0.125%

4

   BBB-/Baa3    1.250%    0.250%

5

   Lower than BBB-/Baa3    1.375%    0.375%

Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Moody’s (collectively, the “Debt Ratings”) of the Company’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by foregoing rating agencies differ by one Pricing Level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one Pricing Level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Company has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level that is one level lower than that of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if the Company does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

The Debt Rating in effect on any date for purposes of the Applicable Rate is that rating in effect at the close of business on such date.

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.

Arrangers” means FCSA and Farm Credit Bank of Texas in their respective capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

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Authorized Officer” means any of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer or any other employee of the Company who is designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by any of the foregoing and who holds a substantially similar office to any of the foregoing and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the Company so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the Company designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the Company and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by an Authorized Officer of the Company shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Company and such Authorized Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Company.

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to and including the Commitment Expiration Date.

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

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

Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by FCSA as its “prime rate,” and (c) Term SOFR plus 1.00; provided, however, if the Base Rate so determined would be less than zero, the Base Rate shall be deemed to be zero. The “prime rate” is a rate set by FCSA based upon various factors including FCSA’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by FCSA shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

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

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

 

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Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Systems of the United States.

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

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Term SOFR Loan or any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Term SOFR Loan, means any such day that is also a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, 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, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.

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

Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Loans to the Company pursuant to Section 2.01, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1 under the caption “Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Commitment Expiration Date” means the earliest of (a) the date upon which the Aggregate Commitments are fully advanced pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) September 26, 2022, and (c) the date of termination in full of all Commitments in accordance with the terms hereof.

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

Company Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

 

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

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

Consolidated EBITDA” means, on a consolidated basis for any fiscal period, net income of the Company and its Subsidiaries (exclusive of equity earnings in non-consolidated affiliates except to the extent such earnings have actually been distributed in cash to the Company or any Subsidiary during such period) plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such net income: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign taxes based on income, profits or capital payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) fees and expenses incurred during such period in respect of acquisitions, dispositions, investments and debt or equity issuances (whether contemplated or consummated) (including the prepayment, repayment or retirement of debt in connection therewith or any amendment or waiver in respect of any indebtedness), (v) non-cash share based compensation expense, (vi) other non-cash expenses, losses and charges (other than those representing a reserve for or actual cash item in any future period) for such period, (vii) to the extent elected by the Company, other unusual, non-recurring or one-time cash expenses, losses and charges in an amount not to exceed $100,000,000 in any four fiscal quarter period and (viii) any costs and expenses incurred by the Company or a Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or stockholders agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Company or net cash proceeds of issuance of capital stock (that is not “disqualified equity”) of the Company and minus (b) the following to the extent included in calculating such net income: (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period and (ii) all non-cash items increasing net income for such period (other than gains representing or resulting from the reversal of any accrual of or cash reserve for anticipated cash charges in any prior period); provided, that the Consolidated EBITDA for any acquired business acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to an acquisition the aggregate cash consideration for which equals or exceeds $200,000,000 during such period shall be included on a pro forma basis for such period (as determined in good faith by the Company, assuming the consummation of such acquisition and the incurrence or assumption of any indebtedness for

 

5


borrowed money of the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection therewith incurred as of the first day of such period), and provided further that the Consolidated EBITDA for any entity sold for aggregate cash consideration of $200,000,000 or more by the Company or any Subsidiary shall be deducted on a pro forma basis for such period (as determined in good faith by the Company, assuming the consummation of such sale or other disposition occurred on the first day of such period).

Consolidated Funded Net Debt” means (a) the sum of (i) any obligation for borrowed money, that under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles is shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries plus (ii) an amount equal to 60% of the principal amount payable by the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to any guaranty by the Company or any such Subsidiary of “Third Party Debt” upon the happening of every contingency to the enforcement of such guaranty minus (b) the amount (not less than zero) equal to the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company. For purposes hereof, “Third Party Debt” shall mean debt of any Person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary) for borrowed money that (i) pursuant to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, is classified as a non-current liability, and (ii) the repayment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Consolidated Funded Net Debt shall not include any Excluded Acquisition Debt.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means net interest expense under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (other than interest expense with respect to any Excluded Acquisition Debt).

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

Debt Rating” has the meaning specified in the definition of Applicable Rate.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate (calculated with an Applicable Rate at Pricing Level 5) applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 1% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate (calculated with an Applicable Rate at Pricing Level 5)) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 1% per annum.

 

6


Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.16(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s reasonable good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Company, the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s reasonable good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Company, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Company that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Company), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Company and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

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

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

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

 

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

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

Effective Date” means the first date all of the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.

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

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

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

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01, provided that there has been satisfied any requirement in connection with such event for the giving of notice, or the lapse of time, or the happening of any further condition, event or act.

Excluded Acquisition Debt” means indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary to the extent that (x) the proceeds thereof are designated by the Company to be used (and are yet to be applied) to finance any Material Acquisition (or repay, redeem, defease or otherwise satisfy any indebtedness or pay related fees and expenses in connection therewith) and (y) it is redeemable at not more than 101% of the principal amount thereof (plus accrued interest) if such Material Acquisition is not consummated, until the first to occur of (i) the date of consummation of such Material Acquisition and (ii) the date that is 10 days following termination of the definitive acquisition agreement with respect to such Material Acquisition in accordance with the terms thereof.

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Company under

 

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Section 10.12) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate Outstanding Amount at such time of such Lender’s Loans and (b) such Lender’s aggregate unused Commitments at such time.

Farm Credit Equities” has the meaning specified in Section 6.03(a).

Farm Credit Lender” means a lending institution chartered or otherwise organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 and under the regulation of the Farm Credit Administration.

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 agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, further, if the Federal Funds Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Fee Letter” means (i) the fee letter agreement, dated as of August 11, 2022, among the Company, FCSA and Farm Credit Bank of Texas, and (ii) any other fee letter entered into by the Company with any Agent in respect hereof.

Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time.

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

 

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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 the Company under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Term SOFR Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the first Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.

Interest Period” means as to each Term SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date such Term SOFR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan and ending on the date one, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Company in its Loan Notice (in the case of each requested Interest Period, subject to availability); provided that:

(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Term SOFR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

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

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

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case having the force of law.

Lenders” means the banks and other financial institutions party to this Agreement from time to time as “Lenders”.

Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Company and the Administrative Agent which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such Affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires each reference to a Lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.

 

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Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing), conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease in the nature of security.

Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note and the Fee Letter.

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

Material Acquisition” means an acquisition of a Person or assets constituting a line of business by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the aggregate cash consideration for which equals or exceeds $300,000,000.

Material Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary that has total assets, determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, in excess of 20% of the Company’s total consolidated assets, determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Maturity Date” means August 26, 2025.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., together with its successors.

Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

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

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

Note” means a promissory note made by the Company in favor of a Lender (or its registered assigns) evidencing Loans made by such Lender to the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

Obligations” means all unpaid principal and interest in respect of the Loans and all other obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to the Lenders or to any Lender, or to the Administrative Agent, in each case arising under the Loan Documents.

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

 

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Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed in the name of the Company by any Authorized Officer.

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

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

Outstanding Amount” means, on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments thereof occurring on such date.

Overnight Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

Person” shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an estate, an unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

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

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

Recipient” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Company hereunder.

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board (as modified) and shall include any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board relating to the extension of credit by banks for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stocks applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.

 

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

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having more than 50% of the aggregate Exposure of all Lenders. The Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time. With respect to any matter requiring the approval of the Required Lenders, it is understood that Voting Participants shall have the voting rights specified in Section 10.06(e) as to such matter.

Rescindable Amount” has the meaning as defined in Section 2.11(b)(ii).

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

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

Same Day Funds” means immediately available funds.

Sanction(s)” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant governmental sanctions authority.

Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07(a)(ii).

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

SOFR Adjustment” means a percentage equal to 0.10% per annum.

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

Subsidiary” means any Person whose accounts are consolidated with the accounts of the Company in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for purposes of preparing the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01.

 

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

Term SOFR” means:

(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period (provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto so long as such first U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than 3 U.S. Government Business Securities Days prior to such initial determination date), in each case, plus the SOFR Adjustment; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Voting Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(e).

Voting Participant Notification” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(e).

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

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

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

 

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or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

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

1.03 Accounting Terms. (a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the audited financial statements referenced in Section 5.04(a), except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

(b) Changes in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. If at any time any change in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles prior to such change therein. Without limiting the foregoing, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with that under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as of the date of this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding any change in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles relating thereto, unless the parties hereto shall enter into a mutually acceptable amendment addressing such changes as provided for above.

 

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1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.05 [Reserved].

1.06 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

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

ARTICLE II.

THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS

2.01 Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Loan”) to the Company in Dollars, on any single Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment. Loans borrowed under this Section 2.01 and prepaid may not be re-borrowed. Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as further provided herein. Each Lender’s Commitment shall terminate immediately and without further action at 11:59 p.m. on the Commitment Expiration Date.

 

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2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be made upon the Company’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) a Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Loan Notice. Each such Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans or of any conversion of Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $25,000,000 or a whole multiple of $5,000,000 in excess thereof. Each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the Company is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Company fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Company fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term SOFR Loans. If the Company requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Company, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans as described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Company in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent by wire transfer of such funds in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Company.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Term SOFR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Term SOFR Loan. During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Term SOFR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Term SOFR Loans upon determination of such interest rate.

(e) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect.

 

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

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

2.03 [Reserved].

2.04 Prepayments. (a) The Company may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Term SOFR Loans, and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $25,000,000 or a whole multiple of $5,000,000 in excess thereof; (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding; and (iv) any such notice may be conditioned on the effectiveness of other financing arrangements or one or more other transactions. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Term SOFR Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, subject to the occurrence of any condition(s) specified therein. Any prepayment of a Term SOFR Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.16, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

2.05 [Reserved].

2.06 Repayment of Loans. The Company shall on the Maturity Date repay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

2.07 Interest.

 

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

(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Company under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(iii) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

2.08 Fees. (a) the Company shall pay any fees required to be paid pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Fee Letters and (b) the Company shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees, if any, as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

2.09 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to Term SOFR) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.11(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

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2.10 Evidence of Debt. The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the Company and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Company hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender to the Company made through the Administrative Agent, the Company shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans to the Company in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to a Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

2.11 Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback. (a) General. All payments to be made by the Company shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Company hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall, at the option of the Administrative Agent, be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Company shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Company 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 Company severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Company to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Company, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Company and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Company the amount

 

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of such interest paid by the Company for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Company shall be without prejudice to any claim the Company may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by the Company; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Company prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Company will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Company has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.

With respect to any payment that the Administrative Agent makes for the account of and to the Lenders hereunder as to which the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (1) the Company has not in fact made such payment; (2) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by the Company (whether or not then owed); or (3) the Administrative Agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment; then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of repayment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

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

(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender to the Company as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Company by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Loan set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall promptly return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).

 

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(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(f) Insufficient Funds. If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, toward payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, toward payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

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

(i) if any such participations 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 Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Company or any Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

The Company 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 Company rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Company in the amount of such participation.

2.13 [Reserved].

2.14 [Reserved].

2.15 [Reserved].

2.16 Defaulting Lenders.

 

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

(i) Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and Section 10.01.

(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Company may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; third, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fourth, so long as no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Company as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Company against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and fifth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Company and the Administrative Agent agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Company while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

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2.17 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans shall be available (and the Company agrees that it shall use such proceeds) solely for general corporate purposes not in contravention in any material respect of any Law or of any Loan Document.

ARTICLE III.

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes. (i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Company under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Laws. If any applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Administrative Agent or the Company, as applicable) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent, the Company or other applicable withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.

(ii) If the Company, the Administrative Agent or other applicable withholding agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the applicable withholding agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the applicable withholding agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the Company shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

(iii) If the Company, the Administrative Agent or other applicable withholding agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) the applicable withholding agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the applicable withholding agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the Company shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions for Indemnified Taxes (including deductions for Indemnified Taxes applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

 

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(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Company. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Company 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 the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(c) Tax Indemnifications. (i) The Company shall, and does hereby, indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 Business Days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Company 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. The Company shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 Business Days after written demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii) below.

(ii) Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 Business Days after demand therefor, (x) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such (but only to the extent that the Company has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Company to do so), (y) the Administrative Agent and the Company, as applicable, against any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Company, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or the Company 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 authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii).

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

 

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(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation. (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Law or the taxing authorities of a jurisdiction pursuant to such applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Company 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 Company or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Company 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 either (A) set forth in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below or (B) required by applicable Law other than the Code or the taxing authorities of the jurisdiction pursuant to such applicable Law to comply with the requirements for exemption or reduction of withholding tax in that jurisdiction) 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,

(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Company 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 Company or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Company 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 Company or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

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

 

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

(III) 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 E-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 Company 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 copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable); or

(IV) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2 or Exhibit E-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 E-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 Company 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 Company or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the Company or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Company 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 Company or the

 

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Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Company 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.

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

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

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

3.02 Illegality. If any Lender in good faith determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to SOFR or Term SOFR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR or Term SOFR, then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the Company (through the Administrative Agent), (a) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Term SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans shall be suspended, and (b) if such notice

 

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asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice by the Company, (i) the Company shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Term SOFR Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loan to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loan and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon SOFR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Company shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.

