Credit Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2019, between FactSet Research Systems Inc. and PNC Bank, National Association

EX-10.1 2 ex_139950.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 ex_139950.htm

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

$750,000,000.00 REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS INC.

 

and

 

THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME

 

and

 

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME

 

and

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent, Swing Loan Lender and Issuing Lender

 

PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC,

as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Syndication Agent

 

 

Dated as of March 29, 2019

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Page

 

 

Article 1 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS		1
1.1	Certain Definitions	1
1.2	Construction	28
1.3	Accounting Principles; Changes in GAAP	28
Article 2 REVOLVING CREDIT AND SWING LOAN FACILITIES		29
2.1	Revolving Credit Commitments	29
2.2	Nature of Lenders’ Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans	29
2.3	Commitment Fees	30
2.4	Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments	30
2.5	Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Conversions and Renewals; Swing Loan Requests	31
2.6	Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent; Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans; Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans	31
2.7	Notes	33
2.8	Letter of Credit Subfacility	33
2.9	Defaulting Lenders	41
2.10	Incremental Loans	43
Article 3 [Intentionally omitted]		45
Article 4 INTEREST RATES		45
4.1	Interest Rate Options	45
4.2	Interest Periods	46
4.3	Interest After Default	46
4.4	LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available	47

 

 

4.5	Selection of Interest Rate Options	49
4.6	Successor LIBOR Rate Index	49
4.7	.	49
Article 5 PAYMENTS; Taxes; Yield maintenance		50
5.1	Payments	50
5.2	Voluntary Prepayments	50
5.3	[Intentionally Omitted]	51
5.4	Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders	51
5.5	Sharing of Payments by Lenders	52
5.6	Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent	52
5.7	Interest Payment Dates	53
5.8	Increased Costs	53
5.9	Taxes	54
5.10	Indemnity	58
5.11	Settlement Date Procedures	59
5.12	Cash Collateral	59
5.13	Replacement of a Lender	60
5.14	Designation of a Different Lending Office	61
Article 6 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES		61
6.1	Existence, Qualification and Power	61
6.2	Authorization; No Contravention	62
6.3	Governmental Authorization; Other Consents	62
6.4	Binding Effect	62
6.5	Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change	62
6.6	Litigation	63

 

 

6.7	No Default	63
6.8	Ownership of Property; Liens	63
6.9	Environmental Compliance	63
6.10	Insurance	63
6.11	Taxes	63
6.12	ERISA Compliance	64
6.13	Subsidiaries; Equity Interests	65
6.14	Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act	65
6.15	Disclosure	65
6.16	Compliance with Laws	65
6.17	Taxpayer Identification Number	66
6.18	Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc	66
6.19	Anti-Terrorism; Anti-Corruption	66
6.20	[Reserved]	66
6.21	Solvency	66
6.22	EEA Financial Institution	66
6.23	Beneficial Ownership Exemption	66
Article 7 CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT		67
7.1	Initial Loans and Letters of Credit	67
7.2	Each Loan or Letter of Credit	68
Article 8 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS		68
8.1	Financial Statements	69
8.2	Certificates; Other Information	69
8.3	Notices	71
8.4	Payment of Obligations	71

 

 

8.5	Preservation of Existence, Etc.	72
8.6	Maintenance of Properties	72
8.7	Maintenance of Insurance	72
8.8	Compliance with Laws	72
8.9	Books and Records	72
8.10	Inspection Rights	73
8.11	Use of Proceeds	73
8.12	Sanctions and other Anti-Terrorism Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws	73
8.13	[Reserved]	73
8.14	Keepwell	73
8.15	Subsidiary Guarantors	74
Article 9 NEGATIVE COVENANTS		75
9.1	Liens	75
9.2	Investments	76
9.3	Indebtedness	77
9.4	Fundamental Changes	78
9.5	Dispositions	78
9.6	Restricted Payments	79
9.7	Change in Nature of Business	79
9.8	Transactions with Affiliates	79
9.9	Burdensome Agreements	79
9.10	Use of Proceeds	80
9.11	Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio	80
9.12	Sanctions; Anti-Terrorism Laws	80
9.13	Anti-Corruption Laws	80

 

 

Article 10 DEFAULT		80
10.1	Events of Default	80
10.2	Consequences of Event of Default	83
10.3	Application of Proceeds	84
Article 11 THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT		86
11.1	Appointment and Authority	86
11.2	Rights as a Lender	86
11.3	Exculpatory Provisions	86
11.4	Reliance by Administrative Agent	87
11.5	Delegation of Duties	88
11.6	Resignation of Administrative Agent	88
11.7	Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders	89
11.8	No Other Duties, Etc	89
11.9	Administrative Agent’s Fee	89
11.10	Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim	90
11.11	Guaranty Matters	90
11.12	No Reliance on Administrative Agent’s Customer Identification Program	90
11.13	Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedges and Lender Provided Financial Service Products	91
Article 12 MISCELLANEOUS		91
12.1	Modifications, Amendments or Waivers	91
12.2	No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies	93
12.3	Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver	93
12.4	Holidays	95
12.5	Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication	95
12.6	Severability	97

 

 

12.7	Duration; Survival	97
12.8	Successors and Assigns	98
12.9	Confidentiality	102
12.10	Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness	104
12.11	CHOICE OF LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL	104
12.12	Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions	106
12.13	USA Patriot Act Notice	106
12.14	Plan Assets	106
12.15	No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.	108
12.16	Amendment and Restatement.	108

 

 

LIST OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

 

SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1.1(A)	-	PRICING GRID
SCHEDULE 1.1(B)	-	COMMITMENTS OF LENDERS AND ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
SCHEDULE 6.5	-	OTHER MATERIAL INDEBTEDNESS AND LIABILITIES
SCHEDULE 6.12(d)	-	ERISA OBLIGATIONS
SCHEDULE 6.13	-	SUBSIDIARIES; EQUITY INTERESTS
SCHEDULE 6.18	-	IP LITIGATION
SCHEDULE 9.1	-	EXISTING LIENS
SCHEDULE 9.3	-	EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS
EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT A	-	ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT B	-	SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY JOINDER
EXHIBIT C	-	REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE
EXHIBIT D	-	SWING LOAN NOTE
EXHIBIT E	-	LOAN REQUEST
EXHIBIT F	-	SWING LOAN REQUEST
EXHIBIT G-1	-	U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT G-2	-	U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT G-3	-	U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT G-4	-	U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
EXHIBIT H	-	COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT is dated as of March 29, 2019 and is made by and among FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the GUARANTORS (as hereinafter defined) party hereto from time to time, the LENDERS (as hereinafter defined) party hereto from time to time, and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent (as hereinafter defined), Swing Loan Lender (as hereinafter defined) and Issuing Lender (as hereinafter defined).

 

The Borrower has requested the Lenders to provide a revolving credit facility to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $750,000,000.00 (subject to increase and reduction as set forth herein), including therein a Swing Loan (as hereinafter defined) subfacility and a Letter of Credit (as hereinafter defined) subfacility, which credit facility will amend and restate in its entirety, but not constitute a novation of the indebtedness evidenced by, the Existing Loan Documents.

 

In consideration of their mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter specified and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

Article 1
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

1.1     Certain Definitions. In addition to words and terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context hereof clearly requires otherwise:

 

Acquisition means the acquisition, whether through a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of (a) a majority of the Voting Stock or other controlling ownership interest in another Person (including the purchase of an option, warrant or convertible or similar type security to acquire such a controlling interest at the time it becomes exercisable by the holder thereof), whether by purchase of such equity or other ownership interest or upon the exercise of an option or warrant for, or conversion of securities into, such equity or other ownership interest, or (b) assets of another Person which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or of a division, line of business or other business unit of such Person.

 

Administrative Agent means PNC Bank, National Association, in its capacity as administrative agent hereunder or any successor administrative agent.

 

Administrative Agent’s Fee has the meaning specified in Section 11.9 [Administrative Agent’s Fee].

 

Administrative Agent’s Letter has the meaning specified in Section 11.9 [Administrative Agent’s Fee].

 

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

 

 

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

 

Agent Parties has the meaning specified in Section 12.5(d)(ii).

 

Agreement means this Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified or restated from time to time, including all schedules and exhibits thereto.

 

Alternate Source has the meaning specified in the definition of LIBOR Rate.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and any other applicable anti-corruption Laws, together with any regulation, order, or directive promulgated, issued or enforced pursuant to such Laws, all as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

 

Anti-Terrorism Law means any Law in force or hereinafter enacted related to terrorism, money laundering or Sanctions, including Executive Order 13224, the USA Patriot Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701, et. seq., the Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 1, et. seq., 18 U.S.C. § 2332d, and 18 U.S.C. § 2339B and any regulations or directives promulgated under these provisions.

 

Applicable Margin means the corresponding percentages per annum as specified on Schedule 1.1(A).

 

Approved Fund means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

Assignment and Assumption Agreement 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 12.8 [Successors and Assigns]), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness means, on any date, (a) in respect of any capital lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease.

 

Audited Financial Statements means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

 

 

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

 

Bail-In Legislation means, 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 for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Base Rate means, for any day, a fluctuating per annum rate of interest equal to the highest of (a) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate plus 0.5%, (b) the Prime Rate, and (c) the Daily LIBOR Rate plus 1.00%. Any change in the Base Rate (or any component thereof) shall take effect at the opening of business on the day such change occurs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Base Rate as determined above would be less than zero percent (0.00%), such rate shall be deemed to be zero percent (0.00%) for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Base Rate Option means the option of the Borrower to have Loans bear interest at the Base Rate and under the terms specified in Section 4.1(a)(i) [Revolving Credit Base Rate Option].

 

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”.

 

Borrower has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.

 

Borrowing Date means, with respect to any Loan, the date of the making, renewal or conversion thereof, which shall be a Business Day.

 

Borrowing Tranche means specified portions of Loans outstanding as follows: (a) any Loans to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies which become subject to the same Interest Rate Option under the same Loan Request by the Borrower and which have the same Interest Period shall constitute one Borrowing Tranche, and (b) all Loans to which a Base Rate Option applies shall constitute one Borrowing Tranche.

 

Business Day means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banks are authorized or required to be closed, or are in fact closed, for business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (or, if otherwise, the Lending Office of the Administrative Agent) and if the applicable Business Day relates to any Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies, such day must also be a day on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market.

 

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

 

 

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

 

Cash Management Bank means any Person that, at the time it enters into a Lender Provided Financial Service Product, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Lender Provided Financial Service Product.

 

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

 

CFTC means the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

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, (b) any change in any Law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Official Body or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) by any Official Body; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines, interpretations or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith (whether or not having the force of Law) and (ii) all requests, rules, regulations, guidelines, interpretations 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 (whether or not having the force of Law), in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a Change in Law regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented.

 

Change of Control means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)     any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or

 

 

(b)     the Borrower shall cease to own, free and clear of all Liens or other encumbrances (other than Permitted Liens), directly or indirectly 100% of the equity securities of each Guarantor entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such Guarantor on a fully-diluted basis.

 

CIP Regulations has the meaning specified in Section 11.12 [No Reliance on Administrative Agent’s Customer Identification Program].

 

Closing Date means the Business Day on which the conditions specified in Section 7.1 [Initial Loans and Letters of Credit] shall be first satisfied.

 

Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Commitment means, as to any Lender, its Revolving Credit Commitment, and, in the case of PNC, its Swing Loan Commitment (but not the aggregate of its Revolving Credit Commitment and its Swing Loan Commitment), and Commitments means the aggregate of the Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the Lenders.

 

Commitment Fee has the meaning specified in Section 2.3 [Commitment Fees].

 

Communications has the meaning specified in Section 12.5(d)(ii) [Platform].

 

Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H.

 

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, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period, (ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense and (iv) other non-recurring expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reducing such Consolidated Net Income which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period and minus (b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period and (ii) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period.

 

 

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Borrower or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Interest Charges means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, and (b) the portion of rent expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to such period under capital leases that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Net Income means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses) for that period.

 

Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a)(i) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness less (ii) unrestricted, Domestic cash, capped at $75,000,000, in each case as of such date, to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four (4) fiscal quarters of Borrower then ended.

 

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means, as of any date, the amount of “Total Assets” that would be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries less all intangible assets, including, without limitation, goodwill, organization costs, patents, trademarks, copyrights, franchises, and research and development costs, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Contractual Obligation means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

 

Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

 

Controlled Account means any deposit account or securities account that is subject to an account control agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each applicable Issuing Lender.

 

Covered Entity means the Borrower and each of Borrower’s Subsidiaries.

 

Covered Entity Director or Executive Officer means each director or executive officer of a Covered Entity.

 

Daily LIBOR Rate means, for any day, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent by dividing (a) the Published Rate by (b) a number equal to 1.00 minus the LIBOR Reserve Percentage on such day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Daily LIBOR Rate as determined above would be less than zero percent (0.00%), such rate shall be deemed to be zero percent (0.00%) for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Debtor Relief Laws means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of America, 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 of America or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

 

Defaulting Lender means, subject to Section 2.9(b) [Defaulting Lender Cure], any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Loan Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swing Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or the Swing Loan Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-in Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by an Official Body 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 Official Body) 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 shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.9(b) [Defaulting Lender Cure]) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Loan Lender and each Lender.

 

 

Designated Jurisdiction means any country or territory that itself is specifically targeted by a comprehensive sanctions program identified on the list maintained by OFAC and available at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/Programs.aspx, or any successor list maintained by, or as otherwise published from time to time by, OFAC.

 

Disposition or Dispose means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

 

Dollar, Dollars, U.S. Dollars and the symbol $ means, in each case, lawful money of the United States of America.

 

Domestic means located in any state of the United States of America.

 

Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States of America.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Effective Date means the date indicated in a document or agreement to be the date on which such document or agreement becomes effective, or, if there is no such indication, the date of execution of such document or agreement.

 

 

Eligibility Date means, with respect to each Loan Party and each Swap, the date on which this Agreement or any other applicable Loan Document becomes effective with respect to such Swap (for the avoidance of doubt, the Eligibility Date shall be the Effective Date of such Swap if this Agreement or any other Loan Document is then in effect with respect to such Loan Party, and otherwise it shall be the Effective Date of this Agreement and/or such other Loan Document(s) to which such Loan Party is a party).

 

Eligible Assignee means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 12.8(b)(iv) [Assignment and Assumption Agreement], (v) [No Assignment to Certain Persons] and (vi) [No Assignment to Natural Persons] (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 12.8(b)(iii) [Required Consents]).

 

Eligible Contract Participant means an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the CEA and regulations thereunder.

 

Environmental Laws means any and all federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

ERISA Event means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

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 means any of the events described in Section 10.1 [Events of Default].

 

Excluded Hedge Liability or Liabilities means, with respect to each Guarantor, each of its Swap Obligations if, and only to the extent that, all or any portion of the Subsidiary Guaranty by such Guarantor of such Swap Obligation is or becomes illegal under the CEA, or any rule, regulation or order of the CFTC, solely by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure to qualify as an Eligible Contract Participant on the Eligibility Date for such Swap. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the foregoing or in any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document: (a) if a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Swap, this definition shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swaps for which such Subsidiary Guaranty is or becomes illegal under the CEA, or any rule, regulations or order of the CFTC, solely as a result of the failure by such Guarantor for any reason to qualify as an Eligible Contract Participant on the Eligibility Date for such Swap, and (b) if there is more than one Guarantor executing this Agreement or the other Loan Documents and a Swap Obligation would be an Excluded Hedge Liability with respect to one or more of such Persons, but not all of them, the definition of Excluded Hedge Liability or Liabilities with respect to each such Person shall only be deemed applicable to (i) the particular Swap Obligations that constitute Excluded Hedge Liabilities with respect to such Person, and (ii) the particular Person with respect to which such Swap Obligations constitute Excluded Hedge Liabilities.

 

 

Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in such Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 5.13 [Replacement of a Lender]) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], 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 5.9(g) [Status of Lenders], and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Executive Order No. 13224 means the Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.

 

Existing Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Credit Agreement among the Borrower, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and PNC Bank, National Association, in its capacity as administrative agent for the “lenders” party thereto, dated March 17, 2017.

 

Existing Loan Documents means the Existing Credit Agreement and each revolving credit note, swing line note, guaranty and other document or agreement entered into in connection therewith.

 

Expiration Date means, with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, March 29, 2024, as such date may be extended with respect to certain Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 12.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers].

