Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2018 among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc., the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers Party Thereto, the Lenders Party Thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, SunTrust Bank, as Syndication Agent, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Documentation Agent
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION VERSION
Published CUSIP Number: 42281YAF4
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
October 26, 2018
among
HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
The Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers Party Hereto
The Lenders Party Hereto
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
SUNTRUST BANK,
as Syndication Agent
and
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Documentation Agent
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
and
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY, INC.,
as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I Definitions | 1 | |||||
SECTION 1.01. | Defined Terms | 1 | ||||
SECTION 1.02. | Classification of Loans and Borrowings | 28 | ||||
SECTION 1.03. | Terms Generally | 28 | ||||
SECTION 1.04. | Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations | 29 | ||||
SECTION 1.05. | Status of Obligations | 31 | ||||
ARTICLE II The Credits | 31 | |||||
SECTION 2.01. | Commitments | 31 | ||||
SECTION 2.02. | Loans and Borrowings | 31 | ||||
SECTION 2.03. | Requests for Borrowings | 32 | ||||
SECTION 2.04. | [Intentionally Omitted] | 33 | ||||
SECTION 2.05. | Swingline Loans | 33 | ||||
SECTION 2.06. | Letters of Credit | 35 | ||||
SECTION 2.07. | Funding of Borrowings | 40 | ||||
SECTION 2.08. | Interest Elections | 40 | ||||
SECTION 2.09. | Termination and Reduction of Commitments | 42 | ||||
SECTION 2.10. | Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt | 42 | ||||
SECTION 2.11. | Prepayment of Loans | 43 | ||||
SECTION 2.12. | Fees | 44 | ||||
SECTION 2.13. | Interest | 45 | ||||
SECTION 2.14. | Alternate Rate of Interest | 46 | ||||
SECTION 2.15. | Increased Costs | 48 | ||||
SECTION 2.16. | Break Funding Payments | 49 | ||||
SECTION 2.17. | Taxes | 49 | ||||
SECTION 2.18. | Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs | 52 | ||||
SECTION 2.19. | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 54 | ||||
SECTION 2.20. | Expansion Option | 54 | ||||
SECTION 2.21. | Market Disruption | 55 | ||||
SECTION 2.22. | Judgment Currency | 56 | ||||
SECTION 2.23. | Designation of Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers | 56 | ||||
SECTION 2.24. | Defaulting Lenders | 57 | ||||
SECTION 2.25. | Designated Lenders | 59 | ||||
ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties | 59 | |||||
SECTION 3.01. | Organization; Powers; Subsidiaries | 59 | ||||
SECTION 3.02. | Authorization; Enforceability | 60 | ||||
SECTION 3.03. | Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts | 60 | ||||
SECTION 3.04. | Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change | 60 | ||||
SECTION 3.05. | Properties | 61 | ||||
SECTION 3.06. | Litigation, Labor Matters and Environmental Matters | 61 | ||||
SECTION 3.07. | Compliance with Laws and Agreements; No Burdensome Restrictions | 62 | ||||
SECTION 3.08. | Investment Company Status | 62 | ||||
SECTION 3.09. | Taxes | 62 | ||||
SECTION 3.10. | ERISA | 62 |
SECTION 3.11. | Disclosure | 62 | ||||
SECTION 3.12. | No Default | 62 | ||||
SECTION 3.13. | Liens | 62 | ||||
SECTION 3.14. | Contingent Obligations | 63 | ||||
SECTION 3.15. | Regulation U | 63 | ||||
SECTION 3.16. | Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions | 63 | ||||
SECTION 3.17. | EEA Financial Institutions | 63 | ||||
ARTICLE IV Conditions | 63 | |||||
SECTION 4.01. | Effective Date | 63 | ||||
SECTION 4.02. | Each Credit Event | 65 | ||||
SECTION 4.03. | Designation of a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower | 65 | ||||
ARTICLE V Affirmative Covenants | 66 | |||||
SECTION 5.01. | Financial Statements and Other Information | 66 | ||||
SECTION 5.02. | Notices of Material Events | 67 | ||||
SECTION 5.03. | Existence; Conduct of Business | 68 | ||||
SECTION 5.04. | Payment of Obligations | 68 | ||||
SECTION 5.05. | Maintenance of Properties; Insurance | 68 | ||||
SECTION 5.06. | Books and Records; Inspection Rights | 68 | ||||
SECTION 5.07. | Compliance with Laws | 68 | ||||
SECTION 5.08. | Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit | 68 | ||||
SECTION 5.09. | Additional Subsidiary Documentation | 69 | ||||
SECTION 5.10. | Pledge Agreements | 69 | ||||
ARTICLE VI Negative Covenants | 70 | |||||
SECTION 6.01. | Indebtedness | 70 | ||||
SECTION 6.02. | Liens | 71 | ||||
SECTION 6.03. | Fundamental Changes | 72 | ||||
SECTION 6.04. | Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions | 73 | ||||
SECTION 6.05. | Swap Agreements | 74 | ||||
SECTION 6.06. | Restricted Payments | 75 | ||||
SECTION 6.07. | Transactions with Affiliates | 75 | ||||
SECTION 6.08. | Restrictive Agreements | 76 | ||||
SECTION 6.09. | Changes in Fiscal Year | 76 | ||||
SECTION 6.10. | Subordinated Indebtedness | 76 | ||||
SECTION 6.11. | Financial Covenants | 77 | ||||
ARTICLE VII Events of Default | 77 | |||||
ARTICLE VIII The Administrative Agent | 80 | |||||
ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous | 86 | |||||
SECTION 9.01. | Notices | 86 | ||||
SECTION 9.02. | Waivers; Amendments | 87 | ||||
SECTION 9.03. | Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 90 | ||||
SECTION 9.04. | Successors and Assigns | 91 | ||||
SECTION 9.05. | Survival | 96 |
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SECTION 9.06. | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness | 96 | ||||
SECTION 9.07. | Severability | 96 | ||||
SECTION 9.08. | Right of Setoff | 96 | ||||
SECTION 9.09. | Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process | 96 | ||||
SECTION 9.10. | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 97 | ||||
SECTION 9.11. | Headings | 98 | ||||
SECTION 9.12. | Confidentiality | 98 | ||||
SECTION 9.13. | Interest Rate Limitation | 99 | ||||
SECTION 9.14. | USA PATRIOT Act | 99 | ||||
SECTION 9.15. | Releases of Subsidiary Guarantors | 100 | ||||
SECTION 9.16. | Attorney Representation | 100 | ||||
SECTION 9.17. | Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. | 100 | ||||
SECTION 9.18. | Electronic Execution | 101 | ||||
SECTION 9.19. | Payments Set Aside | 101 | ||||
ARTICLE X Cross-Guarantee | 101 |
SCHEDULES:
Schedule 2.01 | Commitments | |
Schedule 2.06 | Existing Letters of Credit | |
Schedule 3.01 | Subsidiaries | |
Schedule 3.06 | Disclosed Matters | |
Schedule 6.01 | Existing Indebtedness | |
Schedule 6.02 | Existing Liens | |
Schedule 6.04 | Existing Investments | |
Schedule 6.08 | Existing Restrictions | |
EXHIBITS: | ||
Exhibit A | Form of Assignment and Assumption | |
Exhibit B-1 | Form of Borrowing Request | |
Exhibit B-2 | Form of Swingline Loan Request | |
Exhibit B-3 | Form of Notice of Prepayment | |
Exhibit C | Form of Increasing Lender Supplement | |
Exhibit D | Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement | |
Exhibit E | Form of Subsidiary Guaranty | |
Exhibit F | [Intentionally Omitted] | |
Exhibit G-1 | Form of Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement | |
Exhibit G-2 | Form of Borrowing Subsidiary Termination | |
Exhibit H-1 | Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Not Partnerships) | |
Exhibit H-2 | Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Partnerships) | |
Exhibit H-3 | Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Non-U.S. Participants That Are Not Partnerships) | |
Exhibit H-4 | Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Non-U.S. Participants That Are Partnerships) |
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CREDIT AGREEMENT (this Agreement) dated as of October 26, 2018, among HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC., the FOREIGN SUBSIDIARY BORROWERS from time to time party hereto, the LENDERS from time to time party hereto, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, SUNTRUST BANK, as Syndication Agent and HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Documentation Agent.
WHEREAS, the Loan Parties (as hereinafter defined) have requested that the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks make loans and other financial accommodations to the Loan Parties in an aggregate amount of up to $175,000,000.
WHEREAS, the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks have agreed to make such loans and other financial accommodations to the Loan Parties on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
ABR, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to a Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
Adjusted LIBO Rate means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.
Administrative Agent means Bank of America, N.A. (including its branches and affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
Administrative Questionnaire means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
Affected Foreign Subsidiary is defined in the definition of Subsidiary Guarantor.
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 Party has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).
Agreed Currencies means (a) with respect to Revolving Loans, Agreed Loan Currencies, and (b) with respect to Letters of Credit, Agreed LC Currencies.
Agreed LC Currencies means (a) the currencies described in clause (a) of the definition of Agreed Currencies, (b) Swiss Francs, (c) Singapore Dollars and (d) any other currency that is agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Bank.
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Agreed Loan Currencies means (i) Dollars, (ii) Euro, (iii) British Pounds Sterling, (iv) Australian Dollars and (v) any other currency (x) that is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars, (y) for which a LIBOR Screen Rate is available in the Administrative Agents determination and (z) that is agreed to by the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders.
Alternate Base Rate means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1⁄2 of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period in Dollars on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day, subject to the interest rate floors set forth therein. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
Anti-Corruption Laws means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
Applicable Percentage means, with respect to any Lender, with respect to Loans, Swingline Loans or LC Exposure, the percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lenders Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate Commitments of all Lenders (if the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments); provided that in the case of Section 2.24 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, any such Defaulting Lenders Commitment shall be disregarded in the calculation.
Applicable Pledge Percentage means a 65% pledge by the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary of its Equity Interests in an Affected Foreign Subsidiary.
Applicable Rate means, for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan, or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption ABR Spread, Eurocurrency Spread or Commitment Fee Rate, as the case may be, based upon the Leverage Ratio for the then most recently completed four fiscal quarter period as reflected in the then most recently delivered Financials but subject to the following:
Category | Leverage Ratio: | ABR Spread | Eurocurrency Spread | Commitment Fee Rate | ||||||||||
1 | Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 2.50:1.00 | 0.75 | % | 1.75 | % | 0.25 | % | |||||||
2 | Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 1.75:1.00 but less than 2.50:1.00 | 0.50 | % | 1.50 | % | 0.20 | % | |||||||
3 | Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 1.00:1.00 but less than 1.75:1.00 | 0.25 | % | 1.25 | % | 0.20 | % | |||||||
4 | Leverage Ratio is less than 1.00:1.00 | 0.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 0.15 | % |
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For purposes of the foregoing,
(i) if the Company fails to deliver the Financials to the Administrative Agent at the time required pursuant to Section 5.01, then Category 1 above shall be deemed to be applicable until the first Business Day of the calendar month immediately following the date on which such Financials are so received by the Administrative Agent;
(ii) adjustments, if any, to the Applicable Rate shall be effective on the first Business Day of the calendar month immediately following the date on which the Administrative Agent has received the applicable Financials;
(iii) each determination of the Applicable Rate made by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the foregoing shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and each Lender (absent manifest error); and
(iv) notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, from the Effective Date to but not including the fifth (5th) Business Day following receipt of the Companys financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2018, Category 4 above shall be deemed applicable.
Approved Fund has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.
Assignment and Assumption means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
AUD Rate means, for any Loans denominated in Australian Dollars, the AUD Screen Rate or, if applicable pursuant to the definition of LIBO Rate, the applicable Reference Bank Rate or such other rate as determined pursuant to the terms of Section 2.14.
AUD Screen Rate means, denominated in Australian Dollars, the rate per annum equal to the Bank Bill Swap Reference Bid Rate (BBSY), or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at or about 10:30 a.m. (Melbourne, Australia time) on the Quotation Day with a term equivalent to such Interest Period.
Augmenting Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
Australian Dollars means the lawful currency of Australia.
Availability has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.06.
Availability Period means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Termination Date and the date of termination of the Commitments pursuant to the terms hereof.
3
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.
Banking Services means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Company or any Subsidiary by any Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) credit cards for commercial customers (including, without limitation, commercial credit cards and purchasing cards), (b) stored value cards, (c) merchant processing services and (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, any direct debit scheme or arrangement, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).
Banking Services Agreement means any agreement entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with Banking Services.
Banking Services Obligations means any and all obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.
Bankruptcy Event means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person 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 Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
Beneficial Ownership Certification means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Beneficial Ownership Regulation means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
Benefit Plan means any of (a) an employee benefit plan (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a plan as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the 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.
Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
Borrower means the Company or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower.
4
Borrowing means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date to the same Borrower and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, in the same Agreed Currency and as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (b) a Swingline Loan.
Borrowing Request means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Loans, pursuant to Section 2.08, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of a Borrower.
Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement means a Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1.
Borrowing Subsidiary Termination means a Borrowing Subsidiary Termination substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2.
British Pounds Sterling means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
Business Day means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in the relevant Agreed Currency in the London interbank market or the principal financial center of such Agreed Currency (and, if the Borrowings or LC Disbursements which are the subject of a borrowing, drawing, payment, reimbursement or rate selection are denominated in Euro, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which the TARGET2 payment system is not open for the settlement of payments in Euro).
Capital Expenditures means, without duplication, any expenditures for any purchase or other acquisition of any asset which would be classified as a fixed or capital asset on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to Section 1.04.
Capital Lease Obligations of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) personal property, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP, subject to Section 1.04.
Capital Stock means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited) and (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
Cash Pooling Arrangement means any netting or set-off arrangement entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business for the purpose of netting debit and credit balances (including pursuant to cash pooling arrangements in respect of pooled deposit or sweep accounts).
CFC means a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code of which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a United States Shareholder within the meaning of Section 951 of the Code.
5
Change in Control means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the Effective Date), of Equity Interests representing more than 30% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Company (on a fully diluted basis and taking into account any securities or contract rights exercisable, exchangeable or convertible into Equity Interests); (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Company by Persons who were neither (i) nominated or approved by the board of directors of the Company nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated or approved; (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Company by any Person or group; (d) the Company ceases to own, directly or indirectly, and Control 100% (other than directors qualifying shares) of the ordinary voting and economic power of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower; or (e) the occurrence of a change of control, fundamental change or similar occurrence in respect of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions or Permitted Warrant Transactions and giving rise to a right to payment or purchase prior to scheduled maturity or an exercise of rights and remedies thereunder or in respect thereof.
Change in Law means the occurrence, after the Effective Date (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rules, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a Change in Law regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Collateral means all pledged Equity Interests in or upon which a security interest or Lien is from time to time granted to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations, whether under the Pledge Agreements, under any of the other Collateral Documents or under any of the other Loan Documents.
Collateral Documents means all agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection with this Agreement pursuant to which the Administrative Agent is granted a security interest in Collateral, including, without limitation, the Pledge Agreements and all other security agreements, loan agreements, notes, guarantees, subordination agreements, pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, fee letters, notices, leases, financing statements and all other written matter whether heretofore, now, or hereafter executed by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and delivered to the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders, together with all agreements and documents referred to therein or contemplated thereby.
Commitment means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lenders Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.20 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The amount of each Lenders Commitment on the Effective Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01. The aggregate amount of the Commitments on the Effective Date is $175,000,000.
6
Commodity Exchange Act means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Communications has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).
Company means Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Computation Date means (a) with respect to any Loan, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of a Eurocurrency Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Eurocurrency Loan denominated in an Agreed Currency, other than Dollars, pursuant to Section 2.08, and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance, amendment and/or extension of a Letter of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency, (ii) each date of any payment by any Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency, (iii) in the case of all Existing Letters of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency, the Effective Date, and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require.
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 Capital Expenditures means, with reference to any period, the Capital Expenditures of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such period in accordance with GAAP, excluding Capital Expenditures financed with Indebtedness permitted hereunder other than Loans.
Consolidated EBITDA means Consolidated Operating Income plus, (i) Consolidated Interest Income, (ii) depreciation, (iii) amortization, (iv) to the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Operating Income, fees, costs and expenses related to the Transactions, incurred within sixty (60) days after the Effective Date, and (v) to the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Operating Income, (A) cash restructuring charges and integration expenses incurred by the Company in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000 during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended and (B) non-cash charges, expenses or losses, including non-cash losses recorded in connection with the settlement, extinguishment or conversion of the Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, and minus, to the extent included in computing Consolidated Operating Income, all non-cash income or gains, including non-cash gains recorded in connection with the settlement, extinguishment or conversion of the Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, all calculated for the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis for the applicable period.
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio is defined in Section 6.11.1.
Consolidated Interest Expense means, with reference to any period, the interest expense (including without limitation interest expense under Capital Lease Obligations that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP) of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such period.
Consolidated Interest Income means, with reference to any period, the interest income of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis.
7
Consolidated Operating Expense means, with reference to any period, expenses related to salaries, employee benefits and general and administrative expenses, all calculated for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period and otherwise in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Operating Income means, with reference to any period, the gross revenues less Consolidated Operating Expense, all calculated for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period and as calculated in the manner disclosed by the Company in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.
Consolidated Total Indebtedness means at any time the aggregate Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time in accordance with GAAP.
Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative thereto.
Convertible Indebtedness Maturity Date means the scheduled maturity date of any series or class of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness.
Credit Event means a Borrowing, the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, an LC Disbursement or any of the foregoing.
Credit Exposure means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lenders Revolving Loans, its LC Exposure and its participation in Swingline Loans at such time.
Credit Party means the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender (including Designated Lenders).
CRR means the Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012.
Default means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
Defaulting Lender means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Company or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by a Credit Party, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c)
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upon such Credit Partys receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of (i) a Bankruptcy Event or (ii) a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to the last sentence of Section 2.24) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Company, each Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender and each Lender. The Administrative Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such notice to such Persons upon making such determination.
Delaware LLC means any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Delaware Divided LLC means any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon the consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.
Delaware LLC Division means the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
Designated Lender shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.25.
Disclosed Matters means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06 or as otherwise disclosed by the Company in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018.
Disqualified Institution means, on any date, (a) any Person designated by the Company as a Disqualified Institution by written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date and (b) any other Person that is a competitor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which Person has been designated by the Company as a Disqualified Institution by written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (by posting such notice to the Platform) not less than two (2) Business Days prior to such date; provided that Disqualified Institutions shall exclude any Person that the Company has designated as no longer being a Disqualified Institution by written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from time to time.
Documentation Agent means HSBC Bank USA, National Association in its capacity as documentation agent for the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.
Dollar Amount of any currency at any date shall mean (i) the amount of such currency if such currency is Dollars or (ii) the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars if such currency is a Foreign Currency, calculated on the basis of the Exchange Rate for such currency, on or as of the most recent Computation Date.
Dollars or $ refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
Domestic Subsidiary means a Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America.
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Dutch Borrower means (i) Heidrick & Struggles B.V., a private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands having its corporate seat (statutaire zetel) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, its registered office at Gustav Mahlerlaan 1244, Noma House eleventh floor, 1081 LA Amsterdam and registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 33277877 and (ii) any other Borrower that is organized under the laws of the Netherlands.
Dutch Non-Public Lender means: (i) until the publication of an interpretation of public as referred to in the CRR by the competent authority/ies: an entity which (x) assumes existing rights and/or obligations vis-à-vis a Dutch Borrower, the value of which is at least 100,000 (or its equivalent in another currency), (y) provides repayable funds for an initial amount of at least 100,000 (or its equivalent in another currency) or (z) otherwise qualifies as not forming part of the public; and (ii) as soon as the interpretation of the term public as referred to in the CRR has been published by the relevant authority/ies: an entity which is not considered to form part of the public on the basis of such interpretation.
ECP means an eligible contract participant as defined in Section 1(a)(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or the SEC.
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 October 26, 2018.
Electronic Signature means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.
Electronic System means any electronic system, including e-mail, e-fax, Intralinks®, ClearPar®, Debt Domain, Syndtrak and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent and any Issuing Bank and any of its respective Related Parties or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.
Eligible Foreign Subsidiary means (i) Heidrick & Struggles B.V., a private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands having its corporate seat (statutaire zetel) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, its registered office at Gustav Mahlerlaan 1244, Noma House eleventh floor, 1081LA Amsterdam and registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 33277877 and (ii) any other Foreign Subsidiary that is approved from time to time by the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders.
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Environmental Laws means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
Environmental Liability means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Company or any Subsidiary 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 shares of Capital Stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing. For the avoidance of doubt, Equity Interests shall not include (x) Permitted Convertible Indebtedness until such time as such Indebtedness is converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock and such Capital Stock has been delivered by the Company to converting or exchanging holders or (y) Permitted Warrant Transactions.
Equivalent Amount of any currency with respect to any amount of Dollars at any date shall mean the equivalent in such currency of such amount of Dollars, calculated on the basis of the Exchange Rate for such other currency at 11:00 a.m., London time, on the date on or as of which such amount is to be determined.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
ERISA Affiliate means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Company, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
ERISA Event means (a) any reportable event, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
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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.
Euro and/or EUR means the single currency of the Participating Member States.
Eurocurrency, when used in reference to a currency means an Agreed Currency and when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, means that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.
Eurocurrency Payment Office of the Administrative Agent shall mean, for each Foreign Currency, the office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the Administrative Agent for such currency as specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Company and each Lender.
Event of Default has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.
