TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT Datedas of November 24, 2010, Among THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO as the Lenders and CREDIT SUISSE AG, asAdministrative Agent and Collateral Agent, PETCO ANIMAL SUPPLIES, INC. and The subsidiaries of PETCOAnimal Supplies, Inc. from time to time party hereto CREDIT SUISSESECURITIES (USA) LLC, J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC, MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC and MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING,INC. as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., asSyndication Agent and WELLSFARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Documentation Agent TABLE OF CONTENTS

EX-10.2 8 d42894dex102.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of November 24, 2010,

Among

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO

as the Lenders

and

CREDIT SUISSE AG,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,

PETCO ANIMAL SUPPLIES, INC.

and

The subsidiaries of PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. from time to time party hereto

 

 

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC

and

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.

as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Syndication Agent

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Documentation Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  
ARTICLE I   
Definitions   

Section 1.01. Defined Terms.

     1   

Section 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings.

     43   

Section 1.03. Terms Generally.

     44   

Section 1.04. Effectuation of Transactions.

     44   
ARTICLE II   
The Credits   

Section 2.01. Commitments.

     44   

Section 2.02. Loans and Borrowings.

     44   

Section 2.03. Request for Borrowing on the Closing Date.

     45   

Section 2.04. Funding of Borrowing on the Closing Date.

     46   

Section 2.05. Type; Interest Elections.

     46   

Section 2.06. Termination of Commitments.

     47   

Section 2.07. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

     48   

Section 2.08. Optional Prepayment of Loans.

     49   

Section 2.09. Mandatory Prepayment of Loans.

     52   

Section 2.10. Fees.

     53   

Section 2.11. Interest.

     53   

Section 2.12. Alternate Rate of Interest.

     54   

Section 2.13. Increased Costs.

     54   

Section 2.14. Break Funding Payments.

     55   

Section 2.15. Taxes.

     56   

Section 2.16. Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs.

     59   

Section 2.17. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

     60   

Section 2.18. Illegality.

     61   

Section 2.19. Loan Repricing Protection.

     61   

Section 2.20. Incremental Loans.

     62   

Section 2.21. Loan Modification Offers.

     63   

 

- ii -


ARTICLE III   
Representations and Warranties   

Section 3.01. Organization; Powers.

     64   

Section 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability.

     64   

Section 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts.

     64   

Section 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.

     65   

Section 3.05. Properties.

     65   

Section 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters.

     66   

Section 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements; Licenses and Permits.

     66   

Section 3.08. Investment Company Status.

     66   

Section 3.09. Taxes.

     66   

Section 3.10. ERISA.

     67   

Section 3.11. Disclosure.

     67   

Section 3.12. Material Agreements.

     67   

Section 3.13. Solvency.

     68   

Section 3.14. Insurance.

     68   

Section 3.15. Capitalization and Subsidiaries.

     68   

Section 3.16. Security Interest in Collateral.

     68   

Section 3.17. Labor Disputes.

     69   

Section 3.18. Federal Reserve Regulations.

     69   

Section 3.19. [Reserved].

     69   

Section 3.20. [Reserved].

     69   

Section 3.21. Sanctioned Persons.

     69   
ARTICLE IV   
Conditions   
ARTICLE V   
Affirmative Covenants   

Section 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information.

     73   

Section 5.02. Notices of Material Events.

     76   

Section 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business.

     76   

Section 5.04. Payment of Taxes.

     76   

Section 5.05. Maintenance of Properties.

     77   

Section 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights.

     77   

Section 5.07. Maintenance of Ratings.

     77   

Section 5.08. Compliance with Laws.

     77   

Section 5.09. Use of Proceeds.

     77   

Section 5.10. Insurance.

     78   

Section 5.11. Additional Collateral; Further Assurances.

     78   

 

- iii -


ARTICLE VI   
Negative Covenants   

Section 6.01. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.

     80   

Section 6.02. Limitation on Liens.

     85   

Section 6.03. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.

     86   

Section 6.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments.

     88   

Section 6.05. Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates.

     93   

Section 6.06. Limitations on Asset Sales.

     95   

Section 6.07. Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.

     96   

Section 6.08. Limitations on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries.

     98   

Section 6.09. Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions.

     99   

Section 6.10. [Reserved].

     99   

Section 6.11. Impairment of Security Interest.

     99   

Section 6.12. Business of the Borrower and Restricted Subsidiaries.

     99   
ARTICLE VII   
Events of Default   
ARTICLE VIII   
The Agents   
ARTICLE IX   
Miscellaneous   

Section 9.01. Notices.

     105   

Section 9.02. Waivers; Amendments.

     108   

Section 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

     110   

Section 9.04. Successors and Assigns.

     112   

Section 9.05. Survival.

     117   

Section 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

     117   

Section 9.07. Severability.

     118   

Section 9.08. Right of Setoff.

     118   

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

     119   

Section 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

     119   

 

- iv -


Section 9.11. Headings.

     120   

Section 9.12. Confidentiality.

     120   

Section 9.13. Several Obligations; Violation of Law.

     120   

Section 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act.

     120   

Section 9.15. Disclosure.

     121   

Section 9.16. Appointment for Perfection.

     121   

Section 9.17. Interest Rate Limitation.

     121   

Section 9.18. INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT.

     121   
ARTICLE X   
Loan Guaranty   

Section 10.01. Guaranty.

     122   

Section 10.02. Guaranty of Payment.

     122   

Section 10.03. No Discharge or Diminishment of Loan Guaranty.

     122   

Section 10.04. Defenses Waived.

     123   

Section 10.05. Rights of Subrogation.

     123   

Section 10.06. Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration.

     123   

Section 10.07. Information.

     123   

Section 10.08. Taxes.

     124   

Section 10.09. Maximum Liability.

     124   

Section 10.10. Contribution.

     124   

Section 10.11. Liability Cumulative.

     125   

Section 10.12. Release of Loan Guarantors.

     125   

 

SCHEDULES:
Commitment Schedule
Schedule 1.01(a) — Immaterial Subsidiaries
Schedule 1.01(b) — Existing Investments
Schedule 1.01(c) — Existing Liens
Schedule 3.06 — Disclosed Matters
Schedule 3.14 — Insurance
Schedule 3.15 — Capitalization and Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.01 — Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.06 — Designated Real Property

 

- v -


EXHIBITS:
Exhibit A — Form of Administrative Questionnaire
Exhibit B — Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit C — Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit D — Joinder Agreement
Exhibit E — Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit F — Form of Promissory Note
Exhibit G — Form of Discounted Prepayment Option Notice
Exhibit H — Form of Lender Participation Notice
Exhibit I — Form of Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice

 

- vi -


TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of November 24, 2010 (this “Agreement”), among PETCO ANIMAL SUPPLIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each subsidiary of the Borrower from time to time party hereto, the Lenders (as defined in Article I) and CREDIT SUISSE AG, as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and as collateral agent for the Lenders hereunder (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

The Borrower has requested the Lenders to extend credit in the form of Loans (such term and each other capitalized term used but not defined in this introductory statement having the meaning given it in Article I) on the Closing Date, in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $1,225,000,000. On the Closing Date (a) the Borrower will obtain the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $250,000,000 and (b) the Borrower will issue up to $500,000,000 of its Senior Notes in a Rule 144A or other private placement. The proceeds of the Loans, together with the proceeds of the Senior Notes and cash on hand of the Borrower will be used by the Borrower solely to (i) finance the Existing Debt Refinancing, (ii) make the Permitted Dividend and (iii) pay the Transaction Costs.

The Lenders are willing to extend such credit to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

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

ABL Security Documents” means any and all security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages and other agreements and documents pursuant to which any Liens are granted to secure any Indebtedness or other obligations in respect of the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility.

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

Acceptable Price” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(iii).

Acceptance Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(ii).

Accepting Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, (a) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or


became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and (b) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, for any Interest Period, the rate obtained by dividing (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period by (b) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained against “Eurocurrency liabilities” as specified in Regulation D (including any marginal, emergency, special or supplemental reserves).

Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit A.

Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, that Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power (i) to vote 20% or more of the Equity Interests having the ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

Affiliate Transaction” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.05(a).

Affiliated Lender” means any of the Sponsors or any of their respective Affiliates, other than the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries.

Agents” means the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preamble to this Agreement.

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 on such day plus 1%; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the rate determined on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) by reference to the British Bankers’ Association as an authorized vendor for the purpose of displaying such rates on such day. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate for any reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof, the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (b) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving

 

2


rise to such inability no longer exist. 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 on the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effect Rate, or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, as the case may be.

Applicable Discount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(iii).

Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans (or, if no Loans are then outstanding, the Commitment) of such Lender and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans (or, if no Loans are then outstanding, the Commitments) of all Lenders.

Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any LIBO Rate Loan, 4.50% per annum, and with respect to any ABR Loan, 3.50% per annum.

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 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, advises or manages a Lender.

Asset Sale” means (a) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of property or assets (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”), and (b) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Equity Interests issued in compliance with Section 6.01), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, in each case, other than:

(i) a disposition of cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete or worn out equipment, vehicles or other similar assets in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory or goods held for sale in the ordinary course of business;

(ii) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 6.03 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

(iii) the making of any Permitted Investment or the making of any Restricted Payment that is not prohibited by Section 6.04;

(iv) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case that do not or would not upon issuance constitute Term Loan First Lien Collateral, in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of less than $12,500,000;

 

3


(v) any disposition of Term Loan First Lien Collateral in any transaction or series of transactions with an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of less than $10,000,000;

(vi) any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary;

(vii) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;

(viii) the license, lease, assignment or sub-lease of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business, or any termination or expiration of any lease of real property in accordance with its terms;

(ix) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(x) the granting of Liens (and foreclosures thereon) not prohibited by Section 6.02;

(xi) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, in connection with any Receivables Facility;

(xii) the unwinding of any Hedging Obligations;

(xiii) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other litigation claims in the ordinary course of business; and

(xiv) grants of credits and allowances in the ordinary course of business.

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption 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 B or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any successor statute.

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

Board of Directors” means (a) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation, (b) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership and (c) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

4


Board Resolution” means, with respect to the Borrower, a duly adopted resolution of the Board of Directors of the Borrower or any committee thereof.

Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement; provided that when used in the context of determining the fair market value of an asset or liability under this Agreement, “Borrower” shall, unless otherwise expressly stated, be deemed to mean the Board of Directors of the Borrower when the fair market value of such asset or liability is equal to or in excess of $35,000,000.

Borrower Restricted Information” means any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities.

Borrowing” means any Loans of the same Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Borrowing Base” has the meaning set forth as of the Closing Date in the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement.

Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E, or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

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 LIBO Rate Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of (a) all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as additions during such period to property, plant or equipment reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) the value of all assets under Capitalized Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period; provided that the term “Capital Expenditures” shall not include:

(i) expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or repair of assets to the extent financed with (x) insurance proceeds paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced, restored or repaired or (y) awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being replaced,

(ii) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time,

 

5


(iii) the purchase of plant, property or equipment to the extent financed with the proceeds of Asset Sales that are not applied to prepay Loans pursuant to Section 2.09,

(iv) expenditures that constitute Consolidated Lease Expense,

(v) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and that actually are paid for by a Person other than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and for which neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary has provided or is required to provide or incur, directly or indirectly, any consideration or obligation to such Person or any other Person (whether before, during or after such period),

(vi) the book value of any asset owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or during such period to the extent that such book value is included as a capital expenditure during such period as a result of such Person reusing or beginning to reuse such asset during such period without a corresponding expenditure actually having been made in such period; provided that (x) any expenditure necessary in order to permit such asset to be reused shall be included as a Capital Expenditure during the period in which such expenditure actually is made and (y) such book value shall have been included in Capital Expenditures when such asset was originally acquired, or

(vii) expenditures that constitute acquisitions of Persons or business units permitted hereunder.

Capital Stock” means (a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock, (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, (c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited) and (d) 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.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP; provided that (i) a change in GAAP or the interpretation thereof shall not result in any lease of real property that is, or would be, characterized by a Loan Party as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP in effect on the date hereof being considered a Capitalized Lease Obligation and (ii) leases of real property by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that are entered into solely in connection with the operation of pet stores and distribution centers (and on terms that are substantially consistent with past practice of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries) shall not be considered capital leases.

Captive Insurance Company” means a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower created solely for providing self insurance for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and engaging in activities reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

6


Cash Equivalents” means:

(a) Dollars;

(b) Canadian dollars, Japanese yen, pounds sterling, euro or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(c) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the government of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(d) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year, interest-bearing demand deposit accounts and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having, at the time of acquisition thereof, capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000;

(e) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (c) and (d) above entered into with any financial institution, at the time of acquisition thereof, meeting the qualifications specified in clause (d) above;

(f) commercial paper rated, at the time of acquisition thereof, at least “P-1” by Moody’s or at least “A-1” by S&P and in each case maturing within 12 months after the date of issuance thereof;

(g) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;

(h) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating, at the time of acquisition thereof, of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition; and

(i) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (h) above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clauses (a) and (b) above; provided that such amounts are converted into one or more of the currencies set forth in clauses (a) and (b) above as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.

Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or

 

7


application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.13(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement (other than any such request, guideline or directive to comply with any law, rule or regulation that was in effect on the date of this Agreement).

Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred after the Closing Date if (a) prior to a Qualified Public Offering, the Permitted Holders (i) shall fail to have the right, directly or indirectly, by voting power, contract or otherwise, to elect or designate for election at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower or (ii) shall fail to own, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, shares of the Borrower in an amount equal to more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of shares owned, directly or indirectly, by the Permitted Holders, beneficially and of record, as of the Closing Date and such ownership by the Permitted Holders shall not represent the largest single block of voting securities of the Borrower held, directly or indirectly, by any Person or related group for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, (b) after a Qualified Public Offering, any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person and its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan), other than the Permitted Holders, shall “beneficially own” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower and the percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by such Equity Interests beneficially owed by such person or group exceeds the percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by Equity Interests of the Borrower then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Permitted Holders, unless (i) the Permitted Holders have, at such time, the right or the ability, directly or indirectly, by voting power, contract or otherwise, to elect or designate for election at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower or (ii) during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the Board of Directors of the Borrower shall be occupied by persons who were (x) members of the Board of Directors of the Borrower on the Closing Date or nominated by the Board of Directors of the Borrower or by one or more Permitted Holders or Persons nominated by one or more Permitted Holders or (y) appointed by directors so nominated, (c) any change in control (or similar event, however denominated) with respect to the Borrower shall occur under and as defined in the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement, the Senior Notes or any other Material Indebtedness, in any case that gives the holders thereof the right to require the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, offer to repurchase or immediately repay such Indebtedness or (d) the Borrower shall cease to beneficially and directly own 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of PETCO.

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

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

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

 

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Co-Investors” means GSMP 2006 Onshore US, Ltd., GSMP 2006 Offshore US, Ltd., GSMP 2006 Institutional US, Ltd., FS Equity Partners V, L.P., FS Affiliates V, L.P., MSD Portfolio, L.P., Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Newstone Capital, L.P., JZ Capital Partners Limited and their respective Affiliates.

Collateral” means any and all property owned, leased or operated by a Person subject to a Lien under the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become subject to a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Lenders, to secure the Secured Obligations.

Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Mortgages (if any) and any other documents granting a Lien upon the Collateral as security for payment of the Secured Obligations.

Commitment” means (a) with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Loans as set forth in the Commitment Schedule or in the most recent Assignment and Assumption executed by such Lender and (b) as to all Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all Lenders to make Loans, which aggregate commitment shall be $1,225,000,000 on the Closing Date. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Commitments” shall include the Incremental Loan Commitments.

Commitment Schedule” means the Schedule attached hereto identified as such.

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of deferred financing fees and other related noncash charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (a) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income (including (i) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (ii) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances, (iii) noncash interest payments (but excluding any noncash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (iv) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations and (v) net payments, if any, pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness, and excluding (A) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (B) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and (C) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Receivables Facility), plus (b) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries

 

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for such period, whether paid or accrued, less (c) interest income for such period. For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Lease Expense” means for any period, all rental expenses of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period under operating leases for real or personal property (including in connection with Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted hereunder), excluding real estate taxes, insurance costs and common area maintenance charges and net of sublease income, other than (a) obligations under vehicle leases entered into in the ordinary course of business, (b) all such rental expenses associated with assets acquired pursuant to an acquisition of a Person or business unit to the extent such rental expenses relate to operating leases in effect at the time of (and immediately prior to) such acquisition and related to periods prior to such acquisition and (c) all Capitalized Lease Obligations, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that (i) a change in GAAP or the interpretation thereof shall not result in any lease of real property that is, or would be, characterized by a Loan Party as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP in effect on the date hereof not being considered on operating lease and (ii) leases of real property by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that are entered into solely in connection with the operation of pet stores and distribution centers (and on terms that are substantially consistent with past practice of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries) shall be considered operating leases.

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that, without duplication:

(a) any net after-tax extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses (including relating to severance, retention, relocation, one-time compensation charges and the Transactions) shall be excluded,

(b) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period, whether effected through a cumulative effect adjustment or a retroactive application, in each case in accordance with GAAP,

(c) any net after-tax income (loss) from disposed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of disposed or discontinued operations shall be excluded,

(d) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions or the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, shall be excluded,

 

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(e) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a subsidiary, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower shall be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period (subject, in the case of dividends, distributions or other payments made to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (f) below),

(f) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 6.04(a)(iii)(A), the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary Guarantor) shall be excluded if the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination wholly permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule, or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein,

(g) any increase in amortization or depreciation or other noncash charges resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to any acquisition that is consummated after the Closing Date, net of taxes, shall be excluded,

(h) any net after-tax income (loss) from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded,

(i) any impairment charge or asset write-off, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded, and

(j) any noncash compensation expense recorded from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights to officers, directors or employees shall be excluded.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 6.04 only (other than clause (a)(iii)(D) thereof), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, any dividends or distributions from Restricted Investments, any repurchases and redemptions of Restricted Investments from the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayments of loans and advances that constitute Restricted Investments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, any sale of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case only to the extent such amounts increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 6.04(a)(iii)(D).