3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If in connection with any request for a Term SOFR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof, (a) (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (A) no Successor Rate has been determined in accordance with Section 3.07, and the circumstances under clause (i) of Section 3.07(a) or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred, or (B) adequate and reasonable means do not otherwise exist for determining Term SOFR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Term SOFR Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason that Term SOFR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender.

Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Term SOFR Loans, or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans, shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Term SOFR component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in clause (ii) of this Section 3.03, until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.

Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, or conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein and (ii) any outstanding Term SOFR Loans shall be deemed to have been converted to Base Rate Loans immediately at the end of their respective applicable Interest Period.

 

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3.04 Increased Costs.

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

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

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

(iii) impose on any Lender any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Term SOFR Loans made by such Lender;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Company will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender in good faith determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Company will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Company shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Company shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate and due under such subsection within 10 Business Days after receipt thereof.

 

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(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Company shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Company shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense (other than any loss of Applicable Rate or other profit) incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

(b) any failure by the Company (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Company;

(c) any failure by the Company to make payment of any Loan (or interest due thereon) on its scheduled due date; or

(d) any assignment of a Term SOFR Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 10.12;

including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Company shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. Each Lender may make any Loan to the Company through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Company to repay the Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or requires the Company to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of the Company 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 Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Company hereby agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

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(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Company is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Company may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.12.

3.07 Rate Replacement.

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

 

  (i)

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

 

  (ii)

CME or any successor administrator of the Term SOFR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator with respect to its publication of Term SOFR, in each case acting in such capacity, has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate shall or will no longer be made available, or permitted to be used for determining the interest rate of U.S. dollar denominated syndicated loans, or shall or will otherwise cease, provided that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that will continue to provide such interest periods of Term SOFR after such specific date (the latest date on which one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate are no longer available permanently or indefinitely, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”),

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

If the Successor Rate is Daily Simple SOFR plus the SOFR Adjustment, all interest payments will be payable on the first Business Day of each March, June, September and December.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) if the Administrative Agent determines that Daily Simple SOFR is not available on or prior to the Term SOFR Replacement Date, or (ii) if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.07(a)(i) or (ii) have occurred with respect to the Successor Rate then in effect, then in each case, the Administrative Agent and the Company may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing Term SOFR or any then current Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 3.07 at the end of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, as applicable, with an alternative benchmark rate giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such rate by the Relevant Governmental Body and (ii) any evolving or then existing convention for similar Dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such alternative benchmark. and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such benchmark, which adjustment or method for calculating such adjustment shall be published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion and may be periodically updated. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments, shall constitute a “Successor Rate”. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Company unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.

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

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

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

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

3.08 Survival. All obligations of the Company under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

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ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS.

4.01 Conditions to Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on the date of execution hereof subject to receipt by the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) of each of the following:

(a) a copy of this Agreement, executed by the Company;

(b) a certificate signed by any Authorized Officer or Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company stating that as of the Effective Date no Default exists and that the representations and warranties contained in Article V are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent already qualified by materiality or material adverse effect) on the Effective Date (except with respect to those representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date);

(c) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, together with all amendments, certified by any Authorized Officer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, and a certificate of good standing, certified on or within ten Business Days prior to the date hereof by the Secretary of State of Delaware;

(d) copies, certified by any Authorized Officer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, of its By-Laws and its Board of Directors’ Resolutions, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents;

(e) an incumbency certificate, executed by any Authorized Officer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, which shall identify by name and title and bear the signature of the officers of the Company authorized to sign the Loan Documents and to sign any other documents, letters of credit, reports and notices in connection with this Agreement and to make borrowings hereunder (on which the Lenders shall be entitled to rely until informed of any change in writing by the Company);

(f) a written opinion of the Company’s counsel, Jones Day, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party hereto on the date hereof, in the form of Exhibit D;

(g) a Note for each Lender that has requested a Note at least two Business Days prior to the date hereof;

(h) satisfactory evidence that those fees due to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on the date the Company executes this Agreement and invoiced by the Administrative Agent to the Company at least two Business Days prior to the Effective Date have been paid in full or shall be paid substantially concurrently with closing;

(i) at least three Business Days prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information regarding the Company required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent of the Company in writing at least 10 Business Days prior to the Effective Date; and

 

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(j) an executed Farm Services of America ACA Stock Purchase Agreement and other documentation required to demonstrate ownership stock in each Farm Credit Lender as required by such Lender.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.

4.02 Conditions to Each Borrowing. The Lenders shall not be required to make Loans under this Agreement unless on the date thereof (i) no Default shall exist and (ii) the representations and warranties contained in Article V (other than Section 5.04(b), 5.06 and 5.07) and shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or material adverse effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date of such Borrowing (except with respect to those representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date).

ARTICLE V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

The Company represents and warrants to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent that:

5.01 Corporate Existence and Standing. Each of the Company and the Material Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation with all requisite authority to conduct its business, in each case in each jurisdiction in which the failure to obtain the necessary authority could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the consolidated condition or operations of the Company or the ability of the Company to perform the Obligations.

5.02 Authorization and Validity. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Loan Documents have been duly authorized by proper corporate proceedings and the Loan Documents, when executed and delivered, will constitute valid, legal, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company.

5.03 Compliance with Laws and Contracts. Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Loan Documents, the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions thereof will (a) violate (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on the Company or any Material Subsidiary, (ii) articles or certificates of incorporation or by-laws or (iii) the provisions of any indenture, instrument or agreement, to which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is a party, the violation of which, in the case of this clause (iii), would be reasonably likely to result in a material adverse change in the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the ability of the Company to perform its Obligations under this Agreement, or (b) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien pursuant to the terms of any such indenture,

 

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instrument or agreement, and, immediately after giving effect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the Loan Documents, there will not exist any default (or event which, with notice or lapse of time, would be a default) under any such indenture, instrument or agreement as a result of such execution and delivery.

5.04 Financial Statements.

(a) Audited. The May 29, 2022 consolidated financial statements of the Company heretofore delivered to the Administrative Agent were prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in effect on the date such statements were prepared and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries at such date and the consolidated results of their operations for the period then ended.

(b) No Material Adverse Change. No material adverse change in the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries as shown on said May 29, 2022 financial statements has occurred from the date thereof to and including the date of this Agreement.

5.05 Taxes. The Company and the Material Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal tax returns and all other tax returns which are required to be filed and have paid all taxes due pursuant to said returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any Material Subsidiary, except (a) such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which reserves have been provided in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the consolidated condition or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the ability of the Company to perform the Obligations.

5.06 Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no litigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of any of the Company’s executive officers, threatened in writing, against the Company or any Material Subsidiary which could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the ability of the Company to perform the Obligations that has not been publicly disclosed as of the date of this Agreement.