 

Facility Termination Date means the date as of which all of the following shall have occurred: (a) the aggregate Commitments have expired or terminated, (b) all Obligations have been paid in full (other than (i) contingent indemnification obligations that are not yet due and (ii) obligations and liabilities under any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge and any Lender Provided Financial Service Product), and (c) all Letters of Credit have terminated or expired (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements with respect thereto reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (to the extent the Administrative Agent is a party to such arrangements) and the Issuing Lender, including the provision of Cash Collateral, shall have been made).

 

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 and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (and any legislation, regulations or other official guidance pursuant to, or in respect of, the foregoing).

 

 

Federal Funds Effective 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 (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as determined under any method above would be less than zero percent (0.00%), such rate shall be deemed to be zero percent (0.00%) for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

Fronting Exposure means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the Issuing Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Ratable Share of the outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender other than Letter of Credit Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to any Swing Loan Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Ratable Share of outstanding Swing Loans made by such Swing Loan Lender other than Swing Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders.

 

Fund means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

 

GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles as are in effect from time to time, subject to the provisions of Section 1.3 [Accounting Principles; Changes in GAAP].

 

Guarantee means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

 

Guarantors means, collectively, each Subsidiary that is from time to time party to a Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

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

 

Hedge Bank means any Person that, at the time it enters into a Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge.

 

Increased Amount Date has the meaning specified in Section 2.10 [Incremental Loans].

 

Incremental Lender has the meaning specified in Section 2.10 [Incremental Loans].

 

Incremental Loan Commitments has the meaning specified in Section 2.10 [Incremental Loans].

 

Incremental Loans has the meaning specified in Section 2.10 [Incremental Loans].

 

Indebtedness means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

 

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

 

(b)     all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

(c)     net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

 

 

(d)     all obligations (including, without limitation, earnout obligations) of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and, in each case, not past due for more than 90 days after the date on which such trade account payable was created);

 

(e)     indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

 

(f)     capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations;

 

(g)     all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and

 

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

 

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any capital lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

 

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

 

Indemnitee has the meaning specified in Section 12.3(b) [Indemnification by the Borrower].

 

Information has the meaning specified in Section 12.9 [Confidentiality].

 

Insolvency Proceeding means, with respect to any Person, (a) a case, action or proceeding with respect to such Person (i) before any court or any other Official Body under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar Law now or hereafter in effect, or (ii) for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator, conservator (or similar official) of any Loan Party or otherwise relating to the liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or relief of such Person, or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshaling of assets for creditors, or other, similar arrangement in respect of such Person’s creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors; undertaken under any Law.

 

 

Interest Period means the period of time selected by the Borrower in connection with (and to apply to) any election permitted hereunder by the Borrower to have Revolving Credit Loans bear interest under the LIBOR Rate Option. Subject to the last sentence of this definition, such period shall be one week, two weeks, or one, two, three or six Months. Such Interest Period shall commence on the effective date of such Interest Rate Option, which shall be (a) the Borrowing Date if the Borrower is requesting new Loans, or (b) the date of renewal of or conversion to the LIBOR Rate Option if the Borrower is renewing or converting to the LIBOR Rate Option applicable to outstanding Loans. Notwithstanding the second sentence hereof: (i) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a date which is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, and (ii) the Borrower shall not select, convert to or renew an Interest Period for any portion of the Loans that would end after the Expiration Date.

 

Interest Rate Hedge means an interest rate exchange, collar, cap, swap, floor, adjustable strike cap, adjustable strike corridor, cross-currency swap or similar agreement entered into by any Loan Party in order to provide protection to, or minimize the impact upon, such Loan Party of increasing floating rates of interest applicable to Indebtedness.

 

Interest Rate Hedge Liabilities has the meaning specified in the definition of Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge.

 

Interest Rate Option means any LIBOR Rate Option or Base Rate Option.

 

Investment means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

 

IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service, or any Official Body succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

Issuing Lender means PNC, in its individual capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and any other Lender reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that may agree with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to issue Letters of Credit hereunder from time to time.

 

Law 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 Official Body charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Official Body, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

 

 

Lender Joinder Agreement means a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower delivered in connection with any Incremental Loan Commitments pursuant to Section 2.10 [Incremental Loans].

 

Lender Provided Financial Service Product means agreements or other arrangements entered into between any Loan Party and any Cash Management Bank that provides any of the following products or services to any of the Loan Parties: (a) credit cards, (b) credit card processing services, (c) debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) ACH transactions, or (f) cash management, including controlled disbursement, overdraft lines, accounts or services.

 

Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge means an unsecured Interest Rate Hedge which is entered into between any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank that: (a) is documented in a standard International Swaps and Derivatives Association Master Agreement or another reasonable and customary manner, (b) provides for the method of calculating the reimbursable amount of the provider’s credit exposure in a reasonable and customary manner, and (c) is entered into for hedging (rather than speculative) purposes. The liabilities owing to the Hedge Bank providing any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge (the “Interest Rate Hedge Liabilities”) by any Loan Party that is party to such Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge shall, for purposes of this Agreement and all other Loan Documents be “Obligations” of such Person and of each other Loan Party, be guaranteed obligations under any Subsidiary Guaranty and otherwise treated as Obligations for purposes of the other Loan Documents, except to the extent constituting Excluded Hedge Liabilities of such Person.

 

Lenders means the financial institutions named on Schedule 1.1(B) and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a Lender. Unless the context requires otherwise, the term “Lenders” includes the Swing Loan Lender.

 

Lending Office means, as to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or any Lender, the office or offices of such Person described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as such Person may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

Letter of Credit has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(a) [Issuance of Letters of Credit].

 

Letter of Credit Borrowing has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(c)(iii) [Disbursements, Reimbursement].

 

Letter of Credit Fee has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(b) [Letter of Credit Fees].

 

Letter of Credit Obligation means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit on such date (if any Letter of Credit shall increase in amount automatically in the future, such aggregate amount available to be drawn shall currently give effect to any such future increase) plus the aggregate Reimbursement Obligations and Letter of Credit Borrowings on such date.

 

 

Letter of Credit Sublimit has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(a)(i) [Issuance of Letters of Credit].

 

LIBOR Rate means, with respect to the Loans comprising any Borrowing Tranche to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies for any Interest Period, the interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent by dividing (the resulting quotient rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1.00% per annum) (i) the rate which appears on the Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or on such other substitute Bloomberg page that displays rates at which US dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market), or the rate which is quoted by another source selected by the Administrative Agent as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying rates at which US dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market (an “Alternate Source”), at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period as the London interbank offered rate for U.S. Dollars for an amount comparable to such Borrowing Tranche and having a borrowing date and a maturity comparable to such Interest Period (or if there shall at any time, for any reason, no longer exist a Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or any substitute page) or any Alternate Source, a comparable replacement rate determined by the Administrative Agent at such time (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error)), by (ii) a number equal to 1.00 minus the LIBOR Reserve Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the LIBOR Rate as determined under any method above would be less than zero percent (0.00%), such rate shall be deemed to be zero percent (0.00%) for purposes of this Agreement.

 

The LIBOR Rate shall be adjusted with respect to any Loan to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies that is outstanding on the effective date of any change in the LIBOR Reserve Percentage as of such effective date. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower of the LIBOR Rate as determined or adjusted in accordance herewith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

LIBOR Rate Option means the option of the Borrower to have Loans bear interest at the LIBOR Rate and under the terms specified in Section 4.1(a)(ii) [Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Option].

 

LIBOR Reserve Percentage means, as of any day, the maximum percentage in effect on such day, as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the reserve requirements (including supplemental, marginal and emergency reserve requirements) with respect to eurocurrency funding or in respect of eurocurrency liabilities or any similar category of liabilities for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City.

 

Lien means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

 

Loan Documents means this Agreement, the Administrative Agent’s Letter, each Subsidiary Guaranty, the Notes and any other instruments, certificates or documents executed by any Loan Party and delivered in connection herewith or therewith.

 

Loan Parties means the Borrower and the Guarantors.

 

Loan Request has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(a) [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Conversions and Renewals].

 

Loans means, collectively, and Loan means, separately, all Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans or any Revolving Credit Loan or Swing Loan.

 

Material Adverse Change means a material adverse change in the operations, business, properties, liabilities or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole since August 31, 2018.

 

Material Credit Facility means, as to the Borrower, any agreement(s) creating or evidencing indebtedness for borrowed money entered into on or after the Closing Date by the Borrower, or in respect of which the Borrower is an obligor or otherwise provides a guarantee or other credit support, in a principal amount outstanding or available for borrowing equal to or greater than $20,000,000.00 (or the equivalent of such amount in the relevant currency of payment, determined as of the date of the closing of such facility based on the exchange rate of such other currency).

 

Maximum Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio has the meaning specified in Section 9.11 [Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio].

 

Minimum Collateral Amount means, at any time, (a) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances, an amount equal to 105% of the Fronting Exposure of the Issuing Lender with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time and (b) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender in their sole discretion.

 

Month, with respect to an Interest Period under the LIBOR Rate Option, means the interval between the days in consecutive calendar months numerically corresponding to the first day of such Interest Period. If any LIBOR Rate Interest Period begins on a day of a calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the month in which such Interest Period is to end, the final month of such Interest Period shall be deemed to end on the last Business Day of such final month.

 

Multiemployer Plan means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

 

 

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

 

Non-Consenting Lender means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 12.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers] 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-Qualifying Party means any Loan Party that fails for any reason to qualify as an Eligible Contract Participant on the Effective Date of the applicable Swap.

 

Notes means collectively, and Note means separately, the promissory notes in the form of Exhibit C evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans and in the form of Exhibit D evidencing the Swing Loan.

 

Obligation means any obligation or liability of any of the Loan Parties, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or hereafter existing, or due or to become due, under or in connection with (a) this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent’s Letter or any other Loan Document whether to the Administrative Agent, any of the Lenders or their Affiliates or other persons provided for under such Loan Documents, (b) any Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge, and (c) any Lender Provided Financial Service Product. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the foregoing, the Obligations shall not include any Excluded Hedge Liabilities.

 

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

 

Official Body means the government of the United States of America 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).

 

Order has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(h) [Liability for Acts and Omissions].

 

Organization Documents means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Official Body in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

 

Other Connection Taxes means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient (or an agent or affiliate thereof) and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely 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 5.13 [Replacement of a Lender]).

 

Overnight Bank Funding Rate means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurocurrency borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“NYFRB”), as set forth on its public website from time to time, and as published on the next succeeding Business Day as the overnight bank funding rate by the NYFRB (or by such other recognized electronic source (such as Bloomberg) selected by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of displaying such rate); provided, that if such day is not a Business Day, the Overnight Bank Funding Rate for such day shall be such rate on the immediately preceding Business Day; provided, further, that if such rate shall at any time, for any reason, no longer exist, a comparable replacement rate determined by the Administrative Agent at such time (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error).  If the Overnight Bank Funding Rate determined as above would be less than zero percent (0.00%), then such rate shall be deemed to be zero percent (0.00%) for purposes of this Agreement.  The rate of interest charged shall be adjusted as of each Business Day based on changes in the Overnight Bank Funding Rate without notice to the Borrower.

 

Participant has the meaning specified in Section 12.8(d) [Participations].

 

Participant Register has the meaning specified in Section 12.8(d) [Participations].

 

Participation Advance has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(c)(iii) [Disbursements, Reimbursement].

 

Payment Date means the first Business Day of each calendar quarter after the Closing Date and on the Expiration Date or upon acceleration of the Notes.

 

PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA or any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

 

Pension Funding Rules means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans.

 

Pension Plan means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

 

Permitted Acquisition means an Acquisition by the Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof (the Person or division, line of business or other business unit of the Person to be acquired in such Acquisition shall be referred to herein as the “Target”), in each case so long as:

 

(a)     no Potential Default shall then exist or would exist after giving effect thereto;

 

(b)     with respect to any Acquisition with a purchase price in excess of $100,000,000.00, the Administrative Agent shall have received, prior to the consummation of such Acquisition, a description of the material terms of such Acquisition (it being understood that any Lender may request and obtain a copy of same through the Administrative Agent);

 

(c)     such Acquisition shall not be a “hostile” Acquisition and shall, to the extent required, have been approved by the board of directors (or equivalent) and/or shareholders (or equivalent) of the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary and the Target; and

 

(d)     such Target engages in substantially the same type of business, or a type of business substantially related or incidental thereto (or the assets acquired pursuant to such Acquisition are used in substantially the same type of business, or a type of business substantially related or incidental thereto), engaged in by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Permitted Liens means Liens permitted by Section 9.1 [Liens].

 

Permitted Transfers means (a) Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business; (b) Dispositions of property (i) by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or (ii) by any Subsidiary to any other Subsidiary; (c) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to others in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and (d) the sale or disposition of cash equivalents for fair market value.

 

Person means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Official Body or other entity.

 

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

 

Platform means Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.

 

 

PNC means PNC Bank, National Association, its successors and assigns.

 

Potential 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.

 

Prime Rate means the interest rate per annum announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent at its Principal Office as its then prime rate, which rate may not be the lowest or most favorable rate then being charged commercial borrowers or others by the Administrative Agent. Any change in the Prime Rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day such change is announced.

 

Principal Office means the main banking office of the Administrative Agent (which, as of the Closing Date, is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).

 

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.

 

Published Rate means the rate which appears on the Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or on such other substitute Bloomberg page that displays rates at which US dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market), or the rate which is quoted by an Alternate Source, for a one month period (or if there shall at any time, for any reason, no longer exist a Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or any substitute page) or any Alternate Source, a comparable replacement rate determined by the Administrative Agent at such time (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Published Rate as determined under any method above would be less than zero percent (0.00%), such rate shall be deemed to be zero percent (0.00%) for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Qualified ECP Loan Party means each Guarantor that on the Eligibility Date is (a) a corporation, partnership, proprietorship, organization, trust, or other entity other than a “commodity pool” as defined in Section 1a(10) of the CEA and CFTC regulations thereunder that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000.00, or (b) an Eligible Contract Participant that can cause another person to qualify as an Eligible Contract Participant on the Eligibility Date under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the CEA by entering into or otherwise providing a “letter of credit or keepwell, support, or other agreement” for purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the CEA.

 

Ratable Share means:

 

(a)     with respect to a Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans, participate in Letters of Credit and other Letter of Credit Obligations, participate in Swing Loans, and receive payments, interest, and fees related thereto, the proportion that such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment bears to the Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the Lenders, provided that if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the Ratable Shares for purposes of this clause shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments;

 

 

(b)     with respect to all other matters as to a particular Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, by (ii) the sum of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Lenders; provided, however that (a) if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the computation in this clause shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments, and not on the current amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments, subject to Section 2.9 [Defaulting Lenders].

 

Recipient means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) the Issuing Lender, as applicable.

 

Reimbursement Date has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(c)(i) [Disbursements, Reimbursement].

 

Reimbursement Obligation has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(c) [Disbursements, Reimbursement].

 

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

 

Removal Effective Date has the meaning specified in Section 11.6(b) [Resignation of Administrative Agent].

 

Reportable Compliance Event shall mean that any Covered Entity or any Covered Entity Director or Executive Officer becomes a Sanctioned Person, or is charged by indictment, criminal complaint or similar charging instrument, arraigned, or custodially detained in connection with any Anti-Terrorism Law or Anti-Corruption Law, or any predicate crime to any Anti-Terrorism Law or, in any material respect, any predicate crime to any Anti-Corruption Law, or has knowledge of facts or circumstances that any of its operations is likely to be in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law or, in any material respect, in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law.

 

Reportable Event means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

 

Required Lenders means:

 

(a)     If there exists fewer than three (3) Lenders, all Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender), and

 

(b)     If there exist three (3) or more Lenders, not less than two (2) Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender) having more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders (excluding any Defaulting Lender) or, after the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Ratable Share of Letter of Credit Obligations of the Lenders (excluding any Defaulting Lender).

 

Resignation Effective Date has the meaning specified in Section 11.6(a) [Resignation of Administrative Agent].

 

 

Responsible Officer means, with respect to any Loan Party, the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of such Loan Party, any manager or members (as applicable) in the case of any Loan Party which is a limited liability company, solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 7.1, the secretary or any assistant secretary of the Borrower and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article 2, any other officer of the Borrower so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the Borrower designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party,

 

Restricted Payment means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

 

Required Share has the meaning specified in Section 5.11 [Settlement Date Procedures].

 

Revolving Credit Commitment means, as to any Lender at any time, the amount initially specified opposite its name on Schedule 1.1(B) in the column labeled “Amount of Commitment for Revolving Credit Loans,” as such Commitment is thereafter assigned or modified from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof and Revolving Credit Commitments means the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the Lenders. The original amount of the total Revolving Credit Commitments on the Closing Date is $750,000,000.00.