 

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Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Net Indebtedness of such Person as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which the event for which such calculation is being made shall occur to (b) the aggregate amount of EBITDA of such Person for the period of the most recently ended four full consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which the event for which such calculation is being made shall occur, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”.

Consolidated Secured Net Debt Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Net Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that is secured by Liens as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which the event for which such calculation is being made shall occur to (b) the aggregate amount of EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the period of the most recently ended consecutive four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which the event for which such calculation is being made shall occur, in each case with such pro forma adjustments to Consolidated Total Indebtedness and EBITDA as are appropriate and consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, obligations in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (and excluding (i) any undrawn letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business and (ii) all obligations relating to Receivables Facilities) and (b) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Borrower and all Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding items eliminated in consolidation), with the amount of such Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock equal to the greater of their respective voluntary or involuntary liquidation preferences and Maximum Fixed Repurchase Prices, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of this definition, the “Maximum Fixed Repurchase Price” of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock were purchased on any date on which Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Agreement, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such fair market value shall be determined reasonably and in good faith by the Borrower.

Consolidated Total Net Indebtedness” means, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of such date minus (b) Unrestricted Cash as of such date; provided that no more than $50,000,000 of Unrestricted Cash may be deducted in calculating Consolidated Total Net Indebtedness at any time.

 

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Consolidated Working Capital” means, at any date, the excess of (a) the sum of all amounts (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date over (b) the sum of all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, including deferred revenue but excluding, without duplication, (i) the current portion of any Funded Debt, (ii) the current portion of interest and (iii) the current portion of current and deferred income taxes.

Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (the “primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, or (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Declined Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(e).

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

Derivative Transaction” means (a) an interest-rate transaction, including an interest-rate swap, basis swap, forward rate agreement, interest rate option (including a cap, collar and floor), and any other instrument linked to interest rates that gives rise to similar credit risks (including when-issued securities and forward deposits accepted), (b) an exchange-rate transaction, including a cross-currency interest-rate swap, a forward foreign-exchange contract, a currency option, and any other instrument linked to exchange rates that gives rise to similar credit risks, (c) an equity derivative transaction, including an equity-linked swap, an equity-linked option, a forward equity-linked contract, and any other instrument linked to equities that gives rise to similar credit risk and (d) a commodity (including precious metal) derivative transaction, including a commodity-linked swap, a commodity-linked option, a forward commodity-linked contract, and any other instrument linked to commodities that gives rise to similar credit risks; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or its subsidiaries shall be a Derivative Transaction.

Designated Noncash Consideration” means the fair market value of noncash consideration received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Noncash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by an executive vice president and the principal financial officer of the Borrower, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Noncash Consideration.

 

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Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Borrower or any parent thereof (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate executed by an executive vice president and the principal financial officer of the Borrower or the applicable parent thereof, as the case may be, on the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 6.04(a)(iii).

Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06.

Discount Range” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(ii).

Discounted Prepayment Option Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(ii).

Discounted Voluntary Prepayment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(i).

Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(v).

Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than solely for Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock), other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale, in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date the Loans are no longer outstanding; provided that if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or its subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person other than (a) a Foreign Subsidiary, (b) any Domestic Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary, but in each case, including any subsidiary that guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any indebtedness of the Borrower, or (c) a Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company.

 

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EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period,

(a) increased by (without duplication): (i) provision for taxes based on income or profits, plus franchise or similar taxes, of such Person for such period deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus (ii) consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person for such period to the extent the same was deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income, plus (iii) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent such depreciation and amortization were deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus (iv) any expenses or charges related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder including a refinancing thereof (whether or not successful) and any amendment or modification to the terms of any such transactions, including such fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions, in each case, to the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus (v) the amount of any restructuring charge or reserve deducted in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with (A) acquisitions after the Closing Date or (B) the closing of any stores or distribution centers after the Closing Date, plus (vi) any noncash charges reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period, excluding any such charge that represents an accrual or reserve for a cash expenditure for a future period, plus (vii) the amount of any minority interest expense deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income, plus (viii) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid (or any accruals related to such fees or related expenses) during such period to the Sponsors and Co-Investors to the extent permitted under Section 6.05, plus (ix) any costs or expenses incurred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or stockholders agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Borrower or net cash proceeds of issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock that is Preferred Stock) in each case, solely to the extent that such cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 6.04(a)(iii);

(b) decreased by (without duplication) noncash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any gains that represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period (other than such cash charges that have been added back to Consolidated Net Income in calculating EBITDA in accordance with this definition); and

(c) increased or decreased, as applicable, by (without duplication) (i) any net gain or loss resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, (ii) any net gain or loss resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness and (iii) the amount of gain or loss resulting in such period from a sale of receivables and related assets to a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Receivables Facility.

Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender, (b) a commercial bank, insurance company, or company engaged in the business of making commercial loans or a commercial

 

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finance company, (c) any Affiliate of a Lender under common control with such Lender or (d) an Approved Fund of a Lender, provided that in any event, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include (i) any natural person, (ii) the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof or (iii) any Co-Investor, Sponsor or any of their respective Affiliates.

EMU” means the economic and monetary union contemplated by the Treaty of the European Union.

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), 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 Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock, but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock.

Equity Offering” means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parents (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than (a) public offerings with respect to the Borrower’s or any direct or indirect parent’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8, (b) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution, (c) an issuance to any subsidiary of the Borrower or any Sponsor or any Co-Investor, (d) an issuance to directors, officers or employees of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parents (whether or not pursuant to any management plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Borrower), and (e) any Permitted Cure Securities (as defined in the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement).

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

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

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

 

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the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) a failure by any Plan to meet the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Plan, in each instance, whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) a determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at-risk” status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4)(A) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4)(A) of the Code); (f) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice of an intent to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (g) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (h) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent, in reorganization or in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 305 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 432 of the Code).

euro” means the single currency of participating member states of the EMU.

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

Excess Cash Flow” means, for any fiscal year of the Borrower, an amount equal to the excess of:

(a) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) Consolidated Net Income for such period,

(ii) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term account receivables for such period (other than any such decreases arising from acquisitions by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period), and

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of assets by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than sales in the ordinary course of business) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income; over

 

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(b) the sum, without duplication, of:

(i) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and cash charges included in clauses (a) through (j) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income,

(ii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (x) below in prior periods, the amount of Capital Expenditures made in cash during such period, except to the extent that such Capital Expenditures were financed with the proceeds of Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries,

(iii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the principal component of payments in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, but excluding all prepayments of the Loans and all prepayments of loans under the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement to the extent the amount of such prepayment reduces the amount of any mandatory prepayment of the Loans that would otherwise be required under Section 2.09(a) in accordance with the terms of such Section) made during such period (other than in respect of any revolving credit facility to the extent there is not an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder), except to the extent financed with the proceeds of other Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries,

(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of assets by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than sales in the ordinary course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income,

(v) increases in Consolidated Working Capital and long-term account receivables for such period (other than any such increases arising from acquisitions of a Person or business unit by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period),

(vi) cash payments by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term liabilities of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness,

(vii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (x) below in prior periods, the amount of Investments and acquisitions made during such period to the extent permitted under Section 6.04, to the extent that such Investments and acquisitions were financed with internally generated cash flow of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries,

(viii) the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such period (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such period,

 

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(ix) the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid in cash by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are required to be made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness,

(x) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into prior to or during such period relating to acquisitions or Capital Expenditures to be consummated or made during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower following the end of such period, provided that to the extent the aggregate amount of internally generated cash actually utilized to finance such acquisitions or Capital Expenditures during such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, and

(xi) the amount of cash taxes paid in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parents (but only to the extent actually contributed to the Borrower) from (a) contributions to its common equity capital and (b) the sale (other than to a subsidiary of the Borrower or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parents) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parents, which in each case are designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate executed by an executive vice president and the principal financial officer of the Borrower on the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Equity Interests are sold, as the case may be, which are excluded from the calculation set forth in Section 6.04(a)(iii).

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 an Agent or Lender: (a) income or franchise Taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar Tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower or any other Loan Party is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.17(b)) or Foreign Agent, resulting from any law in effect (including FATCA) on the date such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this

 

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Agreement (or designates a new lending office) (or, in the case of a Foreign Agent, at the time it becomes a party to this Agreement), or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s or Foreign Agent’s failure to comply with Section 2.15(f), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment) (or, in the case of a Foreign Agent, except to the extent its predecessor (if any) at the time of succession was entitled), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower or any other Loan Party with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.15(a).

Existing ABL Credit Agreement” means the ABL Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2006, as amended, among PETCO (as successor-in-interest to Rover Acquisition Corp.), as the borrower, the Borrower (formerly known as Rover Holdings Corp.), the lenders party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (formerly known as Wells Fargo Retail Finance, LLC), as collateral agent.

Existing Debt Refinancing” means the payment in full of all amounts, if any, due or owing under or in respect of each of the Existing ABL Credit Agreement, the Existing Term Credit Agreement and the Existing Notes, the termination of all commitments thereunder (if any) and the release and discharge of all guarantees thereof (if any) and all security therefor (if any).

Existing Notes” means PETCO’s 10.50% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014.

Existing Term Credit Agreement” means the Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2006, as amended, among PETCO (as successor-in-interest to Rover Acquisition Corp.), as the borrower, the Borrower (formerly known as Rover Holdings Corp.), the lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent and collateral agent.

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement and any regulations or official interpretations thereof.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, 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 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.

Fee Letter” means that certain Administrative Agent Fee Letter dated as of November 24, 2010, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC.

Financial Officer” of any Person means the chief financial officer, treasurer, vice president of finance or controller of such Person.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility that has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues or

 

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redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement or extinguishing of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (the “reference period”).

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and disposed operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and disposed operations (and the change in any associated fixed charges and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the reference period; provided that any such pro forma adjustments shall be limited to those permitted or required by Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act. If since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation had occurred at the beginning of the reference period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to a transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Borrower. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Borrower may designate.

Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period, (b) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock of such Person during such period and (c) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person made during such period.

 

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Foreign Agent” means an Agent that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

Foreign Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that (i) has no material assets or liabilities other than Equity Interests of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries and (ii) does not Guarantee any Indebtedness.

Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets” means the total amount of all assets of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Borrower.

Funded Debt” means all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America that are in effect on the Closing Date.

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” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations, and, when used as a verb, shall have a corresponding meaning.

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

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes, 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.

 

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Hedge Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any Derivative Transaction between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any other Person.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under currency exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements and other agreements or arrangements, in each case designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices.

Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, any Restricted Subsidiary designated as such in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent that (a) contributed 2.5% or less of EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the period of four fiscal quarters most recently ended more than forty-five (45) days prior to the date of determination and (b) had consolidated assets representing 2.5% or less of Total Assets on the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter ended more than forty-five (45) days prior to the date of determination. The Immaterial Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date are listed on Schedule 1.01(a).

Incremental Lender” means a Lender with an Incremental Commitment or an outstanding Incremental Loan.

Incremental Loan Amount” means, at any time, the excess, if any, of (a) $200,000,000 over (b) the aggregate amount of all Incremental Loan Commitments established prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.20.

Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement” means an Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement, among, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and one or more Incremental Lenders.

Incremental Loan Commitment” means the commitment of any Lender, established pursuant to Section 2.20, to make Incremental Loans to the Borrower.

Incremental Loans” means the Loans made by one or more Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.20(b). Incremental Loans may be made in the form of additional Loans or, to the extent permitted by Section 2.20 and provided for in the relevant Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement, Other Loans.

incur” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).

incurrence” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent (i) in respect of borrowed money, (ii) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without double counting, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (iii) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), except any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business, or (iv) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the

 

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foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP; (b) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of another Person (whether or not such items would appear upon the balance sheet of such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business and (c) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (a) of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person, whether or not such obligations are assumed by such Person and whether or not such obligations would appear upon the balance sheet of such Person; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of the fair market value of such asset at the date of determination and the amount of Indebtedness so secured; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness will be deemed not to include (A) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (B) Obligations under, or in respect of, Receivables Facilities or (C) obligations under leases of real property by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that are entered into solely in connection with the operation of pet stores and distribution centers (and on terms that are substantially consistent with past practice of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries).

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(h).

Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in Similar Businesses of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged and that is independent of the Borrower and its Affiliates.

Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).

Information Memorandum” means the Confidential Information Memorandum dated November 2010, relating to the Borrower and the Transactions.

Initial Lien” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02.

Intercreditor Agreement” means the Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated the date hereof, among the Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower from time to time party thereto, the Collateral Agent and the Revolving Facility Agent (as defined therein).

Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.05.

Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date and (b) with respect to any LIBO Rate 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 LIBO Rate Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day that would have been an Interest Payment Date had successive Interest Periods of three months’ duration been applicable to such Borrowing.

 

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Interest Period” means (a) with respect to any LIBO Rate 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, to the extent available to each Lender, nine or twelve months) thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Investment Grade Securities” means (a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents), (b) debt securities or debt instruments with a rating of BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization, or, if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any other nationally recognized securities rating agency, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Borrower and its subsidiaries, (c) investments in any fund that invests principally in investments of the type described in clauses (a) and (b), which fund may also hold cash or Cash Equivalents pending investment or distribution and (d) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States of America customarily utilized for high quality investments.

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (including by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others, but excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of such Person in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 6.04, (a) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s equity interest in such subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of a subsidiary of the Borrower at the time that such subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon a redesignation of such subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (i) the Borrower’s “Investment” in such subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, less (ii) the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s equity interest in such subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such subsidiary at the time of such

 

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redesignation, and (b) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Borrower.

Joinder Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).

Lender Participation Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(iii).

Lenders” means the Persons listed on the Commitment Schedule and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or an Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Interest Period, (a) the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time on the day that is two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period by reference to the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for deposits in Dollars (as set forth by any service selected by the Agent that has been nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying such rates) for a period equal to such Interest Period and (b) if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, an interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average of the rates per annum at which deposits in Dollars are offered for such relevant Interest Period to major banks in the London interbank market in London, England by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that the LIBO Rate shall be deemed to be not less than 1.50% per annum.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the UCC (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to the Agreement, the Collateral Documents, each Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement. Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto.

Loan Guarantor” means each Loan Party (other than the Borrower).

Loan Guaranty” means Article X of this Agreement.

Loan Modification Agreement” means a loan modification agreement relating to Permitted Amendments approved as provided in Section 2.21, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and one or more Accepting Lenders.

 

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Loan Modification Offer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

Loan Parties” means the Borrower, each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than (i) subject to compliance with Section 5.11, any Domestic Subsidiary that is an Immaterial Subsidiary and (ii) any Unrestricted Subsidiary), and any other Person who becomes a party to this Agreement as a Loan Party pursuant to a Joinder Agreement, and their respective successors and assigns.

Loans” means the term loans made by the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Loans” shall include any Incremental Loans.

Management Services Agreement” means the agreement among the Borrower, PETCO, the Sponsors and FS Capital Partners V, LLC dated as of October 26, 2006, pursuant to which the Sponsors agree to provide certain services to the Borrower and PETCO in exchange for certain fees.

Management Stockholders” means the management, officers or employees of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries who are investors in the Borrower on the Closing Date.

Margin Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents or (c) the rights of, or remedies available to the Agents or the Lenders under, the Loan Documents.

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedge Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $25,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “obligations” of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Hedge Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedge Agreement were terminated at such time.

Maturity Date” means November 24, 2017.

Maximum Liability” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.09.

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

MNPI” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(i).

 

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Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

Mortgaged Properties” means the owned real properties of the Loan Parties (if any) with respect to which a Mortgage is granted pursuant to Section 5.11.

Mortgages” means any mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement which conveys or evidences a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, on owned real property of a Loan Party.

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

Net Proceeds” means (a) with respect to any Asset Sale, the cash proceeds (including cash proceeds subsequently received (as and when received) in respect of noncash consideration initially received), net of (i) selling expenses (including reasonable broker’s fees or commissions, legal fees, transfer and similar taxes and the Borrower’s good faith estimate of income taxes paid or payable in connection with such sale), (ii) amounts provided as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities under any indemnification obligations or purchase price adjustment associated with such Asset Sale (provided that, to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such amounts shall constitute Net Proceeds), (iii) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness for borrowed money which is secured by the asset sold in such Asset Sale and which is required to be repaid with such proceeds (other than any such Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such asset) and (iv) amounts required to be prepaid pursuant to the mandatory prepayment provisions of the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement resulting from such Asset Sale; provided, however, that, if (x) the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of a Financial Officer to the Administrative Agent at the time of receipt thereof setting forth the Borrower’s intent to reinvest such proceeds in productive assets of a kind then used or usable in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries within 365 days of receipt of such proceeds and (y) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing at the time of such certificate or at the proposed time of the application of such proceeds, such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent not so used at the end of such 365 day period, at which time such proceeds shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds and (b) with respect to any issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness, the cash proceeds thereof, net of all taxes and customary fees, commissions, costs, underwriting discounts and other expenses incurred in connection therewith.

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

Non-Paying Guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.10.

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

 

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Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations of the Loan Parties to the Lenders or to any Lender, the Agents or any indemnified party arising under the Loan Documents.

OFAC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.21.

Offered Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(iii).

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Borrower.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Borrower by two Officers of the Borrower, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Borrower.

Other Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.11(b).

Other Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

Other Pari Passu Lien Obligations” means (a) any Indebtedness constituting debt securities incurred pursuant to an indenture with an institutional trustee or loans incurred in the bank credit market (including institutional investor participation therein) and (b) all obligations with respect to such Indebtedness.

Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement.

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)(iii).

Paying Guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.10.

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

Perfection Certificate” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit I to the Security Agreement or any other form approved by the Agents.

Permitted Amendments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(c).

 

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Permitted Asset Swap” means the concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents between the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person that is not the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 2.09.