5.07 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. As of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary has failed to satisfy the minimum funding standard within the meaning of Section 302 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or has incurred any material liability (which has become due but which has not been paid) to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established under such Act (or any successor thereto under such Act) in connection with any employee benefit plan established or maintained by the Company or any Material Subsidiary.

5.08 Defaults. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

5.09 Accuracy of Information. As of the date of this Agreement, no written information, exhibit or report furnished by the Company or any Material Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders in connection with the negotiation of the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances in which made.

 

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5.10 Regulation U. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying “margin stock” (as defined in Regulation U of the Board). The Company shall not use the proceeds of any Loan in a manner that would result in any violation of the provisions of Regulation U.

5.11 Legal Authority. No approval, authorization, consent, adjudication or order of any Governmental Authority, which has not been obtained by the Company is required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the borrowing under the Agreement or in connection with the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Loan Documents.

5.12 Investment Company Status. The Company is not an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation as such under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

5.13 Status as an Affected Financial Institution. The Company is not an Affected Financial Institution.

5.14 OFAC. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent, Affiliate or representative thereof (in any such person’s capacity as such), is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by any individuals or entities that are (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated nationals, HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority or (iii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction in violation of Sanctions. The Company and its Subsidiaries and to the knowledge of the Company their respective officers, employees and directors (in any such person’s capacity as such), are in compliance with applicable Sanctions in all material respects.

5.15 Anti-Corruption Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other similar applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions in which they operate and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures intended to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

ARTICLE VI.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

6.01 Financial Statements, Reports, Returns and Other Financial Data. The Company covenants that, so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment or Loan outstanding, the Company will deliver to the Administrative Agent (who will make such documents available to each Lender) the following:

 

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(a) Quarterly Financial Statements. Within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly accounting periods of the Company’s fiscal year, (i) quarterly consolidated statements of earnings and cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) quarterly consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, setting forth in each case in comparative form consolidated figures for the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, all in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (except that footnote disclosures required by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles may be omitted and that the statement of stockholders’ equity will be omitted and subject to audit and changes resulting from year-end adjustment) all in the form submitted by the Company to its shareholders.

(b) Annual Financial Statements. Within 90 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year (i) annual consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders’ equity and cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such year, and (ii) annual consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, setting forth in each case in comparative form corresponding consolidated figures from the preceding annual audit, all in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and certified by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Company and all in a form submitted by the Company to its shareholders.

(c) Stockholder and Governmental Reports. Promptly upon transmission thereof, copies of all such financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports as it shall send to its stockholders and of all registration statements (without exhibits) and all reports which it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Company shall be deemed to have delivered the items described in Sections 6.01(a), (b) and (c) to the Administrative Agent if the applicable item has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other applicable governmental authority and is freely and readily available without charge to the Administrative Agent on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission or such other applicable governmental authority, or such item has been made freely and readily available without charge to the Administrative Agent on the Company’s website www.conagrabrands.com, and the delivery date therefor shall be deemed to be the first day on which the applicable item is available to the Administrative Agent on one of such web pages.

The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Company hereunder (collectively, “Company Materials”) by posting the Company Materials on IntraLinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar, or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to any of the Company or its Affiliates, or the securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Company hereby agrees that (w) all Company Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Company Materials “PUBLIC,” the Company shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to treat such Company Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Company or its securities for purposes of

 

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United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Company Materials constitute confidential information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Company Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Company Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

6.02 Officers Certificate. Together with each delivery of financial statements required by Section 6.01(a) and (b) above, the Company will deliver to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each of the Lenders an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the calculations necessary to determine compliance with Sections 7.01 and 7.02 of this Agreement and stating that there exists no Default or, if any such Default exists, specifying the nature thereof and what action the Company has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company also covenants that forthwith upon any Authorized Officer obtaining knowledge of a Default under this Agreement, it will deliver to the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate specifying the nature thereof and what action the Company has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto. Where the financial statements required by Section 6.01(a) or (b) above are necessary to determine whether all covenants herein have been complied with, or whether an Event of Default has occurred, the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) or (b) above shall be used to make such determination.

6.03 Farm Credit Equity and Security.

(a) So long as a Farm Credit Lender is a Lender hereunder, the Company will acquire equity in such Farm Credit Lender in such amounts and at such times as such Farm Credit Lender requires in accordance with such Farm Credit Lender’s bylaws and capital plan (or their equivalent) (as each may be amended from time to time), except that the maximum amount of equity that the Company shall be required pursuant to this sentence to purchase in such Farm Credit Lender in connection with the Loans made by such Farm Credit Lender shall not exceed the maximum amount required by the bylaws and the capital plan (or the equivalent) as in effect on the Effective Date. The Company acknowledges receipt, as of the Effective Date and to the extent applicable, of documents from each Farm Credit Lender that describe the nature of the Company’s cash patronage, stock and other equities in such Farm Credit Lender acquired in connection with its loan from such Farm Credit Lender (the “Farm Credit Equities”) as well as capitalization requirements, and agrees to be bound by the terms thereof. The Company acknowledges that the Loans are non-patronage loans.

(b) Each party hereto acknowledges that each Farm Credit Lender’s bylaws and capital plan (or their equivalent) (as each may be amended from time to time) shall govern (i) the rights and obligations of the parties with respect to the Farm Credit Equities and any patronage refunds or other distributions made on account thereof or on account of the Company’s patronage with such Farm Credit Lender, (ii) the Company’s eligibility for patronage distributions from such Farm Credit Lender (in the form of Farm Credit Equities and cash) and (iii) patronage distributions, if any, in the event of a sale of a participation interest. Each Farm Credit Lender reserves the right to assign or sell participations in all or any part of its Commitments or outstanding Loans hereunder on a non-patronage basis.

 

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(c) Each party hereto acknowledges that each Farm Credit Lender has a statutory first lien pursuant to the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (as amended from time to time) on any Farm Credit Equities in such Farm Credit Lender that the Company may now own or hereafter acquire, which statutory lien shall be for such Farm Credit Lender’s sole and exclusive benefit. The Farm Credit Equities shall not constitute security for the Obligations due to any other Person. To the extent that any of the Loan Documents create a Lien on the Farm Credit Equities by such Farm Credit Lender for the account of the Company (including, in each case, proceeds thereof), such Lien shall be for such Farm Credit Lender’s sole and exclusive benefit and shall not be subject to pro rata sharing hereunder. The Farm Credit Equities shall not be offset against the Obligations except that, in the event of an Event of Default, a Farm Credit Lender may elect, solely at its discretion, to apply the cash portion of any distribution or retirement of equity to amounts owed to such Farm Credit Lender under this Agreement, whether or not such amounts are currently due and payable. No Farm Credit Lender shall have any obligation to retire the Farm Credit Equities upon any Event of Default, Default or any other default by the Company or any other Loan Party, or at any other time, either for application to the Obligations or otherwise.