 

Revolving Credit Facility means the revolving loan facility provided pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Revolving Credit Loans means, collectively, and Revolving Credit Loan means, separately, all Revolving Credit Loans or any Revolving Credit Loan made by the Lenders or one of the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1 [Revolving Credit Commitments] or Section 2.8(c) [Disbursements, Reimbursement].

 

Revolving Facility Usage means at any time, without duplication, the sum of the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, the outstanding Swing Loans, and the Letter of Credit Obligations.

 

Sanctioned Country shall mean a country, region or territory subject to a sanctions program maintained under any Anti-Terrorism Law.

 

 

Sanctioned Person means, at any time, (a) any individual person, group, regime, entity or thing listed in any Sanctions-related list of individual persons, groups, regimes, entities or things maintained by (i) the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (ii) to the extent applicable to a Covered Entity or a Covered Entity Director or Executive Officer, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any individual person, group, regime, entity or thing operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned County, (c) any individual person, group, regime, entity or thing owned or controlled by any such individual person, group, regime, entity or thing or individual persons, groups, regimes, entities or things described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b), or (d) any individual person, group, regime, entity or thing otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.

 

Sanctions shall mean all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (i) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (ii) to the extent applicable to a Covered Entity or a Covered Entity Director or Executive Officer, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Official Body succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

Settlement Date means the Business Day on which the Administrative Agent elects to effect settlement pursuant Section 5.11 [Settlement Date Procedures].

 

Solvent means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, taking into account any right of reimbursement, contribution or similar right available to such Person from other Persons, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (d) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (e) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which such Person is engaged. In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

Standby Letter of Credit means a Letter of Credit issued to support obligations of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, contingent or otherwise, which finance the working capital and business needs of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business.

 

 

Subsidiary of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of Voting Stock is at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guaranty has the meaning specified in Section 8.15 [Subsidiary Guarantors].

 

Subsidiary Guaranty Joinder means a joinder by a Subsidiary as a Guarantor under a Subsidiary Guaranty in substantially the form of Exhibit B.

 

Swap means any “swap” as defined in Section 1a(47) of the CEA and regulations thereunder, other than (a) a swap entered into, or subject to the rules of, a board of trade designated as a contract market under Section 5 of the CEA, or (b) a commodity option entered into pursuant to CFTC Regulation 32.3(a).

 

Swap Contract means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

 

Swap Obligation means any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a Swap which is also a Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedge.

 

Swap Termination Value means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

 

 

Swing Loan Commitment means the Swing Loan Lender’s commitment to make Swing Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(b) [Swing Loan Commitment] hereof in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000.00.

 

Swing Loan Lender means PNC, in its capacity as a lender of Swing Loans.

 

Swing Loan Note means the Swing Loan Note of the Borrower in the form of Exhibit D evidencing the Swing Loans, together with all amendments, extensions, renewals, replacements, refinancings or refundings thereof in whole or in part.

 

Swing Loan Request means a request for Swing Loans made in accordance with Section 2.5(b) [Swing Loan Requests] hereof.

 

Swing Loans means, collectively, and Swing Loan means, separately, all Swing Loans or any Swing Loan made by the Swing Loan Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(b) [Swing Loan Commitment] hereof.

 

Synthetic Lease Obligation means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

 

Target has the meaning specified in the definition of Permitted Acquisition.

 

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

 

Threshold Amount means $20,000,000.00.

 

UCP has the meaning specified in Section 12.11(a) [Governing Law].

 

USA Patriot Act means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.

 

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 5.9(g)(ii)(B)(III) [Status of Lenders].

 

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

 

 

Withholding Agent means any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers means, 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.

 

1.2        Construction. Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise clearly requires, the following rules of construction shall apply to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents: (i) references to the plural include the singular, the plural, the part and the whole and the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”; (ii) the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”; (iii) the words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereto” and similar terms in this Agreement or any other Loan Document refer to this Agreement or such other Loan Document as a whole; (iv) article, section, subsection, clause, schedule and exhibit references are to this Agreement or other Loan Document, as the case may be, unless otherwise specified; (v) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns; (vi) reference to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, means this Agreement or such other Loan Document, together with the schedules and exhibits hereto or thereto, as amended, modified, replaced, substituted for, superseded or restated from time to time (subject to any restrictions thereon specified in this Agreement or the other applicable Loan Document); (vii) relative to the determination of any period of time, “from” means “from and including,” “to” means “to but excluding,” and “through” means “through and including”; (viii) any reference to any law or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time (ix) 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; (x) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms; (xi) section headings herein and in each other Loan Document are included for convenience and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or such Loan Document, and (xii) unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall constitute references to Eastern Time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

1.3       Accounting Principles; Changes in GAAP. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all computations and determinations as to accounting or financial matters and all financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be made and prepared in accordance with GAAP (including principles of consolidation where appropriate), and all accounting or financial terms shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms by GAAP as in effect on the Closing Date applied on a basis consistent with those used in preparing the financial statements referred to in Section 6.5 [Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change]. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. Without limiting the foregoing, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with that reflected in the Audited Financial Statements for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding any change in GAAP relating thereto, unless the parties hereto shall enter into a mutually acceptable amendment addressing such changes, as provided above.

 

 

Article 2
REVOLVING CREDIT AND SWING LOAN FACILITIES

 

2.1     Revolving Credit Commitments.

 

(a)     Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein specified, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower at any time or from time to time on or after the Closing Date until the Expiration Date; provided that after giving effect to each such Loan (i) the aggregate amount of Revolving Credit Loans from such Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment minus such Lender’s Ratable Share of the outstanding Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations and (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments. Within such limits of time and amount and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this Section 2.1.

 

(b)     Swing Loan Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein specified and the agreements of the other Lenders specified in Section 2.6 [Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent; Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans; Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans] with respect to Swing Loans, the Swing Loan Lender may, at its option, cancelable at any time for any reason whatsoever, make swing loans (the “Swing Loans”) to the Borrower at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date to, but not including, the Expiration Date, in an aggregate maximum principal amount not to exceed the Swing Loan Commitment, provided that after giving effect to such Swing Loan (i) the aggregate amount of any Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans plus such Lender’s Ratable Share of the outstanding Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders. Within such limits of time and amount and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this Section 2.1(b).

 

2.2     Nature of Lenders’ Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans. Each Lender shall be obligated to fund each request for Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Conversions and Renewals; Swing Loan Requests] in accordance with its Ratable Share. The aggregate of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans outstanding hereunder to the Borrower at any time shall never exceed its Revolving Credit Commitment minus its Ratable Share of the outstanding Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations. The obligations of each Lender hereunder are several. The failure of any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder shall not affect the Obligations of the Borrower to any other party nor shall any other party be liable for the failure of such Lender to perform its obligations hereunder. The Lenders shall have no obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans hereunder on or after the Expiration Date.

 

 

2.3     Commitment Fees. Accruing at all times from the Closing Date until the Expiration Date (and without regard to whether the conditions to making Revolving Credit Loans are then met), the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender according to its Ratable Share, a nonrefundable commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) equal to the Applicable Margin for the Commitment Fee (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) multiplied by the average daily difference between the amount of (i) the Revolving Credit Commitments minus (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage (computed to exclude therefrom the full amount of the outstanding Swing Loans); provided that no Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such Commitment Fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender). Subject to the proviso in the directly preceding sentence, all Commitment Fees shall be payable in arrears on each Payment Date.

 

2.4     Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments. The Borrower shall have the right, upon not less than three (3) Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, to terminate the Revolving Credit Commitments or, from time to time, to reduce the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments (ratably among the Lenders in proportion to their Ratable Shares); provided that no such termination or reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto and to any prepayments of the Revolving Credit Loans made on the effective date thereof, the Revolving Facility Usage would exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders. Any such reduction shall be in an amount equal to $1,000,000.00, or a whole multiple thereof, and shall reduce permanently the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect. Any such reduction or termination shall be accompanied by prepayment of the Notes, together with outstanding Commitment Fees, and the full amount of interest accrued on the principal sum to be prepaid (and all amounts referred to in Section 5.10 [Indemnity] hereof) to the extent necessary to cause the aggregate Revolving Facility Usage after giving effect to such prepayments to be equal to or less than the Revolving Credit Commitments as so reduced or terminated. Any notice to reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.4 shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination or reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments delivered under this paragraph may state that such notice is conditioned upon the occurrence of one or more events specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.

 

 

2.5     Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Conversions and Renewals; Swing Loan Requests.

 

(a)     Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Conversions and Renewals. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may from time to time prior to the Expiration Date request the Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans, or renew or convert the Interest Rate Option applicable to existing Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], by delivering to the Administrative Agent, not later than 10:00 a.m., (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of Revolving Credit Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies or the conversion to or the renewal of the LIBOR Rate Option for any Revolving Credit Loans; and (ii) the same Business Day of the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of a Revolving Credit Loan to which the Base Rate Option applies or the last day of the preceding Interest Period with respect to the conversion to the Base Rate Option for any Revolving Credit Loan, of a duly completed request therefor substantially in the form of Exhibit E (which may be delivered by e-mail), or a request by telephone promptly confirmed in writing by letter, e-mail, facsimile or telex in such form (each, a “Loan Request”), it being understood that the Administrative Agent may rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. Each Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify the aggregate amount of the proposed Loans comprising each Borrowing Tranche, and, if applicable, the Interest Period, which amounts shall be in (x) integral multiples of $1,000,000.00 and not less than $1,000,000.00 for each Borrowing Tranche under the LIBOR Rate Option, and (y) integral multiples of $1,000,000.00 and not less than $1,000,000.00 for each Borrowing Tranche under the Base Rate Option.

 

(b)     Swing Loan Requests. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may from time to time prior to the Expiration Date request the Swing Loan Lender to make Swing Loans by delivery to the Swing Loan Lender not later than 12:00 noon on the proposed Borrowing Date of a duly completed request therefor substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto or a request by telephone promptly confirmed in writing by letter, facsimile or telex (each, a “Swing Loan Request”), it being understood that the Administrative Agent may rely on the authority of any individual making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. Each Swing Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed Borrowing Date and the principal amount of such Swing Loan, which shall be not less than $1,000,000.00.

 

2.6     Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans; Presumptions by the Administrative Agent; Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans; Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans.

 

(a)     Making Revolving Credit Loans. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly after receipt by it of a Loan Request pursuant to Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Conversions and Renewals; Swing Loan Requests], notify the Lenders of its receipt of such Loan Request specifying the information provided by the Borrower and the apportionment among the Lenders of the requested Revolving Credit Loans as determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.2 [Nature of Lenders’ Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans]. Each Lender shall remit its apportioned share (as provided to it by the Administrative Agent) of the principal amount of each Revolving Credit Loan to the Administrative Agent such that the Administrative Agent is able to, and the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent the Lenders have made funds available to it for such purpose and subject to Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit], fund such Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower in U.S. Dollars and immediately available funds at the Principal Office prior to 2:00 p.m., on the applicable Borrowing Date; provided that if any Lender fails to remit such funds to the Administrative Agent in a timely manner, the Administrative Agent may elect in its sole discretion to fund with its own funds the Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender on such Borrowing Date, and such Lender shall be subject to the repayment obligation in Section 2.6(b) [Presumptions by the Administrative Agent].

 

 

(b)     Presumptions by the Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed time of any Loan that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Loan, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.6(a) [Making Revolving Credit Loans] and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Loan available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Loans under the Base Rate Option. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Loan to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(c)     Making Swing Loans. So long as the Swing Loan Lender elects to make Swing Loans, the Swing Loan Lender shall, after receipt by it of a Swing Loan Request pursuant to Section 2.5(b) [Swing Loan Requests], fund such Swing Loan to the Borrower in U.S. Dollars and immediately available funds at the Principal Office prior to 4:00 p.m. on the Borrowing Date. A Swing Loan Note shall, if required by the Swing Loan Lender, shall evidence the Swing Loans.

 

(d)     Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower shall repay the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans, together with all outstanding interest thereon, on the Expiration Date.

 

(e)     Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans.

 

(i)     The Swing Loan Lender may, at its option, exercisable at any time for any reason whatsoever, demand repayment of any or all of the outstanding Swing Loans, and each Lender shall make a Revolving Credit Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Ratable Share of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Swing Loans with respect to which repayment is demanded, plus, if the Swing Loan Lender so requests, accrued interest thereon, provided that no Lender shall be obligated in any event to make Revolving Credit Loans in excess of its Revolving Credit Commitment minus its Ratable Share of Letter of Credit Obligations and minus its Ratable Share of any Swing Loans not so being repaid. Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall bear interest at the Base Rate Option and shall be deemed to have been properly requested in accordance with Section 2.5(a) [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Conversions and Renewals] without regard to any of the requirements of that provision. The Swing Loan Lender shall provide notice to the Lenders (which may be telephonic or written notice by letter, facsimile or telex) that such Revolving Credit Loans are to be made under this Section 2.6(e) and of the apportionment among the Lenders, and the Lenders shall be unconditionally obligated to fund such Revolving Credit Loans (whether or not the conditions specified in Section 2.5(a) [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Conversions and Renewals] or in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] are then satisfied) by the time the Swing Loan Lender so requests, which shall not be earlier than 3:00 p.m. on the Business Day next after the date the Lenders receive such notice from the Swing Loan Lender.

 

 

(ii)     If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Loan Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(e) by the time specified in Section 2.6(e)(i), the Swing Loan Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Loan Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Loan Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Credit Loan with respect to such prepayment. A certificate of the Swing Loan Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (ii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

2.7     Notes. The Obligation of the Borrower to repay the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans made to it by each Lender, together with interest thereon, shall be evidenced by a revolving credit Note or a swing Note, dated the Closing Date payable to such Lender in a face amount equal to the Revolving Credit Commitment and Swing Loan Commitment, as applicable, of such Lender.

 

2.8     Letter of Credit Subfacility.

 

(a)     Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Borrower or any Loan Party may at any time prior to the Expiration Date request the issuance of a letter of credit (each, a “Letter of Credit”) for its own account or the account of another Loan Party or any Subsidiary (in which case the Borrower and such Subsidiary shall be co-applicants with respect to such Letter of Credit), or the amendment or extension of an existing Letter of Credit, by delivering or transmitting electronically, or having such other Loan Party deliver or transmit electronically to the Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) a completed application for letter of credit, or request for such amendment or extension, as applicable, in such form as the Issuing Lender may specify from time to time by no later than 10:00 a.m. at least three (3) Business Days, or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Issuing Lender, in advance of the proposed date of issuance. Letters of Credit may only be Standby Letters of Credit. The Borrower or any Loan Party shall authorize and direct the Issuing Lender to name the Borrower or any Loan Party as the “Applicant” or “Account Party” of each Letter of Credit, or in the case of a Letter of Credit issued for the account of any Subsidiary, to name the Borrower and such Subsidiary as “Co-Applicants” or “Co-Account Parties” for such Letter of Credit. Promptly after receipt of any letter of credit application, the Issuing Lender shall confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit application and if not, the Issuing Lender will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof.

 

 

(i)     Unless the Issuing Lender has received notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one day prior to the requested date of issuance, amendment or extension of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions in Article 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] is not satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders specified in this Section 2.8, the Issuing Lender or any of the Issuing Lender’s Affiliates will issue the proposed Letter of Credit or agree to such amendment or extension, provided that each Letter of Credit shall (A) have a maximum maturity of twelve (12) months from the date of issuance, and (B) in no event expire later than the date which is 364 days after the Expiration Date and provided, further, that in no event shall (i) the Letter of Credit Obligations exceed, at any one time, $50,000,000.00 (the “Letter of Credit Sublimit”) or (ii) the Revolving Facility Usage exceed, at any one time, the Revolving Credit Commitments. Each request for the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that it shall be in compliance with the preceding sentence and with Article 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] after giving effect to the requested issuance, amendment or extension of such Letter of Credit. Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable Issuing Lender will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) if any Issuing Lender has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in a Letter of Credit Borrowing, or (ii) if, on the Expiration Date, any Letter of Credit Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, promptly Cash Collateralize the then outstanding amount of all Letter of Credit Obligations. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of each Issuing Lender and the Lenders, a security interest in all Cash Collateral pledged pursuant to this Section or otherwise under this Agreement.

 

 

(ii)     Notwithstanding Section 2.8(a)(i), the Issuing Lender shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if (i) any order, judgment or decree of any Official Body or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the Issuing Lender from issuing the Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the Issuing Lender or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Official Body with jurisdiction over the Issuing Lender shall prohibit, or request that the Issuing Lender refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Issuing Lender with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the Issuing Lender is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the Issuing Lender any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the Issuing Lender in good faith deems material to it, (ii) the issuance of the Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the Issuing Lender applicable to letters of credit generally or (iii) any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the Issuing Lender has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the Issuing Lender (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the Issuing Lender’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.9(a)(iv) [Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure]) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other obligations as to which the Issuing Lender has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.