Permitted Collateral Liens” means:

(a) Liens existing on the Closing Date;

(b) Liens securing any Other Pari Passu Lien Obligations; provided, however, that at the time of incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Secured Net Debt Ratio would be no greater than 3.75 to 1.00;

(c) Liens described in clauses (c), (d), (f), (h), (i), (l), (m), (o), (q) (but only with respect to clauses (h), (i) and (r) (but only with respect to Section 6.01(b)(iv) referred to therein) referred to therein), (r) (but only with respect to Sections 6.01(b)(iv) and (b)(xix) referred to therein), (t), (u) and (aa) (but only with respect to obligations secured by Liens described in clauses (a) or (c) set forth above) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; and

(d) Liens on the Term Loan First Lien Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent relating to the Collateral Agent’s administrative expenses with respect to the Term Loan First Lien Collateral.

Permitted Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.

Permitted Dividend” means the one-time dividend or other distribution to be made by the Borrower on or about the Closing Date to one or more of the Sponsors and Co-Investors and other common stockholders of the Borrower (including other payments in respect of or on account of Equity Interests in the Borrower held by other Persons as of the Closing Date) with the Net Proceeds of the Loans and the Senior Notes and/or cash on hand of the Borrower, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $700,000,000.

Permitted Holders” means the Sponsors, Management Stockholders, the Co-Investors and any Person acting in the capacity of an underwriter in connection with an offering of the Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower.

Permitted Investments” means:

(a) any Investment in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(b) any Investment in cash and Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(c) (i) any Investment by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower in a Person that is engaged in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment (A) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or (B) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower and (ii) any Investment held by such Person;

 

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(d) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting cash, Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 6.06 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(e) any Investment existing on the Closing Date or made pursuant to legally binding written commitments in existence on the Closing Date and, in each case, set forth on Schedule 1.01(b);

(f) any Investment acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the Person in which such other Investment is made or which is the obligor with respect to such accounts receivable or (ii) as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(g) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 6.01(b)(x);

(h) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding, for reasonable and customary business related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes or (ii) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding, in connection with such Persons’ purchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower;

(i) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Borrower, or any of its direct or indirect parents (exclusive of Disqualified Stock); provided that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 6.04(a)(iii);

(j) guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 and performance guarantees in the ordinary course of business;

(k) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.05(b) (other than any transaction set forth in clauses (ii), (vi) and (xi) of Section 6.05(b));

(l) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment or the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons or otherwise in the ordinary course of business;

(m) Investments in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (m) that are at that

 

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time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (i) $75,000,000 and (ii) 2.50% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(n) Investments relating to a Receivables Facility; provided that in the case of Receivables Facilities established after the Closing Date, such Investments are necessary or advisable (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) to effect such Receivables Facility;

(o) additional Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (o) that are at that time outstanding (after giving effect to any return on such Investments), not to exceed $75,000,000 (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; and

(p) Investments in the form of the acquisition of annuity policies or similar instruments to cover retirement or similar benefit obligations to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding.

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(a) Liens to secure Indebtedness incurred under Sections 6.01(b)(i) or (b)(xxi);

(b) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits to secure bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens and other similar Liens, in each case, for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(d) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or claims not yet overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

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(e) Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

(f) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties, in each case, which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(g) Liens existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01(c);

(h) Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a subsidiary of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a subsidiary; provided, further, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(i) Liens on property at the time the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired such property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided, further, that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(j) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 6.01;

(k) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(l) leases and subleases granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness;

(m) Liens arising from financing statement filings under the UCC or similar state laws regarding operating leases entered into by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(n) Liens in favor of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

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(o) Liens on inventory or equipment of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Borrower’s client at which such inventory or equipment is located;

(p) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets incurred in connection with a Receivables Facility;

(q) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in clauses (a), (g), (h), (i), (j), (n), (r) and (aa) of this definition; provided that (i) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property) and (ii) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (a), (g), (h), (i), (r) and (aa) of this definition at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien pursuant this Agreement and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and accrued interest, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

(r) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(b)(iv), (b)(xiv)(A), (b)(xvii), (b)(xix), and (b)(xx); provided that Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(b)(iv) do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds and the products thereof, Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(b)(xiv)(A) are solely on acquired property or the assets of the acquired entity, as the case may be, and (C) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(b)(xvii) extend only to the assets of Foreign Subsidiaries;

(s) deposits in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

(t) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under paragraph (h) of Article VII, so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

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

(v) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

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(w) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(x) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(y) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 6.01; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those assets that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;

(z) other Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business which obligations do not exceed $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(aa) Liens securing Hedging Obligations, so long as the related Indebtedness is, and is permitted to be pursuant to Section 6.02, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations;

(bb) Liens incurred to secure obligations in respect of any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.01; provided that at the time of incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Consolidated Secured Net Debt Ratio would be no greater than 4.00 to 1.00;

(cc) licenses of intellectual property granted in the ordinary course of business; and

(dd) Liens on Collateral securing Permitted Loan Refinancing Indebtedness.

Permitted Loan Refinancing Indebtedness” means senior Indebtedness in the form of loans incurred in the bank credit market (including institutional investor participation therein); provided that (a) such Indebtedness shall be secured on a pari passu basis with the Loans and other Obligations, (b) such Indebtedness shall have a stated maturity no earlier than, and shall not provide for any scheduled amortization, principal or sinking fund payments prior to, the date that is 91 days after the latest Maturity Date of any Loan outstanding at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, (c) the terms and conditions of such Indebtedness shall not provide for any mandatory prepayment or redemption, prepayment or redemption at the option of the holder thereof, or similar mandatory prepayment provisions, other than, subject to reinvestment rights no less favorable to the Borrower than those under this Agreement and to rights in respect of the prior repayment of or prior offer to repay the Obligations, upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale and customary acceleration rights following an

 

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event of default, (d) the covenants and events of default and other terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (other than interest rate, fees, funding discounts, redemption or prepayment premiums and subordination terms), taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Borrower and its subsidiaries than the terms of the Loan Documents as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, (e) such Indebtedness shall not be guaranteed by any Person other than a Loan Guarantor and the terms of such guarantee shall be no more favorable to the secured parties in respect of such Indebtedness than the terms of the Loan Guaranty are to the Secured Parties, (f) such Indebtedness shall not be secured by any assets or property other than the Collateral, (g) all security therefore shall be granted pursuant to documentation substantially similar to the Collateral Documents, and the secured parties thereunder, or a trustee or collateral agent on their behalf, shall have become party to an intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents.

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

PETCO” means PETCO Animal Supplies Stores, Inc., a direct Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

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 sponsored, maintained or contributed by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate. “Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum determined from time to time by Credit Suisse AG as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City and notified to the Borrower.

Projections” means the projections of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries included in the Information Memorandum and any other projections and any forward-looking statements of such entities furnished to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date.

Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(ii).

Qualified Proceeds” means assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business; provided that the fair market value of any such assets or Capital Stock shall be determined by the Borrower in good faith.

Qualified Public Offering” means the initial underwritten public offering of common Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act (other than a registration statement on Form S-8 or any successor form).

 

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Qualifying Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(iv).

Qualifying Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(c)(iv).

Receivables Facility” means one or more receivables financing facilities, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, the Indebtedness of which is non-recourse (except for standard representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells its accounts receivable to either (a) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Receivables Subsidiary that in turn sells its accounts receivable to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

Receivables Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Facility.

Receivables Subsidiary” means any subsidiary formed solely for the purpose of engaging, and that engages only, in one or more Receivables Facilities.

Refinancing Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(b)(xiii).

Refunding Capital Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04(b)(i).

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

Regulation T” means Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof, and any successor provision thereto.

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof, and any successor provision thereto.

Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof, and any successor provision thereto.

Related Business Assets” means assets (other than cash or Cash Equivalents) used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that any assets received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for assets transferred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed to be Related Business Assets if they consist of securities of a Person, unless upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person would become a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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

Repayment Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.07(a).

Required Lenders” means at any time (i) prior to the making of the Loans on the Closing Date, Lenders holding more than 50% of the total Commitments and (ii) thereafter, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding at such time.

Requirement of Law” means, as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Responsible Officer” of any Person means the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, the chief operating officer or any Financial Officer of such Person and any other officer or similar official thereof responsible for the administration of the obligations of such Person in respect of this Agreement, and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date (but subject to the express requirements set forth in Article IV), shall include any secretary or assistant secretary of a Loan Party. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Payments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04(a).

Restricted Subsidiary” means, at any time, any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Borrower (including any Foreign Subsidiary) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon the occurrence of an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such subsidiary shall be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary”.

Retired Capital Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04(b)(i).

Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person in contemplation of such leasing.

 

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Scheduled Loan Repayment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.07(a).

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

Secured Hedging Obligations” means all Hedging Obligations under each Hedging Agreement that (a) is in effect on the Closing Date with a counterparty that is the Administrative Agent or a Lender or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender as of the Closing Date or (b) is entered into after the Closing Date with any counterparty that is the Administrative Agent or a Lender or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender at the time such Hedging Agreement is entered into.

Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, together with all Secured Hedging Obligations.

Secured Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Security Agreement” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Loan Parties and the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Lenders.

Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person (a) all Indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding on the Closing Date or thereafter incurred and (b) all other obligations of such Person (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to such Person whether or not post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding) in respect of Indebtedness described in clause (a) above unless, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such Indebtedness or other obligations are subordinate in right of payment to the Obligations or the Loan Guarantee of such Person, as the case may be; provided that Senior Indebtedness shall not include (i) any obligation of such Person to the Borrower or any subsidiary or to any joint venture in which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has an interest, (ii) any liability for Federal, state, local or other Taxes owed or owing by such Person, (iii) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof as instruments evidencing such liabilities), (iv) any Indebtedness or other obligation of such Person that is subordinate or junior in any respect to any other Indebtedness or other obligation of such Person or (v) that portion of any Indebtedness that at the time of incurrence is incurred in violation of this Agreement.

 

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Senior Notes” means the Borrower’s 91/4% Senior Notes due 2018, in an initial aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000.

Senior Notes Documents” means the Senior Notes Indenture and all other instruments, agreements and other documents evidencing the Senior Notes or providing for any guarantee or other right in respect thereof.

Senior Notes Indenture” means the Indenture dated as of November 24, 2010, among the Borrower, as issuer, certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the Senior Notes are issued.

Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement” means the ABL Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof, among the Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as collateral agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto.

Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility” means the credit facility provided under the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, replacements, renewals, restatements, refundings or refinancings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 6.01).

Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof.

Similar Business” means any business conducted by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, incidental or ancillary thereto.

SPC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(e).

Sponsors” means Leonard Green & Partners, L.P., Texas Pacific Group and Freeman Spogli & Co. V, L.P. and their respective Affiliates but not including, however, any portfolio companies of any of the foregoing.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means (a) with respect to the Borrower, any Indebtedness of the Borrower that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, and (b) with respect to any Loan Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Loan Guarantor that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Loan Guaranty of such Loan Guarantor.

 

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subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof and (b) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which (i) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and (ii) such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

Subsidiary” means, unless the context otherwise requires, a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower. For purposes of Sections 3.06, 3.09, 3.10, 3.15, 5.04 and 5.08 only, references to Subsidiaries shall be deemed also to be references to Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Loan Party and that executes this Agreement as a Loan Guarantor on the Closing Date and each other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that thereafter guarantees the Secured Obligations pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

Successor Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03(a)(i).

Successor Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03(c)(i).

Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term Loan First Lien Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Title Insurance Company” means any title insurance company providing any Title Insurance Policies.

Title Insurance Policies” means the lender’s title insurance policies issued to the Collateral Agent with respect to the Mortgaged Properties (if any).

Total Assets” means the total amount of all assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Borrower.

Transaction Costs” means fees and expenses payable or otherwise borne by the Borrower and its subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions and the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

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Transactions” means, collectively, (a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of the Loan Documents to which they are a party and the making of the Borrowings hereunder, (c) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and the subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto of the Senior Note Documents and the issuance of the Senior Notes, (d) the execution, delivery and performance of the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement and all other instruments, agreements and other documents evidencing or governing the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility or providing for any guarantee or other right in respect thereof and the making of borrowings thereunder, (e) the execution, delivery and performance by all parties thereto of the Intercreditor Agreement, (f) the Existing Debt Refinancing, (g) the making of the Permitted Dividend and (h) the payment of the Transaction Costs.

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

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

Unliquidated Obligations” means, at any time, any Secured Obligations (or portion thereof) that are contingent in nature or unliquidated at such time, including any Secured Obligation that is: (i) an obligation to reimburse a bank for drawings not yet made under a letter of credit issued by it, (ii) any other obligation (including any guarantee) that is contingent in nature at such time or (iii) an obligation to provide collateral to secure any of the foregoing types of obligations, but excluding unripened or contingent obligations related to indemnification under Section 9.03 for which no written demand has been made.

Unrestricted Cash” means cash or Cash Equivalents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that are not subject to any restrictions on the application thereof and not subject to any Lien (other than Liens created under the Loan Documents and the ABL Security Documents) and Liens of the type described in clauses (v)(i), (v)(iii), (w)(i), (w)(ii) and (x) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) any subsidiary of the Borrower that at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Borrower, as provided below) and (b) any subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Borrower may designate any subsidiary of the Borrower (including any existing subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such subsidiary or any of its subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Borrower or any subsidiary of the Borrower (other than any subsidiary of the subsidiary to be so designated); provided that (i) any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which shares of the capital stock or other equity interests (including partnership interests) entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all shares or equity interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower, (ii) such designation

 

42


complies with Section 6.04, (iii) each of (A) the subsidiary to be so designated and (B) its subsidiaries has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (iv) the Borrower may not designate PETCO to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately after giving effect to such designation no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either (x) the Borrower could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 6.01(a) or (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.

Any such designation by the Borrower shall be notified by the Borrower to the Agent by promptly delivering to the Agent a copy of any applicable Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of the Closing Date, all of the subsidiaries of the Borrower will be Restricted Subsidiaries.

USA PATRIOT Act” means The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended or modified from time to time.

Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (b) the sum of all such payments.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

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.

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 “LIBO Rate Loan” or a “LIBO Rate Borrowing”).

 

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SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person refers to such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and excludes from such consolidation any Unrestricted Subsidiary as if such Unrestricted Subsidiary were not an Affiliate of such Person. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, amendment and restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) 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, (d) 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 (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

SECTION 1.04. Effectuation of Transactions. Each of the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained in this Agreement (and all corresponding definitions) are made after giving effect to the Transactions, unless the context otherwise requires.

ARTICLE II

The Credits

SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make a Loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date, in a principal amount not to exceed its Commitment. Amounts prepaid or repaid in respect of Loans may not be reborrowed.

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type 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 Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

(b) Subject to Section 2.12, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or LIBO Rate Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any LIBO Rate Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that (i) any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this

 

44


Agreement and (ii) in exercising such option, such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to minimize any increase in the Adjusted LIBO Rate or increased costs to the Borrower resulting therefrom (which obligation of such Lender shall not require it to take, or refrain from taking, actions that it determines would result in increased costs for which it will not be compensated hereunder or that it otherwise determines would be disadvantageous to it and in the event of such request for costs for which compensation is provided under this Agreement, the provisions of Section 2.13 shall apply).

(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any LIBO Rate Borrowing, such Borrowing shall comprise an aggregate principal amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $2,000,000. Each ABR Borrowing when made shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000; provided that an ABR Borrowing may be maintained in a lesser amount equal to the difference between the aggregate principal amount of all other Borrowings and the total amount of Loans at such time outstanding. 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 ten (10) different Interest Periods in effect for LIBO Rate Borrowings at any time outstanding.

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

SECTION 2.03. Request for Borrowing on the Closing Date. (a) To request the making of the Loans hereunder on the Closing Date, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request either in writing by delivery of a Borrowing Request (by hand or facsimile) signed by the Borrower or by telephone not later than 1:30 p.m., New York City time, two (2) Business Days before the proposed Closing Date (or such later time as shall be acceptable to the Administrative Agent). A telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or facsimile to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.01:

(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

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

(iii) whether the Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a LIBO Rate Borrowing;

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

(v) the location and number of the Borrower’s account or any other designated account to which funds are to be disbursed.

(b) If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any

 

45


LIBO Rate Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of the Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section 2.03, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of each such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

SECTION 2.04. Funding of Borrowing on the Closing Date. (a) Each Lender shall make the Loan to be made by it hereunder on the Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds 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, in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans made on the Closing Date.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the Closing Date that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of the Borrowing on the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on the Closing Date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand (without duplication) such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the Borrowing on the Closing Date. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower or any Loan Party may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

SECTION 2.05. Type; Interest Elections. (a) Loans initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a LIBO Rate Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period (not to exceed two (2) months’ duration) as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert all or any portion of any Borrowing (subject to the minimum amounts for Borrowings of the applicable Type specified in Section 2.02(c)) to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a LIBO Rate Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone (i) in the case of an election to convert to or continue as a LIBO Rate Borrowing, not later than 1:30 p.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed conversion or continuation or (ii) in the case of an

 

46


election to convert to or continue as an ABR Borrowing, not later than 1:30 p.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed conversion or continuation. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or facsimile to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.

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

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

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

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

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

If any such Interest Election Request requests a LIBO Rate Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) month’s duration.

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

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

SECTION 2.06. Termination of Commitments. The Commitments (other than any Incremental Loan Commitments, which shall terminate as provided in the related Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement) shall automatically terminate upon the making of the Loans on the Closing Date.

 

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SECTION 2.07. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan on the Maturity Date. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, on the dates set forth below, or if any such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day (each such date being called a “Repayment Date” and such payments being called “Scheduled Loan Repayments”) a principal amount of the Loans (as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and Section 2.09(e)) equal to the amount set forth below for such date, together in each case with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be paid to but excluding the date of such payment:

 

Repayment Date

   Amount  

March 31, 2011

   $ 3,062,500   

June 30, 2011

   $ 3,062,500   

September 30, 2011

   $ 3,062,500   

December 31, 2011

   $ 3,062,500   

March 31, 2012

   $ 3,062,500   

June 30, 2012

   $ 3,062,500   

September 30, 2012

   $ 3,062,500   

December 31, 2012

   $ 3,062,500   

March 31, 2013

   $ 3,062,500   

June 30, 2013

   $ 3,062,500   

September 30, 2013

   $ 3,062,500   

December 31, 2013

   $ 3,062,500   

March 31, 2014

   $ 3,062,500   

June 30, 2014

   $ 3,062,500   

September 30, 2014

   $ 3,062,500   

December 31, 2014

   $ 3,062,500   

March 31, 2015

   $ 3,062,500   

June 30, 2015

   $ 3,062,500   

September 30, 2015

   $ 3,062,500   

December 31, 2015

   $ 3,062,500   

March 31, 2016

   $ 3,062,500   

June 30, 2016

   $ 3,062,500   

September 30, 2016

   $ 3,062,500   

December 31, 2016

   $ 3,062,500   

March 31, 2017

   $ 3,062,500   

June 30, 2017

   $ 3,062,500   

September 30, 2017

   $ 3,062,500   

Maturity Date

    
 
All amounts
outstanding.
  