ARTICLE VII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

The Company covenants, so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment or Loan outstanding, as follows:

7.01 Interest Coverage Ratio. The Company will maintain as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters a ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense of not less than 3.00:1.00 on a four quarter rolling basis.

7.02 Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio. The Company will maintain as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters a ratio of Consolidated Funded Net Debt to Consolidated EBITDA of not greater than (a) 4.75 to 1.00 on a four quarter rolling basis at each quarter end through the quarter ended February 26, 2023 and (b) 4.50:1.00 on a four quarter rolling basis at each quarter end commencing with the quarter ended May 28, 2023, provided that, commencing with the quarter ended May 28, 2023, such ratio shall be increased with respect to any fiscal quarter for which the Company delivered to the Administrative Agent notice of the closing date of a Material Acquisition (an “Acquisition Notice”) to 4.75:1.00 for four consecutive fiscal quarters following such Acquisition Notice (provided there shall be at least two fiscal quarters for which such ratio is not greater than 4.50:1.00 before the Company may deliver a subsequent Acquisition Notice).

7.03 Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance. The Company will not merge or consolidate with any other corporation or sell or convey (including by way of lease) all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, unless (i) the Company shall be the continuing corporation or the successor corporation and (ii) immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, no Default shall exist and be continuing.

7.04 Liens. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

 

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(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens existing on the date hereof listed on Schedule 7.04 and any renewals or extensions thereof, to the extent that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed and (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased;

(c) Liens for Taxes not yet due or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, if reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(d) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith appropriate proceedings, if reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

(f) Liens or deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than indebtedness for borrowed money), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(l);

(i) Liens securing purchase money obligations for or improvements or repairs to or capital leases of fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property so financed or leased (or subject to improvement or repair) and (ii) the indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the Company’s good faith estimate of the fair market value of such property at such time;

(j) Liens securing indebtedness owing by any Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to another Subsidiary of the Company;

(k) Liens on any property or assets of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or at the time of a purchase, lease or other acquisition of such Person or assets thereof by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries provided that such Lien does not extend to any other property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(l) Liens (i) in favor of collecting banks arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (ii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry, or (iii) encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(m) any interest or title of a lessor, sub-lessor, licensor or sub-licensor under leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(n) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Liens on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement; and

(p) Liens not permitted by the foregoing clauses (a) to (o), inclusive, if at the time of, and immediately after giving effect to, the creation or assumption of such Lien, the aggregate amount of all indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company and its Subsidiaries secured by Liens not so permitted by the foregoing clauses (a) through (o) above does not exceed 10% of the Company’s consolidated assets.

7.05 Sanctions. The Company will not directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Loan, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions and which funding or usage would violate applicable Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, or otherwise) of applicable Sanctions.

7.06 Anti-Corruption Laws. The Company will not directly or, to its knowledge indirectly, use the proceeds of any Loan for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.

ARTICLE VIII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES.

8.01 Events of Default. For purposes of this Agreement, each of the following events shall be Events of Default:

(a) Failure to Pay Principal. The Company defaults in the payment of any principal of any Loan when the same shall become due, either by the terms thereof or otherwise as herein provided.

 

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(b) Failure to Pay Interest or Fees. The Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Loan or any fees hereunder for more than five Business Days after the date due.

(c) Default Under Other Obligations. The Company or any Subsidiary defaults under any agreement or indenture pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary has borrowed more than $100,000,000 in principal amount (or has sold notes the aggregate principal amount of which exceeds $100,000,000) and such default has not been cured within any period of grace provided with respect thereto, provided, however, the Company may exclude from the operation of this Section 8.01(c) one or more Subsidiaries so long as the Company’s equity investment in such excluded Subsidiaries is less than 20% of the Company’s consolidated assets.

(d) Breach of Representation. Any representation or warranty made by the Company herein or in any writing furnished pursuant to this Agreement shall be false in any material respect on the date as of which it was made.

(e) Failure to Perform Negative Covenants. The Company defaults in the performance or observance of any agreement contained in Section 7.

(f) Failure to Perform Other Terms and Conditions. The Company defaults in the performance or observance of any other agreement, covenant, term or condition contained herein and such default shall not have been remedied within 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been received by the Company from any of the Lenders.

(g) Assignment For Benefit of Creditors and Insolvency. The Company or any Material Subsidiary makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or is unable generally to pay its debts or is adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent.

(h) Order for Relief. Any order for relief, judgment or decree is entered in any proceeding described in Section 8.01(i) in respect of the Company or any Material Subsidiary.

(i) Voluntary Receiver or Bankruptcy. The Company or any Material Subsidiary petitions or applies to any tribunal for the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, or of any substantial part of the assets of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, or commences any proceedings (other than proceedings for the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a Material Subsidiary) relating to the Company or any Material Subsidiary under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or law of any jurisdiction, whether now or hereafter in effect.

(j) Involuntary Receiver or Bankruptcy. Any petition or application described in Section 8.01(i) is filed, or any proceedings described in Section 8.01(i) are commenced, against the Company or any Material Subsidiary, and the Company or any Material Subsidiary by any act indicates its approval thereof, consent thereto, or acquiescence therein, or an order, judgment or decree is entered appointing any such trustee, receiver or liquidator, or approving the petition in any such proceedings, and such order, judgment or decree remains in effect and unstayed for more than 60 consecutive days.

 

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(k) Involuntary Order for Relief. Any order for relief, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings against the Company or any Material Subsidiary decreeing the dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any Material Subsidiary and such order, judgment or decree is unstayed and in effect for more than 60 consecutive days.

(l) Unsatisfied Judgment. A final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $100,000,000 (excluding amounts covered by insurance to the extent the relevant insurer has not denied coverage thereof) is or are outstanding against the Company or any Material Subsidiary and any one of such judgments has been outstanding for more than 30 days from the date of its entry and has not been discharged in full or stayed.

8.02 Rights and Duties After Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then, if the Required Lenders so elect (which election shall be held in a manner determined by the Administrative Agent and communicated by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders), the Lenders’ Commitments to make Loans under this Agreement shall terminate and, upon the election of the Required Lenders, the Loans and all interest, fees and other amounts payable under this Agreement or the Notes shall immediately become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(g), (h), (i), (j) or (k), the Commitments shall automatically terminate, the Loans and all interest and other amounts payable under the Agreement or the Notes shall automatically become immediately due and payable without declaration or notice to the Company.

8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and

Last, the balance, if any, to the Company or as otherwise required by Law.

 

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ARTICLE IX.

THE AGENTS.

9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints FCSA to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Except as expressly provided in Section 9.06, the provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the Company 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” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

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

9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

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

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

 

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(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any of the Company or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the 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 (i) in accordance with the terms hereof with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or material breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Company or a Lender.