Exchange Rate means, on any day, with respect to any Foreign Currency, the rate at which such Foreign Currency may be exchanged into Dollars, as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date on the Reuters World Currency Page for such Foreign Currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, the Exchange Rate with respect to such Foreign Currency shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent or, in the event no such service is selected, such Exchange Rate shall instead be calculated on the basis of the arithmetical mean of the buy and sell spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent for such Foreign Currency on the London market at 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date for the purchase of Dollars with such Foreign Currency, for delivery two Business Days later; provided, that if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Administrative Agent, after consultation with the Company, may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
Excluded Swap Obligation means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Specified Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Specified Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Partys failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation. If a Specified Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Specified Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.
Excluded Taxes means, with respect to any payment made by any Loan Party under any Loan Document, any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect 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 by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such Recipient is organized, in which its principal office is located, or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located; 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 any Loan Document pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in such Loan Document (other than pursuant to an assignment request by any Borrower under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17(a), amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lenders assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office;
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(c) Taxes attributable to such Recipients failure to comply with Section 2.17(f); and
(d) U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
Existing Credit Agreement means that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2015, as amended prior to the Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.
Extended Letter of Credit means a Letter of Credit that, upon the Companys request and the relevant Issuing Banks approval, shall have an expiry date later than the Termination Date.
Facility Office means the office designated by the applicable Lender through which such Lender will perform its obligations under this Agreement.
FATCA means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the Effective Date (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such sections of the Code, and any official interpretations thereof.
Federal Funds Effective Rate means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it; provided, that, if the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
Fee Letter means the letter agreement, dated October 5, 2018, among the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.
Financial Officer means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Company.
Financials means the annual or quarterly financial statements, and accompanying certificates and other documents, of the Company and its Subsidiaries required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b).
First Tier Foreign Subsidiary means each Foreign Subsidiary with respect to which any one or more of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries directly owns or Controls more than 50% of such Foreign Subsidiarys issued and outstanding Equity Interests.
Foreign Currencies means Agreed Currencies other than Dollars.
Foreign Currency LC Exposure means, at any time, the sum of (a) the Dollar Amount of the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of all outstanding Foreign Currency Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all LC Disbursements in respect of Foreign Currency Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed at such time.
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Foreign Currency Letter of Credit means a Letter of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency.
Foreign Subsidiary means (a) a Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Domestic Subsidiary, (b) any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of any Subsidiary described in clause (a) of this definition, and (c) any Foreign Subsidiary Holdco.
Foreign Subsidiary Borrower means any Eligible Foreign Subsidiary that becomes a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to Section 2.23 and that has not ceased to be a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to such Section.
Foreign Subsidiary Holdco means any Domestic Subsidiary (a) substantially all of the assets of which consist of the Equity Interests or Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that is a CFC and (b) that is treated as an entity disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income Tax purposes and substantially all of the assets of which consist of the Equity Interests or Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that is a CFC.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
Guarantee of or by any Person (the guarantor) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the primary obligor) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.
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.
Holders of Secured Obligations means the holders of the Obligations from time to time and shall include (i) each Lender and each Issuing Bank in respect of its Credit Events, (ii) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in respect of all other present and future obligations and liabilities of the Company and each Subsidiary of every type and description arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (iii) each Lender and Affiliate of such Lender in respect of Swap Agreements and Banking Services Agreements entered into with such Person by the Company or any Subsidiary, (iv) each indemnified party under Section 9.03 in respect of the obligations and liabilities of the Company to such Person hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and (v) their respective successors and (in the case of a Lender, permitted) transferees and assigns.
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Hostile Acquisition means (x) the acquisition of the Equity Interests of a Person through a tender offer or similar solicitation of the owners of such Equity Interests which has not been approved (prior to such acquisition) by resolutions of the Board of Directors (or any other applicable governing body) of such Person or by similar action if such Person is not a corporation and (y) any such acquisition as to which such approval has been withdrawn.
Impacted Interest Period has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of LIBO Rate.
Impacted Loans has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(a).
Increasing Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
Indebtedness of any Person means, without duplication and subject to Section 1.04(a), (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind to such Person, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed (with the amount of such Indebtedness being the lesser of the amount secured and the fair market value of the property subject to such Lien), (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Persons ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor. For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness shall not include Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions or Permitted Warrant Transactions.
Indemnified Taxes means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
Ineligible Institution has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
Interest Election Request means a request by the applicable Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08.
Interest Payment Date means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Termination Date, (b) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the Termination Date and (c) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the Termination Date.
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Interest Period means with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months (or, with the consent of each Lender, twelve months) thereafter, as the Company (on its own behalf or on behalf of the applicable Borrower) may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurocurrency Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
Issuing Bank means each of Bank of America, N.A. and any other Lender, that agrees to act as an Issuing Bank, which is reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Administrative Agent, each in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i). Each Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term Issuing Bank shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.
LC Disbursement means a payment made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
LC Exposure means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn Dollar Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate Dollar Amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Company at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.
LC Sublimit means $25,000,000, as the foregoing amount may be decreased or increased from time to time with the written consent of the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks.
Lender Parent means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.
Lenders means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.20 or pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term Lenders includes the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender.
Letter of Credit means any letter of credit issued, or deemed issued, pursuant to this Agreement.
Leverage Ratio is defined in Section 6.11.2.
LIBO Rate means, with respect to (a) any Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in any LIBOR Quoted Currency and for any applicable Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) (in such case, the LIBOR Screen Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the Quotation Day for such LIBOR
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Quoted Currency and Interest Period; provided that, if the LIBOR Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and (b) any Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in any Non-Quoted Currency and for any applicable Interest Period, the applicable Local Screen Rate for such Non-Quoted Currency on the Quotation Day for such Non-Quoted Currency and Interest Period; provided that, if the Local Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
LIBOR Quoted Currency means (i) Dollars, (ii) Euro and (iii) British Pounds Sterling.
LIBOR Screen Rate has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of LIBO Rate.
LIBOR Successor Rate has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(b).
LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(b).
Lien means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.
Liquidity means unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the United States (or that could be repatriated to the United States (less the applicable combined U.S. federal and state marginal income Tax, and any other applicable foreign Tax, due or payable that would be imposed on the Company or applicable Subsidiary in the case of, and with respect to, the repatriation of such cash to the United States of America, in each case at such time)) at such time in excess of $50,000,000 plus the amount of availability under the Commitments.
Loan Documents mean this Agreement, each Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement, each Borrowing Subsidiary Termination, any promissory notes executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2.10(e), the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Collateral Documents and any and all other instruments and documents executed and delivered in connection with any of the foregoing.
Loan Parties means, collectively, the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors.
Loans means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrowers under Article II in the form of a Revolving Loan or a Swingline Loan.
Local Screen Rate means the AUD Screen Rate.
Local Time means (i) New York City time in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in Dollars and (ii) local time in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in a Foreign Currency (it being understood that such local time shall mean London, England time unless otherwise notified by the Administrative Agent).
Material Adverse Change means any event, development or circumstance that has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, property, operations or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform any of their obligations under the Loan Documents, or (c) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Material Indebtedness means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $20,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the principal amount of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Company or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.
Material Subsidiaries means each Subsidiary the consolidated gross revenues of which for the most recent four fiscal quarter period of the Company for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 were greater than two and a half percent (2.5%) of the Companys consolidated gross revenues for such four fiscal quarter period or (ii) the consolidated tangible assets of which as of the end of such four fiscal quarter period were greater than two and a half percent (2.5%) of the Companys consolidated tangible assets as of such date; provided that, if at the end of any fiscal quarter the aggregate amount of the consolidated gross revenues or consolidated tangible assets of all Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries exceeds twenty-five percent (25%) of the Companys consolidated gross revenues for any such four fiscal quarter period or twenty-five percent (25%) of the Companys consolidated tangible assets as of the end of any such four fiscal quarter period, the Company (or, in the event the Company has failed to do so on the date that it delivers its compliance certificate for such fiscal quarter pursuant to Section 5.01(d), the Administrative Agent) shall designate sufficient Subsidiaries as Material Subsidiaries to eliminate such excess, and such designated Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement constitute Material Subsidiaries. The Material Subsidiaries on the Effective Date are identified in Schedule 3.01 hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, all Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers and Subsidiary Guarantors shall deemed to be Material Subsidiaries.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
Multiemployer Plan means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
Non-Quoted Currency means Australian Dollars.
Non-U.S. Lender means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.
Notice of Loan Prepayment means a notice of prepayment with respect to a Loan, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B-3 or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer.
Obligations means all Loans, LC Disbursements, advances, debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties owing by the Borrowers or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank, any Affiliate of the Agent or any Lender, any Issuing Bank, or any indemnified Person hereunder, of any kind or nature, present or future, arising under this Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty, any Collateral Document or any other Loan Document, whether or not evidenced by any note, guaranty or other instrument, whether or not for the payment of money, whether arising by reason
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of an extension of credit, loan, guaranty, indemnification, or in any other manner, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and however acquired provided, however, that (i) the Obligations of a Guarantor shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Guarantor, and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, Obligations shall not include Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions and Permitted Warrant Transactions. The term includes, without limitation, all interest, charges, expenses, fees, reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements, reasonable paralegals fees (in each case whether or not allowed), and any other sum chargeable to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
OFAC means Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.
Other Connection Taxes means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than a connection arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, enforced, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, or engaged in any other transaction pursuant to, or enforced, any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan Document).
Other Taxes means any present or future stamp, court, 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 under Section 2.19(b)).
Overnight Foreign Currency Rate means, for any amount payable in a Foreign Currency, the rate of interest per annum as determined by the Administrative Agent at which overnight or weekend deposits in the relevant currency (or if such amount due remains unpaid for more than three (3) Business Days, then for such other period of time as the Administrative Agent may elect) for delivery in immediately available and freely transferable funds would be offered by the Administrative Agent to major banks in the interbank market upon request of such major banks for the relevant currency as determined above and in an amount comparable to the unpaid principal amount of the related Credit Event, plus any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed upon, or charged to, the Administrative Agent by any relevant correspondent bank in respect of such amount in such relevant currency.
Participant has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).
Participant Register has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).
Participating Member State means any member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to economic and monetary union.
Patriot Act means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
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Permitted Acquisition means any acquisition (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise but excluding in any event a Hostile Acquisition) by the Company or any Subsidiary of (i) all or substantially all the assets of a Person or division or line of business of a Person or (ii) at least a majority of the voting Equity Interests in a Person, in each case whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person, if, at the time of and immediately after giving effect thereto, (a) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (b) the principal business of such Person shall be reasonably related to, or strategically aligned with, a business in which the Company and the Subsidiaries were engaged on the Effective Date, (c) each Subsidiary formed for the purpose of or resulting from such acquisition shall, to the extent required under the definition of Subsidiary Guarantor, be a Subsidiary Loan Party, and all actions required to be taken with respect to such acquired or newly formed Subsidiary under Sections 5.09 and 5.10 shall have been taken, (d) the Company and the Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such acquisition, with the covenant contained in Section 6.11.1 recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Company for which financial statements are available, as if such acquisition (and any related incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, with any new Indebtedness being deemed to be amortized over the applicable testing period in accordance with its terms) had occurred on the first day of each relevant period for testing such compliance and (ii) the Leverage Ratio, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such acquisition, would not exceed 2.50 to 1.00 and (e) with respect to an acquisition in respect of which the sum of all cash consideration paid or delivered in connection therewith exceeds $30,000,000, the Company has delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers certificate to the effect set forth in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, together with all relevant financial information for the Person or assets to be acquired and reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent the requirement set forth in clause (d) above (including with respect to any pro forma calculations).
Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions means any call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to the Companys common stock (or other securities or property following a merger event or other change of the common stock of the Company) purchased by Company in connection with the issuance of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness; provided that the purchase price for such Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions, less the proceeds received by Company from the sale of any related Permitted Warrant Transactions, does not exceed the net proceeds received by the Company from the issuance of such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness in connection with such Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions.
Permitted Convertible Indebtedness means notes, bonds, indentures or similar instruments issued by the Company that are convertible into or exchangeable for (x) cash, (y) shares of the common stock of the Company (or securities or property of another Person following a merger event or other change of the common stock of the Company) or (z) a combination thereof.
Permitted Encumbrances means:
(a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(b) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, materialmens, repairmens and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 45 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
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(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII;
(f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided that the term Permitted Encumbrances shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness other than the Liens permitted under Section 6.02; and
(g) usual and customary possessory liens and rights of setoff in favor of banks and brokerages in respect of deposit and investment accounts, and including liens that are contractual rights of set-off or other rights of set-off arising by operation of law relating to Cash Pooling Arrangements to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary.
Permitted Foreign Reorganization Transfers means, to the extent approved by the Administrative Agent, loans, advances or capital contributions by and among the Company and its Subsidiaries in order to implement the reorganization of the Companys Foreign Subsidiaries and foreign branches.
Permitted Investments means:
(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(b) direct obligations of any agency of the United States of America, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(c) municipal investments and direct obligations of any State of the United States of America, in each case with a rating of BBB+ or higher and a maximum maturity of 12 months (for securities where the interest rate is adjusted periodically (e.g. floating rate securities), the reset date will be used to determine the maturity date);
(d) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of A-2 from S&P and P-2 from Moodys;
(e) investments in certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any Lender or any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;
(f) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (e) above;
(g) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moodys and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $500,000,000;
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(h) in the case of investments of any Foreign Subsidiary or non-domestic branch of the Company, securities issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision of any foreign government or any public instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than one year from the date of the acquisitions thereof and, at the time of the acquisition thereof, having an investment grade credit rating obtainable from S&P, Moodys, or other generally recognized rating agency;
(i) investments in funds that invest solely in one or more of types of securities described in clauses (a) through (h) above; and
(j) in the case of investments by any Foreign Subsidiary or non-domestic branch of the Company, (i) investments in time deposits maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with any highly capitalized commercial bank which is located in the jurisdiction where such non-domestic branch of the Company or such Foreign Subsidiary is located and which bank has an investment grade credit rating obtainable from S&P, Moodys or other generally recognized rating agency and (ii) other investments in money market funds domiciled in such jurisdiction that (x) are rated AAA by S&P and AAA by Moodys and (y) have portfolio assets of at least $2,000,000,000.
Permitted Two-Year Investments means:
(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America, in each case maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof;
(b) direct obligations of any agency of the United States of America, in each case maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof;
(c) municipal investments and direct obligations of any State of the United States of America with a rating of BBB+ or higher and a maximum maturity of two years (for securities where the interest rate is adjusted periodically (e.g. floating rate securities), the reset date will be used to determine the maturity date);
(d) investments in certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and time deposits maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any Lender or any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;
(e) in the case of investments by any Foreign Subsidiary or non-domestic branch of the Company, securities issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision of any foreign government or any public instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than two years from the date of the acquisitions thereof and, at the time of the acquisition thereof, having an investment grade credit rating obtainable from S&P, Moodys, or other generally recognized rating agency;
(f) investments in funds that invest solely in one or more of the types of securities described in clauses (a) through (e) above; and
(g) in the case of investments by any non-domestic branch of the Company or any Foreign Subsidiary, investments in time deposits maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with any highly capitalized commercial bank which is located in the jurisdiction where such non-domestic branch of the Company or such Foreign Subsidiary is located and which bank has an investment grade credit rating obtainable from S&P, Moodys or other generally recognized rating agency.
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Permitted Warrant Transactions means any call option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) relating to the Companys common stock (or other securities or property following a merger event or other change of the common stock of the Company) sold by the Company substantially concurrently in connection with any purchase by the Company of a related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.
Person means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Plan means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an employer as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
Platform means Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.
Pledge Agreements means the pledge agreements, share mortgages, charges and comparable instruments and documents from time to time executed pursuant to the terms of Section 5.10 in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Pledged Subsidiary means each Foreign Subsidiary a portion of the Equity Interests of which has been pledged pursuant to a Pledge Agreement in accordance with Section 5.10.
Prime Rate means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.
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.
Quotation Day means two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (or such other day as is generally treated as the rate fixing day by market practice in such interbank market, as determined by the Administrative Agent; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then Quotation Date means such other day as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent).
Recipient means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, as applicable.
Reference Bank Rate for a currency means the rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided further that the L/C Issuer may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency.
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Reference Banks means the principal London (or other applicable) offices of Bank of America, N.A. and such other banks as may be appointed by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Company. No Lender shall be obligated to be a Reference Bank without its consent.
Register has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.
Regulation T means Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of the Board relating to the extension of credit by securities brokers and dealers, including all members of national securities exchanges.
Regulation U means Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of the Board relating to the extension of credit by banks for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stocks applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.
Regulation X means Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of the Board for the purpose of applying the provisions of Regulation T and Regulation U to borrowers who are subject to United States laws and who obtain credit within or outside the United States for the purpose of purchasing securities.
Related Parties means, with respect to any specified Person, such Persons Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Persons Affiliates.
Required Lenders means, at any time, Lenders having Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time. The Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; provided that, the amount of any participation in any Swingline Loan and unreimbursed LC Disbursements that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the Swingline Lender or an Issuing Bank, as the case may be, in making such determination.
Restricted Payment means (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Company or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), (b) any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in the Company or any Subsidiary, (c) any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in the Company or any Subsidiary, (d) the initial premium amount for a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction and the sales proceeds from a Permitted Warrant Transaction in connection with Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, taken together as a single transaction, on a net basis, and (e) any payment made in cash to holders of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness in excess of the original principal (or notional) amount thereof and interest solely on such excess amount, unless and to the extent that a corresponding amount is received in cash (whether through a direct cash payment or a settlement in shares of stock that are immediately sold for cash) substantially contemporaneously from the other parties to a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction relating to such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, and (f) any cash payment made in connection with the settlement of a Permitted Warrant Transaction to the extent the Company has the option of satisfying such payment obligation through the issuance of shares of common stock.
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Responsible Officer means the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller, director or other authorized representative of a Loan Party, solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party. To the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, each Responsible Officer will provide an incumbency certificate and to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, appropriate authorization documentation, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
Revolving Loan has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC business, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.
Sanctioned Country means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).
Sanctioned Person means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, Her Majestys Treasury (HMT), the European Union or any European Union member state in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts business, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).
Sanctions means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time and applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts business or Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom.
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Secured Obligations means, collectively, (i) the Obligations, (ii) all Banking Services Obligations owing to one or more Lenders and their respective Affiliates and (iii) all Swap Obligations; provided that the definition of Secured Obligations shall not create or include any guarantee by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.
Specified Swap Obligation means, with respect to any Loan Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a swap within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
Statutory Reserve Rate means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves or other requirements) established by any central bank, monetary authority, the
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Board, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority, the European Central Bank or other Governmental Authority for any category of deposits or liabilities customarily used to fund loans in the applicable currency, expressed in the case of each such requirement as a decimal. Such reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D of the Board. Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to be subject to such reserve, liquid asset, fee or similar requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under any applicable law, rule or regulation, including Regulation D of the Board. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve, liquid asset or similar requirement.
Subordinated Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary the payment of which is subordinated to payment of the obligations under the Loan Documents pursuant to a subordination agreement on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
subsidiary means, with respect to any Person (the parent) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parents consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.
Subsidiary means any subsidiary of the Company.
Subsidiary Guarantor means each Subsidiary (other than (x) any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent (a) such Foreign Subsidiary is a CFC, a Subsidiary of a CFC or a Foreign Subsidiary Holdco (unless, as determined by the Company acting in good faith or upon advice of its tax advisors that, causing any such Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor would not have disadvantageous tax implications for the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary under Section 956 of the Code (or any successor provision or any applicable U.S. Treasury Regulation)) or (b) designation or continuation of such Foreign Subsidiary as a Subsidiary Guarantor would be prohibited by applicable laweach such Foreign Subsidiary, an Affected Foreign Subsidiary) or (y) any non-wholly owned Subsidiary to the extent that designation or continuation of such non-wholly owned Subsidiary as a Subsidiary Guarantor would be prohibited (a) by applicable law or (b) by the terms of its organizational documents or other contractual restrictions from being a Subsidiary Guarantor so long as such prohibition was not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary (each such non-wholly owned Subsidiary an Affected Non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary and together with the Affected Foreign Subsidiary, each an Affected Subsidiary)) (i) the consolidated gross revenues of which for the most recent four fiscal quarter period of the Company for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 were greater than five percent (5%) of the Companys consolidated gross revenues for such four fiscal quarter period or (ii) the consolidated tangible assets of which as of the end of such four fiscal quarter period were greater than five percent (5%) of the Companys consolidated tangible assets as of such date; provided that, if at the end of any fiscal quarter the aggregate amount of the consolidated gross revenues or consolidated tangible assets of all Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors exceeds thirty-five percent (35%) of the Companys consolidated gross revenues for any such four fiscal quarter period or thirty-five percent (35%) of the Companys consolidated tangible assets as of the end of any such four fiscal quarter period, the Company (or, in the event the Company has failed to do so on the date that it delivers its compliance certificate for such fiscal quarter pursuant to Section 5.01(d), the Administrative Agent) shall designate sufficient Subsidiaries (other than Affected Subsidiaries) as Subsidiary Guarantors to eliminate such excess, and such designated Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement constitute Subsidiary Guarantors. The Subsidiary Guarantors on the Effective Date are identified in Schedule 3.01 hereto.
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Subsidiary Guaranty means that certain Guaranty dated as of the Effective Date in substantially the form of Exhibit E (including any and all supplements thereto) and executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor party thereto, and, in the case of any guaranty by a Foreign Subsidiary, any other guaranty agreements as are requested by the Administrative Agent and its counsel, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Subsidiary Loan Party means a Subsidiary Guarantor or a Pledged Subsidiary.
Swap Agreement means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan (including, without limitation, restricted stock awards, options and other incentive compensation plans) providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, Swap Agreement shall not include any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, any Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions or Permitted Warrant Transactions.
Swap Obligations means all indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company under Swap Agreements to any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender.
Swingline Borrowing means a borrowing of a Swingline Loan pursuant to Section 2.05.