  

 

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

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

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein (absent manifest error); 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 the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender and its registered assigns and in substantially the form of Exhibit F hereto. 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 payee named therein and its registered assigns.

SECTION 2.08. Optional Prepayment of Loans. (a) Upon prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section, the Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part without premium or penalty (but subject to Section 2.14 and Section 2.19).

(b) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a LIBO Rate Borrowing, not later than 1:30 p.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 1:30 p.m., New York City time, on the day of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that a notice of prepayment delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the

 

49


specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a prepayment, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.08 shall be allocated pro rata among the Loans and shall be applied to the then remaining Scheduled Loan Repayments as directed by the Borrower. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest as required by Section 2.11.

(c) (i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in paragraph (b) above, Section 2.15 or Section 2.16 (which provisions shall not be applicable to this paragraph (c)), the Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay Loans at a discount to the par value of such Loans and on a non pro rata basis (each, a “Discounted Voluntary Prepayment”) pursuant to the procedures described in this paragraph (c); provided that (A) no Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be made from the proceeds of any loan (including swingline loans) under the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility, (B) immediately after giving effect to any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, the sum of (x) the available commitments under the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility plus (y) the amount of Unrestricted Cash of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be not less than $50,000,000, (C) any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be offered to all Lenders pro rata in accordance with their outstanding Loans and (D) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate stating that (1) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, (2) each of the conditions to such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment contained in this paragraph (c) has been satisfied, (3) none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary has any material non-public information (“MNPI”) with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that either (x) has not been disclosed to the Lenders (other than Lenders that do not wish to receive MNPI with respect to the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) prior to such time or (y) if not disclosed to the Lenders, could reasonably be expected to have a material effect upon, or otherwise be material to, (I) a Lender’s decision to participate in any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment or (II) the market price of the Loans.

(ii) If the Borrower seeks to make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, the Borrower shall provide written notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto (each, a “Discounted Prepayment Option Notice”) that the Borrower desires to prepay Loans in an aggregate principal amount specified therein (the “Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount”), in each case at a discount to the par value of such Loans as specified below. The Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount of Loans shall not be less than $10,000,000. The Discounted Prepayment Option Notice shall further specify with respect to the proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment: (A) the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount of Loans, (B) a discount range (which may be a single percentage) selected by the Borrower with respect to such proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment (representing the percentage of par of the principal amount of Loans to be prepaid) (the “Discount Range”), and (C) the date by which Lenders are required to indicate their election to participate in such proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, which shall be at least five Business Days following the date of the Discounted Prepayment Option Notice (the “Acceptance Date”).

 

50


(iii) Upon receipt of a Discounted Prepayment Option Notice in accordance with Section 2.08(c)(ii), the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof. On or prior to the Acceptance Date, each such Lender may specify by written notice substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto (each, a “Lender Participation Notice”) to the Administrative Agent (A) a minimum price (the “Acceptable Price”) within the Discount Range (for example, 80% of the par value of the Loans to be prepaid) and (B) a maximum principal amount (subject to rounding requirements specified by the Administrative Agent) of Loans with respect to which such Lender is willing to permit a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment at the Acceptable Price (“Offered Loans”). Based on the Acceptable Prices and principal amounts of Loans specified by the Lenders in the applicable Lender Participation Notice, the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, shall determine the applicable discount for Loans (the “Applicable Discount”), which Applicable Discount shall be (x) the percentage specified by the Borrower if the Borrower has selected a single percentage pursuant to Section 2.08(c)(ii) for the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment or (y) otherwise, the lowest Acceptable Price at which the Borrower can pay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount in full (determined by adding the principal amounts of Offered Loans commencing with the Offered Loans with the lowest Acceptable Price); provided, however, that in the event that such Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount cannot be repaid in full at any Acceptable Price, the Applicable Discount shall be the highest Acceptable Price specified by the Lenders that is within the Discount Range. The Applicable Discount shall be applicable for all Lenders who have offered to participate in the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment and have Qualifying Loans (as defined below). Any Lender with outstanding Loans whose Lender Participation Notice is not received by the Administrative Agent by the Acceptance Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment of any of its Loans at any discount to their par value within the Applicable Discount.

(iv) The Borrower shall make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment by prepaying those Loans (or the respective portions thereof) offered by the Lenders (“Qualifying Lenders”) that specify an Acceptable Price that is equal to or lower than the Applicable Discount (“Qualifying Loans”) at the Applicable Discount; provided that if the aggregate proceeds required to prepay all Qualifying Loans (disregarding any interest payable at such time) would exceed the amount of aggregate proceeds required to prepay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount, such amounts in each case calculated by applying the Applicable Discount, the Borrower shall prepay such Qualifying Loans ratably among the Qualifying Lenders based on their respective principal amounts of such Qualifying Loans (subject to rounding requirements specified by the Administrative Agent). If the aggregate proceeds required to prepay all Qualifying Loans (disregarding any interest payable at such time) would be less than the amount of aggregate proceeds required to prepay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount, such amounts in each case calculated by applying the Applicable Discount, the Borrower shall prepay all Qualifying Loans.

(v) Each Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be made within four Business Days of the Acceptance Date (or such other date as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably agree, taking into account the time required to calculate the Applicable

 

51


Discount and determine the amount and holders of Qualifying Loans), without premium or penalty (but subject to Section 2.14 and to Section 2.19), upon irrevocable notice substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto (each a “Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice”), delivered to the Administrative Agent no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days prior to the date of such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, which notice shall specify the date and amount of the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment and the Applicable Discount determined by the Administrative Agent. Upon receipt of any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable to the applicable Lenders, subject to the Applicable Discount on the applicable Loans, on the date specified therein together with accrued interest (on the par principal amount) to but not including such date on the amount prepaid.

(vi) To the extent not expressly provided for herein, each Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be consummated pursuant to reasonable procedures (including as to timing, rounding and calculation of Applicable Discount in accordance with Section 2.08(c)(iii) above) established by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrower.

(vii) Prior to the delivery of a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may withdraw its offer to make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment pursuant to any Discounted Prepayment Option Notice.

SECTION 2.09. Mandatory Prepayment of Loans. (a) No later than five (5) Business Days after the date on which the financial statements with respect to each fiscal year of the Borrower are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), commencing with the fiscal year ending on January 28, 2012, the Borrower shall prepay outstanding Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to (i) 50% of Excess Cash Flow for the fiscal year then ended; minus (ii) the amount of any prepayments of Loans made pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than pursuant to paragraph (c) thereof) and any voluntary prepayments of loans under the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement solely to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in revolving commitments thereunder, in each case during such fiscal year, except to the extent that such prepayments were financed with the proceeds of other Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (A) such percentage of Excess Cash Flow shall be reduced to 25% of such Excess Cash Flow if the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio at the end of such fiscal year shall be equal to or less than 4.50 to 1.00, but greater than 4.00 to 1.00 and (B) such prepayment shall not be required if the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio at the end of such fiscal year shall be equal to or less than 4.00 to 1.00.

(b) Not later than the third Business Day following the receipt of Net Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale, the Borrower shall apply an amount equal to 100% of the Net Proceeds received with respect thereto to prepay outstanding Loans in accordance with Section 2.09(e).

(c) [Reserved].

 

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(d) In the event that any Loan Party or any subsidiary of a Loan Party shall receive Net Proceeds from the issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness for money borrowed of any Loan Party or any subsidiary of a Loan Party (other than any cash proceeds from the issuance of Indebtedness for money borrowed permitted pursuant to Section 6.01 (other than Section 6.01(b)(xxii)), the Borrower shall, substantially simultaneously with (and in any event not later than the third Business Day next following) the receipt of such Net Proceeds by such Loan Party or such subsidiary, apply an amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds to prepay outstanding Loans in accordance with Section 2.09(e).

(e) All amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Section 2.09 shall be applied to prepay outstanding Loans of the Lenders that accept the same (and pro rata among such Lenders), which prepayments any Lender may elect, by notice to the Administrative Agent at or prior to the time and in the manner specified by the Administrative Agent, prior to any prepayment of Loans required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.09, to decline all (but not a portion) of its pro rata share of such prepayment (such declined amounts, the “Declined Proceeds”). Any Declined Proceeds shall be offered to the Lenders not so declining such prepayment (with such Lenders having the right to decline any prepayment with Declined Proceeds at the time and in the manner specified by the Administrative Agent). All accepted prepayments shall be applied to the repayment of the then remaining applicable Scheduled Loan Repayments in forward order of maturity. Thereafter, the remaining Declined Proceeds may be retained by the Borrower.

(f) The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, at the time of each prepayment required under this Section 2.09, (i) a certificate signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of the amount of such prepayment and (ii) to the extent practicable, at least three (3) days’ prior written notice of such prepayment. Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date, the Type of each Loan being prepaid and the principal amount of each Loan (or portion thereof) to be prepaid. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest as required by Section 2.11. All prepayments of Borrowings under this Section 2.09 shall be subject to Section 2.14, but shall otherwise be without premium or penalty.

SECTION 2.10. Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, the agency fees set forth in the Fee Letter, payable in the amounts and at the times specified therein or as so otherwise agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, or such agency fees as may otherwise be separately agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 2.11. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

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

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at

 

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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.

(d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan; 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, 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 LIBO Rate Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

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

SECTION 2.12. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a LIBO Rate Borrowing:

(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

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

then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or facsimile as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a LIBO Rate Borrowing shall be ineffective and such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereof.

SECTION 2.13. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement 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

(ii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or LIBO Rate Loans made by such Lender;

 

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and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any LIBO Rate Loan or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then, following delivery of the certificate contemplated by paragraph (c) of this Section, the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered (except for any Taxes, which shall be dealt with exclusively pursuant to Section 2.15).

(b) If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law other than due to Taxes, which shall be dealt with exclusively pursuant to Section 2.15 (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time following delivery of the certificate contemplated by paragraph (c) of this Section the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

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

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

SECTION 2.14. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any LIBO Rate Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any LIBO Rate Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow,

 

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convert, continue or prepay any LIBO Rate Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto, or (d) the assignment of any LIBO Rate Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.17, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a LIBO Rate Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to be the 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 dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section and the basis therefor and setting forth in reasonable detail the manner in which such amount or amounts was determined shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

SECTION 2.15. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if a Loan Party shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender (as applicable) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Loan Party shall make such deductions and (iii) such Loan Party shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. If at any time a Loan Party is required by applicable law to make any deduction or withholding from any sum payable hereunder, such Loan Party shall promptly notify the relevant Lender or Administrative Agent upon becoming aware of the same. In addition, each Lender or Administrative Agent shall promptly notify a Loan Party upon becoming aware of any circumstances as a result of which a Loan Party is or would be required to make any deduction or withholding from any sum payable hereunder.

(b) In addition, the Loan Parties shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c) Each Loan Party shall indemnify each Agent and each Lender, within ten (10) days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by such Agent or such Lender, as applicable, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of such Loan Party hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.15) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, or by an Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by a Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, 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.

(e) Each Lender shall severally indemnify each Agent within ten (10) days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Taxes (but, in the case of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Agent for such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so) attributable to such Lender that are paid by the Agent in connection with any Loan Document and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Lender by the Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(f) (i) Any Foreign Lender or Foreign Agent that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. In particular, on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the Closing Date, each Foreign Lender or Foreign Agent shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) two duly signed, properly completed copies of either IRS Form W- 8BEN or any successor thereto (relating to such Foreign Lender or Foreign Agent and entitling it to an exemption from, or reduction of, United States withholding tax on all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender or Foreign Agent by the Borrower or any other Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document) or IRS Form W-8ECI or W-8IMY or any successor thereto (relating to all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower or any other Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document) or such other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such Foreign Lender or Foreign Agent is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, United States withholding tax, including any exemption pursuant to Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code, and in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming such an exemption under Section 881(c) of the Code, a certificate that establishes in writing to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such Foreign Lender is not (i) a “bank” as defined in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (ii) a 10-percent stockholder within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (iii) a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower with the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code. Thereafter and from time to time, each such Foreign Lender or Foreign Agent shall (A) promptly submit to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) such additional duly completed and signed copies of one or more of such forms or certificates (or such successor forms or certificates as shall be adopted from time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may then be available under then current

 

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United States Laws and regulations to avoid, or such evidence as is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any available exemption from, or reduction of, United States withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender or Foreign Agent by the Borrower or other Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement, or any other Loan Document, in each case, (1) on or before the date that any such form, certificate or other evidence expires or becomes obsolete, (2) after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form, certificate or evidence previously delivered by it to the Borrower and (3) from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, and (B) promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction. (ii) If a payment made to a Lender under this Agreement would be subject to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA in such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with its obligations under FATCA, to determine that such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.

(g) Each Lender or Agent that is a United States person, agrees to complete and deliver to the Borrower a statement signed by an authorized signatory of the Lender to the effect that it is a United States person together with a duly completed and executed copy of IRS Form W-9 or successor form.

(h) If an Agent or a Lender determines, in good faith in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified or with respect to which a Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.15, it shall pay over such refund to the party who made the indemnity payment or paid the additional amounts (“Indemnifying Party”) (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Indemnifying Party under this Section 2.15 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Agent or such Lender (including any Taxes imposed with respect to such refund) as is determined by the Agent or such Lender in good faith in its reasonable discretion, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that such Indemnifying Party, upon the request of the Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay as soon as reasonably practicable the amount paid over to such Indemnifying Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Agent or such Lender in the event the Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section shall not be construed to require an Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to such Indemnifying Party or any other Person.

(i) If the Borrower determines in good faith that a reasonable basis exists for contesting any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes for which additional amounts have been paid

 

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under this Section 2.15, the relevant Lender or Agent shall cooperate with the Borrower in challenging such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, at the Borrower’s expense, if so requested by the Borrower in writing.

SECTION 2.16. Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs. (a) Unless otherwise specified, the Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees, or of amounts payable under Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.15, or otherwise) prior to 1:30 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent to the applicable account designated to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 9.03 may at the Borrower’s election be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it, except as otherwise provided, for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. Unless otherwise specified, if any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars. Any payment required to be made by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be deemed to have been made by the time required if the Administrative Agent shall, at or before such time, have taken the necessary steps to make such payment in accordance with the regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or settlement system used by the Administrative Agent to make such payment.

(b) Subject in all respects to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, all proceeds of Collateral received by the Agents after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and all or any portion of the Loans shall have been accelerated hereunder pursuant to Article VII, shall upon election by the Agents or at the direction of the Required Lenders be applied, first, to, ratably, pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements then due to the Agents from the Borrower (other than in connection with Hedging Obligations), second, ratably, to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrower (other than in connection with Hedging Obligations), third, to pay interest due and payable in respect of the Loans, ratably, fourth, to prepay principal on the Loans and any amounts owing with respect to Hedging Obligations, ratably, fifth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Agents or any Lender (or any Affiliate thereof) by the Borrower, sixth, as provided for under the Intercreditor Agreement, and seventh, to the Borrower or as the Borrower shall direct.

(c) If 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 resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders at such time outstanding to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided that (i) if any such

 

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participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

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

(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Sections 2.03(a), 2.16(c) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

SECTION 2.17. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.13, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, 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 2.13 or 2.15, as applicable, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material respect. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.13, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, replace such Lender by

 

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requiring such Lender to assign and delegate (and such Lender shall be obligated to assign and delegate), without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, 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, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.13 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.15, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

SECTION 2.18. Illegality. If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted after the Closing Date that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable lending office to make or maintain any LIBO Rate Loans, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligations of such Lender to make or continue LIBO Rate Loans or to convert ABR Borrowings to LIBO Rate Borrowings shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), either convert all LIBO Rate Loans of such Lender to ABR Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBO Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. Each Lender agrees to designate a different lending office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the determination of such Lender, otherwise be disadvantageous to it.

SECTION 2.19. Loan Repricing Protection. In the event that, prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, any Lender receives a Repricing Prepayment (as defined below), then, at the time thereof, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender a prepayment fee equal to 1.00% of the amount of such Repricing Prepayment. As used herein, with respect to any Lender, a “Repricing Prepayment” is the amount of principal of the Loans of such Lender that is either (a) optionally prepaid by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.08 substantially concurrently with the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of new term loans that have interest rate margins lower than the Applicable Rate then in effect for the Loans so prepaid or (b) received by such Lender as a result of the mandatory assignment of such Loans in the circumstances described in Section 9.02(e) following the failure of such Lender to consent to an amendment of this Agreement that would have the effect of reducing the Applicable Rate with respect to such Loans.

 

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SECTION 2.20. Incremental Loans. (a) The Borrower may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time, request Incremental Loan Commitments in an amount not to exceed the Incremental Loan Amount from one or more Incremental Lenders, which may include any existing Lender; provided that each Incremental Lender, if not already a Lender hereunder, shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Such notice shall set forth (i) the amount of the Incremental Loan Commitments being requested (which shall be in minimum increments of $1,000,000 and a minimum amount of $5,000,000 or such lesser amount equal to the remaining Incremental Loan Amount), (ii) the date on which such Incremental Loan Commitments are requested to become effective (which shall not be less than 10 Business Days nor more than 60 days after the date of such notice), and (iii) whether such Incremental Loan Commitments are commitments to make additional Loans or commitments to make term loans with terms different from the Loans (“Other Loans”).

(b) The Borrower and each Incremental Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence the Incremental Loan Commitment of each Incremental Lender. Each Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement shall specify the terms of the Incremental Loans to be made thereunder; provided that, without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, (i) the final maturity date of any Other Loans shall be no earlier than the Maturity Date, (ii) the average remaining life to maturity of the Other Loans shall be no shorter than the average life to maturity of the Loans and (iii) if the initial yield on such Other Loans (as determined by the Administrative Agent to be equal to the sum of (x) the margin above the Adjusted LIBO Rate on such Other Loans (which shall be increased by any “LIBOR floor” applicable to such Other Loans, to the extent in excess of the “LIBOR floor” applicable to the LIBO Rate Loans then outstanding) and (y) if such Other Loans are initially made at a discount or the Lenders making the same receive a fee directly or indirectly from the Borrower or any Subsidiary for doing so (the amount of such discount or fee, expressed as a percentage of the Other Loans, being referred to herein as “OID”), the amount of such OID divided by the lesser of (A) the average life to maturity of such Other Loans and (B) four) exceeds by more than 50 basis points (the amount of such excess above 50 basis points being referred to herein as the “Yield Differential”) the Applicable Rate then in effect for LIBO Rate Loans (which, for such purpose only, shall be deemed to include fees received by the Lenders directly or indirectly from the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including any discount at which the Loans were initially made) for making the Loans, then the Applicable Rate then in effect for Loans shall automatically be increased by the Yield Differential, effective upon the making of the Other Loans. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Incremental Loan Commitment and the Incremental Loans evidenced thereby. Each Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the judgment of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.20.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incremental Loan Commitment shall become effective under this Section 2.20 unless (i) on the date of such effectiveness, (A) the representations and warranties set forth in Article III and in each other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), (B) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Incremental Loan Commitment, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (C) after giving effect to the making of any Incremental Loans and the use of the proceeds thereof, the Consolidated Secured Net Debt Ratio shall be less than 4.0 to 1.0 (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower and (iii) except as otherwise specified in the applicable Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall have received (with sufficient copies for each of the Incremental Lenders) legal opinions, board resolutions and other closing certificates reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date under Article IV.

(d) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that the Administrative Agent may, in consultation with the Borrower, take any and all action as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that all Incremental Loans (other than Other Loans), when originally made, are included in each Borrowing of outstanding Loans on a pro rata basis. This may be accomplished by requiring each outstanding LIBO Rate Borrowing to be converted into an ABR Borrowing on the date of each Incremental Loan, or by allocating a portion of each Incremental Loan to each outstanding LIBO Rate Borrowing on a pro rata basis. Any conversion of LIBO Rate Loans to ABR Loans required by the preceding sentence shall be subject to Section 2.14. If any Incremental Loan is to be allocated to an existing Interest Period for a LIBO Rate Borrowing, then the interest rate thereon for such Interest Period and the other economic consequences thereof shall be as set forth in the applicable Incremental Loan Assumption Agreement. In addition, to the extent any Incremental Loans are not Other Loans, the scheduled amortization payments under Section 2.07(a) required to be made after the making of such Incremental Loans shall be ratably increased by the aggregate principal amount of such Incremental Loans.

SECTION 2.21. Loan Modification Offers. (a) The Borrower may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time, make one or more offers (each, a “Loan Modification Offer”) to all the Lenders to make one or more Permitted Amendments (as defined in paragraph (c) below) pursuant to procedures reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent and reasonably acceptable to the Borrower. Such notice shall set forth (i) the terms and conditions of the requested Permitted Amendment and (ii) the date on which such Permitted Amendment is requested to become effective (which shall not be less than 10 Business Days nor more than 30 Business Days after the date of such notice). Permitted Amendments shall become effective only with respect to the Loans of the Lenders that accept the applicable Loan Modification Offer (such Lenders, the “Accepting Lenders”) without the consent of any Lender that is not an Accepting Lender.

(b) The Borrower and each Accepting Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Loan Modification Agreement and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence the acceptance of the Permitted

 

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Amendments and the terms and conditions thereof. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Loan Modification Agreement. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Loan Modification Agreement, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Permitted Amendment evidenced thereby and only with respect to the Loans of the Accepting Lenders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Permitted Amendment shall become effective under this Section unless the Administrative Agent shall have received all legal opinions, board resolutions officer’s certificates and other documentation requested by it consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date under Article IV.

(c) “Permitted Amendments” means any or all of the following: (i) an extension of the final maturity date of the applicable Loans of the Accepting Lenders, (ii) a change to the Applicable Rate with respect to the Loans of the Accepting Lenders, (iii) the payment of additional fees to the Accepting Lenders, and (iv) such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as shall be appropriate, in the judgment of the Administrative Agent, to give effect to the foregoing Permitted Amendments.

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of the Loan Parties and each of its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would 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.

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within each applicable Loan Party’s corporate or other organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action of such Loan Party. Each Loan Document to which each Loan Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity.

SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, except for filings necessary to perfect Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents and the ABL Security Documents, (b) will not violate (i) any Requirement of Law applicable to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any provision of the certificate or articles of incorporation or other constitutive documents or by-laws of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other

 

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instrument binding upon any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to the Existing Debt Refinancing), and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, except Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents and the ABL Security Documents, except, in each case other than with respect to any violation under clause (b)(ii) above and the creation of Liens, to the extent that any such violation, default or right, or any failure to obtain such consent or approval or to take any such action, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2010, reported on by KPMG LLP, independent public accountants and (ii) as of and for each fiscal quarter subsequent to January 30, 2010, ended at least forty five (45) days before the Closing Date, certified by its chief financial officer or vice president of finance. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to the absence of footnotes and normal year-end adjustments in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

(b) [Reserved].

(c) No event, change or condition has occurred that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, since January 30, 2010.

SECTION 3.05. Properties. (a) Each of the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries has good and insurable fee simple title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all its real properties (including any Mortgaged Properties) and has good and marketable title to its personal property and assets, in each case, except for defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes and except where the failure to have such title would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. All such properties and assets are free and clear of Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 6.02.

(b) Each of the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries has complied with all obligations under all leases to which it is a party, except where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and all such leases are in full force and effect, except leases in respect of which the failure to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such leases, other than leases in respect of which the failure to enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries owns or possesses, or is licensed to use, all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights and all licenses and rights with respect to the foregoing, necessary for the present conduct of its business, without any conflict with the rights of others, and free from any burdensome restrictions on the present conduct of its business, except where such failure to own, possess or hold pursuant to a license or such conflicts and restrictions would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) Other than the Disclosed Matters, there are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against or affecting the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries (i) which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that involve any Loan Documents or the Transactions.

(b) Except for the Disclosed Matters or any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (i) neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability and (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) 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 or (B) has become subject to any Environmental Liability.

SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements; Licenses and Permits. (a) Each Loan Party is in compliance with all Requirements of Law 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, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries has obtained, and holds in full force and effect, all franchises, licenses, leases, permits, certificates, authorizations, qualifications, easements, rights of way and other rights and approvals which are necessary or advisable for the operation of its businesses as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted, except where the failure to have so obtained or hold or to be in force, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of the terms of any such franchise, license, lease, permit, certificate, authorization, qualification, easement, right of way, right or approval, except where any such violation, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status. No Loan Party is an “investment company” as defined in, or is required to be registered under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

SECTION 3.09. Taxes. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all 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

 

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good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.10. ERISA. 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, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect when considering all Plans in the aggregate, the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair value of the assets of such Plans, in the aggregate, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.

SECTION 3.11. Disclosure. (a) All written information (other than the Projections, the pro forma financial statements and estimates and information of a general economic nature) concerning the Borrower, the Subsidiaries, the Transactions and any other transactions contemplated hereby included in the Information Memorandum or otherwise prepared by or on behalf of the foregoing or their representatives and made available to any Lenders or the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions on or before the date hereof (the “Information”), when taken as a whole, as of the date such Information was furnished to the Lenders and as of the Closing Date, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact as of any such date or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made.

(b) The Projections, pro forma financial statements and estimates and information of a general economic nature prepared by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its representatives and that have been made available to any Lenders or the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions on or before the date hereof (the “Other Information”) (i) have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable as of the date thereof (it being understood that actual results may vary materially from the Other Information), and (ii) as of the Closing Date, have not been modified in any material respect by the Borrower.

SECTION 3.12. Material Agreements. No Loan Party is in default in any material respect in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of its obligations contained in (i) any material agreement to which it is a party or (ii) any agreement or instrument to which it is a party evidencing or governing Indebtedness, except, in any case, where any such default would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 3.13. Solvency. (a) Immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Closing Date (i) the fair value of the assets of the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis, (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis, on their debts and other liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured and (iv) the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date.

(b) The Loan Parties do not intend to incur debts beyond their ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by the Loan Parties and the timing and amounts of cash to be payable by the Loan Parties on or in respect of their Indebtedness.

SECTION 3.14. Insurance. Schedule 3.14 sets forth a true, complete and correct description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and the Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, all such insurance is in full force and effect and all premiums in respect of such insurance have been duly paid. The Borrower believes that the insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is adequate and is in accordance with normal industry practice.

SECTION 3.15. Capitalization and Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.15 sets forth, in each case as of the Closing Date, (a) a correct and complete list of the name and relationship to the Borrower of each and all of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, (b) a true and complete listing of each class of each of the Borrower’s authorized Equity Interests, of which all of such issued shares are validly issued, outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and owned beneficially and of record by the Persons identified on Schedule 3.15, and (c) the type of entity of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Subsidiaries owned by any Loan Party have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens created under the Loan Documents and the ABL Security Documents).

SECTION 3.16. Security Interest in Collateral. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents create legal and valid Liens on all the Collateral of the type in which a security interest can be created under Article 9 of the UCC in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Lenders; and upon the proper filing of UCC financing statements required pursuant to paragraph (l) of Article IV and any Mortgages with respect to any Mortgaged Properties, such Liens constitute perfected and continuing Liens on the Collateral (to the extent a security interest in such Collateral and any proceeds of any item of Collateral can be perfected through the filing of UCC financing statements), securing the Secured Obligations, enforceable against the applicable Loan Party and all third parties, and

 

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having priority over all other Liens on the Collateral except in the case of (a) Permitted Liens, to the extent any such Permitted Liens would have priority over the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent pursuant to any applicable law, (b) Liens perfected only by possession (including possession of any certificate of title) to the extent the Collateral Agent has not obtained or does not maintain possession of such Collateral and (c) subject to and as provided for under the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Liens granted under the ABL Security Documents.

SECTION 3.17. Labor Disputes. As of the Closing Date, except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against any Loan Party pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, (b) the hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Loan Parties and the Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such matters and (c) all payments due from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Loan Party or such Subsidiary to the extent required by GAAP. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the consummation of the Transactions will not give rise to a right of termination or right of renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement to which the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (or any predecessor) is a party or by which the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (or any predecessor) is bound.

SECTION 3.18. Federal Reserve Regulations. (a) On the Closing Date, none of the Collateral is Margin Stock.

(b) None of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin Stock.

(c) No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (i) to purchase or carry Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or to refund or refinance indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose, or (ii) for any purpose that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U or X.

SECTION 3.19. [Reserved].

SECTION 3.20. [Reserved].

SECTION 3.21. Sanctioned Persons. None of the Borrower or any Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Borrower will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Loans or otherwise make available such proceeds to any person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Conditions

The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans 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) Credit Agreement and Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto either (A) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (B) written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement and (ii) duly executed copies of the Loan Documents and such other certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including any promissory notes requested by a Lender at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date pursuant to Section 2.07.

(b) Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received, on behalf of itself and the Lenders on the Closing Date, a favorable written opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, special counsel for the Loan Parties, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Agents and the Lenders.

(c) Financial Statements and Projections. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the financial statements and opinion referred to in Section 3.04(a) and (ii) projections in customary form for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a pro forma basis for completion of the Transactions for the fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

(d) Closing Certificates; Certified Certificate of Incorporation; Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Closing Date and executed by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, which shall (A) certify the resolutions of its Board of Directors, members or other body authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (B) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the officers of such Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (C) contain appropriate attachments, including the certificate or articles of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party and a true and correct copy of its by-laws or operating, management or partnership agreement, and (ii) a good standing certificate as of a recent date for each Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization.

(e) Accuracy of Representations and Absence of Defaults. (i) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to the making of the Loans on the Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties set forth in Article III and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material

 

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respects and (ii) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to the Borrowing on the Closing Date, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, signed by the chief financial officer or vice president of finance of the Borrower and dated the Closing Date, confirming compliance with the conditions precedent set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

(f) Fees. The Agents shall have received all fees required to be paid by the Borrower, and all expenses for which invoices have been presented (including the reasonable documented fees and expenses of legal counsel), on or before the Closing Date.

(g) Lien and Judgment Searches. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of recent lien and judgment searches in each of the jurisdictions contemplated by the Perfection Certificate, and such search shall reveal no material judgments and no liens on any of the assets of the Loan Parties except for Permitted Liens or Liens discharged on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to a pay-off letter or other documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(h) Pay-Off Letter. The Administrative Agent shall have received a pay-off letter reasonably satisfactory to it in respect of the repayment of all amounts outstanding under or in respect of each of the Existing ABL Credit Agreement and the Existing Term Credit Agreement, confirming that all Liens upon any of the property of the Loan Parties constituting Collateral arising thereunder or under any related agreements have been or will be terminated concurrently with such payment and all letters of credit issued or guaranteed as part of such Indebtedness (other than those that become letters of credit under the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility as of the Closing Date) shall have been cash collateralized or supported by a letter of credit issued under the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility.

(i) Solvency. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a customary certificate from the chief financial officer, vice president of finance or vice president and controller of the Borrower certifying that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the Transactions to occur on the Closing Date, are solvent (within the meaning of Section 3.13) and (ii) a solvency opinion in form and substance and from an independent investment bank or valuation firm reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to the effect that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the Transactions to occur on the Closing Date, are solvent (within the meaning of Section 3.13).

(j) [Reserved].

(k) Pledged Stock; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes. The Collateral Agent shall have received (i) the certificates representing the Equity Interests pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof and (ii) each promissory note (if any) pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof.

 

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(l) Perfection Certificate; Filings, Registrations and Recordings. The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, together with all attachments contemplated thereby. Each document (including any UCC financing statement) required by the Collateral Documents or under law or reasonably requested by the Agents to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Permitted Liens), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation. The Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, shall have a security interest in the Collateral of the type and priority described in the Collateral Documents (subject to Liens permitted by Section 6.02 and, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Liens granted under the ABL Security Documents).

(m) [Reserved].

(n) Other Indebtedness. The Administrative Agent shall be satisfied that the Existing Debt Refinancing shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the funding of the Loans on the Closing Date. After giving effect to the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall not have any outstanding Indebtedness or preferred stock other than (a) the Obligations, (b) Indebtedness under the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility, (c) the Senior Notes, and (d) Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 6.01.

(o) Insurance. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of insurance coverage in compliance with the terms of Section 5.10 hereof and Section 4.10 of the Security Agreement.

(p) [Reserved].

(q) Other Financing. The Borrower shall have (i) received gross cash proceeds of not less than $500,000,000 from the issuance of the Senior Notes and (ii) obtained the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility. The terms and conditions of the Senior Notes and the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(r) Intercreditor Agreement. The Intercreditor Agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, and shall be in full force and effect.

(s) USA PATRIOT Act. The Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information reasonably requested by it that is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

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The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

ARTICLE V

Affirmative Covenants

Until the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full, the Loan Parties covenant and agree, jointly and severally, with the Lenders that:

SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent (which will promptly furnish such information to the Lenders):

(a) within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated statements of operations 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 and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (it being understood and agreed that any member of the “Big Four” accounting firms is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent for this purpose, and for purposes of all other relevant provisions herein) (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception 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 Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;

(b) within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated statements of operations 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 Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit C (i) certifying that no Event of Default or Default has occurred during the period to which such financial statements relate or, if an Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto and (ii) setting forth, in the case of the financial statements delivered under clause (a), (x) the Borrower’s calculation of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year and (y) a list of names of all Immaterial Subsidiaries (if any),

 

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that each Subsidiary set forth on such list individually qualifies as an Immaterial Subsidiary and that all Domestic Subsidiaries listed as Immaterial Subsidiaries in the aggregate comprise less than 5% of Total Assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries at the end of the period to which such financial statements relate and represented (on a contribution basis) less than 5% of EBITDA for the period to which such financial statements relate;

(d) 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 or Event of Default (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);

(e) if applicable, concurrently with any delivery of consolidated financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, the related unaudited consolidating financial statements reflecting the adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements;

(f) within ninety (90) days after the beginning of each fiscal year, a detailed consolidated budget of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year (including a projected consolidated balance sheet and the related consolidated statements of projected cash flows and projected income as of the end of and for such fiscal year), including a summary of the underlying material assumptions with respect thereto (collectively, the “Budget”), and, as soon as available, significant revisions, if any, of such Budget, which Budget or revisions thereto shall in each case be accompanied by the statement of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to the effect that, to the best of his knowledge, the Budget is a reasonable estimate for the period covered thereby;

(g) as soon as practicable upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent (but no more frequently than once per calendar year), deliver an updated Perfection Certificate (or, to the extent such request relates to specified information contained in the Perfection Certificate, such information) reflecting all changes since the date of the information most recently received pursuant to this clause (g) or Section 5.11;

(h) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials publicly filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or with any national securities exchange, or, after an initial public offering of shares of Capital Stock of the Borrower, distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

(i) promptly, a copy of any final “management letter” received from the Borrower’s independent public accountants to the extent such public accountants have consented to the delivery of such management letter to the Administrative Agent upon the request of the Borrower;

(j) promptly following the Administrative Agent’s request therefor, all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent reasonably requests

 

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on its behalf or on behalf of any Lender in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act;

(k) promptly following the Administrative Agent’s request therefor, copies of (i) any documents described in Section 101(k)(1) of ERISA that the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and (ii) any notices described in Section 101(l)(1) of ERISA that the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; provided that if the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates have not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Plan or Multiemployer Plan prior to the Administrative Agent’s request therefor, the Borrower or its ERISA Affiliates shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and shall provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof; and

(l) as promptly as reasonably practicable from time to time following the Administrative Agent’s request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request (on behalf of itself or any Lender).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 5.01 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower or (B) the Borrower’s (or any such direct or indirect parent’s), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), (i) to the extent such information relates to a parent of the Borrower, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under clause (a) of this Section 5.01, such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b) or (h) 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 posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/SyndTrak or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Borrower shall notify

 

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(which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.

SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent written notice of the following promptly after any Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtains knowledge thereof:

(a) the occurrence of any Event of Default or Default;

(b) the filing or commencement of, or any written threat or notice of intention of any person to file or commence, any action, suit or proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority or in arbitration, against the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries as to which an adverse determination is reasonably probable and which, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) any loss, damage, or destruction to the Collateral in the amount of $10,000,000 or more, whether or not covered by insurance;

(d) any and all default notices received under or with respect to any leased location or warehouse where any material Collateral is located;

(e) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred and are continuing, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(f) any other development that results in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section 5.02 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of 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. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things reasonably necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, qualifications, licenses, permits, franchises, governmental authorizations, intellectual property rights, licenses and permits (except as such would otherwise reasonably expire, be abandoned or permitted to lapse in the ordinary course of business), necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except (a) other than with respect to the Borrower’s or PETCO’s existence, to the extent such failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Section 6.03.

SECTION 5.04. Payment of Taxes. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, pay or discharge all material Tax liabilities, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in

 

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good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) such Loan Party 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 would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to (a) at all times maintain and preserve all material property necessary to the normal conduct of its business in good repair, working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted and (b) make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and replacements thereto as necessary in accordance with prudent industry practice in order that the business carried on in connection therewith, if any, may be properly conducted at all times, except, in each case, where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (a) keep proper books of record and account in accordance with GAAP in which entries full, true and correct in all material respects are made of dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (b) permit any representatives designated by the Agents (including employees of an Agent or any consultants, accountants, lawyers and appraisers retained by the Agents), upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, including environmental assessment reports and Phase I or Phase II studies, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as reasonably requested (provided that in no event shall there be more than one such visit per calendar year except during the continuance of an Event of Default). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.06, none of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries will be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making of extracts, or discussion of, any documents, information or other matter that (i) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Agents (or any designated representative) is then prohibited by law or any agreement binding on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work-product.

SECTION 5.07. Maintenance of Ratings. The Borrower shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the credit facility provided for herein to be continuously rated by S&P and Moody’s.

SECTION 5.08. Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply in all material respects with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.09. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only for the purposes specified in the introductory statement to this Agreement. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that would entail a violation of Regulations T, U or X.

 

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SECTION 5.10. Insurance. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies (or through the Captive Insurance Company or other self-insurance arrangements that are reasonable and customary for similarly situated companies) (a) insurance in such amounts and against such risks, as are customarily maintained by similarly situated companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (b) all insurance required pursuant to the Collateral Documents (and shall cause the Collateral Agent to be listed as a loss payee (together with any other loss payee in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement) on property policies covering loss or damage to Collateral and as an additional insured on casualty and liability policies). The Borrower will furnish to the Agents, upon request, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.

SECTION 5.11. Additional Collateral; Further Assurances. (a) Subject to applicable law, the Borrower and each Subsidiary that is a Loan Party shall cause (i) each of its Domestic Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary (except as otherwise provided in paragraph (e) of this Section 5.11) or Unrestricted Subsidiary) formed or acquired after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement that is required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 6.08 and (ii) any such Domestic Subsidiary that was an Immaterial Subsidiary but, as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower has ceased to qualify as an Immaterial Subsidiary, to become a Loan Party as promptly thereafter as reasonably practicable by executing a Joinder Agreement in substantially the form set forth as Exhibit D hereto (the “Joinder Agreement”). Upon execution and delivery thereof, each such Person (i) shall automatically become a Loan Guarantor hereunder and thereupon shall have all of the rights, benefits, duties, and obligations in such capacity under the Loan Documents and (ii) will simultaneously therewith or as soon as practicable thereafter grant Liens to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Lenders and each other Secured Party at such time party to or benefiting from the Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Agreement, in each case to the extent required by the terms thereof, in any property (subject to the limitations with respect to Equity Interests set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section 5.11, the limitations with respect to real property set forth in paragraph (f) of this Section 5.11 and any other limitations set forth in the Security Agreement) of such Loan Party which constitutes Collateral, on such terms as may be required pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents and in such priority as may be required pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) The Borrower and each Subsidiary that is a Loan Party will cause (i) 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each of its Domestic Subsidiaries, other than any Domestic Subsidiary taxed as a partnership for Federal income tax purposes that holds Capital Stock of a Foreign Subsidiary whose Equity Interests are pledged pursuant to clause (ii) below, and (ii) 65% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) in each Foreign Subsidiary and Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company, in each case, directly owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party to be subject at all times to a first priority perfected Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents or other security documents as the Agents shall reasonably request; provided, however that this paragraph (b) shall not require the Borrower or any Subsidiary to grant a security interest in the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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(c) Without limiting the foregoing, each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary that is a Loan Party to, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Agents such documents, agreements and instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Article IV, as applicable, which may be required by law or which the Agents may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

(d) Subject to the limitations set forth or referred to in this Section 5.11, if any material assets (including any real property or improvements thereto or any interest therein) are acquired by any Loan Party after the Closing Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement that become subject to the Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent upon acquisition thereof), the Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Secured Obligations and will take, and cause the Loan Parties that are Subsidiaries to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (c) of this Section, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

(e) If, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties because they are Immaterial Subsidiaries comprise in the aggregate more than 5% of Total Assets as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower or more than 5% of EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower, then the Borrower shall, not later than 45 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent shall agree) after the date by which financial statements for such quarter are required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement, cause one or more such Subsidiaries to become additional Loan Parties (notwithstanding that such Subsidiaries are, individually, Immaterial Subsidiaries) such that the foregoing condition ceases to be true.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.11 (i) the Borrower shall not be required to take any action with respect to the creation or perfection of a security interest in any asset or property to the extent that the cost of perfecting a Lien in such asset or property is unreasonable in relation to the benefits to the Lenders of the security afforded thereby in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable judgment after consultation with the Borrower and (ii) real property required to be mortgaged under this Section 5.11 shall be limited to real property located in the U.S. that is owned in fee by a Loan Party having a fair market value at the time of the acquisition thereof of $2,500,000 or more (and subject, in any event, to clause (i) above).

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Loan Parties shall not be required to include as Collateral any Excluded Assets (as defined in the Security Agreement).

 

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ARTICLE VI

Negative Covenants

Until the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full, the Loan Parties covenant and agree, jointly and severally, with the Lenders that:

SECTION 6.01. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock. (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, “incur” and collectively, an “incurrence”) with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), and the Borrower will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided that the Borrower may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock or issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Borrower’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of the proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided that the amount of Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock that may be incurred or issued, as applicable, pursuant to the foregoing by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(b) The limitations set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 6.01 shall not apply to any of the following items (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):

(i) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that immediately after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (i) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (A) $350,000,000 and (B) the Borrowing Base at such time;

(ii) the incurrence by the Borrower and any Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes issued on the Closing Date (including any guarantees thereof);

(iii) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01;

(iv) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to

 

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finance the development, construction, purchase, lease (other than the lease, pursuant to Sale and Lease-Back Transactions, of property (real or personal), equipment or other fixed or capital assets owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as of the Closing Date or acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date in exchange for, or with the proceeds of the sale of, such assets owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as of the Closing Date), repairs, additions or improvement of property (real or personal), equipment or other fixed or capital assets that are used or useful in a Similar Business, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets; provided that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (iv) does not exceed $100,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(v) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims; provided that upon the drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations are reimbursed within thirty (30) days following such drawing or incurrence;

(vi) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided that (A) such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (it being understood that contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet shall not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (A)) and (B) the maximum assumable liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds, including noncash proceeds (the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of such noncash proceeds being measured at the time received and without giving effect to any subsequent changes in value), actually received by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such disposition;

(vii) Indebtedness of the Borrower to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(viii) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing by a Subsidiary

 

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Guarantor to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Loan Guaranty; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(ix) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock;

(x) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of limiting: (A) interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted under this Agreement to be outstanding, (B) exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchange or (C) commodity pricing risk with respect to any commodity;

(xi) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(xii) (A) any guarantee by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Agreement or (B) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Agreement; provided that such guarantee is incurred in accordance with Section 6.08;

(xiii) the incurrence by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew, defease or discharge any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred as permitted under paragraph (a) of this Section 6.01 and clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, this clause (xiii) and clause (xiv) of this paragraph (b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued to so extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew, defease or discharge such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred to pay accrued interest, premiums and fees in connection therewith (including each successive refinancing, extension, refunding, renewal or replacement, the “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness (A) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred that is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed, defeased or discharged, (B) to the extent such

 

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Refinancing Indebtedness extends, replaces, refunds, refinances, renews, defeases or discharges (1) Indebtedness subordinated to the Obligations or the Loan Guaranty of any Subsidiary Guarantor, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the Obligations or such Loan Guaranty at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed, defeased or discharged or (2) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively, and (C) shall not include (1) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Borrower, (2) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor or (3) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(xiv) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (x) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition of any Person or assets or (y) of Persons that are acquired by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or merged into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided that either (A) after giving effect to such acquisition or merger, either (1) the Borrower would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 6.01 or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis is greater than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger or (B) such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (1) is not Secured Indebtedness and is Subordinated Indebtedness with subordination terms no more favorable to the holders thereof than the subordination terms set forth in the indenture governing the Senior Subordinated Notes as in effect on the date on which the Senior Subordinated Notes were issued, (2) is not incurred while a Default exists and no Default shall result from the incurrence thereof, (3) does not mature (and is not mandatorily redeemable in the case of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock) and does not require any payment of principal prior to Maturity Date, (4) in the case of clause (y) above only, is not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition or merger and (5) is in an aggregate principal amount or subject to a liquidation preference, which, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (xiv)(B) and then outstanding, does not at any one time outstanding exceed $200,000,000;

(xv) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is promptly repaid;

(xvi) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

 

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(xvii) Indebtedness incurred by a Foreign Subsidiary which, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (xvii) and then outstanding, does not exceed the greater of $100,000,000 and 5.0% of Foreign Subsidiary Total Assets (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (xvii) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xvii) but shall be deemed incurred pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 6.01 from and after the first date on which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 6.01 without reliance on this clause (xvii));

(xvii)

(xviii) Indebtedness issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to current or former officers, managers, directors and employees thereof, or to their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower to the extent permitted under Section 6.04(b)(iii);

(xix) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (xix) and then outstanding, does not at any one time outstanding exceed $75,000,000 (it being understood that any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (xix) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xix) but shall be deemed incurred pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 6.01 from and after the first date on which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 6.01 without reliance on this clause (xix));

(xx) [Reserved]

(xxi) Indebtedness incurred hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; and

(xxii) Permitted Loan Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the Net Proceeds of such Indebtedness are applied to prepay Loans pursuant to Section 2.09(d) (or, to the extent that any Declined Proceeds are retained by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.09(d) following such prepayment, pursuant to Section 2.08(a) and (b)).

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.01, in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (xxi) of paragraph (b) of this Section 6.01 or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 6.01, the Borrower, in its sole discretion, shall classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness,

 

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Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility and the term loan facility provided for herein on the Closing Date shall be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception in clauses (i) and (xxi) of the definition of “Permitted Debt”.

(d) The accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 6.01.

(e) For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the Dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date on which such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased.

(f) The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance.

SECTION 6.02. Limitation on Liens. The Borrower will not, and the Borrower will not permit any of the Subsidiary Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (the “Initial Lien”) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness on any asset or property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, except:

(a) in the case of the Term Loan First Lien Collateral, any Initial Lien if (i) such Initial Lien expressly ranks junior to the first-priority security interest intended to be created in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Term Loan Secured Parties (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) pursuant to the Collateral Documents; provided, however, that the terms of such junior interest shall be no more favorable to the beneficiaries thereof than the terms contained in the Intercreditor Agreement or (ii) such Initial Lien is a Permitted Collateral Lien;

 

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(b) in the case of the Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral, any Initial Lien if (i) the Obligations or the applicable Loan Guaranty of a Loan Party, as the case may be, are equally and ratably secured on a second-priority basis by such Revolving Facility First Lien Collateral until such time as such Initial Lien is released (other than through the exercise of remedies with respect thereto) or (ii) such Initial Lien is a Permitted Lien; and

(c) in the case of any other asset or property, any Initial Lien if (i) the Obligations or the applicable Loan Guaranty of a Loan Party, as the case may be, are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case such Initial Lien secures any Subordinated Indebtedness) the obligations secured by such Initial Lien or (ii) such Initial Lien is a Permitted Lien.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to clause (b) or (c) of the preceding paragraph shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the Initial Lien (other than through the exercise of remedies with respect thereto).

SECTION 6.03. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets. (a) The Borrower shall not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Borrower is the surviving entity), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) the Borrower is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Borrower) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (the Borrower or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Borrower”);

(ii) the Successor Borrower, if other than the Borrower, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents pursuant to supplements to the Loan Documents or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(iii) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, (A) the Successor Borrower would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 6.01(a) or (B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would be greater than such ratio for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

(v) each Loan Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such transaction (in which case clause (i)(B) of paragraph (c) of this Section 6.03 shall apply) shall have, by supplement to the Loan Documents, confirmed that its guarantee of the Obligations shall apply to the Successor Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents and the Loans; and

(vi) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an Officers’ Certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplements to the Loan Documents, if any, comply with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

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(b) The Successor Borrower shall succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, except in the case of a lease transaction, the predecessor Borrower will be released from its obligations hereunder and thereunder. Notwithstanding clauses (iii) and (iv) of paragraph (a) of this Section 6.03, the Borrower may merge with an Affiliate of the Borrower incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Borrower in another state of the United States of America so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

(c) Subject to Section 10.12, no Subsidiary Guarantor shall, and the Borrower shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(i) (A) such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Subsidiary Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Person”), (B) the Successor Person, if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Loan Guaranty and the other Loan Documents, pursuant to a Joinder Agreement and supplements to the Loan Documents or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (C) immediately after such transaction, no Default exists and (D) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an Officers’ Certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such Joinder Agreement and supplements, if any, comply with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; or

(ii) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 6.06.

(d) (d) The Successor Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, such Subsidiary Guarantor under such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Loan Guaranty and the other Loan Documents and, except in the case of a lease transaction, such Subsidiary Guarantor will be released from its obligations thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantor may merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Subsidiary Guarantor or the Borrower.

 

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(e) [Reserved].

(f) [Reserved].

(g) [Reserved].

(h) For purposes of this Section 6.03, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more subsidiaries of the Borrower, which properties and assets, if held by the Borrower, instead of such subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Borrower.

SECTION 6.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments. (a) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly (w) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests, including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation, other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Borrower payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities, (x) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower, including in connection with any merger or consolidation, (y) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire for value, in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness other than Indebtedness permitted under clauses (vii) and (viii) of Section 6.01(b) or (z) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (w) through (z) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, with respect to Restricted Investments only, at the time of such Restricted Investment:

(i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Borrower could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 6.01(a); and

(iii) such Restricted Investment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Investments made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date pursuant to this paragraph (a) is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower for the period (taken as one accounting period) from October 31, 2010, to the end of the Borrower’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Investment, or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit, plus

 

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(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, of marketable securities or other property received by the Borrower after the Closing Date from the issue or sale of (x) Equity Interests of the Borrower, including Retired Capital Stock, but excluding cash proceeds and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of (1) Equity Interests to any future, present or former employees, directors, managers or consultants of the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s subsidiaries after the Closing Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (iii) of paragraph (b) of this Section 6.04 and (2) Designated Preferred Stock, and to the extent actually contributed to the Borrower, Equity Interests of the Borrower’s direct or indirect parents (excluding contributions of the proceeds from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock of such companies or contributions to the extent such amounts have been applied to Restricted Payments made in accordance with clause (iii) of paragraph (b) of this Section 6.04) or (y) debt securities of the Borrower that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Borrower or debt securities of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of any such parent to the extent that the proceeds from such debt securities were contributed to the Borrower; provided that this clause (B) shall not include the proceeds from (I) Refunding Capital Stock, (II) Equity Interests of the Borrower or debt securities of the Borrower that have been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests of the Borrower sold to a Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower, as the case may be, (III) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into or exchanged for Disqualified Stock or (IV) Excluded Contributions, plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, of marketable securities or other property contributed to the capital of the Borrower after the Closing Date (other than by a Restricted Subsidiary and other than by any Excluded Contributions), plus

(D) to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower, 100% of the aggregate amount received in cash and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, of marketable securities or other property received after the Closing Date by means of (1) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and repayments of loans or advances that constitute Restricted Investments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or dividends or other distributions in respect of such Restricted Investments or (2) the sale

 

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(other than to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or a distribution from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than in each case to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (vi) of paragraph (b) of this Section 6.04 or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

(E) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date, the fair market value of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, as determined by the Borrower in good faith or if, in the case of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such fair market value may exceed $75,000,000, in writing by an Independent Financial Advisor, at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (vi) of paragraph (b) of this Section 6.04 or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment.

(b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 6.04 shall not prohibit:

(i) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Retired Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower to the extent actually contributed to the Borrower (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock) (“Refunding Capital Stock”);

(ii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of such Person that is incurred in compliance with Section 6.01 so long as (A) the principal amount of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value, plus the amount of any accrued interest and any reasonable premium paid to defease, redeem, repurchase, acquire or retire such Subordinated Indebtedness being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired and any reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, (B) such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Obligations at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired, (C) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date that is no earlier than the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired and (D) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so defeased, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired;

 

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(iii) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parents held by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant of the Borrower, any of its subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parents pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement; provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (iii) do not exceed in any calendar year $15,000,000 (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $20,000,000 in any calendar year); provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed (A) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower and, to the extent contributed to the Borrower, Equity Interests of any of the Borrower’s direct or indirect parents, in each case to members of management, directors, managers or consultants of the Borrower, any of its subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parents that occurs after the Closing Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the making of Restricted Investments by virtue of clause (iii) of paragraph (a) of this Section 6.04, plus (B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date, less (C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iii); and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Borrower from members of management, directors, managers or consultants of the Borrower, any of its direct or indirect parents or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parents shall not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 6.04 or any other provision of this Agreement;

(iv) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 6.01 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(v) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants, and repurchases deemed to occur upon the withholding of a portion of the Equity Interests granted or awarded to an employee to pay for taxes payable by such employee upon such grant or award;

(vi) Restricted Payments that are made with substantially contemporaneous Excluded Contributions;

(vii) the declaration and payment of dividends by the Subsidiaries to, or the making of loans to, the Borrower in amounts required for the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) to pay (A) franchise taxes and other fees, taxes and expenses required to maintain their corporate existence, (B) Federal, state and local income taxes, to the extent such income taxes are attributable to the income of the

 

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Restricted Subsidiaries and, to the extent of the amount actually received from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in amounts required to pay such taxes to the extent attributable to the income of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (C) salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Restricted Subsidiaries, (D) general corporate overhead expenses of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) to the extent such expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Restricted Subsidiaries, (E) reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with any unsuccessful debt or equity offering by the Borrower (or such direct or indirect parent of the Borrower), (F) payments to capitalize the Captive Insurance Company in respect of insurance maintained by the Captive Insurance Company against risks of the Subsidiaries that, in the reasonable judgment of a Financial Officer of the Borrower, are appropriate for self-insurance in an aggregate amount not to exceed an initial investment amount of $40,000,000 plus an additional $5,000,000 per each fiscal year following the fiscal year in which such initial investment was made and payments to fund premiums with respect to such self-insurance (provided that such premiums are (i) reasonably equivalent to those which would be paid to a reputable and creditworthy third-party insurer for equivalent coverage or (ii) to the extent the coverage is not available from third-party insurers, fair and reasonable in relation to the insured risk); and (G) in an amount necessary to make payments of interest and principal (if any) (including any optional prepayments thereof) and any other payments required to be made (if any), in each case pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement and the other loan documents relating thereto, the Senior Notes Documents and the terms of other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Borrower hereunder.

(viii) any Restricted Payments used to fund a payment or other transaction permitted under Section 6.05(b)(iii), (b)(iv), (b)(v), (b)(vi), (b)(vii) and (b)(x);

(ix) distributions or payments of Receivables Fees;

(x) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise (and the declaration of such dividend), of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary by, any Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(xi) other Restricted Payments in an amount which, when taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (xi), does not exceed $75,000,000; and

(xii) the declaration and payment on or about the Closing Date by the Borrower of the Permitted Dividend;

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (x) through (xii) of this paragraph (b), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

 

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(c) The Borrower shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”. For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investment”. Such designation shall be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 6.04 or under clauses (vi) or (xi) of paragraph (b) of this Section 6.04, or pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments”, and if such subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an “Unrestricted Subsidiary”.

SECTION 6.05. Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates. (a) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Borrower (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $5,000,000, unless (i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person and (ii) the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $35,000,000, a Board Resolution adopted by the majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Borrower approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above.

(b) The limitations set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 6.05 shall not apply to:

(i) transactions between or among the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(ii) Restricted Payments that are permitted by the provisions of Section 6.04 and the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

(iii) the payment of management, consulting, monitoring, transactional and advisory fees and related expenses to the Sponsors or any Co-Investor and any termination or other fee payable to the Sponsors or any Co-Investor upon a Change of Control or Qualified Public Offering pursuant to the Management Services Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date;

(iv) the payment of reasonable and customary fees paid to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, directors, managers, employees or consultants or advisors of the Borrower, any of its direct or indirect parents, or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(v) payments to any of the Sponsors for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Borrower in good faith;

(vi) transactions in respect of which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, delivers to the Administrative Agent a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (i) of paragraph (a) of this Section 6.05;

(vii) payments or loans (or cancellations of loans) to employees or consultants of the Borrower, any of its direct or indirect parents or any Restricted Subsidiary and employment agreements, stock option plans and other compensatory arrangements with such employees or consultants that are, in each case, approved by the Borrower in good faith;

(viii) any agreement, instrument or arrangement as in effect as of the Closing Date, or any amendment thereto (so long as any such amendment is not disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Closing Date as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower);

(ix) the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement or its equivalent (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Closing Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Closing Date shall only be permitted by this clause (ix) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect than the terms of the original agreement in effect on the Closing Date as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower;

(x) the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions;

(xi) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement that are fair to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of each of the Borrower or PETCO, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;

 

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(xii) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower to any Permitted Holder or to any director, manager, officer, employee, consultant or advisor of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof;

(xiii) sales of accounts receivable, or participations therein, in connection with any Receivables Facility; and

(xiv) investments by the Sponsors and the Co-Investors in securities of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as (A) the investment is being offered generally to other investors on the same or more favorable terms and (B) the investment constitutes less than 5.0% of the proposed or outstanding issue amount of such class of securities.

SECTION 6.06. Limitations on Asset Sales. (a) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, cause, make or suffer to exist an Asset Sale of any Term Loan First Lien Collateral (other than the sale, transfer or disposition of the real property described on Schedule 6.06), unless:

(i) the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of;

(ii) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (provided that the amount of (A) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or a third party on behalf of the transferee) and for which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has been validly released by all creditors in writing, (B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale and (C) any Designated Noncash Consideration received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Noncash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (I) $75,000,000 and (II) 2.5% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Noncash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Noncash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision and for no other purpose); and

(iii) the Net Proceeds of such Asset Sale are applied in accordance with Section 2.09.

 

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(b) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, cause, make or suffer to exist an Asset Sale (other than (A) an Asset Sale of Term Loan First Lien Collateral or (B) the sale, transfer or disposition of the real property described on Schedule 6.06), unless:

(i) the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of;

(ii) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (provided that the amount of (A) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrower’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets (or a third party on behalf of the transferee) and for which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has been validly released by all creditors in writing, (B) any securities, notes or other obligations or assets received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Sale and (C) any Designated Noncash Consideration received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Noncash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (I) $125,000,000 and (II) 5.0% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Noncash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Noncash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision and for no other purpose); and

(iii) the Net Proceeds of such Asset Sale are applied in accordance with Section 2.09.

SECTION 6.07. Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries. (a) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:

(i) (A) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or (B) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(ii) make loans or advances to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

(iii) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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(b) The limitations set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 6.07 shall not apply (in each case) to such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(i) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date, including pursuant to the Loan Documents, the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility and the related documentation (including security documents and intercreditor agreements) and Hedging Obligations;

(ii) the Senior Notes Documents and the Senior Notes and the subsidiary guarantees of the Senior Notes issued thereunder, or any other Indebtedness of the Borrower permitted to be incurred after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.01; provided that the encumbrances or restrictions under such Indebtedness are not more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those in this Agreement;

(iii) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (iii) of paragraph (a) of this Section 6.07 on the property so acquired;

(iv) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(v) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in connection therewith or in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired;

(vi) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a subsidiary pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such subsidiary;

(vii) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 6.01 and 6.02 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(viii) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(ix) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.01;

(x) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements;

(xi) customary provisions contained in leases and other agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(xii) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale or other disposition, and customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of other assets pending such sale, provided in each case that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary or other assets, as the case may be, that is to be sold or otherwise disposed of and such sale or other disposition is permitted hereunder;

(xiii) restrictions created in connection with any Receivables Facility; provided that in the case of Receivables Facilities established after the Closing Date, such restrictions are necessary or advisable, in the good faith determination of the Borrower, to effect such Receivables Facility;

(xiv) restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase or other agreement to which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary that are the subject of such agreement, the payment rights arising thereunder or the proceeds thereof and does not extend to any other asset or property of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of any other Restricted Subsidiary; and

(xv) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (a) of this Section 6.07 imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (i) through (xiv) of this paragraph (b); provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, not materially more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing; provided, further, that with respect to contracts, instruments or obligations existing on the Closing Date, any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive with respect to such encumbrances and other restrictions than those contained in such contracts, instruments or obligations as in effect on the Closing Date.

SECTION 6.08. Limitations on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries. The Borrower will not permit any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (and non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries if such non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries guarantee other capital markets debt securities), other than a Subsidiary Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary, to guarantee the payment of any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor unless:

(a) such Restricted Subsidiary within thirty (30) days executes and delivers a Joinder Agreement providing for a Loan Guaranty by such Restricted Subsidiary, except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary

 

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Guarantor, that is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations or the Loan Guaranty of such Restricted Subsidiary, any such guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Loan Guaranty substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Obligations;

(b) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Loan Guaranty; and

(c) such Restricted Subsidiary shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an opinion of counsel to the effect that (i) such Loan Guaranty has been duly executed and authorized and (ii) such Loan Guaranty constitutes a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary, except insofar as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws (including all laws relating to fraudulent transfers) and except insofar as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity;

provided that this Section 6.08 shall not be applicable to any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary.

SECTION 6.09. Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any property unless (a) the consideration received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of such property and (b) the Borrower applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with Section 2.09.

SECTION 6.10. [Reserved].

SECTION 6.11. Impairment of Security Interest. Subject to the rights of the holders of Permitted Liens or Permitted Collateral Liens and except as permitted by this Agreement or the Loan Documents, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, take or knowingly or negligently omit to take, any action which action or omission would reasonably be expected to have the result of materially impairing the security interest with respect to the Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

SECTION 6.12. Business of the Borrower and Restricted Subsidiaries. (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage to any material extent in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement or businesses reasonably related, complementary or ancillary thereto or reasonable extensions, developments or expansions thereto.

 

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(b) The Borrower will not engage in any business or operations other than (i) the ownership of all the outstanding shares of capital stock of PETCO and the Captive Insurance Company, (ii) the incurrence of the Indebtedness under and performance of its obligations under and in connection with the Loan Documents, the Senior Notes Documents, the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility and the other agreements contemplated hereby and thereby and the incurrence of other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Borrower pursuant to Section 6.01 and the performance of its obligations in connection therewith, (iii) actions incidental to the consummation of the Transactions, (iv) actions required by law to maintain its existence, (v) any public offering of its common stock, any other issuance of its Equity Interests and performance of its obligations under any agreements related thereto, (vi) the entry into, and the performance of its obligations under and in connection with (x) contracts and agreements with officers, directors and employees of it or any of its Subsidiaries relating to their employment or directorships, (y) insurance policies and related contracts and agreements and (z) equity subscription agreements, registration rights agreements, voting and other stockholder agreements and other agreements in respect of its Equity Interests, (vii) the payment of operating and business expenses and taxes, (viii) the performance of obligations under and compliance with its certificate of incorporation and by-laws, or any applicable law, ordinance, regulation, rule, order, judgment, decree or permit, including, without limitation, as a result of or in connection with the activities of its Subsidiaries, (ix) any transaction the Borrower is permitted to enter into in this Article VI; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article VI, the Borrower shall not engage in any business or operations or enter into any transaction to the extent not permitted pursuant to clauses (i) through (viii) above and (x) activities incidental to the foregoing.

ARTICLE VII

Events of Default

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

(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan 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 by acceleration thereof or otherwise;

(b) the 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 thirty (30) days;

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report or other certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any Loan Document, shall prove to have been materially incorrect when made or deemed made;

 

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(d) failure by any Loan Party for sixty (60) days after receipt of written notice given by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders to comply with any of its other agreements in this Agreement or any Loan Document (other than those specified in clauses (a) and (b) of this Article);

(e) (i) any Loan Party shall fail to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) with respect to any Material Indebtedness, or (ii) any event or condition occurs (other than with respect to Material Indebtedness constituting Derivative Transactions, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of the related Hedge Agreements in accordance with the terms thereof and not as a result of any default thereunder by any Loan Party) that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with the giving of notice, if required) the holder or holders of any such Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any such Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (e) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness;

(f) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant 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 Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case of clause (i) or (ii), such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed and unstayed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(g) the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (f) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant 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 or (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

 

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(h) the failure by the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $25,000,000, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than sixty (60) days after such judgment becomes final, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;

(i) the Loan Guaranty of all or substantially all Loan Guarantors shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void or any Responsible Officer of any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary (or the Responsible Officers of any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) denies that it has any further liability under its Loan Guaranty or gives notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Agreement or the release of any such Loan Guaranty in accordance with this Agreement;

(j) unless all of the Collateral has been released from the Liens in accordance with the provisions of the Collateral Documents, any Collateral Document shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or the assertion by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any security interest thereunder is invalid or unenforceable and, in the case of any such Restricted Subsidiary, the failure by the Borrower to cause such Restricted Subsidiary to rescind such assertions within thirty (30) days after the Borrower has actual knowledge of such assertions;

(k) the failure by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to comply for sixty (60) days after receipt of written notice given by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders with its other agreements contained in the Collateral Documents, except for a failure that would not materially affect the value of the Collateral, or the remedies with respect thereto, in each case taken as a whole; or

(l) there shall have occurred a Change of Control,

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to any Loan Party described in clause (f) or (g) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, 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 obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; provided that upon the occurrence of an event with respect to any Loan Party described in clause (f) or (g) of this Article, the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower, without further action of the Administrative Agent or any

 

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Lender. Upon the occurrence and the continuance of an Event of Default, the Agents may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Agents under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (e) of the preceding paragraph of this Article, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded automatically and without any action by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders if, within twenty (20) days after such Event of Default arose, (i) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged, (ii) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (iii) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

ARTICLE VIII

The Agents

Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent as its agents and authorizes the Agents to take such actions on its behalf, including execution of the other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Agents by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

Each Person serving as an 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 an Agent, and such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Loan Parties or any subsidiary of a Loan Party or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not an Agent hereunder.

The Agents shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) neither Agent shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) neither Agent shall 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 applicable 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), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Agents shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as an Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Neither Agent shall 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. Neither Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to such Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and the Agents shall not be responsible for or have any duty to

 

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ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral or the existence of the Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Agents.

The Agents 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. Each 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. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

Each Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by such Agent. Each 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 Agents and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facility provided for herein as well as activities as Agent.

Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Agent as provided in this paragraph, each Agent may resign at any time by notifying the other Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of the Borrower, to appoint a successor Agent; provided that, during the existence and continuation of an Event of Default, no consent of the Borrower shall be required. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the other Agent and the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent which shall be a commercial bank or an Affiliate of any such commercial bank reasonably acceptable to the Borrower. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as an Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After an Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring 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 an Agent.

 

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Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon either 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. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon either Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

The arrangers, the joint bookrunners, the syndication agent and the documentation agent shall not have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such.

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 facsimile or e-mail, as follows:

(i) if to any Loan Party, to the Borrower at:

9125 Rehco Road

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Michael E. Foss, Executive Vice President & Chief

Financial Officer

Facsimile No.: (858)  ###-###-####

E-mail: ***@***

Attention: Patty Ward, Vice President & Controller

Facsimile No.: (858)  ###-###-####

E-mail: ***@***

Attention: Darragh Davis, Vice President & General Counsel, Corporate Secretary

Facsimile No.: (858)  ###-###-####

E-mail: ***@***

with copy to:

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

1540 Broadway

New York, NY 10036-4039

Attention: Jonathan B. Whitney

Facsimile No.: (212)  ###-###-####

E-mail: ***@***

 

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(ii) if to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, to Credit Suisse AG at:

One Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010

Attention: Sean Portrait - Agency Group

Facsimile No: (212)  ###-###-####

E-mail: ***@***

(iii) if to any other Lender, to it at its address or facsimile number set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by fax or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section 9.01. As agreed to among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lenders from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable Person provided from time to time by such Person.

(b) The Borrower hereby agrees, unless directed otherwise by the Administrative Agent or unless the electronic mail address referred to below has not been provided by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, that it will, or will cause its Subsidiaries to, provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents or to the Lenders under Article V, including all notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and other information materials, but excluding any such communication that (i) is delivered under Article II, (ii) provides notice of any Default or Event of Default under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (iii) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any Borrowing or other extension of credit hereunder (all such non-excluded communications being referred to herein collectively as “Communications”), by transmitting the Communications in an electronic/soft medium that is properly identified in a format acceptable to the Administrative Agent to an electronic mail address as directed by the Administrative Agent. In addition, the Borrower agrees, and agrees to cause its Subsidiaries, to continue to provide the Communications to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, as the case may be, pursuant to any additional method of delivery specified in the Loan Documents, but only to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

(c) The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (i) the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Intralinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (ii) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive

 

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material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 9.12); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated as “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not marked as “Public Investor.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Borrower Materials shall be marked “PUBLIC”, unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent promptly that any such document contains material non-public information: (1) the Loan Documents and (2) notification of changes in the terms of the Facilities.

(d) (d) THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. NEITHER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT NOR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES WARRANTS THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM AND EACH EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS 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 THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER OR NOT BASED ON STRICT LIABILITY AND INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LIABILITY OF ANY SUCH PERSON IS FOUND IN A FINAL RULING BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED PRIMARILY FROM SUCH PERSON’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.

(e) The Administrative Agent agrees that the receipt of the Communications by the Administrative Agent at its e-mail address set forth above shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees that receipt of notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that the Communications have been posted to the Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s e-mail address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and that the foregoing notice may be sent to such e-mail address.

(f) Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

 

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SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by any Agent or Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Agents and the Lenders hereunder and under any other Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 9.02, 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, to the extent permitted by law, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except (i) in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders), (ii) in the case of any other Loan Document (other than any such amendment to effectuate any modification thereto expressly contemplated by the terms of such other Loan Documents), pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (A) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender; it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Article IV or the waiver of any Default or mandatory prepayment shall not constitute an increase of any Commitment of any Lender, (B) reduce or forgive the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce or forgive any interest or other amounts payable hereunder (including any decrease or waiver of the prepayment fee pursuant to Section 2.19), without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the provisions of Section 2.11(c) providing for the default rate of interest, or to waive any obligations of the Borrower to pay interest at such default rate, (C) postpone any scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan, or any date for the payment of any interest or other Obligations payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the provisions of Section 2.11(c) providing for the default rate of interest, or to waive any obligations of the Borrower to pay interest at such default rate, (D) change Section 2.16(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the manner in which payments are shared, without the written consent of each Lender, (E) change any of the provisions of this Section 9.02 or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the

 

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number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender, (F) release all or substantially all of the value of the Loan Guaranties (except as otherwise permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents), without the written consent of each Lender, or (G) except as provided in clauses (c) and (d) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of any Agent hereunder without the prior written consent of such Agent. The Administrative Agent may also amend the Commitment Schedule to reflect assignments entered into pursuant to Section 9.04. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9.02(b) to the contrary, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended (or amended and restated) pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by (i) the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Incremental Lender pursuant to Section 2.20 or (ii) the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Accepting Lender pursuant to Section 2.21.

(c) The Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released (i) upon the payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations), and the cash collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Agents, (ii) upon the sale or other disposition of the property constituting such Collateral (including as part of or in connection with any other sale or other disposition permitted hereunder) to any Person other than another Loan Party, to the extent such sale or other disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Agents may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Loan Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) subject to paragraph (b) of this Section 9.02, if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, (iv) to the extent the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Loan Guarantor, upon the release of such Loan Guarantor from its obligations under its Loan Guaranty in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (v) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to the Collateral Documents or (vi) as required pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement; provided that the Agents may, in their discretion, release the Lien on Collateral valued in the aggregate not in excess of $5,000,000 during each fiscal year without the consent of any Lender. 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 to the extent required under the provisions of the Loan Documents.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.02, pledge agreements and related documents (if any) executed by Foreign Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be amended and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lenders if such amendment or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to cure ambiguities or defects or (iii) to cause such pledge agreement or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

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(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 Borrower may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement; provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity that is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower 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 Section 9.04(b), (ii) the replacement Lender shall pay the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C), if applicable in accordance with the terms of such Section, (iii) the replacement Lender shall grant its consent with respect to the applicable proposed amendment, waiver or consent and (iv) the Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including, without limitation, payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Section 2.13, Section 2.15 and Section 2.19 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 2.14 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender.

SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents and their Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Agents, in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the Internet or through a service such as Intralinks) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation of the Loan Documents and related documentation, (ii) all reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents and their Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one outside legal counsel to the Agents, in connection with any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions of any Loan Documents (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby shall be consummated), (iii) all reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents or the Lenders, including the reasonable documented fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Agents and for one law firm retained by the Lenders (unless the interests of any Lender or group of Lenders are sufficiently divergent, in which case one additional counsel for each such Lender or group of Lenders may be retained), in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 9.03, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or related negotiations in respect of such Loans, and (iv) subject to any other provisions of this Agreement, of the Loan Documents or of any separate agreement entered into by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with respect thereto, all reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent in the administration of the Loan Documents. Expenses reimbursable by the Borrower under this Section include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, subject to any other applicable provision of any Loan Document, reasonable documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with:

(i) lien and title searches and title insurance; and

(ii) taxes, fees and other charges for recording the Mortgages, filing financing statements and continuations, and other actions to perfect, protect, and continue the Collateral Agent’s Liens.

 

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Other than to the extent required to be paid on the Closing Date, all amounts due under this paragraph (a) shall be payable by the Borrower within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of an invoice relating thereto and setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail.

(b) The Borrower shall indemnify each Agent and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, penalties, 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 the Loan Documents 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 Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or to any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (and regardless of whether such matter is initiated by a third party or by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

(c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to an Agent under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to such Agent such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, penalty, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent in its capacity as such.

(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no party to this Agreement shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any other party hereto or any Related Party thereof, 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 or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.

(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be paid promptly after written demand therefor.

 

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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, except that (i) the Borrower may not (except as permitted under Section 6.03) assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section (any attempted assignment or transfer not complying with the terms of this Section shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agents 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) and, if applicable, paragraph (b)(iii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees or Affiliated Lenders all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment or the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:

(A) the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to another Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default specified in paragraphs (a), (b), (f) or (g) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing, any other Eligible Assignee; provided further that no additional consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment during the primary syndication of the Loans to Persons identified by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower on or prior to the Closing Date and reasonably acceptable to the Borrower; and

(B) the Administrative Agent.

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

(A) except in the case of an assignment to another Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Commitment or the principal amount of 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 and determined on an aggregate basis in the event of concurrent assignments to Related Funds (as defined below)) shall not be less than $1,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default specified in paragraphs (a), (b), (f) or (g) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided that this clause (B) shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of a single class of Loans in the event that more than one class of Loans is outstanding hereunder;

(C) the parties to each assignment shall (1) electronically execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent (which shall initially be ClearPar, LLC) or (2) manually execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided that such fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and only one such fee shall be payable in the case of concurrent assignments to Persons that, after giving effect to such assignments, will be Related Funds; and

(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver on or prior to the effective date of such assignment, to the Administrative Agent (1) an Administrative Questionnaire and (2) if applicable, an appropriate Internal Revenue Service form (such as Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI or any successor form adopted by the relevant United States taxing authority) as required by applicable law supporting such assignee’s position that no withholding by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent for United States income tax payable by such assignee in respect of amounts received by it hereunder is required.

The term “Related Funds” shall mean, with respect to any Lender that is an Approved Fund, any other Approved Fund that is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

(iii) Assignments to an Affiliated Lender shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(a) Affiliated Lenders shall not receive information provided solely to Lenders by any of the Agents or Lenders (other than notices of Borrowings and prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of Loans or Commitments required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article II) and will not be permitted to attend or participate in any meeting not attended by the Borrower;

(b) for purposes of (x) any amendment, waiver or modification of any Loan Document (pursuant to Section 9.02 or otherwise) that does not require the consent of each Lender or each affected Lender and does not adversely affect such Affiliated Lender in any material respect in a manner that is different than the effect on other Lenders, or (y) voting on any plan of reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code, Affiliated Lenders will be deemed to have voted in the same proportion as Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders voting on such matter; provided that an Affiliated Lender that is primarily engaged in, or advises funds or other investment vehicles that are primarily engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit or securities in the ordinary course and with respect to which

 

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none of the Sponsors and their Affiliates, directly or indirectly, possess the power to direct or cause the direction of the investment policies of such Affiliated Lender, will not be subject to such voting limitations and will be entitled to vote as if it were a Lender;

(c) such Affiliated Lender shall not be, and shall have represented and warranted to the Administrative Agent and the assigning Lender as of the date of such assignment that neither it nor any of its Related Parties is, aware of any Borrower Restricted Information that has not been disclosed to the Lenders (other than because such Lenders do not wish to receive Borrower Restricted Information) prior to such time; and

(d) the aggregate principal amount of Loans purchased by all Affiliate Lenders shall not exceed 20% of the original principal amount of all Term Loans.

(iv) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) of this Section 9.04, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 9.03 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring on or prior to the effective date of such assignment). 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.

(v) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, and the Commitment of, or principal amount of and interest on the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(vi) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire and tax certifications required by Section 9.04(b)(ii)(D) (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section, if applicable, 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

 

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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 2.04(a), 2.16(c) 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.

(vii) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Assumption, the assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that its Commitment, and the outstanding balances of its Loans, in each case without giving effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set forth in such Assignment and Assumption, (ii) except as set forth in (i) above, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, or the financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the performance or observance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any of its obligations under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, (iii) such assignee represents and warrants that it is an Eligible Assignee, legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Assumption, (iv) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a) or delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Assumption, (v) such assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Agents, such assigning Lender 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 this Agreement, (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes each Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to such Agent, by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto and (vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment or the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s 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 and (C) the Borrower, the Agents, and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

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Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. 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 2.16(c) as though it were a Lender.

(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.13 or 2.15 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.15 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.15(f) as though it were a Lender.

(iii) Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, or its other obligations under this Agreement) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, 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.

(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.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “SPC”), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the

 

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Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.15), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender) and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of the Loan Documents, remain the Lender of record hereunder. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any state thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.04, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the Borrower and Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

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, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that an Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 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 Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of

 

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which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Fee Letter and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Agents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Article IV, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Agents and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

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

SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held, and other obligations at any time owing, by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any Loan Guarantor against any of and all the Secured Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured. The applicable Lender shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such set-off or application; provided that any failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such set-off or application under this Section. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, AT ANY TIME THAT ANY OF THE SECURED OBLIGATIONS SHALL BE SECURED BY REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA, NO LENDER SHALL EXERCISE A RIGHT OF SETOFF, LENDER’S LIEN OR COUNTERCLAIM OR TAKE ANY COURT OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION OR INSTITUTE ANY PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY LOAN DOCUMENT UNLESS IT IS TAKEN WITH THE CONSENT OF THE LENDERS REQUIRED BY SECTION 9.02 OF THIS AGREEMENT, IF SUCH SETOFF OR ACTION OR PROCEEDING WOULD OR MIGHT (PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 580a, 580b, 580d AND 726 OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE OR SECTION 2924 OF THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE, IF APPLICABLE, OR OTHERWISE) AFFECT OR IMPAIR THE VALIDITY, PRIORITY, OR ENFORCEABILITY OF THE LIENS GRANTED TO THE COLLATERAL AGENT PURSUANT TO THE COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS OR THE ENFORCEABILITY OF THE OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER, AND ANY ATTEMPTED EXERCISE BY ANY LENDER OR ANY SUCH RIGHT WITHOUT OBTAINING SUCH CONSENT OF THE PARTIES AS REQUIRED ABOVE, SHALL BE NULL AND VOID. THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF EACH OF THE LENDERS.

 

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SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any U.S. Federal or New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Documents, 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 court 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 any Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) (d) To the extent permitted by law, each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waives personal service of any and all process upon it and agrees that all such service of process may be made by registered mail (return receipt requested) directed to it at its address for notices as provided for in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED 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.

 

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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 Agent and each Lender agrees (and each Lender agrees to cause its SPC, if any) to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory, governmental or administrative authority, (c) to the extent required by law or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or 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 (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, any SPC, (ii) any pledgee referred to in Section 9.04(d) or (iii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Loan Parties and their obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower and (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to an Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis other than as a result of a breach of this Section from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from any Loan Party relating to the Loan Parties or their businesses, the Sponsors or the Transactions, other than any such information that is available to any Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party. 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.

SECTION 9.13. Several Obligations; Violation of Law. The respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and the failure of any Lender to make any Loan or perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the Borrower in violation of any Requirement of Law.

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

 

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SECTION 9.15. Disclosure. Each Loan Party and each Lender hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Agents and/or their Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with any of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates. In addition, each Loan Party and each Lender hereby acknowledges that the Administrative Agent or its Affiliate may be a lender under the Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility.

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

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

SECTION 9.18. INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. EACH LENDER HEREUNDER (A) CONSENTS TO THE SUBORDINATION OF LIENS PROVIDED FOR IN THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, (B) AGREES THAT IT WILL BE BOUND BY AND WILL TAKE NO ACTIONS CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND (C) AUTHORIZES AND INSTRUCTS THE COLLATERAL AGENT TO ENTER INTO THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AS TERM LOAN AGENT AND ON BEHALF OF SUCH LENDER. THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS ARE INTENDED AS AN INDUCEMENT TO THE LENDERS UNDER THE SENIOR SECURED ASSET-BASED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT TO EXTEND CREDIT AND SUCH LENDERS ARE INTENDED THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF SUCH PROVISIONS AND THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT.

 

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ARTICLE X

Loan Guaranty

SECTION 10.01. Guaranty. Each Loan Guarantor hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to the Lenders, the prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations (collectively the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Loan Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal.

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

SECTION 10.03. No Discharge or Diminishment of Loan Guaranty. (a) Except as otherwise provided for herein, the obligations of each Loan Guarantor hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration, or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower or any other guarantor of or other Person liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting any Obligated Party, or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which any Loan Guarantor may have at any time against any Obligated Party, any Agent, any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transactions.

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

(c) Further, the obligations of any Loan Guarantor hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of any Agent or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection, or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for the obligations of the Borrower for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any obligations of any other guarantor of or other Person liable for any of the

 

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Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by any Agent or any Lender with respect to any collateral securing any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Loan Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Loan Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations).

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

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

SECTION 10.06. Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of the Borrower or otherwise, each Loan Guarantor’s obligations under this Loan Guaranty with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the Loan Guarantors forthwith on demand by the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 10.07. Information. Each Loan Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s financial condition and assets, and of all

 

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other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Loan Guarantor assumes and incurs under this Loan Guaranty, and agrees that neither the Agents nor any Lender shall have any duty to advise any Loan Guarantor of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.

SECTION 10.08. Taxes. All payments of the Guaranteed Obligations will be made by each Loan Guarantor free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if any Loan Guarantor shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the applicable Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Loan Guarantor shall make such deductions and (iii) such Loan Guarantor shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

SECTION 10.09. Maximum Liability. The provisions of this Loan Guaranty are severable, and in any action or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any state, Federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Loan Guarantor under this Loan Guaranty would otherwise be held or determined to be avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such Loan Guarantor’s liability under this Loan Guaranty, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Loan Guaranty to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Loan Guarantors or the Lenders, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant Loan Guarantor’s “Maximum Liability”). This Section with respect to the Maximum Liability of each Loan Guarantor is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Lenders to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no Loan Guarantor nor any other Person or entity shall have any right or claim under this Section with respect to such Maximum Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of any Loan Guarantor hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law. Each Loan Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum Liability of each Loan Guarantor without impairing this Loan Guaranty or affecting the rights and remedies of the Lenders hereunder, provided that, nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any Loan Guarantor’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum Liability.

SECTION 10.10. Contribution. In the event any Loan Guarantor (a “Paying Guarantor”) shall make any payment or payments under this Loan Guaranty or shall suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any collateral granted by it to secure its obligations under this Loan Guaranty, each other Loan Guarantor (each, a “Non-Paying Guarantor”) shall contribute to such Paying Guarantor an amount equal to such Non-Paying Guarantor’s “Guarantor Percentage” of such payment or payments made, or losses suffered, by such Paying Guarantor. For purposes of this Article X, each Non-Paying Guarantor’s “Guarantor Percentage” with respect to any such payment or loss by a Paying Guarantor shall be determined as of the date on which such payment or loss was made by reference to the ratio of (i) such Non-Paying Guarantor’s Maximum Liability as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder) or, if such Non-Paying Guarantor’s Maximum

 

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Liability has not been determined, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Non-Paying Guarantor from the Borrower after the date hereof (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means) to (ii) the aggregate Maximum Liability of all Loan Guarantors hereunder (including such Paying Guarantor) as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder), or to the extent that a Maximum Liability has not been determined for any Loan Guarantor, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Loan Guarantors from the Borrower after the date hereof (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means). Nothing in this provision shall affect any Loan Guarantor’s several liability for the entire amount of the Guaranteed Obligations (up to such Loan Guarantor’s Maximum Liability). Each of the Loan Guarantors covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution under this Loan Guaranty from a Non-Paying Guarantor shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations. This provision is for the benefit of the Agents, the Lenders and the Loan Guarantors and may be enforced by any one, or more, or all of them in accordance with the terms hereof.

SECTION 10.11. Liability Cumulative. The liability of each Loan Party as a Loan Guarantor under this Article X is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Loan Party to the Agents and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other Loan Parties, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.

SECTION 10.12. Release of Loan Guarantors. Notwithstanding anything in Section 9.02(b) to the contrary (i) a Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and its Loan Guaranty shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted hereunder as a result of which such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a subsidiary of the Borrower and (ii) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (A) if a Loan Guarantor is or becomes an Immaterial Subsidiary, and such release would not result in any Immaterial Subsidiary being required pursuant to Section 5.11(e) to become a Loan Party hereunder (except to the extent that on and as of the date of such release, one or more other Immaterial Subsidiaries become Loan Guarantors hereunder and the provisions of Section 5.11(e) are satisfied upon giving effect to all such additions and releases), or (B) if a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 6.04(c), then in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B), such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations hereunder and its Loan Guaranty shall be automatically released upon notification thereof from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent. In connection with any such release, the Agents shall execute and deliver to any Subsidiary Guarantor, at such Subsidiary Guarantor’s expense, all documents that such Subsidiary Guarantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to the preceding sentence of this Section 10.12 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Agents.

 

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

 

PETCO ANIMAL SUPPLIES, INC.,
by   

/s/ Michael E. Foss

  Name:    Michael E. Foss
  Title   Executive Vice President &
    Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to PETCO Term Loan Credit Agreement]

 

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PETCO ANIMAL SUPPLIES STORES, INC.,
INTERNATION PET SUPPLIES AND DISTRIBUTION, INC.,
PETCO SOUTHWEST, INC.,
PETCO PET INSURANCE CENTER, INC.,
by   

/s/ Michael E. Foss

  Name:    Michael E. Foss
  Title   Executive Vice President &
    Chief Financial Officer
E-PET SERVICES, LLC,
by PETCO ANIMAL SUPPLIES STORES, INC.
  It: Sole Member
 

/s/ Michael E. Foss

  Name:   Michael E. Foss
  Title   Executive Vice President &
    Chief Financial Officer
PETCO ASIA, LLC,
by INTERNATAL PET SUPPLIES AND DISTRIBUTION, INC.
  Its: Sole Member
 

/s/ Michael E. Foss

  Name:   Michael E. Foss
  Title   Executive Vice President &
    Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to PETCO Term Loan Credit Agreement]

 

127


CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN
ISLANDS BRANCH, individually and as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,
by:   

/s/ John D. Toronto

  Name:    JOHN D. TORONTO
  Title:   DIRECTOR
by:  

/s/ Vipul Dhadda

  Name:   VIPUL DHADDA
  Title:   ASSOCIATE

 

 

[Signature Page to PETCO Term Loan Credit Agreement]

 

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COMMITMENT SCHEDULE

 

LENDER

   COMMITMENT  

Credit Suisse AG

   $ 1,225,000,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,225,000,000   
  

 

 

 

 

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