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 this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance by any other Person of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. 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 (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any

 

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such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. (a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Company. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Company at all times other than during the existence of a Specified Event of Default (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above, provided that in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

(b) If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, by notice in writing to the Company and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, with the consent of the Company at all times other than during the existence of a Specified Event of Default (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

(c) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed

 

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Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Company to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Company and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them (i) while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and (ii) after such resignation or removal for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including (a) holding any cash collateral security on behalf of any of the Lenders and (b) in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Agent.

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

 

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9.08 Arrangers, Syndication Agent, Documentation Agents. None of the Lenders identified in this Agreement as Arranger, Syndication Agent or as Documentation Agents 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 acknowledgements with respect to the applicable Lenders in their capacity as Syndication Agent and Documentation Agent as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in this Agreement.

9.09 ERISA. (a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Company, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

ARTICLE X.

MISCELLANEOUS.

10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Company therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Company and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01 without the written consent of each Lender;

(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 or of any Default is not considered an extension or increase in Commitments of any Lender);

 

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(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause (iii) of the penultimate proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such amount; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Company to pay interest at the Default Rate;

(e) change Section 8.03 or any other provision hereof in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby; or

(f) change any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;

and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) each Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto; provided, further, the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Company only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement and any related documents executed by the Company to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, in each case, of a technical or immaterial nature so long as (x) such amendment, modification or supplement does not directly adversely affect any right of any Agent or Lender, and (y) the Required Lenders shall not have objected in writing within five (5) Business Days of such amendment.

With respect to any matter requiring the approval of each Lender, each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby or other specified Lenders, it is understood that Voting Participants shall have the voting rights specified in Section 10.06(e) as to such matter.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

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(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail, sent by facsimile or, to the extent permitted herein, sent by electronic communication as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Company, the Administrative Agent or FCSA in its capacity as a Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

(ii) if to any other Lender or any Voting Participant, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified by such Person to the Administrative Agent (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender or Voting Participant for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Company).

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Voting Participants hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail, FpML messaging, and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or Voting Participant pursuant to Article II if such Lender or Voting Participant has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Company may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

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(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMPANY MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE COMPANY MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPANY MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Company, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Company’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Company Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party or such Agent Party’s material breach of its obligations hereunder; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Company, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Company and the Administrative Agent may change its address, facsimile, electronic mail address or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile, electronic mail address or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Company and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Company Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Company or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

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(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic notices and Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Company even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Company, except to the extent that such losses, costs, expenses or liabilities are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or material breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by, the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Related Party. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Company shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.12), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to the Company under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.12, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for any and all reasonable documented (in reasonable detail) out-of-pocket expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in connection with the collection and enforcement (in the case of legal fees and expenses, limited to the reasonable and invoiced attorney’s fees for a single counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent and, solely in the case of any conflict of interest, one additional counsel for all the Lenders other than the Administrative Agent) of the Loan Documents.

 

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(b) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), 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 (in the case of legal fees and expenses, limited to the reasonable documented (in reasonable detail) fees, disbursements and other charges of a single external counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole and if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction (which may be a single local counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) (and, solely in the case of any conflict of interest, one additional external counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for all such persons taken as a whole)) incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Company) other than such Indemnitee and its Related Parties to the extent arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom or (iii) 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 Company, 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 (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or material breach of its obligations under this Agreement or (y) arise out of any investigation, litigation or proceeding that does not involve an act or omission by the Company and arise solely from a dispute among Indemnitees (except when and to the extent that one of the parties to such dispute was acting in its capacity as the Administrative Agent or an agent, arranger, bookrunner or other agency capacity and, in such case, excepting only such party). Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(c), this Section 10.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Company for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the aggregate Exposure of all Lenders at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought), provided further that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.11(d).

 

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(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no party hereto shall assert, and each party hereto hereby waives, and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) or any Lender, or any Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called a “Lender-Related Party”), on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that the foregoing shall not relieve the Company of any indemnification obligation with respect to claims by third parties. No Lender-Related Party shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Lender-Related Party through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or material breach of this Agreement by, such Lender-Related Party as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after written (in reasonable detail) demand therefor.

(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 10.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Company is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent permitted by applicable Law and to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

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10.06 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Company may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts.

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the related Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such Assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;

 

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(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Company shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment if it has not objected thereto in writing within ten Business Days after notice thereof to it as required by Section 10.02; and

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500 (to be paid by the assignor or assignee); provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Company or any of the Company’s controlled Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) a natural Person (or to a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural Person).

(vi) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

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Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 (subject to the requirements thereof, including Section 3.01(e)), 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, the Company (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Company (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Company at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Company or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural Person, a Defaulting Lender or the Company or any of the Company’s controlled Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans 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 Company, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

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Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. The Company agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 3.01(e), it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 10.12 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Company’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Company to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.12 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 Company, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(e) Voting Participants. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.06 to the contrary, any Farm Credit Lender that (i) has purchased a participation from any Lender that is a Farm Credit Lender in the minimum amount of $25,000,000 on or after the Effective Date, (ii) is, by written notice to the Company and the Administrative Agent in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (a “Voting Participant Notification”), designated by the selling Lender as being entitled to be accorded the rights of a voting participant hereunder (any Farm Credit Lender so designated being called a “Voting Participant”) and (iii) receives the prior written consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent to become a Voting Participant (such consents to be required only to the extent and under the circumstances it would be required if such Voting Participant were to become a Lender pursuant to an assignment in accordance with Section

 

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10.06(b), it being understood and agreed that such consent is not required in connection with the sale of any participation to an existing Voting Participant; provided that the Company shall be deemed to have consented to any such sale of a participation unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten Business Days after having received notice thereof), shall be entitled to vote (and the voting rights of the selling Lender shall be correspondingly reduced), on a dollar for dollar basis, as if such Voting Participant were a Lender, on any matter requiring or allowing a Lender to provide or withhold its consent, or to otherwise vote on any proposed action, in each case, in lieu of the vote of the selling Lender; provided, however, that if such Voting Participant has at any time failed to fund any portion of its participation when required to do so and notice of such failure has been delivered by the selling Lender to the Administrative Agent, then until such time as all amounts of its participation required to have been funded have been funded and notice of such funding has been delivered by the selling Lender to the Administrative Agent, such Voting Participant shall not be entitled to exercise its voting rights pursuant to the terms of this subsection (e), and the voting rights of the selling Lender shall not be correspondingly reduced by the amount of such Voting Participant’s participation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Farm Credit Lender designated as a Voting Participant on Schedule 10.06(e) shall be a Voting Participant without delivery of a Voting Participant Notification and without the prior written consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent. To be effective, each Voting Participant Notification shall, with respect to any Voting Participant, (A) state the full name of such Voting Participant, as well as all contact information required of an assignee as set forth in Schedule 10.06(e), (B) state the dollar amount of the participation purchased and (C) include such other information as may be required by the Administrative Agent. The selling Lender and the Voting Participant shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Company within three Business Days of any termination of, or reduction or increase in the amount of, such participation and shall promptly upon request of the Administrative Agent update or confirm there has been no change in the information set forth in Schedule 10.06(e) or delivered in connection with any Voting Participant Notification (and for the avoidance of doubt the voting rights of any Voting Participant shall be appropriately reduced upon any reduction of such Voting Participant’s participation interest). The Company and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on information provided by a Lender identifying itself or its participant as a Farm Credit Lender without verification thereof and may also conclusively rely on the information set forth in Schedule 10.06(e), delivered in connection with any Voting Participant Notification or otherwise furnished pursuant to this subsection (e) and, unless and until notified thereof in writing by the selling Lender, may assume that there have been no changes in the identity of Voting Participants, the dollar amount of participations, the contact information of the participants or any other information furnished to the Company or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this clause (e). The voting rights hereunder are solely for the benefit of the Voting Participants and shall not inure to any assignee or participant of a Voting Participant (except to the extent of a sale of a participation otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Section 10.06(e)).