Swingline Exposure means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be the sum of (a) its Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time other than with respect to any Swingline Loans made by such Lender in its capacity as a Swingline Lender and (b) the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans made by such Lender as a Swingline Lender outstanding at such time (less the amount of participations funded by the other Lenders in such Swingline Loans).
Swingline Lender means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swingline Loans, or any successor swingline lender hereunder.
Swingline Loan has the meaning specified in Section 2.05.
Swingline Loan Request means a notice of a Swingline Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.05(b), which shall be in a form approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company.
Swingline Sublimit means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Commitment. The Swingline Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Commitments.
Syndication Agent means SunTrust Bank in its capacity as syndication agent for the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.
TARGET2 means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET2) payment system (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system (if any) reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) for the settlement of payments in Euro.
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TARGET2 Day means a day that TARGET2 is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.
Taxes means any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Termination Date means October 26, 2023.
Transactions means the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.
Type, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.
U.S. Person means a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
U.S. Tax Certificate has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(D)(2).
Withdrawal Liability means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
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.
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a Eurocurrency Loan). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a Eurocurrency Borrowing).
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally.
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall. The word law shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified
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(subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words herein, hereof and hereunder, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (f) the words asset and property shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In this Agreement, where it relates to the Dutch Borrower or any other Dutch Subsidiary, or to any Dutch law governed security, a reference to (i) necessary organizational actions, where applicable, include any action required to comply with the Works Councils Act of the Netherlands (Wet op de ondernemingsraden) and obtaining of an unconditional positive advice (advies) from the competent works council(s), (ii) a Lien or security interest includes any mortgage (hypotheek), pledge (pandrecht), financial collateral agreement (financiëlezekerheidsovereenkomst), privilege (voorrecht), retention of title arrangement (eigendomsvoorbehoud), right of retention (recht van retentie), right to reclaim goods (recht van reclame) and, in general, any right in rem (beperkt recht), created for the purpose of granting security (goederenrechtelijk zekerheidsrecht), (iii) a winding up, liquidation, bankruptcy, insolvency and administration (and any of those terms) includes a Dutch entity being declared bankrupt (failliet verklaard) or dissolved (ontbonden), (iv) a moratorium includes surseance van betaling, (v) bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings include (A) bankruptcy (faillissement), suspension of payments (surseance van betaling), emergency procedure (noodregeling) or any other procedure having the effect that the entity to which it applies loses the free management or ability to dispose of its property (irrespective of whether the procedure is provisional or final) and (B) dissolution (ontbinding) or any other procedure having the effect that the entity to which it applies ceases to exist, (vi) any step, action or procedure taken in connection with, or acquiescence in, bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings includes filing or having filed a notice under Section 36 of the Tax Collection Act of the Netherlands (Invorderingswet 1990) or Section 60 of the Social Insurance Financing Act of the Netherlands (Wet Financiering Sociale Verzekeringen) in conjunction with Section 36 of the Tax Collection Act of the Netherlands (Invorderingswet 1990), (vii) a receiver or trustee includes a curator, (viii) an administrator (in the context of a moratorium, suspension of payments or other insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings) includes a bewindvoerder, (ix) an attachment includes a beslag, (x) a merger includes a juridische fusie and (xi) a Subsidiary includes a dochtermaatschappij as defined in Article 2:24a of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek). In this Agreement, a reference to any person incorporated or established in the Netherlands includes a general partnership (vennootschap onder firma), a limited partnership (commanditaire vennootschap) or other partnership (maatschap) or other entity and any other temporary or permanent joint venture as well as similar entities incorporated under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Netherlands. In this Agreement, a reference to the Netherlands means the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Dutch means in or of the Netherlands.
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Company notifies the Administrative Agent that the Company requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Effective Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Company that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of
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whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary at fair value, as defined therein, (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof, and in the case of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness for which the embedded conversion obligation must be settled by paying solely cash, so long as substantially concurrently with the offering of such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, the Company enters into a cash-settled Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction relating to such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, for so long as such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction (or a portion thereof corresponding to the amount of outstanding Permitted Convertible Indebtedness) remains in effect, all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made as if the amount of Indebtedness represented by such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness were equal to the face principal amount thereof without regard to any mark-to-market derivative accounting for such Indebtedness, (iii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of lease obligations that are not, or would not be, capital or finance lease obligations under GAAP as in effect on the Effective Date, but which are recharacterized as capital or finance lease obligations (and hence excluded for all purposes hereof from Capital Expenditures, Capital Lease Obligations and Indebtedness) pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 (or any successor provisions of similar import), (iv) in a manner such that any obligations relating to a lease of real property shall be accounted for as obligations relating to an operating lease and not as Capital Lease Obligations (and hence excluded for all purposes hereof from Capital Expenditures, Capital Lease Obligations and Indebtedness) so long as such lease is not part of a sale-and-lease back transaction and (v) for purposes of all calculations hereunder, the principal amount of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness shall be the outstanding principal (or notional) amount thereof, valued at par.
(b) To the extent that the Company makes any Permitted Acquisition during the period of four fiscal quarters of the Company most recently ended:
(i) the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio and Leverage Ratio shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Permitted Acquisition had occurred on the first day of such period;
(ii) interest accrued during the relevant period on, and the principal of, any Indebtedness repaid or to be repaid or refinanced in such transaction shall be excluded from the results of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period;
(iii) any Indebtedness actually or proposed to be incurred or assumed in such transaction shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period, and interest thereon shall be deemed to have accrued from such day on such Indebtedness at the applicable rates provided therefor (and in the case of interest that does or would accrue at a formula or floating rate, at the rate in effect at the time of determination or as otherwise approved by the Administrative Agent) and shall be included in the results of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period; and
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(iv) the pro forma calculation describe in clause (i) above shall be made without giving effect to any cost savings other than those actually realized as of the date of such Permitted Acquisition or thereafter realized during such period or otherwise approved in writing by the Administrative Agent.
(c) Any requirement in this Agreement that a transaction shall be in compliance on a pro form basis means that such transaction does not cause, create or result in a Default after giving pro forma effect thereto in accordance with clause (b) above, based upon the results of operations for the most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered under Section 5.01(a) and (b), to (x) such transaction and (y) all other transactions which are contemplated or required to be given pro forma effect hereunder that have occurred on or after the first day of the relevant period.
SECTION 1.05. Status of Obligations. In the event that the Company or any other Loan Party shall at any time issue or have outstanding any Subordinated Indebtedness, the Company shall take or cause such other Loan Party to take all such actions as shall be necessary to cause the Obligations to constitute senior indebtedness (however denominated) in respect of such Subordinated Indebtedness. Without limiting the foregoing, the Obligations are hereby designated as senior indebtedness and as designated senior indebtedness and words of similar import under and in respect of any indenture or other agreement or instrument under which such Subordinated Indebtedness is outstanding and are further given all such other designations as shall be required under the terms of any such Subordinated Indebtedness in order that the Lenders may have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness.
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make loans (each such loan, a Revolving Loan) to the Borrowers in Agreed Currencies from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) subject to the definition of Computation Date and Section 2.11(c), the Dollar Amount of such Lenders Credit Exposure exceeding such Lenders Commitment or (ii) subject to the definition of Computation Date and Section 2.11(c), the sum of the Dollar Amount of the total Credit Exposures exceeding the aggregate Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow the Revolving Loans.
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings.
(a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lenders failure to make Loans as required. Any Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05.
(b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as the relevant Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that each ABR Loan shall only be made in Dollars. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the relevant Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
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(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $250,000 (or, if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency, 250,000 units of such currency) and not less than $1,000,000 (or, if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency, 1,000,000 units of such currency). At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $250,000 and not less than $1,000,000; provided that an ABR Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the aggregate Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e). Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of five (5) Eurocurrency Borrowings outstanding.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Borrower shall be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Termination Date.
(e) Any Loan to, or Letter of Credit issued on behalf of, any Dutch Borrower shall at all times be provided by a Lender that is a Dutch Non-Public Lender.
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing of a Revolving Loan, the Company (on its own behalf or on behalf of the applicable Borrower) shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request (a) by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Company (on its own behalf or on behalf of the applicable Borrower) promptly followed by telephonic confirmation of such request), not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, (x) two (2) Business Days (in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Dollars) or by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by such Borrower, or the Company on its behalf), (y) three (3) Business Days (in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than Australian Dollars) and (z) four (4) Business Days (in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Australian Dollars), in each case before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) by telephone in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e) may be given not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Company (on its own behalf or on behalf of the applicable Borrower). Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the name of the applicable Borrower;
(ii) the aggregate principal amount of the requested Borrowing;
(iii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iv) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing;
(v) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Agreed Currency and initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Interest Period; and
(vi) the location and number of the applicable Borrowers account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07(a).
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If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then, in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurocurrency Borrowing, then the relevant Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) months duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lenders Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.04. [Intentionally Omitted].
SECTION 2.05. Swingline Loans.
(a) The Swingline. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section, may in its sole discretion make loans to the Company (each such loan, a Swingline Loan). Each such Swingline Loan may be made, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, to the Company, in Dollars, from time to time on any Business Day. During the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swingline Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swingline Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans and LC Exposure of the Lender acting as Swingline Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lenders Commitment; provided, however, that (i) after giving effect to any Swingline Loan, (A) the total Credit Exposure shall not exceed the Commitments at such time, and (B) the Credit Exposure of any Lender at such time shall not exceed such Lenders Commitment, (ii) the Company shall not use the proceeds of any Swingline Loan to refinance any outstanding Swingline Loan, and (iii) the Swingline Lender shall not be under any obligation to make any Swingline Loan if it shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that it has, or by such Credit Event may have, fronting exposure to a Defaulting Lenders Applicable Percentage of Swingline Loans other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lenders participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company may borrow under this Section, prepay under Section 2.10, and reborrow under this Section. Each Swingline Loan shall bear interest only at a rate based on the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate. Immediately upon the making of a Swingline Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swingline Lender a risk participation in such Swingline Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lenders Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swingline Loan.
(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swingline Borrowing shall be made upon the Companys irrevocable notice to the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by: (A) telephone or (B) a Swingline Loan Request; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent of a Swingline Loan Request. Each such Swingline Loan Request must be received by the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day). Promptly after receipt by the Swingline Lender of any Swingline Loan Request, the Swingline Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swingline Loan Request and, if not, the Swingline Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swingline Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swingline Borrowing (A) directing the Swingline Lender not to make such Swingline Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.05(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swingline Lender may make the amount of its Swingline Loan available to the Company at its office by crediting the account of the Company on the books of the Swingline Lender in immediately available funds.
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(c) Refinancing of Swingline Loans.
(i) The Swingline Lender at any time in its sole discretion may request, on behalf of the Company (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swingline Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make an ABR Loan in an amount equal to such Lenders Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Borrowing Request for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of ABR Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swingline Lender shall furnish the Company with a copy of the applicable Borrowing Request promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Borrowing Request available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply cash collateral available with respect to the applicable Swingline Loan) for the account of the Swingline Lender at the Administrative Agents Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Borrowing Request, whereupon, subject to Section 2.05(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made an ABR Loan to the Company in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swingline Lender.
(ii) If for any reason any Swingline Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.05(c)(i), the request for ABR Loans submitted by the Swingline Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swingline Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swingline Loan and each Lenders payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.
(iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.05(c) by the time specified in Section 2.05(c)(i), the Swingline 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 Swingline Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Swingline Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swingline 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 Lenders Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swingline Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swingline Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(iv) Each Lenders obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swingline Lender, the Company or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar
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to any of the foregoing; provided however, that each Lenders obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Company of a Borrowing Request). No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Company to repay Swingline Loans, together with interest as provided herein.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swingline Loan, if the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account of such Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swingline Lender.
(ii) If any payment received by the Swingline Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swingline Loan is required to be returned by the Swingline Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 9.19 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swingline Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swingline Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swingline Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Interest for Account of Swingline Lender. The Swingline Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Company for interest on the Swingline Loans. Until each Lender funds its ABR Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section to refinance such Lenders Applicable Percentage of any Swingline Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swingline Lender.
(f) Payments Directly to Swingline Lender. The Company shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swingline Loans directly to the Swingline Lender.
SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit.
(a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in Agreed Currencies as the applicant thereof for the support of its or its Subsidiaries obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Company to, or entered into by the Company with, the relevant Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. Schedule 2.06 contains a schedule of certain letters of credit issued by Bank of America, N.A. Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, from and after the Effective Date, such letters of credit (to the extent that they were not already issued pursuant to this Section 2.06) shall be deemed to be Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 2.06. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Issuing Bank shall have any obligation hereunder to issue, and shall not issue, any Letter of Credit the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (i) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of any Sanctions or (ii) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement. The Company unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that, in connection with any Letter of Credit issued for the support of any Subsidiarys obligations as provided in the first sentence of this
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paragraph, the Company will be fully responsible for the reimbursement of LC Disbursements in accordance with the terms hereof, the payment of interest thereon and the payment of fees due under Section 2.12(b) to the same extent as if it were the sole account party in respect of such Letter of Credit (the Company hereby irrevocably waiving any defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of the obligations of such a Subsidiary that is an account party in respect of any such Letter of Credit).
(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Company shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the relevant Issuing Bank) to the relevant Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the Agreed Currency applicable thereto, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by an Issuing Bank, the Company also shall submit a letter of credit application on such Issuing Banks standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Company shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) subject to the definition of Computation Date and Section 2.11(c), the Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure shall not exceed $25,000,000, (ii) subject to the definition of Computation Date and Section 2.11(c), the sum of the Dollar Amount of the total Credit Exposures shall not exceed the aggregate Commitments and (iii) subject to the definition of Computation Date and Section 2.11(c), the Dollar Amount of the aggregate face amount of all Letters of Credit issued and then outstanding by any Issuing Bank shall not exceed the LC Sublimit.
(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination by notice from the relevant Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the date that is five Business Days prior to the Termination Date unless such Letter of Credit is an Extended Letter of Credit, in which case the expiry date shall not be later than the date which is three years after the Termination Date so long as the Company shall have complied with Section 2.06(j).
(d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the relevant Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the relevant Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from the relevant Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lenders Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank, such Lenders Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Company on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Company for any reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
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(e) Reimbursement. If the relevant Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Company shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent in Dollars the Dollar Amount equal to such LC Disbursement, calculated as of the date such Issuing Bank made such LC Disbursement (or if such Issuing Bank shall so elect in its sole discretion by notice to the Company, in such other Agreed Currency which was paid by such Issuing Bank pursuant to such LC Disbursement in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement) not later than 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Company shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Company prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Company receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than the Dollar Amount of $1,000,000, the Company may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with (i) an ABR Borrowing, Swingline Loan or Eurocurrency Borrowing in Dollars in the Dollar Amount of such LC Disbursement or (ii) to the extent that such LC Disbursement was made in a Foreign Currency, a Eurocurrency Borrowing in such Foreign Currency (in the event such Foreign Currency is an Agreed Loan Currency) in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement and, in each case, to the extent so financed, the Companys obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Borrowing, Eurocurrency Borrowing or Swingline Loan, as applicable. If the Company fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Company in respect thereof and the Dollar Amount of such Lenders Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Company, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders, provided that (x) such payment shall be payable by no later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time and (y) with respect to any such payment in respect of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Agreed LC Currency that is not an Agreed Loan Currency, any Lender may make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Amount of such LC Disbursement), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the relevant Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Company pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to such Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of an ABR Revolving Loan or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Company of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement. If the Companys reimbursement of, or obligation to reimburse, any amounts in any Agreed Currency other than Dollars would subject the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to any Other Tax that would not be payable if such reimbursement were made or required to be made in Dollars, the Company shall, at its option, either (x) pay the amount of any such tax requested by the Administrative Agent, the relevant Issuing Bank or the relevant Lender or (y) reimburse each LC Disbursement made in such Agreed Currency in Dollars, in an amount equal to the Equivalent Amount, calculated using the applicable exchange rates, on the date such LC Disbursement is made, of such LC Disbursement.
(f) Obligations Absolute. The Companys obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the relevant Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against
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presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Companys obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Issuing Banks, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the relevant Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the relevant Issuing Bank from liability to the Company to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Company to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Company that are caused by such Issuing Banks failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, each Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
(g) Disbursement Procedures. Each Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Each Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Company by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Company of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and/or the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.
(h) Interim Interest. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Company shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full as required by paragraph (e) above, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Company reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Loans (or in the case such LC Disbursement is denominated in a Foreign Currency, at the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate for such Agreed Currency plus the then effective Applicable Rate with respect to Eurocurrency Loans); provided that, if the Company fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.
(i) Replacement of the Issuing Bank. Any Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Company, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of any Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Company shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and
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obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term Issuing Bank shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit then outstanding and issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
(j) Cash Collateralization. If (x) any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Company receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph or (y) the Company requests, and the relevant Issuing Bank approves, the issuance of an Extended Letter of Credit, the Company shall either (A) cover by arranging for the issuance of one or more standby letters of credit issued by an issuer, and otherwise on terms and conditions, satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or (B) deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 105% of the Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure in respect of such Extended Letter of Credit (in the case of the foregoing clause (y)) or in the aggregate (in the case of the foregoing clause (x)) as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that (i) the portions of such amount attributable to undrawn Foreign Currency Letters of Credit or LC Disbursements in a Foreign Currency that the Company is not late in reimbursing shall be deposited in the applicable Foreign Currencies in the actual amounts of such undrawn Letters of Credit and LC Disbursements and (ii) the obligation to provide such letter of credit cover or deposit such cash collateral shall (1) be required by no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Termination Date in the case of an Extended Letter of Credit and (2) become effective immediately, and such cover or deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Company described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Foreign Currency LC Exposure shall be calculated using the applicable Exchange Rate on the date notice demanding cash collateralization is delivered to the Company. The Company also shall deposit cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph as and to the extent required by Section 2.11(c). Such cover and deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent in interest-bearing accounts selected at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Companys risk and expense as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Company for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. If the Company is required to provide an amount of letter of credit cover or cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Company within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.
(k) Issuing Bank Agreements. Each Issuing Bank agrees that, unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on or prior to each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension occurred (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood that such Issuing Bank shall not permit any issuance, renewal, extension or
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amendment resulting in an increase in the amount of any Letter of Credit to occur without first obtaining written confirmation from the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement, (ii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank pays any amount in respect of one or more drawings under Letters of Credit, the date of such payment(s) and the amount of such payment(s), (iii) on any Business Day on which the Borrowers fail to reimburse any amount required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the amount and currency of such payment in respect of Letters of Credit and (iv) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.
SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings.
(a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds (i) in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders and (ii) in the case of each Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency, by 12:00 noon, Local Time, in the city of the Administrative Agents Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency and at such Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency and Borrower; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the relevant Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to (x) an account of the Company maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City or Chicago or any other account as is designated by the Company in the applicable Swingline Request or Borrowing Request, in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars and (y) an account of such Borrower in the relevant jurisdiction and designated by such Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request, in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency; provided that ABR Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the relevant Issuing Bank.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the relevant Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and such 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 such Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation (including without limitation the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency) or (ii) in the case of such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lenders Loan included in such Borrowing.
SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections.
(a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the relevant Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. A Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Swingline Loan may not be converted to a Eurocurrency Loan.
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(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, a Borrower, or the Company on its behalf, shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election (by telephone or irrevocable written notice in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars or by irrevocable written notice (via an Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by such Borrower, or the Company on its behalf) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency) by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if such Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the relevant Borrower, or the Company on its behalf. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit any Borrower to (i) change the currency of any Borrowing, (ii) elect an Interest Period for Eurocurrency Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d) or (iii) convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing of a Type not available for such Borrowing.
(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the name of the applicable Borrower and the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Agreed Currency and Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which Interest Period shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Interest Period.
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one months duration.
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lenders portion of each resulting Borrowing.
(e) If the Company (on its own behalf or on behalf of the applicable Borrower) fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurocurrency Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period (i) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing and (ii) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency in respect of which the applicable Borrower shall have failed to deliver an Interest Election Request prior to the third (3rd) Business Day preceding the end of such Interest Period, such Borrowing shall automatically
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continue as a Eurocurrency Borrowing in the same Agreed Currency with an Interest Period of one month unless such Eurocurrency Borrowing is or was repaid in accordance with Section 2.11. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Company, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing denominated in Dollars may be converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing, (ii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Dollars shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto and (iii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency shall automatically be continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month.
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Termination Date.
(b) The Company may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Company shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans and reimbursement of LC Disbursements in accordance with Section 2.11, the Dollar Amount of the sum of the Credit Exposures would exceed the aggregate Commitments.
(c) The Company shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Company pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Company may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or financings, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Company (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent (but shall not impact the Companys ability to exercise the expansion option described in Section 2.20). Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.
SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.
(a) Each Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan made to such Borrower on the Termination Date in the currency of such Loan and (ii) to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Termination Date and the tenth (10th) Business Day after such Swingline Loan is made.
(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of each Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, Agreed Currency and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from each Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lenders share thereof.
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(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be conclusive evidence (absent manifest error) of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of any Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it to any Borrower be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the relevant Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if any such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).
SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans.
(a) Any Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Revolving Loans in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.11(a). The Company (on its own behalf or on behalf of the applicable Borrower) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a Notice of Loan Prepayment (promptly followed by telephonic confirmation of such request) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Dollars, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, two (2) Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (iii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Revolving Loan or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Loan, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Loan shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Loan of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Revolving Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13(d) and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16.
(b) The Company may, upon notice to the Swingline Lender pursuant to delivery to the Swingline Lender of a Notice of Loan Prepayment (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swingline Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that, unless otherwise agreed by the Swingline Lender, (A) such notice must be received by the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (B) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess hereof (or, if less, the entire principal thereof then outstanding). Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of principal shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.16.