 

(b)     Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders a fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) equal to the Applicable Margin for Letters of Credit times the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit, and (ii) to the Issuing Lender for its own account a fronting fee equal to 0.125% per annum on the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit. All Letter of Credit Fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Payment Date following issuance of each Letter of Credit. The Borrower shall also pay to the Issuing Lender for the Issuing Lender’s sole account the Issuing Lender’s then in effect customary fees and administrative expenses payable with respect to the Letters of Credit as the Issuing Lender may generally charge or incur from time to time in connection with the issuance, maintenance, amendment (if any), assignment or transfer (if any), negotiation, and administration of Letters of Credit.

 

(c)     Disbursements, Reimbursement. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Issuing Lender a participation in such Letter of Credit and each drawing thereunder in an amount equal to such Lender’s Ratable Share of the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and the amount of such drawing, respectively.

 

(i)     In the event of any request for a drawing under a Letter of Credit by the beneficiary or transferee thereof, the Issuing Lender will promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Provided that it shall have received such notice, the Borrower shall reimburse (such obligation to reimburse the Issuing Lender shall sometimes be referred to as a “Reimbursement Obligation”) the Issuing Lender prior to 12:00 noon on the next Business Day following the date that an amount is paid by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit (each such date, a “Reimbursement Date”) by paying to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender an amount equal to the amount so paid by the Issuing Lender. In the event the Borrower fails to reimburse the Issuing Lender (through the Administrative Agent) for the full amount of any drawing under any Letter of Credit by 12:00 noon on the Reimbursement Date, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender thereof, and the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested that Revolving Credit Loans be made by the Lenders under the Base Rate Option to be disbursed on the Reimbursement Date under such Letter of Credit, subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment and subject to the conditions specified in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] other than any notice requirements. Any notice given by the Administrative Agent or Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 2.8(c)(i) may be oral if promptly confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such a prompt confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

 

(ii)     Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.8(c)(i) make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender an amount in immediately available funds equal to its Ratable Share of the amount of the drawing, whereupon the participating Lenders shall (subject to Section 2.8(c) [Disbursements; Reimbursement]) each be deemed to have made a Revolving Credit Loan under the Base Rate Option to the Borrower in that amount. If any Lender so notified fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of such Lender’s Ratable Share of such amount by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the Reimbursement Date, then interest shall accrue on such Lender’s obligation to make such payment, from the Reimbursement Date to the date on which such Lender makes such payment (i) at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate during the first three (3) days following the Reimbursement Date and (ii) at a rate per annum equal to the rate applicable to Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option on and after the fourth day following the Reimbursement Date. The Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender will promptly give notice (as described in Section 2.8(c)(i) above) of the occurrence of the Reimbursement Date, but failure of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender to give any such notice on the Reimbursement Date or in sufficient time to enable any Lender to effect such payment on such date shall not relieve such Lender from its obligation under this Section 2.8(c)(ii).

 

(iii)     With respect to any unreimbursed drawing that is not converted into Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option to the Borrower in whole or in part as contemplated by Section 2.8(c)(i), because of the Borrower’s failure to satisfy the conditions specified in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] other than any notice requirements, or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the Issuing Lender a borrowing (each a “Letter of Credit Borrowing”) in the amount of such drawing. Such Letter of Credit Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the rate per annum applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option. Each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 2.8(c) shall be deemed to be a payment in respect of its participation in such Letter of Credit Borrowing (each, a “Participation Advance”) from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.8(c).

 

(d)     Repayment of Participation Advances.

 

(i)     Upon (and only upon) receipt by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender of immediately available funds from the Borrower (i) in reimbursement of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under the Letter of Credit with respect to which any Lender has made a Participation Advance to the Administrative Agent, or (ii) in payment of interest on such a payment made by the Issuing Lender under such a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Issuing Lender will pay to each Lender, in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent, the amount of such Lender’s Ratable Share of such funds, except the Administrative Agent shall retain for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of the Ratable Share of such funds of any Lender that did not make a Participation Advance in respect of such payment by the Issuing Lender.

 

 

(ii)     If the Administrative Agent is required at any time to return to any Loan Party, or to a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian, or any official in any Insolvency Proceeding, any portion of any payment made by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section in reimbursement of a payment made under any Letter of Credit or interest or fees thereon, each Lender shall, on demand of the Administrative Agent, forthwith return to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount of its Ratable Share of any amounts so returned by the Administrative Agent plus interest thereon from the date such demand is made to the date such amounts are returned by such Lender to the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect from time to time.

 

(e)     Documentation. Each Loan Party agrees to be bound by the terms of the Issuing Lender’s application and agreement for letters of credit and the Issuing Lender’s written regulations and customary practices relating to letters of credit, though such interpretation may be different from such Loan Party’s own. In the event of a conflict between such application or agreement and this Agreement, this Agreement shall govern. It is understood and agreed that, except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Issuing Lender shall not be liable for any error, negligence and/or mistakes, whether of omission or commission, in following any Loan Party’s instructions or those contained in the Letters of Credit or any modifications, amendments or supplements thereto.

 

(f)     Determinations to Honor Drawing Requests. In determining whether to honor any request for drawing under any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof, the Issuing Lender shall be responsible only to determine that the documents and certificates required to be delivered under such Letter of Credit have been delivered and that they comply on their face with the requirements of such Letter of Credit.

 

 

(g)     Nature of Participation and Reimbursement Obligations. Each Lender’s obligation in accordance with this Agreement to make the Revolving Credit Loans or Participation Advances, as contemplated by Section 2.8(c) [Disbursements, Reimbursement], as a result of a drawing under a Letter of Credit, and the Obligations of the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Lender upon a draw under a Letter of Credit, shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.8 under all circumstances, including the following circumstances:

 

(i)     any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, or which any Loan Party may have against the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates, any Lender or any other Person for any reason whatsoever;

 

(ii)     the failure of any Loan Party or any other Person to comply, in connection with a Letter of Credit Borrowing, with the conditions specified in Sections 2.1 [Revolving Credit Commitments], 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Conversions and Renewals; Swing Loan Requests], 2.6 [Making Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans; Etc.] or 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] or as otherwise specified in this Agreement for the making of a Revolving Credit Loan, it being acknowledged that such conditions are not required for the making of a Letter of Credit Borrowing and the obligation of the Lenders to make Participation Advances under Section 2.8(c) [Disbursements, Reimbursement];

 

(iii)     any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit;

 

(iv)     any claim of breach of warranty that might be made by any Loan Party or any Lender against any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit, or the existence of any claim, set-off, recoupment, counterclaim, crossclaim, defense or other right which any Loan Party or any Lender may have at any time against a beneficiary, successor beneficiary any transferee or assignee of any Letter of Credit or the proceeds thereof (or any Persons for whom any such transferee may be acting), the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates or any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transaction (including any underlying transaction between any Loan Party or Subsidiaries of a Loan Party and the beneficiary for which any Letter of Credit was procured);

 

(v)     the lack of power or authority of any signer of (or any defect in or forgery of any signature or endorsement on) or the form of or lack of validity, sufficiency, accuracy, enforceability or genuineness of any draft, demand, instrument, certificate or other document presented under or in connection with any Letter of Credit, or any fraud or alleged fraud in connection with any Letter of Credit, or the transport of any property or provision of services relating to a Letter of Credit, in each case even if the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates has been notified thereof;

 

(vi)     payment by the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a demand, draft or certificate or other document which does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;

 

(vii)     the solvency of, or any acts or omissions by, any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, or any other Person having a role in any transaction or obligation relating to a Letter of Credit, or the existence, nature, quality, quantity, condition, value or other characteristic of any property or services relating to a Letter of Credit;

 

 

(viii)     any failure by the Issuing Lender or any of its Affiliates to issue any Letter of Credit in the form requested by any Loan Party, unless the Issuing Lender has received written notice from such Loan Party of such failure within three Business Days after the Issuing Lender shall have furnished such Loan Party and the Administrative Agent a copy of such Letter of Credit and such error is material and no drawing has been made thereon prior to receipt of such notice;

 

(ix)     any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of any Loan Party or Subsidiaries of a Loan Party;

 

(x)     any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any party thereto;

 

(xi)     the occurrence or continuance of an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to any Loan Party;

 

(xii)     the fact that an Event of Default or a Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(xiii)     the fact that the Expiration Date shall have passed or this Agreement or the Commitments hereunder shall have been terminated; and

 

(xiv)     any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

 

(h)     Liability for Acts and Omissions. As between any Loan Party and the Issuing Lender, or the Issuing Lender’s Affiliates, such Loan Party assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of the Letters of Credit by, the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender shall not be responsible for any of the following, including any losses or damages to any Loan Party or other Person or property relating therefrom: (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for an issuance of any such Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged (even if the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates shall have been notified thereof); (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any such Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) the failure of the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit, or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred, to comply fully with any conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit or any other claim of any Loan Party against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit, or any such transferee, or any dispute between or among any Loan Party and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any such transferee; (iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (v) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (vi) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under any such Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates, as applicable, including any act or omission of any Official Body, and none of the above shall affect or impair, or prevent the vesting of, any of the Issuing Lender’s or its Affiliates rights or powers hereunder. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall relieve the Issuing Lender from liability for the Issuing Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with actions or omissions described in such clauses (i) through (viii) of such sentence. In no event shall the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates be liable to any Loan Party for any indirect, consequential, incidental, punitive, exemplary or special damages or expenses (including attorneys’ fees), or for any damages resulting from any change in the value of any property relating to a Letter of Credit; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates from liability to any Loan Party to the extent of any direct actual damages suffered by such Loan Party that are directly caused by the Issuing Lender’s failure to exercise reasonable care when determining in good faith whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof as found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender and each of its Affiliates (i) may rely on any oral or other communication believed in good faith by the Issuing Lender or such Affiliate to have been authorized or given by or on behalf of the applicant for a Letter of Credit, (ii) may honor any presentation if the documents presented appear on their face substantially to comply with the terms and conditions of the relevant Letter of Credit; (iii) may honor a previously dishonored presentation under a Letter of Credit, whether such dishonor was pursuant to a court order, to settle or compromise any claim of wrongful dishonor, or otherwise, and shall be entitled to reimbursement to the same extent as if such presentation had initially been honored, together with any interest paid by the Issuing Lender or its Affiliate; (iv) may honor any drawing that is payable upon presentation of a statement advising negotiation or payment, upon receipt of such statement (even if such statement indicates that a draft or other document is being delivered separately), and shall not be liable for any failure of any such draft or other document to arrive, or to conform in any way with the relevant Letter of Credit; (v) may pay any paying or negotiating bank claiming that it rightfully honored under the laws or practices of the place where such bank is located; and (vi) may settle or adjust any claim or demand made on the Issuing Lender or its Affiliate in any way related to any order issued at the applicant’s request to an air carrier, a letter of guarantee or of indemnity issued to a carrier or any similar document (each, an “Order”) and honor any drawing in connection with any Letter of Credit that is the subject of such Order, notwithstanding that any drafts or other documents presented in connection with such Letter of Credit fail to conform in any way with such Letter of Credit.

 

In furtherance and extension and not in limitation of the specific provisions specified above, any action taken or omitted by the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates under or in connection with the Letters of Credit issued by it or any documents and certificates delivered thereunder, if taken or omitted in good faith and with reasonable care, shall not put the Issuing Lender or its Affiliates under any resulting liability to the Borrower or any Lender.

 

 

2.9     Defaulting Lenders.

 

(a)     Defaulting Lender Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such 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 specified in the definition of Required Lenders.

 

(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 10 [Default] or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.2(b) [Setoff] shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any Issuing Lender or Swing Loan Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the Issuing Lender’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 5.12 [Cash Collateral]; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Potential Default or Event of 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; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the Issuing Lender’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 5.12 [Cash Collateral]; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Lender or Swing Loan Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Lender or Swing Loan Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Potential Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or Letter of Credit Borrowing in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions specified in Section 7.2 [Each Loan or Letter of Credit] were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and Letter of Credit Borrowings owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or Letter of Credit Borrowing owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letter of Credit Obligations and Swing Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to Section 2.9(a)(iv) [Reallocation of Participation to Reduce Fronting Exposure]. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.9(a)(ii) [Defaulting Lender Waterfall] shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

 

(iii)     Certain Fees. (A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

 

(A)     Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Ratable Share of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 5.12 [Cash Collateral].

 

(B)     With respect to any Commitment Fee or Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Borrower shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Letter of Credit Obligations or Swing Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to each Issuing Lender and Swing Loan Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Issuing Lender’s or Swing Loan Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

 

(iv)     Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure. All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Letter of Credit Obligations and Swing Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Ratable Shares (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Facility Usage of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

 

(v)     Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Loans. If the reallocation described in clause (iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, (x) first, prepay Swing Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Loan Lender’s Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the Issuing Lender’s Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 5.12 [Cash Collateral].

 

 

(b)     Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Swing Loan Lender and Issuing Lender 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 specified therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Loans to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments under the applicable Facility (without giving effect to Section 2.9(a)(iv) [Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure]), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, 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.

 

(c)     New Swing Loans/Letters of Credit. So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swing Loan Lender shall not be required to fund any Swing Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swing Loan and (ii) no Issuing Lender shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

 

2.10     Incremental Loans.

 

(a)     At any time, the Borrower may by written notice to the Administrative Agent elect to request the establishment of increases in the Revolving Credit Commitments (any such increase, an “Incremental Loan Commitment”) for the advancing of incremental Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility (each such advance of Loans under the Incremental Loan Commitment, an “Incremental Loan”); provided that (a) the total aggregate principal amount of all such Incremental Loan Commitments shall not (as of any date of incurrence thereof) exceed an amount equal to the result of (i) $500,000,000.00 minus (ii) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 9.3(f), and (b) the minimum principal amount of each such Incremental Loan Commitment shall not be less than $25,000,000.00 or, if less, the remaining amount permitted pursuant to the foregoing clause (a). Each such notice shall specify the date (each, an “Increased Amount Date”) on which the Borrower proposes that any Incremental Loan Commitment shall be effective, which shall be a date not less than ten (10) Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to Administrative Agent (or such shorter period acceptable to the Administrative Agent). The Borrower may invite existing Lenders, any Affiliate of any Lender and/or any Approved Fund, and/or any other Eligible Assignee reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to provide an Incremental Loan Commitment (any such Person, an “Incremental Lender”); provided that both the Swing Loan Lender and the Issuing Lender shall consent to each Incremental Lender providing any portion of an Incremental Loan Commitment (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). Any proposed Incremental Lender offered or approached to provide all or a portion of any Incremental Loan Commitment may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Incremental Loan Commitment. Any Incremental Loan Commitment shall become effective as of such Increased Amount Date; provided that:

 

 

(i)     no Potential Default or Event of Default shall exist on such Increased Amount Date before or after giving effect to (a) any Incremental Loan Commitment, (b) the making of any Incremental Loans pursuant thereto on the applicable Increased Amount Date and (c) any Permitted Acquisition consummated in connection therewith;

 

(ii)     the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received from the Borrower a Compliance Certificate demonstrating, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that the Borrower is in compliance with the Maximum Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio based on the financial statements most recently delivered pursuant to Section 8.1 both before and after giving effect (on a pro-forma basis) to (a) any Incremental Loan Commitment, (b) the making of any Incremental Loans pursuant thereto on the applicable Increased Amount Date and (c) any Permitted Acquisition consummated in connection therewith;

 

(iii)     each of the representations and warranties contained in Article 7 shall be true and correct in all material respects, except to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to a Material Adverse Change, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true, correct and complete in all respects, on such Increased Amount Date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date (except for any such representation and warranty that by its terms is made only as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and correct as of such earlier date);

 

(iv)     the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered any customary legal opinions or other documents (including, without limitation, a resolution duly adopted by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of each Loan Party authorizing such Incremental Loan Commitments and Incremental Loans) reasonably requested by Administrative Agent in connection with any such transaction; and

 

(v)     each proposed Incremental Lender shall join this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to a Lender Joinder Agreement.

 

(b)     Each Incremental Loan Commitment (and Incremental Loan) shall (i) constitute Obligations of the Borrower and, to the extent the other Obligations are guaranteed, shall be guaranteed with the other Obligations on a pari passu basis, and (ii) be part of the Revolving Credit Facility, shall mature on the Expiration Date, shall bear interest and be entitled to fees, in each case at the rate applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility, and shall otherwise be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

(c)     Unless otherwise agreed by the applicable Incremental Lenders (provided that no such agreement shall allow the Incremental Loan Commitments to be terminated prior to termination of the existing Revolving Credit Commitments), each Incremental Loan shall receive proceeds of prepayments on the same basis as the existing Revolving Credit Loans (such prepayments to be shared pro rata on the basis of the original aggregate funded amount thereof).