(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note(s), if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to hold any information which it may receive from the Company or its representatives pursuant to this Agreement in confidence, except for disclosure as required (i) to its Affiliates and to other Lenders and their respective Affiliates (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), (ii) to legal counsel, accountants, and other professional advisors to such Person (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), (iii) to regulatory officials having jurisdiction over such Person to the extent requested thereby, (iv) to any Person as required by law, regulation, or legal process, (v) to any Person in connection with any legal proceeding to which such Lender is a party, (vi) to such Lender’s direct or indirect contractual counterparties in swap agreements relating to the Company or its obligations or to legal counsel, accountants and other professional advisors to such counterparties; provided that each counterparty agrees to be bound by the confidentiality provisions of this Section 10.07, (vii) to rating agencies if requested or required by such agencies in connection with a rating relating to the transactions evidenced hereby, (viii) to any Person with the consent of the Company, (ix) to any credit insurance provider relating to the Company and its Obligations under this Agreement, provided that such credit insurance provider agrees to be bound (with the Company an express third party beneficiary) by the confidentiality provisions of this Section 10.07, (x) to self-regulatory officials having authority over such Person to the extent requested thereby, and (xi) to the extent such information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.07. The Company authorizes each Lender to disclose to any assignee or participant described in Section 10.06 or any other Person acquiring an interest in the Loan Documents by operation of law (each a “Transferee”) and any prospective Transferee any and all information in such Lender’s possession concerning the creditworthiness of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided that each Transferee and prospective Transferee agrees to be bound (with the Company an express third party beneficiary) by the confidentiality provisions of this Section 10.07.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

10.08 Right of Setoff. If the Company becomes insolvent, however evidenced, or any Event of Default occurs, the Company agrees to recognize, honor and comply with the right of setoff that each Lender and each of its Affiliates may have under any applicable Law and each Lender with a Loan agrees that any assets of the Company available to such Lender or such Affiliate for setoff shall be shared with all the Lenders with an outstanding Loan so that each such Lender receives for offset a share of such assets equal to the proportion that such Lender’s Loans bear to the sum of all the then outstanding Loans; provided, that if any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.16 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in

 

63


reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and its Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or its Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Company and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

10.09 Integration; Effectiveness. 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 that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.

10.10 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall survive delivery of the Notes and the making of the Loans herein contemplated.

10.11 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.11, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

10.12 Replacement of Lenders. If the Company is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(a) the Company shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 10.06(b);

 

64


(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company (in the case of all other amounts);

(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and

(e) in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent;

provided that the failure by such Lender to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption shall not impair the validity of the removal of such Lender and the mandatory assignment of such Lender’s Commitments and outstanding Loans pursuant to this Section 10.12 shall nevertheless be effective without the execution by such Lender of an Assignment and Assumption.

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

10.13 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND

 

65


DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

10.14 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

10.15 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 Company acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its controlled Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Company, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Company is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents;

 

66


(ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and each Lender 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 Company or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person, in connection herewith and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to the Company or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Company or any of its Affiliates. The Company hereby agrees that it will not claim that any of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Lender and their respective Affiliates has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect or owes a fiduciary duty or similar duty to it in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

10.16 Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts. This Agreement, any Loan Document and any other Communication, including Communications required to be in writing, may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures. The Company and each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees that any Electronic Signature on or associated with any Communication shall be valid and binding on such Person to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that any Communication entered into by Electronic Signature, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with the terms thereof to the same extent as if a manually executed original signature was delivered. Any Communication may be executed in as many counterparts as necessary or convenient, including both paper and electronic counterparts, but all such counterparts are one and the same Communication. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record (“Electronic Copy”), which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document. All Communications in the form of an Electronic Record, including an Electronic Copy, shall be considered an original for all purposes, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent is not under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Company and/or any Lender without further verification and (b) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart. For purposes hereof, “Electronic Record” and “Electronic Signature” shall have the meanings assigned to them, respectively, by 15 USC §7006, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

67


The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means). The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any Communication (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution or signed using an Electronic Signature) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

The Company and each Lender hereby waives (i) any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document, and (ii) waives any claim against the Administrative Agent and each Lender for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Company to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

10.17 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Company that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Company, which information includes the name and address of the Company and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Company in accordance with the Act. The Company shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

10.18 [Reserved].

10.19 Governmental Regulation. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the Company in an amount in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any applicable statute or regulation.

10.20 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

68


10.21 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Solely to the extent any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution is a party to this Agreement and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

The remainder of this page is intentionally blank.

 

69


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.,
as the Company
By:  

/s/ David S. Marberger

  Name: David S. Marberger
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief            Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]


FARM CREDIT SERVICES OF AMERICA, PCA as Administrative Agent
By:  

/s/ Thomas L. Markowski

  Name:   Thomas L. Markowski
  Title:   Vice President
FARM CREDIT SERVICES OF AMERICA, PCA as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Thomas L. Markowski

  Name:   Thomas L. Markowski
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]


FARM CREDIT BANK OF TEXAS as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Mike Hawkins

  Name:   Mike Hawkins
  Title:   Director - Capital Markets

[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]

 


CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

SCHEDULE 1

 

LENDER     COMMITMENT           
APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGE
 
 

Farm Credit Services of America, PCA

    346,500,000.00        69.300000000

Farm Credit Bank of Texas

    153,500,000.00        30.700000000

TOTAL COMMITMENTS

  $ 500,000,000.00        100.000000000

 

Sch. 1


SCHEDULE 7.04

EXISTING LIENS

None.