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(c) If at any time, (i) other than as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, the sum of the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all of the Credit Exposures (calculated, with respect to those Credit Events denominated in Foreign Currencies, as of the most recent Computation Date with respect to each such Credit Event) exceeds the aggregate Commitments or (ii) solely as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, the sum of the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all of the Credit Exposures (so calculated) exceeds 105% of the aggregate Commitments, the Borrowers shall in each case immediately repay Borrowings or cash collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(j), as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to cause the aggregate Dollar Amount of all Credit Exposures (so calculated) to be less than or equal to the aggregate Commitments.
(d) On the date ninety (90) days prior to a Convertible Indebtedness Maturity Date, prepayment shall be made on the Obligations, in whole, in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding principal amount thereof, unless:
(i) such Convertible Indebtedness Maturity Date is waived or extended to a later date, in either such case, by the holders of the applicable Permitted Convertible Indebtedness;
(ii) the Borrowers can demonstrate (1) Liquidity in an amount at least equal to the principal amount of the Permitted Convertible Indebtedness due on such Convertible Indebtedness Maturity Date and (2) compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section 6.11 after giving effect to such payments or satisfaction of such payment obligations and the incurrence of any additional Consolidated Total Indebtedness on a pro forma basis; or
(iii) the requirements of this Section 2.11(d) shall be waived, extended or otherwise modified by the Required Lenders.
(e) All amounts required to be prepaid pursuant to Sections 2.11(d) shall be applied as follows: first, ratably to the LC Disbursements and the Swingline Loans, second, to the outstanding Revolving Loans, and, third, to cash collateralize the remaining LC Exposure.
SECTION 2.12. Fees.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender, in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the aggregate Commitments exceeds the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans and (ii) the amount of LC Exposure, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.24; provided that, if such Lender continues to have any Credit Exposure after its Commitment terminates, then such commitment fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of such Lenders Credit Exposure from and including the date on which its Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which such Lender ceases to have any Credit Exposure. For the avoidance of doubt, the outstanding principal amount of Swingline Loans shall not be counted towards or considered usage of the Commitments for purposes of determining the commitment fee. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that any commitment fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
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(b) The Company agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurocurrency Loans on the average daily Dollar Amount of such Lenders LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lenders Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure and (ii) to the relevant Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Banks standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Unless otherwise specified above, participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the third (3rd) Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to any Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). Participation fees and fronting fees in respect of Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars shall be paid in Dollars, and participation fees and fronting fees in respect of Letters of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be paid in such Foreign Currency.
(c) The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Company and the Administrative Agent.
(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in Dollars (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 2.12) and immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to each Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the applicable Lenders. Fees (other than fees calculated in error) paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
SECTION 2.13. Interest.
(a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for ABR Loans.
(b) The Loans comprising each Eurocurrency Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate for Eurocurrency Loans.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by any Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.
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(d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon termination of the Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
(e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest (i) computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) and (ii) for Borrowings denominated in British Pounds Sterling or Australian Dollars shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days, and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest.
(a) If in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof, (i) the Administrative Agent determines that (A) Dollar deposits (whether in Dollars or a Foreign Currency) are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Loan, (B) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Loan (whether in Dollars or a Foreign Currency) or in connection with an existing or proposed ABR Loan or (C) a fundamental change has occurred in the foreign exchange or interbank markets with respect to such Foreign Currency (including, without limitation, changes in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls) (in each case with respect to clause (i), Impacted Loans), or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrowers and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Loans in the affected currency or currencies shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate, the utilization of the LIBO Rate component in determining the Alternate Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, a Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Loans in the affected currency or currencies (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of ABR Loans in Dollars in the amount specified therein.
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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrowers or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to Borrowers) that the Borrowers or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:
(i) | adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBO Rate for any requested Interest Period, including, without limitation, because the LIBOR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or |
(ii) | the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR or the LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans (such specific date, the Scheduled Unavailability Date), or |
(iii) | syndicated loans currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace the LIBO Rate, |
then, reasonably promptly after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice , as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers may amend this Agreement to replace the LIBO Rate with an alternate benchmark rate (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein) (any such proposed rate, a LIBOR Successor Rate), together with any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes (as defined below) and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrowers unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders do not accept such amendment.
If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (i) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable), the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrowers and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Loans shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) the Adjusted LIBO Rate component shall no longer be utilized in determining the Alternate Base Rate. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowers may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Loans (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of ABR Loans (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.
Notwithstanding anything else herein, any definition of LIBOR Successor Rate shall provide that in no event shall such LIBOR Successor Rate be less than zero for purposes of this Agreement.
As used above:
LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of Base Rate, Interest Period, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines in consultation with the Borrowers).
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SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs.
(a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan, requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or any Issuing Bank;
(ii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or
(iii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes);
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder, whether of principal, interest or otherwise, then the applicable Borrower will pay to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for any such additional cost incurred or reduction suffered in a manner consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender or Issuing Bank.
(b) If any Lender or any Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or such Issuing Banks capital or on the capital of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or such Issuing Banks policies and the policies of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the applicable Borrower will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company, for any such additional cost incurred or reduction suffered in a manner consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender or Issuing Bank.
(c) A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth in reasonable detail the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Company and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Company shall pay, or cause the other Borrowers to pay, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate, absent manifest error, within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks right to demand such compensation; provided that the Company shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than
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270 days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (b) the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurocurrency Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(a) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (d) the assignment of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the Borrowers shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. Such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in the relevant currency of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurocurrency market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the applicable Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The applicable Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.17. Taxes. (a) Withholding of Taxes; Gross-Up. Each payment by or on behalf of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without withholding for any Taxes, unless such withholding is required by any law. If any Withholding Agent determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it is so required to withhold Taxes, then such Withholding Agent may so withhold and shall timely pay the full amount of withheld Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. If such withheld Taxes are Indemnified Taxes, then the amount payable by or on behalf of such Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that, net of such withholding (including such withholding applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section), the applicable Recipient receives the amount it would have received had no such withholding been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers. The relevant Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(d) Indemnification by the Borrowers. The relevant Borrower shall indemnify each Recipient for any Indemnified Taxes that are paid or payable by such Recipient in connection with any Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes that are paid or payable on amounts paid under this Section 2.17(d)) and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such
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Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. The indemnity under this Section 2.17(d) shall be paid within ten (10) days after the Recipient delivers to the relevant Borrower a certificate stating the amount of any Indemnified Taxes so paid or payable by such Recipient and describing the basis for the indemnification claim. Such certificate shall be conclusive of the amount so paid or payable absent manifest error. Such Recipient shall deliver a copy of such certificate to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent for any Taxes (but, in the case of any Indemnified Taxes, only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so) attributable to such Lender that are paid or payable by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. The indemnity under this Section 2.17(e) shall be paid within ten (10) days after the Administrative Agent delivers to the applicable Lender a certificate stating the amount of Taxes so paid or payable by the Administrative Agent. Such certificate shall be conclusive of the amount so paid or payable absent manifest error.
(f) Status of Lenders. (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, any applicable withholding Tax with respect to any payments under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without, or at a reduced rate of, withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by law or reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to any withholding (including backup withholding) or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(A) through (E) below and Section 2.17(f)(iii) below) shall not be required if in the Lenders 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. Upon the reasonable request of any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, any Lender shall update any form or certification previously delivered pursuant to this Section 2.17(f). If any form or certification previously delivered pursuant to this Section expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect with respect to a Lender, such Lender shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) days after such expiration, obsolescence or inaccuracy) notify the Company and the Administrative Agent in writing of such expiration, obsolescence or inaccuracy and update the form or certification if it is legally eligible to do so.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any Borrower is a U.S. Person, any Lender with respect to such Borrower shall, if it is legally eligible to do so, deliver to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies reasonably requested by such Borrower and the Administrative Agent) on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a party hereto, duly completed and executed copies of whichever of the following is applicable:
(A) in the case of a Lender that is a U.S. Person, IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
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(B) in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (1) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the interest article of such tax treaty and (2) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the business profits or other income article of such tax treaty;
(C) in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender for whom payments under any Loan Document constitute income that is effectively connected with such Lenders conduct of a trade or business in the United States, executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(D) in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code both (1) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, and (2) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H (a U.S. Tax Certificate) to the effect that such Lender is not (a) a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (b) a 10 percent shareholder of such Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, and (c) a controlled foreign corporation described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code;
(E) in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender that is not the beneficial owner of payments made under any Loan Document (including a partnership or a participating Lender) (1) an IRS Form W-8IMY on behalf of itself and (2) the relevant forms prescribed in clauses (A), (B), (C), and (D) of this paragraph (f)(ii) and other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable, that would be required of each such beneficial owner or partner of such partnership if such beneficial owner or partner were a Lender; provided, however, that if the Lender is a partnership and one or more of its partners are claiming the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, such Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Certificate on behalf of such partners; or
(F) to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, any other form prescribed by law as a basis for claiming exemption from, or a reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax together with such supplementary documentation necessary to enable such Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the amount of Tax (if any) required by law to be withheld.
(iii) 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 Withholding Agent, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Withholding 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 Withholding Agent as may be necessary for the Withholding Agent to comply with its obligations under FATCA, to determine that such Lender has or has not complied with such Lenders obligations under FATCA and, as necessary, to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 2.17(f)(iii), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Effective Date.
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(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17 (including additional amounts paid pursuant to this Section 2.17), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including any Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid to such indemnified party pursuant to the previous sentence (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.17(g), in no event will any indemnified party be required to pay any amount to any indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 2.17(g) if such payment would place such indemnified party in a less favorable position (on a net after-Tax basis) than such indemnified party would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This Section 2.17(g) shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes which it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(h) Issuing Bank. For purposes of Section 2.17(e) and (f), the term Lender includes the Issuing Banks.
SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.
(a) Each Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to (i) in the case of payments denominated in Dollars, 12:00 noon, New York City time and (ii) in the case of payments denominated in a Foreign Currency, 12:00 noon, Local Time, in the city of the Administrative Agents Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency, in each case on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off, recoupment or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made (i) in the same currency in which the applicable Credit Event was made (or where such currency has been converted to Euro, in Euro) and (ii) to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 135 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, Illinois 60603 or, in the case of a Credit Event denominated in a Foreign Currency, the Administrative Agents Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency, except payments to be made directly to any Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments denominated in the same currency received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if, after the making of any Credit Event in any Foreign Currency, currency control or exchange regulations are imposed in the country which issues such currency with the result that the type of currency in which the Credit Event was made (the Original Currency) no longer exists or any Borrower is not able to make payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders in such Original Currency, then all payments to be made by such Borrower hereunder in such currency shall instead be made when due in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount (as of the date of repayment) of such payment due, it being the intention of the parties hereto that the Borrowers take all risks of the imposition of any such currency control or exchange regulations.
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(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied
(i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and
(ii) second, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.
(c) If, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other similarly situated Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by all such Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by any Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). Each Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the relevant Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the relevant Issuing Bank hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the relevant Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if such Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the relevant Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation (including without limitation the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency).
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(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks to satisfy such Lenders obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive control as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section; in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.
SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Company hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, (ii) any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 or (iii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under the Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Company shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
SECTION 2.20. Expansion Option. The Company may from time to time elect to increase the Commitments or enter into one or more tranches of term loans (each an Incremental Facility), in each case in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and in increments of $5,000,000 in excess thereof, so long as, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of such Incremental Facility does not exceed $75,000,000; provided that, the Company may make a maximum of five (5) such requests. The Company may arrange for any such Incremental Facility to be provided by one or more Lenders (each Lender, an Increasing Lender), or by one or more new banks, financial institutions or other entities (each such new bank, financial institution or other entity, an Augmenting Lender); provided that (i) each Augmenting Lender shall be subject to the approval of the Company and the Administrative Agent and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Lender, the Company and such Increasing Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, and (y) in the case of an Augmenting Lender, the Company and such
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Augmenting Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto. No consent of any Lender (other than the Lenders participating in the Incremental Facility) shall be required for any Incremental Facility pursuant to this Section 2.20. Incremental Facilities created pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall become effective on the date agreed by the Company, the Administrative Agent and the relevant Increasing Lenders or Augmenting Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incremental Facility shall become effective under this paragraph unless, (i) on the proposed date of the effectiveness of such Incremental Facility, (A) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02 shall be satisfied or waived by the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer of the Company and (B) the Company shall be in compliance (on a pro forma basis reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) with the covenants contained in Section 6.11 and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received documents consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date as to the corporate power and authority of the Borrowers to borrow hereunder after giving effect to such Incremental Facility. On the effective date of any Incremental Facility, (i) each relevant Increasing Lender and Augmenting Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such Incremental Facility and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Lenders, each Lenders portion of the outstanding Loans of all the Lenders to equal its Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Loans, and (ii) except to the extent not applicable to such Incremental Facility, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Loans as of the date of any such Incremental Facility (with such reborrowing to consist of the Types of Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the Company (on its own behalf or on behalf of the applicable Borrower) in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03). The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall, in respect of each Eurocurrency Loan, be accompanied by payment of all accrued interest on the amount prepaid and shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrowers pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods. Nothing contained in this Section 2.20 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to provide an Incremental Facility at any time. In connection with any Incremental Facility pursuant to this Section 2.20, any Augmenting Lender becoming a party hereto shall (1) execute such documents and agreements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (2) in the case of any Augmenting Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America, provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act.
SECTION 2.21. Market Disruption. Notwithstanding the satisfaction of all conditions referred to in Article II and Article IV with respect to any Credit Event to be effected in any Foreign Currency, if (i) there shall occur on or prior to the date of such Credit Event any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which would in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, the relevant Issuing Bank (if such Credit Event is a Letter of Credit), any Designated Lender or the Required Lenders make it impracticable for the Eurocurrency Borrowings or Letters of Credit comprising such Credit Event to be denominated in the Agreed Currency specified by the relevant Borrower, (ii) such currency is no longer an Agreed Currency or (iii) a Dollar Amount of such currency is not readily calculable, then the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to such Borrower, the Lenders and, if such Credit Event is a Letter of Credit, the relevant Issuing Bank, and such Credit Events shall not be denominated in such Agreed Currency but shall, except as otherwise set forth in Section 2.07, be made on the date of such Credit Event in Dollars, (a) if such Credit Event is a Borrowing, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount specified in the related Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request, as the case may be, as ABR Loans, unless such Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent at least one Business
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Day before such date that (i) it elects not to borrow on such date or (ii) it elects to borrow on such date in a different Agreed Currency, as the case may be, in which the denomination of such Loans would in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders be practicable and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount specified in the related Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request, as the case may be or (b) if such Borrowing is a Letter of Credit, in a face amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the face amount specified in the related request or application for such Letter of Credit, unless such Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day before such date that (i) it elects not to request the issuance of such Letter of Credit on such date or (ii) it elects to have such Letter of Credit issued on such date in a different Agreed Currency, as the case may be, in which the denomination of such Letter of Credit would in the reasonable opinion of the relevant Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders be practicable and in face amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the face amount specified in the related request or application for such Letter of Credit, as the case may be.
SECTION 2.22. Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from any Borrower hereunder in the currency expressed to be payable herein (the specified currency) into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the specified currency with such other currency at the Administrative Agents main New York City office on the Business Day preceding that on which final, non-appealable judgment is given. The obligations of each Borrower in respect of any sum due to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) may in accordance with normal, reasonable banking procedures purchase the specified currency with such other currency. If the amount of the specified currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in the specified currency, each Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, against such loss, and if the amount of the specified currency so purchased exceeds (a) the sum originally due to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in the specified currency and (b) any amounts shared with other Lenders as a result of allocations of such excess as a disproportionate payment to such Lender under Section 2.18, such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, agrees to remit such excess to such Borrower.
SECTION 2.23. Designation of Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers.
(a) The Company may at any time and from time to time, upon not less than fifteen (15) Business Days notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), designate any Eligible Foreign Subsidiary as a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement executed by such Subsidiary and the Company and the satisfaction of the other conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.03, and upon such delivery and satisfaction such Subsidiary shall for all purposes of this Agreement be a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and a party to this Agreement until the Company shall have executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent a Borrowing Subsidiary Termination with respect to such Subsidiary, whereupon such Subsidiary shall cease to be a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and a party to this Agreement; provided that no Borrowing Request or Letter of Credit Application may be submitted by or on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower until the date five (5) Business Days after the effective date of such Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, no Borrowing Subsidiary Termination will become effective as to any Foreign
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Subsidiary Borrower at a time when any principal of or interest on any Loan to such Borrower shall be outstanding hereunder, provided that such Borrowing Subsidiary Termination shall be effective to terminate the right of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower to make further Borrowings under this Agreement. As soon as practicable upon receipt of a Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall furnish a copy thereof to each Lender.
(b) Each Subsidiary of the Company that is or becomes a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.23 hereby irrevocably appoints the Company to act as its agent for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and agrees that (i) the Company may execute such documents on behalf of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower as the Company deems appropriate in its sole discretion and each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be obligated by all of the terms of any such document executed on its behalf, (ii) any notice or communication delivered by the Administrative Agent or the Lender to the Company shall be deemed delivered to each Designated Borrower and (iii) the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may accept, and be permitted to rely on, any document, instrument or agreement executed by the Company on behalf of each of the Loan Parties.
SECTION 2.24. Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);
(b) 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 Section 7.02 or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to cash collateralize the Issuing Banks LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth, as the Borrowers may request (so long as no 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 Borrowers, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lenders potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) cash collateralize the Issuing Banks future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with this Section; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by a Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; 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 LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC
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Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in the Borrowers obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to clause (d) below. 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 shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto;
(c) the Commitment and Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02, this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:
(i) all or any part of the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender (other than the portion of such Swingline Exposure referred to in clause (b) of the definition of such term) shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent that the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders Commitments;
(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent, (x) first, prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y) second, cash collateralize for the benefit of each Issuing Bank only the Borrowers obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;
(iii) if the Company cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure is cash collateralized;
(iv) if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.12(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders Applicable Percentages; and
(v) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the relevant Issuing Bank or any other Lender hereunder, all commitment fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender (solely with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lenders Commitment that was utilized by such LC Exposure) and letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure shall be payable to such Issuing Bank until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and
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(e) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the relevant Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lenders then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Company in accordance with Section 2.24(c), and participating interests in any Swingline Loan and/or newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.24(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).
If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the Effective Date and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or relevant Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Company or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Company, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lenders Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
SECTION 2.25. Designated Lenders. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Swingline Lender and each Lender at its option may make any Loan or issue any Letter of Credit, as applicable, or otherwise perform its obligations hereunder through any Lending Office (each, a Designated Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of such Borrower to repay any Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Any Designated Lender shall be considered a Lender shall apply to such Affiliate or branch of such Lender to the same extent as such Lender; provided that for the purposes only of voting in connection with any Loan Document, any participation by any Designated Lender in any outstanding Loan or Letter of Credit shall be deemed a participation of such Lender.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
Each Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers; Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and each of the Subsidiary Guarantors is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable in the relevant jurisdiction) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required except where the failure to be so qualified, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 3.01 hereto identifies as of the Effective Date each Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, the percentage of
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issued and outstanding shares of each class of its capital stock or other Equity Interests owned by the Company and the other Subsidiaries and, if such percentage is not 100% (excluding directors qualifying shares as required by law), a description of each class issued and outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock and other Equity Interests of each Subsidiary are validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and nonassessable and all such shares and other equity interests indicated on Schedule 3.01 as owned by the Company or another Subsidiary are as of the Effective Date owned, beneficially and of record, by the Company or such Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens permitted under Section 6.02 hereof. There are no outstanding commitments or other obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to issue, and no options, warrants or other rights of any Person to acquire, any shares of any class of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or any Subsidiary.
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within each Borrowers organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions and, if required under applicable law, actions by equity holders. The Loan Documents to which each Borrower is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Borrower and constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions
(a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except (i) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) those filings and recordings in connection with Liens granted to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents, and (iii) consents, approvals, registrations, filings or other actions the failure to obtain or perform could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,
(b) will not violate (i) any applicable law or regulation except where such violation could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, or (iii) any order of any Governmental Authority binding upon the Company or such Subsidiary except where such violation could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,
(c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, except where such violation or default could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and
(d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents.
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.
(a) The Company has heretofore furnished to the Lenders (or made available to the Lenders on the Securities and Exchange Commissions EDGAR web page) its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, audited by KPMG LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, certified by a Financial Officer.
Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.
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(b) Since December 31, 2017, except as otherwise disclosed by the Company in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018, there has been no Material Adverse Change.
SECTION 3.05. Properties.
(a) Each of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.
(b) Each of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Company and its Material Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.06. Litigation, Labor Matters and Environmental Matters.
(a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of any Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.
(b) There are no labor controversies pending against or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries (i) which could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.
(c) Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries:
(i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law,
(ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability,
(iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or
(iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.
(d) Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
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SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements; No Burdensome Restrictions. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is party or subject to any law, regulation, rule or order, or any obligation under any agreement or instrument, that has a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is an investment company as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.
SECTION 3.09. Taxes. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all federal, state income and other material Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except
(a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Company or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or
(b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.10. ERISA.
(a) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) As of the Effective Date neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries holds plan assets of any benefit plan investor (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA).
SECTION 3.11. Disclosure.
(a) The Company has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, in each case, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contained, when furnished, any untrue statement of a fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrowers represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of such preparation.
(b) The information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification most recently provided to each Lender, if applicable, is true and correct in all respects.
SECTION 3.12. No Default. No Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 3.13. Liens. There are no Liens on any of the real or personal properties of the Company or any Subsidiary except for Liens created by the Collateral Documents and except as otherwise permitted by Section 6.02.
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SECTION 3.14. Contingent Obligations. Other than any liability incident to any litigation, arbitration or proceeding which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company has no material contingent obligations not provided for or disclosed in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04.
SECTION 3.15. Regulation U. Margin stock (as defined in Regulation U) constitutes less than 25% of the value of those assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries which are subject to any limitation on sale, pledge, or other restriction hereunder.
SECTION 3.16. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Company has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to address compliance by the Company and its Subsidiaries with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects and, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, is not knowingly engaged in any activity that could reasonably be expected to result in such Borrower being designated as a Sanctioned Person. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a Sanctioned Person. For purposes of the foregoing representation, the Company shall not be required to make any investigation into (i) the ownership of publicly traded stock or other publicly traded securities or (ii) the beneficial ownership of any collective investment fund.
SECTION 3.17. EEA Financial Institutions(a) . No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.
ARTICLE IV
Conditions
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) Execution of Credit Agreement; Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of this Agreement, executed by a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party and a duly authorized officer of each Lender, (ii) for the account of each Lender requesting a Note, a Note executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrowers, and (iii) counterparts of the Subsidiary Guaranty, executed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Loan Parties.
(b) Legal Opinions of Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall have received favorable written opinions (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) the chief legal officer of the Loan Parties, and (ii) Jones Day, special counsel for the Loan Parties, in each case covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Company hereby requests such counsels to deliver such opinions.
(c) Officers Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate dated the Effective Date, certifying as to (i) the organizational documents of each Loan Party (which, to the extent filed with a Governmental Authority, shall be certified as of a recent date by such Governmental Authority), (ii) the resolutions of the governing body of each Loan Party, (iii) the good standing, existence or its equivalent of each Loan Party, to the extent generally available in such jurisdiction, and (iv) the incumbency (including specimen signatures) of the Responsible Officers of each Loan Party, all in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
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(d) [Reserved].
(e) Solvency Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company as to the financial condition, solvency and related matters of the Company and its Subsidiaries, after giving effect to the initial borrowings under the Loan Documents and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
(f) Officers Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying the following: (x) all of the representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in the Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects and (y) no Default has occurred and is then continuing.
(g) Fees and Expenses. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all fees and expenses, if any, owing pursuant to the Fee Letter and hereunder, including, to the extent invoiced three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrowers hereunder.
(h) Existing Indebtedness of the Loan Parties. All of the existing Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company and its Subsidiaries owing under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be repaid in full and all security interests related thereto shall be terminated on or prior to the Effective Date.
(i) Existing Letters of Credit. Any Letters of Credit listed on Schedule 6.01 issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., shall be backstopped, replaced or cash collateralized.
(j) No Litigation. Except for the Disclosed Matters or as otherwise disclosed by the Company in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018, there shall have been no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of any Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters).
(k) Consents. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that all governmental, works council and material third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the Loan Documents have been obtained except where the failure to have so received or obtained the foregoing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Licensing Requirements. Each of the Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender, each Issuing Bank and each Lender shall have obtained all applicable licenses, consents, permits and approvals as deemed necessary by such Lender in order to execute and perform the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents except where the failure to have so received or obtained the foregoing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the Company shall have the right to substitute or remove any Lender not having any such license, consent, permit and/or approval in order to cause the satisfaction of this condition.
(m) KYC Information.
(i) Upon the reasonable request of any Lender made prior to the Effective Date, the Borrowers shall have provided to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, and such Lender shall be reasonably satisfied with, the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable know your customer and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act.
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(ii) Any Borrower that qualifies as a legal entity customer under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall have provided, to each Lender that so requests, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Borrower.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Article VIII, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section, 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 Effective Date specifying its objection thereto
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan, and of the Issuing Banks to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in this Agreement (other than the representation and warranty set forth in Section 3.04(b)) shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable.
(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit the conversion of a Eurocurrency Borrowing into an ABR Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.08(e) or the conversion of an ABR Borrowing to a Eurocurrency Borrowing or the continuation of a Eurocurrency Borrowing if no Event of Default exists.
SECTION 4.03. Designation of a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. The designation of a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to Section 2.23 is subject to the condition precedent that the Company or such proposed Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Administrative Agent:
(a) Copies, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of such Subsidiary, of resolutions of its Board of Directors or other governing body as applicable (and resolutions of other bodies, if any are deemed necessary by counsel for the Administrative Agent) approving the Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement and any other Loan Documents to which such Subsidiary is becoming a party and such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of such Subsidiary;
(b) An incumbency certificate, executed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of such Subsidiary, which shall identify by name and title and bear the signature of the officers of such Subsidiary authorized to request Borrowings hereunder and sign the Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Subsidiary is becoming a party, upon which certificate the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely until informed of any change in writing by the Company or such Subsidiary;
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(c) Opinions of counsel to such Subsidiary, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel, with respect to the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and such other matters as are reasonably requested by counsel to the Administrative Agent and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;
(d) Any information as shall be necessary for the Lenders to comply with applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act; and
(e) Any promissory notes requested by any Lender, and any other instruments and documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated, in each case, without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Company covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information. The Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent:
(a) as soon as practicable, and in any event no later than the earlier to occur of (x) the one-hundredth (100th) day after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, and (y) the fifth (5th) day after the date on which any of the following items are required to be delivered to the SEC, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a going concern or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b) as soon as practicable, and in any event no later than the earlier to occur of (x) the fiftieth (50th) day after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, and (y) the fifth (5th) day after the date on which any of the following items are required to be delivered to the SEC, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such period or periods on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) above, a reasonably detailed business plan and forecast (including a projected consolidated balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows) of the Company for such fiscal year;
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(d) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Company (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations computing the Applicable Rate and demonstrating compliance with Sections 6.01(e), 6.01(f), 6.01(l), 6.04, 6.06 and 6.11, (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate, and (iv) updating Schedule 3.01 in accordance with the definitions of Material Subsidiary and Subsidiary Guarantor;
(e) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial statements of any Default (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);
(f) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Company or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Company to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;
(g) promptly following any request therefor, provide information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable know your customer and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation; and
(h) promptly following any reasonable request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Company or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b) and (f) of this Section 5.01 may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such documents are filed for public availability on the SECs Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System; provided that the Company shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail and may also be included in the certificate delivered pursuant to clause (d) of this Section 5.01) the Administrative Agent of the filing of any such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Company shall be required to provide paper copies of the compliance certificates required by clause (d) of this Section 5.01 to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of the following:
(a) the occurrence of any Default;
(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Company or any Affiliate thereof that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000,000, and
(d) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
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Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Company setting forth in reasonable detail the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. The Company will, and will cause each Material Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and business operations and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of the business of the Company and the Material Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.
SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Company or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. The Company will, and will cause each Material Subsidiary to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of the business of the Company and the Material Subsidiaries taken as a whole in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.
SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights. The Company will, and will cause each Material Subsidiary to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.
SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws. The Company will, and will cause each Material Subsidiary to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws) of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to address compliance by the Company and its Subsidiaries with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.
SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only for working capital, capital expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions, Restricted Payments and for other general corporate purposes of the Company and its Subsidiaries. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X. No Borrower will request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and no Borrower shall use, and the Company shall have in place policies and procedures designed to address that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not knowingly use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any
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Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, to the extent such activities, businesses or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States or in a European Union member state in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts business or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 5.09. Additional Subsidiary Documentation. As promptly as possible but in any event within thirty (30) days (in the case of a Domestic Subsidiary) or sixty (60) days (in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary) (or, in each case, such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) after any Person becomes a Subsidiary or any Subsidiary qualifies independently as, or is designated by the Company as, a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the definition of Subsidiary Guarantor (including, without limitation, upon formation or designation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC), the Company shall provide the Administrative Agent with written notice thereof setting forth information in reasonable detail describing the material assets of such Person and (a) shall cause each such Subsidiary which also qualifies or is designated by the Company as a Subsidiary Guarantor to deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed supplement to the Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of the Subsidiary Guaranty, such supplement to be accompanied by appropriate corporate resolutions, other corporate documentation and legal opinions (unless the requirement to deliver such legal opinions is waived by the Administrative Agent in such instance in its discretion) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or (b) shall cause the pledge of such Subsidiarys Equity Interests pursuant to Section 5.10 to the extent such Subsidiary, but for its status as an Affected Foreign Subsidiary, would otherwise qualify or be designated by the Company as a Subsidiary Guarantor.
SECTION 5.10. Pledge Agreements. The Company shall execute or cause to be executed, by no later than sixty days (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) after the date on which any First Tier Foreign Subsidiary would, but for its status as an Affected Foreign Subsidiary, qualify or be designated by the Company as a Subsidiary Guarantor, a Pledge Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations with respect to the Applicable Pledge Percentage of all of the outstanding Equity Interests of such First Tier Foreign Subsidiary; provided that (x) no such pledge of the Equity Interests of a First Tier Foreign Subsidiary shall be required hereunder to the extent such pledge is prohibited by applicable law or the Administrative Agent and its counsel reasonably determine that such pledge would not provide material Collateral for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations pursuant to legally binding, valid and enforceable Pledge Agreements and (y) no such pledge of the Equity Interests of Heidrick & Struggles (UK) Limited shall be required hereunder unless and until such pledge is required by the Administrative Agent. The Company further agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent all such Pledge Agreements and other Collateral Documents, together with appropriate corporate resolutions and other documentation (including legal opinions (unless the requirement to deliver such legal opinions is waived by the Administrative Agent in such instance in its discretion), the stock certificates representing the Equity Interests subject to such pledge, stock powers with respect thereto executed in blank, and such other documents as shall be reasonably requested to perfect the Lien of such pledge) in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and in a manner that the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied that it has a first priority perfected pledge of or charge over the Collateral related thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that no Pledge Agreement in respect of the pledge of Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary shall be required until the date that is sixty (60) days following the Effective Date (or such later date as is agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).
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ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated, in each case, without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Company covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness. The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness created hereunder and under the other Loan Documents;
(b) Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(c) Indebtedness of the Company to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Company or any other Subsidiary; provided that Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to any Loan Party shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6.04(c);
(d) Guarantees by the Company of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company or any other Subsidiary;
(e) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e), shall not exceed $15,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(f) (i) Unsecured Indebtedness of any Person that is assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, and (ii) secured Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary, or merges into the Company or a Subsidiary after the Effective Date that is assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition; provided that, in each case, such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, or merges into the Company or a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary, or merging into the Company or a Subsidiary, and provided further that the total amount of Indebtedness permitted by clause (f)(ii) shall not exceed $35,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(g) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary as an account party in respect of (i) trade letters of credit, or (ii) bank guarantees granted in connection with business licenses and leases in the ordinary course of business;
(h) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of workers compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, performance bonds, surety, appeal or similar bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
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(i) Guarantees in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness incurred by employees or prospective employees; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Guarantees permitted by this clause (i) shall not exceed $3,000,000 at any one time outstanding;
(j) Indebtedness under Swap Agreements permitted under Section 6.05;
(k) Unsecured Permitted Convertible Indebtedness in an original (or notional) aggregate principal amount not to exceed $200,000,000 (including extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements thereof); provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis, and (ii) the Company shall deliver a certificate from a Responsible Officer in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent confirming the foregoing and demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section 6.11 after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis; and
(l) Other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $25,000,000 at any time outstanding.
SECTION 6.02. Liens. The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:
(a) Permitted Encumbrances;
(b) any Lien on any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary existing on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that
(i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary and
(ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the Effective Date and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof beyond the maximum commitments with respect thereto as in effect on the Effective Date;
(c) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary, or merges into the Company or a Subsidiary after the Effective Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, or merges into the Company or a Subsidiary; provided that
(i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming, or merging into, a Subsidiary , as the case may be,
(ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary and
(iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes, or merges into, a Subsidiary, as the case may be and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
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(d) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Company or any Subsidiary; provided that
(i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.01,
(ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement,
(iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and
(iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(e) Liens created by the Collateral Documents; and
(f) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.02 so long as the aggregate principal amount of the obligations secured thereby subject to such Liens does not exceed $15,000,000.
SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any substantial part of its assets, or all or substantially all of the stock of any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired) (including, in each case any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing
(i) any Subsidiary may merge into the Company in a transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation,
(ii) any Subsidiary, or branch of the Company or a Subsidiary, may merge into, consolidate with, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) (including, in each case any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division) all or any substantial part of its assets, or all or substantially all of the Equity Interests to, any Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary,
(iii) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose (including, in each case any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division) of its assets to the Company or to another Subsidiary and
(iv) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Company determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Company and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided that any merger involving a Person that is not a Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 6.04.
(b) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related or strategically aligned thereto.
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SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger or consolidation with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger or consolidation) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any Person or any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:
(a) (i) Permitted Investments and (ii) so long as the aggregate outstanding amount thereof does not exceed $40,000,000 at any time, Permitted Two-Year Investments;
(b) loans, advances or investments existing on the Effective Date and listed on Schedule 6.04;
(c) loans, advances or capital contributions made by the Company in or to any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary in or to the Company or any other Subsidiary, provided that, unless constituting Permitted Foreign Reorganization Transfers, not more than $30,000,000 in loans, advances or capital contributions that are made by the Company or any Subsidiary Loan Party to a Person which is not a Subsidiary Loan Party may be outstanding at any time;
(d) Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01;
(e) investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Permitted Acquisitions;
(g) Guarantees by the Company and any Subsidiary of leases entered into in the ordinary course of business by any Subsidiary as lessee;
(h) extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business;
(i) investments in payroll, travel, relocation and similar advances to employees and prospective employees to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;
(j) investments in or acquisitions of stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments;
(k) investments in equity securities and rights to acquire equity securities acquired as part of fees charged to clients or otherwise in connection with the performance of services by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
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(l) warrants, options and Equity Interests received by the Company or any Subsidiary as full or partial compensation for services rendered by the Company or any Subsidiary, all in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(m) deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business and Cash Pooling Arrangements;
(n) subject to the provisions of this Section 6.04(n), the Company may make investments in joint ventures, so long as (i) at the time of each such proposed investment no Event of Default has then occurred or is continuing or would arise after giving effect thereto, (ii) after giving pro forma effect to any such investment, the Company would be in compliance with Section 6.11, (iii) at any time when the Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 (both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such investment) no such investments shall be permitted pursuant to this Section 6.04(n), (iv) at any time when the Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00 but less than 2.50 to 1.00 (both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such investment) the aggregate amount of cash consideration for any investment made pursuant to this Section 6.04(n), when added to the aggregate amount of such cash consideration for all other investments made pursuant to this Section 6.04(n) in the same calendar year as the calendar year in which such investment occurs, shall not exceed $50,000,000, (v) at any time when the Leverage Ratio is less than 1.75 to 1.00 (both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such investment) the aggregate amount of cash consideration for any investment made pursuant to this Section 6.04(n), when added to the aggregate amount of such cash consideration for all other investments made pursuant to this Section 6.04(n) in the same calendar year as the calendar year in which such investment occurs, shall not exceed $100,000,000 and (vi) Availability shall not be less than $25,000,000 after giving effect to any such investment; and
(o) investments under (i) Swap Agreements permitted under Section 6.05, and (ii) Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions and Permitted Warrant Transactions entered into in connection with Permitted Convertible Indebtedness and the performance of its obligations thereunder; and
(p) other investments by the Company in an aggregate amount not exceeding $15,000,000 at any time outstanding.
For purposes of determining compliance with this section, the amount of any investment at any time shall be the amount actually invested (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such investment, less any returns to the Company or Subsidiary, as applicable, in respect of such investment; provided that the aggregate amount of such returns shall not exceed the original amount of such investment.
SECTION 6.05. Swap Agreements. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate commercial (or operational) risks of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than risks in respect of Equity Interests or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), and (b) Swap Agreements entered into with respect to foreign currency transactions or in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment, or anticipated interest-bearing liability or investment, of the Company or any Subsidiary.
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SECTION 6.06. Restricted Payments. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except
(a) the Company may declare and pay dividends with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in additional shares of its common stock,
(b) Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their Equity Interests,
(c) the Company may make payments in respect of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (including for the avoidance of doubt Permitted Bond Hedging Transactions and Permitted Warrant Transactions related thereto);
(d) for so long as the Company files a consolidated, combined or unitary income Tax return with its Subsidiaries, such Subsidiaries may make distributions to the Company to allow the Company to pay all federal, state and local income Taxes and franchise Taxes of Borrower; and
(e) so long as (i) no Event of Default has then occurred or is continuing or would arise after giving effect thereto and (ii) Availability shall not be less than $25,000,000 after giving effect thereto, the Company may make Restricted Payments to the extent the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payments does not exceed $75,000,000 in any period of twelve consecutive months; provided that the Company may make Restricted Payments in excess of $75,000,000, but not to exceed $100,000,000 in any period of twelve consecutive months, if after giving pro forma effect to any such Restricted Payment, the Leverage Ratio would not exceed 1.75 to 1.00. As used herein, Availability means, at any time, an amount equal to the aggregate Commitments then in effect minus the aggregate Credit Exposures of all Lenders at such time.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary above or elsewhere contained herein, the entry into (including any payments of premiums in connection therewith), performance of obligations under (including any payments of interest), and conversion, exercise, repurchase, redemption, settlement or early termination or cancellation of (whether in whole or in part and including by netting or set-off) (in each case, whether in cash, common or other securities or property), any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, any Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions and any Permitted Warrant Transactions are not prohibited, limited or constrained hereunder.
SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates. The Company will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except
(a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not materially less favorable to the Company or such Material Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arms-length basis from unrelated third parties,
(b) transactions (i) between or among the Company and Subsidiary Loan Parties not involving any other Affiliate or (ii) between or among Subsidiaries (none of whom are Subsidiary Loan Parties),
(c) any Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01,
(d) any transfer or other disposition permitted by Section 6.03,
(e) any investment permitted by Section 6.04, and
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(f) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.06.
SECTION 6.08. Restrictive Agreements. The Company will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon
(a) the ability of the Company or any Material Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or
(b) the ability of any Material Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Company or any Material Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Company or any Material Subsidiary; provided that
(i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement,
(ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the Effective Date identified on Schedule 6.08 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition (other than in connection with the extension of the maturity of any underlying Indebtedness which is otherwise permitted hereunder)),
(iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary or an asset pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or the asset that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder,
(iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness,
(v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment thereof, and
(vi) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in joint venture agreements executed in connection with investments permitted under Section 6.04.
SECTION 6.09. Changes in Fiscal Year. The Company will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, change its fiscal year from its present basis; provided that any Subsidiary acquired after the Effective Date pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition may change its fiscal year to the fiscal year basis employed by the Company within one (1) year following such Permitted Acquisition so long as the Company delivers at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of such change to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 6.10. Subordinated Indebtedness. The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to enter into any amendment to any indenture, note or other agreement evidencing or governing any Subordinated Indebtedness, or directly or indirectly voluntarily prepay, decrease or in substance decrease, purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire, any Subordinated Indebtedness, in each case, in a manner prohibited by the subordination agreement applicable thereto.
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SECTION 6.11. Financial Covenants.
SECTION 6.11.1. Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. The Company will not permit the ratio (the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters ending on and after December 31, 2018 for the period of 4 consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, of (i) Consolidated EBITDA minus Consolidated Capital Expenditures to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense plus or minus the non-cash components of Consolidated Interest Expense, such as non-cash interest expense relating to Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, all calculated for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be less than 3.50 to 1.00.
SECTION 6.11.2. Leverage Ratio. The Company will not permit the ratio (the Leverage Ratio), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters ending on and after December 31, 2018, of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of 4 consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, to be greater than 3.00 to 1.00.
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
If any of the following events (Events of Default) shall occur:
(a) any Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;
(b) any Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days;
(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
(d) (i) any Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Sections 5.01, 5.02, 5.03 (with respect to any Borrowers existence), 5.08, 5.09 or 5.10, in Article VI or in Article X, or (ii) any Loan Document shall for any reason not be or shall cease to be in full force and effect or is declared to be null and void, or the Company or any Subsidiary takes any action for the purpose of terminating, repudiating or rescinding any Loan Document or any of its obligations thereunder;
(e) any Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article or any other Loan Document), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Company (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);
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(f) the Company or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;
(g) other than with respect to conversion of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, any event or condition which occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness of the Company or any Material Subsidiary becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;
(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Company or any Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Company or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i) the Company or any Material Subsidiary shall
(i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect,
(ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article,
(iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Company or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets,
(iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding,
(v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or
(vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(j) the Company or any Material Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;
(k) any Dutch Borrower or any other Dutch Subsidiary files a notice under Section 36 of the Dutch Tax Collection Act (Invorderingswet 1990) or Section 60 of the Social Insurance Financing Act of the Netherlands (Wet Financiering Sociale Verzekeringen) in conjunction with Section 36 of the Tax Collection Act (Invorderingswet 1990);
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(l) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage) in excess of $20,000,000 shall be rendered against the Company or Material Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Company or such Material Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;
(m) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, both (i) has an aggregate unreserved cost to the Company in excess of $20,000,000 and (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(n) a Change in Control shall occur;
(o) any material provision of any Loan Document for any reason ceases to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (or the Company or any Subsidiary shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or shall assert in writing that any provision of any of the Loan Documents has ceased to be or otherwise is not valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms); or
(p) any Collateral Document, once executed, shall for any reason fail to create a valid and perfected first priority security interest in any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, or any action shall be taken by or on behalf of any Borrower or any Subsidiary to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any Collateral Document;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Company described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Company, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times:
(i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and
(ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Secured Obligations accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers; and in case of any event with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Secured Obligations accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity.
Any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, such funds shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks from any Borrower, second, to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from any Borrower, third, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans ratably, fourth, to prepay principal on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements and any other amounts owing with respect to Banking Services Obligations and Swap
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Obligations ratably, fifth, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and the aggregate amount of any unpaid LC Disbursements, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations, sixth, to the payment of any other Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by any Borrower, and thereafter, to the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Obligations.
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent
Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf, including execution of the other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and neither the Borrowers 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.
The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Company or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
(a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing,
(b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), 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 the Bankruptcy Code or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of the Bankruptcy Code, and
(c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final
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nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Company or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into
(i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document,
(ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection with any Loan Document,
(iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document,
(iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document,
(v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, or
(vi) the creation, perfection or priority of any of the Liens on any of the Collateral or the existence of the Collateral.
The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts. For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Effective Date specifying its objections.
The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders, the Swingline Lender, the Issuing Banks and the Company. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the written consent of the Company so long as no Event of Default exists (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30)
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days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by any Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as (and without duplication of) those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between such Borrower and such successor. After the Administrative Agents resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.
An Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Company, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrowers shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (x) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of Issuing Banks under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (y) references herein to the term Issuing Bank shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Banks, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and letters of credit and not investments in a business enterprise or securities. Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Company and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder and in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.
Each Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent to enter into each of the Collateral Documents to which the Administrative Agent is from time to time a party and to take all action contemplated by such documents. Each Lender agrees that no Holder of Secured Obligations (other than the Administrative Agent) shall have the right individually to seek to realize upon the security granted by any Collateral Document, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations upon the terms of the Collateral Documents.
In the event that any Collateral is hereafter pledged by any Person as collateral security for the Obligations, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, and hereby granted a power of attorney, to execute and deliver on behalf of the Holders of Secured Obligations any Loan Documents necessary or appropriate to grant and perfect a Lien on such Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Holders of Secured Obligations.
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The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by the Administrative Agent upon any Collateral (i) as described in Section 9.02(d); (ii) as permitted by, but only in accordance with, the terms of the applicable Loan Document; or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, unless such release is required to be approved by all of the Lenders hereunder. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall, and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent, to promptly release any Subsidiary Guarantor which becomes an Affected Foreign Subsidiary from the Subsidiary Guaranty; provided that (i) nothing contained in this sentence shall relieve the Company or any Subsidiary from its obligations under Sections 5.09 or 5.10 and (ii) the Company and each applicable Subsidiary shall comply with Section 5.10. Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agents authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant hereto.
Upon any sale or transfer of assets constituting Collateral which is expressly permitted pursuant to the terms of any Loan Document, or consented to in writing by the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders, as applicable, and upon at least five (5) Business Days prior written request by the Company to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by the Lenders to) execute such documents as may be necessary to evidence the release of the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations herein or pursuant hereto upon the Collateral that was sold or transferred; provided, however, that (i) the Administrative Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms which, in the Administrative Agents opinion, would expose the Administrative Agent to liability or create any obligation or entail any consequence other than the release of such Liens without recourse or warranty, and (ii) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Secured Obligations or any Liens upon (or obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of) all interests retained by the Company or any Subsidiary, including (without limitation) the proceeds of the sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.
None of the Lenders, if any, identified in this Agreement as an arranger, Syndication Agent or Documentation Agent shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of such Lenders shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgments with respect to the relevant Lenders in their capacity as an arranger, Syndication Agent or Documentation Agent, as applicable, as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in the preceding paragraph.
The Lenders are not partners or co-venturers, and no Lender shall be liable for the acts or omissions of, or (except as otherwise set forth herein in case of the Administrative Agent) authorized to act for, any other Lender. The Administrative Agent shall have the exclusive right on behalf of the Lenders to enforce the payment of the principal of and interest on any Loan after the date such principal or interest has become due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Each Borrower, on its behalf and on behalf of its Subsidiaries, and each Lender, on its behalf and on the behalf of its affiliated Holders of Secured Obligations, hereby irrevocably constitute the Administrative Agent as the holder of an irrevocable power of attorney (fondé de pouvoir within the meaning of Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Québec) in order to hold hypothecs and security granted by each Borrower or any Subsidiary on property pursuant to the laws of the Province of Québec to secure obligations of any Borrower or any Subsidiary under any bond, debenture or similar title of indebtedness issued by any Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement, and agree that the Administrative Agent may act as the bondholder and mandatary with respect to any bond, debenture or
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similar title of indebtedness that may be issued by any Borrower or any Subsidiary and pledged in favor of the Holders of Secured Obligations in connection with this Agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 32 of the An Act respecting the special powers of legal persons (Québec), Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent may acquire and be the holder of any bond issued by any Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement (i.e., the fondé de pouvoir may acquire and hold the first bond issued under any deed of hypothec by any Borrower or any Subsidiary).
The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to execute and deliver any documents necessary or appropriate to create and perfect the rights of pledge for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations including a right of pledge with respect to the entitlements to profits, the balance left after winding up and the voting rights of the Company as ultimate parent of any subsidiary of the Company which is organized under the laws of the Netherlands and the Equity Interests of which are pledged in connection herewith (a Dutch Pledge). Without prejudice to the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree with the creation of parallel debt obligations of the Company or any relevant Subsidiary as will be described in any Dutch Pledge (the Parallel Debt), including that any payment received by the Administrative Agent in respect of the Parallel Debt willconditionally upon such payment not subsequently being avoided or reduced by virtue of any provisions or enactments relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, preference, liquidation or similar laws of general applicationbe deemed a satisfaction of a pro rata portion of the corresponding amounts of the Secured Obligations, and any payment to the Holders of Secured Obligations in satisfaction of the Secured Obligations shallconditionally upon such payment not subsequently being avoided or reduced by virtue of any provisions or enactments relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, preference, liquidation or similar laws of general applicationbe deemed as satisfaction of the corresponding amount of the Parallel Debt. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, for purposes of a Dutch Pledge, any resignation by the Administrative Agent is not effective until its rights under the Parallel Debt are assigned to the successor Administrative Agent.
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree for the purposes of taking and ensuring the continuing validity of German law governed pledges (Pfandrechte) with the creation of parallel debt obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries as will be further described in a separate German law governed parallel debt undertaking. The Administrative Agent shall (i) hold such parallel debt undertaking as fiduciary agent (Treuhänder) and (ii) administer and hold as fiduciary agent (Treuhänder) any pledge created under a German law governed Collateral Document which is created in favor of any Holder of Secured Obligations or transferred to any Holder of Secured Obligations due to its accessory nature (Akzessorietät), in each case of (i) and (ii) in its own name and for the account of the Holders of Secured Obligations. Each Lender (on behalf of itself and its affiliated Holders of Secured Obligations) hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to enter as its agent (Vertreter) in its name and on its behalf into any German law governed Collateral Document, accept as its agent in its name and on its behalf any pledge or other creation of any accessory security right in relation to this Agreement and to agree to and execute on its behalf as its representative in its name and on its behalf any amendments, supplements and other alterations to any such Collateral Document and to release on behalf of any such Lender or Holder of Secured Obligations any such Collateral Document and any pledge created under any such Collateral Document in accordance with the provisions herein and/or the provisions in any such Collateral Document.
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(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and its respective Affiliates, and for the benefit of the Borrowers and each 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 the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or 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 Lenders 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 Lenders 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 sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in 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 its Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrowers or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the Collateral or the assets of such Lender (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 to hereto or thereto).
Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Agent Parties shall be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions of this Agreement relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (i) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or prospective Lender is a Disqualified Institution or (ii) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Institution.
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ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01. Notices. (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy or email in accordance with this Section 9.01, as follows:
(i) if to any Borrower, to it at Willis Tower Suite 4900, 233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention of the Treasurer, Email address: , with copies (in the case of a notice of Default) to the Attention of General Counsel, Email address: and to Jones Day, 77 West Wacker, Chicago, Illinois 60601, Attention of Margaret M. Seurynck, Telecopy ###-###-####, Email address: ***@***;
(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, (A) Bank of America, N.A., Mail Code: TX2-984-03-26, Building C, 2380 Performance Dr., Richardson, TX, 75082, Attention of Anthony Kell, Telecopy No. (214) 290-9422, Email address: with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice) Sidley Austin LLP, One South Dearborn St., Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of James A. Snyder, Telecopy No. (312) 853-7036, Email address: ***@***, (B) in the case of Borrowings denominated in Dollars, to Bank of America, N.A., Mail Code: TX2-984-03-26, Building C, 2380 Performance Dr., Richardson, TX, 75082, Attention of Jenifer Ollek, Telecopy No. (214) 290-8374, Email address: and (C) in the case of Borrowings denominated in Foreign Currencies, to Bank of America, N.A., Mail Code: TX2-984-03-26, Building C, 2380 Performance Dr., Richardson, TX, 75082, Attention of Jenifer Ollek, Telecopy No. (214) 290-8374, Email address: ;
(iii) if to Bank of America, N.A. in its capacity as an Issuing Bank, to it at Bank of America, N.A., Mail Code: TX2-984-03-26, Building C, 2380 Performance Dr., Richardson, TX, 75082, Attention of Jenifer Ollek, Telecopy No. (214) 290-8374, Email address: ;
(iv) if to the Swingline Lender, to Bank of America, N.A., Mail Code: TX2-984-03-26, Building C, 2380 Performance Dr., Richardson, TX, 75082, Attention of Jenifer Ollek, Telecopy No. (214) 290-8374, Email address: ; and
(v) if to any other Lender or Issuing Bank, to it at its address (or telecopy number or e-mail address) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopy 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 delivered through Electronic Systems, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).
(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Electronic Systems pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Company 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.
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Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed to have been received upon the senders 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 to have been 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, email 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; and provided, however, that for clause (i) above, such email notice shall not be considered to have been given if the sender receives a rejection or bounceback notice.
(c) Any party hereto may change its address, email address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
(d) Electronic Systems.
(i) The Company agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make Communications (as defined below) available to the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar Electronic System.
(ii) Any Electronic System used by the Administrative Agent is provided as is and as available. The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the Agent Parties) have any liability to any Loan Party, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Loan Partys or the Administrative Agents transmission of Communications through an Electronic System unless such damages are found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent Partys gross negligence or willful misconduct. Communications means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Electronic System.
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments.
(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further
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exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the Required Lenders or by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall:
(i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender,
(ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (except that any amendment or modification of the financial covenants in this Agreement (or defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (ii)),
(iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby,
(iv) change Section 2.18(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender,
(v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of Required Lenders or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be (it being understood that any change to Section 2.24 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks),
(vi) other than pursuant to a transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including actions by the Company as part of its tax planning which cause a Subsidiary Guarantor to become an Affected Foreign Subsidiary, to the extent such actions are expressly permitted by the Loan Documents), release all or substantially all of (A) the Collateral which is subject to the Loan Documents or (B) the Subsidiary Guarantors from their obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty,
(vii) release the Company from its obligations under Article X; or
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(viii) change the definition of Agreed Currencies, Agreed LC Currencies, Agreed Loan Currencies or Eligible Foreign Subsidiary.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly affected by such amendment, waiver or other modification.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers (x) to add one or more credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Lenders.
(d) The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its sole discretion, to release any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (i) upon the termination of all the Commitments, payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Obligations, (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if the Company certifies to the Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), or (iii) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article VII. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.
(e) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of each Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby, the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a Non-Consenting Lender), then the Company may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 9.04, and (ii) each Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by such Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrowers only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency.
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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, as to any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification otherwise approved in accordance with this Section, it shall not be necessary to obtain the consent or approval of any Lender that, upon giving effect to such amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification, would have no Commitment or outstanding Loans so long as such Lender receives payment in full of the principal of and interest accrued on each Loan made by, and all other amounts owing to, such Lender or accrued for the account of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents at the time such amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification becomes effective.
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) The Company 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 U.S. counsel and one local counsel in each applicable foreign jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a service such as Intralinks or Syndtrak) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Banks in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, (x) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including its rights under this Section, or (y) 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.
(b) The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Lender, each arranger and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an Indemnitee) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Company 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 Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (i) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (ii) arise out of or result from claims of one or more Indemnitees against another Indemnitee and not involving any act or omission by the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or any of the foregoings officers, directors or employees (other than any claim against an Indemnitee solely in its capacity as an arranger, Administrative Agent or similar role in connection with the Loan Documents or any related transactions contemplated hereby or intended use of the proceeds from any Credit Event). This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.
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(c) To the extent that the Company fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, any arranger or any Issuing Bank under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, and each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such Lenders Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (it being understood that the Companys failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Company of any default in the payment thereof); provided 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 such Issuing Bank in its capacity as such.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) no Borrower shall assert, and each Borrower hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), unless such damages are found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnitees gross negligence or willful misconduct, and (ii) no party hereto shall assert, and each party hereby waives, any claim against any other party hereto on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.
(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly not later than fifteen days after written demand therefor.
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns.
(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by any Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:
(A) the Company (provided that the Company 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); provided, further, that no consent of the Company shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;
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(B) the Administrative Agent;
(C) the Swingline Lender; and
(D) the Issuing Banks;
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Company and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Company shall be required if an Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing;
(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations in respect of Commitments or Loans;
(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to a Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, such fee to be paid by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders;
(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Company and its affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignees compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws; and
(E) any assignment or transfer to or assumption by any Person of all or a portion of a Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments or Loans) with respect to a Dutch Borrower shall only be permitted if such Person is a Dutch Non-Public Lender.
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For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the terms Approved Fund and Ineligible Institution have the following meanings:
Approved Fund means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Ineligible Institution means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates, (d) a Disqualified Institution or (e) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof.
(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.
(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of each Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Company, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section 9.04(b) shall be construed so that the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents are at all times maintained in registered form within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 165(j), 871(h)(2), 881(c)(2) and 4701 of the Code and within the meaning of Sections 5f.103-1(c) and 1.871-14(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.
(v) Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to a Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignees completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e) or 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
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(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of any Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Banks, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a Participant), other than an Ineligible Institution, in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations (C) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement and (D) the Borrowers shall have no obligation to directly or indirectly deal with the Participant. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) 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 Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.15 or 2.17, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(d) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participants 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 Participants 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. This Section 9.05(c) shall be construed so that the Participations or other obligations under the Loan Documents are at all times maintained in registered form within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 165(j), 871(h)(2), 881(c)(2) and 4701 of the Code and within the meaning of Sections 5f.103-1(c) and 1.871-14(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.
(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
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(e) Disqualified Institutions.
(i) No assignment shall be made to any Person that was a Disqualified Institution as of the date (the Trade Date) on which the applicable Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell and assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to such Person (unless the Company has consented to such assignment as otherwise contemplated by this Section 9.04, in which case such Person will not be considered a Disqualified Institution for the purpose of such assignment). Any assignment in violation of this clause (e)(i) shall not be void, but the other provisions of this clause (e) shall apply.
(ii) If any assignment is made to any Disqualified Institution without the Companys prior consent in violation of clause (i) above, the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent, (A) terminate any Commitment of such Disqualified Institution and repay all obligations of the Borrowers owing to such Disqualified Institution in connection with such Commitment, and/or (B) require such Disqualified Institution to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 9.04), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement and related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations at the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and other the other Loan Documents; provided that (i) the Borrowers shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in 9.04(b)(ii)(C) and (ii) such assignment does not conflict with applicable laws.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Institutions (A) will not (x) have the right to receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Disqualified Institution will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Institutions consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any plan of reorganization or plan of liquidation pursuant to insolvency or bankruptcy proceed (Plan of Reorganization), each Disqualified Institution party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such Plan of Reorganization, (2) if such Disqualified Institution does vote on such Plan of Reorganization notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be designated pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such Plan of Reorganization in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).
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(iv) The Administrative Agent shall have the right, and the Company hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent, to (A) post the list of Disqualified Institutions provided by the Company (collectively, the DQ List) on the Platform, including that portion of the Platform that is designated for public side Lenders or (B) provide the DQ List to each Lender requesting the same.
SECTION 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.
SECTION 9.07. Severability. Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final and in whatever currency denominated) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor against any of and all of the Secured Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
(a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
(b) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan and of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating
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to any Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower irrevocably designates and appoints the Company, as its authorized agent, to accept and acknowledge on its behalf, service of any and all process which may be served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 9.09(b) in any federal or New York State court sitting in New York City. The Company hereby represents, warrants and confirms that the Company has agreed to accept such appointment (and any similar appointment by a Subsidiary Guarantor which is a Foreign Subsidiary). Said designation and appointment shall be irrevocable by each such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower until all Loans, all reimbursement obligations, interest thereon and all other amounts payable by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall have been paid in full in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof and such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall have been terminated as a Borrower hereunder pursuant to Section 2.23. Each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereby consents to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 9.09(b) in any federal or New York State court sitting in New York City by service of process upon the Company as provided in this Section 9.09(d); provided that, to the extent lawful and possible, notice of said service upon such agent shall be mailed by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Company and (if applicable to) such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower at its address set forth in the Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement to which it is a party or to any other address of which such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall have given written notice to the Administrative Agent (with a copy thereof to the Company). Each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all claim of error by reason of any such service in such manner and agrees that such service shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in any such suit, action or proceeding and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid and personal service upon and personal delivery to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. To the extent any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether from service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of a judgment, execution or otherwise), each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under the Loan Documents. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT , ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR
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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 PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (1) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (2) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to any Borrower and its obligations, (g) on a confidential basis to (1) any rating agency in connection with rating the Company or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided for herein or (2) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the credit facilities provided for herein, (h) with the consent of the Company or (i) to the extent such Information (1) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (2) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company. For the purposes of this Section, Information means all information received from the Company relating to the Company or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Company and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
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ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE COMPANY OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE COMPANY AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW.
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 Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Commitments.
Each Loan Party and Affiliates thereof agree that they will not in the future issue any press releases or other public disclosure using the name of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or their respective Affiliates or referring to this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, unless (and only to the extent that) such Loan Party or such Affiliate is required to do so under law and then, in any event the Loan Parties or such Affiliate will consult with such Person to the extent practicable before issuing such press release or other public disclosure.
The Loan Parties consent to the publication by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of customary advertising material relating to the transactions contemplated hereby using the name, product photographs, logo or trademark of the Loan Parties.
SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the Charges), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the Maximum Rate) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the Patriot Act hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.
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SECTION 9.15. Releases of Subsidiary Guarantors.
(a) A Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary; provided that, if so required by this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction and the terms of such consent shall not have provided otherwise. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to) execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Partys expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.
(b) Further, the Administrative Agent may (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to), upon the request of the Company, release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty if such Subsidiary Guarantor no longer qualifies as (or would be designated as) a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(c) At such time as the principal and interest on the Loans, all LC Disbursements, the fees, expenses and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents and the other Secured Obligations (other than Swap Obligations, Banking Services Obligations, and other Obligations expressly stated to survive such payment and termination) shall have been paid in full, the Commitments shall have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, the Subsidiary Guaranty and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of each Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder shall automatically terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person.
SECTION 9.16. Attorney Representation. If a Dutch Borrower is represented by an attorney in connection with the signing and/or execution of the Agreement and/or any other Loan Document it is hereby expressly acknowledged and accepted by the parties to the Agreement and/or any other Loan Document that the existence and extent of the attorneys authority and the effects of the attorneys exercise or purported exercise of his or her authority shall be governed by the laws of the Netherlands.
SECTION 9.17. Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions.
Solely to the extent any Lender or Issuing Bank that is an EEA Financial Institution is a party to this Agreement and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender or Issuing Bank that is an 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 Lender or Issuing Bank 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
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(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.
SECTION 9.18. Electronic Execution.
The words delivery, execute, execution, signed, signature, and words of like import in any Loan Document or any other document executed in connection herewith shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, 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; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided further without limiting the foregoing, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, any electronic signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.
SECTION 9.19. Payments Set Aside.
To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrowers is made to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and Issuing Bank severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate (in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment), as applicable, from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and Issuing Banks under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE X
Cross-Guarantee
In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit to the other Borrowers hereunder, but subject to the penultimate sentence of this Article X, each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the payment when and as due of the Secured Obligations. Each Borrower further agrees that the due and punctual payment of such Secured Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal of any such Secured Obligation.
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Each Borrower waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any Borrower of any of the Secured Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment. The obligations of each Borrower hereunder shall not be affected by (a) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against any Borrower under the provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any of the Secured Obligations; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or release from, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, or any other Loan Document or agreement; (d) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Secured Obligations; (e) the failure of the Administrative Agent to take any steps to perfect and maintain any security interest in, or to preserve any rights to, any security or collateral for the Secured Obligations, if any; (f) any change in the corporate, partnership or other existence, structure or ownership of any Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Secured Obligations; (g) the enforceability or validity of the Secured Obligations or any part thereof or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto or with respect to any collateral securing the Secured Obligations or any part thereof, or any other invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Secured Obligations, for any reason related to this Agreement, any Swap Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any provision of applicable law, decree, order or regulation of any jurisdiction purporting to prohibit the payment by such Borrower or any other guarantor of the Secured Obligations, of any of the Secured Obligations or otherwise affecting any term of any of the Secured Obligations; or (h) any other act, omission or delay to do any other act which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Borrower or otherwise operate as a discharge of a guarantor as a matter of law or equity or which would impair or eliminate any right of such Borrower to subrogation.
Each Borrower further agrees that its agreement hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the Secured Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in favor of any Borrower or any other Person.
The obligations of each Borrower hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever, by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Secured Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the Secured Obligations or otherwise.
Each Borrower further agrees that its obligations hereunder shall constitute a continuing and irrevocable guarantee of all Secured Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Secured Obligation (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, or is or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a holder of Secured Obligations in its discretion).
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have at law or in equity against any Borrower by virtue hereof, upon the failure of any other Borrower to pay any Secured Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Borrower hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in cash an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the Secured Obligations then due, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Each Borrower further agrees that if payment
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in respect of any Secured Obligation shall be due in a currency other than Dollars and/or at a place of payment other than New York, Chicago or any other Eurocurrency Payment Office and if, by reason of any Change in Law, disruption of currency or foreign exchange markets, war or civil disturbance or other event, payment of such Secured Obligation in such currency or at such place of payment shall be impossible or, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in any material respect, then, at the election of the Administrative Agent, such Borrower shall make payment of such Secured Obligation in Dollars (based upon the applicable Equivalent Amount in effect on the date of payment) and/or in New York, Chicago or such other Eurocurrency Payment Office as is designated by the Administrative Agent and, as a separate and independent obligation, shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender against any losses or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that it shall sustain as a result of such alternative payment.
Upon payment by any Borrower of any sums as provided above, all rights of such Borrower against any Borrower arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Secured Obligations owed by such Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders.
Nothing shall discharge or satisfy the liability of any Borrower hereunder except the full performance and payment in cash of the Secured Obligations.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article X to the contrary, no Foreign Subsidiary Borrower which is and remains an Affected Foreign Subsidiary shall be liable hereunder for any of the Loans made to, or any other Secured Obligation incurred solely by or on behalf of, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor which is a Domestic Subsidiary.
The Company hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each Subsidiary Guarantor to honor all of its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty in respect of Specified Swap Obligations (provided, however, that the Company shall only be liable under this paragraph for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this paragraph or otherwise under this Article X voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The Company intends that this paragraph constitute, and this paragraph shall be deemed to constitute, a keepwell, support, or other agreement for the benefit of each Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC., as the Company | ||
By | /s/ Maureen Resac | |
Name: Maureen Resac | ||
Title: Treasurer | ||
HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES B.V., as a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, a private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands having its corporate seat (statutaire zetel) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, its registered office at Gustav Mahlerlaan 1244, Noma House eleventh floor, 1081 LA Amsterdam and registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 33277877 | ||
By | /s/ Kamau Coar | |
Name: Kamau Coar | ||
Title: Director |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., individually as a Lender, as a Swingline Lender, as an Issuing Bank and as Administrative Agent | ||
By | /s/ Jason E. Guerra | |
Name: Jason E. Guerra | ||
Title: Senior Vice President |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
SUNTRUST BANK, as a Lender | ||
By | /s/ Lisa Garling | |
Name: Lisa Garling | ||
Title: Director |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
By | /s/ Travis Burns | |
Name: Travis Burns | ||
Title: Senior Vice President |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
ASSOCIATED BANK, N.A., as a Lender | ||
By | /s/ Sabrina Bailey | |
Name: Sabrina Bailey | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
CITIZENS BANK, N.A., as a Lender | ||
By | /s/ Martin Rohan | |
Name: Martin Rohan | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
By | /s/ James Phelan | |
Name: James Phelan | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
By | /s/ Phillip J. Salter | |
Name: Phillip J. Salter | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Assignment and Assumption (the Assignment and Assumption) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the Assignor) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the Assignee). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, the Credit Agreement), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignors rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit, guarantees, and swingline loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the Assigned Interest). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.
1. | Assignor: |
| ||
2. | Assignee: |
| ||
[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]1] | ||||
3. | Borrowers: | Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. and certain Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers | ||
4. | Administrative Agent: | Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement | ||
5. | Credit Agreement: | The Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2018, among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc., the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time parties thereto, the Lenders parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents parties thereto | ||
6. | Assigned Interest: |
1 | Select as applicable. |
Facility Assigned2 | Aggregate Amount of Commitment/Loans for all Lenders | Amount of Commitment/ Loans Assigned | Percentage Assigned of Commitment/Loans3 | |||||||||
$ | $ | % | ||||||||||
$ | $ | % | ||||||||||
$ | $ | % |
Effective Date: , 20 [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]
The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR | ||
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR] | ||
By: |
| |
Title: | ||
ASSIGNEE | ||
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE] | ||
By: |
| |
Title: |
Consented to and Accepted: | ||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and an Issuing Bank | ||
By: |
| |
Title: | ||
[OTHER ISSUING BANK] | ||
[Consented to:]4 | ||
HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Title: |
2 | Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Assignment (e.g., Commitment or Loans). |
3 | Set forth, so at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder. |
4 | To be added only if the consent of the Company is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement. |
ANNEX I
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
1. Representations and Warranties.
1.1 Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.
1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Non-U.S. Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.
3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Acceptance and adoption of the terms of this Assignment and Assumption by the Assignee and the Assignor by Electronic Signature or delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by any Electronic System shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
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EXHIBIT B-1
FORM OF BORROWING REQUEST
TO: | Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent |
RE: | Credit Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement), among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (the Company), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent) |
DATE: | [Date] |
The undersigned hereby requests (select one):
☐ A Borrowing of Revolving Loans
☐ Conversion of ☐ ABR Loans / ☐ Eurocurrency Loans
☐ Continuation of Revolving Loans
1. | On (the Credit Extension Date). |
2. | In the [outstanding]1 principal amount of [$] [in the following currency: ]. |
3. | Comprised of or converted to: ☐ ABR Loans |
☐ Eurocurrency Loans
4. | For Eurocurrency Loans: with an Interest Period of [one] [two] [three] [six] [twelve]2 months. |
5. | Borrower: | ☐ | HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. | |||
☐ | Heidrick & Struggles B.V. | |||||
☐ | , a |
6. | Borrower Account Information: |
Bank: |
ABA No.: |
Account Name: |
Account No. |
Ref. |
1 | To be included for conversions or continuations. |
2 | Requires consent of each Lender. |
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The Borrowing requested herein complies with the clauses (i) and (ii) of the first sentence of Section 2.01 of the Credit Agreement.
The Company hereby represents and warrants that the conditions specified in Section 4.02 of the Credit Agreement shall be satisfied on and as of the date of the Credit Extension Date.
Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this notice by fax transmission or other electronic mail transmission (e.g. pdf or tif) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this notice.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware corporation |
By: |
| |
Name: |
| |
Title: |
|
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EXHIBIT B-2
FORM OF SWINGLINE LOAN REQUEST
TO: | Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Swingline Lender |
RE: | Credit Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement), among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (the Company), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent) |
DATE: | [Date] |
The undersigned hereby requests a Swingline Loan:
1. | On (the Credit Extension Date) |
2. | In the amount of $ . |
The Swingline Borrowing requested herein complies with the requirements of the provisos contained in the second sentence of Section 2.05(a) of the Credit Agreement.
The Company hereby represents and warrants that the conditions specified in Section 4.02 shall be satisfied on and as of the date of the Credit Extension Date.
Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this notice by fax transmission or other electronic mail transmission (e.g. pdf or tif) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this notice.
HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware corporation | ||
By: |
| |
Name: |
| |
Title: |
|
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EXHIBIT B-3
NOTICE OF LOAN PREPAYMENT
TO: | Bank of America, N.A., as [Administrative Agent][Swingline Lender] |
RE: | Credit Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement), among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (the Company), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent) |
DATE: | [Date] |
The Company hereby notifies the Administrative Agent that on 7 pursuant to the terms of Section 2.11 of the Credit Agreement, the Company intends to prepay/repay the following Loans as more specifically set forth below:
☐ Optional prepayment of Revolving Loans in the following principal amount(s):
☐ ABR Loans: $
☐ Eurocurrency Rate Loans: $
In the following Agreed Currency:
Applicable Interest Period:
☐ Optional prepayment of Swingline Loans in the following amount:
$
[This notice of prepayment is delivered in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.09 of the Credit Agreement and is to be deemed revoked immediately upon revocation of such notice of termination.]
Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this notice by fax transmission or other electronic mail transmission (e.g. pdf or tif) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this notice.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
7 | Specify date of such prepayment. |
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HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware corporation | ||
By: |
| |
Name: |
| |
Title: |
|
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF INCREASING LENDER SUPPLEMENT
INCREASING LENDER SUPPLEMENT, dated , 20 (this Supplement), by and among each of the signatories hereto, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (the Company), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the Company has the right, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to effectuate from time to time an increase in the aggregate Commitments and/or one or more tranches of term loans under the Credit Agreement by requesting one or more Lenders to increase the amount of its Commitment and/or to participate in such a tranche;
WHEREAS, the Company has given notice to the Administrative Agent of its intention to [increase the aggregate Commitments] [and] [enter into a tranche of term loans] pursuant to such Section 2.20; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned Increasing Lender now desires to [increase the amount of its Commitment] [and] [participate in a tranche of term loans] under the Credit Agreement by executing and delivering to the Company and the Administrative Agent this Supplement;
NOW, THEREFORE, each of the parties hereto hereby agrees as follows:
1. The undersigned Increasing Lender agrees, subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, that on the date of this Supplement it shall [have its Commitment increased by $[ ], thereby making the aggregate amount of its total Commitments equal to $[ ]] [and] [participate in a tranche of term loans with a commitment amount equal to $[ ] with respect thereto].
2. The Company hereby represents and warrants that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on and as of the date hereof.
3. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have their defined meanings when used herein.
4. This Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
5. This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Supplement to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on the date first above written.
[INSERT NAME OF INCREASING LENDER] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above: | ||
HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Acknowledged as of the date first written above: | ||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF AUGMENTING LENDER SUPPLEMENT
AUGMENTING LENDER SUPPLEMENT, dated , 20 (this Supplement), to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (the Company), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement provides in Section 2.20 thereof that any bank, financial institution or other entity may [extend Commitments] [and] [participate in tranches of term loans] under the Credit Agreement subject to the approval of the Company and the Administrative Agent, by executing and delivering to the Company and the Administrative Agent a supplement to the Credit Agreement in substantially the form of this Supplement; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned Augmenting Lender was not an original party to the Credit Agreement but now desires to become a party thereto;
NOW, THEREFORE, each of the parties hereto hereby agrees as follows:
1. The undersigned Augmenting Lender agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and agrees that it shall, on the date of this Supplement, become a Lender for all purposes of the Credit Agreement to the same extent as if originally a party thereto, with a [Commitment of $[ ]] [and] [a commitment with respect to term loans of $[ ]].
2. The undersigned Augmenting Lender (a) represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into this Supplement; (b) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and has reviewed such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Supplement; (c) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (d) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are incidental thereto; and (e) agrees that it will be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and will perform in accordance with its terms all the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
3. The undersigneds address for notices for the purposes of the Credit Agreement is as follows:
[ ]
4. The Company hereby represents and warrants that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on and as of the date hereof.
5. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have their defined meanings when used herein.
6. This Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
7. This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document.
[remainder of this page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Supplement to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on the date first above written.
[INSERT NAME OF AUGMENTING LENDER] | ||
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: |
Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above: | ||
HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Acknowledged as of the date first written above: | ||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
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Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY
GUARANTY
THIS GUARANTY (this Guaranty) is made as of October 26, 2018, by and among each of the undersigned (the Initial Guarantors and along with any additional Subsidiaries of the Company which become parties to this Guaranty by executing a supplement hereto in the form attached as Annex I, the Guarantors) in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations, under the Credit Agreement referred to below.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time parties thereto (the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers and, together with the Company, the Borrowers), the institutions from time to time parties thereto as Lenders, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., in its capacity as contractual representative (the Administrative Agent) for itself and the other Lenders, have entered into a certain Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2018 (as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented and/or restated, and as in effect from time to time, the Credit Agreement), providing, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, for extensions of credit and other financial accommodations to be made by the Lenders to the Borrowers;
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the extensions of credit by the Lenders under the Credit Agreement that each of the Guarantors (constituting all of the Subsidiaries of the Company required to execute this Guaranty pursuant to Section 5.09 of the Credit Agreement) execute and deliver this Guaranty, whereby each of the Guarantors shall guarantee the payment when due of all Secured Obligations; and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the direct and indirect financial and other support that the Borrowers have provided, and such direct and indirect financial and other support as the Borrowers may in the future provide, to the Guarantors, and in order to induce the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to enter into the Credit Agreement, each of the Guarantors is willing to guarantee the Secured Obligations;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have, as used herein, the respective meanings provided for therein.
SECTION 2. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Each of the Guarantors represents and warrants (which representations and warranties shall be deemed to have been renewed at the time of the making of any Loan or issuance of any Letter of Credit) that:
(A) It is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly and properly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except to the extent that the failure to have such authority could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(B) It (to the extent applicable) has the power and authority and legal right to execute and deliver this Guaranty and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery by each Guarantor of this Guaranty and the performance by each of its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by proper proceedings, and this Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, respectively, enforceable against such Guarantor, respectively, in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and subject to general principles of equity whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(C) Neither the execution and delivery by it of this Guaranty, nor the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions hereof will (i) require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except (a) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and (b) those filings and recordings in connection with Liens granted to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents and (c) consents, approvals, registrations, filings or other actions, the failure to obtain or perform could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (ii) violate (a) any applicable law or regulation, except where such violation could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) its charter, by-laws or other organizational documents or (c) any order of any Governmental Authority binding upon it, except where such violation could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, except where such violation or default could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents.
In addition to the foregoing, each of the Guarantors covenants that, so long as any Lender has any Commitment outstanding under the Credit Agreement or any amount payable under the Credit Agreement or any other Guaranteed Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) shall remain unpaid, it will, and, if necessary, will enable each of the Borrowers to, fully comply with those covenants and agreements of such Borrower applicable to such Guarantor set forth in the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 3. The Guaranty. Each of the Guarantors hereby unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, the full and punctual payment when due (whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise) of the Secured Obligations, (referred to herein as the Guaranteed Obligations). Upon failure by any Borrower or any of its Affiliates, as applicable, to pay punctually any such amount, each of the Guarantors agrees that it shall forthwith on demand pay such amount at the place and in the manner specified in the Credit Agreement, any Swap Agreement to which any Lender or affiliate of any Lender shall be a party (each, a Designated Financial Contract), any Banking Services Agreement or the relevant Loan Document, as the case may be. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that this Guaranty is an absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guaranty of payment and is not a guaranty of collection.
SECTION 4. Guaranty Unconditional. The obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall be unconditional and absolute and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by:
(A) any extension, renewal, settlement, indulgence, compromise, waiver or release of or with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or any agreement relating thereto, or with respect to any obligation of any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether (in any such case) by operation of law or otherwise, or any failure or omission to enforce any right, power or remedy with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or any agreement relating thereto, or with respect to any obligation of any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(B) any modification or amendment of or supplement to the Credit Agreement, any Designated Financial Contract, any Banking Services Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, any such amendment which may increase the amount of, or the interest rates applicable to, any of the Obligations guaranteed hereby;
(C) any release, surrender, compromise, settlement, waiver, subordination or modification, with or without consideration, of any collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, any other guaranties with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any other obligation of any person or entity with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any nonperfection or invalidity of any direct or indirect security for the Guaranteed Obligations;
(D) any change in the corporate, partnership or other existence, structure or ownership of any Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting such Borrower or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any of their respective assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of such Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(E) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which the Guarantors may have at any time against any Borrower, any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Administrative Agent, any Holder of Secured Obligations or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or in connection with any unrelated transactions, provided that nothing herein shall prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim;
(F) the enforceability or validity of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto or with respect to any collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any other invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, for any reason related to the Credit Agreement, any Designated Financial Contract, any Banking Services Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit the payment by such Borrower or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(G) the failure of the Administrative Agent to take any steps to perfect and maintain any security interest in, or to preserve any rights to, any security or collateral for the Guaranteed Obligations, if any;
(H) the election by, or on behalf of, any one or more of the Holders of Secured Obligations, in any proceeding instituted under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) (the Bankruptcy Code), of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code;
(I) any borrowing or grant of a security interest by any Borrower, as debtor-in-possession, under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code;
(J) the disallowance, under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code, of all or any portion of the claims of any of the Holders of Secured Obligations or the Administrative Agent for repayment of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(K) the failure of any other Guarantor to sign or become party to this Guaranty or any amendment, change, or reaffirmation hereof; or
(L) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind (other than payment in full of the Secured Obligations) by any Borrower, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Administrative Agent, any Holder of Secured Obligations or any other Person or any other circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the provisions of this Section 4, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of any Guarantors obligations hereunder.
SECTION 5. Discharge Only Upon Payment In Full: Reinstatement In Certain Circumstances. Subject to Section 25 of this Guaranty, each of the Guarantors obligations hereunder shall remain in full force and effect until all Guaranteed Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) shall have been paid in full in cash and the Commitments and all Letters of Credit issued under the Credit Agreement shall have terminated or expired; provided that any Guarantor that becomes an Affected Foreign Subsidiary shall be immediately released from its obligations hereunder and the Administrative Agent shall, at the sole cost and expense of the Borrowers, execute such release documentation, if any, reasonably requested by the Company to evidence the same (with the form of such release to be on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent). If at any time any payment of the principal of or interest on any Loan, any reimbursement obligation or any other amount payable by any Borrower or any other party under the Credit Agreement, any Designated Financial Contract, any Banking Services Agreement, or any other Loan Document is rescinded or must be otherwise restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise, each of the Guarantors obligations hereunder with respect to such payment shall be reinstated as though such payment had been due but not made at such time. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that each of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be due and payable in the same currency as such Guaranteed Obligation is denominated but if currency control or exchange regulations are imposed in the country which issues such currency with the result that such currency (the Original Currency) no longer exists or the relevant Guarantor is not able to make payment in such Original Currency, then all payments to be made by such Guarantor hereunder in such currency shall instead be made when due in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount (as of the date of payment) of such payment due, it being the intention of the parties hereto that each Guarantor takes all risks of the imposition of any such currency control or exchange regulations.
SECTION 6. General Waivers. Each of the Guarantors irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand or action on delinquency, protest, the benefit of any statutes of limitations and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any Borrower, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other Person.
SECTION 7. Subordination of Subrogation; Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness.
(A) Subordination of Subrogation. Until the Guaranteed Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) have been indefeasibly paid in full in cash, the Guarantors (i) shall have no right of subrogation with respect to such Guaranteed Obligations and (ii) waive any right to enforce any remedy which the Holders of Secured Obligations now have or may hereafter have against any Borrower, any endorser or any guarantor of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person, and the Guarantors waive any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security or collateral given to the Holders of Secured Obligations to secure the payment or performance of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other liability of any Borrower to the Holders of Secured Obligations. Should any Guarantor have the right, notwithstanding the foregoing, to exercise its subrogation rights, each Guarantor hereby expressly and irrevocably (A) subordinates any and all rights at law or in equity to subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification or set off that such Guarantor may have to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) and (B) waives any and all defenses available to a surety, guarantor or accommodation co-obligor until the Guaranteed Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) are indefeasibly paid in full in cash. Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that this subordination is intended to benefit the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Secured Obligations and shall not limit or otherwise affect such Guarantors liability hereunder or the enforceability of this Guaranty, and that the Administrative Agent, the other Holders of Secured Obligations and their respective successors and assigns are intended third party beneficiaries of the waivers and agreements set forth in this Section 7(A).
(B) Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness. Each Guarantor agrees that any and all claims of such Guarantor against any Borrower or any other Guarantor hereunder (each an Obligor) with respect to any Intercompany Indebtedness (as hereinafter defined), any endorser, obligor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, or against any of its properties shall be subordinate and, during the existence of an Event of Default, subject in right of payment to the prior payment, in full and in cash, of all Guaranteed Obligations. Notwithstanding any right of any Guarantor to ask, demand, sue for, take or receive any payment from any Obligor, all rights, liens and security interests of such Guarantor, whether now or hereafter arising and howsoever existing, in any assets of any other Obligor shall be and are subordinated to the rights of the Holders of Secured Obligations and the Administrative Agent in those assets. No Guarantor shall have any right to possession of any such asset or to foreclose upon any such asset, whether by judicial action or otherwise, unless and until all of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) shall have been fully paid and satisfied (in cash) and all financing arrangements pursuant to any Loan Document, any Designated Financial Contract or any Banking Services Agreement have been terminated (other than in the case of any Designated Financial Contract or any Banking Services Agreement, to the extent that such Designated Financial Contract or Banking Services Agreement has been cash collateralized or otherwise addressed in a manner satisfactory to the Person providing such Designated Financial Contract or Banking Services Agreement). If all or any part of the assets of any Obligor, or the proceeds thereof, are subject to any distribution, division or application to the creditors of such Obligor, whether partial or complete, voluntary or involuntary, and whether by reason of liquidation, bankruptcy, arrangement, receivership, assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other action or proceeding, or if the business of any such Obligor is dissolved or if substantially all of the assets of any such Obligor are sold, then, and in any such event (such events being herein referred to as an Insolvency Event), any payment or distribution of any kind or character, either in cash, securities or other property, which shall be payable or deliverable upon or with respect to any indebtedness of any Obligor to any Guarantor (Intercompany Indebtedness) shall be paid or delivered directly to the Administrative Agent for application on any of the Guaranteed Obligations, due or to become due, until such Guaranteed Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) shall have first been fully paid and satisfied (in cash). Should any payment, distribution, security or instrument or proceeds thereof be received by the applicable Guarantor upon or with respect to the Intercompany Indebtedness after any Insolvency Event and prior to the satisfaction of all of the Guaranteed
Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) and the termination of all financing arrangements pursuant to any Loan Document among any Borrower and the Holders of Secured Obligations, such Guarantor shall receive and hold the same in trust, as trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations and shall forthwith deliver the same to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations, in precisely the form received (except for the endorsement or assignment of the Guarantor where necessary), for application to any of the Guaranteed Obligations, due or not due, and, until so delivered, the same shall be held in trust by the Guarantor as the property of the Holders of Secured Obligations. If any such Guarantor fails to make any such endorsement or assignment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent or any of its officers or employees is irrevocably authorized to make the same. Each Guarantor agrees that until the Guaranteed Obligations (other than the contingent indemnity obligations) have been paid in full (in cash) and satisfied and all financing arrangements pursuant to any Loan Document among any Borrower and the Holders of Secured Obligations have been terminated, no Guarantor will assign or transfer to any Person (other than the Administrative Agent) any claim any such Guarantor has or may have against any Obligor.
SECTION 8. Contribution with Respect to Guaranteed Obligations.
(A) To the extent that any Guarantor shall make a payment under this Guaranty (a Guarantor Payment) which, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Guarantor, exceeds the amount which otherwise would have been paid by or attributable to such Guarantor if each Guarantor had paid the aggregate Guaranteed Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion as such Guarantors Allocable Amount (as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Guarantors as determined immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations and termination of the Credit Agreement, the Designated Financial Contracts and the Banking Services Agreements (other than in the case of any Designated Financial Contract or any Banking Services Agreement, to the extent that such Designated Financial Contract or Banking Services Agreement has been cash collateralized or otherwise addressed in a manner satisfactory to the Person providing such Designated Financial Contract or Banking Services Agreement), such Guarantor shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Guarantor for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Guaranty, the amount guaranteed by each Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the extent, if any, required so that its obligations hereunder shall not be subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law. In determining the limitations, if any, on the amount of any Guarantors obligations hereunder pursuant to the preceding sentence, it is the intention of the parties hereto that any rights of subrogation, indemnification or contribution which such Guarantor may have under this Guaranty, any other agreement or applicable law shall be taken into account.
(B) As of any date of determination, the Allocable Amount of any Guarantor shall be equal to the excess of the fair saleable value of the property of such Guarantor over the total liabilities of such Guarantor (including the maximum amount reasonably expected to become due in respect of contingent liabilities, calculated, without duplication, assuming each other Guarantor that is also liable for such contingent liability pays its ratable share thereof), giving effect to all payments made by other Guarantors as of such date in a manner to maximize the amount of such contributions.
(C) This Section 8 is intended only to define the relative rights of the Guarantors, and nothing set forth in this Section 8 is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Guaranty.
(D) The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Guarantor to which such contribution and indemnification is owing.
(E) The rights of the indemnifying Guarantors against other Guarantors under this Section 8 shall be exercisable upon the full and indefeasible payment of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations) in cash and the termination of the Credit Agreement, the Designated Financial Contracts and the Banking Services Agreements (other than in the case of any Designated Financial Contract or any Banking Services Agreement, to the extent that such Designated Financial Contract or Banking Services Agreement has been cash collateralized or otherwise addressed in a manner satisfactory to the Person providing such Designated Financial Contract or Banking Services Agreement).
SECTION 9. Stay of Acceleration. If acceleration of the time for payment of any amount payable by any Borrower under the Credit Agreement, any Designated Financial Contract, any Banking Services Agreement or any other Loan Document is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of such Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of the Credit Agreement, any Designated Financial Contract, any Banking Services Agreement or any other Loan Document shall nonetheless be payable by each of the Guarantors hereunder forthwith on demand by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 10. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be given in the manner prescribed in Article IX of the Credit Agreement with respect to the Administrative Agent at its notice address therein and with respect to any Guarantor in care of the Company at the address of the Company set forth in the Credit Agreement or such other address or telecopy number as such party may hereafter specify for such purpose by notice to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the provisions of such Article IX.
SECTION 11. No Waivers. No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any other Holder of Secured Obligations in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies provided in this Guaranty, the Credit Agreement, any Designated Financial Contract, any Banking Services Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
SECTION 12. Successors and Assigns. This Guaranty is for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Secured Obligations and their respective successors and permitted assigns, provided, that no Guarantor shall have any right to assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the consent of all of the Lenders, and any such assignment in violation of this Section 12 shall be null and void; and in the event of an assignment of any amounts payable under the Credit Agreement, any Designated Financial Contract, any Banking Services Agreement or the other Loan Documents in accordance with the respective terms thereof, the rights hereunder, to the extent applicable to the indebtedness so assigned, may be transferred with such indebtedness. This Guaranty shall be binding upon each of the Guarantors and their respective successors and assigns.
SECTION 13. Changes in Writing. Other than in connection with the addition of additional Subsidiaries, which become parties hereto by executing a supplement hereto in the form attached as Annex I, neither this Guaranty nor any provision hereof may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only in writing signed by each of the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders under the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS; JURY TRIAL; IMMUNITY.
(A) CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY AND EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY GUARANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY ANY GUARANTOR AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY LENDER INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY OR THE CITY IN WHICH THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, LENDER OR AFFILIATE, AS THE CASE MAY BE, IS LOCATED.
(B) EACH GUARANTOR WHICH IS A FOREIGN SUBSIDIARY (A FOREIGN GUARANTOR) IRREVOCABLY DESIGNATES AND APPOINTS THE COMPANY, AS ITS AUTHORIZED AGENT, TO ACCEPT AND ACKNOWLEDGE ON ITS BEHALF, SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS WHICH MAY BE SERVED IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING OF THE NATURE REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (A) ABOVE. SAID DESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENT SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE BY EACH SUCH FOREIGN GUARANTOR UNTIL ALL GUARANTEED OBLIGATIONS PAYABLE BY SUCH FOREIGN GUARANTOR HEREUNDER AND UNDER THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL HAVE BEEN PAID IN FULL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS HEREOF AND THEREOF. EACH FOREIGN GUARANTOR HEREBY CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING OF THE NATURE REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (A) ABOVE BY SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE COMPANY AS PROVIDED IN THIS CLAUSE (B); PROVIDED THAT, TO THE EXTENT LAWFUL AND POSSIBLE, NOTICE OF SAID SERVICE UPON SUCH AGENT SHALL BE MAILED BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED AIR MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE COMPANY OR TO ANY OTHER ADDRESS OF WHICH SUCH FOREIGN GUARANTOR SHALL HAVE GIVEN WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (WITH A COPY THEREOF TO THE COMPANY). EACH
FOREIGN GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ALL CLAIM OF ERROR BY REASON OF ANY SUCH SERVICE IN SUCH MANNER AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL BE DEEMED IN EVERY RESPECT EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH FOREIGN GUARANTOR IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AND SHALL, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BE TAKEN AND HELD TO BE VALID AND PERSONAL SERVICE UPON AND PERSONAL DELIVERY TO SUCH FOREIGN GUARANTOR. NOTHING HEREIN WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.
(C) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GUARANTOR (AND, BY ACCEPTING THE BENEFITS HEREOF, EACH HOLDER OF SECURED OBLIGATIONS) HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.
(D) TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY GUARANTOR HAS OR HEREAFTER MAY ACQUIRE ANY IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER FROM SERVICE OR NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF EXECUTION OF A JUDGMENT, EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE), EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS GUARANTY.
SECTION 16. No Strict Construction. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Guaranty. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Guaranty shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Guaranty.
SECTION 17. Taxes, Expenses of Enforcement, etc.
(A) Taxes.
(i) Each payment by any Guarantor hereunder or under any promissory note or application for a Letter of Credit shall be made without withholding for any Taxes, unless such withholding is required by any law. If any Guarantor determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it is so required to withhold Taxes, then such Guarantor may so withhold and shall timely pay the full amount of withheld Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. If such withheld Taxes are Indemnified Taxes, then the amount payable by the Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that, net of such withholding (including such withholding applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section), the applicable Recipient receives the amount it would have received had no such withholding been made.
(ii) In addition, such Guarantor shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(iii) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes by any Guarantor to a Governmental Authority under this Section 17(A), such Guarantor shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(iv) Guarantors shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient for any Indemnified Taxes that are paid or payable by such Recipient in connection with any Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes payable under this Section 17(A)) and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. The indemnity under this Section 17(A) shall be paid within ten (10) days after the Recipient delivers to any Guarantor a certificate stating the amount of any Indemnified Taxes so payable by such Recipient. Such certificate shall be conclusive of the amount so payable absent manifest error. Such Recipient shall deliver a copy of such certificate to the Administrative Agent. In the case of any Lender making a claim under this Section 17(A) on behalf of any of its beneficial owners, an indemnity payment under this Section 17(A) shall be due only to the extent that such Lender is able to establish that, with respect to the applicable Indemnified Taxes, such beneficial owners supplied to the applicable Persons such properly completed and executed documentation necessary to claim any applicable exemption from, or reduction of, such Indemnified Taxes.
(v) By accepting the benefits hereof, each Lender agrees that it will comply with Section 2.17(f) of the Credit Agreement.
(B) Expenses of Enforcement, Etc. The Guarantors agree to reimburse the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Secured Obligations for any reasonable costs and out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and time charges of attorneys for the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Secured Obligations, which attorneys may be employees of the Administrative Agent or the other Holders of Secured Obligations) paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent or any other Holders of Secured Obligations in connection with the collection and enforcement of amounts due under the Loan Documents, including without limitation this Guaranty.
SECTION 18. Setoff. At any time after all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations have become due and payable (by acceleration or otherwise), each Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) may, without notice to any Guarantor and regardless of the acceptance of any security or collateral for the payment hereof, appropriate and apply in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement toward the payment of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations (i) any indebtedness due or to become due from such Holder of Secured Obligations or the Administrative Agent to any Guarantor, and (ii) any moneys, credits or other property belonging to any Guarantor, at any time held by or coming into the possession of such Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) or any of their respective affiliates.
SECTION 19. German Guarantors. (A) Each of the Lenders, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, agree (and will instruct the Administrative Agent accordingly) not to enforce this Guaranty if and to the extent that this Guaranty shall be enforced for debt owed by a direct or indirect holding company of the German Guarantor or by a direct or indirect subsidiary of such holding company other than the German Guarantor or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries) and the application of proceeds towards the Obligations would lead to the situation that, if a Guarantor is organized as a GmbH or GmbH & Co. KG. (a German Guarantor) under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Net Assets of that German Guarantor or, in the case of a GmbH & Co. KG, its general partner would fall below the registered share capital (Stammkapital) of the German Guarantor or, in the case of a GmbH & Co. KG, of the general partner or, if the Net Assets of the German Guarantor or, in the case of a GmbH & Co. KG, of the general partner are already below the registered share capital of the German Guarantor or, in the case of a GmbH & Co. KG, of the general partner, such amount would be further reduced, and thereby violate the capital maintenance requirement as set out in Sections 30 et. seq. GmbHG (Gesetz betreffend die Gesellschaften mit beschraenkter Haftung).
(B) Section 19(A) shall only apply if:
(i) the management of the German Guarantor has confirmed to the Administrative Agent in writing the amount of the Net Assets calculated pursuant to Section 19(F) (the Determination) within ten Business Days following receipt of a demand of payment under this Guaranty, and the Determination provides for sufficient evidence in form of a pro forma balance sheet and the latest available management accounts of the German Guarantor and the Administrative Agent has not disputed the Determination; or
(ii) the Administrative Agent has disputed the Determination, but the Determination has been confirmed by an international accounting firm with sufficient reputation, chosen by the German Guarantor with the consent of the Administrative Agent, and notified to the Administrative Agent within 30 days following its disputing of the Determination (whereby the assessment by the accounting firm shall be binding, unless it shows manifest errors), provided that if the Administrative Agent has not consented to the assessment by the accounting firm because of a manifest error, the German Guarantor has to pay such amount that is undisputed between the German Guarantor and the Administrative Agent; in respect of the amount that is disputed, the rights of the Lenders shall remain unaffected.
(C) Section 19(A) shall not apply:
(i) if the Determination has not been provided in accordance with Section 19(B); or
(ii) if and to the extent the German Guarantor cannot demonstrate that the loans made under the Credit Agreement have not been made available to the German Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries and the letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement have not been issued for the benefit of a creditor of the German Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries and have not been repaid at the time of the enforcement; or
(iii) if a domination or profit transfer agreement is in place between the German Guarantor as dominated company and the company for whose liabilities this Guaranty was granted or between the German Guarantor and the shareholder of the company for whose liabilities this Guaranty was granted unless and to the extent the statutory loss compensation claim of the German Guarantor resulting from the domination or profit transfer agreement is not fully recoverable; or
(iv) if and to the extent that the compensation claim that the German Guarantor receives or would receive due to the enforcement would be recoverable.
(D) This Section does not restrict the Lenders in their right to pursue the enforcement of this Guaranty at a later point in time and to retain the enforcement proceeds if it has initially decided not to enforce this Guaranty or to enforce this Guaranty only partly.
(E) For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section shall prejudice the rights of the Lenders to continue enforcing this Guaranty (subject to this Section 19), or the exercise of the other rights pursuant to this Agreement, by the Lenders.
(F) The Net Assets (Nettoreinvermoegen) shall be calculated in accordance with applicable law, the relevant German accounting principles and the principles developed by court decisions for Section 30 GmbHG provided that:
(i) the amount of any increase of the registered share capital after the date hereof that has been effected without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (acting on behalf of the Lenders) shall be deducted from the stated share capital;
(ii) loans provided to such German Guarantor (or in the case of a GmbH & Co. KG, its general partner) by the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall be disregarded, if a subordination clause pursuant to Section 39 (2) German Insolvency Act (Insolvenzordnung) has been agreed or if the loans qualify as shareholder loans within the meaning of Section 39 (1) No. 5 German Insolvency Act;
(iii) financial indebtedness that has been incurred by the German Guarantor in violation of any of the provisions of a Loan Document shall be disregarded; and
(iv) the German Guarantor has to account for those assets that are accounted for with a book value that is not marginally lower than their market value at market value, or if the market value of an asset cannot be assessed, the German Guarantor has to sell that asset without undue delay (as the case may be, also by way of sale-and-lease-back) if it is not necessary for the Assignors business (nicht betriebsnotwendig) and the sale is legally permitted and required for the preservation of the stated share capital which is protected by Section 30 GmbHG.
SECTION 20. Financial Information. Each Guarantor hereby assumes responsibility for keeping itself informed of the financial condition of each of the Borrowers and any and all endorsers and/or other Guarantors of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any part thereof, that diligent inquiry would reveal, and each Guarantor hereby agrees that none of the Holders of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) shall have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to any of them regarding such condition or any such circumstances. In the event any Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to a Guarantor, such Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) shall be under no obligation (i) to undertake any investigation not a part of its regular business routine, (ii) to disclose any information which such Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), pursuant to accepted or reasonable commercial finance or banking practices, wishes to maintain confidential or (iii) to make any other or future disclosures of such information or any other information to such Guarantor.
SECTION 21. Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Guaranty shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Guaranty shall be prohibited by or invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Guaranty.
SECTION 22. Merger. This Guaranty, taken together with the other Loan Documents, represents the final agreement of each of the Guarantors with respect to the matters contained herein and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior or contemporaneous agreements, or subsequent oral agreements, between the Guarantor and any Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent).
SECTION 23. Headings. Section headings in this Guaranty are for convenience of reference only and shall not govern the interpretation of any provision of this Guaranty.
SECTION 24. Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from any Guarantor hereunder in the currency expressed to be payable herein (the specified currency) into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the specified currency with such other currency at the Administrative Agents main New York City office on the Business Day preceding that on which final, non-appealable judgment is given. The obligations of each Guarantor in respect of any sum due hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by any Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, may in accordance with normal, reasonable banking procedures purchase the specified currency with such other currency. If the amount of the specified currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, in the specified currency, each Guarantor agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, against such loss, and if the amount of the specified currency so purchased exceeds (a) the sum originally due to any Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, in the specified currency and (b) amounts shared with other Holders of Secured Obligations as a result of allocations of such excess as a disproportionate payment to such other Holder of Secured Obligations under Section 2.18 of the Credit Agreement, such Holder of Secured Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, agrees, by accepting the benefits hereof, to remit such excess to such Guarantor.
SECTION 25. Termination of Guarantors. The obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty shall automatically terminate in accordance with Section 9.15 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 26. Keepwell. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Guarantor to honor all of its obligations under this Guaranty in respect of Specified Swap Obligations (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 26 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 26 or otherwise under this Guaranty voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 26 shall remain in full force and effect until a discharge of such Qualified ECP Guarantors Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Loan Documents. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 26 constitute, and this Section 26 shall be deemed to constitute, a keepwell, support, or other agreement for the benefit of each other Guarantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act. As used herein, Qualified ECP Guarantor means, in respect of any Specified Swap Obligation, each Guarantor that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation or such other Person as constitutes an ECP and can cause another Person to qualify as an ECP at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Initial Guarantors has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed by its authorized officer as of the day and year first above written.
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[Signature Page to Guaranty]
ANNEX I TO GUARANTY
Reference is hereby made to the Guaranty (the Guaranty) made as of October 26, 2018, by and among , a , , a , , a and , a (the Initial Guarantors and along with any additional Subsidiaries of Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc., which become parties thereto and together with the undersigned, the Guarantors) in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations, under the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Guaranty. By its execution below, the undersigned [NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR], a [corporation] [partnership] [limited liability company], agrees to become, and does hereby become, a Guarantor under the Guaranty and agrees to be bound by such Guaranty as if originally a party thereto. By its execution below, the undersigned represents and warrants as to itself that all of the representations and warranties contained in Section 2 of the Guaranty are true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, [NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR], a [corporation] [partnership] [limited liability company] has executed and delivered this Annex I counterpart to the Guaranty as of this day of , .
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EXHIBIT F
[Intentionally Omitted]
EXHIBIT G-1
[FORM OF]
BORROWING SUBSIDIARY AGREEMENT
BORROWING SUBSIDIARY AGREEMENT dated as of [ ], among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), [Name of Foreign Subsidiary Borrower], a [ ] (the New Borrowing Subsidiary), and Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent (the Administrative Agent).
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among the Company, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement. Under the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions therein set forth, to make Loans to certain Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers (collectively with the Company, the Borrowers), and the Company and the New Borrowing Subsidiary desire that the New Borrowing Subsidiary become a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. In addition, the New Borrowing Subsidiary hereby authorizes the Company to act on its behalf as and to the extent provided for in Article II of the Credit Agreement. [Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the New Borrowing Subsidiary hereby designates the following officers as being authorized to request Borrowings under the Credit Agreement on behalf of the New Subsidiary Borrower and sign this Borrowing Subsidiary Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the New Borrowing Subsidiary is, or may from time to time become, a party: [ ].]
Each of the Company and the New Borrowing Subsidiary represents and warrants that the representations and warranties of the Company in the Credit Agreement relating to the New Borrowing Subsidiary and this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, other than representations given as of a particular date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of that date. [The Company and the New Borrowing Subsidiary further represent and warrant that the execution, delivery and performance by the New Borrowing Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement and the use of any of the proceeds raised in connection with this Agreement will not contravene or conflict with, or otherwise constitute unlawful financial assistance under, Sections 677 to 683 (inclusive) of the United Kingdom Companies Act 2006 of England and Wales (as amended).]8 [INSERT OTHER PROVISIONS REASONABLY REQUESTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ITS COUNSELS] The Company agrees that the Guarantee of the Company contained in the Credit Agreement will apply to the Obligations of the New Borrowing Subsidiary. Upon execution of this Agreement by each of the Company, the New Borrowing Subsidiary and the Administrative Agent, the New Borrowing Subsidiary shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and shall constitute a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower for all purposes thereof, and the New Borrowing Subsidiary hereby agrees to be bound by all provisions of the Credit Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
[Signature Page Follows]
8 | To be included only if a New Borrowing Subsidiary will be a Borrower organized under the laws of England and Wales. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their authorized officers as of the date first appearing above.
HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
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[NAME OF NEW BORROWING SUBSIDIARY] | ||
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EXHIBIT G-2
[FORM OF]
BORROWING SUBSIDIARY TERMINATION
Bank of America, N.A.
as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders referred to below
135 S. LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Attention: [ ]
[Date]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (the Company), refers to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among the Company, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
The Company hereby terminates the status of [ ] (the Terminated Borrowing Subsidiary) as a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower under the Credit Agreement. [The Company represents and warrants that no Loans made to the Terminated Borrowing Subsidiary are outstanding as of the date hereof and that all amounts payable by the Terminated Borrowing Subsidiary in respect of interest and/or fees (and, to the extent notified by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any other amounts payable under the Credit Agreement) pursuant to the Credit Agreement have been paid in full on or prior to the date hereof.] [The Company acknowledges that the Terminated Borrowing Subsidiary shall continue to be a Borrower until such time as all Loans made to the Terminated Borrowing Subsidiary shall have been prepaid and all amounts payable by the Terminated Borrowing Subsidiary in respect of interest and/or fees (and, to the extent notified by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any other amounts payable under the Credit Agreement) pursuant to the Credit Agreement shall have been paid in full, provided that the Terminated Borrowing Subsidiary shall not have the right to make further Borrowings under the Credit Agreement.]
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This instrument shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.
Very truly yours, | ||
HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||
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Copy to: Bank of America, N.A.
135 S. LaSalle St.
Chicago, IL 60603
EXHIBIT H-1
FORM OF U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE
(For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (the Company), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively with the Company, the Borrowers) and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent).
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the applicable Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the applicable Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
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EXHIBIT H-2
FORM OF U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE
(For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (the Company), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively with the Company, the Borrowers) and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent).
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement, neither the undersigned nor any of its partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the applicable Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (v) none of its partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the applicable Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by the following forms from each of its partners/members claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (A) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable or (B) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as from each of its partners/members claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
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EXHIBIT H-3
FORM OF U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE
(For Non-U.S. Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (the Company), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively with the Company, the Borrowers) and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent).
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the applicable Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the applicable Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
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EXHIBIT H-4
FORM OF U.S. TAX CERTIFICATE
(For Non-U.S. Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement originally dated as of October 26, 2018 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (the Company), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively with the Company, the Borrowers) and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent).
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the applicable Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, (v) none of its partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the applicable Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code, and (vi) the interest payments in question are not effectively connected with the undersigneds or its partners/members conduct of a U.S. trade or business.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by the following forms from each of its partners/members claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (A) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable or (B) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as from each of its partners/members claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
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