 

 

(d)     The outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Ratable Shares of Swing Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations will be reallocated by the Administrative Agent on the applicable Increased Amount Date among the Lenders to the Revolving Credit Facility (including the Incremental Lenders providing Incremental Loan Commitments) in accordance with their revised Ratable Shares (and the Lenders to the Revolving Credit Facility (including the Incremental Lenders providing Incremental Loan Commitments) agree to make all payments and adjustments necessary to effect such reallocation and the Borrower shall pay any and all costs required pursuant to Section 5.10 in connection with such reallocation as if such reallocation were a repayment).

 

(e)     Incremental Loan Commitments may be effected pursuant to such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.10, without the consent of any other Lenders.

 

(f)     The Incremental Lenders shall be included in any determination of the Required Lenders and, unless otherwise agreed, the Incremental Lenders will not constitute a separate voting class for any purposes under this Agreement.

 

(g)     On each Increased Amount Date, subject to the foregoing terms and conditions, each Incremental Lender with an Incremental Loan Commitment shall become a Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility hereunder with respect to such Incremental Loan Commitment.

 

Article 3
[Intentionally omitted]

 

Article 4
INTEREST RATES

 

4.1     Interest Rate Options. The Borrower shall pay interest in respect of the outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Loans as selected by it from the Base Rate Option or LIBOR Rate Option specified below applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans or the Swing Loans, respectively, it being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may select different Interest Rate Options and different Interest Periods to apply simultaneously to the Loans comprising different Borrowing Tranches and may convert to or renew one or more Interest Rate Options with respect to all or any portion of the Loans comprising any Borrowing Tranche; provided that there shall not be at any one time outstanding more than ten (10) Borrowing Tranches of Revolving Credit Loans; provided further that if an Event of Default or Potential Default exists and is continuing, the Borrower may not request, convert to, or renew the LIBOR Rate Option for any Loans and the Required Lenders may demand that all existing Borrowing Tranches bearing interest under the LIBOR Rate Option shall be converted (i) if an Event of Default exists and is continuing, immediately to the Base Rate Option, subject to the obligation of the Borrower to pay any indemnity under Section 5.10 [Indemnity] in connection with such conversion or (ii) if a Potential Default exists and is continuing, at the end of the applicable Interest Period. If at any time the designated rate applicable to any Loan made by any Lender exceeds such Lender’s highest lawful rate, the rate of interest on such Lender’s Loan shall be limited to such Lender’s highest lawful rate.

 

 

(a)     Revolving Credit Interest Rate Options. The Borrower shall have the right to select from the following Interest Rate Options applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans:

 

(i)     Revolving Credit Base Rate Option: A fluctuating rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed) equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time effective as of the effective date of each change in the Base Rate; or

 

(ii)     Revolving Credit LIBOR Rate Option: A rate per annum (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) equal to the LIBOR Rate as determined for each applicable Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin for LIBOR Rate Loans.

 

(b)     Swing Loan Interest Rate. Only the Base Rate Option applicable to Revolving Credit Loans shall apply to the Swing Loans.

 

(c)     Rate Quotations. The Borrower may call the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which a Loan Request is to be delivered to receive an indication of the rates then in effect, but it is acknowledged that such projection shall not be binding on the Administrative Agent or the Lenders nor affect the rate of interest which thereafter is actually in effect when the election is made.

 

4.2     Interest Periods. At any time when the Borrower shall select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such LIBOR Rate Option by delivering a Loan Request. The notice shall specify an Interest Period during which such Interest Rate Option shall apply. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the following provisions shall apply to any selection of, renewal of, or conversion to a LIBOR Rate Option:

 

(a)     Amount of Borrowing Tranche. Each Borrowing Tranche of Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option shall be in integral multiples of, and not less than, the respective amounts specified in Section 2.5(a) [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Conversions and Renewals]; and

 

(b)     Renewals. In the case of the renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option at the end of an Interest Period, the first day of the new Interest Period shall be the last day of the preceding Interest Period, without duplication in payment of interest for such day.

 

4.3     Interest After Default. To the extent permitted by Law, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and until such time such Event of Default shall have been waived, at the discretion of the Administrative Agent or upon written demand by the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent:

 

 

(a)     Letter of Credit Fees, Interest Rate. The Letter of Credit Fees and the rate of interest for each Loan otherwise applicable pursuant to Section 2.8(b) [Letter of Credit Fees] or Section 4.1 [Interest Rate Options], respectively, shall be increased by 2.0% per annum;

 

(b)     Other Obligations. Each other Obligation hereunder if not paid when due shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the rate of interest applicable to Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option plus an additional 2.0% per annum from the time such Obligation becomes due and payable until the time such Obligation is paid in full; and

 

(c)     Acknowledgment. The Borrower acknowledges that the increase in rates referred to in this Section 4.3 reflects, among other things, the fact that such Loans or other amounts have become a substantially greater risk given their default status and that the Lenders are entitled to additional compensation for such risk; and all such interest shall be payable by Borrower upon demand by the Administrative Agent.

 

4.4     LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available.

 

(a)     Unascertainable. If on any date on which a LIBOR Rate would otherwise be determined, the Administrative Agent shall have determined that:

 

(i)     adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining such LIBOR Rate, or

 

(ii)     a contingency has occurred which materially and adversely affects the London interbank eurodollar market relating to the LIBOR Rate,

 

then the Administrative Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4(c) [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights].

 

(b)     Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available. If at any time:

 

(i)     any Lender shall have determined that the making, maintenance or funding of any Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies has been made impracticable or unlawful by compliance by such Lender in good faith with any Law or any interpretation or application thereof by any Official Body or with any request or directive of any such Official Body (whether or not having the force of Law), or

 

(ii)     the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that such LIBOR Rate Option will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of the establishment or maintenance of any such Loan, or

 

(iii)     any Lender shall have determined that after making all reasonable efforts, deposits of the relevant amount in Dollars for the relevant Interest Period for a Loan, or to banks generally, to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, respectively, are not available to such Lender with respect to such Loan, or to banks generally, in the interbank eurodollar market,

 

 

then the Administrative Agent shall have the rights specified in Section 4.4(c) [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights].

 

(c)     Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights. In the case of any event specified in Section 4.4(a) [Unascertainable] above, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Lenders and the Borrower thereof, and in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4(b) [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available] above, such Lender or Required Lenders (in the case of clause (ii) of Section 4.4(b) [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available]) shall promptly so notify the Administrative Agent and endorse a certificate to such notice as to the specific circumstances of such notice, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly send copies of such notice and certificate to the other Lenders and the Borrower. Upon such date as shall be specified in such notice (which shall not be earlier than the date such notice is given), the obligation of (A) the Lenders, in the case of such notice given by the Administrative Agent, or (B) (i) such Lender, in the case of such notice given by such Lender pursuant to clause (i) or (iii) of Section 4.4(b) [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available] or (ii) such Lenders, in the case of such notice given by the Required Lenders pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 4.4(b) [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], to allow the Borrower to select, convert to or renew a LIBOR Rate Option shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall have later notified the Borrower, or such Lender (or Lenders, as applicable) shall have later notified the Administrative Agent, of the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s (or Lenders’, as applicable), as the case may be, determination that the circumstances giving rise to such previous determination no longer exist. If at any time the Administrative Agent makes a determination under Section 4.4(a) [Unascertainable] and the Borrower has previously notified the Administrative Agent of its selection of, conversion to or renewal of a LIBOR Rate Option and such Interest Rate Option has not yet gone into effect, such notification shall be deemed to provide for selection of, conversion to or renewal of the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loans. If any Lender notifies the Administrative Agent of a determination under clause (i) of Section 4.4(b) [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], the Borrower shall, subject to the Borrower’s indemnification Obligations under Section 5.10 [Indemnity], as to any Loan of the Lender to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies, on the date specified in such notice either convert such Loan to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loan or prepay such Loan in accordance with Section 5.2 [Voluntary Prepayments] and absent due notice from the Borrower of conversion or prepayment, such Loan shall automatically be converted to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loan upon such specified date. If any Lender (or the Required Lenders, in the case of a notice delivered pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 4.4(b) [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available]) notifies the Administrative Agent of a determination pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 4.4(b) [Illegality; Increased Costs; Deposits Not Available], any Loan of the applicable Lender (or Lenders) to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies shall, absent prior due notice from the Borrower of conversion or prepayment, at the end of the applicable Interest Period immediately be converted to the Base Rate Option otherwise available with respect to such Loan.

 

 

4.5     Selection of Interest Rate Options. If the Borrower fails to select a new Interest Period to apply to any Borrowing Tranche of Loans under the LIBOR Rate Option at the expiration of an existing Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing Tranche in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2 [Interest Periods], the Borrower shall be deemed to have converted such Borrowing Tranche to the Base Rate Option, as applicable to Revolving Credit Loans, commencing upon the last day of the existing Interest Period. If the Borrower provides any Loan Request related to a Loan at the LIBOR Rate Option but fails to identify an Interest Period therefor, such Loan Request shall be deemed to request an Interest Period of one month. Any Loan Request that fails to select an Interest Rate Option shall be deemed to be a request for the Base Rate Option.

 

4.6     Successor LIBOR Rate Index

 

(a)     If the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be final and conclusive, absent manifest error) that either (i) (A) the circumstances set forth in Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable, Etc.] have arisen and are unlikely to be temporary, or (B) the circumstances set forth in Section 4.4 have not arisen but the applicable supervisor or administrator (if any) of the LIBOR Rate or an Official Body having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying the specific date after which the LIBOR Rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans (either such date, a “LIBOR Termination Date”), or (ii) a rate other than the LIBOR Rate has become a widely recognized benchmark rate for newly originated loans in Dollars in the U.S. market, then the Administrative Agent may (in consultation with the Borrower) choose a replacement index for the LIBOR Rate and make adjustments to applicable margins and related amendments to this Agreement as referred to below such that, to the extent practicable, the all-in interest rate based on the replacement index will be substantially equivalent to the all-in LIBOR Rate-based interest rate in effect prior to its replacement.

 

(b)     The Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect, as determined in accordance with the preceding clause (a) of this Section, the replacement index, the adjusted margins and such other related amendments as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Borrower), for the implementation and administration of the replacement index-based rate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, Section 12.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers], such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement at 5:00 p.m. on the tenth (10^th) Business Day after the date a draft of the amendment is provided to the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent receives, on or before such tenth (10^th) Business Day, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that such Lenders object to such amendment.

 

(c)     Selection of the replacement index, adjustments to the applicable margins, and amendments to this Agreement (i) will be determined with due consideration to the then-current market practices for determining and implementing a rate of interest for newly originated loans in the United States and loans converted from a LIBOR Rate-based rate to a replacement index-based rate, and (ii) may also reflect adjustments to account for (x) the effects of the transition from the LIBOR Rate to the replacement index and (y) yield- or risk-based differences between the LIBOR Rate and the replacement index.

 

 

(d)     Until an amendment reflecting a new replacement index in accordance with this Section 4.6 is effective, each advance, conversion and renewal of a Loan under the LIBOR Rate Option will continue to bear interest with reference to the LIBOR Rate; provided however, that if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be final and conclusive, absent manifest error) that a LIBOR Termination Date has occurred, then following the LIBOR Termination Date, all Loans as to which the LIBOR Rate Option would otherwise apply shall automatically be converted to the Base Rate Option until such time as an amendment reflecting a replacement index and related matters as described above is implemented.

 

(e)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time the replacement index is less than zero, at such times, such index shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Article 5
PAYMENTS; Taxes; Yield maintenance

 

5.1     Payments. All payments and prepayments to be made in respect of principal, interest, Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit Fees, Administrative Agent’s Fee or other fees or amounts due from the Borrower hereunder shall be payable prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date when due without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, and without set-off, counterclaim or other deduction of any nature, and an action therefor shall immediately accrue. Such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Principal Office for the account of the Swing Loan Lender with respect to the Swing Loans and for the ratable accounts of the Lenders with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans in U.S. Dollars and in immediately available funds, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute such amounts to the Lenders in immediately available funds; provided that in the event payments are received by 2:00 p.m. by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Loans and such payments are not distributed to the Lenders on the same day received by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall pay the Lenders interest at the Federal Funds Effective Rate with respect to the amount of such payments for each day held by the Administrative Agent and not distributed to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent’s and each Lender’s statement of account, ledger or other relevant record shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive as the statement of the amount of principal of and interest on the Loans and other amounts owing under this Agreement.

 

5.2     Voluntary Prepayments.

 

(a)     Right to Prepay. The Borrower shall have the right at its option from time to time to prepay the Loans in whole or part without premium or penalty (except as provided in Section 5.13 [Replacement of a Lender] below, in Section 5.8 [Increased Costs] and Section 5.10 [Indemnity]). Whenever the Borrower desires to prepay any part of the Loans, it shall provide a prepayment notice to the Administrative Agent (A) in the case of Revolving Credit Loans that bear interest at the Base Rate Option, not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of prepayment, (B) in the case of Revolving Credit Loans that bear interest at the LIBOR Rate Option, not later than 1:00 p.m. at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of prepayment or (C) in the case of Swing Loans, not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of prepayment, setting forth the following information:

 

(i)     the date, which shall be a Business Day, on which the proposed prepayment is to be made;

 

 

(ii)     a statement indicating the application of the prepayment between the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans;

 

(iii)     a statement indicating the application of the prepayment between Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies and Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies; and

 

(iv)     the total principal amount of such prepayment, which shall not be less than the lesser of (i) the Revolving Facility Usage or (ii) $1,000,000.00 for any Swing Loan or $1,000,000.00 for any Revolving Credit Loan.

 

All prepayment notices shall be irrevocable; provided that (A) if a notice of voluntary prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.4 [Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments], then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.4 [Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments] and (B) a notice of prepayment pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 5.2 may state that such notice is conditioned upon the occurrence of one or more events specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified date of prepayment) if such condition is not satisfied. The principal amount of the Loans for which a prepayment notice is given, together with interest on such principal amount, shall be due and payable on the date specified in such prepayment notice as the date on which the proposed prepayment is to be made. Except as provided in Section 4.4(c) [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights], if the Borrower prepays a Loan but fails to specify the applicable Borrowing Tranche which the Borrower is prepaying, the prepayment shall be applied first to Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies, then to Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies. Any prepayment hereunder shall be subject to the Borrower’s Obligation to indemnify the Lenders under Section 5.10 [Indemnity].

 

5.3     [Intentionally Omitted].

 

5.4     Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders. Each borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans shall be allocated to each Lender according to its Ratable Share, and each selection of, conversion to or renewal of any Interest Rate Option and each payment or prepayment by the Borrower with respect to principal, interest, Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit Fees (but excluding the Administrative Agent’s Fee and the Issuing Lender’s fronting fee) shall (except as otherwise may be provided with respect to a Defaulting Lender and except as provided in Sections 4.4(c) [Administrative Agent’s and Lender’s Rights] in the case of an event specified in Section 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Etc.], 5.9 [Taxes], 5.13 [Replacement of a Lender] or 5.8 [Increased Costs]) be payable ratably among the Lenders entitled to such payment in accordance with the amount of principal, interest, Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit Fees, as specified in this Agreement. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, each borrowing or payment or prepayment by the Borrower of principal, interest, fees or other amounts from the Borrower with respect to Swing Loans shall be made by or to the Swing Loan Lender according to Section 2.6.(e) [Borrowings to Repay Swing Loans].

 

 

5.5     Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff, counterclaim or banker’s lien, by receipt of voluntary payment, by realization upon security, or by any other non-pro rata source, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations greater than the pro-rata share of the amount such Lender is entitled thereto, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations 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, together with interest or other amounts, if any, required by Law (including court order) to be paid by the Lender or the holder making such purchase; and

 

(ii)     the provisions of this Section 5.5 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Loan Parties pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of the Loan Documents or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or Participation Advances to any assignee or participant.

 

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

 

5.6     Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Lender, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

 

5.7     Interest Payment Dates. Interest on Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies shall be due and payable in arrears on each Payment Date. Interest on Loans to which the LIBOR Rate Option applies shall be due and payable on the last day of each Interest Period for those Loans and, if such Interest Period is longer than three (3) Months, also on the 90th day of such Interest Period. Interest on the principal amount of each Loan or other monetary Obligation shall be due and payable on demand after such principal amount or other monetary Obligation becomes due and payable (whether on the stated Expiration Date, upon acceleration or otherwise).

 

5.8     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 (except any reserve requirement reflected in the LIBOR Rate) or the Issuing Lender;

 

(ii)     subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes and (B) Excluded 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, the Issuing Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

 

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

 

 

(b)     Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the Issuing Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the Issuing Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the Issuing 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 or the Issuing Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Lender or such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Lender or such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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

 

(d)     Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing 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 nine (9) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

5.9     Taxes.

 

(a)     Issuing Lender. For purposes of this Section 5.9, the term “Lender” includes the Issuing Lender and the term “applicable Law” includes FATCA.

 

(b)     Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Law. If any applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Official Body in accordance with applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 5.9) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

 

(c)     Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Official Body in accordance with applicable Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

 

(d)     Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 5.9) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Official Body. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(e)     Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of any of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 12.8(a) [Successors and Assigns Generally] relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register, and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Official Body. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 5.9(e).

 

(f)     Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to an Official Body pursuant to this Section 5.9, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Official Body evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(g)     Status of Lenders.

 

(i)     Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation specified in Section 5.9.(g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(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 originals of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN if 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 if 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;

 

(II)     executed originals 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 G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN if applicable); or

 

 

(IV)     to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN if applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-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 G-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

(h)     Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 5.9 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.9), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 5.9 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Official Body with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party incurred in connection with obtaining such refund, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 5.9(h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Official Body) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Official Body. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.9(h)), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 5.9(h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

(i)     Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 5.9 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations.

 

5.10     Indemnity. In addition to the compensation or payments required by Section 5.8 [Increased Costs] or Section 5.9 [Taxes], the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against all liabilities, losses or expenses (including loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan, from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained) which such Lender sustains or incurs as a consequence of any:

 

(i)     payment, prepayment, conversion or renewal of any Loan to which a LIBOR Rate Option applies on a day other than the last day of the corresponding Interest Period (whether or not such payment or prepayment is mandatory, voluntary or automatic and whether or not such payment or prepayment is then due); or

 

(ii)     attempt by the Borrower to revoke (expressly, by later inconsistent notices or otherwise) in whole or part any Loan Requests under Section 2.5 [Revolving Credit Loan Requests; Conversions and Renewals; Swing Loan Requests] or Section 4.2 [Interest Periods] or notice relating to prepayments under Section 5.2 [Voluntary Prepayments] or failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Loan under the Base Rate Option on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower, or

 

 

(iii)     any assignment of a Loan under the LIBOR Rate Option on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.13 [Replacement of a Lender].

 

If any Lender sustains or incurs any such loss or expense, it shall from time to time notify the Borrower of the amount determined in good faith by such Lender (which determination may include such assumptions, allocations of costs and expenses and averaging or attribution methods as such Lender shall deem reasonable) to be necessary to indemnify such Lender for such loss or expense. Such notice shall specified in reasonable detail the basis for such determination. Such amount shall be due and payable by the Borrower to such Lender ten (10) Business Days after such notice is given.

 

5.11     Settlement Date Procedures. In order to minimize the transfer of funds between the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Swing Loans and the Swing Loan Lender may make Swing Loans as provided in Section 2.1(b) [Swing Loan Commitments] hereof during any period between Settlement Dates. On each Settlement Date, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of its Ratable Share of outstanding Swing Loans (each, a “Required Share”), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Required Share, and the Administrative Agent shall pay to each Lender its Ratable Share of all payments made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent with respect to Swing Loans. A Settlement Date shall occur on each proposed Borrowing Date (other than for a Swing Loan) if a Swing Loan is outstanding on such date, and on any date of any mandatory prepayment of Obligations if a Swing Loan is outstanding on such date, and may occur on any other Business Day that a Swing Loan is outstanding. The settlement procedures described in this Section 5.11 are established solely as a matter of administrative convenience, and nothing contained in this Section 5.11 shall relieve the Lenders of their obligations to fund a Swing Loan on a date other than a Settlement Date pursuant to Section 2.1(b) [Swing Loan Commitment]. The Administrative Agent may at any time at its option for any reason whatsoever require each Lender to pay immediately to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Required Share and each Lender may at any time require the Administrative Agent to pay immediately to such Lender its Ratable Share of all payments made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent with respect to Swing Loans.

 

5.12     Cash Collateral. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the Issuing Lender’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 2.9(a)(iv) [Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure] and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount.

 

(a)     Grant of Security Interest. The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Lender, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such Cash Collateral as security for the Defaulting Lenders’ obligation to fund participations in respect of Letter of Credit Obligations, to be applied pursuant to clause (b) below. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender as herein provided (other than Permitted Liens), or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (after giving effect to any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

 

 

(b)     Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 5.12 or Section 2.9 [Defaulting Lender] in respect of Letters of Credit shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of Letter of Credit Obligations (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

 

(c)     Termination of Requirement. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce the Issuing Lender’s Fronting Exposure shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 5.12 following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender), or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided that, subject to Section 2.9 [Default Lenders] the Person providing Cash Collateral and the Issuing Lender may agree that Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations and provided further that to the extent that such Cash Collateral was provided by the Borrower, such Cash Collateral shall remain subject to the security interest granted pursuant to Section 5.12(a) above.

 

5.13     Replacement of a Lender. If (i) any Lender (or any Participant in respect of any Lender) requests compensation under Section 5.8 [Increased Costs], (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender (or any Participant in respect of any Lender) or any Official Body for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], or (iii) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 12.8 [Successors and Assigns]), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 5.8 [Increased Cost] or Section 5.9 [Taxes]) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

 

(i)     the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 12.8 [Successors and Assigns];

 

(ii)     such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in Letter of Credit Borrowings, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 5.10 [Indemnity]) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

 

(iii)     in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 5.8 [Increased Costs] or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

 

(iv)     such assignment does not conflict with applicable law; and

 

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

 

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

 

5.14     Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.8 [Increased Costs], or the Borrower is or will be required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Official Body for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.9 [Taxes], then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign and delegate its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 5.8 [Increased Costs] or Section 5.9 [Taxes], as the case may be, in the future, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

Article 6
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

 

6.1     Existence, Qualification and Power. The Borrower (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

 

6.2     Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document to which the Borrower is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of the Borrower’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any material Contractual Obligation to which the Borrower is a party or affecting the Borrower or the properties of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Official Body or any arbitral award to which the Borrower or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

 

6.3     Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Official Body or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document other than approvals, consents, exemptions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained or made.

 

6.4     Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms subject to all applicable bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of the rights and remedies of creditors and parties to contracts generally and subject to all general principles of equity.

 

6.5     Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change.

 

(a)     The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

(b)     The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated November 30, 2018, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments. Schedule 6.5 sets forth all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries not included in such financial statements, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

 

(c)     Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

6.6     Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the actual knowledge of the Borrower, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Official Body, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

6.7     No Default. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that would, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. No Potential Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

6.8     Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. The property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

 

6.9     Environmental Compliance. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have no knowledge of the failure by any of them to comply with the requirements of any Environmental Laws except to the extent such failure would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change and have not received any written claim alleging potential liability or responsibility for any violation of any Environmental Law.

 

6.10     Insurance. The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies that are not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

 

6.11     Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed or caused to be filed all material Tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all material Taxes due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed Tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any Tax sharing agreement.

 

 

6.12     ERISA Compliance.

 

(a)     Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable federal or state laws. Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter or opinion letter from the IRS to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status. The Borrower does not and has not contributed to any Multiemployer Plan or any Multiple Employer Plan.

 

(b)     There are no pending or, to the actual knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Official Body, with respect to any Plan that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

(c)     (i) No ERISA Event has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan, and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained with respect to any Pension Plan; (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan; (vii) no ERISA Event has occurred with respect to the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; and (viii) there has not been a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan.

 

(d)     Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan other than (i) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 6.12(d) hereto and (ii) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.

 

 

6.13     Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 6.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Borrower free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. The Borrower has no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 6.13. All of the outstanding Equity Interests (other than performance based options or similar options) in the Borrower have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, as applicable.

 

6.14     Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

(a)     The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. No part of the proceeds of any Loan has been or will be used, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or which is inconsistent with the provisions of the regulations of the FRB. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower holds or intends to hold margin stock in such amounts that more than 25% of the reasonable value of the assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower are or will be represented by margin stock.

 

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

 

6.15     Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, as of the Closing Date, and all other matters known to it as of the Closing Date, that, in each case, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and each Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

6.16     Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change .

 

 

6.17     Taxpayer Identification Number. The Borrower’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 1.1(B).

 

6.18     Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without any known conflict with the rights of any other Person except as may be determined in connection with the litigation described on Schedule 6.18 hereto. To the actual knowledge of the Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except as may be determined in connection with the litigation described on Schedule 6.18 hereto.

 

6.19     Anti-Terrorism; Anti-Corruption. (i) No Covered Entity or any Covered Entity Director or Executive Officer is a Sanctioned Person, (ii) no Covered Entity or, to the actual knowledge of the Borrower, any Covered Entity Director or Executive Officer, either in its own right or through any third party, (a) has any of its assets in a Sanctioned Country or in the possession, custody or control of a Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law, (b) does business in or with, or to the Borrower’s knowledge derives any of its income from, investments in or transactions with, any Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law; or (c) engages in any dealings or transactions prohibited by any Anti-Terrorism Law, (iii) the Borrower has in effect a Code of Conduct designed to promote compliance by the Covered Entities and the Covered Entity Directors and Executive Officers with Anti-Terrorism Laws and applicable Sanctions and, in all material respects, with Anti-Corruption Laws, and (iv) the Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower and, to the actual knowledge of the Borrower, each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, are in compliance in all material respects with Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

6.20     [Reserved].

 

6.21     Solvency. On the Closing Date and after giving effect to any Loans hereunder made on the Closing Date, the Borrower is Solvent.

 

6.22     EEA Financial Institution. No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

6.23     Beneficial Ownership Exemption. The Borrower is an entity registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, as such, is exempt from the “legal entity customer” definition under 31 C.F.R. §1010.230(e)(2) with respect to beneficial ownership certification.

 

 

Article 7
CONDITIONS OF LENDING AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

The obligation of each Lender to make Loans and of the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder is subject to the performance by each of the Loan Parties of its Obligations to be performed hereunder at or prior to the making of any such Loans or issuance of such Letters of Credit and to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:

 

7.1     Initial Loans and Letters of Credit.

 

(a)     Deliveries. On the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

(i)     A certificate of the Borrower signed by a Responsible Officer, dated the Closing Date stating (x) as to the accuracy of representations and warranties hereunder, (y) the absence of an Event of Default or Potential Default hereunder, and (z) no Material Adverse Change has occurred since the date of the Audited Financial Statements;

 

(ii)     A certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, certifying as appropriate as to: (a) all action taken by the Borrower to validly authorize, duly execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and attaching copies of such resolutions or other corporate or organizational action; (b) the names, authority and capacity of the Responsible Officers authorized to sign the Loan Documents and their true signatures; and (c) copies of its organizational documents as in effect on the Closing Date, to the extent applicable, certified as of a sufficiently recent date prior to the Closing Date by the appropriate state official where such documents are filed in a state office together with certificates from the appropriate state officials as to due organization and the continued valid existence, good standing and qualification to engage in its business of the Borrower in the state of its organization and in the state where its corporate headquarters is located;

 

(iii)     This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents duly executed by the parties thereto;

 

(iv)     Customary written legal opinion(s) of counsel for the Borrower, dated the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(v)     An executed Compliance Certificate for the Borrower setting forth pro-forma compliance with the financial covenants set forth herein as of the Closing Date;

 

(vi)     Evidence that all Indebtedness not permitted under Section 9.3 [Indebtedness] shall have been paid in full and that all necessary termination statements, release statements and other releases in connection with all Liens (other than Permitted Liens) have been filed or satisfactory arrangements have been made for such filing (including payoff letters, if applicable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent);

 

(vii)     Lien searches in acceptable scope and with acceptable results;

 

 

(viii)     Delivery of an updated organizational chart for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

(ix)     Absence of a Material Adverse Change since August 31, 2018; and

 

(x)     At least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable "know-your-customer" and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act, to the extent requested at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b)     Payment of Fees. The Borrower shall have paid all fees and expenses payable on or before the Closing Date as required by this Agreement, the Administrative Agent’s Letter or any other Loan Document.

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 11.3 [Exculpatory Provisions], for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 7.1, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

7.2     Each Loan or Letter of Credit. At the time of making any Loans or issuing, extending or increasing any Letters of Credit and after giving effect to the proposed extensions of credit: (i) the representations, warranties of the Loan Parties shall then be true and correct in all material respects (unless qualified by materiality or reference to the absence of a Material Adverse Change, in which event shall be true and correct), except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 7.2, the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.5 [Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change] shall be deemed to refer to the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 8.1 [Financial Statements], (ii) no Event of Default or Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from such Loan or Letter of Credit or the application of the proceeds thereof, and (iii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a duly executed and completed Loan Request or to the Issuing Lender an application for a Letter of Credit, as the case may be. Each Loan Request and Letter of Credit application shall be deemed to be a representation that the conditions specified in Section 7.1 [Initial Loans and Letters of Credit] and this Section 7.2 have been satisfied on or prior to the date thereof.

 

Article 8
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Until the Facility Termination Date, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3) cause each Subsidiary to:

 

 

8.1     Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to each Lender), in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)     as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, 15 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; and

 

(b)     as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, 5 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

(c)     As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 8.2(d), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) or (b) above at the times specified therein.

 

8.2     Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to each Lender), in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)     concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 8.1(a), a certificate of its independent certified public accountants certifying such financial statements and stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Potential Default under the financial covenants set forth herein or, if any such Potential Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such event;

 

(b)     concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 8.1(a) and (b) a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may be by electronic communication including fax or e-mail and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

 

(c)     promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

 

(d)     promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other material report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant hereto;

 

(e)     promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 8.1 or any other clause of this Section 8.2;

 

(f)     promptly, and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after receipt thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof;

 

(g)     promptly, and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the consummation thereof, notice of the consummation of a Permitted Acquisition setting forth a description thereof;

 

(h)     promptly and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of a written request therefor, such information and documentation pertaining to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower as may reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender from time to time for purposes of compliance by the Administrative Agent and such Lender with applicable laws relating to the making or maintaining of the Loans and/or any Letter of Credit (including without limitation the USA Patriot Act and other “know your customer”, “beneficial ownership” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations), and any policy or procedure implemented by the Administrative Agent or such Lender that is reasonably required in order to comply therewith; and

 

(i)     promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent (or the Lenders through the Administrative Agent) may from time to time reasonably request.

 

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or (b) or Section 8.2(d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the internet at the website address listed on Schedule 1.1(B); or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an internet or intranet website, if any, to which the Administrative Agent has access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (A) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent upon its written request to the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent and (B) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by fax transmission or e-mail transmission) of the posting of any such documents and, upon the Administrative Agent’s request to the Borrower, provide to the Administrative Agent by e-mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.

 

8.3     Notices. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent (for distribution to each Lender):

 

(a)     of the occurrence of any Potential Default;

 

(b)     of any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, including to the extent that the occurrence of any of the following has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Official Body; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

 

(c)     of the occurrence of any ERISA Event; and

 

(d)     of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 8.3 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 8.3(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

8.4     Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace or cure periods), all its obligations and liabilities including (a) all material Tax liabilities; (b) all lawful claims; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness, in each case except (i) where the obligations and liabilities are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP, or (ii) where the failure to pay and discharge would not result in the attachment of a Lien (other than any Permitted Lien) on its properties or assets as a matter of law or contract.

 

 

8.5     Preservation of Existence, Etc.

 

(a)     Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 9.4 [Fundamental Changes] or 9.5 [Dispositions];

 

(b)     take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or, in the Borrower’s reasonable business judgment, desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and

 

(c)     preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

8.6     Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

8.7     Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies that are not Affiliates of the Borrower, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business in the same localities, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

 

8.8     Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

8.9     Books and Records. (a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Official Body having regulatory jurisdiction over the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

 

8.10     Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance written notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that: (a) unless there shall have occurred an Event of Default which is continuing, (i) only the Administrative Agent (including its representatives and independent contractors), acting individually or on behalf of the Lenders, shall be permitted to exercise any of the foregoing rights (provided that if the Administrative Agent exercises such rights, any Lender may conduct an examination contemporaneously with the investigation performed by the Administrative Agent) and (ii) such rights may not be exercised more than one time during any twelve (12) month period and (b) when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent and each Lender or any of their representatives or independent contractors may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

8.11     Use of Proceeds. Use the Letters of Credit and the proceeds of the Loans for Permitted Acquisitions and general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

8.12     Sanctions and other Anti-Terrorism Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

(a)     No Covered Entity or any Covered Entity Director or Executive Officer will become a Sanctioned Person, (b) no Covered Entity or, to the actual knowledge of the Borrower, any Covered Entity Director or Executive Officer, either in its own right or through any third party, will (i) have any of its assets in a Sanctioned Country or in the possession, custody or control of a Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law; (ii) do business in or with, or derive any of its income from investments in or transactions with, any Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law, or (iii) engage in any dealings or transactions prohibited by any Anti-Terrorism Law, (c) the Borrower shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing upon (i) the occurrence of a Reportable Compliance Event with respect to any Covered Entity and (ii) the occurrence of a Reportable Compliance Event as to which it has actual knowledge with respect to any Covered Entity Director or Executive Officer, and (d) no Covered Entity or, to the actual knowledge of the Borrower, any Covered Entity Director or Executive Officer, employee or agent of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, shall engage in any material dealings or transactions prohibited by any Anti-Corruption Law.

 

8.13     [Reserved].

 

8.14     Keepwell. Each Qualified ECP Loan Party jointly and severally (together with each other Qualified ECP Loan Party) hereby absolutely unconditionally and irrevocably (a) guarantees the prompt payment and performance of all Swap Obligations owing by each Non-Qualifying Party (it being understood and agreed that this guarantee is a guaranty of payment and not of collection), and (b) undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by any Non-Qualifying Party to honor all of such Non-Qualifying Party’s obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in respect of Swap Obligations (subject to the limitations on its Guarantee under its Subsidiary Guaranty and provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Loan Party shall only be liable under this Section 8.14 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 8.14, or otherwise under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, voidable under applicable law, including applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Loan Party under this Section 8.14 shall remain in full force and effect until the Facility Termination Date. Each Qualified ECP Loan Party intends that this Section 8.14 constitute, and this Section 8.14 shall be deemed to constitute, a guarantee of the obligations of, and a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the CEA.

 

 

8.15     Subsidiary Guarantors. Cause each of its Subsidiaries that guarantees or otherwise becomes liable at any time, whether as a borrower or an additional or co-borrower or otherwise, for or in respect of any Indebtedness under any Material Credit Facility to concurrently therewith:

 

(a)     enter into an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent providing for the guaranty by such Subsidiary, on a joint and several basis with all other such Subsidiaries, of (i) the prompt payment in full when due of all Obligations, including, without limitation, all principal, interest, indemnities, fees and expenses payable by the Borrower hereunder or thereunder and (ii) the prompt, full and faithful performance, observance and discharge by the Borrower of each and every covenant, agreement, undertaking and provision required pursuant to this Agreement to be performed, observed or discharged by it (a “Subsidiary Guaranty”); and

 

(b)     deliver the following to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)     an executed counterpart of such Subsidiary Guaranty or, if a Subsidiary Guaranty is already existing after the Closing Date, a Subsidiary Guaranty Joinder to such existing Subsidiary Guaranty, and an executed counterpart to this Agreement;

 

(ii)     a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of such Subsidiary containing representations and warranties on behalf of such Subsidiary to the same effect, mutatis mutandis, as those contained in this Agreement (but with respect to such Subsidiary and such Subsidiary Guaranty rather than the Borrower) (except the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 6.5 [Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change] and 6.17 [Taxpayer Identification Number]);

 

(iii)     all documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to evidence the due organization, continuing existence and good standing of such Subsidiary and the due authorization by all requisite action on the part of such Subsidiary of the execution and delivery of such Subsidiary Guaranty and the performance by such Subsidiary of its obligations thereunder; and

 

(iv)     an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent covering such matters relating to such Subsidiary and such Subsidiary Guaranty as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

 

If, at any time, (A) pursuant to the terms and conditions of each Material Credit Facility, any Subsidiary that has provided a Subsidiary Guaranty is discharged and released from its Guarantee or borrower obligations, or both, as applicable, with respect to Indebtedness under each Material Credit Facility, (B) such Subsidiary is not a borrower under or otherwise liable for or in respect of any Indebtedness under any Material Credit Facility and (C) the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that (x) the conditions specified in clauses (A) and (B) above have been satisfied, (y) immediately preceding the release of such Subsidiary from the Subsidiary Guaranty and after giving effect thereto, no Potential Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, and (z) no amount is then due and payable under the Subsidiary Guaranty, then, upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of such certificate, such Subsidiary will be discharged and released, automatically and without the need for any further action, from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty and this Agreement.

 

Article 9
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Until the Facility Termination Date, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

 

9.1     Liens. 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:

 

(a)     Liens pursuant to any Loan Document and other Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the Lenders;

 

(b)     Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 9.1 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 9.3(b), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 9.3(b);

 

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

 

(d)     statutory Liens such as 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 which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

 

(e)     pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

 

 

(f)     deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), 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 (or appeal or other surety bonds relating to such judgments) not constituting an Event of Default under Section 10.1(h); and

 

(i)     Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.3(g); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition.

 

9.2     Investments. Make any Investments, except:

 

(a)     Investments held by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the form of cash, cash equivalents or short-term marketable securities;

 

(b)     advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $3,000,000.00 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(c)     (i) Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in their respective Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof, (ii) additional Investments by Subsidiaries of the Borrower in other Subsidiaries, (iii) Investments by Subsidiaries of the Borrower in the Borrower; provided that any portion of such Investments that are made as loans shall be evidenced, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, by a promissory note in form and on terms (including subordination terms) acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and (iv) so long as no Potential Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such Investment, additional Investments by the Borrower in its Subsidiaries;

 

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

 

(e)     Guarantees permitted by Section 9.3 [Indebtedness];

 

(f)     Permitted Acquisitions; and

 

(g)     Investments (including debt obligations) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business.

 

 

9.3     Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)     Indebtedness under (i) the Loan Documents or (ii) letter of credit arrangements, Cash Management Agreements, interest rate, currency, foreign exchange, or commodity Swap Contracts or any other agreement, in each case entered into between the Borrower and, at the time of the entry into such arrangement or agreement, a Lender or any Affiliates of a Lender, or thereafter, the applicable counterparty;

 

(b)     Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 9.3 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (ii) the terms relating to principal amount, amortization, maturity, collateral (if any) and subordination (if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness, and of any agreement entered into and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are consistent with then-prevailing market terms;

 

(c)     Guarantees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any wholly-owned Subsidiary;

 

(d)     obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary party to a Subsidiary Guaranty existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”;

 

(e)     unsecured Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower, which Indebtedness shall be (i) evidenced by promissory notes and on terms (including, if such Indebtedness is owed by the Borrower to a Subsidiary, subordination terms) acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) otherwise permitted under the provisions of Section 9.2 [Investments];

 

(f)     unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary party to a Subsidiary Guaranty at any time outstanding in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed an amount equal to the result of (i) $500,000,000.00 minus (ii) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 2.10(a); and

 

(g)     Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 9.1(i); provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $3,000,000.00.

 

 

9.4     Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Potential Default exists or would result therefrom:

 

(a)     any Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries, provided that when any wholly-owned Subsidiary is merging with another Subsidiary, the wholly-owned Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

 

(b)     any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a wholly-owned Subsidiary, then the transferee must either be the Borrower or another wholly-owned Subsidiary;

 

(c)     in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided that the Person surviving such merger shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower; and

 

(d)     so long as no Potential Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, each of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided, however, that in each case, immediately after giving effect thereto in the case of any such merger to which the Borrower is a party, the Borrower is the surviving Person.

 

9.5     Dispositions. Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)     Permitted Transfers;

 

(b)     Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)     Dispositions of equipment or real property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

 

(d)     Dispositions permitted by Section 9.4 [Fundamental Changes]; and

 

(e)     Dispositions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.5; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition, no Potential Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition and (ii) the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on this clause (e) during any fiscal year shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the end of the prior fiscal year;

 

 

provided, however, that any Disposition pursuant to clauses (a) through (c) and (e) (other than, in each case, Dispositions among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 9.5 or Section 9.8 [Transactions with Affiliates]) shall be for fair market value.

 

9.6     Restricted Payments. Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that, so long as no Potential Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom:

 

(a)     each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower and any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made;

 

(b)     the Borrower and each Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the common stock or other common Equity Interests of such Person;

 

(c)     the Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire Equity Interests issued by it with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new shares of its common stock or other common Equity Interests; and

 

(d)     the Borrower may (i) declare or pay cash dividends to its stockholders and (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for cash Equity Interests issued by it so long as such purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions have been approved by the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower.

 

9.7     Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

9.8     Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower (other than the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower), whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

 

9.9     Burdensome Agreements. Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of the State of Connecticut acting by and through its Department of Economic and Community Development (the “DECD”) pursuant to a Security Agreement dated as of March 21, 2012 between the DECD and the Borrower, solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the “Collateral” under and as defined in such Security Agreement; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person unless such Lien otherwise constitutes a Permitted Lien.

 

 

9.10     Use of Proceeds. Use the Letters of Credit or the proceeds of the Loans (a) whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose or (b) otherwise in violation of Section 8.11 [Use of Proceeds].

 

9.11     Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of Borrower as of the end of each fiscal quarter of Borrower to be greater than 3.50:1.00 (the “Maximum Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio”); provided, that at the Borrower’s option, the Maximum Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio may increase to 4.00:1.00 for four consecutive fiscal quarters immediately following the consummation of a Permitted Acquisition with a purchase price in excess of $200,000,000.00 by the Borrower; provided, further that the Borrower’s ability to increase the Maximum Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as described in this Section 9.11 shall be limited to two (2) times during the term of this Agreement.

 

9.12     Sanctions; Anti-Terrorism Laws. Directly or indirectly, (a) use the Letters of Credit or 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, 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 or otherwise) of Sanctions or otherwise in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law, (b) do business in or with, or derive any of its income from investments in or transactions with, any Person the subject or target of Sanctions in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law, or (c) engage in any dealings or transactions prohibited by any Anti-Terrorism Law.

 

9.13     Anti-Corruption Laws. Directly or indirectly use the Letter of Credit or the proceeds of any Loan for any purpose which would breach any Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

Article 10
DEFAULT

 

10.1     Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default (whatever the reason therefor and whether voluntary, involuntary or effected by operation of Law):

 

(a)     Non-Payment. The Borrower fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within three (3) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

 

 

(b)     Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.5(a), 8.10 8.11, 8.12 or Article 9; or

 

(c)     Other Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in clause (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days; or

 

(d)     Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be materially incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made; or

 

(e)     Cross-Default. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined in such Swap Contract) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined in such Swap Contract) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(f)     Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

 

(g)     Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Borrower and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy, or (iii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any Subsidiary which results in a Material Adverse Change and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or

 

(h)     Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Change and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of twenty (20) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(i)     ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(j)     Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or the Borrower or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or the Borrower denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document; or

 

(k)     Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.

 

If a Potential Default shall have occurred under the Loan Documents, then such Potential Default will continue to exist until it either is cured or is otherwise expressly waived by the applicable Lenders in accordance with Section 12.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers]; and once an Event of Default occurs under the Loan Documents, then such Event of Default will continue to exist until it is expressly waived by the applicable Lenders in accordance with Section 12.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers].

 

 

10.2     Consequences of Event of Default.

 

(a)     Generally. If any Event of Default specified under Section 10.1 [Events of Default] shall occur and be continuing, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be under no further obligation to make Loans and the Issuing Lender shall be under no obligation to issue Letters of Credit and the Administrative Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders shall, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(i)     declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the Issuing Lender to issue, amend or extend Letters of Credit to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(ii)     declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

 

(iii)     require the Borrower to, and the Borrower shall thereupon, deposit in a non-interest-bearing account with the Administrative Agent, Cash Collateral for its Obligations under the Loan Documents, an amount equal to the maximum amount currently or at any time thereafter available to be drawn on all outstanding Letters of Credit, and the Borrower hereby pledges to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and grants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a security interest in, all such Cash Collateral as security for such Obligations; and

 

(iv)     exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender under the Loan Documents;

 

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the Issuing Lender to issue, amend or extend any Letter of Credit shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to provide Cash Collateral as specified in clause (iii) above shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

 

(b)     Set-off. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the Issuing Lender, and each of their respective Affiliates and any participant of such Lender or Affiliate which has agreed in writing to be bound by the provisions of Section 5.5 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders], after obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the Issuing Lender or any such Affiliate or participant to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the Obligations of such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, the Issuing Lender, Affiliate or participant, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, Issuing Lender, Affiliate or participant shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the Issuing Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such Indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the Issuing Lender and their respective Affiliates and participants under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the Issuing Lender or their respective Affiliates and participants may have. Each Lender and the Issuing Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application; and

 

(c)     Enforcement of Rights and Remedies. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Section 10.2 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the Issuing Lender; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) the Issuing Lender or the Swing Loan Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the Issuing Lender or Swing Loan Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.2(b) [Set-Off] (subject to the terms of Section 5.5 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders]), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Insolvency Proceeding; 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 this Section 10.2(c), and (ii) in addition to the matters specified in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 5.5 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders]), 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.

 

10.3     Application of Proceeds. From and after the date on which the Administrative Agent has taken any action pursuant to Section 10.2 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the Letter of Credit Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as specified in the proviso to Section 10.2(a)) and until the Facility Termination Date, any and all proceeds received on account of the Obligations shall (subject to Sections 2.9 [Defaulting Lenders] and 10.2(a)(iii) [Generally]) be applied as follows:

 

(a)     First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees (other than Letter of Credit Fees), indemnities, expenses and other amounts, including attorney fees, payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such, the Issuing Lender in its capacity as such and the Swing Loan Lender in its capacity as such, ratably among the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and Swing Loan Lender in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause First payable to them;

 

 

(b)     Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders under the Loan Documents, including attorney fees, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

(c)     Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the Issuing Lender in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

 

(d)     Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and payment obligations then owing under Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedges, and Lender Provided Financial Service Products, ratably among the Lenders, the Issuing Lender, the applicable Cash Management Banks and the applicable Hedge Banks, in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

 

(e)     Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender, to Cash Collateralize any undrawn amounts under outstanding Letters of Credit (to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized pursuant to this Agreement); and

 

(f)     Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order specified above.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.3, no Swap Obligations of any Non-Qualifying Party shall be paid with amounts received from such Non-Qualifying Party under its Subsidiary Guaranty (including sums received as a result of the exercise of remedies with respect to such Subsidiary Guaranty) if such Swap Obligations would constitute Excluded Hedge Liabilities; provided that to the extent possible appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties that are Eligible Contract Participants with respect to such Swap Obligations to preserve the allocation to Obligations otherwise specified above in this Section 10.3.

 

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations arising under Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedges and Lender Provided Financial Service Products shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be. Each Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank not a party to the Credit Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article 11 hereof for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

 

Article 11
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

11.1     Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereby irrevocably appoints PNC Bank, National Association to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

11.2     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 Borrower 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.

 

11.3     Exculpatory Provisions. (a) The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly specified 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:

 

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

 

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

 

 

(iii)     shall not, except as expressly specified 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 the Borrower 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.

 

(b)     The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 12.1 [Modifications; Amendments or Waivers] and 10.2 [Consequences of Event of Default]), or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Potential Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Potential Default or Event of Default is given to the Administrative Agent in writing by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Lender.

 

(c)     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 of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions specified herein or therein or the occurrence of any Potential Default or Event of 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 specified in Article 7 [Conditions of Lending and Issuance of Letters of Credit] or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

11.4     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) 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, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the Issuing Lender prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

 

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

 

11.6     Resignation of Administrative Agent. (a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Lender and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower (so long as no Potential Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the contiguous United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the contiguous 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 and the Issuing Lender, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications specified 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.

 

(a)     If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 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.

 

 

(b)     With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any Cash Collateral, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such Cash Collateral until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (ii) except for any indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and Issuing 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 any rights to indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 12.3 [Expense; Indemnity; Damage Waiver] 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 while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

11.7     Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the Issuing Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or 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 and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and Issuing Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or 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 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. Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement and funding its Loans on the Closing Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Closing Date.

 

11.8     No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunner and arranger listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Issuing Lender hereunder.

 

11.9     Administrative Agent’s Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent a nonrefundable fee (the “Administrative Agent’s Fee”) under the terms of a letter dated March 2, 2019 (the “Administrative Agent’s Letter”) among the Borrower, PNC Capital Markets LLC and Administrative Agent, as amended from time to time.

 

 

11.10     Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or Letter of Credit Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)     to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.8(b) [Letter of Credit Fees] and 12.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver]) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)     to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the Issuing Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Lender, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Section 12.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver].

 

11.11     Guaranty Matters. Each of the Lenders irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents. Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to this Section 11.11. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Cash Collateral.

 

11.12     No Reliance on Administrative Agent’s Customer Identification Program. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that neither such Lender, nor any of its Affiliates, participants or assignees, may rely on the Administrative Agent to carry out such Lender’s, Affiliate’s, participant’s or assignee’s customer identification program, or other obligations required or imposed under or pursuant to the USA Patriot Act or the regulations thereunder, including the regulations contained in 31 CFR 103.121 (as hereafter amended or replaced, the “CIP Regulations”), or any other Anti-Terrorism Law or any Anti-Corruption Law, including any programs involving any of the following items relating to or in connection with any of the Loan Parties, their Affiliates or their agents, the Loan Documents or the transactions hereunder or contemplated hereby: (i) any identity verification procedures, (ii) any recordkeeping, (iii) comparisons with government lists, (iv) customer notices or (v) other procedures required under the CIP Regulations or such other Laws.

 

 

11.13     Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedges and Lender Provided Financial Service Products. Except as otherwise expressly specified herein, no Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 10.3 [Application of Proceeds], the Subsidiary Guaranty or any Cash Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of the Subsidiary Guaranty or any Loan Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of any Cash Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Cash Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 11 to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Lender Provided Interest Rate Hedges and/or Lender Provided Financial Service Products unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.

 

Article 12
MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1     Modifications, Amendments or Waivers. With the written consent of the Required Lenders (or as expressly provided by Section 2.10 [Incremental Loans]), the Administrative Agent, acting on behalf of all the Lenders, and the Borrower, on behalf of the Loan Parties, may from time to time enter into written agreements amending or changing any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the rights of the Lenders or the Loan Parties hereunder or thereunder, or may grant written waivers or consents hereunder or thereunder. Any such agreement, waiver or consent made with such written consent shall be effective to bind all the Lenders and the Loan Parties; provided, that no such agreement, waiver or consent may be made which will:

 

(a)     Increase of Commitment. Increase the amount of the Commitment of any Lender hereunder without the consent of such Lender;

 

(b)     Extension of Payment; Reduction of Principal, Interest or Fees; Modification of Terms of Payment. Whether or not any Loans are outstanding, extend the Expiration Date or any scheduled time for payment of principal or interest of any Loan, the Commitment Fee or any other fee payable to any Lender, or reduce the principal amount of or the stated rate of interest borne by any Loan (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates) or reduce the stated rate of the Commitment Fee or any other fee payable to any Lender, without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (provided that any amendment or modification of defined terms used in the financial covenants of this Agreement shall not constitute a reduction in the stated rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (b));

 

 

(c)     Release of Collateral or Guarantors. Except for the automatic release of Guarantors as permitted by Section 8.15 [Subsidiary Guarantors], the release of Guarantors as permitted under Section 11.11 [Guaranty Matters] and the release of any portion of the Cash Collateral as permitted by Section 5.12 [Cash Collateral], release any portion of the Cash Collateral or release any material portion of the value of the Guarantors from their Obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty, in each case without the consent of all Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders and otherwise as expressly permitted under this Agreement); or

 

(d)     Miscellaneous. Amend Section 5.4 [Pro Rata Treatment of Lenders], Section 11.3 [Exculpatory Provisions], Section 5.5 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders], Section 10.3 [Application of Proceeds] or this Section 12.1, alter any provision regarding the pro rata treatment of the Lenders or requiring all Lenders to authorize the taking of any action or reduce any percentage specified in or otherwise modify the terms described in the definition of Required Lenders, in each case without the consent of all of the Lenders;

 

provided that (i) no agreement, waiver or consent which would modify the interests, rights or obligations of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, or the Swing Loan Lender may be made without the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or the Swing Loan Lender, as applicable, and (ii) the Administrative Agent’s Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto, and provided, further that, if in connection with any proposed waiver, amendment or modification referred to in Sections 12.1(a) through (d) above, there is a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower shall have the right to replace any such Non-Consenting Lender with one or more replacement Lenders pursuant to Section 5.13 [Replacement of a Lender]. 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.

 

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended to extend the Expiration Date with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments of Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility that agree to such extension with respect to their Revolving Credit Commitments with the written consent of each such approving Lender, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (and no other Lender) and, in connection therewith, to provide for different rates of interest and fees under the Revolving Credit Facility with respect to the portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments with an Expiration Date so extended; provided that in each such case any such proposed extension of the Expiration Date shall have been offered to each Lender with Loans or Commitments proposed to be extended, and if the consents of such Lenders exceed the portion of Commitments and Loans the Borrower wishes to extend, such consents shall be accepted on a pro rata basis among the applicable consenting Lenders.

 

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Borrower, may amend, modify or supplement any Loan Document without the consent of any Lender or the Required Lenders in order to correct or cure any ambiguity, inconsistency or defect or correct any typographical or ministerial error in any Loan Document (provided that any such amendment, modification or supplement shall not be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole).

 

 

12.2     No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies. No course of dealing and no delay or failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power, remedy or privilege under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any other or future exercise thereof or operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power, remedy or privilege. The enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders specified in this Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and the exercise by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any right or remedy shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies, all of which shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist at law or in equity or by suit or otherwise. No reasonable delay or failure to take action on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default.

 

12.3     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)     Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one firm of counsel (and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, (iii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of one firm of counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender (and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) and, in the event of any conflict of interest, one additional counsel of each type to each group of similarly affected parties hereunder) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit or (C) in connection with the collection of Obligations. This Section 12.3(a) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

 

(b)     Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), the Lead Arranger, each Lender and the Issuing 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 (and shall reimburse each Indemnitee as the same are incurred), any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one firm of counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole (and one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction for all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, in the event of any conflict of interest, one additional counsel of each type to each group of similarly affected Indemnitees)), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Borrower or any other Loan Party) other than such Indemnitee and its Related Parties 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 or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, 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 (i) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from (x) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any such Indemnitee’s Related Parties or (y) a material breach of such Indemnitee’s or any such Indemnitee’s Related Parties’ obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (ii) have not resulted from any act or omission of the Borrower or any other Loan Party and are sought by an Indemnitee against any other Indemnitee (other than any claims against the Administrative Agent or Lead Arranger in such capacity or in fulfilling its role as an arranger or agent or similar role hereunder). This Section 12.3(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 Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Issuing Lender, the Swing Loan Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Lender, such Swing Loan Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Ratable Share at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender); provided that with respect to such unpaid amounts owed to the Issuing Lender or the Swing Loan Lender solely in its capacity as such, only the Lenders with Revolving Credit Commitments shall be required to pay such unpaid amounts, such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Ratable Share of the Revolving Credit Facility (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) provided, further, that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent),the Issuing Lender or the Swing Loan Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Issuing Lender or the Swing Loan Lender in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this paragraph (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.2 [Nature of Lenders’ Obligations with Respect to Revolving Credit Loans].

 

 

(d)     Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in Section 12.3(b) [Indemnification by the Borrower] shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it 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, except to the extent such liability or damages are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

 

(e)     Payments. All amounts due under this Section 12.3 shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(f)     Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 12.3 shall survive the termination of the Loan Documents and payment of the obligations hereunder.

 

12.4     Holidays. Whenever payment of a Loan to be made or taken hereunder shall be due on a day which is not a Business Day such payment shall be due on the next Business Day (except as provided in Section 4.2 [Interest Periods]) and such extension of time shall be included in computing interest and fees, except that the Loans shall be due on the Business Day preceding the Expiration Date if the Expiration Date is not a Business Day. Whenever any payment or action to be made or taken hereunder (other than payment of the Loans) shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment or action shall be made or taken on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall not be included in computing interest or fees, if any, in connection with such payment or action.

 

12.5     Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

 

(a)     Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or e-mail transmission as follows:

 

 

(i)     if to the Borrower or any Guarantor, as set forth in part B of Schedule 1.1(B);

 

(ii)     if to the Administrative Agent, as set forth in part B of Schedule 1.1(B);

 

(iii)     if to PNC Bank, National Association in its capacity as a Lender or as Issuing Lender, as set forth in part A of Schedule 1.1(B);

 

(iv)     if to a Lender, as set forth in part A of Schedule 1.1(B).

 

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 paragraph (b) below shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

 

(b)     Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail 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 Issuing Lender pursuant to Article 2 [Revolving Credit and Swing Loan Facilities] if such Lender or Issuing Lender, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, 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; and provided further, that the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept Loan Requests by e-mail.

 

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) above, if such notice, e-mail or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.

 

 

(c)     Change of Address, etc. Any party hereto may change its address, e-mail address, telephone number or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

 

(d)     Platform.

 

(i)     Each Loan Party agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Communications (as defined below) available to the Issuing Lender and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on the Platform.

 

(ii)     The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of the Platform and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or the Platform. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower or the other Loan Parties, any Lender or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including, direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s, any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through the Platform, except to the extent any direct actual damages are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to arise from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of any Agent Party. “Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through the Platform.

 

12.6     Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, such provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions hereof in any jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or the Swing Loan Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

12.7     Duration; Survival. All representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained herein or made in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the completion of the transactions hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect until the Facility Termination Date. All covenants and agreements of the Borrower contained herein relating to the payment of principal, interest, premiums, additional compensation or expenses and indemnification, including those specified in the Notes, Section 5 [Payments] and Section 12.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver], shall survive the Facility Termination Date. All other covenants and agreements of the Loan Parties shall continue in full force and effect from and after the Closing Date and until the Facility Termination Date.

 

 

12.8     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 neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may 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 paragraph (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of paragraph (e) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in paragraph (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 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 clause (i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable 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 Agreement with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000.00, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

 

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

 

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

 

(A)     the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

(B)     the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and

 

(C)     the consent of the Issuing Lender and Swing Loan Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.

 

(iv)     Assignment and Assumption Agreement. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500.00; provided that (i) the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment and (ii) with respect to any assignment and delegation pursuant to Section 5.13 [Replacement of a Lender] or 12.1 [Modifications, Amendments or Waivers], the parties hereto agree that such assignment and delegation may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and that the Lender required to make such assignment and delegation need not be a party thereto. 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 Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute a Defaulting Lender or a Subsidiary thereof.

 

 

(vi)     No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person).

 

(vii)     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 specified herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Swing Loan Lender and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Loans in accordance with its Ratable Share. 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.

 

(viii)     Effectiveness; Release. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption Agreement, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, 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 Agreement, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement 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 4.4 [LIBOR Rate Unascertainable; Etc.], 5.8 [Increased Costs], and 12.3 [Expenses, Indemnity; Damage Waiver] 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. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (d) of this Section.

 

 

(c)     Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in the contiguous United States a copy of each Assignment and Assumption Agreement delivered to it 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 Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and, as to entries pertaining to it, any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)     Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person, or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and 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 12.3 [Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver] with respect to any payments made by such Lender to its Participant(s).

 

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 (other than as is already provided for herein) to any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to Sections 12.1(a) [Increase of Commitment], 12.1(b) [Extension of Payment, Etc.], or 12.1(c) [Release of Collateral or Guarantors]) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.4 [Libor Rate Unascertainable, Etc.], 5.8 [Increased Costs], 5.9 [Taxes] and 5.10 [Indemnity] (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 5.9(g) [Status of Lenders] (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 5.9(g) [Status of Lenders] shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) 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 Section 5.13 [Replacement of a Lender] as if it were an assignee under to paragraph (b) of this Section 12.8; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 5.8 [Increased Costs] or 5.9 [Taxes], with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 5.13 [Replacement of a Lender] with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.2(b) [Set-off] as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 5.5 [Sharing of Payments by Lenders] as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

 

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

 

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

 

(g)     Arrangers/Bookrunners. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the name of any arranger and/or bookrunner listed on the cover page of this Agreement may be changed by the Administrative Agent to the name of any Lender or Lender’s broker-dealer Affiliate, upon written request to the Administrative Agent by any such arranger and/or bookrunner and the applicable Lender or Lender’s broker-deal Affiliate.

 

12.9     Confidentiality.

 

(a)     General. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender agree to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (i) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (ii) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners); (iii) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (iv) to any other party hereto; (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder; (vi) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (A) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, or (B) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, on a confidential basis, to (x) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the Revolving Credit Facility or (y) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility; (vii) with the consent of the Borrower; or (viii) to the extent such Information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section, or (B) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.

 

 

For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

(b)     Sharing Information With Affiliates of the Lenders. Each Loan Party acknowledges that from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be offered or provided to the Borrower or one or more of its Affiliates (in connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by any Lender or by one or more Subsidiaries or Affiliates of such Lender and each of the Loan Parties hereby authorizes each Lender to share any information delivered to such Lender by such Loan Party and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement to any such Subsidiary or Affiliate subject to the provisions of Section 12.9(a) [General].

 

(c)     Press Releases. The Borrower agrees, for itself and its Affiliates, that it (and they) will not in the future issue any press releases or other public disclosure using the name of any Lender or its Affiliates or referring to this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender, unless (and only to the extent that) the Borrower or such Affiliate is required to do so under Law and then, in any event, the Borrower or such Affiliate will provide notice to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender before issuing such press release or other public disclosure.

 

 

(d)     Customary Advertising Material. The Administrative Agent and each Lender may publish customary advertising material relating to the transactions contemplated hereby using the name, product photographs, logo or trademark of the Borrower so long as the Administrative Agent or applicable Lender shall have received the Borrower’s prior written consent to do so and so long as the Borrower shall have received an advance copy of any such advertising materials that the Administrative Agent or applicable Lender proposes to publish.

 

12.10     Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

 

(a)     Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and 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 including any prior confidentiality agreements and commitments. Except as provided in Article 7 [Conditions Of Lending And Issuance Of Letters Of Credit], 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. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any certificate delivered hereunder or thereunder, by telecopy or e-mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement or such other Loan Document or certificate.

 

(b)     Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

12.11     CHOICE OF LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

 

(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 specified 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. Each standby Letter of Credit issued under this Agreement shall be subject, as applicable, to the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance or the rules of the International Standby Practices (ICC Publication Number 590), as determined by the Issuing Lender, and in each case to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the Laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

 

 

The Borrower and each other Loan Party 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 the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Lender, 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 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.  Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or any other Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(b)     Waiver of Venue. The Borrower and each other Loan Party 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.

 

(c)     Service of Process. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 12.5 [Notices;  Effectiveness;  Electronic Communication]. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

 

(d)     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.

 

 

12.12     Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. 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 EEA 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 an EEA 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 an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA 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 EEA 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 any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

12.13     USA Patriot Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the USA Patriot Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the USA Patriot Act. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

 

12.14     Plan Assets.

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b)      In addition, unless either (1) 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 Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

 

 

12.15     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 Borrower and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (a) (i) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and any Affiliate thereof, the Arranger and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and, as applicable, its Affiliates (including the Sole Lead Arranger) and the Lenders and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this Section, the “Lenders”), on the other hand, (ii) each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (iii) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (b) (i) the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the Sole Lead Arranger) and each Lender each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary, for Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (ii) neither the Administrative Agent, any of its Affiliates (including the Sole Lead Arranger) nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (c) the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the Sole Lead Arranger) and the Lenders may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, any of its Affiliates (including the Sole Lead Arranger) nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, any of its Affiliates (including the Sole Lead Arranger) or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transactions contemplated hereby.

 

12.16     Amendment and Restatement.

 

This Agreement amends and restates in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement. All references to the "Agreement" contained in the Existing Loan Documents delivered in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement or this Agreement shall, and shall be deemed to, refer to this Agreement. Notwithstanding the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement by this Agreement, the Obligations of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement and the Existing Loan Documents as of the Closing Date shall remain outstanding and shall constitute continuing Obligations without novation. Such Obligations shall in all respects be continuing and this Agreement shall not be deemed to evidence or result in a novation or repayment and reborrowing of such Obligations.

 

 

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

 

	BORROWER:   FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS INC.
	By:	/s/ HELEN SHAN
	Name:	Helen Shan
	Title:	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

[Signature Page – FactSet Credit Agreement]

 

	PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender, the Swing Loan Lender, the Issuing Lender and as the Administrative Agent
	By:	/s/ ROBERT M. MARTIN
	Name:	Robert M. Martin
	Title:	Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page – FactSet Credit Agreement]

 

	BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
	By:	/s/ CHRISTOPHER PHELAN
	Name:	Christopher Phelan
	Title:	Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page – FactSet Credit Agreement]

 

	HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as a Lender
	By:	/s/ PETER I. SANCHEZ
	Name:	Peter I. Sanchez
	Title:	SVP

 

[Signature Page – FactSet Credit Agreement]