 

Sch. 7.04


SCHEDULE 10.02

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OFFICE;

CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

COMPANY:

Address:

222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1300

Chicago, IL 60654

 

Attention:    Alex Jacobs, Vice President, Corporate Treasury and M&A
Telephone No.:   
E-mail Address:   
and   
Attention:    Carey Bartell
Telephone No.:   
E-mail Address:   

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

Administrative Agent’s Office (for Requests for Borrowings):

Farm Credit Services of America, PCA

Address    5015 South 118th Street, Omaha, NE, 68137
Attention:    Tom Markowski & Sue Brownlee
Telephone:       
Electronic Mail:   

Administrative Agent’s Office for Payments:

Farm Credit Services of America, PCA Wire Instructions*

Name of Bank    

Street Address    

City, State and Zip    

ABA Routing No.    

Beneficiary Account Name

Beneficiary Address    

City, State, and Zip    

BNF Account No.    

 

*

Please reference account number and customer name

 

Sch. 10.02


Farm Credit Services of America, PCA ACH Instructions

Routing Number    

*14 Digit Account Number

*(Full number to be provided post closing.)

Other Notices as Administrative Agent:

Farm Credit Services of America, PCA

Address    5015 South 118th Street, Omaha, NE, 68137
Attention:    Tom Markowski
Telephone No.:   
E-mail Address:   

 

Sch. 10.02


SCHEDULE 10.06(e)

VOTING PARTICIPANTS

AgCountry Farm Credit Services, FLCA

CoBank, FCB

Greenstone Farm Credit Services, ACA

Farm Credit Mid-America, FLCA

 

 

Sch. 10.06(e)


EXHIBIT A

Note

 

$[__________]    [Date]

Conagra Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), promises to pay to [NAME OF LENDER] (“Lender”) or its registered assigns on or before the Maturity Date (as defined in the Agreement hereinafter referred to) for the account of its applicable Lending Office the principal sum of [                ] and 00/100 Dollars ($[                ]) or the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans made by the Lender to the Company pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Agreement, whichever is less, in immediately available funds at the office of the Administrative Agent in Chicago, Illinois, together with interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof at the rates and on the dates set forth in the Agreement.

The Lender shall, and is hereby authorized to, record on the Schedule of Loans, Payments of Principal and Extension attached hereto, or to otherwise record in accordance with customary practice, the date and amount of each Loan, the date and amount of each principal payment and the date to which payment of this Note has been extended, provided, however, that failure to do so shall not affect the Company’s obligation to pay amounts due hereunder.

The Company expressly waives any presentment, demand, protest or notice in connection with this Note now, or hereafter, required by applicable Law.

This Note is one of the Notes issued pursuant to the provisions of the Term Loan Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2022 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement”), among the Company, the Lenders named therein and Farm Credit Services of America, PCA, individually and as Administrative Agent, to which Agreement reference is hereby made for a statement of the terms and conditions under which this Note may be prepaid or its maturity date extended or accelerated.

This Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.
By:                           
Name:
Title:

 

A-1


SCHEDULE OF LOANS, PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND EXTENSION

 

Date

 

Amount of

Loan

 

Interest

Period/Rate

 

Amount of

Principal

Paid or

Prepaid

 

Unpaid

Principal

Balance

 

Notation

Made By

                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     

 

A-2


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF LOAN NOTICE

Date:                 ,                 

 

To:

Farm Credit Services of America, PCA, as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Term Loan Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2022 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Conagra Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Farm Credit Services of America, PCA, as Administrative Agent.

The Company hereby requests (select one):

 

   A Borrowing of Loans       A conversion or continuation of Loans

 

1.

On                                                                   (a Business Day).

 

2.

In the amount of                                                                  .

 

3.

Comprised of                                                                              .

[Type of Loan requested]

 

4.

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

The Borrowing, if any, requested herein complies with Section 2.01 of the Agreement.

 

CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

[CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

]1

 

1 

Second signatory is required if funds are to be wired to an account other than the Company’s account at JPMorgan Chase Bank, Account No. xxxxxxx489.

 

B-1

Form of Loan Notice


EXHIBIT C-1

Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit, guarantees, and swing line loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “Assigned Interest”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

1.    Assignor:                                                                             
2.    Assignee:                                                                             
      [and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]]1
3.    Company:    Conagra Brands, Inc.

 

1 

Select as/if applicable.

 

C-1 - 1


4.    Administrative Agent:    Farm Credit Services of America, PCA, as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement.
5.    Credit Agreement:    The $500,000,000 Term Loan Agreement dated as of August 26, 2022 among Conagra Brands, Inc., the Lenders party thereto and Farm Credit Services of America, PCA, as Administrative Agent.
6.    Assigned Interest:   

 

     Aggregate Amount of
Commitment/Loans
for all Lenders
   Amount of
Commitment/Loans
Assigned
   Percentage Assigned
of
Commitment/Loans2
   $    $    %
   $    $    %
   $    $    %

Effective Date:                      , 20     [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

ASSIGNOR

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

By:               
Name:
Title:
ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By:                   
Name:
Title:

 

2 

Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

 

C-1 - 2


Consented to and Accepted:

FARM CREDIT SERVICES OF AMERICA, PCA

as Administrative Agent

 

By:  

             

Name:
Title:
[Consented to:]3
CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.
By:                   
Name:
Title:

 

3 

To be added only if the consent of the Company is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

C-1 - 3


Annex 1

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.1. Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Non-U.S. Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

 

C-1 - 4


3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

C-1 - 5


EXHIBIT C-2

Administrative Questionnaire

Attached

 

C-2


EXHIBIT D

Opinion of Counsel

Attached

 

D


EXHIBIT E-1

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Agreement dated as of August 26, 2022 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Conagra Brands, Inc. (the “Company”), Farm Credit Services of America, PCA, as Administrative Agent and each Lender from time to time party thereto.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Company as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Company with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable). By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Company and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Company and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

Date:             , 20[  ]

 

E - 1

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate


EXHIBIT E-2

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Agreement dated as of August 26, 2022 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Conagra Brands, Inc. (the “Company”), Farm Credit Services of America, PCA, as Administrative Agent and each Lender from time to time party thereto.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Company as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable). By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

Date:             , 20[  ]

 

E - 2

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate


EXHIBIT E-3

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Agreement dated as of August 26, 2022 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Conagra Brands, Inc. (the “Company”), Farm Credit Services of America, PCA, as Administrative Agent and each Lender from time to time party thereto.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Company as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]
By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

Date:             , 20[  ]

 

E - 3

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate


EXHIBIT E-4

FORM OF

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Agreement dated as of August 26, 2022 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Conagra Brands, Inc. (the “Company”), Farm Credit Services of America, PCA, as Administrative Agent and each Lender from time to time party thereto.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Company as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Company with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Company and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Company and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]
By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

Date:             , 20[  ]

 

E - 4

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate